But What Did You Do With Your Disappointment?

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."... Philippians 4:6-7

"We can fight disappointment with gratitude."


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Every Tuesday I walk over to the coffee shop.  Every. Single. Tuesday. 

All weekend I anticipate sitting at the formica table with real coffee, a muffin and (often) Michael Buble singing while I read or stare out the tall front windows at the river, sprawling hotel and houses.

The other two days I go, vary, but always you'll spy me in the window on Tuesdays.

Yet can I go today? Noooooo. Why not? Because Amy The Barista is on her honeymoon and the cafe will remain closed till Valentine's Day. By then, it will have been dark 10 whole business days(!)

Of course, hey. I'm thrilled for Amy down there in warm Florida (must be nice) with her new hubby, but what about meeeee?

Heh.  I'll tell you what about me. I'll play cafe here at home. 

Like this morning--I made pancakes (with leftover weekend batter) and coffee and sat at our dining room table before my own tall windows. It's crazy-grey outside, but the weak light pours in and I used my small table lamp. Vintage music played from my kitchen radio.

These crazy times in which we all live? I think we forget we still have choices.

We can choose to be bummed-out because the Times, they have changed (like, not for the better). Or we can use our imaginations and reliance upon God to create a darn nice life for ourselves.

Whiners miss out. Wimp out. Settle.
But creative types?  They tweak things, make versions of what they want--and have fun. 

Lately I've had to remind myself of this. For instance, Tom and I had planned (for years) to have a 'closet' built onto his room at the front of the house, so that--after he retires--his room could become more of a Man Cave. But then he spoke over the phone to a contractor who pretty much said, "It's gonna be way more complicated and expensive than you thought, Buddy."

(Unfortunately, Tom chose to tell me that bit of news while I had a sinus headache. We'll draw a curtain across how that went. Er hem.)

So. The plan has changed. Instead of adding on a closet we're considering making Tom's entire room a closet, rather like this--

He's even begun drawing-up plans, getting rid of things and considering who to call for professional help. (Ha, ha---no, not for his head.)  シ

And me? Besides the playing-cafe-at-home thing, I'm continuing to watch Do It On a Dime for more creative solution ideas, reorganizing drawers and cupboards using what I already have and also ordering some storage containers, as well--

--and reminding myself to be thankful for this sweet little house which God provided for us, the one in a perfect location but oh, if only it were a tad larger and had actual storage.....   ツ

Yes, it's a messy world out there, but oh Honey! That doesn't mean our own little worlds (or families or our heads) must also be a mess. No way.

After all, 'greater is He who is within us than he who is within this world of strife'.

We can still, even in 2019, create our own world, you know. Customize it. Make it the best it can be. Paint and build and fix what's broken or annoying. Use the gifts, courage and imagination God gave us to make the majority of it, well, wonderful. Not just for us, either, but for others who people our world.

Some friends tell me it's all impossible, but I shake my head and step away. Instead, I'm choosing to listen to Someone whose words I believe so much more.

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."  ... Colossians 3:23


"When we focus on our gratitude, the tide of disappointment goes out and the tide of love rushes in."

 --Kristin Armstrong


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Seriously, Kathryn from Do It on a Dime amazes me. She's the only You-tuber who I've never fast-forwarded because she spoke too slowly or rambled down bunny trails. Nope. She's just right.  😏


And are my newly-organized drawers as adorable/neat/clever as Kathryn's?

Nah. But they make Tom and me happy--and that's what counts.

Oh, and while organizing, I've been listening to I Love Lucy and you know? Hours afterward, it feels like Lucy, Ethel, Ricky and Fred had actually been here at my house, if not helping, then keeping me company.

Weird, right?


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Oh! And have you seen this new way of hanging curtains? Wow. Why didn't someone think of this sooner??


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