The Red Brick House

Il Divo

noreply@blogger.com (Sheila Henne) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:59:00 +0000

Rod bought me a couple of Il Divo CDs for Christmas. I'd discovered them on my Pandora "Josh Groban" station awhile ago. It's different than other music I have, but a nice change. Here are some songs from the two albums, "The Promise" and "Wicked Game".

They are usually classified by genre as "Operatic Pop" or "Classic Crossover". The group was formed in 2003 by Simon Cowell after a worldwide search for accomplished soloists who could also come together to make great music. Each one comes from a different country (but all speak English):

David Miller (tenor), USA
Urs Bühler (tenor), Switzerland
Sébastien Izambard (tenor), France
Carlos Marín (baritone), Spain

Hope you enjoyed it!

What did you get for Christmas?

It's Christmas Once Again In Santa Barbara

noreply@blogger.com (Sheila Henne) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 04:59:00 +0000

A Christmas song from my hometown.

The picture is the view of the beach and foothills from Cabrillo Boulevard. -Sheila

The Santa Claus Tree

noreply@blogger.com (Sheila Henne) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 23:47:00 +0000

Earlier this month, we put up our little Christmas tree that we've had for over 20 years. Over the years, I've collected various Christmas wrappings, tags, stickers, ornaments and other decorations from city pickup piles, yard sales, friends and the like. The latest acquisition was Christmas goodies from a yard sale we helped with a couple months prior.

We now have enough stuff to choose from to put up a "theme" for the tree for the past couple years. I asked Rod what he wanted this year, and he didn't really know. I pulled out a tree skirt we acquired a couple years ago that had Santa and "Ho Ho Ho" all over. We'd never done a Santa themed tree before, so I thought, "Why not?" We'd always been a little reticent to have Santa prominently displayed as opposed to Jesus or angels or something else, but we're at a different place in our lives now and are more willing to have some fun with things.

I didn't have quite enough Santa-themed ornaments, but then remembered some large "Father Christmas" gift tags I'd gotten in my last yard sale "haul". I attached some tree hangers on them and--voilá!--tree finished! I'm pleased with how it turned out.

My favorite ornaments on the tree are the "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" ceramic paired ones we've had for several years. One has a picture of Virginia O'Hanlon writing a letter and on the back a mock-up of her letter to the Sun newspaper in 1897. The other is a picture of Santa Claus and an excerpt of Francis Church's unsigned editorial response on the back. I'm not one who gets too sentimental about stuff, but those two ornaments are just so sweet!

Choosing the ornaments out of the bunch

What did you do for Christmas decorating this year?

A Couple of Sickos

noreply@blogger.com (Sheila Henne) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 02:31:00 +0000

It's not often that Rod and I are sick at the same time, but this is one of those times. Both of us seemed to have caught a cold, then both of us developed secondary infections--Rod, just a general sinus/lung infection and me, what appears to be pneumonia (I've had it before a few times, so remember what it uniquely feels/sounds/looks like). I'm usually significantly ill for at least part of December each year, but Rod is rarely very sick.

We're both now taking antibiotics and other medications from my stash to recover, and both of us seem to be improving. I have various medications (antibiotics, prednisone, diuretic) on-hand ahead of time. I have a compromised immune system and I was left with COPD after I had a significant case of TB several years back.

I'm considered high-risk, so my doctors don't want me to go to the ER, Urgent Care or doctor's office, especially during flu season, because I could contract something worse than I already have. I have a better-than-average understanding of all of my medications and supplements, so my doctors felt okay to pre-prescribe medications so I could self-treat at home right away. In my case, pneumonia could become dangerous or life-threatening very quickly if I had to wait for an appointment.

This whole week was going to be one of us having 4 separate parties or cookie exchanges between the two of us on December 10, 12, 15 and 17, and I think it may be a bust for all of them, given our illnesses. Bummer. Now I have the supplies to make candy-covered pretzels for the events, and no immediate opportunity or reason to make them, save for maybe Rod delivering his share of the cookie exchange at work later, when we're well enough to make them.

It looks like it's going to be at least a few more days of hanging out at home for Rod, and who knows how long for me.

Do you have any problems with illness, whether with a particular time of year or a medical condition, or are you almost always healthy?

10 Things I Am Thankful For

noreply@blogger.com (Sheila Henne) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 22:20:00 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Lord continues to work in my heart and mind, still doing a fair amount of "reconstructive surgery" within me. This morning during my devotions I realized I've been having toddler-style "temper tantrums" in my spirit against things that I feel are "unfair" in my life.

Temper tantrums about what's "not fair" to me in life, or how situations are somehow "against" me lead me to have more "pity parties" for myself than I ever realized before. Temper tantrums and pity parties plant seeds of rebellion and resistance in my heart against what God wants me to do. "No!" just like a toddler. *Sigh!* I've also realized that negativity in my spirit sends negative vibes out to other people as well.

In order to correct this negative trend, I've decided I will do something along the line of what a friend of mine does on her Facebook status, and have a daily Gratitude Check. I may not do it just like hers, but hopefully it will promote a more positive attitude within and a more positive vibe without. I decided to write down 10 things each day.

Today after lunch (on American Thanksgiving, no less), I wrote:

1. Warm sunny days much of the year (like today, in San Antonio, Texas, USA)

2. Almost every modern convenience is available to me

3. A nice loving husband who's been absolutely loyal to me and who has been a great model for me (the Lord's revealed a lack of loyalty and trust in my own heart)

4. God in my life; a heavenly Father who chose me before time began; Jesus as Savior; the Holy Spirit within me

5. I've never gone hungry, always had a home and my own bed (even when it was a shared one)

6. Cats who have blessed and enriched my life

7. A foster dad and a foster mom

8. Beautiful stuff to look at in real life and online that inspire me

9. The Internet, which puts almost the whole world at my fingertips

10. Modern medicine to recover and maintain my health

I'm not sure if I'm going to make my list a daily Facebook status, a FB note, or just write it in my devotions book as part of each day's devotions. I'm not sure if anyone wants to see my list daily in their own Facebook News Feed.

~~Any ideas?~~

I decided to just write it down in my devotions notebook at the start of my morning devotions. That way I'm not unnecessarily distracted by the computer or Facebook just to write a list. The Lord also prompted me to do another list at bedtime, so I am starting and ending my day on a positive, appreciative note. I have another notebook stashed away upstairs that I can just grab and sit down to write as I get ready for bed.

What are you thankful for?

Do you have a regular practice of writing down what you are thankful for?

Setting the Record (And Me) Straight

noreply@blogger.com (Sheila Henne) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 23:40:00 +0000

"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,

and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

because the Lord disciplines those he loves,

and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." ~Hebrews 12:5b-6

As I had said in my previous post, the Lord has me in a season of serious "reconstructive surgery", having me go through a certain stack of books. I also stated that I'm going through the back of the 30-day devotional in the back of The Bait of Satan in order to try and free myself from the hurts and offenses that had still had a stronghold in my heart. Yes, it truly had been a stronghold!

The devotionals and their forcing me to deal with offenses in a godly way has been quite profound. In reading just a few pages of the book each day, I'm getting a lot of insight and stated truths I'd missed before when I just buzzed through the book quickly.

One of the main ideas that God has shown me is that taking up and holding onto offense is tantamount to being in rebellion, and refusing to hold onto offense and forgiving is tantamount to submitting to difficult circumstances or people in order to be shaped.

Another idea that has struck me is that very negative relational patterns persist in those who choose to hold onto offenses and hurts that have come by way of others. Those offenses never really go away inside the person who is offended. The person gets offended and leaves the church, relationship or situation, but carries the hurt, fear and offenses away with them in his or her heart.

Any new person, church or situation an offended person encounters will be automatically marred by all that person's previous hurts and offenses. Because the person fears getting hurt again, they act according to the previous hurts and offenses in their heart, which starts the cycle of problems all over again.

Eventually difficulty happens and the person says, "See? It happened again!" and will run away again, thinking they have left the problems behind, not realizing that THEY are the carrier and the real source of the problems!

What does this have to with me? Lots!

Last Monday, the Lord finally revealed to me a truth about some issues I had with those involved in our dismissal with a certain Bible verse that He brought to mind. The reason why others had acted toward me the way that they did was that I was the one who was far more wrong in what I had said and done than I had thought before. I was doing far more damage than I had ever realized! *CRACK!*

In that instant, my whole perspective changed and all the other stuff that others had done in the situation fell away and didn't matter anymore. I quickly wrote a short letter confessing, apologizing for and repenting of what they and the Lord had been trying to get through my prideful and offended thick head the whole time.

After I finished the letter, I put it away for my husband to look at later and got up to go about my business. I noticed that something inside of me had broken. It was my will......Not fully, but significantly........Finally.....At age 47. It had taken a divine sledgehammer and jackhammer both going 24/7 for a full 16 months until I finally cracked. That was ONE TOUGH NUT to crack! But nothing is impossible for God!

A little history (not an excuse, just an explanation).... Both my birth parents (both long-deceased) would've been considered alcoholics. They were too busy drinking, fighting with each other, dealing with my older brothers and expecting my baby sister to take much time teaching, disciplining or nurturing me. A few months before my 4th birthday, Mother and Dad had a big fight, and Mother (she didn't want to be called Mom or Mommy) left for good, taking one of my brothers with her and leaving me and my sister and the other brother with Dad for him to raise.

My will was never broken when I was a toddler or young child, as neither of my parents came alongside to work with me and teach me life skills. I ended up being regarded as a "little terror" by some adults. I consistently fought bedtime and eventually won. While I was in early elementary school, it finally got to where my father would go to bed at 8:30 p.m. and I'd stay up and watch stuff like Laugh-In.

During my childhood, I also learned that the adults in my life could not be trusted or depended on. Mother wasn't around anymore. When I was still quite young, I vaguely remember kids asking me if I even had a mother. I even wondered if I did myself sometimes. On Christmas and birthdays, a lady named "Mother" would come over and share goodies and gifts with me and my sister. For a while that was all I really knew or could understand about Mother.

After I got beyond a certain age, Dad wasn't real affectionate with me. No more playing horsey on his foot or reading stories with him. He turned into a recluse and had no social life that I can remember beyond a bowling league every now and again and the holiday family get-togethers. Dad also wouldn't intervene when I was bullied by kids in the neighborhood or at school. "Go fight your own battles!" he yelled at me one day when I was nine. That was one of the saddest, loneliest and scariest times of my life.

It seemed that no adults in my life cared about my safety or welfare. I later found out that several adults in my life had approached Dad about spending time with us girls in order to help raise us, but Dad had told them that he could take care of us himself. It seemed my teachers wouldn't intervene to help me either with the kids who were being cruel to me. Did my teachers even see what was going on?

If you combine the experiences above, you end up with a girl who sees the world around her as a dangerous place, that people are to be feared, and that adults or those in authority cannot be trusted or depended on. I would have to navigate life by myself and call the shots myself to try and keep myself safe. Basically, a recipe for major willfulness, self-preservation, distrust of anyone over me and, ultimately, social and relational disaster.

God knows those who are His, and loves them so much that He will do whatever needs to be done for the good of His children. I'm learning to place all of my trust in my heavenly Father, who is more than willing to give me what my birth parents could not. Deuteronomy 8:5, Proverbs 3:12 and Hebrews 12:5-8 say that God disciplines those who he regards as sons (daughters), and that's just what He's done with me. Big. Time. I can trust Him to take care of me and keep me safe, even when life gets upsetting.

Because I trust my heavenly Father, I can trust the world around me.

Because I trust my heavenly Father, I can trust other people.

Because I trust my heavenly Father, I can trust those He appoints to be over me.

Because I trust my heavenly Father, I can trust what I need to obey and submit to.

Yes, I have been initially broken, but still have more breaking and a lot of training to undergo yet. I'm certainly not perfect in my obedience or behavior yet, but the toughest part is now done and behind me (and everyone else).

Whew!

Have you ever experienced a difficult period of being broken?

Take Responsibility

noreply@blogger.com (Sheila Henne) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 02:52:00 +0000

(I posted the status below on my Facebook wall (modified slightly here), and thought it worth sharing here as well.)

This is a principle that I've learned lately from reading Safe People and Boundaries, both by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend, and Who's Pushing Your Buttons? by Dr. John Townsend. It's important for each person to take responsibility for what they're doing in a situation before there can be any real progress in a relationship with difficulties.

Wall Photos

‎"It's best to get involved with someone that has accepted and learned from their mistakes rather than being with someone that has never taken responsibility for them." B♥

What do you think about this idea?

Have you had issues with taking responsibility in your relationships?

What did you do about it (if anything)?

A Season of Books (A Season of Healing, Change and Growth)

noreply@blogger.com (Sheila Henne) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 23:35:00 +0000

(This article is cross-posted from the Koinonia Life blog)

The LORD builds up Jerusalem;

he gathers the exiles of Israel.

He heals the brokenhearted

and binds up their wounds. ~Psalm 147:2-3

As I mentioned in my last post, I had gotten some books to help me with the healing and "getting over it" process, hoping it would help me move on. I haven't written much for awhile because I have been busy taking in a lot of stuff, and it took awhile for it to all begin to gel so I could write intelligently.

It has since become apparent to me that the Lord intends this to be an extended season of healing and growth--healing past offenses and doing some serious psychological and spiritual surgery in me as well. The stack of books to go through continues to grow...

The stack of books I currently have for this project:

Have read

Safe People: How to Find Relationships That Are Good For You and Avoid Those That Aren't by Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend

The Bait of Satan: Living Free From the Deadly Trap of Offense by John Bevere

Boundaries: When to Say YES-When to Say NO-To Take Control of Your Life by Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend

The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith by Timothy Keller

(My church Community Group just finished a six-week DVD/book study on this. It was a good heart challenge.)

Currently reading

Who's Pushing Your Buttons?: Handling the Difficult People in Your Life by Dr. John Townsend

Have yet to read

Boundaries Face to Face: How to Have That Difficult Conversation You've Been Avoiding by Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend

Today Matters: 12 Daily Practices to Guarantee Tomorrow's Success by John Maxwell

Still want to get
Changes That Heal: How to Understand the Past to Ensure a Healthier Future by Dr. Henry Cloud

Hiding From Love: How to Change the Withdrawal Patterns That Isolate and Imprison You by Dr. John Townsend

Boundaries workbook, and maybe some of the other Cloud/Townsend books' companion workbooks as well.

In my devotional time, I'm taking a break from my regular routine and going through the 30-day devotional in the back of The Bait of Satan. Each day the devotional has me re-read a few pages of the book, then presents some key points along with a little self-inventory to work and meditate on for that day. They're short, but I want to take my time in prayer and reflection to try and release some strongholds in my heart that get in the way of fully forgiving and releasing people who have hurt or offended me.

I will be writing posts that share the books and what the Lord is showing me during this season, however long it ends up being. I will share these posts here and/or on the Koinonia Life blog, depending on what each post ends up like. There may be some significant cross-posting but it seems the groups of readers are unique to each blog.

Have you ever had a significant season of healing, change or growth?

What was that journey like or what methods were used for that journey?

25 Years Together

noreply@blogger.com (Sheila Henne) — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 21:54:00 +0000

Last Tuesday, Rod and I celebrated 25 years of being a couple (we've been married only 23½ years). We became boyfriend/girlfriend on October 25, 1986. The rest, they say, is history.....

We decided to go to the Japanese Tea Garden near Brackenridge Park and wanted to also try going to the Witte Museum during their free Tuesday hours while we were down there. We enjoyed the Tea Garden, with its pretty landscaping, water features and more koi than I've ever seen in one place. We walked up and down the stairs and walkways (it's a workout!) but it was kind of hot. The combination of the workout with the heat wore us out quickly.

We decided to try the Witte Museum separately on another day. We've learned that if we try too hard to make something special, it usually gets messed up and we end up being disappointed, so we kept it simple. The point was just to be together for the day more than anything.

We came home, enjoyed a smoothie and kicked back to watch NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles and Unforgettable. Yes, we do enjoy our crime shows! ;-)

Do you do anything in particular when you celebrate your special days?

Church Update

noreply@blogger.com (Sheila Henne) — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 20:58:00 +0000

After a time of searching (and yes, a few Sundays worshiping online via Calvary Community Church in Phoenix, a former home church), we finally landed at Vineyard Church of San Antonio.

We had heard that the Vineyard movement was an offshoot of Calvary Chapel, but didn't know anything else about it firsthand. We both felt pretty comfortable there, so decided to stay, at least for now. The senior pastor couple and others in the church warmly welcomed us, and that was a big factor to make us stay.

The senior pastor couple (Randy and Clara Maranville) were eager to get to know us and why we were there. They have been very encouraging and helpful in their counsel. We will visit them tomorrow for dessert to talk more one-on-one with them. They're really sweet people!

In the course of conversation one Sunday, Clara handed Rod her copy of The Quest For the Radical Middle: A History of the Vineyard by Bill Jackson (a Vineyard pastor) on loan for him/me to read to understand the Vineyard movement from its beginnings, seeing that we'd been in the pastorate ourselves. She said it would "make or break" it for us about whether we'd continue with them or not.

I won't speak for Rod, but I find the book quite interesting to read. I learned a lot about them that I didn't know before. I have a much greater appreciation and understanding for what the movement is about. What struck both me and Rod is the Vineyard's emphasis on "the kingdom of God", which they understand to be "here now, but not here yet."

In other words, Jesus often declared that the kingdom of God had come to earth with his own coming. The instructions given to his disciples was the idea that they would continue to bring the kingdom of God to men on earth through doing the very things that Jesus did--healing, casting out demons, various manifestations of the Spirit, etc. So then, at least in a partial sense, the kingdom of God has already arrived.

The "not here yet" part of the kingdom of God will come at the second coming of Jesus and when God creates a new heaven and new earth, where God's reign over earth and men who are his will be forever.

We've been attending a small "Community Group" for the past few weeks. We are going through a book and video of The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller, based on "The Prodigal Son" passage in Luke 15, but with a different twist. It gives a lot of cultural background we'd never heard before that helps us understand how Jesus' disciples and the Pharisees may have actually understood it. It's given me pause to think about my own rebellion and self-righteousness as seen in the two brothers, both equally lost but in different ways.

No Spend Month--Week 4 Update

noreply@blogger.com (Sheila Henne) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 18:22:00 +0000

No Spend Month completed!

This week's tally:

Gas: $58.11
Household: $35.97 Includes amplified HDTV antenna
(We couldn't watch TV with our old antenna when the wind blew and got fed up. We have a converter box and a dinosaur TV. Reception is much better now!)

Food: $31.21
Movie: $1.08
___________________
This Week's Total: $ $160.04
Non-included supplements: $23.73

Grand total: $295.50
Grand total supplements: $154.02

Obviously, we went over our goal of $250, but it was a good exercise in learning to try and use up what was there before buying more. It did make me more mindful of planning what to spend on before we spent it.

The food bill may have been a bit lower if it hadn't been summer and H.E.B. wouldn't have had sales on fresh fruit, which we eat a lot of. I love peaches, and it's hard not to buy them when they will only be around for a short time. We're originally from California, so have a passion for good produce when something's in-season here in San Antonio. (Yeah, go blame it on fruit sales....) We did have some other fruit (applesauce, prunes and canned peaches/pineapple) and did eat some between grocery store runs. We reserve the frozen fruit mostly for my smoothies and the canned fruit mostly for Rod's lunches.

$97.46 of total spending was on gas alone--twice to fill up Rod's car at almost $40 each time, and a partial fill of $20 for mine. Rod has to drive to work every day, so two fill-ups for the Escort are hard to get around.

We also decided not to wait on the antenna since we weren't spending money on other going out or entertainment. If we had waited just a couple more days, we wouldn't have had to include it in the total but decided to get it anyway. We did try to tough it out with the old antenna, but couldn't take having the dialogue break up at the most crucial part in the show. Rod likes to sit together and watch a show for our "together" time, so how could I refuse getting the antenna?

Something we also knew and rediscovered was that you can only skimp on going to the store for so long, then you need to make a bigger grocery run anyway after you've depleted everything. What's the point? We did end up going to Costco for a big trip at the end of the month after all to replenish many items that got used up or were getting low.

We did not have meals that had pasta, rice or potatoes due to the special diet that I'm on. The Specific Carbohydrate Diet is not exactly cheap, since you can't use grain products of any kind (not even gluten-free) or most processed foods, either. Rod seems to do better on the diet too, so has given up asking for starches for dinner. Meat and veggies, that's it.

Something I've learned about both of us is that neither one of us is real hard-nosed about saving every last little thing we can. Being overly-restrictive can lead to feelings of deprivation and may cause us to splurge even more in a weak moment to "reward" ourselves. Moderation seems to be the key. Have a little fun in moderation, and we may be better able to go for the long haul.

As I had mentioned a couple weeks ago, I had an invitation for a friend's jewelry party but I chose not to go. The Lord is teaching me about making sacrifices for others, namely going to friends' jewelry, kitchen, etc. shows to have a good time and support them. I admit I've been a Scrooge about these parties for the most part, claiming I need to watch how I spend my money. $10-20 to purchase something in order to support a friend with my "being there" is not going to kill me, and could bless the other person and build my relationship with them. Hmm...money or people, which should I choose....? I now regret my decision not to go. Live and learn...

Have you ever done anything like a No Spend Month?

What did you learn from it?

No Spend Month--Week 3 Update

noreply@blogger.com (Sheila Henne) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 22:17:00 +0000

We have not made any formal shopping trips since the last post. We wanted to stretch the time between grocery trips toward the end of the month. We'll go in the next few days since nectarines are now on sale. The only spending we've done is related to cat healthcare, which is a non-included category.

We had a lesson this week that some things are just not worth trying to save money on because of the repercussions of doing so. We thought we'd save on flea treatments and use up some over-the-counter flea treatments that we still had from awhile ago instead of buying some from the vet. Not a good idea.

I've read the stories online about bad reactions to OTC spot-on flea treatments and experienced firsthand their problems this time around. We treated 4 cats (Peaches, Dolce, Golden Boy and Treecop) with what we had left over (by Hartz and Zodiac) instead of getting Advantage Multi from the vet's office. The vet's price is "buy 6 doses, get 1 free" for $93.24. That translates to about $15.54 a dose at 6 doses; $13.32 a dose at 7 doses.

Peaches started having problems with something bothering her right ear that evening and into the next morning. We kept looking for something in her ear and found nothing. I took her to the vet and she found nothing wrong in the ear.

After telling the vet what I'd treated Peaches with, we deduced she was having a skin reaction on her ear, where some of the treatment had gotten smeared during the application process. Peaches is a blond cat with sensitive skin like a redhead. Instead of saving money, the vet visit for nothing cost $51.70. *Sigh!* Dolce also seemed to be bothered a bit by his treatment, and apparently vomited as well from it. We're not sure if the other 2 had reactions, since they're outside cats. Never again!

I don't want to pay outrageous prices for safe flea treatment, so went online and bought from one of the two websites where I've bought treatments from before, deadfleaz.com and vetnpetdirect.com, both located in Australia (yes, you heard right). You don't need a prescription or referral from your vet to buy vet-grade pesticide and wormer treatments in Australia.

At deadfleaz.com I was able to get 12 doses of Advantage Multi (known there as Advocate) for $118.64, shipping included. That translates to about $9.89 a dose. Quite a price difference! I usually get the package within about 7-12 days via International Airmail and have never yet had a problem.

Have you done anything like a No Spend Month?

Do you have any favorite online discount pet stores?

No Spend Month--Week 2 Update

noreply@blogger.com (Sheila Henne) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 22:25:00 +0000

Two and a half weeks down, two weeks to go! I have to say I'm pleased with how we're doing.

I've been using up the meat that's stored in our big deep freeze in the garage. I've cooked a turkey I bought in November and finally cooked up 3 lbs. of hamburger with some onions/peppers that I'd originally bought awhile back for spaghetti (which I now can't have). It's been good to force the using up of some meats that have been sitting there for months.

This week's spending tally:

Food: $24.04 -- Mostly fresh produce and a couple shelf items (it's HARD to pass up peaches at 87¢/lb.!)

Non-Food: $37.87 (Includes cat food, personal care, household)

______________________

Week's total: $61.91

Cumulative total: $135.46

Not included (health-related) but purchased are OTC med and supplements: $27.29

As far as my "hoarding" tendencies go (see here about halfway down for background), I'm becoming better about waiting until close to being out of something before buying more. As I stated in my last post, I'm doing a closet purge and general "letting go" of stuff that's clogging up my home and my life.

As I went through my closet, I noticed my hangers that have slots in the side to hold straps tend to do a "number" on many of my t-shirts, causing little--hmmm....what to call them?--stretch "bumps" on the shoulder close to the collar. They look weird.

My first thought was, "Oh, I guess I need to buy some different-style hangers, so my t-shirts don't get those stretch bumps on the shoulders." Wait a minute....I shouldn't think like that, should I? I quickly caught myself and thought of alternatives. I'd gotten rid a few dresses and such, so had many store-style plastic hangers now empty and available. I looked up and saw I now had a lot of those hangers, so started transferring t-shirts to those hangers, which do a better job of avoiding the stretch "bumps". Problem solved, nothing spent.

I've been presented with the temptation to spend a couple times this week, the first in the form of an invite to a friend's Premier Designs jewelry party. *Sigh!* I hate to miss a friend's jewelry party but know I'd feel obligated to buy something if I went. An Avon catalog was hung on our front door, with buy 1 get 1 free sales on eyeliner and mascara (that I already bought at WalMart recently). Must. Not. Hoard.

Have you ever done something like a No Spend Month?
Are you simplifying your life in any way right now?
Have you recently done any closet or cupboard purges?

No Spend Month--Week 1 Update

noreply@blogger.com (Sheila Henne) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 22:34:00 +0000

The first week of our No Spend Month was not bad. We tried not to buy anything more than just necessities. The tally for the past week or so:

Gas: $39.35 to fill up our Escort at $3.56 a gallon. It was close to empty.
Food: $34.20 for produce and a gallon of milk. We could use up the canned stuff (we are, slowly, for lunches and smoothies), but it's fresh fruit season, and we former Californians (read: produce snobs) want to get in on fruit that's on sale for 88¢ a pound this time of year. We set a limit of about $10 for fruit each trip, so we don't over-buy.

Subtotal = $73.55

At the rate gas is, I think a $250 cap is more realistic.

Not included are supplements we also bought totaling $103.00 (yes, some are quite expensive!) that are part of a support regimen for several medical conditions I have.

We're not even renting Redbox movies this month. Last week we discovered Hulu, watching a free episode of "Lie To Me" for the first time. Rod and I are big fans of crime shows, and enjoyed this one.

This month we're also watching a couple over-the-air TV shows during the week, when the wind doesn't mess up the signal. A new favorite of ours that we've lately tried to catch is "The Mentalist". Some channels come in better than others do, and it really depends on the day for what we can watch, which is already decidedly limited.

I'm also currently doing a purge of my own closet, which I will write about in the next few weeks, complete with before and after pics. It feels GREAT to have a closet that only has clothes that fit right now! More details to come...

Have you ever done something like a No Spend Month?

What do you do for free entertainment?

No Spend Month

noreply@blogger.com (Sheila Henne) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 22:51:00 +0000

I've been reading a variety of new-to-me blogs on a variety of topics. I've gotten inspiration and great ideas for uncluttering my life, focusing my priorities, warming up my home, firming up my finances and bettering my blogs.

One of my new faves is Small Notebook by Rachel Meeks. She's a warm and engaging writer. Each year in July, she and her family have a No Spend Month. They set a total dollar limit on what they will spend on flexible discretionary non-bill items like food, entertainment, gas, household necessities and the like. The idea behind it is to take a break from the consumer mentality, lessen their "desire to acquire", and ultimately keep the finances in-check.

During this time they do not go out to eat (she says letting friends pay is cheating), think of free/cheap ways to entertain themselves, consolidate errands, put off non-essential purchases and look around the house to use (up) what they already have.

Rod and I have decided to make this month (August) our own No Spend Month, taking after Rachel's idea. It's more like Low Spend Month. You still need to get some fresh food, gas and other essentials, of course!

We won't do it with cash as Rachel and her husband did it, but will keep a receipt tally instead so everything still gets electronically registered through our bank and into our YNAB (You Need A Budget) program.

Since this is new to us, we'll see if we can cap it at $200, as Rachel and her husband did the first time in 2007. They raised it to $250 in subsequent years because of gas price hikes. I believe she said they decided not to do it this year because they felt they had already retrained themselves so well.

I'll try to give updates on how it goes/went, and if there are any "take aways" from our experience.

Have you ever done something like No Spend Month?
What did you think of Small Notebook?

Miss Minimalist

noreply@blogger.com (Sheila Henne) — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 22:06:00 +0000

I recently discovered Miss Minimalist's website from a friend on Facebook. She got inspired by reading a Miss Minimalist book, "The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide" by Francine Jay.

On her website, the author blogs about the minimalist lifestyle. Each week she features a "real-life minimalist", someone who shares their story of how they changed their ways or how they got to be minimalists. Interesting and inspiring stuff to read! I have been looking for decluttering inspiration, and I think I've found it. :-)

In recent months I've come to the realization that I'm a ........ hoarder, of sorts. No, not like the ones you see on the TV show, thank goodness! Still, I seem to want to buy just a li-i-i-itle more than I actually need sometimes. Or I have a great idea for a found item or leftover whatever. Problem is, I never get around to doing that great idea. So the item sits. Or I buy something that I just KNOW I need to make my life better somehow. Sometimes I put it to use, sometimes not. *Sigh!*

I am trying with God's help to break this tendency. The only real good purpose it serves is that I often have plenty to share with someone in need. That only happens once in a while. The rest of the time, I just have plenty.

I plan to start serious decluttering before too long. Maybe if I post pictures of my progress, I might be challenged to really go for it, you think? We'll see... I don't know if I'm THAT brave!

Do you have any problems with clutter?
Have you been on a quest to simplify?
What did you think of Miss Minimalist?

Shattered and Torn, but I'm Still Standing

noreply@blogger.com (Sheila Henne) — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 22:45:00 +0000

This song/video vividly depicts my own roller-coaster of feelings and thoughts in the past year, which has been beyond difficult mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

Rod and I were torn from a church family whom we love dearly and miss deeply because of an unfortunate series of events due to some things I'd said and done.

I was left shattered and torn, but I'm still standing.

I still hold the hand of the One who holds mine.

I will forgive and put the past behind me.

I will look forward to the future in faith and obedience.

I will not let the enemy of my soul win.

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."

~2 Corinthians 4:8-9

May, June and July, So Far

noreply@blogger.com (Sheila Henne) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 22:00:00 +0000

Hi folks! I know--long time, no see.

Rod had taken a week off in May and again last week for stay-cation projects at home. Pleased to say that the painting project is going well. The master bathroom is all done and so is our bedroom, save the inner surface around the window frames. Everything else is done. The hallway walls are completed, sans trim, doors and stair rails, which will all be in a contrasting color. It's a fairly big house (just under 2600 sq. ft.), so it does take time. It's getting there, though. :-)

Rod and I both had birthdays in June. For whatever reason, we didn't get very fancy for Rod's birthday dinner. However, we did check out the newly-opened Saltgrass steak house for my birthday. Great steak! We shared a Porterhouse steak (yum!). Rod let me gnaw on the bone since it was my birthday. ;-p

We're still searching for a new church. We've tried Northwest Community Church a couple times. We're not entirely sure about it, and are waiting on guidance for where else to look.

It's been terribly hot and dry here all summer so far, and we're about to have several days of the highest highs of the year yet. We're under drought restrictions with watering, but are still trying to keep the soil around our foundation moist. San Antonio's soil is on bedrock that tends to shift with swings in moisture and dryness. It can severely crack a foundation. People actually water the soil around their foundations here in order to keep them stable.

The Crape Myrtles that are regrowing in the backyard are doing well, The middle one is quite high. I've trimmed/pinched them and limited the volunteers in order to send the energy upward. We're getting flower heads on two of the trees, one white and one purple/pink. Our Spider Wort (Wandering Jew) plants are also thriving and spreading over the back flower bed. We had planted Elephant Ear a couple years before, but they seem to have not come up this year. (?)

We've talked about having a vegetable garden, setting up raised beds for them along the west fence. We'd also like to have a fruit tree. Those plans may have to wait until next year, though. I'd like to get a Fruit Cocktail tree (A multi-grafted tree of stone fruits--peach, plum, nectarine and apricot). I love peaches and nectarines, and Rod loves apricots.

On the Road Again

noreply@blogger.com (Sheila Henne) — Wed, 11 May 2011 17:11:00 +0000

For awhile, Rod and I have been debating whether or not we should stay at CrossLife Church. The longer we were there, the more apparent it became to both of us that we weren't supposed to settle there. It's just not the right "fit" for us in different ways, to put it simply.

Last night we went to the CrossLife pastor and let him know we were leaving. I think he was a bit sad to see us leave but also understood why and accepted it. We don't leave with any bad feelings or animosity toward anyone, and everyone there is still our friend.

We don't have any idea where we are going yet. Please pray that we can find a permanent "home" to settle into fairly soon. We haven't had a real "home" in awhile and we really (and painfully) miss having that.

Have you had a time in your life when you had a hard time finding a church to settle into?

Return to Sender

noreply@blogger.com (Sheila Henne) — Fri, 06 May 2011 01:56:00 +0000

We are in the process of clearing out our office and getting things back how they should be. One of the biggest problems in the office has been the tsunami of junk advertising mail and "contact" newsletters anyone we've ever bought from or given to sends us, over and over again. The office is literally buried under all of it. Augh! Enough already!

Instead of wasting my time trying to find out how to contact someone to take us off their mailing lists, I had an idea, starting with some of the never-opened mail that had been buried on the desk for awhile. I am now writing on the unopened mail, "Return to sender" near the top, and above where our name and address are, "Please take us off your mailing list," or something to that effect, and putting it back in the outgoing mail. I've decided to take matters into my own hands and start a "Return to Sender" campaign. We'll see in a few months how effective this is...

Okay, who's with me on this?

Computer Woes

noreply@blogger.com (Sheila Henne) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 02:33:00 +0000

Well, our "new" 2009 HP went out all of a sudden last week. First it freezes, then we get upsetting diagnostic results after reboot, then reboot errors, then the hard drive can't be read, then no components can be "found", then after several reboots the opening screen doesn't respond to key presses, then on the last reboot, NOTHING.

We took it to a guy who works out of his home nearby, Fix It For $40 http://fixitfor40.com. He said the power supply and the motherboard were dead, and possibly the CPU that sits directly on the motherboard. He said our hard drive and DVD-ROM seemed fine, and we could probably transplant those into another computer easily. He was able to recover the data from our hard drive onto another external drive we gave him. Yay! Not all is lost. We were doing occasional backups onto another larger external drive as well.

Fortunately we still have our old 2002 Compaq that we've used as a 2nd computer when we both want to be on at the same time. It's got 512MB RAM but we just bought upgrade sticks on eBay to bring it up to 1GB, the max allowable. Why didn't we do this before??? We're now also using the original 15" monitor to our previous 1997 IBM since the Compaq's original 17" monitor is on the fritz as well.

We're weighing our options and figuring what we want to spend before we decide whether to get another machine or try to resurrect/rebuild the current one.

Have you had a "new" computer die on you?

The Man Who Defeated Adolf Hitler

noreply@blogger.com (Sheila Henne) — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 18:45:00 +0000

Interesting article my brother posted on Facebook.
Originally from Fox News. Link to original article is above.

This week, billions of Christians around the world will celebrate Easter. But Wednesday was a special day too.

Wednesday -- April 20th -- was Hitler's birthday! Have you forgotten? The Fuehrer would have been 122 years young today! Aren't you celebrating? As I explain in my book "Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy," during Hitler's 12-year reign, people across Germany twisted themselves into veritable pretzels to praise the Fuhrer on his birthday! It was a day of national celebration.

How things change! Today Hitler's name is synonymous with evil. What a spectacular reversal of fortune.

Hitler's last birthday -- his 56th -- was already a harbinger of things to come. Ten days later he would commit suicide, so the mood in the bunker on his last "Geburtstag" was not exactly festive. He was a shattered man, hiding like a rat beneath the shattered city that was to have been the capital of his new Germany. His die-hard bunker-mates held a small celebration for him, but Herr Hitler had to be sedated before he could make an appearance. Can anyone dream up a more depressing birthday party? What's the German word for "bummer"?

Contrast Hitler's bleak ending with that of another German of that era, Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Bonhoeffer was a brilliant young pastor and a theologian, whose deep faith in God led him to get involved in the plot to kill Hitler. When Hitler learned of Bonhoeffer's involvement he flew into a typically violent rage. As one of his final acts of revenge -- just three weeks before he committed suicide -- Hitler condemned the young pastor to death. Bonhoeffer was hanged on April 9, 1945 at Flossenburg Concentration camp.

But by all accounts, Bonhoeffer went to his death with the peace of God, with no regrets. How can that be?

He was 39 years old, widely reckoned a theological genius. He had already written two of the classic books of the 20th century, "The Cost of Discipleship" and "Life Together." He was engaged to be married to a wonderful young woman. He had such a terrifically bright future! Bonhoeffer even had an opportunity to escape his fate.

In my book I tell the story of how he had fled to America, but then decided to return to Germany, to face the horrors that lay ahead with his people. Why did he return when he didn't have to? And why didn't he have any regrets for doing so, even after he knew he would pay the ultimate price? Just before he died, Bonhoeffer told a fellow prisoner, "This is the end. But for me, the beginning of life."

How is it that one man slunk to his death defeated and is today despised by the whole world, while another man went to his death with God's peace, and is today everywhere hailed as a hero, as one of the few Germans with the courage to see what was happening and to speak against it and act against it, even at the cost of his own life?

There's much to say by way of an answer, but since the Easter season is upon us, let's start there.

Bonhoeffer believed the Easter story. He actually believed the extraordinary story of God's coming to Earth and dying and then rising from the dead to defeat death forever. He believed that because this was true, he need never fear death. All he needed to worry about was doing the right thing and trusting God with the results. And that he did.

Because Bonhoeffer believed these things he had the courage to do what almost no one else around him could do. He stood up for the Jews of Europe and today he is celebrated and cherished, while Hitler, who condemned him to death and who only believed in himself, is reviled as a monster.

That day in the bunker 66 years ago today, as the drugged-up Fuehrer celebrated his last birthday, he was alive and Bonhoeffer had been dead for eleven days.

But on that day -- April 20, 1945 -- who was happy and who was at peace, Hitler or Bonhoeffer? For that matter, which of them is happy and at peace today? It's something chilling to think about, the contrast between these two Germans, between these two lives and these two deaths. But at this time of year especially, it's appropriate that perhaps we do think about it.

But at this time of year, when Passover and Easter are being celebrated it's especially appropriate that we do think about it. Do those of us who say we believe in God really believe it? Because if we do, it will affect how we behave today, this week, this month... If we believe in the word of God, as Bonhoeffer did, it will give us the courage do the right thing wherever we are. Like Bonhoeffer, we will do the right thing and trust God with the consequences. Faith and courage go together.

Bonhoeffer's faith gave him the courage to stand against the greatest evil of the 20th century. And today we celebrate him and revile the inhuman tyrant he stood against.

So this Easter season, dare to think about what you really believe. What you believe about your faith will affect how you behave today and how people regard you years from today. That's a fact.

Let the life of Bonhoeffer, lived in faith and without fear, be a source of encouragement to you, so that your life in turn may be a source of encouragement to others in years to come.

Eric Metaxas is the author of "Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy" (Thomas Nelson) and "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About God (But Were Afraid to Ask): THE JESUS EDITION" published by Regal Books. For more information, visit www.ericmetaxas.com.

Finished!

noreply@blogger.com (Sheila Henne) — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 03:21:00 +0000

Taxes are, that is. Rod got them e-filed with 12 days to spare. We got out the wine glasses and celebrated with Martinelli's sparkling cider. This year, for once in a few, we are getting a refund rather than owing. Yay!

Now we can relax and focus on where we might like to go for a Bed and Breakfast early getaway later this month for our anniversary, which is at the end of the month. Rod had suggested Fredericksburg. We haven't been there yet in our almost six and a half years here in Texas. It's going to be more of a challenge than before to find the right place with my special physical and dietary needs (privacy for noisy medical treatments and SCD-friendly fare). Hope we can find something that's nice but reasonable.

Time for bed. Goodnight.

An Early Spring

noreply@blogger.com (Sheila Henne) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 23:02:00 +0000

The weather lately has been warm and beautiful, warmer than the averages for this time of year. It's great to be able to out for a walk in shorts even after sunset! I enjoy the time of year when it's once again sunny while I'm eating dinner. Probably one of my more favorite times of year.

Rod did the first mowing of the season yesterday and mulched the leaves into the grass. There's still a little edging to do yet. It was dinner time and getting dark, so he'll have to finish another day. The leaves are coming out on the trees. Our big oak in back seems to have some insect/borer problems going on. Rod's concerned about it. We're trying some internal/up-through-the-roots insecticide first, and have been soaking the tree to try and drown whatever is in there. We're not sure what else to do at this point. It does give lots of shade and southern sun blockage. It would be a shame to lose that tree. It is putting out leaves, so isn't dead yet. Just have a lot of rotten/earth-like wood coming out of a hole in the trunk and part of the inside is all empty. We'll keep an eye on it...

Traditional Irish Blessing

noreply@blogger.com (Sheila Henne) — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:30:00 +0000

This is truly what I wish for everyone. There is nothing like pain or sorrow that can develop your character, change you for the better and make you strong, as well as compassionate. I've had much sorrow and pain in my life, and it has made me who I am.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!