Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Did We Just Move the Fridge?

On a whim, on a Sunday, right before lunch, when we bumped into each other for the 1,596,439th time, we decided the fridge had to be moved. It was just in the wrong place. Always has been. It has never been right. Not from the start, ever. For 31 years the kitchen has been all wrong, all because of this fridge. Well because of other reasons too, but mostly because of the fridge.  I'm at the stove, James opens the door to the freezer to get out the ice and I have to move so he can get the door open. He says to me, "You know what I hate most about this kitchen." "No what?" "That this fridge is here and we keep running into each other, every single meal." "So, move it." "Really, where?" "Over there." So he did.  (Can you really move the fridge like you move the sofa?) I guess so!  Of course we had to take a door down and sheet rock the wall in and add electric and a water line to the ice maker. (LOL) But we did it and the kitchen has a totally different feel.

(Door on the left goes into the living room and the door on the right goes down stairs into the den.
Well it did anyway.)

(This was the practice session. Would we like the door on this side of the kitchen and could we live without that door. My mother-in-law would call this a dry run.)

(James taking out the stairs.)

(The door and trim are gone.)

(The studs go in, as well as the water connection for the ice maker)

(The sheet rock and putty are up. Oops, forgot to mention the electrical outlet)


(After sanding, the best part begins...the painting)

(Security system keypad was moved to the other wall.)

(Copper tubing was connected to the water valve, tested for leaks, YAY, no leaks. Good job honey.)

(Move the fridge.)

This kitchen has (had) four doors that go into it. That's right FOUR! One to the living room, one to the dining room, one to the downstairs den and one to outside. Closing off this door to the downstairs den wasn't a problem because we have another entrance to that room.  It did take me a couple of times of going around the corner to go downstairs before I figured out the door wasn't there anymore. Hey, don't judge! I went through that door for 31 1/2 years before we closed it off. Old habits die hard.  

We still have a little more work to do. We are going to build in a cabinet base where the fridge was. This will give us more counter space as well as more storage. We've changed out the light fixture and we've decided we want to switch out our counter tops to butcher block. (My style is farmhouse/cottage style so butcher block will fit in better with my tastes.) It was time to upgrade those anyway. We will need to build in cabinetry/shelves above the fridge to give it a built in look. In addition, we are in the process of upgrading the appliances and I would like to put shutters on our large bay window. But for now the semi-sheer white curtains work. We will probably begin the rest of the work this Fall after all the summer hoop-la has subsided.  We did it and the kitchen has a totally different feel and we love it like this. What ever took us so long?



Do you do things like this on a whim? Say "let's do it" and then just start?  We do that all the time. Well it's more me than him but sometimes he is the one who gets the idea first.  I do love a good project.

Sometimes, I like to Google the verse for the day just to see what pops up. Today's verse was just perfect for what I needed. It has nothing to do with moving a fridge though. Just thought I would share.  2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

Until we meet again, Fifi

Linking with:
 All Things Heart and Home
Savvy Southern Style

Saturday, July 5, 2014

What About Tomorrow?



When I started writing this post, it was 12:26 AM on Saturday morning, and all was quiet in the house. James had been asleep for sometime. I hadn't been asleep yet. I had been to bed but got up because I couldn't sleep. My mind wouldn't stop. So many things going on in there? How can I fix this? How can I fix that? Can this even be fixed? Should I even be thinking of fixing this? What if I said this, did that???? What in the world am I thinking in the first place? This is not a Fifi fixable problem.  And it is then that I hear... "Whoa, wait just a minute..... slow down Felicia. Haven't we had this talk before? Why do I have to repeat this over and over again? Why do I have to keep reminding you that this is mine.You even chose the word 'still' for your word this year and we continually have to go over and over it." I might just be a  little thick headed. Just maybe. Yes, Lord I hear you and no I don't know why I can 't get it.

I'm so glad He is patient with me. I'm so glad that He is willing to go over and over it, time and time again. I'm so glad He doesn't give up on me.   Matthew 6:26 says "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?"  The scripture goes on to say in verse 34 that we shouldn't worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about its own things. I remember a song that we have sung for years. When I hear it in my head, I hear my mom singing it. "Many things about tomorrow, I don't seem to understand, but I know who holds tomorrow and I know who holds my hand." I can remember her singing it as she cleaned house, folded laundry or cooked supper. I wonder if, just maybe, she was reminding herself that God was very much capable of fixing the problems that had come up in her own life. 

Simple reminders like scripture, that we've memorized from our childhood, or songs, that we've sung our entire lives, can help us to remember to let go of our control of issues. Things that are out of our control in the first place. Jerermiah 33:3 says: "Call unto me and I will answer thee and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not." We just need to call on Him. He is there waiting.

I snuggled up to a throw pillow on the sofa and started humming that old song of long ago and fell deeply asleep.  Yes, I do know who holds tomorrow. Yes.  He is in control. Do I know what the answers are? No. Does He? Yes! There was such a peace in my heart this morning upon waking. A stillness, a calmness. 

"Thank you Father for seeing value in me and caring for me and the issues of my heart and life. Thank you for loving me through my insecurities. Thank you for not giving up on me. I'm so thankful that you have everything under control and that I can look to you for help in time of need. Amen."


Music Video by Bill and Gloria Gaither


Do you have the same problems as I do? Aren't you thankful that you have a Father who values you and cares for you? Call on Him. Ask Him to step in and take over. He is willing and able to carry you through. 

With love and until we meet again, Fifi

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Happy Hearts

Things that Make my Heart Happy!
  • Quiet summer nights with a breeze.  (Summer breeze makes me feel fine..la la la..) Haha! That song just popped into my head when I typed that.

  • Quiet Monday mornings with coffee and just the right amount of sugar.
  • My sweet dog Lola's head laying on my lap and her big ol' brown eyes just looking up at me. "love" 

  • Some good praise music while cleaning the house. Nothing like the Brooklyn Tab to get the house cleaned.

  • The sound of my adult children laughing at each other's stories. Oh my goodness...that really makes my heart happy.

  • Sweet tea and lemonade. What could be better?  Really.... What could be better?
  • My sweet husband bringing me coffee when I'm getting ready in the morning. Oh my, what a sweetheart.
  • Still getting birthday cards in the mail from my mom and dad.  That makes me smile all day long.

  • Apple pie ice cream from Homeland Creamery. Look at that chunk of apple pie filling.  

  • Hearing my daddy tell me that I'm pretty. I'm 52 years old  and I don't think I will ever grow tired of hearing that.
  • Seeing my kids happy and content in their lives
  • Knowing that Jesus loves me so much that he died for me. Seriously, He gave his life for me so I could live. Think about it. It should make your heart happy too. What an amazing gift.

What makes your heart happy? Tell me. I would love to know. Find something in your life that makes you happy today. List it. It will make you smile. I promise.

Proverbs 17:22 "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine."

Until we meet again, Fifi

Imparting Grace
Savvy Southern Style