This simply cluttered Life

My new chairs!!

2009-03-21T20:29:00.002-05:00

I did it!

I have not had a matching table and chairs in years. First a couple of chairs broke, then we were given a couple of chairs. We kept the folding chairs in the dining room to fill in as needed. Then,last weekend I found 2 mismatched chairs at a garage sale for ............

ONE DOLLAR

All they needed was a little love :) I had planned to post a poll asking everyones opinion because I honestly couldn't make up my mind what I should try to make them all look good around my table! Finally, this morning when I had no more time to be fussy about it I just decided that black was easiest so I did it :)

I even took before and after pictures for this post

BEFORE

AFTER

Spraypaint in my hands.......nothing is safe....muahaaahaahaa

I miss my boys :(

2009-03-18T13:56:00.003-05:00

Today is the 6th day since I have NOT had a sweet hug from one of my little guys.

I have 4 days to go!

It helps to remember the sweet little things.

Last week during dinner we were doing our "minus's and plus's". Davis said his minus was his BOOK REPORT (he was really nervous and had to do an oral presentation for the first time). He took a big breath-hitching sigh right after telling us this and I could tell he was just recalling the terror he felt right before he had to talk in front of his whole class.
When we went back around to hear the plus's he said it was his BOOK REPORT. I looked at him quizically and he said "Mom...it feels really good to do a good job". yes, yes I cried a little with pride for my big 3rd grader.

I wasn't able to be at home when their Dad picked them up for their spring break vacation but Jeff was. He was giving each of the boys a "hug from Mom" and Michael came back for another round and said he wanted 2 hugs to pass on to Mom.
I PROMISE you that the first thing I did when I got home from work was to take every bit of those hugs from Jeff's arms.

Travis is turning 14 soon and is paying to have unlimited texts on his cell phone because he is a texting maniac!
I have decided that I will never complain again because this week I have had the most thoughtful conversations with him in the middle of the day about things he misses, stuff happening with his friends, advice seeking about a crush and even wanting me to intervene in an argument with his brother. It is definitely getting me through till Sunday night.

Thanks for letting me reminisce a little, I'm really doing OK even though i did go by baseball practice (something i usually get weary of) and watched all the little 9 & 10 year olds playing just to feel a little better yesterday.

What has been keeping me so busy?

2009-03-17T22:47:00.007-05:00

SPRING CLEANING!!!!!!!!!

My family groans when I bring out "the list"

The words "I have a plan" send them running to hide

I have to start keeping my to-do list hidden for protection

What do all these things mean? It's time for Spring cleaning!!!!

We have been very, very busy the last month but I have been limiting it to weekends and have divided the house into very specific projects. So far we have accomplished all 3 boys rooms, our master bedroom & the living room.

I'm not just cleaning either. We are cleaning, we moved everything out of each of their seperate 3 bedrooms (one at a time, i'm not completely crazy)including furniture and beds and cleaned the carpet and windows. BUT, as we put things back in we took the time to rethink their rooms. Anything that was broken was fixed, we hung on walls those things that needed hanging, hung dragons from ceilings.

Davis finally decided at 9 that he was ready to pass on Thomas the train and his table to his cousins Drew & Ben. That was a BIG decision but it made his very cramped room a little bit bigger.

We created a reading corner for Michael
along with the dragons for imagination.
But the biggest change was in Travis's room. He likes change a LOT and decided that he wanted his walls painted.
This was fine and even gave us a little bit to look forward to once he agreed that he would do the bulk of the work AND be the repainter when the time came. However, he came down with the flu & bronchitis the day we started and so.....you guessed it........I was in his room covered in paint along with his best friend Zach until midnight trying to finish it. I was praising God for Zach when he was the one at the ceiling and the floorboard leaving me the middle section. You know your child has found a great friend when he refuses to be given a ride home while his best friend is sacked out and he says "I can't wait for Travis to see how cool this is!" (I promise I fed him well, even snacks and thanked him often)

I am rethinking each of my rooms with the idea from Nester when I read her posts about the rooms in your house! You have to go to her site and click on this button. We have faithfully followed each post and I have brought in fabric in my living room
and now have 3 working lamps and many candles.
We really focused on our bed in the bedroom and eliminating clutter.
I also painted 3 canvases to go above the bed that I think turned out great. I wish I had a better picture! (please ignore the ugly headboard that i hate hate hate)

I have more to do in the bathrooms and the kitchen/dining but I am stumped with my dining chairs so we may have a poll coming soon.

Check back for more insanity!

phew....it's been a while

2009-03-17T22:07:00.003-05:00

Writing a post when it's been a long time has been hard! It is almost like it has to be something major and so just an everyday post isn't good enough but since I havent had anything really big I've just not put anything up!

Does it sound weird to say I have missed my blogging friends?

I finally just decided that a month is long enough and to just say something. I can't not just go on without saying something on here about a hard loss. I'm sure NO one will notice unless I point it out but I had to erase the part over on the said of my "about me" that said........a father in law that will never be an ex. I didn't think it was right to just erase that from my side bar and go on like I was erasing him.

We lost Grandpa Jack in February and it was much harder than I had expected it to be even though I thought I was prepared. In a way it happened very suddenly, but that was just the accident. Once we knew he wasn't going to wake up, the days that we had to tell him goodbye and to watch my children grieve were life changing. My boys were his only grandchildren and they were quite simply his entire world. They will always have that legacy of love and I will always be his daughter. I don't want to be sad anymore or make anyone else sad I just didn't want to not acknowledge his passing. We miss you Jack and are so glad you are up there with Kathy and showing off your pictures to a new audience!

I thought I was going to continue this, but I am going to end it and start a new one. It just seems right.

The Titus Project

2009-02-09T09:55:00.004-06:00

I am so excited about this!!! I have decided however that I need help from anyone who is willing to share with me some ideas :)

Our church is sponsoring this for our youth girls (the boys will be having a subsequent Timothy project). I have been asked to sponsor a table. This means that I will have 4 girls at my table that I will serve. The idea is to be a mentor/friend/example and I am really glad to a part of things.

First we will be giving them a night where we will honor them. We will uplift them and serve them. We will prepare a banquet for them with gifts and food. The food is covered, but the table decoration and gifts (small ones) are to come from me and my imagination......THIS IS WHERE I NEED YOU GUYS AND YOUR IDEAS!!

Second we will be providing a night where we will pamper the girls with hair, make up, nails and any other kind of girly thing you can think of.

Third we will be giving each young lady a Titus Project book. This is a book of wisdom from us to them. This is a compilation of submitted stories and advice from ladies in our church. We would like it to be fuller than it currently is so if you had anything that God places on your heart I would love to submit and use it.

Lastly, pray that this will be a great night and that with HIS guidance will be just what these girls need and will be life changing and impacting.

And lets not forget about the boys (which will be my oldest 2 included) and their Timothy project.

Coming soon.....

2009-02-03T10:53:00.003-06:00

I am so excited! I have been in a really creative mood lately and I think it has pushed me over the edge. yikes! I typically take forever to make a decision after I spend lots of time pondering, praying and debating the choices. For quite a while people have told me I should sell the things I make and each time I give a gift at a wedding or baby shower I get an order or two.

Now...........i'm ready. I made something new over the weekend and I LOVE it. It was a gift for my best friend who is very unique and special so she needed a gift that was unique and special. It turned out so well that I have decided it is just the addition I need to give me enough interesting products to open my own shop. I will be opening an etsy shop to be exact.

I don't have it ready yet, but I am working on it. I decided to go ahead and put this post up to keep me accountable. For now it is "coming soon....."

Something new

2009-01-28T12:55:00.003-06:00

sorry........this is really a fake post.

I was so tired of seeing the old one I just had to make something different. I don't really have anything to post!

I know I shouldnt have let it go so long but life has intervened and I just couldnt get to it! Davis was just released from the hospital after a week and we were out of town before that and I just can't seem to get pictures off my camera and I know a post would be boring without them so......soon i promise.

Happy Birthday Jesus

2008-12-25T19:59:00.004-06:00

Thank you Lord for the best gift of all.

I love the time we have had with family.
I loved seeing how much they appreciated their gifts we chose.
I wanted to take a few moments and remember about the best gift.

We are flying home tomorrow (Jeff & I). The boys are coming home and we will finally get to celebrate Christmas with our small family. Everything is ready and waiting for the excited sounds of the boys as they see their bulging stockings and the early morning wake up to open all their gifts. I wait all year for that moment.

I never updated but we did finish our projects...we strung popcorn and cranberries

I also made the silhouette ornaments and my "S" monogram wreath.

Since I believe Christmas is a frame of mind and not just a day, I am eagerly looking forward to getting home and having my family all around as we drown in wrapping paper and ribbon and watch their precious faces as they see what they are given. I can't wait to drink hot cocoa and apple cider and nibble on Christmas snacks. I'll see you all soon for new years!!

I just had to leave a picture of the view from the back deck of Jeff's house in Mass where we just had a wonderful Christmas with our family. We love you!

wrapped around his little finger

2008-12-08T09:39:00.003-06:00

(Davis coming home from school, Jeff in the kitchen doing dishes)

D: Hey Jeff! What is this paper for? Can i have it?
(J looks over and notices it is leftover christmas wrap)
J: OK. What do you need it for? (with D you just never know)
D: It's a surprise!
(5 minutes later he comes back and asks Jeff to sit down)
D: Merry Christmas! (handing him a small "package")
(Jeff opens the package and discovers a quarter)
J: WOW! Are you sure you want me to have this? (Davis is very big on saving and a quarter is a big deal)
D: Yes, I saved it for you.....but there is something more in there too, just make sure you don't tear it.

This is the point when Jeff discovers the true gift. A handmade certificate that says:

World's Best Step-Dad

Could there be any better gift ever? And yes it is proudly displayed on the fridge!

Excessive energy painting

2008-12-05T09:27:00.007-06:00

What is that you ask?

It is the result of all the excitement from holiday decorating still churning through me at 11:30 pm at night when there are no more twinkle lights to hang, garland to create or Bethlehem villages to arrange and something in me is begging to create something great.

OK...great is a relative term but my 8 year old thinks I created a masterpiece!

Do you remember a few posts back when I showed off my new painting for over the couch? It was my inspiration for this project. I have a table/lamp combo that needs a makeover in a big way.

So far all I have changed is the lampshade, but I think it has huge impact. I have been thinking about it for a long time but I couldn't decide if I should. I really liked the idea of painting the shade and because it is across the room from the painting I wanted to mimic it to create some cohesiveness. BUT I also worried if a painted lampshade would make my painting less artistic and more design. The painting was a very big release for me and when I started I had no idea how it would turn out, I felt like I was just releasing myself and I didn't want to lose that feeling I get every time I look at the painting. When my sister in love Kelli was visiting over Thanksgiving I mentioned my idea to her and she thought it was a good one so it is thanks to her that I took the plunge :)

Guess what? I painted the lampshade and i STILL get the feeling!!

These are the AFTER pictures:
you can see the painting in the background along with our Sam sleeping on the couch
The little strange things on the top are tiny Santas hanging from the top of my shade (thank you Davis)
I still need to decide what to do with the ugly white post, the ugly brass thingy ma bobbee and how I should treat the table/legs part. Any suggestions? PLEASE help me out. It is better with the shade but it still doesn't go with everything else.

Comments, Comments, Comments!!!!!!!!!

decorating heaven

2008-12-03T12:47:00.007-06:00

(a dark picture of my garland that doesnt do it justice)
I love to spend time planning and preparing when I decorate and I especially love just jumping in and making a huge mess and coming out with something that is beautiful to me and makes my family feel at home. Christmas decorating gives me all that and more.
(this is a picture of the garland close up)
I have a tree in every room....not just every bedroom but EVERY room in the house. Some rooms like the bathrooms and kitchen have small ones, but the ones in each of our bedrooms are my favorite! The big one in our living room is our family tree. It has the collection of the boys ornaments that are added to each year and lovingly remembered as they are hung. It also has all the ornaments collected as we travel and a million memories from our families and our trips. That one is special and i'm usually crying before all the ornaments are hung. This year I am planning on stringing popcorn and cranberries (i'll let you know how it goes).

The bedroom trees were each planned according to the person who lives in that room and are the most fun :)

***Davis's is a candyland dream and we have collected candy ornaments from all over. He also has candy garland and lights and the most elaborate room because he takes all of my castoff decorations and finds a place for them.
***Michael's is new this year because he finally has his own room and is of course "Colt's blue". So far it just has white lights and balls but we are on the lookout for sports and colts ornaments and will probaby make some.
***Travis is my patriot and his room has an american flag and a texas flag hanging on the walls along with a complete red white and blue thing going on and so he has the Texas tree.
***Jeff & I used gold and blue to pick up the accents in our room and also put on the first ornament we ever bought together every year together. He holds the branch and I hang it. That is part of the rule, each person puts up and decorates their own tree.

We did all this yesterday and it felt so good i ended up with so much energy at 11 pm last night I took on a project that I have been undecided on. Thanks Kelli for the push! (more on that to come)

He's a natural

2008-11-28T09:14:00.005-06:00

This is so cute I had to post it!!! This is my adorable nephew Drew playing Guitar Hero World Tour with his Daddy in our living room.....ignore the obvious mess from unpacking Christmas presents (yes we have already had 1 of our Christmas's with my family)
even more rockin.....

Not nice

2008-11-23T00:44:00.004-06:00

I still love you red raiders :)

Go OSU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go Red Raiders!!!!!!!!

2008-11-17T12:29:00.004-06:00

if you are thinking to yourself that you don't care about football or Texas Tech, go ahead and scroll down, I made another post today.
I just had to add this video I found on Steph's site. We have all been affected by the fever and love the feeling of pride we feel when we get to watch Tech have the kind of season they have had.

We were lucky enough to go to the Homecoming game....thanks Mom & Dad!!!!!!
We also know one of the players and it is thrilling to see Bryan #57 flying across the line and the power in his tackle.
In this video from ESPN, the fireman Brad Jones is a friend of mine and it is just surreal to see him on national television.

Raider!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Power!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

.......so I can move on

2008-11-17T10:51:00.005-06:00

I am making this post because I have been thinking Christmas thoughts and I am playing catch up :)

I have loved seeing all the other "fall" posts and cute halloween costumes on my friends blogs but have been negligent about posting mine.

This is me carving my pumpkin, I don't have a picture of it and it is long ago in the trash :(

I did get a picture of Jeff's pumpkin, it won 3rd place in the carving contest we went to :)

I actually had decided not to post any fall/halloween pictures but Davis has been asking me when I am going to put pictures of him in his costume so here they are...................beware they are a bit scary :)

He has already been a pirate previously so this year he wanted to be a skeleton pirate.

I told him I had never seen a skeleton with dimples :)

He did get sad because he scared the smallest children at the carnival so I'm not sure he will go scary again.

I heart Kimba!!!!!!

2008-11-10T09:42:00.004-06:00

I won!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I still can't believe it :)

I am just browsing through my regular blogs that I must check daily and am kinda talking to myself about how Kimba has me adding ANOTHER item to my to-do list with her new silhoutte ornaments when I have just got my husband to thinking about making the monogram wreath that i forwarded him last week (also from her sight). Imagine my surprise when I continue reading and discover I have won a mother's necklace!!!!

Kimba is part of a group of popular bloggers that are featuring Mom crafters this holiday season. Click here to shop!! They are encouraging us to buy from these Mom's that help support their families by creating and selling their creations. There is a wide range of choices and amazing items to choose from and the idea is to buy from these Mom's instead of from commercial chains. Kimba has taken it a step further and is highlighting different Mom's on her blog and offering giveaways! I know!!!!!!! I have been inspired and even considering how I might make my own "shop" but as most things go, I will stew about it forever first.

Can I just take a minute to tell you how beautiful this necklace is that I WON.......I am in awe of this wonderful talented woman that Kimba featured so I am putting her link here for her Etsy shop called MoppetsClosets (even the name is sweet). Here is a picture of it :) Thank you Kimba and MoppetsClosets!!!!!!

sidenote: now I know why I had a TON of visitors from Kimba's site this weekend and I am so embarrased that I have been a lazy blogger lately :( I wish I was as talented as her but I am inspired and trying!

Valerie needs........

2008-10-24T09:42:00.003-05:00

I saw this on someone else's blog and thought it was pretty funny.

Just Google your name and the word "needs" and see what the top 10 results are.

Here are mine...

1. Valerie needs to weed out those who seek only to ...
2. Valerie needs a very committed and supportive home.
3. Valerie needs to be deported.
4. Valerie needs a beauty makeover.
5. Valerie needs help periodically ...
6. Valerie needs numbers!!
7. Valerie needs attention
8. Valerie just needs to be played out a bit more with Danny
9. Valerie needs to beware of deceiving herself and allowing others to take advantage of her ...
10. Valerie needs more time to catch up...

This was really funny and even a little bit scary! Please do it.....I want to see what all of you "need"

****addition*****

after i posted this, i clicked on images to see what images came with "valerie needs" and I got this with the following title:

Valerie needs rotating..............i'm not kidding...........I HAD to add it :)

This window stuff can be addictive

2008-10-16T09:21:00.004-05:00

I couldn't quit staring at Travis's window.

It was mocking me.......bare and naked taunting.

I didn't have months of thinking and inspiration but I DID have a sense of accomplishment from Michael's mistreatment and the desire to cover Travis's.

What I didn't have was any extra money for supplies (or old giftcards laying around).

What I did have was nester's words running through my head AND a top sheet that I have given up putting on Travis's bed because he refuses to use it and it was constantly wadded up at the bottom under his comforter.

The sheet was the right color and even though it wasn't being used i didn't want to cut it because I might need it someday! However, I didn't want anyone who saw his window to think I had just hung a sheet up there. My dilemna was:

how to make it unrecognizable as a sheet and look just like navy cotton fabric
how to hang it with no rods or boards using the only thing I had (furniture upholstery nails)

My solution was:

Window Mistreatment 101

Here is my end product! And since it is so dark you really can't see the detail at all, but trust me it looks just like Nester's did!

He didn't need to cover the whole window since it is at the back of the house and not everyone driving by will be looking in as they were in Michael's. Plus he had already been using the sill as a place to keep his trophies.

YAY!!! Another window covered and for $0

My first window mistreatment

2008-10-14T08:50:00.007-05:00

BEFORE

AFTER

I am so excited about this you guys! I thought about it for a couple of months but didn't have the nerve to just do it! I have been so inspired by all the posts you talented bloggers have put up about your mistreatments and have really been wanting to try it. I am the perfect candidate....we are in a rental and I don't want to spend money on curtains that only work for this house and honestly.....you can spend a small fortune just for one window after buying the actual panels AND the hardware. Add in the fact that my son Michael wanted something nascar and so I wouldnt have been able to settle for something found on sale.

I got this specific mistreatment idea from Kimba at A Soft Place to Land and you HAVE to read it first because she makes more sense than I do!

Michael also needed a shelf for all the nascar collectibles he has that really didn't have a place to live in his room. Here they are piled on a table in his room.

I went back to the Nester's sight and read back through all her posts on the subject......thanks Nester!!! You MUST go visit her blog even if you just read the window posts your life will be forever changed :)

I went to Lowe's because I had $11.42 on an un-finished giftcard. All I had to buy was the board, furniture tacks and 2 brackets.....I even HAD to buy 3 mum plants for my front bed to finish up the card!

One thing I do have in my linen closet is a TON of extra sheets.

With 3 boys and 4 twin beds we are never short on sheets. I used a black flat sheet that is all by it's lonesome (this is pretty common in my house) and I also used the 2 extra nascar pillow cases since the other 2 boys are no longer using them (the third is still on Michael's bed so it is a great tie-in) I didnt want to cut anything just in case I might need it as a sheet again (i'm glad to read on the other blogs that I am not the only one who thinks this way). I did open the pillow cases on the seam but I know if need be I could stitch them back up again in a jiffy.

It may be hard to see here but all I did was use the tack to hold up each corner. After that I tacked up the middle making a pleat first. I then kept going half and half while making pleats and just tacked it up as I went. This is the back panel.

This may not make sense to you since it really only makes sense in my head......but go read the this post on Kimba's site (with much nicer fabric) and then it should start to come clear for you.

This is just 3 halves of the pillow cases (i have one leftover) I used no sewing at all in true mistreatment style. I bought a 1x6 board that was 6 ft long so the length was just perfect, no cutting.I used the upholstery tacks to put the fabric onto the board and hubby hung the new valance/topper/shelf over the window using the brackets. I used my hot glue gun to connect the 3 pieces of pillow case and make it look seamless. Now we have a back panel, a valance and a shelf! I know it is hard to tell from this picture but it looks really good!

I LOVE THEM! Michael loves them!!! Even Jeff thinks they are great (even though he made this face when he saw me tacking a sheet over the window)

I also got a shot of Michael happily arranging his cars on his new one of a kind shelf :)

A lesson learned

2008-10-08T12:18:00.007-05:00

I just read the funniest story on Liz's blog and it inspired me to come post my own!

You know Jeff and I have been married just over 2 years and there is a LOT of learning to do about each other still. It is pretty common for him to say "must be a southern thing" or "we don't do that up north". I think it is more indicative of us just growing up in different families.

Leading into my story......I grew up playing jokes on people and the people I knew all played jokes on each other. In my house we were always trying to come up with a good joke. We loved to jump out and scare each other, we hid things that would cause a scream. My Mom taught us early how many screams you could get dumping cold water on someone in a hot shower. She also could be found chasing David and I around the house spraying us with a water bottle until we could find a place to baracade ourselves in for protection and find something water filled to fight back with. I apparently passed this on to my boys because they are constantly practicing how to quietly sneak up on someone and love love love to jump out and cause a yell. I can't tell you how many times I have "found" snakes, spiders and mice all in unexpected places (they have some very realistic fakes out there now).

About a year ago, I was washing dishes and accidentally dropped Jeff's favorite paring knife. It fell in such a weird way that the stainless steel blade just broke in half.

He was in the shower so he was clueless about it and I thought to myself....this is too good, I could never plan on this happening but i HAVE to use it! I thought it sounded like fun!

I knew he wouldnt think it was a trick knife because he would recognize the knife right away.

When I was a kid I pulled the prank of sticking it between my fingers with ketchup to fake out my Mom (who pretended to be horrified at my injury).

NOW without thinking much about it, in about 30 seconds time I quickly grabbed the red food color and ran a few drops down my hand and mopped it all up with a towel. I was thinking of how to fool someone who would be expecting it and all the things they would look for. I held the knife pointed down tight against my skin so it would look like it had gone through, pushed the "blood" soaked towel around it and rushed into the bathroom.

I put on my best "im in a lot of pain and trying to stay calm because i'm the Mom" shaky voice and told Jeff "honey, i need you to keep the boys calm and somehow get me to the hospital because i've had a little accident".

He pulls the shower curtain back and while I expected some sort of an "OMG" yell before I said "just kidding!". I was NOT expecting to see the horror on his face as i think his heart might have temporarily stopped beating or to see this big man jumping out of a running shower and ignore the fact that he was naked and covered in suds to start issuing orders like a war time triage soldier.

I was so in shock that he didn't even doubt me for a second that I forgot to say i was kidding. The look on his face when I dropped the broken knife (and time temporarily froze with a mask of horror and shock on his face) was enough to have me running for cover!

The answer to your next question is "yes" I promised him to never ever ever ever play another practical joke on him ever ever ever again. I still feel guilty about it and wish I had taken more than 30 seconds to put it all in motion and take maybe just 10 more seconds to think about the possible heartattack I could have caused (the point he was quick to make)

This has been referrenced from time to time in the last year and always with a reminder from Jeff in his most serious voice that I will NEVER play another joke on him. Imagine MY shock when Travis comes in a couple of days ago to tell me something funny he has just done.

He is already laughing and wants me to sneak in the dining room with him to watch because he just got finished crawling under the dining table (where Jeff was sitting at his laptop) and untied his shoes and tied them to his chair leg.

I can't believe my "ARE YOU CRAZY" wasn't heard throughout the whole house as I tell Travis he better get back in there and sneak better than he ever has before to fix this before Jeff even finds out he thought about it!

(post note: he didn't manage to undo his joke without being found out but because he WAS undoing it he got off light with just a lecture about how he would have felt when Jeff tried to get up and fell and cracked his head open and we had to call 911)

You are right Liz.......not everyone likes it.....who woulda thought?

WE LOVE YOU HONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I did it!

2008-09-15T22:06:00.006-05:00

I have had this canvas and paint for 3 months leaning against the wall. I knew what I wanted to do but was so nervous about doing it...........I finally did though!

Don't be too critical....i'm still learning :)

These are the accent colors in my living room....it felt really good to paint this, I think I'm addicted...

A redo project

2008-09-11T22:08:00.003-05:00

This is what my first canvas painting project looked like.

It looked MUCH better in the old house because the walls in the bedroom were chocolate brown.

Since we moved and are living in a temporary rental I have to live with white walls and the paintings just don't work anymore. I really liked the way the paintings looked with the bedding that was my inspiration so I didn't want to lose that look.

What do you think of my redo?

I have to admit I have become obsessed with painting and have a million ideas. Maybe in the next few days I will show you my living room/largest project attempt once I determine it is complete. :)

An aha! moment

2008-09-10T23:07:00.007-05:00

This is my oldest Travis at his 1st birthday party. It seems like I was JUST planning it. I know all parents warn you not to blink.......but SERIOUSLY you guys it really was just yesterday.
This is Travis now. He is 13. He is 5'7" (yes 7" taller than Mom) and has had his first girlfriend and first heartbreak. How is this possible?

"Travis......I am so proud of the man you have become". Those were the words that slipped out of my mouth without thinking at 6:34 pm tonight. WHAT? He isn't a man......he is 13, still my baby.

Since it did get a funny look from him I explained that I said it instinctly and that I realized he wasn't a man yet but that I could see so easily the man he has the potential to be.

Today we were driving along on the way to church and I am just listening to him in amazement talk so profoundly about his faith and his desire for all the people around him to have the same relationship that he has with God. It slipped out at that point.......my aha moment. It had been building for a while, but sometimes because we are with our children so much their changes slip by us and I just had a moment of clarity and pride!

Earlier this week I was talking to my Mom on the phone and Travis walks by and just says casually........"hey Mom, can you get Nonny to see if Papa can give me some testaments?" I pass the question along and when I ask Travis what he needs them for he tells me that he was just thinking and thought it might be a good idea to leave some in fellow football players lockers in the gym and pass some out to friends at school. His idea was to put the information inside as an invitation to his youth group on Wednesday nights. (My Dad is a gideon so that is the reason for the request btw). I brought them home yesterday and we spent the evening filling out the inscription page with an invite.

As we were on our way tonight he is texting back and forth making sure no one needed a ride and offering my services (I would never complain about that assumption). I just wanted to take a moment and record THIS moment so I don't forget it. You know what I am remembering so much of tonight? Those moments yesterday and last week when he was 2 and singing Jesus Loves Me or 5 and praying for someone he just saw on the side of the street.....I was so proud of my sweet little boy who knew Jesus and went to him so easily. Can I just tell those of you that arent at this place yet how your heart will swell when you realize that those seeds planted have sprouted and bloomed past heartache and the pain of grief and the heartbreak of divorce and have blossomed into a teenager who thirsts for a relationship with God and wants the people around him to have what he has. WOW. I don't feel worthy to be his Mom and I thank God that I have been so blessed.

This boy

2008-08-27T03:50:00.002-05:00

I wanted to say something about this boy I knew but I just couldnt and didn't know what to say. My brother did a great job.

A new look!

2008-08-21T09:51:00.001-05:00

When I decided to blog I didn't spend very much time designing my blog but as I look around I am so jealous of others that I decided to spruce up my page a bit!

once again.....

2008-08-20T10:12:00.004-05:00

It might possibly be that we can't take a family vacation without a missed flight.

I can't decide if it is better when you know you will miss the flight because you are 2 hours from the airport and your flight leaves in 1 and 1/2....you know you aren't going to make it and even though you have called and found out you will be put on standby......you just can't get that knot out of your stomach because there are 5 of you and you are about to miss your flight and you can't help thinking this is a really bad way to start your vacation. As you drive along that dark rainy highway and wonder if the plane you see in the sky is the one you are supposed to be on...........that was us last summer.

This year we were prepared. We had a flight coming home that left at 6 am from Baltimore. We needed to be at the airport an hour and a half early and we also had to return our rental car. We knew we needed to be there at 4 am. We were prepared!

We planned to drive in the night before and stay in a hotel AT the airport.

We planned to get a solid night sleep.

What actually happened was that we had so much fun the day before we just couldn't get to the hotel early! Of course if we are driving through Philadelphia we HAD to take time and run up the steps at the Musuem of Art and pump our fists in the air like Rocky! And oh yeah.....we HAD to find out who made the first philly cheese steak and go try one! (even if we did have to drive around until we could find an internet signal to research this information and THEN drive around a 2 mile circle for an hour until we located the place)

We finally made it to the hotel and in bed at midnight. I knew that 3 1/2 hours sleep wouldnt be much so I made sure we were prepared. I pulled one change of clothes out for each of us and the dirty clothes bag and left the car packed. I set the hotel alarm clock AND my cell phone alarm for 3 am thinking I would be up first and be prepared and ready to hustle 3 boys and a husband out of bed and into the car by 3:30ish.....we would NOT miss another flight. I kept waking up with that feeling "its been 3 hours"......it was 1:30.....then it was 1:56.......then it was 2:15........I called the front desk and requested an emergency wake up call for 3:30 thinking that I would just cancel it when I got up at 3. I went back to sleep knowing all would be OK.

I woke up.....I felt really rested! I laid there for a minute trying to remember where I was......I looked over and saw the hotel curtains and my heart started pounding as I realized.....I felt REALLY rested. I dreaded looking over to see the red lights on the clock tell me it was 5:30!

Yes

5:30

Our flight would be leaving in 30 minutes

They had just started boarding "our" flight

I had 4 sleeping family members, 8 pieces of luggage and a rental car and my flight left in 30 minutes!

We had done it again! I took the laptop and snuck into the bathroom.......there was no need to panic anyone else until I had a new plan to reassure them with. The website tells me there is a flight at 8:45. I make a quick call and find out they can put us on standby but they can't offer me confirmed standby and the flight is "pretty full". I shut it all down, wake up the family and loaded us up within 15 minutes.

We got to the airline counter and they told us they would check our bags on the 8:45 flight and if we didn't make it they would be waiting for us in Dallas when we eventually got in. THEN she tells me that since we are on standby we might not all make the same flight but they would make sure the 2 children got to fly with adults.......WAIT........2 children? I have 3! That is when she tells me that since Travis is 13, he is considered an adult and if they can't put 3 of us on a flight and only have room for 2 on each.......he might have to fly alone. Can I tell you that he handled this news much better than Mom? The thought of my BABY flying 2000 miles alone on a 3 hour flight was enough to give me heart failure.

We go through security when I am "randomly" selected for a more thorough check and because I have children with me they must also be checked. It doesnt matter that we have missed one flight and are racing to catch another......it REALLY doesnt. We have 5 carry-ons between the 4 of us and they must EACH be gone through systematically and the boys look at me with big round eyes as this stranger pats down their Mom the way they have only seen in the movies with criminals. As we hurry off to the gate I ask the boys to pray with me......I tell them just to pray that God makes the rest of our journey smooth.

You might have noticed I said 4 of us..........that's right. The airport security had an issue with Jeff's ID. They tell him that he will be detained and that he needs to go through "evaluation" that could take 20 or so minutes. They let him know this will be an FBI check. He settles in to wait........then comes the questioning......they know everything about him! They ask him about the make and model of our car to "test" him that he is who he says he is. When he says that it is parked at a hotel in Dallas they nod knowingly and say "yes we know". About that time the supervisor comes in to approve him getting on the flight. This man realizes they looked at the ID incorrectly and stopped him for no reason. He apologizes. Unfortunately since the process has been initiated and he was already detained, they must finish the check.

Can anyone guess the color of his face when he finally met us at the gate?

Guess what happened next? The gate attendant calls us up and tells us that she is very sorry........she can't seat us all together. WHAT? We are on the same flight? We will be home together? Sitting together is the least of my concerns as I give her a big hug and she laughs at the tears in my eyes. We have 2 seats together and 3 seperate. We decide one of us will sit with Davis since he is youngest and he picks Jeff......big shock! We get on the plane and I walk Michael back to his seat in the rear of the plane.....he is a little nervous but since he has a window seat I remind him just to look out the window and pretend he is all alone. I settle into my seat when the flight attendant taps the guy next to me on the shoulder and tells him about this WONderful seat in the rear of the plane with a window and lots of room and wouldnt he like to trade?......I then see Michael standing at his elbow and am overjoyed when the man says of course he would trade and Michael buckles in next to Mom. Our flight lands early..........our luggage all arrives..........we get a ride to the hotel and don't have to pay for the week we parked there as arranged.......we have an easy drive home and my parents have dinner waiting.

Don't tell me God doesnt answer prayers.........even if it does take his children a while to remember to ask him.

Next year? I'm also researching the flights after each of ours...........just in case.

Lost Blog 2.........4 down, 15 to go!!!

2008-08-13T22:16:00.003-05:00

I have been behind on my blogging and so I’m using my vacation to play catch up.

I got some more of my to-do list done!
One of them was my super secret sewing project. The 2nd anniversary is the cotton one. I used the ribbon from our wedding to make a pillow (cotton) for Jeff. Here are pictures of the front and the back. Our wedding colors were brown and turquoise so this is the fabric I used for the back. The front has the first picture of our new family.

Two items I checked off the list are our bedroom. We got everything unpacked AND decorated. YAY!!! Here are some pictures of the stuff finally hanging on the wall……AND all my other things unpacked and in the places they belong. It feels good :)

Lastly, I got the computer area organized. YAY!!!!

Lost blog 1

2008-08-11T23:34:00.003-05:00

I have been behind on my blogging and so I’m using my vacation to play catch up.

A couple of weeks ago we had some family come to visit and I didn’t get to post the pictures.

My cousin Kirstie and I are really close and I love getting to spend time with her NOW. I say that because I didn’t always feel that way. I was the first child born in my generation (on my Dad’s side). All the others after me were boys……I was the only girl and I loved it! I will admit to being a little spoiled….for 20 years. That’s how old I was when my Dad’s youngest brother had a daughter. How dare he! Didn’t he know that I was the granddaughter! We didn’t need another one. Yes…..I was 20……but I am ashamed to admit that I did have a few of those thoughts. It didn’t take me long to change my mind. I realized we had that special relationship in common……and yes she is spoiled also.

She hadn’t been to visit in years so this was a really special weekend. We had a TON of fun shopping and playing Mario Party on the WII. We also played Putt-Putt and I schooled everyone on the go-kart track J Here are some of the pictures of us getting ready to race.

We made it!!!

2008-08-10T21:41:00.005-05:00

We are in New England for our vacation :)

We are spending the week with Jeff’s Mom here in Western Mass where Jeff grew up.

We got a good deal on tickets into Baltimore and THOUGHT we would get tickets later for a flight from there to Hartford, CT where we usually fly into. Due to the rising gas costs lately tickets are through the roof and when you need to buy 5 of them it really adds up! We decided that the cost of the one tank of gas needed to drive from Baltimore was better than the cost of 5 airline tickets.

SO…...we drove up yesterday from Baltimore and I loved the drive (except the part when the highway turned into a parking lot and we sat on I-95 for 2 hours) The boys couldn’t believe all the states we drove through! We only drove 350 miles…..at home we would drive that just to get to Dallas and would drive even farther to go to Houston or Corpus and never leave the state. Yesterday we drove through Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Massachussets…..7 states in less hours than that! I LOVED the view from the window…..all the trees and green. The best part for me of course was New York. We didn’t stop but even driving through was nice for me since I got to soak up just a little bit of my favorite place. We are going to spend some time there on our way home so I am looking forward to that :)

Here are a few pictures of the beginning of our vacation…….the journey to Mass.

This is at the hotel, just before the shuttle took us to the airport.

If you are wondering why they aren't waking up for the excitement...it WAS 4:30 am.

Davis was SO excited to get his luggage all by himself..look at my big guy!!

I'll keep you updated as we enjoy our week :)

I hope you are having as much fun as we will be :)

Here we go again!

2008-08-08T09:32:00.003-05:00

I wish these were my suitcases!

I love the look of these and I would just be so proud to see them going round and round at the airport with all the fancy new ones :) I actually got a new suitcase recently that I am so excited about from a garage sale.....for $3!!!!!!! It is kinda carpet-baggish it is navy and it has a combo number lock on it and is so old fashioned but in GREAT condition. The interior is red satin and I just love it. This is my first trip with it and the kids just think I'm crazy to want to take it along while they have all the new luggage loaded up. Jeff gets it though and just chuckles as he walks through when I am packing because I am special (at least that's what I tell myself he is thinking)

We are going on vacation....yay!!!! Jeff is from Massachusetts so we have loaded up the 5 of us and are ready to go! We will be leaving tonight and be gone through the next Sunday so it will be a nice long trip and we are trying really hard not to pack it full of too much activity so that we get a REAL vacation and not come home exhausted. We are flying which is always an adventure with 3 boys but at least they are older so it isn't bad and sure beats that long drive :) I am hoping to actually post some of the blogs I have been wanting to get done for a while and just didn't have time. Wish me luck!

I'm still here :)

2008-08-04T09:27:00.003-05:00

I've been a bad blogger :( It has been a week since my last blog :(

My pictures have been stuck on my camera. I can't find the cord to put them on my computer and I don't have a card reader.

My Mom has one.

Alicia has one.

I can't seem to find the time to use one of theirs and get my pictures! I had decided I only liked posting blogs with pictures so I was waiting.....the next thing I know I have a stale blog.

I promise I will start with some more interesting blogs soon. I have faithfully been reading everyone else's though! Some of you just amaze me with all you have been doing this summer. I just feel so bogged down with the heat.

I also wanted to mention something that has really touched me. I am a regular blog reader of Kari and Kijsa because they are just so impressive with all that they do. Recently while on vacation their Dad was rushed to the hospital. I started by praying and then checking their brother's blog multiple times a day for updates. I have to say that reading about a Whale's life has made a strong impact on mine. I encourage anyone who has some time to spend to go to the blog for Son of Whale and start at the beginning reading about this man and his legacy. I pray for their family daily and I know they will heal stronger because of this great Dad they grew up with. My thoughts are with you girls and your entire family.

My name is Valerie and I stalk my husband

2008-07-23T17:14:00.002-05:00

My blog buddie Chriann had a funny post about early morning and it reminded me:

I don't have to be at work until an hour after Jeff so I'm never awake when he leaves. Yesterday since it was our anniversary I decided to get up with him when he did. He looked at me strangely a few times but I was determined this was what husbands and wives should do......I was following behind him to walk him to the front door imaging that I was some 50's housewife sending him off with a kiss and a wave........... he turned around and asked if I was stalking him! This morning I stayed in bed :)

Did I mention?

2008-07-23T16:42:00.005-05:00

Michael comes home from camp tomorrow :)

He hasn't called once! This should be OK because it means he is having so much fun he doesn't have time to stand in line for the payphone. Even though it would be very easy to call the toll free number I had set up before he went to camp that rings straight to my cell! :(

I'm sure when I see him I will be so excited I give him a huge hug and kiss and he will be mortified that anyone witnessed! Actually I'm pretty lucky, he will be 12 soon and doesn't mind so far......he's a pretty cool kid :)

So.......I just thought I would blog about what is most on my mind. FYI........Davis misses him as much as I do I think. We have gotten used to hearing "wait for Michael" "save it for Michael" being applied to watching a show on TV, playing a game or even food we are eating! And he asks me 3 times a day if it is the day he comes home :) Pretty amazing for all the bickering they do when they are together!

Travis hasn't been feeling well this week so he has just done a lot of laying around and not eating much but I think he is turning the corner. I'm just really happy to have the boys at home for a few days :) They leave on Sunday night for their last week with their Dad......the time was interrupted because of camp this week but I am really looking forward to having them home for good!

(I couldn't find one of Travis looking at the camera on this PC)

Happy anniversary David & Kelli

2008-07-22T11:43:00.004-05:00

I wanted them to have their own post. David is my brother. Growing up it was just the 2 of us and I never missed having a sister until I became older because he was just so much fun. We had a few skirmishes I guess, but in general we got along so well and were really great friends. He is pretty cool :) He is so great he even gave me the sister I always wanted when he married Kelli. She is such an amazing wife and mother and is so multi-talented that I envy her.

When we considered getting married on this day, we had to talk to them first. After all.......the day belonged to them already. They were so gracious to share this day with us and I will never take them for granted. We were very happy to dedicate their "song" to them at our reception and I wanted to show these beautiful pictures of them dancing to it because when I look at them I see their love radiating.

Happy Anniversary you 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You can see their continued love story here: http://www.davidandkelli.com

2 years ago......

2008-07-22T10:27:00.015-05:00

On July 22, 2006 I married the man I NEVER dreamed of.

I always had a certain "type" in mind when I pondered on the man of my dreams. It turns out that he is my ideal mate and even though I didn't believe it for a long time it was nonetheless true. Jeff was my best friend, he became that because he listened. He gave me strength and happiness. The best part was that we could never mess it up by being romantic because he just wasn't my type. :)

Wow....did that ever change. When I first started falling for Jeff I tried ignoring it....but then the phone would ring his tune and my heart would start racing. I found myself daydreaming about him. Every typical falling in love feeling was happening to me and it just didn't seem possible!

We were so wrong for each other.........I even made a list. I think God was pushing me to that list because for quite some time I focused on those items and because they were written down it allowed me to have something tangible to see that the impossible could actually be possible as they just seemed to be resolved. If not for the list, I don't know if I would have realized that God had put this man in my life to be exactly what I needed.

He is. He might be the man I never dreamed of but everyday he makes dreams come true for me that I never even dared dream!!! It really is the little things.......it's the things that are too precious for me to put out there in the blog universe but it is those things done day in and day out that continue to amaze me and fill me with wonder and humble thanks that he does just because he loves me and loves to fulfill me.

I have never been happier in my life and even better than what he does for me is what he IS for the boys :) He is a natural. They run and jump to hug him even if they have only been apart for a few hours, they fight over who sits next to him. They trust him with their hopes and fears and they come to him with their needs.

Jeff, The last 2 years since we have been married have been such a crazy circus at times and such a peaceful, content place at the same time and I love you so much I have a hard time imagining our love growing even stronger and more fulfilling.....but I know it will because you have taught me to expect the most. Love, Val

Thank you honey for being the man you are..............Happy Anniversary.

Since so many of our friends and family weren't able to make it to Massachussets for our wedding I wanted to post a few pictures to show our story that day. Enjoy!

We were supposed to be married in the Rose Garden at the park but as you can see there was a bit of rain.......surprisingly I don't remember that very often. We moved the wedding indoors to an old New England community house from the 1800's that was in the park.

It seems like we must have always planned it that way.....the ceremony was so beautiful and I just had to include Travis playing in this picture. He played the wedding march on his guitar for me to walk down the aisle and it was one of the most beautiful moments in my life

The ceremony was so wonderful and it really felt like not only was I marrying this amazing man but that our entire family was being married.

The meeting house had an old bell tower with the rope coming down through the middle of the room. As the ceremony ended and we were walking down the aisle, the boys were able to pull the rope and ring the bell for all to hear for miles.

Here are a couple of pictures of us after the ceremony.......the rain had cleared up and we were able to enjoy the beautiful park and all that was in bloom.

To-do list: one down, 18 to go

2008-07-21T15:30:00.004-05:00

My to-do list just lost an item: organize bathroom.

I will confess that I didn't do the yard this weekend but will have to do something with it this week since we have family coming in next weekend and won't have time then.

Actually I didn't do much of anything that I really needed to do after I did laundry, dishes and other random cleaning. OK OK I also slept in really late and took naps too but I wasn't going to post that! Why is it I am hearing my blog buddies in my head as I type like some kind of accountability system!

One thing did get checked off the list and it was sort of strange the way it happened......Jeff had been AWOL for a while and it wasn't until one of the boys last night said "hey Mom...where's Jeff" (yes that's right......they are home for a week as of 6 pm last night!!!) I realized I hadn't seen him in an hour or so, but I was busy and didn't look for him as it is pretty typical for my strong, silent type husband to disappear to some random idea every once in a while.

Jump to later that night as I pause the movie for a potty break and he says...."oh no, don't kill me when you see the bathroom" and I groan. You have to know that since we moved we have done nothing in our bathroom.......we have a long counter with 2 sinks and piled on the counter between the sinks have been "the boxes". Everything we need for our bath is in these boxes so they are randomly shuffled and opened and have things spilling out of them. Each time I need to wash my hands or brush my teeth I have to empty my sink of the myriad collection filling it. Can you picture it? I was picturing some new havoc created that would make it even harder to eventually organize it.

Well........now picture it as I see it when I walk in......I notice that the counter top has a nice pattern to it, I had never really seen it before. WAIT......I can see the counter, and that's not all. The bathroom is clear........it is sparkly.......there are no boxes, there are hand towels in the holders, the only thing on the counter is a vanity mirror and soap container and right in the middle, a bouquet of flowers. Wow you guys........this is my husband! I don't know why or how, I figured out the when.....he had done this amazing thing. I was so impressed and I told him so right then, but now as I type this I'm not sure he knows how much it meant to me so I think I might have to work on the appreciation some more :)

Thanks honey!!!

Our BFF's

2008-07-21T13:45:00.004-05:00

It seems like there are so many anniversary's within a few days of ours.....just this weekend we went to a wedding of some close friends. Last year we spent our first anniversary travelling back from Victoria, TX for 10 hours after our celebrating the marriage of our friends Terrel & Alicia Perkins.

This is at our house....I couldn't steal a wedding pic from her laptop because she wasn't cooperating with my sneaky plans

Today they celebrate their 1st year of marriage. WOW that is as hard to believe as it is to believe it has been 2 years since ours. I just wanted to take a moment to celebrate them and what they mean to Jeff & I. Alicia and I are like sisters. I never had a sister growing up and now that I have Kelli, we have never lived in the same town.

Nothing in my life really seems like it has happened unless I tell Alicia. Jeff often says "you must have told Alicia that" when I accuse him of forgetting something (I think it has become a much used excuse now). It is so great having someone that you don't have to give background to when you want to tell them of something that happened because they know your life so well. We are partners in crime often (BWW) and even the most mundane things in life are better when they are done together. She is exciting and passionate, creative, loving, loyal and the perfect match for Terrell. Terrell and Jeff are hilareous together, they sometimes speak their own language and even though they work together all day they still have a blast when we get together in the evenings or on the weekends. Terrell is loyal, loving, steadfast, calm and flexible. They balance each other in a magical way. Terrell and Alicia are surrogate aunt and uncles to our boys and can be counted on to deliver last minute lunches or the early pick up from school. We also feel like an Aunt and Uncle to their boys (2 cocker spaniels Jack and Andy)

We have been through a lot including loss, extreme joy, extreme lows, road trips, shared hotel rooms, family events, work events and sleepovers with 10 plus young boys. I am so excited for the many more to come.

This post is to honor their great love and relationship. They are made for one another and I don't think their is another person on earth who could fit the other of them so exactly right. I want you both to know that it is a joy to see you together and to have a sideline view to your marriage and all that it brings and will continue to bring for you and those near you.

I love you both

Fix my dead zone!!!

2008-07-18T16:06:00.006-05:00

OK.......i'm sure you noticed my to-do list on the side over there --------->

What you probably don't know is that much of it is inspired by the fact that we just moved! Our new move has a million challenges for us inspired by the fact that it is a very old house.....very far away from town.....very much in need of some TLC.

The move isn't long-term in the sense of welcoming our grandchildren because we would like to buy a house "soon" (what a relative term). Since we are renting we don't want to do to many changes but we do want to be comfortable.

I am coming to you blog buddies for some help! Did you see the first 3 items on my to-do list? I am thinking about tackling them this weekend. Here is the problem: our home is set in the middle of a cotton field. I don't believe grass was ever seeded and nothing is neat and organized the way I like it. I am trying to embrace the wildness and go with it. Here is a picture I made because I haven't taken one yet but I will try......especially for some before and after shots:

The only thing the different areas have in common are weeds! The grassy-type area of the lawn is mostly weeds, the area in front of the house has more weeds and the area by the road has less. The grass/weeds are infringing on the gravel/driveway and even on the concrete. I have a few ideas about the weed problem and hope to make them happen this weekend. Are you ready for the part I need help with?

THE DEAD ZONE

This is in the middle if the yard, we realized why it was just dirt and a few weeds the first time Jeff mowed and cut some plastic. Someone before us had laid plastic down and covered it to keep anything from growing.......

yes i know.......

while I have seen this method used before, none that come to mind explain why it was done here. We can't get rid of all the plastic and beg grass to grow (trust me) so I need some ideas for what to do here! The gravel idea isn't something I look forward to because the gravel from the driveway gets thrown in the grass already and has broken a lawnmower blade. It isn't ideal for a sitting area being that we are in West Texas and there is no shade and it is 1000 degrees outside. HELP!!!!!!

I also need to tackle the flower beds, when we moved in they had BEAUTIFUL blooming rosebushes which I know NOTHING about. There was a bare spot where we could see a plant had been removed and our landlady said she removed a wild plant she didn't like. We have lived there for 2 months and I have done nothing but water them. The beds are overgrown with grass and weeds which we will have to hoe out but I need ideas for bedcover to keep them from growing so quickly. Another problem is the bush she cut out has grown back to about 4 feet by 4 feet by 4 feet and is huge.....i don't know how to contain it. The last problem is my lack of rosebush knowledge. All but 1 of the bushes is still blooming beautifully and seems ok........but one of them has doubled in size in the last 2 months and is no longer blooming and has these hugely long shoots coming off of it that I want to cut but was told it will kill the bush. HELP!!!

What I want to be when I grow up

2008-07-18T13:46:00.005-05:00

Aren't they beautiful? They are my grandparents, my Mother's parents. I really want to re-create this picture with Jeff.

I find myself thinking so much about enduring love lately. I am approaching my anniversary and I will admit to something. I used the think there was a "recipe" for enduring love. I used to think that if I could ask my grandmothers, and my Mom and other people I respected what worked.......then I could do it and I would have what I always wanted, to be married and in love forever and ever. It didn't work that way for me. You may or may not know, but I was divorced after 10 years of marriage. I have learned some things since then. I'm not sure I'm ready to blog about that stuff yet, but I will say this........I am so happy now and I feel so sorry for the young me that didn't have a clue that sometimes I wish I could go back in time and tell her a few truths. But then I wouldnt be where I am now, looking forward to Jeff & I's 50th wedding anniversary (ok..so it is 48 years away)

What I wanted to talk about is this.......the legacy of love I have been given. Now I look at my examples of enduring love and the lesson I learn is so different!! That is because they are all so different......

I look at my parents who have been married for 37 years and I feel warm and safe and I learn to put God and each other first in my marriage.
I also have my Granny and Grandad shown above who are neither one with me anymore on earth but who gave me a completely different picture of enduring love that taught me about having a servants heart.
My Grandma (on my Dad's side) has been married to Hollis for over 25 years now. I learn the importance of being married to my best friend and what companionship can bring to my marriage. I'm also blessed by her continued love for my Papa and their marriage that also lasted over 25 years.

I see these examples all around me and I am blessed that they have shaped who I am and they have also helped shape my marriage.........thank you. I love and honor you.

A few other things.....

2008-07-17T16:33:00.003-05:00

As I read other people's blogs I randomly think of things I would blog about if I had a blog. I also find myself driving and thinking about some project and thinking......that would be fun to get blog feedback on! I love feedback so please please please don't be a unicorn (lurker for those non-rossbloggers) and leave me a comment.

Also....I posted my to-do list because I thought it might motivate me and it also might inspire some comments with helpful tidbits. Unfortunately, for the next few days I just can't see finding time for any of them because of more urgent lists! I didn't post the immediate needs because I didn't want to change it that often........it is more for those "one-day" projects.

Speaking of lists! I have a long one that is the "what to pack" list for pre-teen camp. It is not easy packing for a week at camp when all of his things are already packed with him and he won't be here until the night before they leave! Not to mention the huge pile of clean laundry I have to wade through, fold, hang and distribute without the runners I usually employ on a typical laundry day since all three boys are out of town :(

Michael (my middle, 11 yr old) is leaving for church camp this next Monday. In the past this was very hard for me to send him or Travis (oldest, 13 yr old) off to camp because I would miss them each day and I worried about them needing me. This is a unique time for me because they are already gone! They are having their summer visit with their Dad and have been gone for almost 4 weeks :( I have one more to go :). This is always a hard time for me, and for the years that it was just them and me I tended to spend a lot of time at home in the dark with a box of Kleenex and the picture album. Now it is easier because I have Jeff and he is so sensitive to me and is amazingly distracting. So........Michael is coming home a week early in a way but he won't really be home because he will be at camp. Also.....I am already used to him being gone since I have been missing him anyway so hopefully this year at camp will be a little easier for Mom.

Next Friday all my boys will be back home and I'm sure I'm not the only Mom who knows what it is like to take a deep breath or sleep through the night the way you only can when all your little chicks are under your roof. I should say that I know they are having a great time with their Dad....they really look forward to this time with him and all the adventures they will have. He is just a kid like them so it is almost like "boys night" for a solid month.

Just keep telling myself..........one more week.........one more week...........one more week

My first post!

2008-07-17T14:19:00.003-05:00

OK. I have been thinking for quite a while that I wanted to have a blog. Actually, this blogsite has been "here" and blank for a really long time. I love reading blogs from people I know and love and enjoy the way it keeps me involved in their lives even when i'm not there day to day. I also like reading blogs about things that I am interested in....like being a Mom and being green and decorating, keeping a simple home. Some blogs I read daily because they uplift me or they make me laugh.

Thank you.

To all of you whose blogs I check out daily and who really do make a difference in my life.....thank you. I have these listed over to the right because I check them regularly and I wanted to share them with you. They aren't mine and I'm sure mine will never be as good or interesting but they help explain who I am as a person because they are what I like or who i like.

I have tried thinking of how I would want my blog to be and wow! i never realized how much pressure this is when i was reading other's blogs. I want to share about my kids........but I also want to share ideas and ask for feedback on my home......sometimes I want to talk about something God has laid on my heart. I couldnt decide on one theme but I think that's OK because it means my blog will be much like my life.........simply cluttered.