I Went A Little Spray Crazy!

So, it's DIY Day at Kimba's (follow the link on the box).

When out with Amber last week, I found this lantern thingy at Goodwill for $3! (hideous flowers but cute!). I had bought the black spray paint that Friday...and it sat...and sat...because the wind blew...and blew...until I couldn't take it any more!

Letterman was boring me to tears last night so I tore off the flowers (which of course were very well secured!), laid down my paint sheet, and sprayed the heck out of it...in our laundry room...way to cold to open the windows...yeah, not smart!I found this mirror in our garage, Jim had nabbed it from somewhere that I couldn't remember. It had a plastic gold frame...so that got a coat of the black spray paint too!Our armoire is in a corner, so hanging the mirror on the wall is out (and I want to hide those ugly rabbit ears a bit more).....I ended up gluing 2 bookends to the back of the mirror as a make shift easel. It would have worked great except I got impatient and put it up on the armoire before it was all the way dry...tore them right off the cheap paper backing of the mirror!!!! (going to gorilla glue it later)

Before:After: (I got the metal tree months ago at Goodwill...along with the books)....it still needed something.....so I threw on the $2 worth of mini gourds we got this weekend at a pumpkin patch. It's ok, but not totally there yet! What do you think..candles? I have some black and white photos of the boys, but would that be too much black and white? I'm also working on some "family" blocks to go in the middle.

I had picked up a set of 4 corbels at a garage sale last week...they got the rest of the can of paint!
Check back later to see what I did with them!!!!!

My Father's Delight

I'm sitting here this morning in awe struck wonder at how amazing God is...He delights in ME, how great is the love that the Father lavishes on us!!!

When was the last time you lavished? Was it on something deserving or something disgusting, dirty and totally broken? I find delight in that perfect cup of coffee, savor every bite of chocolate cake, and drink up those quiet moments snuggling with the boys. BUT, I grumble when I have to grab a Coke instead of a latte, toss my flopped cake in the garbage and wish for grown children when the boys drive me crazy!
How thankful am I that God is unconditional!

At church we've been going through The Shack. I know that parts are controversial and not theologically sound...but, I was completely broken by the reaction of the God head to each other...the love, the tenderness.

I want that. Not only in my relationship with God, but in my everyday! (In flops and stresses not just great moments). I long to know God to the core of my being as a papa, not puppet master....unconditional is such a hard word to wrap your head around.

In the parable of the prodigal son, the father runs to his broken, smelly...completely messed up son and throws his arms around him. He wrapped him in his finest robe, while he still reaked of hogs and filth!

I found myself realizing that I've been not running back to my papa in all my despair...I've been trying to clean myself up, make myself presentable to my God. He doesn't ask for that and never will---He just wants us to come and he'll take care of the rest!!!

Today, I hope that you get a moment to realize how much God loves you...no matter where you're coming from he wants you back...he's waiting and watching for your arrival!!!

Easy Chalkboards!

center>

Last week I got this armoire off of Craig's List for next to nothing! (isn't it cool...at first I wanted to paint it, but Jim has a thing about painting wood and it does match our trim really well)

The whole purpose of the armoire in our house was to shut it and forget we have the tv....well, the kiddos still remember! The insides of the cabinet doors are flat. Perfect to paint chalkboards, but I didn't want to fully commit to it...I mean, what if someday Jim gets amnesia and forgets that he doesn't like to paint wood!~Ha! Anyway, I didn't want to spend the $$$ on those niffty chalkboard vinyl sheets (I'm way too cheap and broke for that!)...

So, what's a girl to do? Figure out a cheapskate way around it!!!

I bought a roll of white contact paper at Target for some where around$5. I still have a TON of leftover chalkboard paint from the last 3 projects (at $8 for a quart I'm really getting my use out of it!!! And I haven't even made a dent in the can!)

First I layed out my panels (I didn't really measure, just made it longer then the doors...2 doors, 2 panels). Then I just brushed on the paint with a foam brush. Now paint and plastic contact paper are not friends. The paint will bubble and want to smear...it's ok...let it sit for a couple of minutes (while you paint the other sheet) and then with your foam brush, smear it back to normal.

Now, let that dry while you watch Leno. Add a second coat and go to bed!

Measure the inside section of the cabinet door....mark it off on the back of the contact paper...then grab your quilting supplies (from the bottom of your junk closet because you haven't used it in 7 years)....use your awesome rotary cutter and straight edge to make perfect cuts (but if you don't and for some reason your off by like 1/3 of an inch going diagonally...just add a smidge of the scrap to it..it doesn't have to be perfect...uh huh!)

My whole plan for this was to warn the boys not to turn the tv on....as you can see it really works well (notice the Wonder Twins on the bottom of the screen!!!)Now I have one side left to decorate....thinking a chore list, or I don't know....any suggestions?

Have a great weekend...lots more projects on the way! (and don't forget...if you can't afford something, figure out a way to do it!)

What Can I Say...I LOVE My Husband!

I am the luckiest woman alive! I have a husband who is so devoted to work, saving lives and most importantly, to God and our family! Last week I found an armoire on CraigsList....about 2 hours away, but the price was next to nothing! So, when I called Jim at 2 p.m. and told him my hair brained idea of running up there that night before someone else swiped it up...he said ok (yes...he said OK!).

Then after working all week, countless hours of medic-ing and construction...he took a couple of hours to fix it up right! I love this man! I mean look at him...dog tired, moving this heavy piece of furniture, lifting giant tv's like it's a feather pillow!
Drilling over a cabinet door...with perfect accuracy!

Yep..it's straight!

And my favorite part...I've always loved those arms!

Ah...be still my beating heart! (this picture was purely for my enjoyment! haahhaaa!....if I don't ever post again, it's either because he killed me or took away my computer!)

I love you Jim! Thanks for all that you do for us!

As Far As the East Is From The West

Another tradition with Rash Hashana is to fill your pockets with bread crumbs and then toss them into a creek or river....just as the night before we tossed our sins to God. We will never get those crumbs back and God will never hold those forgiven sins against us! (well, we have a pond...point definately made!)

I got a little teary when the boys threw their bread in the air and yelled "SO LONG SIN!" This was definately a celebration to remember!

Good bye last year....Hello NEW BEGINNINGS!

Day of Remembrance

Last night was the start of Rash Hashana, the Day of Remembrance..the Feast of Trumpets....the Jewish New Year. It's fitting really to have the new year start as we are beginning to harvest what was sown the season before. The soybean fields are changing from a sea of vibrant velvet green to deep pools of gold.....waiting to give up their crops during the harvest. The same goes for the Day of Remembrance....we reflect on the past year...where we have fallen short, the sins we have committed. But with every reaping there is hope of a new crop, a new year full of growth, bearing much fruit!

As is custom, after sundown on the first day of the seventh month of the Jewish calender, we enjoyed a meal starting with a prayer of remembrance and then moving on to the sweetness of forgiveness! Apples dipped with honey is The WAY to start a meal!!! MMMmmm! How sweet redemption is! As in my previous post, pomegranates represent a fruitful year and also the number of commands in the Book of Law. Challah bread is also enjoyed, dipped in honey.

Earlier we saw a youtube video on the blowing of the shofar...a Jewish horn. It is said that hearing the horn would cause people to crumble into dust from the shame of their last year.....believe me, when I think of how far I fall short in my life it breaks me to the core, but I also have renewal in an awesome Savior! What a way to celebrate new beginnings, especially considering how we are on the verge of so many in our own lives!!!

Jamie wanted to imitate the shofar.....he did pretty good remembering the 4 different calls.

We also had brisket and vegetables.
....and who could end such a sweet meal without another sweet! This is the PW's Apple Cake in an iron skillet.....yummmmmm!

As you can see, the boys enjoyed it!

As we end this Rash Hashana, may you have a good year, and may you be inscribed for blessings in the book of life! L'shana tova tikatevu!

May Your Blessings Be As Numerous As The Seeds Of A Pomagranate!

For Rash Hashana we tried Pomegranates. It is said that there are 613 seeds in a pomegranate, the same number of commandments in the Book of Law.

Ok...now what! I saw plenty of videos on youtube that showed people hitting the tops of the pomegranate with the back of a spoon...with not much output. Then I stumbled across a guy showing how to break the fruit open under water....easy peasy!

First, fill a large bowl with cold water. Cut your fruit in half. With the half submerged, gently break apart the fruit and separate the seeds. Don't worry about the white membrane, it will float in the water so when you're all done all you have to do is scoop up the seeds from the bottom of the bowl.I totally forgot to take a picture with our harvest! Ugh! Well, you can imagine the bounty we had from 3 pomegranates (and yes, for future knowledge...1 would have been more then plenty!)

Sunday Inspiration

I AM A CHRISTIAN

by Maya Angelou

When I say..."I am a Christian"

I'm not shouting "I'm clean livin.."

I'm whispering "I was lost,"Now I'm found and forgiven.

When I say..."I am a Christian"

I don't speak of this with pride.

I'm confessing that I stumble and need CHRIST to be my guide.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not trying to be strong.

I'm professing that I'm weak and need HIS strength to carry on..

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not bragging of success.

I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not claiming to be perfect,

My flaws are far too visible but, God believes I am worth it.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I still feel the sting of pain,

I have my share of heartaches so I call upon His name.

When I say... "I am a Christian"

I'm not holier than thou,

I'm just a simple sinner who received God's good grace, somehow.



Thank you Laura for sharing this poem with us on FB....and thank you Maya Angelo for sharing this wonderful expression of what Christianity means!

Late Weekend Update

Where has this week gone!?!

We had quite an eventful Labor Day weekend....it seems like we crammed an entire summer into one day! (we really only had one day to celebrate because of Jim's work schedule!)

Saturday we did a birthday party/Labor Day party at my sister's house.....it was a blast, cook outs, bon fire, slip 'n slide and what party would be fun without a little wii resort?

We celebrated both my Grandpa's and Duane's birthdays....Crys went all out with Cold Stone ice cream cakes....mmmmm!
They spoiled the boys with a slip 'n slide...man, do my kids have it rough!
Well....Riley did have a little bit of a rough time! (see his head in the corner of the picture below, falling out of the pool?!? And then he totally flipped head over heels on this run!)

They played a little baseball....almost took out the grandmas with a foul ball :)

wii was the next on the list! Crys had bought Duane wii sport resort for his birthday, but the poor thing ended up grilling more then playing! (that's ok, the boys figured it out for him!)

I love this picture of my dad and Riley sitting by the fish pond. He had told Riley that if he whistled the fish would come up to the top! (the kid was always over there whistling, but the fishies didn't cooperate.)
And last but not least, First Day of School! Don't they look over joyed to be having their pictures taken? Not sure what was up with Riley and the winking, but he wouldn't stop so that's what we got!