Merry Christmas

Luke 2:And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Peace to you from Buhlaland.

Holiday Decorations and Settling In

Is it plagiarism?

Or is it Memorex? well since my memory is mostly an EX -- the Paraphrase Psalms 139 came from someplace on the internet - most likely someone else's blog - sorry if I'm not giving credit where it is due! I've printed this off for myself with my name inserted in the blank spaces-----apparently I must be reminded God knows what is going on - and even better how it will all turn out. Our move continues - we've slept in new place since November 21st. Still getting carloads of "stuff" moved - y'all really and truly - sort through and give away or throwaway or burn or whatever half your stuff - you don't know how much of it you have until you are forced to deal with it ALL!

With that loving warning - yes it is Christmas season even in my often Grinchish mood --- we hope/expect/plan to hear from Transplant Schedule Coordinator (all people associated with big research hospital/clinic apparently are either doctors or coordinators - FYI). At that point - we'll have some idea of the testing and examination schedule DH faces. Still no idea how/if we'll do the whole transplant experience but we are assured/stand firm on and know doggoned well- God Knows and we are living in that truth! Much love and Christmas Carols (in case you are taking a poll - I cannot abide Drummer Boy song and love Carol of the Bells or almost anything with bells and midnight clears or angels sing) and not too much shopping but TONS of being with people you love - time is short - shorter than anyone seems willing to admit. I'm praying for many of you - please remember those who have had a death/huge loss in their family this year - there is NO WAY I don't care how holy and righteous you think you are - NO WAY we can "get over it" - we get through loss - we get through pain by the Grace of God but all the perky sayings in all the perky sunshiney blogs in the world cannot ease the pain. A nice plate of cookies, a hug, a shared session of tears, those are ways to tell someone they are not alone in this world.

Random enough for y'all? I'm outta here - more moving to do and some carols to enjoy. To the wonderful person who put up this version of Psalm 139 before me - thank you and forgive my plagiarism - but we both need the same assurance. It is good on Buhlaland because ---He Loves ME still - Amen.

I, the Lord, have searched you, _____________ and know you. I know when you sit and when you rise. I know your thoughts before you even think them, _______________ I know when you go out, when you sleep and are totally familiar with all your ways! Before you speak, _________________, I the Lord know what you’re going to say. I am with you, completely and I go before and come after, keeping you, always, in My love; I hold you in My righteous right hand. I, the Lord, know all there is to know about you, yet I love you . . .still.

_______________, you cannot hide from My Spirit nor can you run from My presence. It is simply not possible. Should you go to the heavens, I, the Lord, am there. Or, if you go to the depths of the sea or depression or any other depths, I, the Lord, am also there____________, I was there before you, waiting. If you rise at dawn or settle on the far side of the sea, I, the Lord, am there and will yet guide you. I, the Lord, hold you, ____________ in my righteous right hand; you may say, the darkness will hide me and the light is the same as the dark but just because you say it, doesn’t make it true. I, the Lord, consider dark as light and because I am Light, there is no darkness to Me.

______________, I the Lord created you and, before you were in your Mother’s womb. I knew all about you. You were not hidden from me, not then and not now. All your days have been ordained by me and I, the Lord, know you are My beloved creation. If you learn nothing else as you live this wonderful life I have given you . . . know these things: I am the Lord God Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth and I love you, _______________ so much I sent My Son to die in your place. Why? Because I want you to return to Heaven and live with me through Eternity.

_____________, I know My thoughts are vast and you cannot truly comprehend them but choose to love Me; I will always take care of you. I, the Lord, care for you because I created you and I love you. I know your heart and all your anxious thoughts; I love you, still, ___________ love me.

I, the Lord, can be trusted with your heart.

Moving Experience

No pictures no poems no pretty scenes - just me putting on a note from computer at work (my wonderful, stressful overpaid job - yes really!!)
Movers came and most of our "big" stuff is in new place - not in proper/comfortable/decorative place in new place - but available to be placed.
No internet at new house - Skybeam rudely insisted they provided service "OF COURSE" - as the customer disservice agent declared. As soon as installer drove up he said "y'all can't connect from here". :::sigh::::
So clever DH is working on an alternative route to get internet service - hope it works but until it does - y'all have a beautiful holiday week ! I'll be learning my country commute routes and praying for getting our big place on the market and SOLD ASAP!
If I don't comment on your blogs - not being rude just not able to get online much - soon - I hope to be back soon -- Buhlaland is still good - just on the move type good. A skunk visited us the first night at new place -DH and I were out in the garage surveying our domain (or possibly searching for paper plates so we could have some supper!)- apparently we are acceptable new neighbors because he did NOT leave his calling card!

Thanksfilled

Not blogging much- too much going on and attitude not always worth displaying to the world! Word of warning --moving when you are "older" and in midst of medical issues is NOT the old UHaul slogan of Adventures in Moving. BUT - we have professional moving crew coming on Monday the 21st to take all the large pieces we think will fit in new place so are committed now. In midst of a house filled with mess - neighbors (God bless their loving hearts) brought over this pretty fall arrangement - yep - grace is undeserved blessing and we get more than our share!

I can honestly say - I'm thankful for my life - eternal and mortal. The bumps and bruises of my journey make the promises of heaven and the flowers of earth all the sweeter.

DH goes week of the 29th to Dallas for a yea or nay on the transplant (a lung in case you don't recall). We know they are serious - first appointment will be with the "financial office".

At any rate - IF I get a burst of energy and an internet connection - will post a bit next week. We are thankful for nice neighbors in new home area (guy across the street was stringing lights in his trees yesterday - hooray for neighbors who decorate for Christmas!).

On a nonmoving, nonwhining note - it IS good on Buhlaland when we can say Take My Life - broken vessels can be useful in the hands of the Potter. Bless y'all and Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm still here

For those of you viewing this on Internet Explorer - I know things look odd - I work on Google Chrome and Blogger looks right then so I'm just sayin' - looks odd and sometimes is - but internet browsers do strange things.
Steven Sondheim isn't my first choice for lyricist (since I tend toward hymns and praise songs as musical interests) but from the depths of my life's music listening time - this came to me:

C'est la vie.
I got through all of last year
And I'm here.
Lord knows, at least I was there,
And I'm here!
Look who's here!
I'm still here!

Not much I want to say today - we still haven't finished renovations sufficiently to move to new home. Have prayed and talked ---DH and I are both at the point of "God's will" in regards to transplant (will let you know how well I do with that after the transplant evaluation begins at the end of this month). We "did church" together this morning - this video came up on a search on Youtube for Gaithers and I like Alan Asbury's version but Ricky Skaggs does a good job.

We know many somebodies are praying us through - and it makes all the difference. For those of you who know her - please include Sandra Bennett in your prayers now. We' re still here- on Buhlaland and being kept from things we can't even see.

New Link

I may be premature in adding this to my blog list - but thanks to @BooMama I just spent half an hour reading recipes! The concept of once a month cooking isn't new - but I needed the reminder - frozen storebought pizza is NOT a balanced meal!

So y'all check out link to http://onceamonthmom.com/ and see what you think! Would be terrific to take a one day cooking day and prepare extras for all those dear folks we each know who need a little nutritional pick me up during any given month! Organization - now THAT would be good on Buhlaland!

Peace to You

We continue to work as strength and finances allow - not moved yet - no date set but we have peace. It is good on Buhlaland and at this time in our lives we see so many deprived of peace - not willing to lay down the stresses of daily life and striving toward goals which are not eternal. Peace HE gives to us - accept it and we'll all rejoice together for eternity. I'll back with my normal silliness over decorating choices, colors and textures - but for today I give you peace.

1 Peter 3:8
[ Suffering for Doing Good ] Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that's your job, to bless. You'll be a blessing and also get a blessing. Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good, Here's what you do: Say nothing evil or hurtful; Snub evil and cultivate good; run after peace for all you're worth. God looks on all this with approval, listening and responding well to what he's asked; But he turns his back on those who do evil things.
1 Peter 3:7-9 (in Context) 1 Peter 3 (Whole Chapter)

New Neighbors and update

We went up to try and finish up current painting projects (emphasis on the try word!) Pleasantly surprised to have some neighbors drop by - didn't stay for coffee (we didn't have any to offer so that was a blessing) or a chat but stayed around long enough to let us know they'll be back!

Very calm doe with her twin fawns - the deer were all in our nearest human neighbor's pasture - directly behind our back fence line so we get a nice view.

Might have to get in on the mole hunting competition with CedarPond and Sand Flat Farm after we move in if mole population is that strong. Neighbors across the road have several cats --apparently they like to try to outplay, outwit and outlast a mole (any Survivor fans out there?)

One room is pretty much painted - we are using the same color we have in our bedroom on current Buhlaland - Soothing Celadon (wouldn't it be fun to make up the names for paint?) Going to paint the yuck flat grey trim celadon also - room is small and with 3 doors (closet, entrance and attached bathroom) making the doors different than wall colors seems choppy.

Plenty more to do - we are trying to ration our energy and time - already on the financial ration system! God has given us the nicest place to spend more years here on earth - looking forward to being there full time. It is good on Buhlaland - whether current one or newest version - we are blessed beyond belief.

On the topic of working on our houses - we think we know what we want and need - only the Lord God has the blueprints.

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.” ― C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Some out - more IN

Today it was clear and sunny --a beautiful day to play in the garden - which is not what we did.

We did - take the carpet which was removed (by us) and put it in garage to be sold on Craigslist or given to someone who wants beige carpet. THEN we unloaded a lot of paint, 39 (yes I counted them - twice) boxes of cork flooring, a new light fixture for the kitchen and about a quart of sweat. I confess this is simply a catching up with small changes post - one big point I'd like to make - look closely at the picture of partially painted room (which will become our office/workout room once we actually move in). See the ugly dark grey tinge to what was apparently a white room? THAT my friends is what happens when you use those "one coat" paints - there is a black pigment added to a perfectly good white paint so indeed it covers most anything else but is NOT white. The white we are using is called Fragrant Jasmine (doesn't that just sound wonderful and relaxing? - still smells like paint but the name is the thing). It goes on the wall in a barely warm white shade not a cold touch of black white shade. It isn't all that noticeable until you begin to paint a real white over it - then the greyness becomes all too obvious. I'm tired - you must excuse my obsession with colors of white.

It is good on Buhlaland - because I have a great big bottle of ibuprofren and a Coke Zero over ice right here next to me. See you soon!

Making Living Space more Live-able

On to living room - obviously adjoins the large kitchen/eating area.

We (royal use of the term since DH did 99.7% of the labor) removed carpet, tack strips, pad and assorted bits attached to concrete flooring.

Our original idea was to clean, stain and seal concrete but would have been a heck of a job given multiple stains and paint slop currently revealed on concrete slab. Glad we decided to go with cork flooring -

Eager to begin painting - will be a color at Home Depot - Behr paint called Fragrant Jasmine (barely creamy white) in eggshell and semi gloss finishes. House seems a little dark so we want to lighten up the walls and put a more reflective finish.

Think we've reached agreement on fireplace - currently sooty looking and dark brick pretty much overwhelms -the room. DH wants to build a mantle. We're going to paint the brick - either same color as we paint walls or a tone or two darker. What do y'all think?

Only one window in living room -

we will be installing an open outward front door to gain almost 3 feet of wall space.

Oh yes - will be putting in a ceiling hugger fan

with no light fixture - current one is a bit

too much.

Last picture just keeping it real - oxygen concentrator in house now so DH can move around attached to his O2 leash - too bad they haven't invented oxygen supply without a cord (yeah right - think about it). Mild case of want to get done - sure it'll intensify but time and money - all we need to git'er done on Buhlaland - and it is all good!

Starting To Change

Not about fall color this year - because with Texas drought only color is dried up brown on the leaves. Wanted to share the adventure (that is called a positive thought process - if I think of our move as an adventure may

be it won't feel so tough - RIGHT????)

Today is pretty much just posting Before pictures - 'cause the afters will come slowly - we have a big house to sell before we can afford major

changes to new place. Suggestions will be enjoyed with the caveat - every thing we will do has the proviso "if we can afford it" - and that is money as well as time/energy in our budget. The move is occurring because we can no longer physically deal with a two story house and almost 10 acres - so we now have a money budget and an energy budget - what we can realistically actually physically get done (enough lys for you?) OK off to the picture files -from the backdoor(which is out of order but taking forever to move pics - so work with me people! LOL)

We currently HOPE and plan to extend back porch and cover it - so we can sit out on porch, have barbecue grill there and generally enjoy the view of neighbor's pretty pastures and dozens of deer! My "lottery" dream is to put a nice two person hot tub/spa out there but that is WAY down reality list.

In back door to long walls - as you come in backdoor to the right is door into garage (which will be DH's woodworking shop and our washer/dryer will be there also). To the left long wall will be place for large black armoire (DH made it years ago and it is marvelous storage as well as sweet reminder). Opposite wall will be future home of pantry shelves - open or with doors still a topic of discussion (I'm thinking open with an assortment of baskets/containers to organize but DH is thinking doors 'cause - well that is how he thinks - more finished but LOTS more work too!)

Then teeny amount of kitchen cabinetry - great hopes to change this but definitely moved to later on - can live with it the way it is. All except color - we have already purchased paint - shinier finish and a wonderful Behr white - Fragrant Jasmine. The floor is a very good grade of linoleum tile - black with a tiny fleck of white and grey. Will definitely be keeping the floor.

Like the arched view into living room (yes it is a smaller house!) and then we'll put our round kitchen table in the corner as dining table. Have a new brushed nickle finished lighting fixture for over table. So that is the first installment - will post pictures of rest of house and what we have definitely already done or decided. Exciting time - I'm better at starting projects (thank goodness I was blessed with a husband who likes to FINISH things completely!) So whatcha think???? It is good on Buhlaland - we are blessed whether original location or newer place - God provides for us in ways we didn't have the sense to ask!

Mabel's Mom is a Published Author!

Mabel's House is proud to announce another new edition (not as cute as Jane but exciting nonetheless) I haven't been including a link to Liz's wonderful blog but have been reading long enough to be a big fan. Enjoy this excerpt from her new book - sure to be as clever and truthful as her blog! Once you are hooked by the excerpt - you can buy her book from Amazon.com - those of you who are Kindled - available there also.

Once one has breathed in the deep pungent aroma of sewage, you never again forget the nose-hair singeing, eye clawing, throat gagging experience. It comes over you slowly. You begin to feel like a character in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest as your muscles involuntarily jerk and you run screaming and blowing raspberries. Anything to get away from the mind-numbing stench.

But let me explain.

It was 6:30 a.m. I was standing in my retro pink tiled bathroom trying to open my bleary eyes and ready myself for work. As I stood there, peering into the mirror and wondering what demented nighttime fairy had planted four new wrinkles on my face, I paused and sniffed.

“Matt… what’s that smell?”

Matt staggered from the bedroom in his underwear, eyes half shut. “I don’t smell anything.”

I pointed my nose into the air like a hunting dog. “Seriously? You can’t smell that? Did you go to the bathroom in here earlier? I told you to use the room spray when you do things like that.”

Matt puffed out his bare chest and gathered his pride as best a man can with sleep in his eyes and a small hole in the side of his underwear. “I just woke up!”

I frowned, catching a glimpse of my makeup-less hot-rollers-in-hair state and tried not to think about the fact that I looked fifty instead of twenty-nine. “Well, help me figure this out. Because something smells ripe.”

We sniffed the sink drain and ruled it out as a suspect.

“Is it coming from the toilet?” Matt asked, examining it from top to bottom.

“No, that’s not it,” I snapped. I’m not known for my milk of human kindness in a disaster. Don’t get me wrong. I’m a survivor. I plan on eating my radish like Scarlet and clawing my way out of the nuclear dust while dragging my loved ones with me. But I won’t be doing it with positive phrases and a smile.

“Hon, I just don’t know. We’ll call a plumber after work, maybe it’s coming from under the house.” Matt staggered a little, trying to get past me and out of our tiny bathroom.

“Well, that’s just great,” I moved aside and pulled the shower curtain back so I could perch on the side of the tub and give Matt room to move out the door.

That’s when the full brunt of nastiness filled the air around us, a swirling mix of excrement and acrid stench that would have brought the sewer dwelling Ninja Turtles to their knees. Where the normally slightly-clean-with-a-hint-of-soap-scum bottom of the tub should have been, there sloshed gallons and gallons of brown sewage.

I clutched the front of my sweatshirt and held my breath. Matt began to dry heave.

“Get out and shut the door!” I screamed as we bumbled into the hallway.

“I’ll deal with this,” Matt grabbed my shoulders, trying to talk and hold his breath at the same time.

I could feel my eyes glaze over, the horrors of typhoid and hepatitis in our bathtub filling my mind. But more importantly, I could envision our evaporated savings account. In my mind’s eye I could see the long, gray hallway at the bank. A worker shrouded in a black suit pulled a set of keys from his pocket and unlatched a small locker labeled “Owen Bank Account.” Inside were two small stacks of quarters and a few crumpled dollar bills. It was bleak, not only because the banker with an unimaginative wardrobe gazed at me with an expression that could only be interpreted as “You’re a Big Fat Loser,” but also there was a very definite possibility we wouldn’t be able to pay for a plumber.

I wasn’t necessarily a spend thrift. In fact, I was downright frugal when it came to decorating with thrift store furniture and rewired vintage lamps. But the fact was, we were poor. We were starting out at starter jobs with starter salaries. We were starter adults with a starter bank account.

“Okay,” I nodded numbly, thankful that Matt was taking the lead on such a disastrous biohazard. “But make sure the plumber is super cheap. We don’t have much money!”

I left for work like a wino stumbling through a fog, not really remembering my commute, not really doing any work as I sipped my coffee and stared blankly at the computer screen. A disaster of such gargantuan proportions had previously been unthinkable in my life, and now I found myself attempting to push the image of a vast sea of bathtub poop from my mind. But I was sure of one thing: Anne Shirley never had to get ready for work while breathing raw sewage.

Buhlaland is Moving!

No - not as in the earth transporting itself elsewhere - DH and I have purchased a smaller home (downsizing is hardly the word - life altering might be accurate). During past couple of years we've realized his health issues won't allow him almost unbounded energy which was his normal. Keeping a large property which we no longer fully used wasn't good stewardship of God given resources (as well as being exhausting some days!)

We closed today on a smaller house north of where we are now - picture was Skip talking to the tree guy about taking out a couple of large trees which had the bad judgment to grow up against house or right where we need to build a workshop/shed! So the adventure begins - we'll document as much as possible the changes in new place (for now it will be called Windsor - since we'll still live on current Buhlaland until ready to put it up for sale). Woo hoo - biggest excitement right now for me - sandy soil! Deep sand - will grow sweet potatoes and white taters next spring - I know how to garden in sand! Our clay/loam combination on Buhlaland has been a continuing struggle for me. Already browsing on internet for sand plum bushes and rabbiteye blueberries - yum yum. All it takes is work and money - and the Lord allows us just enough energy for the work and money for what we need (wants might be a different budgetary process?). Today we got the keys, turned on the water supply and set off bug bombs at Windsor (black widow spiders had homesteaded the garage!). Small steps - but we have prayed this thing through and know "Do not despise…small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin.” Zechariah 4:10 NLT

The Work has begun - we are ready for this new chapter - see ya again soon!

Shorter day - even less blogging

Picture was taken around 6:45 am - so strange to be still dark but it really IS the beginning of autumn this week. What happened to our summer? Thank goodness it is about done with - here in Texas we are still in a drought to break most records. A little rain last week to remind us it CAN rain - refreshing and cooled the earth down enough to get temps out of the triple digits.

Again I'm apologizing for the lack of blog entries - in about 10 days I can reveal what's been absorbing so much time and energy - I think it is good and hope you will also find it interesting - for now - on Buhlaland it is cooler, gooder (? what word is gooder) and blessed beyond belief - we have survived the summer of 2011!

End of August - time to update!

OK quickly write words or I'll run out of month!

The goat herd has shrunk to 7 animals - one wether 3 does and 3 doelings. We had 22 and that was too many animals to feed and care for. With absolutely nothing in pastures we had to buy hay -- was $100/round bale and very poor quality. All animals went to same wonderful couple who just love 'em (God bless you Craig and Leah!).

Garden all done with cleared out and containers stacked in hopes next year won't be another record breaking plant and tree killing drought year.

DH did a walking test (really - that was what they called it and yet I'm sure they billed Medicare like a hunka money!) where he wore a monitor and walked for a timed span - a technician recorded his oxygen demand.

Doctor appointments - OH SO MANY DOCTORS! Tired of doctors and places where they are - hope none of you ever ever have to be in Dallas in room HQ6.600 - no happy reasons to be in there.

A pretty sight in parking area of a Fort Worth heart center was a blooming desert willow - almost made up for the unpleasant testing and long morning spent at this particular medical facility (where once again proved to me- do NOT leave your loved one in a room with

only medical people - they don't pay attention!) One technician decided DH didn't know what he was talking about when he kept telling her to turn his oxygen back on after she had messed up the settings. Oh well - just resulted in the test being wrong because it showed a false problem - ahhh health care. DH got to explain all this when doctor's nurse (since this doctor doesn't phone patients himself) called to tell DH to come in next day due to oxygen deficit in his testing - No Kidding??

Almosy to the end here - one sneaky picture of my guy - out looking at property.

Finally - we've had the hottest, driest summer in many decades - that was August 2011 - we worked, we worshiped (at home still - no immune system likely to appear again for DH), we gratefully acknowledge not ALL doctors are difficult - the pulmonologist DH sees in Fort Worth is a real physician - he cares for the person not the disease - what a blessing he is.

Could stick in something about changes and seasons of life and all that stuff - but we all know it already. DH read an article on internet saying blogging is dead - being replaced by twitter - might be true - I certainly don't blog on a regular basis anymore but then I don't twitter at all!

So that's the story ~of that's the glory of love - it is good on Buhlaland and for that we are deeply grateful! Below is the song my daddy loved and served as the source for my blog title - old fashioned but eternal truths aren't fads are they?

Front yard DMZ

De Moisturized Zone - cannot waste water on keeping too much area greened - simply keeping a little lawn alive so when the rains come (and they will) grass will have some life left.

Rain will come - always does - right now it seems more our country needs this kind of rain even more than the moisture kind


- but we serve a God great enough for both - THE reason it is always good on Buhlaland! Bless y'all

Rainstorm in Texas - this clip lasts a full hour - listen to as much as you need to recall the refreshing feelings of rain. Good reasons scripture describes the blessings of God coming as rain - sustaining and refreshing.

You May have to kiss a lot of toads

To find your prince - at least that may be one story in tiny pond outside breakfast nook windows. Had big plans about changing up pond - adding trickling water rocks and generally spiffing it up. Somehow the costs in energy and finances of dealing with DH's recent health kick in the pants (aka stroke) has ended up with an amusement park for toads and frogs. Only the smoother skinned pointed snout one is a frog - all others are toads.

We got a real laugh from the morning line up (the toads get in water to eat whatever they find and rehydrate) to exit pond. Larger toad appears to be practicing for some serious rockclimbing.

Doesn't take much to amuse us here on Buhlaland - and that is good - with weather guessers doing a countdown on number of 10o F days in a row - we are grateful for inexpensive amusement close to the air conditioned ceiling fanned house!