Meter cupboard make-over

I'll wager not many statuses ...sorry posts (obviously in Facebook mode LOL)...have that as a title! :)

There were some ugly self-adhesive towel holders on the meter cupboard in the kitchen, so I decided to pull them off.  Bad idea! It took a load of paint with it.

So I made it all pretty, lol.  The sign says, 'Where there's smoke, you'll find me cooking dinner'.  I now have a place to hang my apron and tea-towel. :)

Blessed!

So pleased. My granddad has decided sell his house and he has allowed me to keep some things! I was totally bowled over that he would allow me to keep all these things.

Most of all I love that these things are not only beautiful but are filled with memories. Things to be treasured.

Firstly, the paintings.  These are all by my nan.  Those who have read my blog for a while know that Nan passed away in November 2010.  She and my granddad loved to draw and paint.  I've been given a number of Nan's paintings.  Here they are.  Sorry the photos aren't that great, they were taken with my phone camera and they have flash-reflection off the glass.

I've had this one for a while, but thought I'd share :)

Also had for a while.

Isn't this just beautiful?

This is a small picture, I think it's quite clever.

Nice farmyard picture.  It wasn't in a frame, so I found a frame I think suits it nicely.

I've had this one for a while, Nan didn't like it.  I'm not sure why.  I love it of course.

I'm going to have to ask Granddad where she painted these pictures. This one is quite interesting.

This one is in cellophane.  I'll have to find a frame.

Squidge has chosen this one for her room.  It is already framed, so it already hangs on her wall.  She's so chuffed.

Chatterbox chose this one, it needs a frame though.

Pretty, pretty cups.  One is smaller than the other...not sure why, wonder if one is a coffee cup and one is a tea-cup?   Written on the saucer it says, "Fashioned from the favourite pattern of Lord Francis Levenson-Gower, the first Duke of Ellesmere; a patron of the arts and a Knight of the Garter".

A pretty china set.  I didn't have time to lay it out properly, but you get the idea. :)

Beautiful silver plated cutlery set.

Oil lamp. Love it! Oh and the pretty crocheted mat.

I also got a pretty vase, some pretty drinking glasses, and an amazing marble chess set that I am too scared to put out in case the cat or the children knock it over! LOL.

So, so happy.  Such good memories and such pretty things.

Have a great week.

Bible Verses and Meaningful Quotes

I've just read one of Michele's posts A Prayer and Scripture Journal where she links to another blogger's Scripture Journal, this particular blogger (a lady called Susan) has many organised categories in her journal.  Anyway, my own journals are messy and all over the place but I do have a system of saving scriptures and quotes into categories so that I can refer back to them when I want to.  I use envelopes.  When I come across a scripture or quote that is meaningful to me in some way I write it out on a small square of paper and save it in labelled envelopes.  Some scriptures/quotes may fit into many categories, in those cases I write them out a few times and save them in different relevant envelopes.  I keep the envelopes in my bedside drawer to refer to when I want.

It's easier to explain in pictures, Boots helps out in making my system more attractive as you will see. :)

All my different envelopes

Boots being helpful

Obviously caught a whiff of her armpit

Some of the categories - as you can see I can't spell repentance! :) LOL you can just see Boots' paws at the top of the photo.

The one on the right, 'A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth' is full of scriptures that remind me to try to concentrate on speaking the good that God does rather than negative things (I need to read this often).

On the left you can see one of my scripture notes made on the little squares of paper.

Some examples from my Gossip/keeping secrets/covering shame envelope

Psalm 34:7 is in here twice.  Doubly meaningful! :)

Hope you enjoyed your little tour. :)

Don't take your Bible for granted!

This video really moved me. I think I take my pile of Bibles rather for granted when really the Bible is a treasure to be cherished.

Chinese Christians see Bible for the first time:

Who is in control?

Michele at Our Daily Work set me off thinking with her recent post about meekness, the quote she shares makes an excellent point about meekness and our responses to irritation.

One of the things I have learned is that often my anger or irritation comes from a number of sources - fear, indignation, frustration, a sense that I have lost control of a situation, self-righteousness.

I get very irate, for example, by the behaviour of certain drivers who seem to think it ok to drive along with two wheels on the pavement whilst I am walking past with my children.  I have had various altercations with people on this very score.  One van driver apologised to me and I graciously shouted at him, "AND I SHOULD THINK SO TOO!!", as I stalked off in the opposite direction, head held high with Squidge looking terribly embarrassed. LOL.

Here is the key to my anger in this situation: 1. Fear (of being hit by a car); 2. Indignation (at the idiots who seem oblivious to pedestrians); 3. Self-righteousness (I am right, the driver is wrong and I'm going to jolly-well make sure he/she knows that he/she is wrong!).  Result: Nine times out of ten I end up in a shouting match with some random stranger.  Who wins? No-one, I'm shaking with anger, Squidge and Chatterbox are embarrassed, and the driver of the car is either oblivious or angry and so screeches off and probably has a rotten afternoon perhaps driving the whole day on the pavement because no-one is going to tell me what to do!!

But I am right, I know I am right.  They are driving dangerously and illegally.  I have every right to make my anger known.  But, apart from the very sweet van driver who got a stern telling off and responded with an apology, most people are unaffected by my displeasure.  I see them week after week around the school and local streets doing the same thing. Too impatient to wait, they drive along with two wheels on the pavement to get past whatever is obstructing their path - pedestrians, other drivers, the road....

I get the same anger in relation to people who do not pick up their dog's poo.  "PICK UP YOUR DOG POO!" I shouted at some fella on the field near our house (NB: in the child's play area of all places thus justifying extra dollops of self-righteousness on my part), "YOU pick it up!!!" he screamed back.  You see, shouting at people just makes them angry and unreasonable.  It doesn't work.  But I digress...

One day, after such an altercation,  I heard in the quietness of my heart, "Who is in control?"  And I realised the answer.  My anger comes from fear - but God is in control - my anger comes from indignation - but God is in control - my anger comes from self-righteousness - but God is in control.

I don't always remember in time, sometimes my words of anger are out of my mouth before I remember, but God is still in control and I can rein myself in and take a step back to think.

If God is truly in control I have no reason to fear. If God is in control why am I indignant? Instead I should feel compassion for someone who has allowed impatience, or indifference, or whatever, to allow them to think it is OK to drive along the pavement when someone is walking past.  If God is in control, why do I feel so self-righteous?  If He is in control then the outward working of my life will be: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

None of this precludes making an official complaint about someone who is driving dangerously (or whatever) and if one is feeling especially peaceful and full of the fruit of the Spirit (something that takes me about an hour of prayer to reach, lol, thus rather time consuming) it may be fruitful to speak to someone directly about something (also,difficult if they are driving, unless you throw yourselves under their wheels to make them stop, thus putting oneself in more danger than one was in the first place).  But what is does mean is that I can take a step back, to not allow circumstances or people to control my emotions, but to allow God control.

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;
Do not fret—it only causes harm.

~Psalm 37:7-8

If I rest I find peace.  If I react one day I'm going to get run over or have a coronary - LOL.

xx

The best laid schemes...

O' [Sarah], Gang aft agley,
An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain.

Aye, Rabbie Burns knew what he was talking about.

Yes I have grand plans for the day, and I am ignoring the sense of impending doom that often clouds my big plans.

I AM GOING TO SORT OUT MY FILING!

This is my confident proclamation for the day.  The small print says that this will mean that by the time G gets home from work the house will be awash with a sea of paper and I will have a headache and be a bit grumpy.

But I don't ever read the small print, so I forge ahead.

Such a cute picture, just like my Boots.  From here: Flickr

It's a lovely day today. The sun is shining.  The washing is on the line.  The guinea pigs are pigging around the lawn hopefully reducing our need to get the lawnmower out. :)

I am absolutely not noticing the finger-prints and dust on the living room window that the sunshine is highlighting, no, it's not there, I can't see it. ;)

I have plans to pull out dandelions in the garden too, but one thing at a time.

Have a lovely day. xxx