Company Girl Coffee - come on in!

Good morning, friends!  Today we're sipping Starbucks coffee with Dulce de Leche creamer.  Oh my is it yummy!  We also have some Valentine's Day cookies to nibble on.  They're calorie-free, of course, because they are for a holiday and that cuts the calories out.  (You're welcome.)

It has been a week of ups and downs in our home, with God shining through even tough situations.  Praise Him for His faithfulness!

 

I got my quilt shipped to Texas where a lady is going to do the hard part - the actual quilting.  That's one thing I am not interested in tackling (yet?), so I am glad to have found a wonderful seamstress ... and she is excited at the chance to earn a little pocket change for her efforts!  In the meantime, another lady about an hour from my town was cleaning out her stash of fabric and selling yard increments for .50/yard.  The fabric was BEAUTIFUL and will make many lovely quilts for Binky Patrol.  I spent $60, which gives me well over 100 yards of fabric.  My husband is very patient.  Actually, he mentioned the amount and I asked if he'd like for the two of us to discuss the state of the garage and why he has THREE bikes, ONE of which he rides. :)

 

I am proud to say I am still on track with Home Sanctuary!  Usually by now, I forget to record points, or go through a day and forget to do the challenge.  Not this month!  The prize would look WAY too good in my office for me to be a slacker!  Yesterday's challenge for something sticky was fun and my creative juices got flowing!  I printed two pages of silly Valentine's Day riddles out for my kids and hung them in their bathroom.  They're teenagers, but will get a kick out of their silliness.  AND we used some sticky frosting to frost some more cookies (so glad I baked up all of the dough earlier in the week!).  We'll have plenty to share with the neighbors tomorrow.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Have a blessed weekend!

Cheryl

P.S.  Will the Macy*s saga never end?  Why, oh why, should I get a bill stating I owe the full amount...when this was paid days before the bill was generated?  Goodness, Macy*s!  I sure hope the 7000 people you laid off aren't in your Collections Department because I have a feeling I'm headed back there!

Company Girl Coffee

 

What an amazing week it has been!  I decided it was time to jump back on board with Home Sanctuary and I've been able to keep up all week!  I've got to keep the momentum.

 

I've given myself permission to take breaks from work and sew.  As I explained to my [amazing] boss, I'm being paid for one-quarter of a full-time job, so I'm going to put in no more than 10 hours a week and reclaim my life.  That has allowed me to complete my sister's quilt (a birthday surprise, but she doesn't read my blog, so I feel safe!) and get it ready to ship out to the quilter next week.  I've decluttered one desk drawer.  (Somebody tell me why my husband felt it was necessary to hang on to the duplicate checks from the 90's?)

 

Prayer requests:  Please...if you'd take a moment and pray for the following, they would be blessed:

~B., a non-believer who had a stroke.  Christ's love was shared with her this week and it is our prayer that her heart is changed.

~A., suffers from depression and anxiety.  Her hope is in our Lord and she needs to feel His touch.

~D., has emphysema, diabetes, impaired renal function, and now pneumonia.

Thank you!

Blessings,

Cheryl

Company Girl Coffee

Where did the week go?  Seriously - how did it get to Friday already?  Oh how I love Mondays.  I start every week with such wonderful intentions.  I decide that "This is the week I will do every Home Sanctuary challenge!"  If you've had any interest in becoming a Company Girl, this is the time to do it!  Rachel Anne is holding our hands and teaching us home organization skills step by step.  Take a minute and go read this post and see what you think!  It's something that even I can do!  We'd love to have you join us.

I have been living 2009 as if it's my last year.  No, I'm not picking clothes to be buried in - but I AM looking at my "stuff" with new eyes.  What MESSES would I leaving behind for my family to deal with?  I know I have at least 100 yards of fabric.  Wouldn't they rather find completed quilts instead of a stash of fabric?  What about these skeins of yarn?  Maybe baby blankets for future grandchildren?  Do I really still need papers from the homeschooling days?  Notsomuch.  A dear friend is using this in her email signature line: 

Make it do; clean it out; use it up; do without! 

I think I've unofficially adopted this mentality.  With a 10% pay cut now approved for my husband, it's time to get creative and be careful about what we need to spend money on.

UPDATE ON THE MACY*S SAGA:

I sent copies of my blog to Macy*s in New York.  Funny how quickly I was contacted.  They *finally* sent me a bill.  It was even for the right month.  I even walked into our Macy*s and paid it.  With a check.  I was too lazy to go to the bank and request $39 worth of nickels.  Farewell, Macy*s.

Have a blessed weekend,

Cheryl

God's hands

PSA: The Macy*s Saga, part 2

If you missed part 1, please take a moment to read this to catch up.

I admit I was actually surprised when a Macy*s bill arrived, though the collections woman promised she would send one.  Too bad the date on it was from October (yes, a full month before I opened my account!) and my balance was $0.00.  Big surprise.  (I wonder what the IQ requirements are to work this job because I have a couple of dogs who could use jobs and they are certainly more capable and cordial than any Macy*s call center employee I have had contact with.)

Time for another call to Macy*s.  My request to talk to a supervisor was denied and instead I was stuck with a 'customer service' (those words are used pretty loosely when it comes to Macy*s) agent who was rude and condescending.  She told me that my bill is due "On the 10th - when is what?"  "It's Saturday." (I offered after a full moment passed and I could tell she was obviously not skilled enough to count up 3 days.)  I can only guess I will awake on Sunday to Macy*s collections to hassle me about not paying my $42 bill.

Her final redeeming quality is that she would waive my late fee.  A late fee for a bill never sent.

Unbelievable, Macy*s.  In this economy, you might try a little customer service if you want to stay open or you will simply be the next in a long line of stores closing their doors.

I will mention this advice.  In person.  If I ever get a bill.  That I intend to pay.  In nickels.