October 1st ~ I still hate yard sales

That said, this morning went well enough.  Started the day out around 6:30am - Which for me, is way, way too early.  Rick rounded up the kids and we all sprung into actions setting up our goods - mostly closet stuff, like, winter gear, shoes and most of my clothes.  We also put out a few household decorative items, like the cute little étagère I had in the powder room, my black chair that I nicknamed "ugly time-out chair" (for when we ever had grandkids). "Go think about what you just did while sitting on the ugly chair."  We got rid of a lot of the stuff - plant stands, planters, potting soil, etc. - from the previous attempt at a yard sale which had ended up on the porch because we were to lazy to take it all back down to the basement.

By noon, we had sold an additional couple hundred bucks (to add to previous take of $100) and are half way towards amount of fees estimated by the guy at H&R Block who is working on our taxes.  I only hope we don't have to cut into it.  Rick's state unemployment benefits ended; he did qualify for federal extension, but there still is a two week lapse in money coming in.  So, I have about a hundred bucks for food and gas for the next couple of weeks, and R.J. will probably be able to chip in $100 each Friday until benefits start again.  And to be honest, I just don't have it in me to ask for help from Mormon church again, which was providing us with food on a few occasions   They think - know - our marriage is shaky, and the impression I get is that "we are not what they are looking for."   (Not that I ever said we were considering converting.)  And honestly, I just don't feel worthy of taking from their church members rations. It just so happened that the church elder and a wonderful volunteer from the women's group had been there for me in the past, providing much needed counsel. And, when more assistance was subsequently offered, I accepted.  I am only grateful for all the LDS church has done for us.  I'm so glad my kids are friends with kids from the Mormon faith.

Anyway, I am so glad the yard sale was a much more pleasant experience this time around.  Makes me not dread the fact that we have to be out there again tomorrow - this time with a bunch of my kitchen stuff and what ever items didn't sell today.  I am having a bit of separation anxiety about the kitchen stuff because a lot of the pieces have been gifts I've asked for for my birthday and Christmas.  Same with some of the baking stuff; each of my girls has received cake baking and decorating tools as birthday gifts.

To be continued...

Not quite pearls... but I hope this helps

My note to a friend's niece who, challenged with special needs, is practicing growing up:

So true!  Clueless I had any type of mental illness as a young child; by the time I got there, junior high was bad, but high school was horrible. Unfortunate work related event (attempted armed robbery; twice, two Sundays in a row) shattered my community college experience (could no longer leave my house), my mom and I decided it was time for a change.  We moved out of the Los Angeles area to a small CA desert community.  Although, it had always been a favorite place to visit during spring and winter school breaks, I found that wasn't for me and prepared to fly (or Greyhound) my way back to Los Angeles (to live w/ aunt while I worked and took business classes).  That's when it finally felt like I could manage my life (I had every minute of my day planned out on a 3x5 index card).  It was great.  I did move here and there afterward; at 21 ended up in the place I dreamed of living as a little kid, Orange County, CA, made even better because my best friend from age 7 was my roommate.  I loved it.  It got better. I fell IN LOVE... healed from break-up *REPEAT OVER AND OVER*  I dated; went dancing almost every weekend (bartenders had a love/hate thing for us; all we drank was water, but we were cute and charming as hell and they loved watching us dance to our hearts content).   I made things better (and sometimes messed up big-time). With friends and family's support, it got way better.  Nobody told me it would. Love those early 20's memories; they bring me joy even now.  I didn't find out about depression & bipolar disorder until after I got married (PTSD was diagnosed first though).  It gets better.  Enjoy your adventures, KG.  Someday you'll be letting us know all about them.

P.S.  I'm so glad you have such amazing support and overdose of love from your family; love that they will always remind you they are there for you - and how great they are.  Keep taking good care of yourself; don't forget to ask for help when you need it.  ~ L.C.

September 25 ~ Something great was supposed to be written here... But I forgot what it was.

"Three Months Til Christmas!" Yup... that's what Sarah shouted out this morning.  Oh, Sarah. Christmas.  Really?