Home Improvements

Last month, I decided to celebrate the anniversary mark of being on my own for a year by splurging on myself. On Amazon Prime Day, I bought an Echo for half off! 

I also decided to upgrade my couch. It was a hard decision to make. My leather love seat meant a lot to me. It was the first big purchase I made, on my own. I felt like it was God telling me I could do this. But the cats had pretty much destroyed the leather and I was also ready for a full size couch. In the end, I even decided to splurge and get one with electric reclining seats. 

I had to get help with the last two items on my list. Years ago, the doorbell broke. It only made a quite buzzing sound, but you pretty much had to be standing under the bell to hear it. My brother looked at it a few months ago, but the cover was painted to the wall and he didn't want to mess it up. So I had Vince look at it a few weeks ago. He was able to get the cover off and then messed with the wires inside it and it started working again. 

The other thing I did was I've been wanting a ceiling fan in my bedroom for years. When I mentioned this to Vince, he offered to install it for me. He made it look so easy, I wish I had done it years ago. My bedroom has stayed so much cooler!

We installed the fan on a Sunday after church. The next morning, when I was getting ready, Blue was downstairs crying. So much so, that I finally went down, checked the food bowl (which was half full) and then checked him for injuries. I couldn't find any, so I didn't worry about it. But then he did the same thing on Tuesday morning. Again, I checked him for injuries, but he seemed fine. Tuesday night, it occurred to me, he hadn't slept with me that week; in fact, I hadn't even seen him upstairs since installing the fan. So I gently carried him upstairs, and sure enough, he freaked out when I went into the bedroom. 

I decided to leave it off for a few days to help him adjust. Each night, I would carry him to bed and calmly pet him while he stared at the fan. But he finally seemed to adjust by Thursday night. So on Friday, I turned it on low and spent the next two nights calming him again. He is back to sleeping with me, but I've noticed he still enters the bedroom slowly while staring at the ceiling fan every time he comes in. 

Meow Monday

I bought a new couch this weekend. It didn't take the cats long to claim it as their own.

Gaby

Blue

Percy

New Bed

For years now, I've been slowly buying the Winner's Only Mango Furniture Set. I bought the coffee and sofa table well over 5 years ago and have been slowly buying the collection since then. A few years ago, I was able to buy the TV stand and the tall bedroom dresser. Last fall, I added the small end table to my living room. That left me with just the bed frame and end tables. Since the divorce, it has been my goal to buy a new bed. 

I've been saving money for a few months, but when I did my taxes, I was able to have enough money after I got my tax return. I really wanted to buy a new mattress at the same time, but that will have to wait for a year or two. 

On Monday night, my brother came over and helped me take apart my old bed frame. I was able to sell it on Facebook, but they weren't sure when they could come get it, so I wanted to have it ready for them. That meant sleeping on the floor for a few nights on just my mattress, but I kind of enjoyed it. 

On Friday, they delivered and set up my new bed. I also ordered one matching bedside table to go with it. 

I also decided to splurge and buy a new bedding set at the same time. 

Its been 8 months since the ex moved out, but I can't believe how refreshing it was to sleep on a new bed. It felt like another piece falling into place for my new life. I love that I can say it is my bed. Well, and the cats of course. And hopefully I'll be able to buy a new mattress in the next year and have any traces of the ex completely out of my bedroom.

All the kitties enjoying the new bedding. 

The only item in the furniture set I don't have, but wish I did, is the kitchen table. Unfortunately, it is too large to fit into my small kitchen. So I guess that will have to wait until they come out with a smaller version or I move into a place with a larger kitchen.

Makeup Cupboard

When I bought my bookshelf, I also found a cute cupboard that I thought would work perfect for my makeup. My bathroom is small and my makeup has taken over the counter. It was hard to find anything and I needed more room. 

It was a little more difficult than the bookshelf to put together, but I managed just fine. It does mount to the wall, but about the only place to put it would've blocked my only electrical socket. But it fits perfectly on the counter. 

I love how organized my makeup is now! Everything is is so much easier to find.

City Trip - Single Event

Recently, I found a Christian Singles group on Facebook. They meet for various activities, but its in the city, which means a 2-1/2 hour drive for me. Since it was my birthday this week, I thought I would celebrate by taking a trip to the city and checking out the group. The dinner is potlock, so I knew the best way to win over the crowd was to bring Oreo cupcakes. My plan worked when I saw most of them going back for a 2nd one. 

While we ate, we watched the football game. When it was over, we played Mexican Train. I will admit, when I first got there, I was taken back about the age group, I felt a little out of place. But I loved hanging with people who love Jesus. The game was fun and I ended up staying until 1 am. 

I knew it would be a late night, so I had booked a hotel nearby. On Sunday morning, I decided to go visit a church near the hotel. I love that no matter where you are, when you seek God, He ALWAYS shows up. This weekend was a huge step out of my comfort zone to go to an event where I knew nobody and then attend a new church by myself. But I'm so glad I did. 

After church, I went to the Olive Garden and then I did some shopping at IKEA. I had some gift cards and was able to buy a book shelf, a cabinet for my bathroom and a few odds and ends. The bookshelf was heavy and I had to have help loading. Then, when I got home, my cousin came over to help me unload it and get the box upstairs. 

Last night, after I had burnt out on homework, I wasn't quite ready for bed, so I decided to assemble the bookshelf. I have not been a fan of living alone, but I also feel the need to prove to myself that I can do it. God has provided for so many of my needs. The fact that I got to keep my home in the divorce is proof of that. I knew, if I could put the bookshelf together, by myself, there won't be much I can't do. 

Or course, I did have a little bit of "help."

It took me about an hour, but I did it! Just looking at it filled me with pride and joy. I know that I will be okay on my own, at least for now. I still need to assemble the bathroom cabinet, but I think it will be easy enough. 

The first thing on it was books. But the next thing I put on the bookshelf was pictures of my nephews. They need updated, but those pictures always make me smile, so its hard to replace them. 

New Years Weekend

Over New Year's weekend, I had a new friend, "E", come visit. He flew in on Friday and then flew home on Monday. It was an awesome weekend and we had a fun time. 

On Saturday, we took a drive up Uintah Canyon. There was a ton of snow, so I only stopped for pictures twice. 

When we got home, he was kind enough to do a few things around the house for me. Over Christmas, I mentioned getting a new table and he offered to put it together for me when he came to visit. It went together pretty quickly, but I was grateful to have someone who knew what they were doing or it probably would've taken me twice as long. 

While he was working on the table, he managed to bump his head into my low hanging kitchen light. (Anyone an inch taller than me has had that happen to them.) I mentioned that I had found a replacement at a yard sale, but I didn't know how to change it out. So he did that for me also. He even went above and beyond. After he installed it, he noticed it wasn't an exact match, so he took it down and we swapped it out for one in my spare closet. Now my kitchen light fixtures match and no one will hit their head anymore. He also hung a towel hook in my bathroom for me. I felt pretty spoiled having someone to work on my "honey do" list for me. 

I am in love with my new table. Over the years, I usually didn't have a table because my kitchen had a full size freezer instead. It was fun to cook over the weekend and eat at an actual table. 

On Sunday, after church, I decided to drive up to Flaming Gorge and show him around there. We first stopped at the resort for lunch. 

At the highest elevation there was a bit of snow, but once you started to drop down, there wasn't near as much. 

While we were driving around, he noticed a sign for a river access. I had never been down that road, so we decided to check it out. It took us to the bottom of the dam. 

It was gorgeous down there. 

Then we also stopped at the top of the dam for a quick look. It was pretty cold, so we didn't explore much. 

Dating still feels pretty new to me, but I think I am going to enjoy it. 

Christmas Tree 2016

Christmas is different this year. I was worried it would be depressing, given my recent divorce. Instead, I have found the opposite to be true. My ex was a grinch when it came to Christmas. He hated Christmas music and would only watch two Christmas movies, "A Christmas Story" and "Christmas Vacation." I used to like those movies, but when they are the only two you watch, they get old real fast. 

The other thing he would throw a fit about was when to put up the Christmas tree. I always wanted to do it the day after Thanksgiving, but most years he would want to wait until the first weekend in December. I'm learning I silenced myself often; it was just easier. 

But this year, the week of Thanksgiving, I realized, I can do whatever I want now that I'm on my own. I prefer a real tree, but now that I live alone, it seemed more logical to buy an artificial tree. And I was determined to have it up before Thanksgiving. 

So on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, I went to Vernal with some friends and they helped me pick out a tree. I am in LOVE with it. Its super busy and if it were 6 inches taller, it would hit the ceiling. In the past, I was always limited to a 6 foot tree, or close to that. This one is over 7 feet tall!

I also bought several Christmas movies, book and CD's. I feel like I'm making up for 15 years of suppressed Christmas excitement. I wanted to buy new tree decorations, until I pulled out my old ones and remembered how much I love the red flowers and green poinsettias. I didn't use any of my other old decorations, but I did find some pretty white poinsettias to add to it this year. I think it is the perfect tree for me. 

 Of course, the cats think its for them. They sleep and play under it all of the time. It drove the ex nuts, but as long as they leave the decorations alone, I let them stay under there. There was a few days where I woke up to one of the green poinsettias on the floor each morning, and I have to fix the tree skirt every day. But other than that, they have been pretty good. 

I've been on the lookout for a pretty JOY decoration. It seems to be my theme these days. God has fixed my broken heart and restored my joy. Not only has He restored it, but He has restored it ten fold to what it used to be. I am in awe daily at how happy I am. I started the year married; my ex left in the summer, for another woman. I should be laying in bed crying. I'm so glad I serve a God who is always faithful. He has not only carried me, but He has given me new life. 

I did find a joy sign, but it looks Christmas-y. I wanted to find one I could leave up all year long to remind me of my JOY. The Saturday after Thanksgiving, I went to Vernal with Barbara and Melanie. Just another reason I am grateful for God and how He has found a way for me to keep in contact with those I love so much. 

While at a store, they helped me find the perfect JOY for my coffee table. I added some red poinsettias to it for Christmas, but the rest of the year, it will be perfect on its own.

I also found a small Joy sign. I bought one for my bedroom mirror and another one for my desk at work. I love being surrounded by this little reminder that God will give us joy, no matter our circumstances. 

I once thought I would dread the holidays. But I was wrong. With Jesus as my focus, all things are beautiful. I can't think of a better time to focus my joy on the birth of my Savior and all He did for me.