My Anti-Resolution Post

I don't make resolutions. I don't like them. I don't like the pressure. And, I think it's silly if we only think about growth once a year.

I do love growth. I love goals. I love being moldable and changing.

This week, the first week of the year, our family is setting aside extra time. Time for prayer and worship. Time to hear His voice. Time to hear His resolutions for our lives.

I am excited!

To Give...and Keep Giving

We had a great Christmas. We decided to play it low key. Simple decorations. Simple food.

Lots of family. And laughs. And rest.

Another thing that we were intentional about this year was giving. I prayed for the Lord to give us some ways to give. And He did. He gave us opportunities to give in ways we hadn't before. He gave us opportunities to give in ways that made me uncomfortable.

But I gave in to it. And I experienced true joy in a way I haven't before.

And I thought that was it.

Until last night.

Last night I received an email explaining how a situation has taken an unexpected turn. A situation that was not ideal to start has become more fragile.

And I want to help. I want to make it better.

And I can't. But I know WHO can.

And she is asking for prayer. She is reaching out in a way that she may not have a week ago.

She is vulnerable and hurting.

And I know Someone who heals. And holds. And brings peace.

I put myself out there and I thought I was done (though I hesitantly asked for more opportunity).

And this is where true giving begins.

Christmas Ramblings

I overdid Thanksgiving. I planned too many projects. Too much food. Too many activities. There, I said it. We were exhausted by the end of the week. Yes, it was pretty. And tasty. And I think the kids had a good time.

But I wouldn't know, because I was decorating. And cleaning. And cooking. And cleaning. And more cooking. And even more cleaning...you get the idea.

So we decided (I say we. I really mean my sweet hubby gently encouraged me...) to NOT do that to our Christmas. We are already very busy.

We are preparing for our Christmas Eve services/performances. 5 out of 7 of us are participating, so that means extra time at church and less sleep. But lots of fun.

The kids' schedules are crazy right now with end of the semester activities. I know you moms can relate...

Decorating for Christmas was interesting this year...as I was unloading the Christmas decorations, I realized we had thrown away all of our stocking holders last year. They were old and breaking. I had spent the last few years super-glueing them back together. So apparently, last year, I was done with it. And I threw them away.

After some debating, we decided to keep our eyes open for some inexpensive replacements. With 7 stockings, this is a hard task.

I finally found some for 50% off and bought them. As soon as I left the store, I felt regret. It was $95. $95! For stocking holders (okay, and new stockings too because they were pretty)!

I took them back the next day for a refund. I spent $2 at the dollar store, shopped my yard and storage room, and came up with this.

I used ornament hangers to hang the stockings from the garland that I've had for 7 years.

And I felt much better.

My prayer this season has been to keep my eyes on what's important to Him. We can use that $95 for other things...and pass along blessings to someone else.

I am almost done Christmas shopping. I was deliberate and thoughtful. I spent 2 weeks working on it. I can't wait to see my kids' faces on Christmas morning. It's magical.

But I wasn't excessive. There are gifts they won't get. We have been preparing them and their expectations to hopefully avoid any let down.

At the same time, we are open to opportunities to serve others. We are planning some ways to help the kids think of others as well.

I have found myself crying as I'm listening to Christmas music. Christmas songs I've heard for years are more meaningful as I'm sensitive to what He's saying to me. I know we've all heard "Jesus is the reason for the season".

And He REALLY IS. What He did was such a miracle. Such a gift. I don't ever want to lose that emotion. That wonder over what He did for ME. For YOU. For so many who still don't know.

My prayer for you is that this season would be full of wonder for you. That it would be full of peace and joy.

I hope we can all slow down. Spend less money. Spend more time. Give of ourselves. Witness joy. Savor this season.

May we all remember Who and why and what we're celebrating.

Easy, Inexpensive Home Decor

I think being on recuperation duty for the last 3 weeks combined with guests coming over this weekend has made me a little nest crazy.

My bare walls and lack of decor have gotten to me. So, I've been searching the house, the garage, the outdoors and Goodwill for inexpensive ways to perk up our living areas.

We repainted our dining nook a few months ago. We went from a dark, burnt orange to a light, neutral. We haven't had any window coverings for this space and the new wall color left them screaming "dress me!!". I "shopped" my house and found the perfect window coverings.

Thanks to this post, some ribbon and safety pins, some window drapes from my bathroom became window valances.

The curtains from my bedroom are a perfect replacement for the not-so-attractive-half-broken vertical blinds on our sliding glass door.

Yes, now my bedroom windows are screaming at me. At least they're not screaming at everyone who walks in our front door...

Several months ago, I "borrowed" my pictures from our stairwell in order to make a gallery wall in our entry. We have had bare nails and walls since then. I put my creative juices to work.

I shopped Goodwill (that word looks funny to me now...Goodwill Goodwill Goodwill) and found some wooden "art". I so wish I had taken before pics, but I didn't (bad blogger!). I had 2 identical, rectangular shapes and one larger, squarish one.

I used paint stripper, water and some elbow grease to remove the original art. Then I spray primed them. I painted them off-black (this was when I realized I should be taking pictures)

Then free-handed some creamy white swirly-flowery things.

After they had dried really well, I distressed and scraped the whole thing to make it more faded and soft.

I found 2 matted pictures in our storage room. I removed the art, cut a couple of pieces of fabric and framed them.

This is the end result.

I am pretty pleased with it! Especially the price tag *wink*

I have several other little projects I've been working on that I will share after Thanksgiving. Hope you have a great one!!

Candlestick Transformation

I'm working on my tablescape for Thanksgiving...I have a great tablecloth that I'm excited to use. It's kind of busy, so I'm wanting more simple items for the centerpiece and place settings.

I found these candlesticks for $1.50 each at goodwill the other day.

I liked the shape and the height, but they were not the color I was going for.

I brought them home and went to work.

I started by spraying them with some nickel-colored spray paint I found in the garage.

Then, I created a glaze by watering-down some black paint I already had. I painted it on,

then wiped it off to bring down the shine and get the "older" look I wanted. Here, you can see one candlestick finished next to the shinier one.

Here is the end result!

Easy, quick, "new" candlesticks for $3 and an hour (including drying) of time!

Thankful Banner

This post got me thinking the other day. I thought "I can do that...I think."

My problem was I didn't have "word art" like Mary suggested. Or a working printer. Or white cardstock. Or twine.

Hmmmm.

I did have some empty diaper boxes. And some paint. And some yarn.

So, I cut up the diaper boxes and made do with what I had.

This is how it turned out.





I am pretty pleased with it! It has a completely different look than Mary's, but I think it fits with the feel of our home.

What do you think?

It's Here!

If you've been reading my blog for a little while (or if you know me in person *wink*), you know that I am married to an amazing man, who happens to be a worship pastor (among other things)...

Last spring, we recorded our first ever choir worship album. It released this past week!

Yay!! It was so exciting to see my hubby's name on the cover. And the picture of our amazing choir. I love it!

You can check it out here