That's How We Roll

My back is achy.  My legs are crying out for a break today, but no such break is coming.  (Except for this mini-break taken to write this post.)

Troy and I have been dreaming, planning, and saving for new furniture for our living room.  We bought a fabric covered couch and chair set in California.  We lugged this furniture to Colorado, and then made the brilliant move to adopt two shed-crazy dogs.  Over the course of the last few years, we have regretted ever buying fabric covered furniture.  First, impossible to get the "dog" smell out.  But most important, the fabric is apparently made from a Velcro like material which refuses to release fur.  I can vacuum all day and still be left with fur covered clothing when I sit on it.  So we constantly warn friends and family who visit to NOT SIT ON THE LIVING ROOM FURNITURE.  (Now for those who have now taken us off your visitation list, we do have a family room full of very comfortable, clothes friendly, leather furniture.)

So, we were finally ready to buy leather furniture for the living room.  I've been perusing the local furniture store websites for this new furniture.  I also just accidentally on purpose looked at bedroom furniture.  (We haven't had a headboard in about four years and the head of the bed is against an outside wall....very cold.)  I found a leather couch and chair for a really reasonable price at a local furniture store.  I also found a beautiful sleigh bed with a handy storage bench and two large night stands.  The store is running a year end clearance and we would actually be able to buy the living room set with the Christmas money we received from our parents.  (Thanks guys!) I mentioned the bedroom furniture to Troy in passing.  But much like Ralphie in The Christmas Story, I was plotting the perfect time to make a plea.

Friday night, Troy and I stop by the furniture store on our way out to dinner with friends.  I find the couch and chair that I liked.  We sit in it and decide, "Yes.  This can be bought with Christmas money."  Then, I show Troy the bedroom furniture I liked online.  It was even better in person.  Troy didn't want to leave it, but we just didn't have enough saved for the bed, storage bench, and night stands. 

All day Saturday, our conversation would routinely involve how to buy the bedroom furniture. By Saturday night at about 8:30pm, we were in the car, on our way to the furniture store.  We had decided to move around some funds, not buy the storage bench, and make the purchase.  So, there we were at 9:45pm, signing for delivery on New Year's Day (along with the living room furniture).

Here's where it gets interesting.  Between 9:45pm on Saturday night and midnight last night.  We made plans to:  remove the chair rail from the bedroom walls, repair damage from removal of chair rail, texture the repairs, paint walls and trim, remove closet doors and paint, and move the fur covered furniture to the garage so that later I can do some major cleaning before setting them on the curb with a "free" sign attached.  This needs to be completed before the new furniture is delivered on Tuesday....yes, tomorrow.  We made major progress between purchasing paint and supplies yesterday afternoon and falling into the guest bedroom bed at midnight last night, hence the achy back and legs.  And here I sit, anticipating a day full of blue tape, plastic covered carpet, and paint...all day long.

Only Troy and I could spontaneously decided to pack two weeks of home improvement into 48 hours. We are the Wilsons.  That's how we roll. 

Way Ahead of the Game

It seems to happen every year.  Before the Christmas lights are packed away for their 11 month nap, the television programs and commercials begin their annual suggestions for New Year's resolutions.
Healthy and debt-free living top the list every year.  Both very admirable.  Both have topped my list almost every year of my adult life.  But it took more than a New Year's resolution to get the ball rolling.

Food and money management have caused me extreme stress my entire life.  I was the girl who stopped on her way home from college to buy a soda and candy bar with my last few measly coins and then panicked a few miles later when I realized that I didn't have money for the toll booth.  (I made it home.  And I honestly can't remember if I turned around and went the non-toll route or pulled over and searched the car for stray coins until I found enough to get me through.)  

This year, when I hear the diet and debt consolidation commercials, I smile a little.  I give all glory to God because we are way ahead of the game.  I've written to the point of nausea about my weight loss journey this past year, so I'll spare you the repeat.  I haven't written about the other thing going on in our lives. 

Two weeks after Troy and I were married, we were faced with a situation that could have broken us.  We had put earnest money down on a mobile home and a lot in Victoria, Texas where Troy had been hired to work at a factory.   We had both quit our jobs in anticipation of the move.  And then we got the phone call.  The company that had hired Troy was reascending the offer because they were downsizing.  Troy was devastated.  I immediately went to the only source I knew, my heavenly Father.  I prayed for understanding, wisdom, and peace.  I cried for Troy, who didn't have this source of comfort at that time.  I cried for our uncertain future.  But when I finished praying, I knew that everything would be okay.  I knew God had this under control.  And He did.  God moved us to the San Francisco Bay Area and the rest is our blessed history. 

But during this transition, we had few financial resources.  We basically had wedding gift money, credit cards, and a personal line of credit we opened to help with deposits and a few months of utilities until we could get on our feet.  Through the years we were in a cycle of paying off, adding to, and paying off credit cards.  But the line of credit was our nemesis.  We would get it paid down and then something would happen that we needed to dip into it again. 

This summer, we both felt God's prompting to get our debt under control.  We discussed how God was working and made a commitment to pare down our spending habits in order to be obedient. We were able to pay off the small balance on our credit card almost immediately.   In the midst of this pauper-like lifestyle, God also prompted Troy to return to seminary adding tuition and books to the mix.   It has been hard, very hard.  But it's also been a huge blessing.  Over the past few months, God has provided in so, so many ways.  He has miraculously provided our needs AND some of our wants. 

This morning I made the LAST PAYMENT on the line of credit.  Praise God!!!!!  It has been only with His guidance and wisdom that we have been able to accomplish this. 

I think from this moment on, every time I see a commercial about weight loss or money management, I'm going to stop and offer a prayer of praise and thanksgiving to God.  That's my resolution.

List Anxiety

I'm a "make a list" kind of girl.  If I don't make a list, the tasks at hand start clouding my brain and seem much too overwhelming.  I write all the tasks down.  Somehow seeing them there in black and white (or whatever color I like to type with that day) make them a little less ominous. 

I decided this year that I wanted to totally, without hesitation or remorse, enjoy to the -nth degree some part of the Christmas season.  I have gushed in the previous post about my love for all things Christmas.  However, I tend to overdo up to the very last second and then regret that I didn't slow down and smell the Christmas cookies.  In order to accomplish a full 2 1/2 weeks of Christmas bliss, I planned to finish all stress inducing tasks by 12/12/12.  I mean there are 12 months in a year.  There were 12 tribes of Israel.  There were 12 disciples.  12/12/12 seemed like the perfect "completion" of all my tasks. 

I made a "Main To Do List" dated 11/26 through 12/12.   I was quite proud of it.  It was all red and green.  In neat rows, and alternating colors. It started off great.  I accomplished everything I wanted to accomplish the first few days.  And then things started happening.  Actually, God placed situations in my day that forced me to ask the inevitable WWJD?  I would follow through with what the Holy Spirit was prompting and then I would come back to The List.  I circled the tasks I did not accomplish that day and would draw an arrow to the next day. 

After several days in a row of Holy interruptions, I've stopped asking WWJD and started asking, "Father, what do you want me to learn?"  Here's the lesson God was trying to teach that I finally realized today:  People are more important than a list, any list, even my MAIN LIST.  The world will not be in danger because I failed to iron Troy's shirts today.  But a non-believer may be in danger if I choose to follow my own agenda rather than showing them the love of Christ. 

I looked at my list (on the fridge) this afternoon, crossed out, circled and arrowed, heaved a sigh of resignation, and stared at this:

I then prayed that the Holy Spirit would give me the focus, the strength, and the energy to accomplish it.  I prayed that He would also give me a peace in understanding what mattered most. 

Am I totally at peace yet?  No.  Am I wishing there were more hours in the day?  Yes.  Do I regret what God has taught me through this experience?  Never. 

So, as we rush through the holiday season, remember, people are more important than any list.