Amy's Flylady Days

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Ants! Ants! Everywhere! Help, Somebody....PLEEEZE!

I have posted this on Facebook pages, but I am appealing to my blog readers as well, hoping that any passers-by will read this and have an idea.

I am pretty sure my house has landed on the mother load of all ant hills. I have seen lots of ants before, but never as stubborn as these. I get them in my kitchen and my little bathroom. Pretty common, I am sure. The thing I am baffled with is why, when I use every cleaner I can POSSIBLY think of, they come back 10 minutes later, sometimes with a vengeance. I have a cat, so buying lots of chemicals is not an option.

I know you all are very cleaver. Thank you for your help!!

Amy

Trying to Fly

Well, it has been a really long time. I have a dear friend from high school that is a part of Flylady that has encouraged me, just by being her, to restart my path to success. I know I should not say I am starting from the beginning, but I have been gone so long, I really need to. I have long battled migraines. I used to be on a medication called Topomax that really helped me. I went off of it for some reason that I can't remember. I AM on a lot of other things and I think it might be the interaction of all the others.

Needless to say, I feel very depressed that my house and my family have been neglected. My goal, besides getting to the monthly schedule, is to make meals that are healthier for my family. It has been hard for me because my husband works nights and it is just me and my kids during the week. It is just easier to pop a can. I am very motivated by television, and so I feel that I need to be there (probably due to my ADD, it turns my brain off.)

I really need encouragement. I know I felt better about myself when I was doing things for my home and family. I know that my online friends are helpful. I was wondering what else would help. I have Skype. If anyone thinks that would help, let me know, I would love to try that. I am a follower, a direction person, and I love being with people. Look me up, under Amy n Ken. The picture should be a black and white picture of my husband and I. I would love to chat with you face to face and have you encourage me.

Well, that is all for now. God Bless you all. I hope to hear from you, in some way!

Amy

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Hiding in my shadows

So my job interview did not result in a job. I really did well, but they brought a transfer in from another store. I guess it is ok. I mean I will be able to keep trying, but it was kind of upsetting what with my second issue;

My grandma is still failing. She has hung in for a long time, but her kidneys failed Sunday night, and so it is just a matter of hours. I have been into myself so much, I forgot an important date. Can't believe how things are spinning now.

I just wanted to connect with you all again to let you know that I am still here, just in the shadows. As for cleaning my house...I am lucky to get laundry done

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

New Directions (hopefully)

Well, I have been keeping up with my sinks. That is pretty good. I feel like the rest of the house is pretty clean, what with the weekly blessing hour and keeping up with my schedule. My DW, however, is not cleaning very well. The water seems to be going through ok, but the other day, the water didn't come through, so I started it over and it was fine, but it doesn't seem to be cleaning the dishes well. hmm... I am thinking about a product that might clean out the muck from the inside of the mechanisms. Any suggestions?

So, I titled this "new directions" I have had one interview with Petco, and now I have another with them today. I am excited about it. I have looked on the internet for good questions to ask them and some that they would ask me. I have enlisted the help of a friend to help me prepare. I excited and will report any news!!

This means that if I get a job, my primary focus will not be on my home. I have been without work for 3 years, so it will be hard for me to balance things. I think I can do it. If anyone has any suggestions, let me know.

Grace
This is a portrayal of my favorite "character"...

http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=KL7YLPNX

Everyone is Beautiful

The Teacup

There was a couple who used to go to England to shop in the beautiful stores. They both liked antiques and pottery and especially teacups. This was their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.

One day in this beautiful shop they saw a beautiful cup. They said, "May we see that? We've never seen one quite so beautiful."

As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the cup spoke. "You don't understand," it said. "I haven't always been a teacup. There was a time when I was red and I was clay. My master took me and rolled me and patted me over and over andI yelled out, 'let me alone,' but he only smiled, 'Not yet.'

"Then I was placed on a spinning wheel," the cup said,"and suddenly I was spun around and around and around. Stop it! I'm getting dizzy! I screamed. But the master only nodded and said, 'Not yet.'

"Then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat!" the teacup said. "I wondered why he wanted to burn me, and I yelled and knocked at the door. I could see him through the opening and I could read his lips as He shook his head, 'Not yet.'

"Finally the door opened, he put me on the shelf, and I began to cool. 'There, that's better,' I said. And he brushed and painted me all over. The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag.'Stop it, stop it!' I cried. He only nodded, 'Not yet.'

"Then suddenly he put me back into the oven, not like the first one. This was twice as hot and I knew I would suffocate.I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried. All the time I could see him through the opening, nodding his head saying, 'Not yet.'

"Then I knew there wasn't any hope. I would never make it. I was ready to give up. But the door opened and he took me out and placed me on the shelf.

One hour later he handed me a mirror and said, 'Look at yourself.' And I did. I said, 'That's not me; that couldn't be me. It's beautiful. I'm beautiful.'

"'I want you to remember, then,' he said, 'I know it hurts to be rolled and patted, but if I had left you alone, you'd have dried up.

I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel,but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled.

I knew it hurt and was hot and disagreeable in the oven,but if I hadn't put you there, you would have cracked.

I know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I hadn't done that, you never would have hardened;you would not have had any color in your life.

And if I hadn't put you back in that second oven, you wouldn't survive for very long because the hardness would not have held.

Now you are a finished product.You are what I had in mind when I first began with you.'"

~ Author Unknown

Remember, God is the potter and we are His clay. He knows what He is doing with us even when we don't think there could possibly be a plan. Keep the faith and know that you are being shaped according to His will.

God Bless!

Amy

Friday, May 27, 2011

Job Interview...

I stated this a little earlier, but it bares repeating. I had a job interview this past week!! I could hardly contain myself. I have been into the local pet store (chain) quite a few times. I had put in applications several times, and I thought it might be a good day 2 weeks ago to ask about the possibilities of any openings. The manager was at another til and said that he would be interviewing in the next week or so. I went straight home and checked up on the status of my online application. I then went down the next day and met with the same manager to let him know that I had updated it. I didn't get a call the rest of the week, so when Wednesday of the next week came around, I went in and checked with him again. He was just going through applications. He asked if I could come in the very next day for an interview.

When I did, it went absolutely wonderful. I was very excited. I felt like I was just chatting with a friend. From the moment we met that day to the end of our conversation, I was not uncomfortable. This is a blessing, considering I have not had an interview in over 10 years. But what are the odds that I would get the first job I interviewed with in such a long time? I won't know until the beginning of the week.

As for my family; I will go over around the 10th, I hope. My uncle said that he or my cousin would be willing to come and get me to visit. I would like that time so that I can come back with my parents. Let's just pray that Grandma is doing well until then. We were going to go over to see her in August, but she may not last that long.

I just wanted to add a little bit today. Hope you all are well and keep your sink shined...it helps to wake up to a shiny outlook!

Strength...

So I usually have a lot of things that I can inspire people with, at least that is what I have been told (thank you) But this time I really don't. It has been a long time since I have written, but I want to connect with my friends. I will start with my good points.

I have been keeping my sink shined and I started working on the laundry again. I think it was Monday, maybe Tuesday that I did my home blessing hour. I did it all, except for dusting, but that made it so that when we had company today, I was feeling good about not doing a major overhaul of the house. I just shined the sink, and cleaned one room, and get boys clean theirs (always a good excuse to get the kids to clean)

Most of the time, I have been trying to find a job. I had an interview yesterday, and will find out about it early in the week. I will let you know. I have had time to get the work done, and if I get a job, I will have to adjust my schedule. What a nice thing to have to do.

Anyhow, my family is not doing well. On my mother's side, my cousin's husband was in a fatal car crash. The funeral was during a time when my husband's family had a get together that was scheduled a long time ago. Family will be leaving in June, and we needed to be there. We had a great time, though.

On my father's side, my grandma had a heart attack and was doing pretty well. Then I found out that my uncle has melanoma cancer. His procedure will be June 8th. Then I heard my grandma is getting weaker.

Got a call this evening from my mom tonight telling me that I should come see her in Bend. Living on the other side of the mountains, I have a hard time finding the time to do so. When I talked to my level-headed aunt and brother, I concluded that I will be going over on Friday sometime of the 10th. I will stay there for the weekend until my parents come back that Sunday. This is providing things are going as well as my aunt thinks she is. When she eats, she does well, when she doesn't, she is weak and unable to function. Please pray that she will continue to coast through to at least the middle of the month. One last visit would be a blessing.

But I just read a little piece that made me realize what my journey is all about. I forget this a lot. I have been hurt by friends and learned this, I have turned away from God and learned this. I have been in dark, lonely times and learned this. I have even cheated death and learned this but never have I remembered it during those heart wrenching times: "God has a plan with all He is doing." Wow. seems so trivial. Here is an example;

The Teacup

We as His children have to remember that he has the best laid plan for us. Let us not forget that in our "storm" He is with us and will never let go.

God Bless you all;

Amy

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Wednesday Woes

Well, readers;
My life has been a whirl-wind of issues lately. I was hit head on by several painful issues. My grandmother had a heart attack a few weeks ago. I have not seen her much and feel really bad. Then my cousin's husband was killed in a car crash. He lives in La Pine, not to far from Bend, which is good because my parent's are over with my grandma now and will be able to see my cousin (separate sides of the family) since I can't go. I don't think that my presence is that important, she would hardly know I am there and we are going over in August. Then, to top it all off, the "school district" has decided to cut some of the music program at the middle school level. Music has been a part of my family's life since before I was born. It gets personal...

So, what do we need to do when life is getting us down? Take the advice of the Flylady..."Shine your sink!" I shined my sink the other night and the next day I felt like getting a load of laundry done. Today, more shining of the sinks and getting dressed to shoes. I put in a load of wash, too. Not to mention getting back to my blog. One of my big things is keeping my dining table clean. If it isn't done, I feel CHAOS approaching.

Now that we have basics kept up, we can always slack a little in the other things.

Sorry if this seams like a lot to read. Here are a couple inspirational stories I got from Godvine this week;

How to Stay Young

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age. It's just a number, so don't worry about it.

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.'

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves (and GOD). Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love , whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER...
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

For all who are burdened and heavy laden, I will give you rest

http://www.godvine.com/Made-Beautiful-Anyone-Feeling-Down-Should-Watch-This-428.html

The Little Things

As you might know, the head of a major company survived the tragedy of "9/11" in New York because his son started kindergarten.

Another fellow was alive because it was his turn to bring donuts.

One woman was late because her alarm clock didn't go off in time.

One was late because of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike because of an auto accident.

One of them missed his bus.

One spilled food on her clothes and had to take time to change.

One's car wouldn't start.

One went back to answer the telephone.

One had a child that dawdled and didn't get ready as soon as he should have.

One couldn't get a taxi.

The one that struck me was the man who put on a new pair of shoes that morning, took the various means to get to work but before he got there, he developed a blister on his foot.

He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid. That is why he is alive today.

Now when I am stuck in traffic...
miss an elevator...
turn back to answer a ringing telephone...
all the little things that annoy me...
I think to myself...
this is exactly where God wants me to be at this very moment.

The next time your morning seems to be going wrong,
the children are slow getting dressed,
you can't seem to find the car keys,
you hit every traffic light...
don't get mad or frustrated;
God is at work watching over you.

May God continue to bless you with all those annoying little things - and may you remember and appreciate their possible purpose.