Worth the time...

As I was perusing Family Christian Stores a couple of weeks ago, the current issue of life:beautiful captured my attention. I picked it up, and noticed that a topic I had been studying was mentioned in one of the articles. Since I was having trouble finding practical information on the particular subject, I decided to part with $5 and buy the magazine. A couple of years ago I picked one up - mostly intrigued by the appeal of the cover - but wasn't so eager to put down the money, so I left the store without it. :-)

lifebeautifulmagazine.com

This week I was finally able to really spend some time with this beautiful piece of art. In addition to the variety of faith-building articles, decorating tips, tasty recipes, DIY ideas (with free online templates), and large photo spreads, it is like a vacation for the eyes. The spectrum of colors presented in the tastefully designed pages really take the reader away for awhile. I'm guessing it is maybe 10x13 in size, and is flat out easy to read. Best of all, in this 97 page issue, there is not one advertisement!

I don't subscribe to many magazines. In fact, I'll get Women's Day if it's free or nearly free (ever notice they put a monthly Scripture verse on page 2?), and maybe a hunting mag for the guys if there isn't much cost involved. Magazines are mostly filled with vanity, Hollywood gossip (trash), or ads these days, so it's really nice to find one that values the reader and offers a pleasing presentation that grabs ones senses.

life:beautiful is published quarterly and is $4.95 per issue or $18.95 per year. Let me know if you have enjoyed this magazine or would like to borrow my copy! :-)

Well, It's Official...

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We are now contributors to Allen County's 2013 flu statistics.  In 13 years of being a momma, I've never had a doctor to diagnose my kids with influenza.  It felt kinda weird to go through all the hassle of an appointment (dragging two fevered, congested, weak kids out into freezing temps), a torturous (for Kaitlynn anyway) nasal swab, and a two hour pharmacy ordeal...just to make it official. 

If you've hung around this blog for a couple of years, you've probably read my dr's office horror stories, and thanks to my not-so-great, don't-ever-want-to-repeat experiences, I've pretty much made dr visits an absolute, only-if-you're dyin', last resort kind of thing.  Since Kaitlynn was entering her 73rd hour of fever, headache, etc., and Ryan was starting into his first day, I figured it was time to take a little action.  I was more afraid that what he had might be going into pneumonia (he had it last winter), and she was just wrung out from three days of misery.  Here's today's story...

When I called to make the appointment, the receptionist was laughing as she answered the phone, making it completely impossible for me to understand anything she said except the last part, "Can you hold?"  I figured by the utter incompetence that I had gotten the right number, so I held.  When she came back on the line, there was so much noise (sounded like a bunch of women laughing) that she couldn't hear anything I was saying.  She did apologize and said that "they" were being really loud...I'm guessing it was the medical assistants that sometimes hang out at the front desk.  I repeated everything to her, and she scheduled me.  Easy enough. 

We arrived about 20 minutes early in hopes that we would get out quickly, and we weren't disappointed.  It was interesting, though, that every time the receptionist answered the phone while I was at the desk, she was impossible to understand.  A few minutes later, a stoic employee came out to usher us to the first room where they do all the vitals and record symptoms.  Within just a bit, a woman who had at least eight hoop earrings in each ear and a humongo tatoo on her neck came to do the nasal swab.  She made the mistake of doing Ryan's first, which gave Kait the opportunity to see what was about to hit her.  Of course, Kait started weeping (which instantly rubs that office the wrong way...every time), and Kait gave a yell when the swab hit her brain (she says it felt like that, anyway...lol).  By the time they moved us to the exam room, I could tell we were once again well-removed from the top ten favorite patient list.  

When the dr (whom we really do like) finally walked in the door, the kids were really feeling rotten and wanting to go home and crawl into their beds.  After a little small talk, she pulled out Ryan's chart and said, "No flu for him."  She did a bit of a double take at the chart and said, "HOW much does he weigh?"  I tentatively said, "One hundred ninety-eight pounds."  Then I held my breath...preparing myself for one of those 'healthy kids don't weigh nearly that much at 13' speeches.  Instead she said, "Sure doesn't look like it."  I said, "Stand up, Ryan," and I think she was a little surprised that after he unfolded himself she had to look up to him.  :-)  Kaitlynn's flu test was positive, so she figured Ryan's was a false negative, and prescribed us Tamiflu and a decongestant. 
Pretty soon, stoic woman came back through the door and in a tone of voice I cannot convey in print pointedly said to me, "Your other two children have not been here in over a year, so you have to get them here.  You may just want to stop at the desk on your way out and get an appointment for tomorrow."  Um, really?  Like it's such a crime that we haven't had to visit the germ factory for more than a year? And I have to get them there because I'm breaking the law if I don't?  Ok...so you can hear the first-born coming out in me, can't you?  :-) With my sweetest smile, I replied, "Well, I guess we'll see what happens."  That's a pretty diplomatic answer, right?  Hehe...

We made it out of there in pretty decent time, but that wasn't the end of the process...oh, no.  Why on earth do pharmacies have to be so frustrating?  I decided to go to the Wal Mart that was close to the dr but across town from our home because they had a drive thru, it was cold out, and I had sick kids with me.  I sent the four prescriptions through the tube, and waited.  And waited. When a face finally appeared on the screen, I asked for them to give me a total with my insurance coverage figured in.  The nice lady told me that it would be 30 minutes before they could give me a total and one hour before the meds would be ready.  I had a couple of errands to run anyway, so that wasn't a problem.  Thirty minutes later, I called them to get a total.  I don't know why I do that, other than the fact that I'm laying out cash and I don't like surprises.  One time when Ryan was little one of his meds was, if I remember right, over $100.  I will never forget the "sticker shock" when I arrived at the register, and I've had an aversion to surprises ever since.  :-)  Anyway, when I called for the total, they informed me of the prices but said that they were unable to fill Kaitlynn's Tamiflu until Friday because they were out of it.  I ran back there and asked them to send me the script through the tube so I could check around while they finished the others.  I headed down to Rite Aid, and the kind pharmacist there told me they were also out.  I called the Wal Mart across town, and they said they had five boxes left, so I went back to pick up the ones that were ready, and while I was at it, I asked if that Wal Mart could just transfer it over to the other Wal Mart to save me having to wait a long time.  The lady said, "No, you took it."  I said, "I have it right here.  I can send it back to you,"  to which she replied, "Since it's already out of our system, we can't transfer it."  Really.  Wal Mart to Wal Mart.  Wow.  Ok. 

By this time, in spite of the heat being on high and full blast, the kids were shivering and miserable so I took them home and let Greg deal with the last prescription.  I am thankful that there wasn't like a regional Tamiflu shortage, and tonight they are tucked into bed with their prescribed meds in their systems killing flu bugs.  The whole thing (minus Greg's prescription trip) took 3 hours.  And to think, they were demanding that I do it all over again tomorrow.  Whew.

I would say that in the last ten years I have become much more skeptical of the way some healthcare providers operate.  It's not that I've personally had a terrible experience, but in observing medical offices, hospitals, and their staff at many levels, I realize that they 'system' is very institutionalized.  It's just a job for a lot of providers.  They aren't really concerned about the patient.  Don't get me wrong, I know this isn't true of everyone.  Many people in my family work in healthcare and they genuinely work from the heart.  They are passionate and compassionate, and it's like they were born with a healing touch.  Even if they aren't able to work physical miracles for their patients, they minister to the hurting and do their best to preserve the highest quality of life possible.  Some that I see becoming interested in medical field scare me, quite frankly.  I wouldn't want to be at their mercy!  :-)  But beyond that, it seems like the reach of government into healthcare has made people feel as though they are no longer in charge of their decisions.  I will never forget sitting in an office pouring over Ohio's recommended immunization list deciding which ones I was going to have them administer to my baby.  I felt like a complete freak, and it was like pulling teeth to get them to answer my questions about the immunizations.  I'm sure they're much happier with the moms who walk in, uncover the kiddo's arms and legs, and let them inject away!  It's not that I'm against immunizations or anything like that.  They have certainly saved society from all kinds of diseases.  But when we're giving 7th grade boys and girls immunizations for HPV, something is wrong, people!  By the way, none of my kids will ever see the end of that needle.  I can't imagine injecting them with a little bit of an STD so that they can be promiscuous and be protected from some of the consequences.  Unfortunately, that is the mentality of this culture. When one of my friends took her 7th grade boy to be immunized, she questioned the HPV and found out what it was for.  She was almost in disbelief, and refused it.  She was able to share with the nurse that certain behaviors would not be a part of her son's teen years.  The nurse didn't give her too much grief about it, but it sure opened my friend's eyes to what can be pushed upon us!  With the widespread use of Medicaid as the financial bait, the government finds it easy to get families to abide by their recommendations, whether or not they are necessary, beneficial to the child, or even morally acceptable.  Between our means and the insurance that we purchase each month, we don't have to feel coerced into this mold, and I balk at the way the system works these days.  I long for an old-fashioned doctor with old-fashioned values and modern medical expertise.  I'm sure there's one out there...

I know I'm being a little more than chatty.  It's part of being housebound for three days.  :-)  Now it's time for me to make my rounds pushing fluids and making sure fevers aren't completely out of control before I tuck myself in for the night. 

Drink o.j., take your vitamins, and stay healthy!  We tried!

Scattered Thoughts on a Tuesday...

Although the calendar for this week is full and running over, I'm afforded a little time out of the saddle because of a feverish, coughing child who wasn't quite up to being in school today.  Of course, I'm sad for her that she feels bad, and I'm doing everything I can to help her recover quickly, but I'm also going to make good on the change of routine and enjoy it a little bit! 

There is nothing like the smell of a fresh pot of coffee to set the tone for a quiet, inside kind of day. The crackle of my wooden wick candle (a Christmas gift that I haven't been able to sit and enjoy) provides some contrast to the fierce winter wind that is giving us chills near zero today.  Had we been living in either of our two previous homes, I would have built a roaring fire in the woodburning fireplace.  We've debated installing a gas or electric model here, but somehow the substitute doesn't even seem to compare.  So...I'll enjoy the small flame and the crackle of my candle.

It's hard to believe that yesterday brought us fifty degree temps and bright sunshine.  Even though I was indoors, the open windows brought me a taste of spring and helped me forge through several totes of unused clothes in preparation for resale or donation.  If I'm not mistaken, I'm completely finished with all of the totes that I had put in the basement when we moved here!  I would be totally pumped, except that I still have an enormous closet upstairs that is full, and then that garage...oh my,  that garage!  Anyway, we'll get there. 

Along the lines of decluttering, I have a little struggle when it comes to purging.  I see value in the things that we no longer want or need, and so I want to receive a bit of a return on it through garage sale or consignment.  Sometimes, though, I just need the immediate sense of progress by getting rid of the clutter.  Yesterday I had to ask myself what would make me feel more accomplished: getting 25 cents out of an item, or donating it and having it gone?  I ended up sorting a box for children's consignment, a bag for a Craiglist bulk listing, and a box for the thrift store with itemized contents so that I could get a receipt.  I have never taken a receipt for this type of donation, but being a church employee and paying my own S.S. taxes makes it more of an incentive for me to document everything - especially if this is going to be a big donation year (crossing my fingers!). 

On a more personal note, for the last several weeks my mind has been heavily weighted with a burden to see God do something amazing.  I'm craving a personal revival. I know that it all depends on me.  God is ready.  He's waiting on me to become desperate before Him.  Less of me, more of Him.  That is my prayer.  It is so easy to become worldly without even realizing it, and God has been showing me inconsistencies in my life that may be small, yet have an impact on my Christan witness.  It's so freeing to just let go of anything that distracts me from ultimate fellowship with Him!  If you find yourself consumed by something...anything...that would distract you from your responsibilities as a Christ follower, I encourage you to re-evaluate your priorities (what is getting the biggest piece of your time and energy?), and ask God to order them for you.  One of the benefits of spiritual maturity is a trust that God has our best interest at heart.  He sees the big picture.  He knows what part of us needs to outlive us.  And He will be faithful to take our small contribution and multiply it a thousand times over. 

"He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver...and purge them as gold and silver,

that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in rightousness."

 

Malachi 3:3

Thanks for sharing in this conversation and reading through my ramblings.  I'll try to update the family blog today in between working on the school yearbook.  Oh, the benefits of the internet!  :-)

A Healthier Me

For those of you over the age of 35 (cause that's where it seemed to go downhill...lol), maybe you can relate.  I'm reaching the place in life where things just aren't like they used to be.  No sirrreee.  The face that was once smooth is now showing some wrinkles.  The skin is blotchy.  The under-eye circles are darker, and the left eye doesn't even want to open all the way.  The knees are a bit achy, and the lower back is randomly requesting ibuprofen.  These days, the turtle would definitely win the race against my metabolism.  In case this is starting to sound like a testimony meeting at your church, I'll move on.

Many of the aforementioned issues are a result of improper nutrition and a lack of exercise. I've never been much of a morning breakfast eater (love breakfast foods, just not mornings...lol), and many days my 20 minute lunch break is either grossly interrupted or not even attempted.  For most of the first half of the school year I would drink a Starbucks bottled frappe throughout the morning, and then have a Coke or Dr. Pepper for lunch with whatever I had packed for the day.  Some days I would bring soup, but more often than not, I would just pack snack type foods that were quick and easy to eat.  Lunches can be frustrating for me because I'm not a fan of processed frozen foods, and sandwiches get old.  I know there are a lot of great solutions, so I won't even continue to list excuses.  I just know that I felt horrible about my daily food/drink choices, and when I would get home I would be so hungry (even after all that sugar) and I would be oh so tired (thanks to all that sugar!).  I was just dragging myself along, trying to keep up with the speed of life - with zero energy.

In January, I decided that enough was enough.  I've never been one to diet, but I wanted to change habits simply to feel better and develop some disciplines for myself.  I wanted to get proactive with being healthier.  Don't get me wrong.  My being 80-100 lbs. overweight is not simply the result of sitting around with a bag of Cheetos in one hand, a Pepsi in the other, playing video games.  No way...but it is a result of improper planning, lack of exercise, and the apparent inability to say to to the bad foods and yes to things that are good for me. 

Progress: Two and a half weeks ago, I began my workweek with a new strategy -

• No soft drinks during the school day
• Vanilla yogurt mid-morning when I feel the first hunger pang
• Coffee during the morning (yes, I use creamer; no, it isn't low fat)
• A bowl of Special K cereal at lunch (I have to eat it all within 10 minutes or it becomes inedible - great trick I play on myself)  ;-)
• An extra vanilla yogurt and fresh fruit in my lunch bag just in case
• Occasionally an ounce or so of almonds (my husband's lifesaver in his recent weight loss)
• Maybe another cup of coffee in the afternoon, or a Crystal Light On-The-Go in one of my cool cups

It is rare that I eat the almonds and the second yogurt, and I make sure that I eat before I feel really hungry.  I am amazed at how filling this combination is to me!  Without much effort, I've been eating less in the evenings (after a regular, hearty dinner), and waking up looking forward to my morning yogurt.  :-) Keep in mind that it isn't a weight loss program, but simply a change in eating habits.  And a practice in discipline.  My goal is to strengthen the muscle of self-control.

This month I want to extend my focus to include exercise and more water intake.  The two will go hand in hand for me. I'm not naturally a water lover, but if I'm sweating, I want some water!

Do you have some nutrition tips for someone who spends lots of time away from home?  I'd love to hear your suggestions! 

p.s. I've pulled out the moisturizer to help with those wrinkles and blotches, but have stopped short of using a toothpick to prop that droopy left eye...

Faith Booster!

Just Sunday, I posted about an abortion clinic that opened in our town a couple of years ago.  Last evening we received word that the clinic has officially closed.  This was a surprise and a half!  God is working!  The crisis pregnancy center had been told that Capital Care would be open on January 28th and then closing.  They didn't spread the news because they weren't sure whether to believe it.  Their prayers were answered when the suite was emptied out yesterday!  Typing this totally gives me chills!  10 days ago, we were praying in front of that place, and today it is closed.  God be praised.

40 Years. 55,000,000 Lives.

When I was a girl, our family attended meetings of Lima's chapter of the National Right to Life Association.  I vividly remember hearing stories, seeing pictures, and viewing footage that told the despicable horrors of an industry seemingly too evil to exist anywhere near American soil.  Was there really a woman who would walk into a clinic to have her baby prodded, pulled into pieces, sucked from her body, and disposed with the rest of the garbage?  My childish mind was overwhelmed by the despicable nature of abortion, and I always assumed that these things happened in far away places to evil people by doubly evil physicians.  I don't believe that I really thought abortion would be legal for more than a few years; I mean, once lots of people found out about this awful thing, surely Americans would do something about it, right?  Isn't everyone safe in America? 

As I grew up and entered high school, the passion for life that my parents had instilled in me continued to grow.  Abortion continued to be legal, and the pro-life movement hadn't made the kind of progress I had hoped to see.  Sometimes I would go to church and wonder how we could all just sit there and worship in peace and happiness when babies had no guarantees to even take their first breath, much less worship their Creator. 

I will never forget the day I found out that a guy, who was at one time a close friend of mine, had recently taken his girlfriend to have their baby aborted.  It seemed like such a cold-blooded decision.  I couldn't imagine that it was even true until one night I received a phone call from him.  He was straight to the point, and this was his message to me: "Stay out of our decision and keep your mouth shut."  I hadn't talked to him in awhile, but this tone seemed so foreign to his usually happy demeanor.  There was a hardness, and I knew that not only had a woman and a baby been affected, but a man's life was forever changed, as well.

High school turned to college.  I had spent a lot of time in the Mt. Auburn area of Cincinnati well before college days, and knew that a large, busy abortion clinic existed right there on Auburn Ave.  I passed it many times during my four-years in the area, and every single time my heart and my conscience would speak to me about the atrocities that took place inside that gated, cold, chamber of death.  Could it really be that a historic Bible College existed mere blocks from the awful place and yet the presence of God that so permeated the college campus and its students wasn't strong enough to reach over and protect the innocent?   In retrospect, I don't remember at any time during my college experience hearing about opportunities for students to share God's love in sidewalk counseling, through quiet prayer, or even silent witness there at Planned Parenthood - Mt. Auburn.  I participated in pretty major crusades against drugs in our community and adjacent neighborhoods, but I don't remember efforts being made by our students for the babies.  Maybe there were and I'm just not remembering.

Then life took me back to my home community to live with my husband, raise a family, and begin a career - all of this in my hometown, which was still free from the disgrace of an abortion clinic.  Two years later, we elected a pro-life President and with that election came a sense of hope that life would triumph soon. 

Eight years passed, legislation was written {and in some states became law}, and then Americans elected the most pro-abortion President our country has ever seen. For unbelievable evidence, visit www.jillstanek.com.   It is disturbing and chilling to see how far then-Senator Obama would go to make sure a baby didn't have a chance at life. 

In 2010, my conservative hometown quietly accepted its first abortion clinic.  In fact, it was open for some time before many of us knew it existed.  Capital Care of Lima does not perform surgical abortions, but they refer those patients to their offices in other Ohio locations.  Of course, they do offer non-surgical abortion options for women whose pregnancies are yet young enough.  As soon as I found out that Capital Care had opened its doors here, I looked up their website.  I guess I had to see for myself that they really were what I had heard they were.  Once again, I couldn't believe that we were sitting by and allowing this to creep into our community!

The lone silver lining in this dark cloud was that our crisis pregnancy center was able to open a satellite office right next door to the abortion clinic.  By next door, I mean the next suite.  They share a roof!  God worked in amazing ways to allow Heartbeat of Lima to acquire the means for renting the office space, and then He equipped them with the machines to do ultrasounds, as well as volunteer technicians to perform them and volunteer medical doctors to oversee the whole thing! 

I really feel that this battle for life will not be won politically.  However, we must still speak with our vote.  This battle likely will not be won with gruesome placards and horrific stories. Yet they still have their place.  It seems to me that in the fight against abortion - or for life - we will be victorious as we put ourselves out there to be a friend to the woman who is in trouble.  Heartbeat of Lima knows when that clinic is open, and they have sidewalk counselors ready to greet every single woman who walks toward that abortion clinic.  The sidewalk counselor is kind, concerned, trained, and offers a free ultrasound.  Every single week I get emails telling me, to the best of their knowledge, how many have continued on to their appointment next door, how many have come in for the free ultrasound, and how many have asked for help with an adoption plan.  How I rejoice when I receive those emails!  And you know what?  Some months, that abortion clinic is hardly even open!  Praise the Lord!

Statistics say that 1 of every 3 women has had at least one abortion.  In the last 40 years, 55,000,000 pre-born babies have been murdered.  Numerous reports of botched abortions have surfaced.  In many cases, the infant victims have been left to die in a soiled linen area of the hospital (again, see www.jillstanek.com).  In some of the states abortion is restricted, but in others it is practically on demand.  As Planned Parenthood bloats itself with US tax dollars (to an even greater extent as the Affordable Care Act takes effect), reaches its way even further into America's schools, and continues to forge tight relationships with organizations that have a huge impact on girls, we must continue to share the message of life. 

We are pretty good at having babies, but how good are we at sharing with women of all ages that life is a gift from God?  That a baby is a baby from the moment it is created?  How good are we at supporting those who are on the front lines of the choose life movement?  Do we find it easier to gather our kids around the dinner table, think happy thoughts, and ignore the whole mess?  Let me encourage you to be the person who is approachable.  People are carrying burdens.  Apparently one out of every three women has faced a pretty major crisis, and let me assure you...if they've already had an abortion, they are gonna need a shoulder.  A post-abortive mom said this to me just last week, "In the schools where I speak, I tell the girls that they may not regret their abortion the next day, or even the next week, but at some point they will regret it."  Hers was 35 years ago.  And tears were still streaming as she spoke of it.  She's still regretting.

There is so much to say on this topic.  There is an evil churning in America that we can't really see.  It is a connection that ties liberal feminists, blood -thirsty abortion doctors, wealthy political figures, and women who are at their weakest moments physically and emotionally.  This connection is reaching deeply into America's education system, from elementary schools to universities.  They have found that the best way to get to women is to become their friend before they hit the high school years.

I think that most of us want to be pro-active, but we don't always know where to start.  I think we need to understand that the little things matter.  If you are wanting to become active in the fight for life in your community, I encourage you to:

• Become knowledgeable about the legal case Roe v. Wade.  Learn from trusted sources, not those who would try to gloss over the truth.
• Read the book Won By Love, which is the story of Norma McCorvey (the Roe in Roe v. Wade).  For a quick overview, follow this link to her story.  Unbelievable.  This whole case was based on trickery.
• Investigate clubs and social organizations before supporting them.  You know those famous, yummy boxes of cookies that are sold every spring?  I haven't bought one in years.  Do your homework.  Planned Parenthood gets its money from lots of places.
• Teach your children - and every child you influence - about the value of life.
• Seek our your local crisis pregnancy center and volunteer your help.
• Every time you leave your home, pray that God will direct you to someone who needs you.  If you spend time at the library, the grocery store, the park, or the museum, you will likely pass many people who have been affected by abortion.  You may be the one who helps to show them the path to life. 

I'm hopeful that the next generation is going to be the "generation of life." 

To Do in 2013

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As I mentioned in my first post of the year, I don't particularly like New Year's resolutions. I think it's mostly because of their reputation, but for whatever reason, they just don't appeal to me. Goals, however, are a different story. The old saying, "If you aim at nothing, you'll hit it every time," is absolutely true.  And I sometimes I find myself either barely maintaining, or even falling behind because either I haven't been organized or I've just simply overestimated what I could do.

With the craziness of each holiday season, my goals usually aren't in place until late January, but that's ok. The important thing is that I take the time to assess where I am, where I need to be, and the steps that I will make to bridge that gap. It really doesn't have to be any more complicated than that.

In that earlier post, I referred to three goals that I have set for this year.  Additionally, and more specifically, there are other areas of my life and my home that need attention.  Those that are standing out to me are:

• focus on my overall health and well being - more about that in another post
• organize/catalogue the enormous amounts of sheet music that are here and there around my house
• develop a "me" corner in my house to help streamline all of the bills/coupons/documents that are a part of running a household (I would also use it as an area to work on the "work" things that I end up bringing home)
• build upon the "5 meal plan" format for menus (rather than a certain meal on a certain day, keeping 5 meals ready and accessible so that we choose what sounds good on any given day and know that it is all there and easy to prepare)
• grocery shop before school on either Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday each week - it's a chore for me, and I feel incredibly defeated when I take time away from the family for random and frequent grocery stops
• get rid of piles of stuff - it isn't all junk, but there is a lot of stuff, primarily in the garage...still packed in boxes...since last April/May - good chance we don't need it
• move all photos to an external hard drive {which I first have to buy} and compile albums containing pictures from the last five or six years - yeah, I'm way behind - it's gonna be expensive, but I like to have family albums so that we can enjoy them the old-fashioned way  
• finish the house remodel - there are a few pesky things left to do

Considering the fact that we are heading into a crazy busy season, achieving any of these goals is going to take extra effort and focus.  I plan to blog about each of them, hoping that will provide me a healthy dose of motivation.

So, stay tuned...I'll probably be asking for advice!  :-)