Frugal Way to Fix Broken Mini Blinds

Do you get frustrated when you go to open windows and find that one or two (or three) of the slats are broken? I know I do especially when you’re trying to straighten up the house for company.

That’s what happened to me today. I opened the curtains in the kitchen and found three slats broken on the blinds. Ugh!

My first thought was “How can I fix them so they’re not an eye sore? Oh, let me Google it and see if I can understand the instructions.” Thankfully, after looking at a couple of sites (probably more like several), I was able to have enough courage to attempt it.

How to fix/replace broken slats on mini blinds.

  1. Take mini blinds down and place on table.
  2. Locate plugs on bottom slat of blinds.

3. Remove plug (gently with flat screwdriver) to reveal knotted lift cord.

4. Undo knot. You’ll need a pair of tweezers to grab knotted cord to undo.

5. Pull cord out to just above slat that needs to be replaced. Do this to both outer sides. (No need to touch middle plug.)

6. Remove slat(s) that needs to be replaced.

7. Take a slat from very bottom and place in slot of the slat you just removed.

8. Thread pull cord back through each slats and into bottom slat. (I had to use a carpet threader needle because my fingers didn’t want to cooperate).

9. Tie knot in bottom of string at bottom of blinds. Shove knot and extra strings inside slat.

10. Replace plugs on either side.

While you have them down, go ahead and dust them. One less thing to clean later. šŸ˜Š

Congratulations! You’ve just fixed your mini blinds!

Journal Entries November 3-4, 2017

November 3, 2017

7:10a- Woke up with pins and needles sensation in hands and feet.  Icy sensation in center of chest.  Sore on my head hurts.

9:45a- Bp at home 137/79.  Bp at Drs 151/94. 

Dr says the bad dreams and jitters are forms of anxiety and everyone exhibits them differently.

Iā€™m tired and leg muscles ache most, rt hip hurts, headache, bump on head hurts.  Dr. said bump is not a sebaceous cyst & seems to be begnin.  Iā€™ll keep using frankincense.

Dr is increasing my B12 and adding 3 more supplements.  Haha!  He gave me three bottles, but I have to order the turmeric.

Dr added Cognitex Basics, B12 melt tabs, MSM , & Tumeric with CurcuWIN.

Asked Dr about my blood pressure being so high.  Dr said the nerve damage and inflammation is a factor.  Once the inflammation begins to subside, Iā€™ll notice that my Bp should regulate itself.

11:19a ā€“ Did you know that STATIN drugs have over 900 different side effects?

November 4, 2017

6:59a- Woke up at 4:20am thinking Joe overslept to go hunting.

10:30- headache, lower back hurts, calves ache

11:00a- went soul winning at the Pecan Festival.  I didnā€™tā€™ walk the whole thing, but itā€™s the most Iā€™ve walked since my accident.  It wore me out, but I enjoyed it.

4:09p- Dezirae at Volleyball tournament today with her homeschool volleyball team. They won 3rd place in the league tournament!  Yeah!

6:00p ā€“ I hurt all overā€¦legs ache, headache, muscles twitching all over.  I crashed on my chair around 5pm.  Took a hot shower, finished the bulletins, and went to bed around 8:30p

Journal Entries November 5-7, 2017

November 5, 2017

4:30a- Woke up with my hands throbbing!!!  I had a bad dream again.  Joe said I beat him up last night hitting him in chest several times.

8:00a- I am in pain today!!!  My brain processing is slow.  My whole body hurts.  It hurts to move.  Memory is slow.  I just want to go back to bed.

11:22a- I just want to cry!!!Ā  People just donā€™t understand how hard it is to focus sometimes while I am trying to play the piano.Ā  It gets worse when people are moving around and talking while Iā€™m playing.Ā  I just totally flubbed my offertory because I just couldnā€™t focus.Ā  There was just too much movement.

6:14p- Is it normal to have trouble focusing on reading music to play the piano more at times than other with a brain injury?

November 6, 2017

Nothing written today.

November 7, 2017

7:00a- rough nightā€¦woke up several times very hot like I had a fever.  Woke to my left arm & hand numb and tingling as well as my feet tingling.  Lower back throbbing.  Lower legs ache.  Very tired.

6:14p- Kuddos to our daughter Dezirae for jumping in to help make dinner the last two nights. Itā€™s a blessing for sure when youā€™re hurting.  Love my kids!  They are a blessing most of the time.  

Journal Entries November 1-2, 2017

November 1, 2017

6:35a- apparently I had a bad dream last night.  I donā€™t remember a thing.  Joe told me that I sat up in bed turned and punched in the middle of his chest and said, ā€œThatā€™s what you get.ā€  Then I laid back down and went back to sleep.  He said he didnā€™t expect it, and it hurt.

Interesting because he usually laughs at me when I smack him because he says it doesnā€™t hurt.

It would explain why I feel like Iā€™ve been in a fight.  I hurt all over this morning.

November 2, 2017

Had more bad dreams.  Woke up in a tense state.  Whole body aches.  Nerve endings tingly pain all over ā€“ especially in arms and torso area.  Brain fog.  Xxtra jumpy.  Grumpy. 

Gotta figure out how to ease this symptom.

2:19p- Not having a good day. šŸ™ On way to churchā€¦my drink wouldnā€™t fit in cup holder so I put it on floor and forgot about it.Ā  A little while later while putting on my lipstick something cold was pouring on my feet and scared me!Ā  I started yelling, ā€œUgh!Ā  Ugh!ā€Ā 

Joe yells, ā€œWhatā€™s wrong?ā€Ā 

I reply, ā€œSomethingā€™s peeing on me and itā€™s cold all over my feet!ā€Ā  I unbuckle to reach whatā€™s on the floor and found my drink Ā¾ empty.Ā  Ugh!Ā  Now I have no drink and my feet and the floor are all wet.

Journal Entries 10.29-31, 2017

October 29, 2017

8:15a- Joe woke me up at 7am.  My feet and lower legs hurt to walk on.  Lower back hurts.  I feel oddā€¦somethings not right but donā€™t know what, rt hip hurts.

2nd Anniversary at PABC

3:10pm- Today we celebrate our second anniversary as the Pastorā€™s family at our church. Appreciated the show of love received today. It is a blessing being the Pastor & Pastor’s wife. Their generosity, servant’s hearts, inviting their friends & family, and willingness to accept us for who we are is encouraging. We love our people and are excited to see how the Lord will work in the years ahead.

P.S. Today is my spiritual birthday as well.Ā  šŸ™‚

October 30, 2017

Joe woke me at 7.  Didnā€™t sleep well.  Had dream I got electrocuted again and woke myself up yelling ā€œNO!ā€  Upper back aches, low back hurts, hands ache, slight headache.  Still have trouble focusing on one task at a time.  Took me 2+ hours to order Sunday School material.

3:30p-  messed up our deposit bc I forgot to add in second check.  Took Dezirae to her last home volleyball game.  *the simplest chores have become difficult tasks to complete.

10:24p- Iā€™m exhausted and really hurting.  Half way through I could feel all my nerves tingling.  Took a naproxen.

October 31, 2017

5:30a- inadvertently woken up.  Ugh!!!  Slept all night once I did fall asleep.  Low back hurts, hands ache, rt hip hurts, legs & feet ache, tired, slight bloody nose, belly itches.

10:24p- Took me until 7:30 to prepare ASL classes for tomorrow.  Iā€™m hurting and exhausted.  Going to go to sleepā€¦

Journal Entries 10.27-28, 2017

October 27, 2017

7:27a- Woke up to legs cramping intensely, hands hurting, & headache

10:00a- one of the cysts on head popped todayā€¦only been using frankincense oil

12:00p- Naproxen not touching pain, neurologist apt today.Ā  Slight temp 100.6Ā  Bp153/105 hr 85 weight 188 (Iā€™ve lost 8lbs, yeah!)Ā  Dr signed disability placard app for long term.Ā  Loved my notesā€¦suggested I consider becoming a nurse when I get betterā€¦his nurses donā€™t take as good of notes.

5:00p- Iā€™m flat out exhaustedā€¦going to rest a while.

7:00p- Joe treated us to  subway for dinner bc it was national sandwich day.  I enjoyed not cooking.

9:05pm- I had follow up apt with the Neurologist today for my lightning strike injuries. Dr. is pleasantly surprised that the supplements I’m taking are helping. Making small improvements, but still going to be a long road to recovery. I still have chronic pain, and regular headaches. I’m still waiting for them to schedule my brain MRI. Taking it one day at a time, but slowly moving forward.

Thank you for all those who have been praying. I know they are working. Please keep them coming.

Thankful for God’s faithfulness.Ā 
Lamentations 3:22-23
It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.Ā 
They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

11:20p- Iā€™m tired, but not sleepy.  My legs still tightly ache.  Headache gone at moment.

October 28, 2017

Felt okay today as long as I not do too much.Ā  Tired from weeks activities.Ā  Unstable on feetā€¦little wobbly too.

Journal Entries 10.24-26, 2017

October  24, 2017

8:00a- Woke up late.  Wore myself out yesterday.

10:00 had unexpected call from Holly today.  Enjoyed talking to her.  Need to pray God will help them.

7:16p ā€“ I have a bad headache!  Had to prep ASL Classes today.  Couldnā€™t remember what lesson I taught last in ASL1ā€¦had to ask Marybeth. 

Remembered that I didnā€™t have all the grades input and had to finish that too.Ā  It hurts my brain to concentrate that hard right now.

10:50p- my brain hurts, back hurts, rt hip aches, muscles in back pulsating tingly pain, eyes hurt, too many things to remember

October 25, 2017

6:46a- Rough night.  Trouble falling asleep.  Woke at 2:30am in a lot of pain.  legs & feet ache, lower back hurts, headache.

9:39- I am in extreme painā€¦legs throbbing, bad headache, low back hurtsā€¦just want to cry.  Soaked in Epson Salt bath for 30 minutesā€¦not sure it even helped.  Good night.

October 26, 2017

So busy todayā€¦preacherā€™s fellowshipā€¦I forgot to write.  Iā€™m utterly exhausted and in a lot of pain!!!

Journal Entries 10.21-23, 2017

October 21, 2017

5:04a- rt hip throbbing, lower back hurts, slight headache, grouchy.  Tired of hurting, tired of being limited on doing things.  I want to be better already.

8:00a- heart beating hard and fast, I donā€™t feel well, stomach feels bloated, low back hurts, rt hip & butt throbbing

9:30 ā€“ heart still bearing hard and fast, rt hip & butt hurting, lower back throbbing


October 22, 2017

7:00a- BP 137/84 hr 73. Headache, whole body achey, stuffy nose,

10:06a- feeling nauseous, headache, little dizzy

*I get wore out after playing piano.  Trouble concentrating.  Can only play familiar hymns.

11:24a- icy sensation in left side of chest, headache, dizzy

1:00p- sudden sharp pain in lower left back/hip area that shoots pain down left leg ā€“ only lasts a minute at a time (happened 3 times now)

1:51p- itā€™s down pouring outside ā€“ no wonder I hurt more than usual all over.

October 23, 2017

10:57a ā€“ Muscles in whole body ache, low back dull ache, rt hip hurts a little, arms & hands hurt the most right now, dull headache at present, tired already

1:45p ā€“ laid down for 15 min

2:47pm– Feeling hopeful at Providence Hospital. (*Having to have a follow-up mammogram for lump in breast checked to make sure it hasnā€™t grown any)

Tears Are A Language

Tears Are A Language God Understands
(Composed by Gordon Jensen, 1971)

Often you wonder why tears come into your eyes
And burdens seem to be much more than you can bear
But God is standing near, He sees your falling tears
And tears are a language God understands.

God sees the tears of a brokenhearted soul
He sees your tears and hears them when they fall
God weeps along with man and He takes him by the hand
Tears are a language God understands.

When grief has left you low it causes tears to flow
When things have not turned out the way that you had planned
But God won’t forget you His promises are true
And tears are a language God understands.

God sees the tears of a brokenhearted soul
He sees your tears and hears them when they fall
God weeps along with man and He takes him by the hand
Tears are a language that my God He understands.

God weeps along with man and He takes him by the hand
Tears are a language God understands.

Matthew 11:28-30
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Thankful for a Saviour who patiently waits for us to lean on Him. When we feel overwhelmed causing tears to flow from our eyes, all we need to do is to call out to Him (Psalm 61:2-3). He is there all the time waiting to renew our strength (Isaiah 40:31) as we rest upon His precious promises (2 Peter 1:4).

Commitments: Fleeting or Eternal?

Good morning! Wanted to share an encouragement moment with you. Dezirae & I are doing a Virtuous Woman Bible study for her Bible Class this year. Today’s lesson was about “Keeping eternity in mind when making decisions.”*

James 1:5
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him
.

“Challenge: Determine for myself and my family where I need to draw the line. How much can I handle and still do my best? Realizing that this line will move as my circumstances in life changes, I will seek to do what would MOST please the Lord at this stage of my life.”*

I’ve already had to practice this this week with upcoming commitments. Though I wanted to do them and not let anyone down I chose to pray about it and ask God for wisdom. A few of the commitments I had to back out of because though they weren’t wrong they would’ve done me more harm than good at this stage in my life.

This was encouraging to me. ā˜ŗ

Let’s remember when making decisions to keep eternity in mind.

*Excerpts from The Virtuous Woman Bible Study Course at www.kjvhearthelps.com

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