Yes. Thanks for the comments, Ladies. And no, Xta, as discussed via e-mail, I won't be sending him over for awhile. : ). EER, I'm scared.
I promise not to give an update EVERY day, but things are changing rapidly and I just can't not share.
These are cabinet "beds." Far left is the new sink location and it's lovely resting place. Then we have a cabinet, a spot for the stove, and another cabinet...one that will be a pantry cupboard that will reach floor to ceiling and hold all my cookware.
burgundy, it glistens
trapped behind crystal
encased in layers of glass callous
each hurt, each wrong, each pain,
each disappointment
another layer
of protection from more of the same
with each breath, each whisper
of sulfurous humid stench
the beating slows further
the chambers grow stiff
the life giving blood trickles
a river bed sucked empty by an August drought
slime slicked stones, vacant eyed, fish roasted by the relentless sun
clotting, plotting
suffocation, transformation
grabbing of balms bandages and
empty
promises
bitter pills
flasks of poison
until the crimson fades to gray
the gray to solid ice
and the ice to crystal
petrified to stone
and death
if only
a hand
could reach
remove the cold, stone heart
replace, transplant, encase a slippery, beating, hungry heart
a thirsty, ready and soft heart.
if the pierced hand could crack the glass cage,
crunch crystal regrets and sorrows beneath the pierced feet
and speak life into the eager heart
if only
and life
Yesterday I announced that I'm on the Cut the Crud six month fast.
Before going there and making that decision my partners in crime and I made the decision that necessities are allowed. Because of the big kitchen project we've got going on we've decided that lights are a necessity.
And a few weeks ago, during the planning of this big six month event I was given an opportunity to do a review of a website, a giveaway or a combo of both. It took me weeks to decide. Especially when I started poking around. I was given a link to the CSN group of on-line stores.
Though I wasn't exactly looking for a Bedroom Vanity I went there and started going real deep. I got excited about some of the light fixtures that are available through the multi-site CSN Stores. Finally, I made my decision. I want to share the fun. So. Over the next couple of weeks you'll find me pondering how I'll use my gift certificate, and then you'll find my review of the website and the process of being a customer.
One thing that really excites me is that many items have free shipping. And after checking out several items through a Google search I discovered that the prices are great, too. I will be spending $30.00 courtesy of Just Vanities...and one of you will be too. And that $30.00 will be product with plenty of stuff to choose from.
Start leaving comments now. Every comment will be a chance at winning the certificate and all posts with CSN in the body of the post will count starting today, and ending exactly 30 days after my review posts.
By now you all know that I'm slightly crazy. And that for some insane reason I love the challenge of new and the excitement of change.
Maybe its the ongoing remodeling projects. Decades of marriage and living in fixer-uppers will do that to a person....if said person survives. And they say what doesn't kill you can make you stronger.
So here's the latest kick I'm on: 23, who may or may not have received the recessive gene from my crazy side, birthed this idea. And our nutty super-trainer friend "Buffy" jumped on board with us. Yes, two twenty-somethings and me. Crazy does have a name. It is Kelly : ).
We are on a "Cut the Crapola" from our lives kick.
It began on Sunday. And it's going to last until February 1st. So here are the rules...
1) Spiritually: we want to get past the things that bog us down and keep us struggling with flesh and blood and keep us from being all that God created us to be. Our rule. Pray daily for 6 people. Three of them are people who God has laid on our hearts as needing prayer so this list of three may change daily. Three are people with whom we struggle a little bit or a lot. And what are we praying? God's absolute love, mercy and blessing, that these people would find hope and healing and abundant life in Jesus. And that we would love them through Him. We are also asking God to bring healing, hope and abundant life into our lives. We are not content to be the same people we are now in six months. We expect God to use His Word and our willingness to undergo the sword of the Spirit to change us into people more aware of Jesus and more aware of our constant need for Him in our lives.
2) Physically: Test our bodies. Work our bodies. Push our bodies into being healthy temples. Eating (mostly) the things that give life, energy and health and avoiding (mostly) the things that don't. Exercising every day, brutality as needed to meet our goals.
3) Financially: We are allowing ourselves to buy only the items that we NEED. We have discussed the parameters and decided that we will allow some leeway because life does revolve around social opportunities and requires an occasional cup of coffee in a coffee house. So all "fun" or "frivolity" needs to fall into "cheap" or "creative and cheap" because we have allowed ourselves only $50 each a month ($300 total)to cover lunches and dinners out, movies, clothes, and barista therapy. When we looked at our lives we decided that we could each easily drop $100 a weekend on non-essentials. A trip to the mall could find us holding an iced coffee, a meal or two and three bags with amazing bargains. That adds up. And we've decided to put what we don't spend toward savings or debt reduction.
4) Mentally/Emotionally: We have all set goals for something we've put on hold or something we've always wanted to do but don't for some mental, emotional, physical or spiritual reason. I will share some of these as they unfurl. But we are committed to challenging each other and to grabbing hold of some pretty intimidating things.
Stay tuned for the Cut the Crapola updates. I'm sure there will be some stories to report.
