So much life is happening around me and when my eyes popped open at 4:00AM the wheels started turning
Yesterday we celebrated my sweet friends birthday. I’m honored to have such a wonderful group of people in my life. So much laughter and life has been spent. Not to say that it’s not hard sometimes. The story of our friendship is a good one. Ask me about it sometime.
This morning begins a new chapter in the life of my father in law. He has always lived on his own home with his very loved dog. In recent weeks he has fallen a few times and the decision was made for him by medical professionals that it’s time for him to not live alone anymore. He will transition to an assisted living home. Steve will drive to Bradenton to pack up his belongings and move him to his new home. To say it’s a “change” is a dramatic understatement. While the siblings agree it necessary does not mean it’s without tears and hurt. This gentle giant of a man now frail and unable to care for himself, needing help to walk and had to give up his beloved pet.
We all age
We will all one day need help
I pray on this day for his heart as he begins this new life.
The Cancer is back.
A beautiful woman who joins us every Tuesday for Coffee Hour.
A mother
A daughter
A fun, spunky, beautiful woman whom I call friend.
How does one hear news that’s it’s back for the third time?
I have no idea
Immediately my mind when to the story of Moses when Aaron and Hur held up his arms when he couldn’t hold them up for himself.
I don’t know what exactly that means for my sweet sweet friend but I WILL be an arm holder.
#hopeforholly
Steve is gone all day today moving his Dad and I had a list a mile long to get done today. While the list is still a “thing,” my 4AM wake up might change things up a little.
I might want to spend more time with little men today instead of working.
I might enjoy a stroll through a garden center instead of splattering myself with paint.
Life is sometimes hard and I’m feeling heavy today for mine.
Keeping track of my time on projects is not typical for me unless I’m commissioned for work. It’s been kind of fun seeing the progression. Some days are shorter and today was super long.
Here’s the beginning if you’ve forgotten
This was yesterday after finishing up two coats of primer
Last night I decided on a final paint color.
It’s far from my original thought so back to the paint store this morning for tinted primer, finish paint and polyurethane
I had to repaint the whole piece with tinted primer . This is NOT the final color.
I left it demo’d and I had filled in most of the holes/scratches with wood fill. This is only one side and every surface needed some help filling in holes, scratches, etc.
Each door has holes where the hardware was. I made a video showing how I filled in the holes. I am NOT an actress and I’m not even a good teacher but I will promise to do my best to show what I know and the products I use on a regular basis.
Almost every door also had broken pieces. I’ve created a video showing the repair process. Or at least what someone can do with one hand while holding the phone in the other. (Can you say veiny, old lady hands?)
Since I couldn’t nail one handed here is the finished, nailed on broken piece
Day 2 is complete and I won’t have much time to work tomorrow. I’ve got a day full of volunteering and a lunch date.
Day 3 will be all about adding a shelf here and there for better storage options and maybe even some primer.
I have been searching a few months for a cabinet. This cabinet will be in our living room and needs to hold toys, toys and well…….more toys. While our home has a lot of square footage, our community living space is not huge and needs to function better.
While at The Interfaith Thrift Store (my favorite) a couple of weeks ago, I spotted this big cabinet with lots and lots of doors/drawers. While it’s an ugly shade of orange wood currently, I’m all about a change up.
Broken doors don’t scare me
Missing trim doesn’t scare me
Big huge scratches don’t scare me
Figuring out the final color/treatment makes me a nervous wreck.
We got the cabinet home and in the garage
The original job of the cabinet was an office/desk.
It had a slide out desk.
It had a master/breaker for computer, printers, etc items
It has lighting
Day 1 was all about demo. I don’t need or want any of the aforementioned items so they gotta go.
I removed all the electrical items
I took off all the doors and marked them so that I would know where to return them when the time came.
So many handles
So many hinges
Find a container with a lid to put ALL the things. Don’t throw away anything until you are completely done. Even if you don’t re-use the item, you might need to buy something similar and it’s a heck of a lot easier to use the current item as a sample than to start from scratch.
Trust me on this one….. I’ve thrown away SO MANY THINGS.
I am still unsure as the final paint color/treatment but it will be a while until I’m ready.
There’s so much prep work to this type of project and DO NOT skip steps.
Day 2 will consist of fixing a few things and starting on some new shelving.
But first I’m going on vacation so I’ll be back next week with Day 2.
I was watching a show the other night and it talked about journaling. The character on the show said “what should I write about?” The other person said “whatever pops into your mind.”
I haven’t had much to say on this blog page but I really enjoy writing so I decided to just write.
I’ve thought a lot lately about Luke.
Two different people in the last few weeks didn’t even know about Luke. He’s the middle grandson. Jack, the oldest is a people person and loves everyone. The baby is so cute and sweet.
Luke is a little quieter.
He’s a little more introverted
He’s the snuggler. He will sit for a long time on your lap with absolutely no agenda. He’s sweet and loves to follow his big brother around.
I’m the baby of our family and was always doted on. Daddy’s little girl. Pretty pretty princess. I didn’t have a middle sibling and I never want Luke to have the stigma of being the middle child.
He’s the best little boy and is so very loved 💙💙💙
I recently quit my job.
Was it a real job?
It was 10 hours a week and I got paid.
So yea, it was a job
I’ve never needed or wanted a job to “complete” me. I either had a job to bring in a little extra $$ or the job found me. I’m happy staying home.
I’m happy caring for the people that live here.
I enjoy being able to help Steve with a delivery when he needs a driver, babysit in a pinch, meet a friend for lunch and volunteer.
I like nothing better than heading to the garage in my paint splattered clothes, earbuds and a drink and spend hours creating something out of nothing.
This was my dads gun case. I’ve added shelves and started painting
I’ll continue being content in my little corner of the world. I have a great family, wonderful friends and many things to be thankful for
I’ve being thinking a lot about social media. My previous job required social media posts. Now, I scroll for fun and sometimes to put one of my garage creations up for sale or post about a recent Coffee Hour Tuesday morning.
Often I don’t like what I see, read or feel while scrolling. The world we live in, is sometimes scary and I don’t want to be a part of negativity, politics, racial slander, religious offense snd so many other things I see while on any given social media platform.
Freedom is just that…….Freedom. But freedom doesn’t come with earbuds or eye patches and I haven’t quite figured out what I’m going to do about it.
In recent weeks I’ve been confronted. I won’t share what I was confronted about but it was serious enough that now I question
My integrity
My honesty
My loyalty
My whole being
This confrontation has stirred up feelings I have never had, I question social media and it’s purpose in my life.
I’m not ready to remove the apps yet but as I pray, I’m asking God to show me things I need to change.
While I might question who I am……I will never question whose I am.
It’s taken me a couple of days to “just write.”
Why is it so hard?
I’m not sure but I’ll continue to ponder thoughts and try to put them until words.
“It’s not the size of your home…… it’s the way people feel when they are in it.”
We have a giant home
It houses a lot of people.
One that’s brand new
You will definitely have gritty feet most of the time when you walk on our wood floors. Mostly from little boys running outside and not giving a flip if they wipe their feet or not.
So many wonderful things but so many bathrooms to clean. So many opportunities to be together and just as many to find a quiet place to be alone.
Sippy cups and couch forts.
Laundry for days
Monster trucks, diapers and wipes
Pac and plays and bouncy seats
Projects started and moved aside because my brain spun in another direction
It’s home
I noticed today, someone on the porch wanted a glass of water and felt comfortable enough to walk in, find a glass, pour some water and come back out. While some may cringe (that word has been popular in conversations lately) I find it endearing that my home allows for this comfort.
The powder room is always questionable. Be careful
We have not always lived in spacious homes. Our first home was 1000 square feet with one tiny bathroom and two small children. We still gathered and shoved people in every corner. Outside was a picnic table and a sprinkler to play in. It’s not the size……
It’s the home
I had a conversation the other day about our living situation. It was said that most think we are weird and how can you live with your family?
Too many people
Too much family
Too many personalities
However, the person commented “I’ve wanted this family dynamic my whole life. I’ve wanted to feel wanted. I’ve wanted to have people to bounce off life’s good, bad and ugly moments. I’ve wanted to raise my children with other generations.
It’s home
Yes, our home is big
Yes, mostly it’s fun but dang it, it’s also a lot of work
Yes, we get along 98% of the time
Yes, I usually offer our home for game nights, porch dates and other social activities because I’m the extrovert.
This weekend we are planning a party for a 4 year old. We have worked outside every evening until 9pm planning and preparing. It’s a super special day and while projects have to get done, we want those that celebrate with us to know how important they are.
Nothing consistent but we wait and wait and wait. The ninth month seems endless.
Mommy continues to care for your brothers just like every other day.
She takes you all to mass every day.
We swim
We play
She’s an extra special Mommy to this BB.
BB is my grandmother name. When we were surprised with news of Jack in 2017, I traveled to a website that talked about baby sizes in fruit. Jack was 7 weeks old inside his mommy and was the size of a blueberry. I would continue to call him my little blueberry until he was born. While I didn’t want to be called blueberry as his name of endearment, BB was perfect.
This morning, April 27th around 6:15 AM, Justin peeked his head into our still dark bedroom and said labor is in full force.
Babies are still sleeping, midwives have been called and we get ready to add a new baby to our home.
Courtney requested pizza at 6:30am
We could hear the bathtub filling up. It’s a 115 year old claw foot tub, probably not the best for birthing a baby.
While we know the new baby is a boy and his name will be Patrick-Josef Francis Wissinger, the excitement is still very real.
Jack was a 22 hour labor
Luke was a 5 hour labor
Patrick was a 3 hour labor and entered this house of love at 9:15AM weighing 7 pounds 11 ounces, 19 1/4” long with a head full of black hair, big cheeks and full lips just like his brothers.
Little man, you will never wonder if you are loved.
You will never long for kisses and hugs
You will always have someone to play with
We are so very thankful for women that have chosen midwifery as their profession. While it’s their job, it’s also a calling. It’s a calling of love and compassion as they guide and help women through the most difficult of times. Our midwives are our friends and we are most thankful for them.
It’s a very loved and used spot in our home. Sometimes it’s a quiet retreat to read or watch people walk by.
Weekly, women of all ages, races and specialities sit, have coffee and discuss many of conversations. #coffeehour
Jack joins us sometimes and is a fan favorite at coffee hour
Friday morning, I was priming some new boards that had been replaced on the porch floor. There’s more to fix cause old houses have old rot.
Paint can and brush in hand, looking a hot mess, a couple walked by our home and made a comment about how big our hone was and how we must paint ALOT.
Yes, it’s big
Yes, we had it painted last year and the conversation led to how we came to Ocala, how we live with so many people, the history of this old house and some interesting facts about the historic district we live in as well as traffic, new sights in our town and how downtown is such a fun place.
They are a newly retired couple moving to Florida from Minnesota. They were visiting different cities and were walking our historic district this afternoon.
“We just started walking down some of the streets and so many people are so friendly. We love it here.”
I replied “I know many who can’t handle the Florida heat and complain about so many things. Florida is my home and I’m staying put.”
Later that evening, we walked downtown for dinner with friends. The weather was beautiful, we sat outside (we had to move under roof because it started to rain), we enjoyed just a coupon hours of relaxation after a busy and sometimes stressful week.
I remembered my conversation with the nice couple from Minnesota and will continue to speak highly of our town.
Perfect? Absolutely not
Every town has his problems. The weather is usually warm and sometimes hot but this is my home and I love it here
The Downtown Farmhouse 