Repurpose to Fill That Tank

Have you ever had a couple of days when things just keep pounding away at you?  You keep moving and stuff just whacks you on the head to push you back down.  Just like that old arcade game that had those pop-up moles and you had the giant mallet to whack the moles.  Except in the game of life, the giant Paul Bunyan-sized hammer beats you back again.

 



Love my new cup, gifted to me by someone who knows me well!

Sometimes there are weeks like that and I forget to look around to see promise.  I miss the kudos.  I fail to hear the encouragement.  I bristle up and don’t feel the pat on the back. I get so bogged down in the negative, that I don’t see the positive.  I miss the joy, which is something that is planted deep in my heart despite the circumstances.  The ‘Joy Tank’ is there and just needs to be uncovered and topped off every so often.  The smudge needs to be wiped away.  That is what keeps the pipes running well.  It’s the Joy Tank.  



Max the Cat...he has his own joy tank.

My Joy Tank is welded with knowledge of who I am.  I am loved.  The walls of my Joy Tank bind up truth that the Lord has chosen me and not cast me away (Isaiah 41:9).  The bolts of my Joy Tank are strengthened with the promise that the Lord loves me with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3).  This is the Joy Tank that works on inside me despite what is going on outside of me.

 

Then there is the part of the day when I am fully human and have those imperfect moments and don’t feel very joyful.  This is normal and God knows I just can’t be perfect (and as much as I want to ‘perfect’ things, I realize it ain’t gonna happen).  That’s when I need to look around, feel and see the positive.  I need to repurpose those feelings of frustration.  I need to take a moment. Move away from that mallet.

Notice.

 
Notice that kind word from a stranger.  Notice the encouragement from a friend.  Notice the bird outside the window.  Notice the colors of the sunset or the rosy grin of a 14-year-old.  These are the things the Lord will nudge our way to top off our Joy Tanks.  These are the things that the Lord used to encourage me recently during one of those human weeks.  I was able to see how to repurpose.  He makes old things new.

 

     “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.” – 2 Cor. 5:17

Before picture, adding legs.

 

I was given a kitchen cabinet recently by a sweet friend who was cleaning out.  I had been planning on finding a corner cabinet for my dining room and I had a tight budget.  I thought this free cabinet fit that budget and decided to see what I could do with it.  This cabinet was once hung on a wall.  It was very plain with nothing fancy to make it seem dining room-worthy.  It was sturdy and solid and ready for a new life. 

 

I made a few trips to the hardware stores.  Soft grey paint was purchased, along with short legs and a wood board to serve as the cabinet top.  After deciding the cabinet would be one that locked, I found basic hardware and locks to be painted.  Decorative knobs were found and painted as well.  The piece lived in my garage as I found time to work on it.  It was my first cabinet makeover and I was pulling on some self-taught engineering to secure legs, trim, and locks.  The cabinet was chalk painted that grey paint and slightly distressed, then finished with a clear wax. 

Before picture, adding top/trim.

Before picture, first coat of paint.

 

I repurposed something old and gave it new life.  It has a prominent spot in my dining room now.  I poured love and labor into it and I love it!  This cabinet is different and unique.  It has a purpose.  It’s mine.

 

After picture, the finished cabinet.

 

I could not help but think of how God repurposes and uses things in our life as I worked on the cabinet. Sometimes we just have to see it, and top off our Joy Tanks.

 

With Joy,

Tracey

 

Washing Old Pants and an Easter Treasure

Did you ever have a time when things turn out pretty great even though the path to get there is filled with a few rocks of frustration, pebbles of doubt and stones of hindrance?  That was Easter for me this year.  It’s not that I expected it to be perfect but this Holy day had the beginnings of a little crazy.

The 'Adult table'.  I went simple this year--thank goodness!

I thought the wonderful celebration of the Lord’s Resurrection would go as I planned it out in my head.  A happy family would go to early church, dressed appropriately in the sunshine.  This was my first expectation.  Then happy family would come home for a few great pictures and dash inside to prepare to host another family for lunch and the afternoon filled with food and laughter.  This was my second expectation.  I forgot to add the part about Mama being stress-free because I was so ultra-organized that I had the house perfectly cleaned and all food ready to go early.  That was not only my third expectation, but a stinking dream. 

The night before, I finally persuaded the oldest child, Honey Badger, to try on khaki pants I purchased days ago.  His current pants were too short by just a bit.  Three pairs were reluctantly addressed and none of them fit correctly. Somehow I picked up a ‘skinny fit’ pair or two but these looked too groovy on my teenager.  So then I was washing old pants at nine in the evening.

My Tween never tried on the tops I purchased for her but I announced to her she was just stuck with them.  So sorry.  I did come out strong with my youngest child.  My youngest chose a dress from the lot of the massive amounts of clothing I purchased two weeks prior.  Oh mercy me, the loads I brought home with hope these girls would try on and say, “Why yes, Mama, this is awesome!”  Needless to say, I have a few returns to make this week.

Easter morning came and I started my day off peaceful with quiet time and coffee.    It was so nice.  I thanked the Lord for this great day and gift.  I plugged in the iron and prepped for breakfast.  Then, I started the journey of the day’s events.

I woke the girls and they were glad to get up.  The idea of chocolate candy when the sun comes up will get them out of bed anytime.  The Easter Bunny always hides filled eggs around our house on Easter morning.  I began to iron Honey Badger’s pants and the girls were hunting eggs in pajamas with sleepy, squinty eyes.  As I iron, I am breaking up a few dozen arguments of the hunt.  One is bragging of her loot.  The other is racing around ahead of the first one.  What is a holiday tradition on a Holy morning without arguments?

The family manages to get up, get dressed and finally get in the car.  We were late to early church but we made it.  We park in the very far quadrant of the parking lot.  My husband noted how full the parking seemed for eight in the morning!  I shivered as I exited the car and we were all shocked by the chill in the air on that walk inside.  We walked very fast.

The Worship service was wonderful on Easter Sunday.  The message was clear and the presentation was a gift. Jesus came down.  He died and resurrected.  He is HERE.  It was all so beautiful and moving. The music was amazing.  My heart was full.

After church, we rushed home to take the traditional Easter pictures.  These are the absolute worst moments of the day for my children.  The sighs are growing louder as I usher the family to the most decent spot I have in the yard.  “No one cares”, Honey Badger said –like ten times.  He thinks if he does not care about Easter pictures that no one should.  Sorry again.  Mom and Dad trump that thought.

The thrill of family photos...

We take pictures.  It was cold and the ground was wet and the sky was overcast.  Honey Badger wore neon yellow socks that show just enough beneath his khaki pants.  He avoided the ironed, button-down shirt and went for last year’s polo shirt and a pullover.  Seriously?  A pullover?  The girls were dressed in their attire and making all sorts of faces.  In the end, I have pictures and they are my children.  They are still beautiful to me despite the chaotic morning and wardrobe malfunctions. 

Finally some happy faces!

I moved on to the kitchen and started my last-minute meal prep.  As pots and pans began to fly, I was thankful we all decided to make it simple this year.  As I try to resemble some strange version of Rachel Ray, I reviewed in my head how things seemed to be all out of sorts for me and Easter this year.  My schedule is different.  The weather was crappy.  We have had so many activities.  I came to a good conclusion for myself.  All I know is I usually have my Easter decorations out weeks in advance and my food is at least half-finished by Saturday.  Not the case for Easter 2015.  I was silently beating myself up while I beat the mashed potatoes.

The doorbell rang and the Steiner family arrived.  What a breath of fresh air.  We have known this family for about fifteen years and invited them to Easter lunch for the first time nine years ago.  Neither family has any extended family living in town.  Nine years ago, the Steiner’s had a newborn and two little girls near my girls’ ages.  We invited them so we all would have community and give them a little break on the cooking with so many little ones.  So the tradition stuck.  We have enjoyed the tradition and the kids enjoy it as well.  Honey Badger is a little bit indifferent, since there is no ‘boy’ Steiner but he goes along.

All of the girls after a fun day together.

We get the all five girls situated and bless the food in the kitchen.  The adults and Honey Badger head to the dining room for our meal.  We blessed our food and start.  Around the adult table, stories are told and we catch up on activities and family news.  We laugh until we cry.  The kids trickle in and out and beg for dessert.  Hours pass and we are still at the table talking and laughing.  It’s an Easter tradition and an Easter Treasure. 

I am sure I will have more Easters with rushed food and crazy clothing.  I am sure I will have more Easters with a house that is not as organized as I would like.   I reflect on Easter Sunday and think of the great moments.  We had a wonderful worship at church and I got my pictures.  We had a good lunch with sweet friends.  We were together.  This Easter turned out pretty great.  The path may have hurt my bare feet with the stones and rocks but when I reached the grass it was great.  My feet helped me remember to be grateful when I got there.

Until the next holiday filled with a few kid arguments and some extra helpings of gratefulness, go forth with Joy!

Not sure about this one...but seems to be a familiar scenario

Tracey

Count it all JOY:

“Don’t run from tests and hardships, brothers and sisters. As difficult as they are, you will ultimately find joy in them; if you embrace them, your faith will blossom under pressure and teach you true patience as you endure. And true patience brought on by endurance will equip you to complete the long journey and cross the finish line—mature, complete, and wanting nothing.” -James 1:2-4

What holiday hazards have you encountered that have turned out to be grateful moments?  Comment below!