What a busy week I and my little family have had!  I suggest you go and get yourself a cup of something to drink and plan to sit a spell if you are taking on this blog entry today!  I have not had the time for over a week to even turn on my computer much less sit down and write anything out, so this will be a catch up entry!  

     I would like to place a disclaimer or an apology right here at the beginning--I am sorry for those who cannot see the pictures that I am going to post.  I don't know why some can see them and others cannot.  When I figure everything out I will correct the problem. 

     Gee--where do I start?  I have begun to dejunk my home!  Yipee! As many of you know I have been going through a depression of sorts.  I must say that I am coming out of it--slowly--but God is bringing me through a very dark time.  Now, if there was a barometer on my mental, emotional, spiritual and physical status--it would be the condition of my home.  If my thoughts are not focused on God-they become cluttered--which in turn is directly reflected in my home.  So, when I tell you my home is in need of a dejunking and a deep cleaning-you can safely bet that it truly needs to be dejunked and deep cleaned!  I am a dust and vacuum daily kind of lady, so when I don't--something is wrong!  Here lately-much has been wrong!

     I started with my little bathroom.  No need to tell you anything spectacular about that, but it sure looks (and smells) much nicer.  I am planning on making a new shower curtain and when I do I will post a picture.

    Moving on-our master bedroom was next!  I have been sort of collecting a few new things for our room--just to make it nice for Donnie and myself.  There are new lampshades, new bedcovers, new pictures, (that I do not have up as of yet.  I need to rough up the picture frames that I bought.)  but it sure looks all nice and orderly.  Not to mention, everything has been scrubbed from the ceiling to the floors!  So, here are the results.

    I have invested about $40 and two full days of elbow grease in our little "makeover", and it is a massive improvement.  Donnie liked it, too!

    I am trying to infuse life back into our home.  Life on all levels!  I want to have plants, fish, people, fun--that is my goal for the summer.  To bring life-Abundant Life-back to the Beale Bungalow!  So, I am looking for a plant for our room.  One to go beside the mirrored dresser and the window.  I have a table in the attic that my husband made for his mom when he was in shop class back in 1960.  The year I was born!  It will go nicely in our room holding a bit of life!  I will post that later-when I find the perfect plant.

    Seth's room was next.  Now, I do have before and after pictures here.  I was so out of it that I didn't stay on my son to keep his room picked up.  I say that because this mess is not all his fault.  He is a typical-there are better things to do in life-10 year old boy.  So, don't be alarmed at the before pictures!  Remember, there are after pictures to follow!

    Seth actually showed some maturity and let several of his precious belongings go!  He came to his own conclusion that he had out grown many of his toys and books and was willing to bless other children with them.  I was very proud of him because he is a pack rat, as you can probably tell.  I worked on his room for 2 & 1/2 days!  Again, ceiling to floor deep cleaning.  The results?  You tell me.

     I think it looks wonderful!  Seth even admitted that having it neat and clean makes it better for him, too.  He has kept his room looking this nice ever since.  What kind of life can I put in here?  Well, I think Seth's interests are life enough at the moment! 

     During my cleaning of Seth's room--the second of my two mother's day gifts arrived. Check it out!

     6 cubic yards of beautiful, sifted, rich topsoil!!! I needed to replenish my veggie and front flower garden.  Not all of this soil was mine.  Our neighbor, Keith, bought 6 cubic yards as well, so his is in our pile, too.  We saved on delivery charges doing it together.  It is his house you see in the picture.

    We had people driving by asking to buy some!  We told them where they could purchase, as one passerby called our dirt--"black gold".  The reactions of some of our neighbors was quite comical.  We actually had one neighbor who never speaks to us, even though we make many attempts to speak to him, if he could have about 4 or 5 wheelbarrows full!  I was shocked!  Number one that he would make such a bold request and number two that he actually does have a voice.  Well, we ended up using it all and could possibly use another 6! 

    Seth learned a little about having a good work ethic.  Donnie was going to move all the dirt by himself, but I highly suggested to my--there are better things to do life--10 year old son to be homeschooled in another way.  Get a shovel and help.  Seth fussed alittle in the beginning, but he came around and actually enjoyed working along side of his daddy!  I was right proud of my guys!

     It took my guys and Keith four days to move all that dirt.  Donnie got on line and figured that they moved 3.24 tons of dirt this past week!  Now my veggie garden and my front flower garden, as well as some low places in our yard are filled with this "black gold"! 

     While all of these activities were going on my prodical daughter, Anna, called and asked if she, her boyfriend and their dog could come for a "I am homesick" visit.  I was not planning on them coming until the end of June.  I thought by then all my dejunking and deep cleaning would be done, and I would be ready for them!  But, how does a mother, longing for a restorted daughter and that most precious mother-daughter relationship, say--"No, Honey I am cleaning.  Come when we planned."  Thus, communicating that "a clean and neat house is more important than you are!"  So, of course I said yes!  Come on home!  

     She is beginning to feel the results of some of her decisions, and she was homesick!  I mean homesick!  The stress of everything in her life was imprinted under her eyes!  She had such deep dark circles, and she clinged to us!  All of us, including her daddy, of whom she does not normally cling.  She was affectionate, respectful, obeyed our rules, and we had a wonderful visit.  The quality of life-Anna is finding out-is directly related to the choices we make.  When one factors out God--life is not fun, nor does it make sense, but when we do factor in God--even through the bad times--life makes sense and is worth living.  Just like the song says--Because HE lives I can face tomorrow!  Someday, I pray that my Anna will BELIEVE that truth.  Head knowledge is nothing like heart faith!

     Anyway, here are some pictures of my Anna, her Will and their Daisy.

    Daisy was just a puppy when we saw her last.  She has grown, but she still has a great deal of puppy in her.  Because of all the dirt moving-Daisy took advantage of a free ride in a wheelbarrow.

    Anna wanted to take Seth off, so they went to our local zoo.  Seth was so happy to have his sister back home, even if it was for a short while.  They had a great time together!

    We ended up with two pick up truck loads of mulch.  Everyone shoveled mulch that morning!  Well, I didn't ()--I held the dog while everyone else held a shovel.  I don't have any pictures of the actual work day, but I do have some shots of the results.

    The week went on and fun was had by all.  The Saturday before they left we all went to the Pungo Strawberry Festival.  I really didn't want to go, but I went anyway, and I did have a nice time--even though I got teased a bit because I took an umbrella to keep the sun off me.  I despise to just bake in the sun!  If I am working somehow that is a different story, but to just sit, lay, or walk in the hot sun--not my idea of fun, so I was the only one in the thousands of people that had my umbrella up and open.  I am way too old to worry about getting a summer tan.  (Even though I usually have a farmer's tan by the end of May.)  Below are some pics of loads of fun!

Seth and the bumper cars!!

Seth making his way through some sort of open fun house!

I cannot believe Seth did this.  He has a fear of heights, but I guess having fun overrides fear! 

Seth had a bit of a hard time climbing the stairs to this ride, but he did it!  Again, having fun must override fear!

Look at that face.  He was having a blast!  We all had a blast!

  On Sunday, we all went to church together.  My Anna was nervous and figidity the whole time, and our pastor preached a wonderful sermon.  It was as if he knew that Anna was visiting and did this sermon just for her.  Seeds are planted and prayer is going up to heaven on her behalf--so we sit and wait on God for the results. 

   Well, that was our week and now everyone-including myself is all caught up on life at the Beale Bungalow.  Have a great day! 

                                  God Bless!