It's been a while,

since I have Blogged you,

LOL.

It's been busy.

I guess...

Maybe more than usual, 

but I don't know.

Just busy.

Seems my days are passing by

rather than stopping in

and time no longer stands still

even for a brief moment.

So, an update.

Mother's Day was wonderful,

but it was on Tuesday for us.

I was able to spend time with my beautiful mother

which is all to rare

and something I want, and need, to do more often.

She received home made gifts from us...

but she smiled and acted genuinely happy.

She's a pretty amazing lady!

Charlee Kate will graduate from preschool tomorrow.

Maddisson will graduate from high school the next day.

And Mallorie will begin volleyball tryouts at her new school next week.

I did finally pull out the fabrics to sew,

struggled to choose something,

but realized a couple stitches in that it was not going anywhere good....

so I placed the fabrics back into the bag.

Oh well!

The D-I-Y chair turned out great, but needs one tweak.

It cost more than $5.

There is now a huge, gigantic, scary hole in the backyard,

which my husband assures me will one day resemble a pool.

He still works too hard

and I still tell him I am cleaning house when he calls...

even if I was really playing with the kids.

I know he knows, 

but he plays along.

Did I mention that

I Love That Man!

And so,

hello again.

I will try and do better.

Blessings!

The Challege

I stumbled across some magnificent chairs on Pinterest.

***

They are kinda Adirondack styled,

but chunkier and less tilted.

***

It was <3 at first sight!

***

The pic said they only cost $5 and 30 minutes to make.

(IDK)

And I figured if I mentioned to the hubster that

a girl had made them,

and boasted those specs,

he might just set out to prove her wrong.

***

Hee Hee Hee

***

Guess where we just went? 

Yessiree Doggie!

***

We have lumber.

***

And a notebook, pencil and tape measure...

***

I will let you know how it goes! 

(wink)

* * * * * *
In the meantime,
send me project ideas that you have done
And Pictures Too!!!
Thx
 

A penny for your thoughts

Here we go again!

My husband and I just came back for the Super Store

and I should have known something was coming
because he sat down at the table 

and began to write.

"Let me show you what I have been thinking about" he said.

A Budget.

UGH!

Not that I am against budgets,

just sticking to them.

Theoretically, they are the bomb-diggity!

But in reality, 

it cramps my style.

Especially as the household manager,

I find it difficult to balance the groceries, 

 the bills,

the needs of the kiddos, 

and yes, 

even the occasional splurge that reminds them I am a fun, cool mom.

But he had that serious look on his face

as he laid out our monthly expenses

and our income.

Then he started using words like

"Savings"

"Nest Egg"

"Emergency Fund"

and my personal favorite...

"Retirement".

Hmph!

Who did he think he was talking to?

It takes more than that to bring me over to the dark side, buddy.

So I was just kinda nodding along and thinking about shoes

(NOTE TO MEN --  WOMEN ARE ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT SHOES)

when he pulled a fast one on me.

I heard the word POOL.

What?  Huh?  In-ground??? 

My man is gonna build me a swimming pool!!!!

Yea! Yea! Yea!

and all I have to do is watch the budget 

so we can make sure we have the money 

to do this little Do It Yourself Project.

I am not thinking about shoes anymore!

I am picturing me

(after Zumba)

by the pool with an umbrella drink.

I said, 

"Well of course we need a budget, honey.

You are so smart,

and did I mention how sexy you look today?

Let me cook you some dinner,

and slip into something more comfortable..."

So now we are on a budget.

Pay the bills, 

buy groceries out of the food allowance,

and tell the kids to get a summer job.

I love my man.

(Stay tuned for the upcoming series on How To Build Your Own Pool!) 

1 Corinthians 16:2
On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.

Yea Me!

I have roses!!!

Yea Me!

I planted them last year,

an exercise in futility really...

since I have not been known to have a green thumb.

Even the two tiny Crepe Myrtles we planted by the driveway

-in rocky dirt-

 have managed to show out with a little green this spring.

So Yea Me!

 And I am all about celebrating the small victories.

What are your small, but oh so wonderful, victories???

Tell me.

I always love more reasons to celebrate!

P.S.

My front porch leads to front steps 

which lead to a front sidewalk

which leads to nowhere.

So this is where I planted a little flower garden,

with rose bushes, bird bath, etc

but we aren't convinced this is the solution.

***  WHAT WOULD YOU DO?  ***

Mirror, Mirror, On the wall...

I have something on my mind.

And, I didn't realize it,

until now,

but it's been on my mind...

for a while.

I wasn't fully aware

that I was even thinking about this,

but I have been having these thoughts a lot.

And it has impacted my life in a million,

maybe zillion,

ways...

I'm not pretty.

 Not anymore... 

My nose is too big!

My forehead is large.

I have gained weight     

      My wrinkles 

My ankles

  

Me.

So, 

I am still me, 

but a duller version of me.

Less dressed, 

less playful,

less sexy,

less adventurous,

less interested

& less interesting...

less creative,

less confident,

less willing,

less me.

And truly,

these thoughts have impacted me

without my realization that I was thinking of them.

My prayers have not been about beauty.

My prayers have been about inspiration,

energy and direction.

Lord, show me what to do...

Help me out of this FUNK.

And as only my precious Savior could do...

today I stumbled across a short, simple video

that spoke to my heart

with just what He knew I needed to hear.

You are beautiful.

Powerful Video --- Beautiful

I hope you feel beautiful today also.

Blessings!

Proverbs 31:30
“Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; 

but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.” (NLT)

Eiffel Towers and Polka Dots: Sewing Schizophrenia

 
Still staring at the fabrics...   

What to make of them?!?!

In the store, they seemed perfect!  

And I imagine they still are... but for what? 

I don't yet know.

To Be Continued

                                  Ephesians 2:10                                         

 For we are God's workmanship, 

created in Christ Jesus to do good works, 

which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ketchup

 Today, 

just now,

my five year old told me something about eating ketchup.

But I didn't really hear it...

and so when I said, "What"?

She said...  

"That's ok.  It's not really that important anyway."

I want to share with you my heart.

The greatest struggle that I carry with me

day to day

year to year

and even now,

is the overwhelming desire

to be a mommy.

I am a mother.

I have five amazing, precious, crazy, wonderful people

all of my very own.

And I love them so much it hurts.

But I also have bills, 

and a husband who works too hard,

and a degree,

and the remnants of a career,

and potential....

to contribute to this family in a tangible (financial) way.

Every morning, at 10A.M.

we get a text notification from the bank.

It tells us our savings, checking and Christmas Club balances.

And every morning, at 10A.M.

I am overwhelmed 

with how little we have to show

 for the 70 hours of work each week

my husband does.

I am not complaining.

We are blessed... beyond imagination.

But we are partners,

and my partner is gone 14 hours a day.

While I am here,

cleaning, cooking, teaching

and cutting hot dogs into crescent shapes

just for the sheer delight of her wide eyes

and the pride she finds in a mommy who can make food shapes.

I watch Zumba on YouTube,

and I put everything on the bottom step because I get tired climbing up the stairs all day.

I do laundry that piles up downstairs until someone becomes desperate enough to go get it.

I stand in front of the freezer

repeatedly

all day

and finally choose something to feed this family.

I even sew Easter hats, teach algebra and clean toilets.

But it is my husband who gets up everyday before the sun 

and goes out in the world to make the money.

And I can't seem to escape that fact.

I want to contribute.

But I also want to be kindergarten room mother.

I want to ease his burden.

But I also want to kiss her boo-boos 

and read her li-berry books.

I want to be his partner in every way.

But I also want to be a mommy.

Because I have older children,

and I have witnessed how incredibly FAST the time goes...

and I have witnessed how little they remember some things, 

but cherish forever some other things...

and I realize after the moment passes, 

that they have stopped crawling into my lap or talking to me about whatever...

that I don't want to miss a single moment.

I want to hear all about ketchup.

And so the dilemma continues.

The Fort.

I will have to think about it

while I make pb&j sandwiches...

I've been invited to eat in the fort!!!!

 

Do you ever feel this way?

(Love) always protects, always trusts, 

always hopes, always perseveres. 

1 Corinthians 13:7