frazzled JOY - Page 108 of 117 -

More Lightening Up {Hallway Progress}

February 18, 2013 1 Comment

So, several months ago I got a crazy idea to paint the doors in my hallway. Honestly I was bored one day and I already had the paint, so why not.

However, sometimes I’m not in the mood to do paint projects like this one because they are quite time consuming. And, I got interrupted by a more pressing project, the entryway. But then, Christmas hit and again I didn’t feel like finishing the doors. But then, the ultimate motivator, we were having company (other than family – cuz they know how the project thing goes for me). So, I was determined to finish the doors, or at least get them to a point that looked somewhat finished. And, here ya go!!

I’m telling you the amount of light the white paint provides still amazes me. I love it!! It seems so much more seamless when I look down the hall now. The stained wood just seemed to break up things. so. much.

As you might be able to see, I still need to paint the linen cabinets, and the baseboards. What you can’t see is the last door at the other end of the hall that isn’t done ;), and the fact that you can’t see it is exactly the reason why it didn’t get done!!

Linking up with Carmel at Our Fifth House today. If you are visiting from that linky party check out some of my other painting projects here, here, and here.

Holidays

Valentine’s Day Dinner {Fun Family Tradition}

February 16, 2013 2 Comments

A few years back a friend of mine shared with me one of their family traditions. She told me that once they had kids they stopped going out for Valentine’s Day, but rather spent Valentine’s evening at home with the family. But, she made it special. She got out the good china, and crystal and silver. She made the table up fancy and had everyone ‘get dressed’ for dinner. I loved this idea and started doing it myself. We don’t go to a lot of fancy dinners or even nice dinners with the whole family, so I thought this would be a great opportunity to teach the kids how to behave in these situations. Because baseball season has begun, we had our dinner a day late last night.

This year I decided to not drag out my china. I wanted to use my red chargers, so I decided to purchase some plain white plates from the dollar store. These goblets are from the dollar store as well – this way if something gets broken it’s no big deal.

The rest of the decorations cost all of $5. Tissue paper poms hung from the ceiling fan.

The vases are filled with shiny basket filler, and a candle.

I cut a heart from felt for the center of each plate.

Simple but festive. 🙂 Have a great weekend!!

DIY

Covering In White

February 13, 2013 1 Comment

Well…today as I was covering these in white

God was covering everything in white. The most beautiful ginormous flakes fell from the sky today.

The boys couldn’t wait to get outside and play when they got home from school. This is the fruit of their labor.

Of course there was also some snowball throwing. 🙂 This momma is really hoping we have school tomorrow. Please roads don’t freeze.

I took some time to do a little work on the blog design. I will say it is a work in progress, and will probably change again. Hope you like it.

Oh and…we got a puppy. His name is Ranger.

Isn’t he the cutest?!?

Happy Tuesday!

Family

Parenting Is Not For Wimps

February 8, 2013 No Comments

I have to tell you, the past couple of weeks have been tough around here. This parenting gig is kickin my butt. I feel like for the most part we are doing ok – I mean everyone has food, clean clothes (most of the time), a place to lay their head and plenty of love. But, when we have weeks like these I find myself stopping and thinking “where have I gone wrong? I wanted more than ok.” Which is exactly the conversation my husband and I had at the end of a very emotionally exhausting day yesterday. And we came to a couple of conclusions. You can find his interpretation here. I love that are minds work as one. 🙂

We will recover and get things back on track as soon as we are intentional in regrouping and reordering our priorities. More time together with God, and more time together. I would not say that our kids individually are over scheduled, but I would say that as a family it is more than challenging to have time together. With two active teenagers and two active grade schoolers we might have one night together as a family. This leads to 6 people living separately in the same home. Ugh!! Not at all what I had in mind when we agreed on 4 children. See, I am an only child. Way before my husband and I got married we talked about family – what was important to us, how many kids we thought we might want etc. We both said 4 kids, and that is what The Lord blessed with. But what is going on around here is not what I envisioned. There is way more tearing down then building up. I am learning the dynamics of sibling behavior, but I refuse to accept the constant barrage of ugly words and actions. We have allowed things to stray.

So, we are buckling down, getting on our knees, working on being more diligent to get in The Word together, and working on being better examples of love and grace for our kids. Can anyone out there relate with any of this? Have faith, God is right there in the fight.

From our family to yours – some words of encouragement from God’s Word:

He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be shaken Psalms 62:6 (NASB)

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalms 18:2 (NASB)

Be to me a rock of habitation to which I may continually come; You have given commandment to save me, For You are my rock and my fortress. Psalms 71:3 (NASB)

Then the LORD said, “Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; Exodus 33:21 (NASB)

“You neglected the Rock who begot you, And forgot the God who gave you birth. Deuteronomy 32:18 (NASB)

Incline Your ear to me, rescue me quickly; Be to me a rock of strength, A stronghold to save me. Psalms 31:2 (NASB)

Blessed be the LORD, my rock, Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle; Psalms 144:1 (NASB)

He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. Psalms 40:2 (NASB)

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Matthew 7:24-25 (NASB)

Father God, let us be those who and act and be like the wise man who built his house on The Rock.

Family

15 Today!!

January 31, 2013 3 Comments

15 years ago today our family was changed forever when God blessed us with a precious little girl. She has brought so much joy into our lives from the moment she was born!! So, today I celebrate with 15 things I love about my girl.

15. She’s courageous.

14. She’s full of smiles and laughter.

13. She’s passionate.

12. She’s kind.

11. She’s tough.

10. She’s determined.

9. She is beautiful inside and out.

8. She knows how to laugh at herself.

7. She loves to bake – YUM!

6. Those freckles and those eyes.

5. She’s not afraid to be herself.

4. Her sense of adventure. She’s willing to try new things even when she’s terrified. (That’s her in the orange coat on the ski lift even though she’s not crazy about being up high)

3. Her devotion, when she loves she loves deep.

2. She’s dependable.

1. She loves the Lord with all her heart.

Happy Birthday Amanda!!

On a side note it is also this guys birthday!! Yes, she was born on her daddy’s birthday!! He was and is perfectly fine taking a back seat to her on their special day 🙂

Happy birthday to the man of my dreams!!