Living On One Income

I've heard over and over that a family cannot live on one income because the cost of living is so high. The cost of living is high, but I can say from experience, that it is possible. No, my husband didn't make a lot. His income was low enough to allow us government assistance - but we didn't take it. Why? We didn't need it!

We had a family of 4. No, the kids didn't have the latest and greatest video games, etc. They got them after they were out for a while and the price came down or they got them for Christmas/birthday from someone. They never felt like they were missing out, but ended up appreciating what they received more than their friends. They learned to work for what they wanted and saved up for things, too. This made them realize that all the time that it took to save, was not always worth the item they ended up purchasing.

The family was well dressed and well fed. I shopped at yard sales and thrift stores as well end of season clearances. It's amazing to me that we could get brand new clothes for almost nothing. Many times we got clothing with tags still on them for 25 cents or less and my winter coat cost $2 and still had the tags on it! The only thing we didn't buy used were undies, swim suits and shoes.

As for food, I didn't do the menu plan that everyone talks about. Instead, I'd scan the grocery flyers for excellent sales and then stock up on those items. I'd search the store for markdowns and buy them if they were a good price. By doing this every week, we had a nice little stock on our pantry shelves and I cooked from what I had there. There are times I'd use coupons as well. Our store would double and even sometimes triple them, but I found coupons are usually for prepared and junk food that really wasn't a savings, even after the coupon. I cooked a lot from scratch and made my own "groceries", ie: mixes and convenience foods. I also canned, froze and dehydrated foods as well.

No, we didn't have the newest things, but we never really seemed to miss them.  We always had enough - actually more than enough to keep everyone satisfied. Even on my husband's income, we still managed to put away more than 6 months of his salary in case of emergency. By the time the kids were in college, we had no debt and we were debt free quite a while before that! My husband lost his job, and didn't find anything for more than 6 months. When he did, we had to relocate and the money that was tucked away was the down payment on our new home. We ended up moving in one of the highest priced places in the state, but it was where the job was. When we sold our home, we got 10% of what this home cost - and this one wasn't nearly as expensive as those around the area. We got a "good deal" on this one!

Living on one income is not easy. It takes time and effort and it helps to have an attitude that you are satisfied with what you have. Yes, you will still see things you want, but impulse buying is not something one can or should do. Many people have buyer's remorse after an impulse purchase. Remember the clothing with tags we've bought at yard sales or thrift stores?

After moving here, I did work for awhile. We NEEDED a second car and extra car insurance, maintenance since my hours didn't match with my husband. I had to buy special clothes and shoes for work and with the job I had, they didn't last long. My shoes wore out in 3 months! I was buying 4 pair a year!  I'd get home exhausted and not feel like cooking, so we were eating prepared and take out. Our health declined, we gained weight and were sick more. I got injured at work and continued to re-injure myself, so when home, I wasn't doing much. My hours didn't allow for much time off, and I couldn't take off during normal vacation times, so we really couldn't do anything. My husband hardly ever saw me and neither of us was really happy. After all was said and done, my extra income wasn't really helping since much of it was going towards the extras that I had to have while working. The job was being more of a hindrance than anything!

I left work and we are again living on one income. We are back to eating better and all around living better.  My injury finally healed after a year (just like the doctor said!) and I am back to normal. No, I did not take workman's comp or disability although I was highly urged to. I saw no reason when I'm not planning on returning to work.

We sold the car and we are back down to one. I didn't need it any longer. There was a small adjustment period since I couldn't just hop in and go, but now,
I really don't miss it.

I'm back to cooking from scratch, canning, freezing, dehydrating and just enjoying life. I'm always learning new skills and honestly, I don't feel like I'm missing out at all. There is nothing I want or need - I have it all!

Let's Talk... Menopause

Menopause.... a thing I heard about some, usually in jokes, but never discussed. Because it was never discussed, I had no idea what to expect and that discussion could have prevented lots of heartache, pain and frustration. I have decided to tell my story, with hope that it may help someone else.

My mother died when she was 56 and had a hysterectomy at 36, so I never witnessed menopause in my immediate family. So when I entered this new phase of my life, I had no idea what would happen. I had no older female in my life that could tell me that I wasn't going crazy. No one to explain the moods or feelings I was having. There was no one. Every older woman I was close to or would trust with the feelings I was having, died. My life, my sanity and my marriage were in shambles and I had no idea what happened or why.

In my late 40's was having crazy periods. For more than two years, they were extremely heavy and clotty. I was told that I was pre-menopausal and it was normal. When I was 50, they slowed down, stopped, and I had spotting from time to time. When I was almost 51, I caught the flu, became very ill and ended up with bronchitis. I was so sick and ended up losing 25 pounds in a month. Right after that, I found I couldn't sleep. I'd go 24-48 hours with no sleep, then I'd get a couple of hours the next night, and I'd be back awake for another 24-48 hours. I moved to the living room couch so that I wouldn't disturb my husband.

Night after night, I'd be awake and to pass the time, I'd be online playing games and chatting with people all across the world. There were hot flashes mingled in this mess, but I didn't realize it since it was summer.

With no sleep, came the crazy thoughts, wild moods and depression. It started arguments and strife in our home. Finally I went to the dr. to find out if I had a brain tumor or was just going crazy. He smiled, patted me on the shoulder and said it was just menopause and it will pass. I was having a little more difficulty because of the severe weight loss from my illness and more hormones being released more quickly.  I was told to take some melatonin for my sleeplessness and relax. No real help there.

By that time, our communication at home was bad. My husband never saw the effects of menopause on any of his family either, so he didn't know what to expect and thought I had decided I didn't want to be married to him any longer. I was sleeping on the couch and was online all the time. He asked me to go to counseling, but I refused. I didn't want the counselor to blame all on me. Besides, I asked him earlier to go and he refused, so I was just getting even, or so my crazy mind told me.

Well, things spiraled out of control. I got paranoid, thought he was having an affair and the melatonin didn't help. Things got worse because of the hormones and lack of sleep. Sadly, my marriage didn't survive, my adult children were heartbroken and I ran away to another continent to sort things out.

I came back, became employed, got my own apartment and finally, FINALLY turned my focus back to God. The Lord helped me heal as I started to read my Bible again. When everything happened, I tried to hide from the Lord because I failed so miserably. I ruined so many lives and my own marriage - something I treasured more than anything. When I finally surrendered, went to Him in prayer and accepted everything that I had done, I felt a weight lifted. I then started to read my Bible, and took a challenge to read all of Paul's books once a month for 12 months. That was 3 chapters a day. That challenge changed me.

The best part is, the Lord not only healed me, but brought my husband and I back together. We remarried and life has been amazing since. We don't take things for granted any more and more importantly, we keep God at the center of our marriage.

I don't remember all the craziness of what happened for about 2 years, so much was like I was in a fog. My husband will tell me things that happened and honestly, I don't remember much. There's so much to this story, but I won't bog you down with details, as this is so long as it is. I do thank you for sticking to the end, and I pray that my story may possibly help someone who didn't have some to turn to.

If you need someone to talk to - I am here and would be happy to help. God Bless~

Disappointed With Ravelry

On June 23rd, I logged in to my Ravelry account and as usual, looked at the Ravelry main page to see what amazing patterns or designers were being featured. Instead, there was a posting saying that they would no longer allow support of our President and his administration. Those that supported them would be banned. Instead of a NO POLITICS, there was a NO TRUMP policy. Why? Because according to those that run Ravelry, those that support President Trump and his administration were white supremacists! Then, they stressed the importance of inclusiveness and how everyone should be included. My chin hit the floor.

If I voted for Trump or if I'm a Conservative is no one's business but mine. I have never posted anything political, racist or anything offensive about anyone. I went to Ravelry to gather with like minded fiber artists for education and encouragement - and that sharing ran both ways. I have been on the receiving end of help as well as giving it. Unfortunately, that feeling has gone by the wayside. I am no longer comfortable in what is called an inclusive environment when it is obviously not.

People became labeled as white supremacists because they didn't believe what those that ran Ravelry does. Tell me how this is any different than the bully on the playground telling you that you had to do whatever he said or think the way he thought, or you'd pay one way or another? I remember being a child that befriended someone that my friends didn't like. They told me I had to stop being friends with that girl or they'd stop being my friend. I thought it was absurd and didn't follow their rules. I was mocked, kicked, punched, shoved, etc. every time they went past me to let me know that I was going against their "rules". Yes, we made up and became friends again, even though I never unfriended the girl they wanted me to, but there was a level of distrust from then on. I always wondered what I'd do to make them angry again. Tell me how Ravelry's new policy is any different?

When we allow labels to be put on groups, then we notice a difference and hatred gets a foothold. Don't believe it? Watch a group of young children play together. They don't notice race, religion, IQ scores, or anything like that, until it is pointed out to them. They do see differences, but accepted it like hair and eye color. Discrimination and hatred is learned as soon as it is labeled.

Tell me, why can't we all just be a group of people who love the Fiber Arts? Why does politics, religion and sex have to be allowed when it should be excluded - they are hot topics and have no real place in a group that many of us use to escape from our daily lives. It WAS a safe haven for me. Obviously, it is no longer.

Great Shopping Finds - One Unbelievable!

My son had to go out of town to take a managerial test yesterday and asked if I'd like to come along. How could I pass up an opportunity like that? The testing site was about 2 hours away, making it a great time for us to just spend some time talking.

Autumn Harvest Pancake Pan $19.98 at Sam's Club

While he was taking his test, I went to Sam's Club there. It was a lot bigger than ours and had some really neat items that I've never seen before. I bought the most adorable pancake pan. It make medallion pancakes with autumn designs on them. I did spend more than I normally would, but knew it would be used a lot!

Gurunanda Essential Oil Gift Set $22.91 at Sam's Club

The next find was also at Sam's Club. I use essential oils - usually doTerra brand, but stumbled across a Gurunanda Essential Oil Gift Set for $22.91. It comes complete with:

• 8 Essential Oils - Lemon, Lemon Grass, Peppermint, Lavender, Tea Tree Oil, Frankincense, Rosemary and Eucalyptus (15ml each)
• A wooden storage box that holds 8 oils
• A travel box that holds 8 oils
• A small booklet containing information about the oils as well as some recipes
• A dropper
• Dots to put on top of your EO's so that you don't have to pull them all out to find the one you are looking for

Storage box and travel box

I'm not sure if Sam's just got them in or are clearing them out. I couldn't find the set on their website nor on Gurunand's site. This price is really good. I looked at what each EO runs at Gurunanda, and they are listing at $7.99 each. Even their sets are not priced this good. I'm not sure how great the quality is, as I haven't used them, however, their website states they are safe to use on the skin and some are safe to ingest - but you should always talk to a certified/licensed aromatherapist before ingesting any EO.

BUT the BEST find of the day was at the mall. My son finished his exam (and passed - He's now certified!!! YAY!!! ) and suggested we stop at the nearby mall to see what was there. Sadly, a good 1/4 of it is empty and the last big store, Bon-Ton was in its final stages of clearing out their merchandise. There was barely anything left, but I did happen to stumble upon two sweaters that I liked.

I purchased the same sweater in 2 different colors - the blue shown here and a red one. They are soft and feel absolutely luxurious on. The neat thing about them - the cowls are separate, so you can wear them with or without the cowl, creating 4 different looks instead of 2.  I can also use the cowls with other sweaters as well!

The original price of the sweater was $68 and was marked down to $50.99. That price still would have kept it well out of the range of what I'd want to pay for a sweater. But here's where it becomes unbelievable - since it was a marked down item, they had an addition 90% off plus another $30% off that!! I really didn't do the figuring in my head, but knew it was going to be a great deal when I got to the counter. At the time I took the sweaters to be rung up, I had no idea there was the extra 30% off. When she told me the grand total, I just looked at her and said, "Are you sure that amount is correct? I have 2 sweaters."

My total after everything was all said and done was $7.14 for both sweaters! That's even less than they charge for sweaters at the Goodwill - and these were brand new!!

I am saddened to see another store close its doors. The mall there lost JC Penneys, Macy's, Sears, and now Bon-Ton, not to mention other stores and restaurants. After we got back from our lovely day out, I went online and found that Bon-Ton closed and is closing a lot of their stores. Check in your area and see if your Bon-Ton is one of them. If so, you might find some great buys, too.

I Should Be Ashamed To Call Myself A Woman

I recently worked at a very well known university as a Dining Hall Worker. It's a physical job, but one I enjoyed. I had contact not only with the employees at the dining commons, but I also worked with student employees and had contact with the general student population. Sometimes I served them and sometimes I cleaned up after them. The job was good and so was the pay.

When I was hired, I went through all types of training and one was about diversity and tolerance. We have many international students and students with diverse backgrounds. I had no problem with the idea of respecting other's thoughts, ideas and beliefs. That's what makes the world interesting!

I enjoyed learning about other's cultures and hearing about families as well as their religious upbringings (and at times lack of). It made me more aware and thankful for my salvation. As much as I wanted to share things about my beliefs, I was not allowed to discuss them or politics. That was a fire-able offense. Although if someone asked, I was very happy to share. That's how I found out I should be ashamed to call myself a woman.

I was washing dishes in the commons' kitchen, when a student employee started a conversation about feminism. She turned to me and asked, "You're a feminist, aren't you?"

I shook my head and answered, "Far from it."

She gasped and then started talking very loudly and became very condemning. She said I was working, so I must be a feminist. But I told her there were situations that forced me to work. She became louder and said I was a hypocrite. I agreed with her. That appeared to make her angrier. This began drawing a large crowd of students and employees. The students stood with eyes wide and mouths gaping and one of the employees tried to tell everyone that this is the great thing about being diverse and tolerant - we can have differences of opinions and still discuss them. He was worried that this discussion may get me reported and fired.

I didn't raise my voice and only answered when she asked questions. She screamed of tolerance and equality and how as women we need to stick together and fight for each other. She went on to say that  I should be ashamed to consider myself a woman since I'm not helping female equality, but one that has backwards beliefs. I was stunned at how much anger and intolerance flew out of her mouth! She spewed so many foul words and she became louder and louder while doing so. If she tried to win points with her fellow student workers, she didn't. They appeared to be disgusted and after she walked out, many came to me and apologized for her.

I learned a lot that day. I found that tolerance from certain people with special interests, only seems to go one way. I also found that the college will stand behind that person with a special interest and no behind the Christian. Hence, I must tolerate the beliefs of others, but they are allowed cut mine up into pieces and put me down. As much as I loved my job and the people I worked with, I don't miss the double standards.

United We Stand!!!!

I have been silent about things for a long time. I am not one to discuss my views or get into arguments when it comes to the subject of politics. I do try to keep somewhat informed, but the topic is so heated, that I'm not sure when the media is telling the truth or when it's swayed.

With that being said, what I saw in the news made me concerned - very concerned. I saw our former president in another country discuss what he considers problems here in the United States with our current president. Honestly, I was stunned and felt betrayed. Not betrayed because he is putting down a man that I may or may not have voted for, but because he has betrayed our country and put us at risk.  He showed the world that we are divided. With division comes weakness and makes us a target.

"And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand." Mark 3:25.  If we are divided, it causes strife in the home, and that marriage will fall apart if unity is not found. I can personally attest to that and what happened to my marriage a few years ago.

Mark 3:24 states,"And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand." From my own personal experience, you can see why I'm concerned. I see so much anger everywhere. I used to enjoy looking at posts from my friends and family on Facebook. Now, it's no longer enjoyable. I see anger and hate and everyone taking the us -vs- them mentality. That not only angers me but saddens me. It's not only Facebook and my family and friends, but it's all over. There really is no place I can go that I don't hear about it: online, TV, papers, magazines, even at the store!

I am amazed. I cannot believe what I'm seeing and hearing from everyone.

I don't care who the president is. He was ELECTED by the people just as other presidents in the past were. Agree with him or not, it is our job as Americans to be united. That is our strength. If we stay divided, we become weak and will allow our enemies to overtake us while our guard is down.

Pray for our President to make good choices. Democrats and Republicans should not be against each other but working as checks and balances as was originally intended. This should not be a competition and the hate and anger level is way out of hand. There have been leaders in the past that were not the best, but we stood united and the United States (notice the word UNITED) was always looked at as a powerful and strong nation. Not so much any more. Even our past president was in another country and ran our leadership down which is undermining our country to others! What is happening here?!!!

We are playing a dangerous game and the last thing we need to do is to break down and become weak and allow our enemies to take advantage of the situation. Pray for our leaders and make America UNITED and STRONG again!!!!

Life is Good!

Married life has certainly changed since the last time around. We have grown and I know that I've probably grown the most. Those years on my own gave me a greater perspective on what actually goes on in life. I never was truly on my own before - where I had no safety net. I went from my parents home, to rooming with someone to being married. Flying to another country and being 11,000 miles from home, away from anyone I knew, certainly put a new light on things.

Working, too, as an older person, was a challenge. Trying to find a job after being out of work for 26 years was difficult. No one was interested in hiring someone that "didn't do anything" for all that time. Homeschooling and doing other odds and ends just wasn't of interest to those that interviewed me. Finally, I found something that was not only a job, but a fun job... demoing products at Sam's Club. That got me the experience to get hired at a grocery store and then on to a job at the University.

I loved the job at the University, but after many hours of Bible Study, decided that after we remarried, that I would leave it and return home as a housewife. Both of my decisions were frowned upon by most of my friends. I was questioned over and over about the remarriage and then told I was crazy to leave my job - my source of independence!

You know, as much as I loved my job at the University, I don't miss it. It's funny, really. I do miss the people - they were a great team to work with, but I stay in contact with those that I made good friends with. The same with my past jobs. I may go back to demoing at Sam's a day or so a week, but right now, I just don't have the time! There are so many things I want to do and so many things that keep me busy right now, that I just don't seem to have enough time in the day, let alone adding work to it. I guess you could say I'm living the life of luxury now. I'm doing things I've been wanting to do that I couldn't with living in an apartment and with working all the hours I did.

Now, I am back doing those things I love: gardening, canning, dehydrating, knitting, reviewing, blogging, taking classes, working on making my house a home, trying new recipes, working on making a place for a craft room, etc. Most important, is having time for church, Bible study, family and friends. Those were the things that I missed doing most of all. I couldn't attend church because of my schedule at work and the time spent with visiting and enjoying the company of others was few and far between.

I am so lucky to have a second chance. I learned a very large lesson from all this - what is most important in life. God is soooo good!

Roasted Dandelion Root Coffee

Finally! After a long, dreary winter, spring has arrived! My favorite part about the spring is gathering up the fresh greens and flowers that are packed full of vitamins and minerals and are super tasty. This year I have dried my dandelion leaves, flowers and made the roots into a wonderful roasted "coffee".

The "coffee" is a not actually coffee but makes a wonderful substitute. It has a nice flavor - a somewhat coffee, caramel and chocolate flavor combination. It's hard to describe, but with a little bit of cream and a touch of honey - it's pretty much heaven! The spring crop of roots are much more mild than the fall crop. The fall is more robust and bitter and packed with more vitamins and minerals because the roots are storing all the nutrition required to make a strong plant in the spring. Fall is the best time to harvest for drying roots for their medicinal value and for the most robust coffee, but I love the spring harvest as well! 

I dig up my dandelions whole and try to get as much as the root as possible. They are long and do easily break off. I found it best to try to run a long screwdriver or a dandelion removing down next to the root as closely as possible and break the ground around it by wiggling it back and forth. If difficult to remove, I will do this around the plant. A shovel works, too, but it leaves a lot more mess to deal with and depending where you harvest your plants, you may not want to leave holes behind.

After digging the dandelions, I pre-rinse with a hose to get rid of as much dirt as possible. Then I put the whole plant in a 5 gallon bucket and rinse, drain, rinse, drain, rinse, drain.... until the water looks quite clean. Next, I cut off the top part of the plant and put in two separate piles.

I then put the roots in a bowl and soak for a little bit. Then I rinse a few more times and try to swish off as much of the remaining dirt as possible.

I then use a scrub brush to take off the remaining dirt. I like putting a small cutting board in the bottom of the sink to have something to scrub on. If the roots have a lot of off-shoots, I'll break them apart to get in between them.

Then I put them in my food processor and chop until the pieces resemble brown rice.

Next I pour them on a cookie sheet and put them in a 225 degree oven and let them dry. This can take about an hour. 

I then check to see how they are drying by stirring every 10 to 20 minutes or so. Drying times will depend on the day, your oven, how large the pieces are, etc.

After the pieces are dry, I increase the oven temperature to 325 and continue to bake. Now the roasting process has started. I kept a close eye on it and mixed every 10 minutes. I love this part because when the root is almost ready to remove from the oven, it has the most amazing aroma of baking a chocolate cake or brownies! 

Some people will remove the root as soon as they see small wisps of smoke coming from the root. I put mine back in a bit longer. I like a darker roast. I find it to have a bit more of a robust flavor. 

After removing from the oven, I let it cool and then put it in a jar. The contents in the jar are much more true in color to the actual end product. 

To use:

Put water in a pan and bring to a boil. Add the dandelion root, stir well and boil for 1 minute. Make sure it doesn't boil over because it will produce foam on top. You will need 1 tsp. of Roasted Dandelion Root Coffee per 8 oz of water (adjust to taste). Serve with a little cream and honey if desired.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a qualified/licensed instructor or certified to teach wildcrafting, using herbs or explaining how to identify any plant I use or speak of in these posts. This is only describing what I did and how I use the item described in MY home with MY family. I am not to be held responsible for any misinformation or any mishaps if anyone decides to try this at home. If you decide to try this method - it is at your own risk. Please research and study any plants, methods and side effects of the plant describe in this post.

Life Is Full Of Lessons

Life is full of lessons - some extremely difficult, some easy and some that take you totally by surprise. My last few years have been full of lesson - mostly difficult and some made me wonder if I was going to survive: However, I made it through, with the help the help of the Lord.

As you know, I was divorced 2 years ago, went to Australia to heal and came back to begin my life over. I found a part time job, an apartment and then life became more interesting as I looked for more work. I was carrying 3 part time jobs at one point last year and then found a full time job. Not the dream job I've always wanted it, but a good paying full time job in food services that has good benefits. Life seemed to be finally looking up. Then came the surprise.

Spiritually and emotionally, I was a mess. I tried hiding from God. My life was in shambles, I had broken my vow to be together with my husband forever, and I was really seeing myself as I truly was and not liking it one bit. So, like the child who took a cookie from the cookie jar when told not to, I hid from my Father. I didn't read my Bible, didn't pray, and stayed as far away as I could from Him. But it appeared He wasn't going to allow that at all. People would come to me and ask if I had a Church that I attended. I would say no and then be invited to attend theirs. I had one woman give me a book called "Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence" by Sarah Young and she kept telling me things about forgiveness and stated she knew I was haunted by what happened. I attended church a few times when I wasn't working and I began reading the Bible.

The healing that I needed finally came, but only after learning to forgive myself and learning to accept and like myself for who I am. With that came a change in me. I became a calmer, more peaceful and more loving and accepting person. I didn't notice it at first, but as I look back, I can really notice a difference. God has been very good to me. I now have everything need and more than I could ever hope for!

Male sure to come back tomorrow to find out what surprise blessing God granted me!

Goodbye 2017

It has been almost 2 years since my divorce was final. It's been a time of sadness, depression, forgiveness, growth and healing. I have been away for a long time learning about myself and learning to both forgive myself and even have learned to like who I am now.

I did not set any goals for the year. I just decided I would challenge myself to be the best I could be with what I had to work with. I went from middle aged housewife to being employed by an amazing university with great benefits and an amazing group of people to work with. The road was not easy. I had 3 part time jobs for awhile and then was blessed with a loving friend who talked me into applying at the university. It is difficult to get in. Some have applied for years. I put in 46 applications in over a 4 month period, had 11 interviews and was hired part time. The day before I started my part time job, I was called for another interview for full time. I went for the interview and started full time only 3 weeks after starting my part time at the university! That doesn't happen! Everyone I talked to says they've worked part time for at least a year. I was so very lucky!!!

Australia was lovely and someday I want to go back and see more of it. I really had considered staying there, but needed to be in a relationship to be able to work there. Not my thing at that time at all! I came home and went to work looking for jobs. I was turned down so many times because I was out of work for 26 years to raise a family. That was really hard. I finally found work as an Event Specialist then as a merchandiser, a produce associate and then a part time cashier at the college. I was putting a good 60 hours a week in and not bringing a lot home, but I was managing.

I found an apartment very close to work, so it made life a bit easier. I bought a car and was making it on my income, but with 3 part time jobs, I had no health insurance. Nothing major happened, thank heavens, but I did have to take a trip into the emergency room for a bloody nose. I had 14 nose bleeds in 24 hours and ended up having to go to the emergency room because the doctor said he couldn't do it in his office. All it took was what looked like a lit incense stick shoved up my nose, and I was fixed. That little procedure produced an $1800 bill. Amazing!

Over the past 2 years I have grown up. I've learned many lessons about life. I've learned to conquer my fears of flying, being alone, getting lost, traveling to strange places, heights, and failure. Those things really limited me and what I did. But more than anything, I stopped hiding from God. I felt like I failed when the divorce was final, and I tried my best at ignoring anything about God. I stopped praying, reading the Bible, would avoid any conversations about Him, etc. I felt like I failed because I ended up breaking my vows by signing the divorce papers. That, too, has been conquered.

It has been a long journey, but a necessary one. I have come out a better person. One with much more patience, understanding, forgiveness and love for those around me. I have been blessed with many friends and acquaintances and have a job where I get treated with respect.  Life can really change in just 2 years. I am truly blessed!

Family Recipe Friday -

Kapusta means cabbage in Polish. This dish was made many times by my grandmother. Sometimes she used just cabbage and other times she'd combine cabbage and sauerkraut together and add pork for New Year's Day and would serve with mashed potatoes and kielbasa.

Just seeing this recipe for Kapusta brings back many memories of my grandmother standing in the kitchen cooking, the warmth of the atmosphere and the mouthwatering smells. Walking into her kitchen on a cold winter's day was like walking into heaven. She would always be in there making something and I remember not only the warmth of the kitchen, but her smile, hugs and kisses and then her demanding that we sit down and eat.

Kapusta

1 medium head cabbage
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 pound bacon
1/4 cup flour
1 bay leaf
1 small onion, chopped
1 clove garlic
1/4 teaspoon Cumin powder

Cut cabbage in fat shreds. Cook in a small amount of water to which you have added the bayleaf, onion, garlic, salt and Cumin.

Cut bacon into small pieces and fry. Add flout and stir constantly until it is a rich brown. Add to cooked cabbage and simmer on low for about 10 minutes.

Put into a buttered casserole and bake in a 300 degree F oven for 20 minutes.

Buttered crumbs may be sprinkled on top before baking.

Makes 6-8 servings.

Exchange Rate and Trip

Blue Mountains - Three Sisters

I'm beside myself with trying to decide if I should now be going to Australia. The exchange rate isn't looking as nice as it did when all things were set into motion. Unfortunately, because of the amount of time that the divorce settlement took, I lost my roommate. As of yet, I still don't have the settlement money in my account, so I still cannot apply for a Visa until I have proof that I have enough money to go out and stay. Who knows, with the way things are going, I might not be accepted because the amount of money I have isn't enough. This stacked up on top of being alone out there, makes me really antsy, to say the least. 

I do have all the paperwork finished and ready to send to the bank in Sydney. Now, I just have to find out if I can go and if I really want to face a huge city alone. Growing up in rural America and never really being in a big city for more than a couple of days puts me at a disadvantage. Or should I say it makes me a bit terrified. I will admit, I've not done much alone all the time I was married, so this is a huge step for me. Maybe I'm just getting cold feet because I'm facing the unknown alone.

My other option is to stay here in the States and look for a good place to go. I do have 2 options. One would be to go out to the West Coast and be near my daughter or the East Coast to be near my son. Both said they wouldn't mind sharing an apartment with me and it would help them, but I'm not sure if it really would be or if they are just saying that to help Mom out.

So here I sit, pretty much indecisive on what I should do. I need to make a decision soon as my time is running out. I hate this paralyzed feeling and how much I'm flopping back and forth. Hopefully I'll grow up soon and make a decision. Right now there's a whole world of options and I can't figure out which one is best!  

90 Days to Decide

I have 90 days from the time of the divorce finalization to decide where to go. The house, most of the contents and cars went to the ex. I got a small bank account, a little retirement and what I can take with me, depending where I go. The bank account isn't going to last long, and with not working for the last 25 years, it's made life interesting.

Opera House in Sydney

My first choice is Australia. I've been enamored by it since high school, when we hosted a student from there. Family has lived there in the past and my best friend lives there. So, I'm really, really considering there. I have  all 18 pages of my VISA completed. I need forms certified to attach and another look to make sure everything is in order, then off it goes.

There is a huge drawback at my age. I cannot work while there on the VISA. I couldn't qualify for a working VISA because of my age, and I didn't qualify for the jobs posted because of my lack of education. The promise of allowing me to finish college never happened, and now I'm paying the price all around. That's just a minor setback. I'll find another way.

King's Canyon

I opened up a bank account and made sure I could transfer funds internationally, the cost, etc., etc....  I also looked into health insurance - wow!!! What a difference between there and here! I can do better as an international there than buying it here as a native and staying. I was dumbfounded to say the least.

Cost of living depends on where you decide to stay. I'm looking at a suburb of Sydney right now. The rent is about the same price as the area here, food costs are quite close, and wages are decent (if I decide to stay and can get sponsorship). I found a snag with apartment hunting though. They want me there and showing me apartments before they will discuss if I can rent or not. I've contacted different agencies and they said that all the owners want to meet their tenants before they will consider renting. That makes it a bit difficult and expensive on my end. I have to rent a hotel or something before I can consider looking. How long that will take? I have no idea.

If I do go this route, I leave the house with 2 suitcases and a carry-on. I start all over again from scratch. I leave everything behind except what's in those cases. My son says that it's a clean fresh start - to go for it. My daughter says I'm nuts leaving everything behind because I can set up house here with things and save that money. Yes, that's true, but with no vehicle, I must rent something to move as well plus maybe a storage unit if I don't find something right away.

There are so many IF's and MAYBE's. I'll have a little help from my friend, but everything hinges on everything else right now.

I'd love to hear your opinions. What would you do?

What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger

I never thought I'd be writing this. let alone experiencing it. After 25 years of marriage, I am facing life on my own after a divorce. It's been a painful process and one that took me away from this blog while I became centered again. I was lucky to have support of family and friends, but was terribly saddened by those friends I lost along the way.

My grandmother always said, "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger." I'm finding out that it's true. I've found a direction, focus and desire that I didn't have before. There is so much to life that I want to experience and now I get that chance.

You are going to see a different focus on this blog. It will no longer be just a book focus but a focus on life with recipes, tips, hints, reviews of books, services and products plus a focus on my new adventures. Things are going to be more personal and fun - not just "this is a book or product and here are my thoughts..." You will finally meet the person behind this blog.

I invite you to join me for the ride of my life. Get ready - it's going to be fun!!!

Still Settling In - Downsizing/Repurposing Furniture

We didn't officially move into our new home until the kids were on winter break from the university. It seemed like the most logical decision because of the travel involved, plus it was exciting coming here all at the same time as a family. The kids love our new home, even though it is small. They say they love the cozy feeling plus the area is amazing - an added bonus!

One of my largest issues at this time is the downsizing we need to do. Storage space is almost non-existent, so I'm at that point of deciding what really is important and what can I live without. Not only that, but most of our furniture won't work here, so we are slowly acquiring "new" furniture.

One of the items we won't be using is our old waterbed - sorely outdated and one of the few things I was glad to get rid of. Instead of tossing it all, hubby repurposed it into a nice new bed for us!

Waterbed frame cut, resized and legs added.

Next came the support posts.

Then a nice stable surface to put our new Memory Foam type mattress on - But only after we covered the plywood with something that would protect the mattress.

The finished product.

We still need to add a headboard. I want to make an upholstered headboard (like this one), but am waiting until I find the perfect fabric. I'm thinking of a red and white print or something with red in it.

I have many projects ahead of me - refinishing, repurposing, and making new. I plan to furnish our home as cheaply, yet beautifully as possible! I would love to hear what you have done for your home.

Moved In - Sort Of....

We've been in our new home for a whole week now and I'm liking it more each day. It's a beautiful area and it seems each day I find more and more "hidden" treasures. For example, we discovered the Bookmobile stops every week only 1/4 mile from our house AND it's a full-service Bookmobile. We were able to get our library cards, books, movies, and even order books through not only the local libraries, but the whole state and have it delivered by the Bookmobile! That may not be impressive to some, but compared to the one that used to come to my old hometown, this is totally amazing!

We spent the week cleaning and organizing but can't do much more without another trip to the old house to pick up more furniture. That doesn't sound like it will happen in the near future because of the wet weather that's in the forecast - so we will continue to live out of boxes until we can get some sunny days.  Sometimes I think it would be better to just rent a U-Haul :)

This Christmas will be spent without decorations, but we did have a little fun trying to brighten up the kitchen with our new snowman. With a few Christmas towels and dishcloths, some nice smelling candles and scented pine cones, plus a couple of bottles of Mrs. Myers Iowa Pine soap, we still feel the holiday cheer.

So on that note, I will be signing off with warm and loving holiday wishes to all. May you have a Blessed and very Merry Christmas!!!

We Are New Home Owners!!

We did it! We closed last week and are now the proud new owners of a nice cozy ranch home in a very nice and friendly town. The house sits on a nice sized yard and is surrounded by trees giving a wonderful feeling of privacy. The view from our picture window is one of farm fields, a pond and a barn!  Each time we went out to look at the house, there's always been geese around the pond. I think they were there to entice us with such a breathtaking view. Hubby said that we'll have to put a couple of chairs on the front porch so we can enjoy our coffee with the lovely views in the morning!

To say we are blessed with this find is an understatement!! We had looked at so many houses and nothing was feeling like a home, but this one - the one I said didn't want to look at because it was way too small (eating crow here), this one felt like home.

To think I almost passed it by because of square footage when it had so many more benefits and we keep finding out more as time goes on. I am surprised at how long it was on the market, though. Probably one was the size, and the other is probably because it really needs updating inside. Our realtor said that many want the perfect house when they walk in - all updated and pristine. She said that it is amazing how many can't look past paint colors, etc.!!

So now we are looking at moving from here to there and will be deciding what goes and what isn't worthy of the move. Yes, we will be downsizing and that might get interesting as we decide what is worth keeping and what we can live without.

Is This The One?

Long distance house hunting has been both challenging and exhausting. So many hours of being on the net searching through listings, finding what looks right, and then the showing discloses a total different house then what was presented through the listings. UGH!

Maybe that's a good thing though, as I was searching for my dream house from more than 20 years ago. I wanted a huge house to pack kids in and allow for parties, gatherings, sleep overs, etc. I wanted a nice 2 story that had an expandable attic and a basement, a garage, and a few acres. We looked, we found some but... Things just didn't seem to be working. We prayed and prayed about it, and then one day my eyes were opened. Both kids are in college and we are now empty nesters, so why do we need a big house - or should I say why do I need a big house?

Over and over I was finding verses in the Bible that was leading me away from my excessive wants and towards what I needed. Yes, you did see the word "I" instead of "we" because I was the one that was being excessive. When I finally opened my ears and started to listen to God, I found some of the real reasons I wanted such a large place now - mainly pride. I wanted a house to be proud of and one that others would "ooh" and "ahh" over. Where did that monster come from? That wasn't like me at all!

Well, we found the house for us - it's much smaller than I wanted - only 1,100 square feet, but what do I really need in this stage of my life? It's cozy and homey feeling - with enough yard for a garden, a garage, and a decent basement. We made an offer on the first day of fall and after some negotiations, we came to an agreement the next day (Sunday no less!!). Papers were signed, financial process started, and we had the inspections done. The inspections found a code violation for the venting of the furnace and a HIGH level of radon (79.2 - the safe level is under 4.0). Our agent wrote up a proposal, so now we are back to waiting. This answer isn't coming as quickly. So now we wait.

Watch Out for that Curve Ball!

If you've been a long time follower, you will remember me discussing my husband getting laid-off the end of last year. It was a hard time for him, as he seemed to lose some of his self-worth every time he got a rejection letter. He spent hours upon hours combing through listings all across the US to look for jobs he was qualified for - but with no luck.

Then, just before his unemployment ran out, he received a call from a "head hunter". He was told about a contract to hire job working at a university - his Alma Mater! Of course by then, he really didn't believe that he would qualify, but said to send his application on. He was interviewed by the company that contacted him as well as the university and then was hired!

He finished the out contract, the contract was extended and finally - FINALLY!! he was hired as a permanent member of the IT team at the university!! YAY!!! He says he still has to pinch himself every once in a while because he never thought he'd ever work at the place that gave him his sheep skin.

Weirder still is that I can finally get my degree AND from the same university that I applied to 30 years ago! Certain unforeseen circumstances prevented me going there, which made my mother "happy" because she was upset that I applied to a university so far away from home. Who new that all these years later I would be able to finish my degree at the university I always wish I had been able to attend!

This all means a big move for us. We will be saying goodbye to all the generations before me that lived in this town (my children are the 5th!) and starting a new life in a place where there is no family, but happily I have found some friends that live close to the area - imagine that!

It will definitely take some getting used to. I'm going from a very SMALL town to a large university "town" and one that has grown over the past 30 years. I will have to learn how to drive in town and also how to take a bus.

We are house hunting now and are astonished at the prices. WOW! Those "average" house prices would buy us a pretty nice farm here. It appears we won't be getting our dream acreage, but instead a small 1/3 of an acre in the middle of a development. God has provided us with so much, so I'm not even going to complain about the details of yard size. He will give us just what we need with the house, too. Everything else has fallen into place - so I'm certainly not going to question that one little detail!

If you are in a place you aren't satisfied with and life hasn't turned out the way you wanted, don't fret. God has plans and he will let you know them when it's time. As I look back over the past years, I see how everything has fallen into place, although at different times I couldn't understand why everything was falling apart. They really weren't - they were just pieces moving into place for the bigger picture.

Always remember... "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." ~ Romans 8:28 KJV

Out With the Old

Happy New Year !!!

First I want to wish all a happy and prosperous new year. I hope that you have nothing but happiness and blessings as we look forward to a new beginning  :)

I cannot believe that 2011 is over and a new year has begun. I'm so happy for a new beginning and that the slate has been wiped clean. If you have been following this blog for any length of time, you will know that we've faced a few challenges - the last one being the loss of my husband's job. His last day was Friday and after 24 years of service, he is quite at a loss of where to turn next. One thing that is facing him is a career change and probable relocation. That both excites and terrifies him. He's not a spring chicken any more, and he's concerned what employment opportunities are out there, what he's qualified for, and what factor his age is going to have on everything.

With hubby home, we will be sharing the PC a lot as he/we look for work and other opportunities. So what does that mean for Just One More Paragraph? Hopefully, there won't be a change. This blog has been my sanity through the loss of family members and friends, illness, and "empty nest syndrome". It only seems natural it will continue through our next challenge of our lives.

So here we stand - jobless, 2 children in college, and facing a world of unknowns. Am I scared? To be completely honest... no. This is exciting! The sense of freedom is overwhelming. We can go anywhere and do anything. This time when we start over - there are no ties to keep us in this area. I've never known this type of freedom before. Mind you - I am looking at this whole mess with rose-colored glasses on and someday I'm bound to take them off. But until then, I am really looking forward to this change.