Bloom Right Here!

Hot Pad Makeover

2012-03-04T18:24:00.000-06:00

I recently got a much-needed new camera. Although I still haven't ventured into the DSLR world, my Nikon P7000 is a nice little camera. It is compact and easy take along with me wherever I go; I especially like to take it when I go out walking.

A new camera calls for a new camera bag. I just wanted a cute padded bag that would protect my camera, but not be bulky to carry around. If you know me very well at all, you will know that I didn't want to spend a lot of money. I started looking around at the thrift and consignment stores for inspiration.

This past week I came across two of these hot pads. They are actually more like oven mitts since they have pockets. Definite potential. Visions of a dottie angel-type project came to mind.

I didn't start out with much of a plan except to make sure the camera would fit and it did. The camera in the picture is not my camera - just an old one I used for the sake of the picture.

Here is what I came up with! I call it a granny-chic wristlet pouch.

I sewed a pocket on the back - a place to slip in my camera manual, keys or cell phone. I didn't even have to make the straps. They were in my fabric stash; some sort of premade straps that came in a bag of thrifted fabric scraps once upon a time.

The crocheted flower and button are sewn to the straps. Then there is a ponytail elastic sewn to the flap. It slips over the flower and button to hold everything in place.

New camera. Cute bag. Now I just have to figure out aperture, shutter speed, ISO......so I can take better pictures.

"Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me;

Cross-examine and test me,

get a clear picture of what I'm about.... " Psalm 139:23

Girl Stuff

2012-02-26T18:24:00.000-06:00

Although I have a daughter, our house has never really been cluttered with baby dolls, play kitchen sets or Barbie. Oh, sure, there has been an occasional doll or pink stuffed pony; toys that sit in the corner of the living room for awhile until they are carried upstairs and deposited into the closet.

The lack of girly playthings is not because my Sweet Girl is a tomboy. Well, I guess with two brothers she very likely could be a tomboy, but that is not the case. She wasn't even a year old when we noticed she seemed to be losing interest in toys. Her legs couldn't bear weight to stand and play at an activity table. Her sweet little baby hands could no longer grasp a teething ring. She was almost two before she was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome and we finally knew why these things were happening.

I think for awhile we tried to carry on as usual as far as toys go; buying her things that other little girls her age would play with. But what is the point, really? Don't get me wrong. It is not as if we didn't try to engage her in meaningful play. We didn't stop putting baby dolls on her Christmas list. It's just that we gradually adjusted to a new normal that didn't involve play pots and pans mixed in with the boys' cars and Lego bricks.

I've said all that to get to this:

A couple months ago I saw this adorable, child-size hutch at the local consignment shop. The "mommy of a little girl" in me just had to buy it. I wasn't sure what I would do with it, but figured it would probably end up in my craft room to hold smalls.

Last week I was picking up and organizing all of the things we use on this beautiful head of hair - ponytail holders, flowers and bows, detangler, frizz control spray....... We have plenty of this kind of girl clutter in our house!

I decided the little hutch would be the perfect storage solution. It is sitting right in the living room because that is where I always do Sweet Girl's hair.

I set about to find the perfect little containers to hold everything just right.

The toy pots hold barrettes. Don't you just love these vintage ones?

This tin lunch box (or is it a sewing box?) contains all the products I use to try to control all those curly blond locks.

Jelly jars hold flowers and other hair clips and mini bread pans corral pony tail holders.

Behind the bottom cabinet doors are her shoes, slippers and AFO's.

Not only does this child-size piece of furniture provide a great storage solution, it also provides a little comfort to this mommy's heart.

And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3-4

Christmas 2011

2011-12-18T12:28:00.000-06:00

I know I never blog anymore. I'm not sure why. But, on the off chance that someone still checks on me, I thought I would share my Christmas decorations from this year. I didn't do as much as last year when all my family came to visit. Just tried to keep it simple this time. You can see 2010's decorations here and here.

Warning: Since this might be the only post for another month or so, I loaded it up with pictures. :)

A different kind of "star" this year.

I love real trees, but artificial are so much easier. I bought this pre-lit, flocked tree after Christmas last year. Oh how I love Hobby Lobby's 90% off clearance sales!

What do you think about my "J"? Thrifted vintage boots in a beautiful blue. Too bad my calves are too fat for them to fit over. I really want to wear them.

Vintage aquarium (?) from an auction, vintage wagon from a garage sale and vintage bottle brush trees from the thrift.

A child's toy pot makes a perfect candle holder.

Vintage barkcloth in an embroidery hoop.

Old pulleys hold the little stockings made from an antique baby blanket.

I love to wonder what Mrs. Rose from Delight, Arkansas ordered all the way from Westfield, Mass.

My mom has one of these angels from when she was a child. I found this one recently at the thrift store.

Of course I have to use some vintage Shiny Brites in my decor!

Please don't forget what Christmas is truly about. Not fancy decorations. Not pretty packages. Not bright lights. Well, except for the one bright light shining in the sky to show the way to baby Jesus. The gift of Jesus is the reason for the season!

"And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people." Luke 2:9-10

Harvest Blessings

2011-10-13T15:53:00.007-05:00

The rumbling of grain trucks going by reminds me that it is harvest time. The fields that were planted and carefully tended are now reaping their bounty. It is a wonderful time of year to be thankful for God's provision.

Our family doesn't really celebrate Halloween. Instead, I like to celebrate the beauty of autumn and all that He has given us.

Fall colors, rustling leaves, a cool breeze, scampering squirrels, pumpkins and gourds.....

How can one not be thankful?

I wanted my fall "mantle" to reflect the gratitude of this season.

Are you enjoying this season? What is your favorite part of autumn?

Are you able to give thanks?

{Our God has blessed the earth with

a wonderful harvest! Psalm 67:6}

I'm linking to:

Sunday Blessings

2011-08-21T17:16:00.000-05:00

Sunday Blessings

2011-08-14T14:10:00.000-05:00

{Faith means being sure of the things we hope for

and knowing that something is real

even if we do not see it. Hebrews 11:1}

Insta Friday

2011-08-12T10:11:00.000-05:00

Good morning! Today I want to share some of my Instagram photos with you. Instagram is a fun (and free) iPhone/iPod app. No, I don't have an iPhone. My Sweet Girl won an iPod Touch last fall and I like to use it to take photos. Honestly, I don't know how to do much else on it. But I love Instagram!

This is what I woke up to this morning - a double rainbow!

This is from a couple weeks ago. I thought it looked like the clouds exploded into the sky. The sky is probably one of my favorite things to photograph.

One of the highlights of my summer has been watching my Sweet Girl at physical therapy. Our dream is for her to walk one day and she is making great strides!

Another summer favorite - homemade icecream!

We have done a lot of grilling this summer. And by we I mostly mean my 13 (until next week) year old son. The photo is of the 10 year old enjoy the results of the grilling. Porkchops!

On our way to Colorado last month we made a pit stop in Omaha. This is my 13 year olds idea of a vacation.

And this one enjoyed the jungle at the Henry Doorly Zoo.

We had been lacking rain, so I recruited the boys to wash my van. It rained that night!

This is our version of dining out earlier this week. We have had some gorgeous weather and wanted to enjoy it as much as possible. It was the first time for us to use the iron patio set that I got on a "curb shopping" adventure a few weeks ago. Yes, that means it was sitting on someone's curb waiting to be taken or hauled away to the dump. One person's trash really is another's treasure!

Now you can hop on over and view other InstaFriday images.

{Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too. Luke 18:43}

Sunday Blessings

2011-08-06T22:02:00.000-05:00

At a recent auction I purchased several boxes of very old books. I hadn't planned on buying any books, but the auctioneer could hardly get a bid. The thought of all those books just being thrown in the dumpster was too much, so I brought them home with me.

Oh what treasures! Jane Eyre, The Red Pony, a children's version of Pilgrim's Progress, a very large family Bible from 1854.......

But perhaps my favorite is A Farmer's Wife, The Story of Ruth.

This beautiful little book was published in 1906.

Are you familiar with the story of Ruth? Even if not, you have maybe heard this popular verse:

{...for whither thou goest I will go;

and where thou lodgest I will lodge:

thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God....}

It is a beautiful story; one I grew up hearing in Sunday School. The true depth of the story, though, wasn't revealed to me until last summer. My husband was unemployed and our future was uncertain. I was struggling with my faith. What did God have in store for our family? One day, while reading some blogs, I came across this online Bible study.

I knew I needed to participate, so I purchased the book and signed up. From the very beginning of the study I could feel God working on me. It was a comfort to be reminded that God was with us in our trials and that He would be with us when and where we moved. I learned so much from Ruth and her faith.

Jump ahead to this spring. We'd been in our new location for several months and I was lonely and depressed. One day a gal from church called to see if I would like to participate in a new women's Bible study. They were planning on doing the same study I had done last summer - Ruth by Kelly Minter. This time I was again reminded of Ruth's faith and her strength as she struggled in a foreign land. My heart did some healing and I developed some wonderful friendships. For many reasons, Ruth's story has a deeper meaning for me now.

Well, I meant to make this a short explanation of why I was excited to find the old book. I guess it didn't end up so short. If you haven't read the story of Ruth I would encourage you to do so. You can read it here.

{The LORD repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!" Ruth 2:12}

Chippy Blue Chest

2011-08-05T17:39:00.000-05:00

Have you ever pulled up to a garage sale and immediately spotted something that makes you giddy? It happened to me earlier this summer. I found myself walking quickly towards the piece and thinking, "Please don't let it be sold already" and "Please don't let it be super expensive."

It wasn't sold and it was only $20! This beautiful chippy chest was coming home with me.

Now, I realize some people don't see the beauty in this. Obviously, at some point this chest started to be refinished. Did the person change their mind? Just run out of steam? Eventually, it just got pushed to the back of the shed and forgotten? I don't know the story, but I do know that I love it just the way it is!

The wonderful hand-carved pulls.....

....the little extra details....the perfect blue color.

I really do love everything about it. This chest is a wonderful addition to the master bedroom.

Do you have a favorite furniture find from this summer?

{It takes wisdom to build a house, and understanding to set it on a firm foundation; It takes knowledge to furnish its rooms with fine furniture and beautiful draperies. Proverbs 24:3}

I'm linking up to Miss Mustard Seed.

Pinterest Challenge - Laptop Bag

2011-08-02T16:20:00.000-05:00

It is August already. How did that happen?! I could give you a bunch of excuses for why I haven't blogged since the middle of May, but I'm not going to. Instead, I am just going to jump right back in like I haven't been gone.

Have you heard of Pinterest? It is like an online inspiration board and you can "pin" pictures from all over the internet. Let me tell you, it is very addictive. And fun. Well, today I was catching up on some blog reading and came across some gals who were hosting a Pinterest Challenge. It just so happens that I created a project last week using inspiration from Pinterest.

This spring I finally joined the world of laptop users. Since then, I have been searching for just the right bag to hold my laptop. When I came across the picture below, I knew I had found "the one."

{The original source for this bag is craftycpa.blogspot.com.}

Here is my version:

I love the way it turned out! And the best part is that I had everything I needed for this project. The feed sack was a thrift store find, I think. I've had it for quite awhile, so I really don't remember. It was the perfect width for my 17" computer. I guess it was meant to be! The strap is made from wide jute webbing leftover from a previous project (and purchased at WalMart). I folded it in half and stitched down both sides.

I liked the look of this old military bar, so I pinned it on. It was in a jar of buttons from the thrift store.

The flower is made from scraps and an old button.

Here is a little peek of the lining fabric. It was just a piece from my fabric stash. It isn't vintage fabric, but has the look. Between the lining and the exterior is a layer of neoprene fabric that I found at the local consignment store. I guess it is the one thing I purchased with a laptop bag in mind.

This pocket is just right for my power cord. I purchased a few of these shot bags from an auction a couple weeks ago. I knew I could find a use for them.

Thanks to Pinterest, I was able to create a laptop bag that i really love. I actually rarely take my computer out of the house, but now I want to take it along wherever I go just so I can use my new bag!

I am linking up to the Pinterest Challenge. Be sure to check out all the other great projects.

Sunday Blessings

2011-05-15T19:24:00.000-05:00

This picture was drawn by my 10 year old son in honor of

his 8 year old sister.

{And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way;

but let it rather be healed. Hebrews 12:13}

Sunday Blessings

2011-05-01T08:51:00.000-05:00

{For as the earth bursts with spring wildflowers, and as a garden cascades with blossoms, So the Master, God, brings righteousness into full bloom and puts praise on display before the nations. Isaiah 61:10}

Giveaway Winner

2011-04-20T20:54:00.000-05:00

Well, I had hoped to get another post done this week, but it just didn't happen. I still plan on writing more about grace. Some wonderful friends are sharing their thoughts on grace with me. That way I will actually have some thoughts to share with you!

We are heading to Colorado to spend Easter weekend with my family. I am excited to see everyone, but especially my new little nephew who was born on April 1.

Okay, I am very tired and still have several things I need to get done tonight. So, without further ado, the winner of my blog giveaway is....

Corene

She just happens to be my cousin. Congratulations! Thank you to everyone else who left a comment on my blog.

That's all for tonight,folks.

Sunday Blessing

2011-04-17T06:48:00.000-05:00

I hope you have a wonderful Lord's day filled with God's grace and glory!

If you haven't already entered my giveaway, make sure you go here and leave a comment.

By Grace....and a Giveaway

2011-04-14T16:18:00.000-05:00

Several weeks ago, on a whim, I signed up to review products for (in)courage and Dayspring . I honestly figured my itty-bitty blog would not be considered and I forgot about the whole thing. Imagine my surprise when I found a package on my doorstep last week. I opened it to find this wonderful jewelry set.

By Grace Alone

I've actually never been a big jewelry person, but lately I have been trying to accessorize a bit more. I can tell you that this pendant will now be one of my staple pieces. I love the simplicity, the stamped words, the sweet little bird.....

...and the scripture on the back!

{By the grace of God I am what I am. 1 Corinthians 15:10}

Isn't that the truth?!

The set also comes with this cuff bracelet....

....and these sweet little earrings.

All the pieces are available separately, but the set is on sale right now for 20% off. If you need a gift for Easter, Mother's Day or Graduation, this would be a great choice. It would also be a wonderful way to tell a new Christian "welcome to the family."

Receiving this jewelry and writing this blog post have really made me stop and think about what grace truly means. I plan on doing a follow-up post to share some thoughts with you, so make sure you stop back by in a few days. I'm really trying to blog more regularly again.

Now for the giveaway! Dayspring has generously offered to give one of my readers a code for $20 off a purchase from their online store. To enter, just leave a comment on this post. It is not a requirement, but in your comment I would love to know your thoughts on God's grace and how it has impacted your life. I will draw a winner next Wednesday - April 20.

{The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you. 2 Corinthians 13:14}

Disclaimer ~ I received this jewelry free of charge from DaySpring and (in)courage, in exchange for my review. I was not compensated in any other way and the above opinions are just that - my opinions. Thanks!

Sunday Blessing

2011-04-10T09:58:00.000-05:00

Porch of Protection

2011-04-06T14:40:00.000-05:00

Phil and I have been married for almost 16 years. We have owned four different houses, in four different towns.

This was our first house. It was almost 100 years old. What character it had!

Our second house.....

Third house....

And our current home....

Do you notice a trend? All of our homes have had wonderful front porches. A porch is at the top of my list when we house-hunt. I've even been known to tell a realtor (or two) that I wasn't interested in looking at a house if it didn't have a porch. I just feel like it makes a home complete.

Our first porch had a porch swing. We loved spending time on that porch, but probably spent even more time on the next-door-neighbor's porch visiting with her. Oh, how I treasure those memories.

House number two had a porch lined with beautiful azaleas that bloomed every spring. The view was of a million dollar house and barn across the road - complete with white fence and horses and cows grazing.

I was heartbroken when we moved again, but took solace in the new front porch. It was huge and actually wrapped around three sides of the house. I would sometimes drink my morning coffee out there and watch the deer in the yard. Or I would take a nap on an old cot. I decorated it just like another room of the house; filling it with rockers and tables and fun "junk."

And now our current home has a front porch and gazebo. Cold weather arrived shortly after we moved in, so I haven't had a lot of time to spend on the porch or to decorate it. I have ventured out a few times to take pictures of sunsets or to just enjoy the view of the river across the road. Now that spring is arriving, I am looking forward to getting a porch swing, planting flowers in the flower boxes, relaxing in the evenings.....

But first we must deal with this....

A couple weeks ago, on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, the peacefulness of our porch was shattered (literally). A drunk driver lost control of his car and came flying through our yard, slamming into the porch. I can't even put into words the sound, the smell, the horror.... I won't go into a lot of detail, but the driver lost his life right there in my yard.

I've been filled with so many emotions since then. It is hard not to let the "what-ifs" fill your mind. My 10 year old was outside, but thankfully on the other end of the house. He so easily could have been right there in the front yard. The car easily could have taken a different path in all its flipping and spinning and crashed into the corner of the house where the rest of us were sitting. We could have been sitting right in those chairs on the porch enjoying the sunshine. Instead, we were putting on our shoes to go for a walk.

The anger has also been hard to deal with. I'm angry that this senseless act could have been avoided. I was angry that there were beer cans spilling out of the car into my yard. I was angry that my sweet boy couldn't sleep that night and angry that people were walking through my yard the next day "just to see what happened." I'm angry at what seems to be apathy from the community; that it doesn't seem to be a big deal that alcohol was involved. Overall, I have felt violated somehow.

But you know what? Even through the bitterness, anger and frustration I know one thing to be true. GOD IS GOOD! He spared us from further tragedy that day. Shortly after the accident, I posted some pictures on facebook. A cousin commented about our "porch of protection." You may have heard people pray to be surrounded by a "hedge of protection." Well, in our case it was our porch. It was the impact of the porch railing that stopped the car. Without the porch, I truly believe the car could have come right through the dining room window. I can't even imagine.....

We are still waiting on estimates, insurance, busy contractors, etc. I'm ready to have everything cleaned and fixed so that we can enjoy our porch. I'm ready for the visual reminders to go away. But I know in my heart that I will always remember our "porch of protection." It will be a reminder that God is in control. We don't know how many times in our lives (or even in a day) that He protects us from tragedy. Sometimes it is obvious. Other times we will never know. Thank you, God!

P. S. I think I will continue with the front porch trend from now on.

{Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. Job 1:10}

OPEN 24/7

2011-02-02T16:22:00.002-06:00

Good afternoon! I hope everyone is staying warm out there. We are on day two of school being cancelled for snow and cold. This morning when we got up it was -8° and the windchill was -30°. I was so thankful that I didn't have to get the kids out in that. Brrrrr!

My project for the last couples of days has been my laundry room. It has been functional since we moved in, but I was ready for it to also be pretty. My "before" picture seems to be lost somewhere on my computer. You can just imagine a blank slate; basic white shelving, countertop, etc. Now, I know the room still needs to be painted, but so do a lot of other rooms in the house. No idea when that will get done.

It is amazing how adding the vintage lace to the shelf edges changed the look of the room. I think that might be my favorite part.

This old enamel pitcher holds my dryer sheets.....

....and this pewter pitcher contains powdered detergent. It is so easy just to pour a bit into the dispenser.

How fun is this crocheted Comet holder?!

Sorry for the bad picture, but can you see that clothespin? The one with the layers of chippy paint? Love it!

Ummm, did I mention that this post would contain lots of photos? There is a lot to share from this little room.

I was very pleased to have this hanging rod. The only thing I really think this laundry room is lacking is a utility sink.

My 13 year old installed this pull-out towel rack yesterday. It holds the empty hangers and just slides underneath the counter when not needed. I bought it at a yard sale this fall. Somehow I knew I would find a good use for it. No more fighting with tangled hangers!

This is the first house where I have had a counter top to fold clothes. Now I fold them right out of the dryer. No more baskets of unfolded clothes sitting around!

The burlap needs a little tweaking. It is a piece I picked up at the thrift store. I just unfolded it and hung it on a tension rod. All my cleaning supplies are hiding behind it.

I love this big basket. It was a thrift store find. Imagine that!

These three baskets (and the one above the washer) were bought at four different times and I think in four different thrift stores. And they are miniatures of the big basket!

Get it? OPEN 24/7! Seriously, it feels like it sometimes. Some young, single person who works for my husband said to him the other day, "Wow! At your house you probably have to do like three loads of laundry a week." Ummmm, guess again!

Okay, I'm almost done. Just a few more of my favorite things.

So, here's the deal. I've done a really good job of folding clothes right away. But I hate socks and underwear! My solution? Each family member has a bag. As I pull undies and socks out of the dryer I just put them in the bags. When you take your clothes upstairs, you also take your bag. The boys just dump theirs in a drawer. Works for me! When your bag is empty, just drop it.....

....down the laundry chute! Seriously my favorite part of the room! I've always wanted one. My 10 year old will actually take clothes upstairs just so he can drop them down. Thankfully the chute is small enough that no one can fit through it! I'm sure they have thought about it. They have been known to shoot Nerf darts up and down it, though.

Here is a picture from the upstairs bathroom.

It is so much nicer to do the laundry in a "pretty" environment. During one of our moves there was a college guy helping us load the truck. He picked up a box marked "laundry room decor" and laughed at me. He just didn't understand. Poor guy!

{Soak me in your laundry and I'll come out clean,

scrub me and I'll have a snow-white life. Psalm 51:7}

I am linking to:

Renew

2011-01-28T14:50:00.000-06:00

I have like the word RENEW for a long time. Back when I had my antique booth I "named" it {ReNew}. I also blogged a little bit about it here. Well, this year I have been hearing a lot about people picking a word for the year. Something with meaning. Something to focus on for the entire year. I really hadn't planned to pick a word for myself. Kind of like resolutions, I figured I would soon forget about it and feel like I had failed.

But RENEW just kept coming back to me and I had to admit there might be a reason. My mind needs renewed so that I can focus on joy and not sadness. My body needs renewed. Boy does it ever! And most importantly my spirit needs constant renewal. I'm going to do my best to focus on ways to RENEW throughout the year. I even bought this charm as a visual reminder. I love it!

Something else that needing renewing was my ancient Bible cover. It was a high school graduation present and was looking just a bit dated. I decided to embellish a small canvas tote bag to carry my Bible in. This was a fun project.

I really didn't have any plans when I started. I just went through my "stash" and found some things to work with. I believe butterflies are a beautiful example of renewal. The one above was taken off of an old, battered pillowcase. I left the top of the teal fabric unstitched to form a large pocket.

Isaiah 40:31 has long been a favorite verse of mine. "....but those who hope in the Lord will RENEW their strength."

Here is the other side.The stitching is far from perfect, but I enjoyed working with my hands to create this.

There is my word again!

No project is complete without a few vintage buttons.

This butterfly is especially meaningful because it is one that my Grandma made many years ago.

The quilt block was from a thrifted bag of fabric. It makes another nice pocket.

I love this piece of an old collar. Again, I left the top opened to form a small pocket for a pen, pencil and highlighter.

And with that I am out of time. Sorry to end this post abruptly, but I need to go get kiddos from school. Then I am off to a women's retreat with some gals from church. Looking forward to some good RENEWal there!

{"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1-2}

Purity From Heaven

2011-01-11T10:12:00.000-06:00

The morning sky is veiled with

the promise of snow;

cold settles peacefully amongst the trees

as the earth awaits the purity from heaven.

As I looked out my window on Sunday morning, the above words just came to me. In the stillness of the dawn, I was reminded of God's goodness. It was a wonderful way to begin the week.

The barren trees really aren't very beautiful. My heart isn't always beautiful either.

pu-ri-ty
1. the condition or quality of being pure. 2. freedom from guilt or evil; innocence. 3. cleanness or spotlessness.

As the snow fell from the heavens,

the dark and dirty earth was covered.

Pure. White. Clean. Just like my heart needs to be.

I am thankful for the snow

that transforms the earth with its purity;

and I am thankful for a God

who transforms my heart and soul with His purity.

Even the birds are refreshed and nourished. The silence of the snow was broken only by their songs.

Thank you, Lord, for these reminders of your goodness.

{"Teach me your ways, O Lord,that I may live

according to your truth!

Grant me purity of heart,

so that I may honor you." Psalm 68:11}

Peace on Earth

2010-12-16T14:04:00.000-06:00

Hello, again! Can you believe I am blogging again so soon?! I actually wanted to get it done before this, but things have been a bit crazy around here. A blizzard. Two sick kids and a sick husband. A feeding tube "button" needing to be replaced. A house that needs to be ready for 13 guests (my whole family) next week.....

This poor chalkboard is old and has spent a lot of time out in the weather. It needs to be repainted....someday. For now you will just have to ignore the "autumn blessings" that refused to be erased. Despite the chalkboard, I really like how the top of the entertainment center turned out.

A peek at my nativity collection. My 10 year old still enjoys setting these up. Such a wonderful reminder of "the reason for the season."

Another fun vignette. Jan P., are you reading this? The sign came from you. The wooden box came from you. The chippy white bench came from you. Oh, I miss junkin' with Jan!

Please, please ignore the filthy windows. I guess I will get to them in the spring. It is far too cold right now.

Love this old mailbox! I paid 50 cents for it at a yard sale this fall. The bugle in the above picture was a junk find from several years ago. I liked how it tied in with the mailbox graphics.

Here is my favorite corner cabinet that everyone dreads moving. Sorry, but I'm not sure I can ever part with it.

The ceilings in this house are vaulted, so I used the old shutter (another junkin' with Jan curbside find) to add some height. Some of my old ornament boxes are just that - empty boxes. You sure can't find wonderful graphics like that now.

This is not a great picture, so it is hard to see the red ornaments in the cups. I bought this set of dishes at an auction right after we got married. I rarely use them, but I still love 'em.

The old dust pan came from Jan's son Dave. One thing is for sure - I collected a lot of good junk (and good friends) while living in Arkansas!

This is our driveway last Sunday morning. It is there - under a couple feet of snow! It took some serious scooping by my guys to get it uncovered. We did discover something nice about our location. The sidewalk in front of our house is essentially part of the community walking trail. So.....the city comes and clears it! Nice!

I'm not sure if I will be blogging again before Christmas. I still have pictures to show - just don't have the time. If not, I wish you all a very merry Christmas!

{"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:14}

It's Beginning....

2010-12-07T17:44:00.000-06:00

.....to look a lot like Christmas! Since moving into the house over two months ago, I have really struggled to get any decorating done. Unusual for me, because normally that is something I really enjoy. Well, I'm starting to feel more like myself again! This past week or so I have really had fun decorating for Christmas. And I discovered that it is a lot easier to decorate for the holidays when you don't have other "regular" decor getting in the way.

I do have to warn you before we go any further: There are a lot of pictures, none of which are outstanding. Also, please try to ignore any dust or dirt you might see. I said I had felt like decorating, not cleaning!

Here is my decorated mantel. Just kidding! I don't have a mantel, so I decorated the top of the piano instead. I did not purchase anything new - just used things I already had. I really do love how it all came together.

Love the vintage bird ornament clipped to the star! It is one of my favorites.

This pretty garland was a clearance purchase a few years back. I finally took it out of the packaged and used it this year. I think it adds just the right touch.

Okay, I really did try to wash those spots of the window. They seem to be permanent. Oh, well.

For something a little quirky I added this old clamp.

Can you see what it says? "Perfection."

Can you tell what my tree is made of? It is an old bedspring with mini Shiny Brites.

I try to pick up vintage wooden boxes anytime I can find them really cheap. This one was a couple dollars at an auction. It was filled with lots of junky metal goodness.

It felt good to get this done. I will show you more on another day. Right now it is time for supper.

{The one thing I ask of the Lord—the thing I seek most—is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,delighting in the Lord’s perfections.... Psalm 27:4}

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T11:16:00.000-06:00

Oh Where, Oh Where Did I Go? Part 2

2010-11-04T11:27:00.000-05:00

Let me just start off by saying this may be a difficult post for me to write. And honestly, I'm not sure why I am writing it. Maybe I just need to do it for myself. Here goes....

In my last post (I know it is been awhile), I answered the question, "Where did I go?" quite literally. I was in Arkansas and now I am in South Dakota. Now I find myself trying to answer that same question on a more personal level. I read my words from a few weeks ago and wonder where the author is - who the author is. Who wrote happy thoughts about God's provision? About blooming? Who is she and where did she go?

I'm lost. Withering instead of blooming. Doubting instead of trusting. I don't want to go into details. Again, I am not even sure why I am sharing any of this. On the outside things may look and seem okay, but inside I am filled with fear, anxiety....depression. There, I said it. I've had "down" days (even weeks) before, but this..... this feels different.

I know what your comments are going to be. Moving is stressful. Things will get better. You need to get help. I know. I know. And I know.

Do I feel better after telling you all that? I'm not sure. Maybe I feel better in that when one of you asks me how I am doing and I say "fine" you will know it is likely not the truth. But you won't question me. You will just pray for me until I can answer that question honestly. Until I can find myself again.

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Okay, so I can't just leave you with all of that. I have to share a picture. A picture that really does make me smile.

{There's an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth:

....A right time to cry and another to laugh,

A right time to lament and another to cheer.... Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4}

Oh Where, Oh Where Did I Go?

2010-09-08T17:23:00.000-05:00

Here I am! So much has happened since I last posted. It was a rough summer and I just couldn't find the inspiration to blog. My husband's job in Arkansas ended on July 1 and we began the journey into unemployment. We had no idea how long the journey would be and we prayed that God would provide.

Provide He did! We felt so loved and cared for by our church family during this humbling experience. We also had great "family time" that we never would have had otherwise. There were days that we got discouraged, but we always knew that God's plan would eventually be revealed. Let's just say, when He decided to reveal, He did so quickly!

Phil had an interview in South Dakota on July 30 and an interview in Missouri on August 2. On August 3 he was offered the South Dakota job and the next day he was notified that he was not chosen for the opening in MO. We really felt like this was God's open door and we stepped right through. This is when things really started to get crazy! The very next day we hopped in the van for a 15 hour road trip to South Dakota.

House hunting began. Really it started out as a search for a rental, but again, God provided the unexpected.

We made an offer on this house and, after a "counter," we had an accepted offer. This is much more house than we ever dreamed we would get, but our payments will be about the same as we would pay for a small rental house. There is much more to the story, but I will save that for another blog post.

Of course, our short time-line posed a bit of a problem. It was now August 9 and we needed to be living in South Dakota by August 19 so Phil could start his job and the kids could start school. Yikes! With that in mind, we headed back to Arkansas. The entire house was packed in boxes, arrangements were made with the moving company (Thank you, Lord, for paid moving expenses - the first time ever!), good-byes were said, our two vans were loaded with "essentials" and we were heading north again by the 16th!

Sorry....I forgot to warn you that this would be a long post!

On the second day of the trip, and with only about 100 miles to go, Phil's van drove its final mile. After giving us over 180,000 miles, it just couldn't give any more. After a few phone calls I was connected with a distant family relative (by marriage, sort of...) who just happens to have two jobs: 1. He owns a towing business and 2. He works for a salvage yard.....in the town where we were stranded! Yes, God does certainly work in mysterious ways. In the rain we re-packed; taking the "essential essentials" out of the dead van. We left it behind to be towed to the salvage yard and went back the next weekend to get the rest of our belongings.

It was a long two days, but we arrived with one day to spare before the kids started school! We don't have our house yet, but the university is allowing us to stay here:

A brand new apartment complex for students. So, it is not ideal, but it is a place to live while we wait for a closing date on our house. Hopefully that will be in the next week or two.

Okay, I will try to wrap it up here. Phil is enjoying his job and keeping very busy with the start of the semester. The boys like their new schools and are both playing football. Sweet Girl has done remarkably well transitioning to a new school and has already stolen the hearts of her teachers. I am playing chauffeur (especially since we only have one vehicle) and getting things figured out with insurance, utilities, new doctors, etc.

So, that was a really long post to let you know that I am now "blooming" in South Dakota! I can't promise regular posts any time soon, but I will do my best to keep you updated.

{Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. I Timothy 6:17}