I unpacked the toaster oven yesterday morning and took to the kitchen. I removed the air fryer and took to the laundry room until I find a place to put it in the garage on the shelving. I put the toaster oven where the air fryer had been - and it just didn't look right. But I did like it gave a bit more space on the counter. Cluttered counters drive me crazy when I'm trying to use them. Anyway - I decided to fix me a piece of toast in the toaster oven... and it started smoking. Alarmed, I unplugged it - but that didn't stop it. Every time I opened the door, smoke would come out. Confused as to why, I peeked in through the smoke (not a lot, but enough) and discovered I had missed two very small pieces of paper inside the toaster oven that were not on fire, but heated up well. I removed them, watered them down good, and then put in the trash. So now we have the smell of smoke in the house. Good thing hubby wasn't home, right? Not enough smoke to set off the alarm, but still, it stunk. So I did what any good wife does. I found a candle and lit it - and the house began to smell so much better! I didn't have to tell hubby of my mishap because he never smelled it when he got home. Not that I'm keeping it from him - if he had noticed and asked, I would have told him. I just don't have to tell him everything that I do.
Anyway- decided I didn't like the toaster oven there and moved it to the garage. I put the toaster down in that spot and then the clutter we had of 'morning kick' and 'amino lean' powders and our cups I moved to the cabinet out of the way. And for now, left it that way. I told hubby I was thinking of getting a two-slice toaster. He asked why. (we have a four slice toaster now) Because 1) it is smaller, and 2) we only fix one slice of toast for each of us if we eat together. Without me cooking his breakfast, he will eat two - but that's all he needs. No, I haven't purchased it yet. The four-slice is working right now, although one of the burners is nearly out. Not sure when I will move ahead on that idea - or move the air fryer back there. It does take up a lot of space as it is the Ninja Foodi. I only use it for air frying although it has a lot of other buttons on it.
Today is the first Saturday in the month so we have Needles of Hope at 9AM. I am planning to go, but don't have any blankets to take this month as I did a lot of crocheting for gifts this year. I gave a Viking afghan to my youngest son, plus a smaller Viking afghan for his granddaughter, plus a Viking blanket for his grandson for Christmas. I had put a note on it that as long as the grandchildren lived with him, they were Viking fans because he was. I don't know, maybe it was just me, but it didn't seem to impress him any. I guess that is one of my crochet fail to please. I had hoped he would at least laugh at the joke and well, he didn't and put them back in the box and we continued on. Anyway - I think I mentioned I did get some skeins for Christmas. One great-granddaughter had picked out colorful ones and I made a small blanket that I can use over my legs. My adopted daughter in Georgia sent me two skeins of yarn - so I'm crocheting those into a large blanket and will send to her when I get them finished.
I went through the message I have for tomorrow and made some changes on it this morning. Will be working on it this afternoon and timing myself. Try to keep it between 20-25 minutes. We also have communion in the morning so I have to plan for that as well. Other than that, depending if hubby has the TV on or not - I may try to read again this afternoon. I finished my first book of 2025 last night and yes, I made sure I marked it 'read' in Goodreads before we went to bed. I was having trouble staying awake as I was reading it, so when hubby asked about 8:20PM if it was time to go to bed, I said yes. I did finish the last chapter before I quit for the evening. I kid you not - we slept until 6AM this morning! I haven't done that in months! Two days of work this week wore me out, I guess.
Or it could have been that while hubby was gone yesterday morning that I took down another tree (the big one to go) and put things away from Christmas. I laugh because he hasn't noticed it yet - he will while I'm gone this morning, I'm sure - but I found out how to remove the slat in the middle of the big table in the living area - and I did it all by myself!. I took it out and shortened it to give us more room. We rarely use that table expect when we have company over for a meal. I also hung up a couple pictures above the couch I had forgotten about - and took the big one down. I was busy while hubby was gone yesterday - and working as well! Even got the minutes done from the November meeting yesterday! Whoo hoo!
I realized yesterday.... sigh. I try to remember to write down everything that I buy for people for Christmas. Now I know why I bought so many hoodies. I had written down on a couple people that we had given them a hoodie....when these couple people only had one gift when others had two or three, I was confused as to why... so yesterday I glanced at my list....and at least the two I looked at I had listed they had gotten a hoodie as well - well, guess what. They didn't get but a t-shirt. I seem to have written down what I wanted to give them, but when the hoodie arrived, I forgot to wrap it up for them! So I thought I had an over-excess of hoodies, when those I had bought them for - didn't get them. I told you that in December I spaced out. (I realize now that I was just burned out mentally with work and that stress, as well as trying to bake/can and shop for others). I will be dropping off a hoodie at some point for a couple people in the next few days. I felt so bad when I saw they didn't have things to unwrap (not that a hoodie is any great thing), but I at least did have a gift for them - it just didn't make it to them. I'm not going to worry about others; they did get more than one gift, but these two I noticed they only got one and I felt bad.
Luke 11:13 (NIV): If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?
Our Heavenly Father longs to give us so many good gifts - and all we need to do is ask. I know my youngest son and his family saw the hand of God in answer to prayers this weekend. What seemed to be a tragic thing, was cancelled and didn't happen. We need to be praying for God's will in all things; not just what we want, but that He will rule and reign in every situation. We need to believe that He is in control of every situation. It's hard, sometimes, to believe - I get it! But we must!
My left eye had a 'spell' this morning and everything was going dark. I prayed in faith that God would remove that darkness from the eye - and within seconds, it was totally gone. Praise God!
And with that, I'm getting off here to get ready for Needles of Hope - got to leave soon. Have an amazing day!
Blessings!
