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Being Thankful

November 21, 2012 1 Comment

What a wonderful time of year!! I’ve shared with you guys before how much I enjoy counting my blessings. Looking back through the past and recounting my steps and God’s hand. But, until recently I’ve never really been what I would call a grateful person. I complain a lot (about nothing). I whine (about a lot of things). Why do I do this? Disposition? {Possibly} Circumstances? {No – I know better} Habit? {I think so} How sad is it that my habit is to be grumpy.

A couple of weeks ago I started reading a book called “One Thousands Gifts” by Ann Voskamp{because I saw it in a post by The Nester whom I adore :)} A friend challenged Ann, the author, to make an actual written list of one thousand things she was thankful for. She took the challenge and began journaling. Just reading about the way her senses seemed to be heightened to even the “little” God moments that surrounded her throughout the day has inspired me. I find myself noticing the positive side of even the most inconvenient moments. And man oh man has it changed my attitude. Isn’t it amazing the effect gratitude has on our hearts? I am working on making thankfulness my habit, because truthfully I have more things to be thankful for than I have things to complain about.

Today I am most thankful for a Savior who takes me just as I am. Who chooses to use me in my imperfection. Who hears me when I call. May I always be mindful of You.

I showed you at the beginning of the month our bare Thankful Tree. Here is an update

Isn’t it beautiful!?! Look at all those leaves!! There are all sorts of things that we have been thankful for this month and it has been great fun to document some of them in writing. We actually used all the leaves!! Next year I may have to make twice as many leaves because we are truly blessed, blessed, blessed!!

Wishing you and your family a blessing-filled Thanksgiving!! Turkey and family fun to be had!!

Family

17??? Oh. My. Word.

November 18, 2012 3 Comments

Today this boy turns 17…how is that even possible? He stole my heart 17 years ago and to this day he still takes my breath away. I am so proud of the man he is becoming. Day by day allowing God to shape him and mold him. Today I am collaborating with my husband to share 17 things we love about our first born – Garrett.

17. His adorable crooked smile, which he hates, but which reminds me of his grandpa – who had the same exact smile 🙂

16. He is an awesome big brother!

15. His humbleness. He may be the best and brightest in the room but he would never say so.

14. His compassion – his is a bleeding heart like his momma – always hurting for the left behind and left out.

13. His determination – 2nd place is never okay.

12. He’s a teacher – always willing to share knowledge with others.

11. His love for the Lord.

10. His passion.

9. His faithfulness.

8. His unwavering confidence in who God has created him to be.

7. His understanding and appreciation of the simple things in life.

6. He supports and encourages his sister and brothers.

5. His strength to stand strong in his opinions and convictions even if he is alone.

4. He enjoys just sitting and talking. He appreciates relationships with people.

3. His faith-based outlook on life. He truly believes & knows in his heart that God has a plan for him.

2. His good ‘ol down home common sense. 🙂

1. The fact that at the end of the day, when all is said and done, he loves his momma soooo much.

Happy Birthday Garrett!! We love you and are so proud of you!!

(In case you couldn’t guess 1-8 are from my husband and 9-17 are from me :))

Holidays

Our Thankful Tree

November 7, 2012 1 Comment

Hello all!! Last year when I found pinterest I found these cute trees – “thankful trees”. I loved the look and the idea so I duplicated it. And this week our “Thankful Tree” went up again.

Counting my blessings is one of my favorite activities. Truly I have soooo many things to be thankful for. I know sometimes I get caught up in the aggravation of day to day living and I forget to take a moment and remember all the things in my life I have to be thankful for. God has brought my husband and I on incredible path over the past 18 years of marriage with many twists and turns and bumps. Sometimes (when we have a quiet moment just the two of us) we like to walk backwards through the path and connect the dots. When you are in the midst of the mess it doesn’t make sense and we wonder “what in the world?” But, when you are through it, and on the other side of it you can look back and make that connection. Those “oh, I get it now” moments are my favorite. God is amazing and He always knows what’s coming next, and next, and next. Back-tracking and putting the pieces together helps me to remember that. It’s an awesome peaceful feeling to know that no matter what He is on the throne and in control.

So, I really want to instill this thankful attitude in my kids as well. I didn’t have much participation from the teenagers last year so this year I have asked everyone to add one leaf to the Thankful Tree everyday for this month, and they cannot repeat themselves. 🙂 If you have teenagers or pre-teens you know the constant mode of self-centeredness that they live in. It’s not their fault, they can’t help it, that’s just where they are developmentally….right? Anyway, I hope that this will let them see how blessed they truly are, and right before Christmas when the lists start rolling in…

God has been really pricking my heart lately and stirring me to do more for the unloved. I’m still praying and working through how all that is going to look exactly but I will most likely be sharing a little bit here. Mostly I am just convicted that it is not someone else’s responsibility to take care of these people, but as a follower of Christ it is mine. I know I am only one person, but added to another one person, and another. Well, you get the picture.

By the way, I snapped this shot of my entryway/mudroom this morning before the kids left for school. Here it is in action!! Loving it!!

Praying that you take a moment to count your blessings, back-track over your life and put the pieces together to see God’s hand. Try it, you will be amazed.

DIY

Kids Art Gallery {Pinterest Inspired}

October 30, 2012 No Comments

Today I thought I would share with you one of my first projects inspired by Pinterest. Yes, I am a Pinterest-aholic. Did you know they have a Pinterest App? Yes, yes they do and to me looking at pretty things is a much better use of my time than angry birds. 🙂 Anywho… I digress!! Here are the pictures I pinned

littlenannygoat.blogspot.com

lessthanperfectlifeofbliss.blogspot.com

I liked the idea and look and had the perfect place for it. See, there is this awkward little piece of wall in the corner of our L-shaped hallway that is in between the bedrooms. It’s too big to leave blank but I could never figure out what to put there. This worked out perfectly.

I did this project before I was blogging so there are know how to pictures. But, the links with the pictures are good and they give tutorials. (Yes, I am still working on painting the doors in the hallway- shhh)

I used some old frames I had in my closet that I was no longer using, I painted some blue and left some black, I removed the glass in the frames to make room. Then I took some foam core board I also had left-over from a previous project and covered it burlap using hot glue to secure it.

Then I bought these really cool clips and attached those to the burlap piece with hot glue. TIP: put the burlap piece in the frame before mounting the clip so you can make sure you have it in the right place.

I had a shelf that I was no longer using and decided to incorporate that as well for those lovely pottery items and 3-D art. I was going to paint the bottom to match the frames, but I thought the color blended enough that I decided not to.

I decided I wanted to give this wall a title of sorts. Hence the cleverness at the top “Greenwood Gallery.” 🙂 I bought a cute scrolly wooden G from HL and painted it to match the blue frames and then painted the rest right on the wall. I printed the words from my computer and then transferred them to the wall by rubbing pencil on the back of the paper and then “tracing” over the letters on the front – by pressing hard while tracing the pencil that you colored on the back will come off on the wall. It wasn’t a perfect science but it was good enough for me!!

My kids couldn’t wait to choose their artwork to fill it up and we all love having it on display. A hidden bonus is it keeps people from piling junk up in this corner!!

I’m linking up with Carmel at Our Fifth House and Young House Love for

Go and check out many more projects and get yourself inspired!!

DIY

DIY Built-In For The Entryway

October 25, 2012 5 Comments

Sooo excited to share with you the finished product…a few days later than I hoped, but hey it’s done!! (It feels so good to say that) Here it is in all it’s glory..

DIY built-ins to keep the entryway organized

DIY bench with cubbies below for hats, gloves, and shoes

It’s exactly how I imagined it!! Surprisingly it makes the space feel bigger! I am still on the hunt for baskets to put in the cubbies to hold hats and gloves and scarves, but I am okay with not having them yet, I know I will find something. Thanks for those who stayed with me through the process. This build cost around $125 to complete, baskets not included of course, and around 10 – 12 hours total for two amateur carpenters. Not bad I think. If you want to see more of the process you can check here.

This project had been on my home improvement project list for a long time, but the fluff stuff always took precedent. But, as of late the things that will make our home function better for our family have been bumped to the top. We have lived here 11 years and our kids are bigger, and so is their stuff. We are working on getting rid of unnecessary stuff and making our spaces more organized and efficient -all the while looking pretty 🙂 …or at least that is the goal. I want to be able to come home and feel relaxed, I want that for the whole family. I no longer want to be controlled by my stuff – always having to pick up, clean, dust, move, stuff. I want my stuff to work for me. Anybody else feeling that way?

So, now I am turning on some music and cleaning house. I don’t know about the rest of you but when I get into a project, everything else gets forgotten. HA!! So, until next time!! Blessings to you and thanks for reading!!

Linking up with Traci at Beneath My Heart here

and to A Bowl Full of Lemons and

Show Us Your House

Also linking up here at Emily A. Clark

Working With What You Have link up at emilyaclark.com

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