I have been accused in the past by certain friends that I have perfection tendencies. I have never thought of myself that way, but recently I am wondering if it might not be true. I use to think my desire for declutter, organization and general neatness to be something of an Asian trait, but now I am seeing the "Martha, not Mary" syndrome creeping into my life. Okay, creeping is not the right word. Its basically an ugly monster that attacks me daily.
It has been interesting to watch my friends over the years who have had the time and resources to focus on their homes and decorating, etc. I use to think I was so "blessed" that I wasn't enslaved to weekends of Home Depot trips or a constant state of an unfinished house. I, unlike my friends, was actually living life and enjoying my home. I liked my home neat, but I had no time, money, or husband to help me with home improvement and so it was just not something on my radar.
"Judge not, lest ye be judged." Oh yeah. I am up to my eyeballs in paint swatches and decorating ideas and it doesn't end. Our "remodeling" is essentially done and our house is pretty much put back together. I can't say it was a terrific experience and it was a time of spiritual challenge.
I learned that I am more like Martha (not because I am Asian) than Mary. Shocking.
I found out that if I didn't take the time to intentionally be like Mary, my Martha tendencies would never be satisfied. The things to do and the lists of tasks never really end.
The battles were mental and emotional. The lie was staring me in the face: "Once your house is in that 'perfect' condition, once its
finally all done, then,
THEN you'll have peace and be happy."
Ooooooh. Ugly, ugly lie.
My joy and my peace should not be challenged by ANY house or the condition of it. Joy and peace don't mean I have to LIKE the condition of my house, but it should not determine the quality of my life, especially in light of eternity.
I also struggled with our contractor. Danny and I like him a lot, personally. He is currently in seminary and loves Jesus. He was recently layed off and our project was the perfect timing for him (he was in the home improvement industry anyway).
Although 80% of the work done was wonderful, there was the 20% that was not. That 20% took an additional 3 weeks and extra $$$$. It required our contractor to bring in another subcontractor to finish and by then I was in the state of asking, "How am I suppose to look like Jesus in all this?"
The irony of course, is that Jesus was an excellent carpenter.
By now our contractor was losing money on our project because of the snags he'd run into and yet his "fixes" were not acceptable. I wanted to be angry at him and see him as the enemy ruining my house, my life. Yeah, I just equated my house to my life. How quickly we begin to be owned by the things we own.
The result was good. Mostly because I have a godly husband who is so intent on taking care of me and reminding me, "Its not the end of the world. These things can be fixed. I will talk to him."
Poor Martha. She needed a Danny.
As for me and my house? Well, as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. There's plenty of remodeling and decorating needing to be done in my heart.
>>CLICK HERE to see
>>CLICK HERE to see Gardner mayhem and fun!
Well, its been a busy but somewhat laid back week. Michael arrived Tuesday night. Danny has been off since Wednesday. I started my Christmas dinner prep Monday and am "on top of things."
Lauren is primping. Michael is preparing taco dinner (he chose to cook and Lauren will do the clean up).
Tonight we'll head to a Christmas Eve service and then head home for Michael's taco dinner.
Merry Christmas Eve :)
You've seen her. The middle-aged woman still trying to appear as if she were in her lates 20's. Its painful and sad. No matter how great her figure still is, or how pretty her hair is, her face will tell it like it is.
As I posted in my "Open for Business" entry, Zoe and I started a gift wrapping service. Although we couldn't quite get our ducks in order this season to pursue clients, we are happy to report we have had 2 non-corporate clients.
Last Saturday we drove to Danny's parents' place in Tappahannock, VA to celebrate Christmas. It also happened to be Michael's 19th birthday. It was a smaller crowd than Thanksgiving, but it was still nice to see the family.
Johnny (Santa) and his youngest son, Dale.
The first great-grandchild for Danny's parents: Kylie
There is always lots of food and people!
Cory (Danny's step son) and birthday man, Michael!
I love Christmas music..... I DO. I promise. I love to start listening to it the day after Thanksgiving. But there are just some songs that should be banished from anyone's playlist and here is my top 10 Christmas songs that should be obliterated because its possible they are the work of Satan. (okay, that's a little dramatic...)
AFTER (ooh, la la)
These pix seems to give the room a purplish/lavender look,
Lauren came home A LOT in the last part of Oct and November. There was fall break, Halloween, and her birthday. Oh, yeah. So on 11/19/10 she turned 19. Her last year as a teenager. Don't even get me started......
Lauren was Cleopatra for Halloween.
Home improvement is almost done! We are sooooooooo close. But it has been an interesting "you get what you pay for" kinda ride. Just because your contractor is a Christian doesn't mean he is "gifted" in quality work.
We've done a Bowl-A-Thon with the mentally challenged adults group. The young lady I meet with was on our team and she was sooo good. Me? I was excellent at getting my bowling ball right in the gutter. Often.
I had a dinner party that pretty much failed. Apparently sit down dinner parties are a thing of the past. We cleaned. I bought salmon. Set the table with napkins holders and wine glasses. Invited two couples from our Sunday school class --- one we knew well (couple A) and the other we didn't know (couple B). That was the whole point, to have an opportunity to get to know couple B. Well, couple B called 15 minutes before the get together started to cancel as their babysitter "fell through." Must go confess my bitterness yet again.
Thanksgiving was spent with the Dulin village in Md. I had FRIED turkey for the first time in my life and I am here to say it was DELICIOUS!!
And on one last note. I was too sick to go to church on Sunday. It was communion Sunday and when my husband came home he confessed, "I'm sorry I murdered you last week."
I love weddings. Good weddings where the bride and groom are overflowing with love and with Jesus.
Danny and I cried.
We are so happy for them. We are so blessed to see how Christ, in his timing has transformed these individuals and this couple. We were so blessed to witness all the love and all the ways they chose to honor Christ on their special day.
We are hoping that as we trust God, He'll use this business in ways that go beyond just the potential income it would bring in.
