Completed Fabric Wall

Finally a post! I’ve had this project completed for about a week now, but no time to write about it. Life is so busy! Making things and being creative is so life giving. Sometimes it is relaxing and sometimes I can get frustrated. When I start to get frustrated I just have to walk away from it and come back to it. That is what happened when I started on the art piece for my dining room. I knew I wanted to do fabric -covered canvases. I liked the eclectic feel of it and how simple it seemed. Well, when I started buying my supplies I really hated to buy canvases just to cover them up and not paint on them, so I decided to go with foam board. I had no idea how hard it would be for me to cut and get the foam board straight! If it hadn't been for my sweet hubs the project would have been all kinds of crooked. Plus with the foam board I had to attach something to hang it, which I just used twine. So, if you want to do this and save money then use foam board, but it might be more of a headache. When I started putting the fabric pieces on I hated how it looked. So I just had to walk away. After about a day ideas started coming and I knew each piece needed some kind of "accessory" on it. Here are some pics and description of the added accessories:

the finish product

the accessories on these two are from a stained tablecloth. I just very carefully cut out the lace. So glad I was able to reuse this tablecloth. i loved it so


this flower I made using this tutorial.

the little cluster of flowers are the same style I did for my fall wreath, so that was an easy one.

the top piece I just made some circle looking things with some coordinating felt in the middle. Nothing brilliant.

It took me some rearranging to finally love how it looked, but I am pleased with it now. It is much better than the bare wall I've had for over 2 months now. I've got more to share soon!

Off to Nan's house they go!

The kiddos are spending the night and most of Saturday with Nan, so that means Don and I are going out! Woohoo! Our dates always revolve around where we are going to eat. My husband and I LOVE good local food. Don is amazing at finding awesome restaurants. If you ever need a new place to eat ask him. He knows. And he will never point you to a chain. I think he hates them. We had planned on eating at Andrew Michael, but they were basically booked. The earliest we could get a table was like 8:30 and that is way too late for me and dinner. So we will have to try again. Our next choice was Acre we have heard great things about it and cannot wait to try it out. Then tomorrow we are going to do the Victorian Village tour personally I am way excited about this. I love old houses and history. Plus it is going to be beautiful day tomorrow. Of course we will miss Eden and Owen, but they will have a blast at Nan's and it will be a good refreshing time for us. Any yummy restaurant suggestions for us? Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!

Creating a "Family Plan"

I am about to reveal just how "type A" I am... because this is all about planning and writing things down. However, I have to give the family plan planning and initiating all to my husband it was his idea for our family. I love how he leads us :)

Almost a year ago Don came to me after he had listened to this sermon on managing your family and wanted us to create a family plan. Of course I was excited because I love lists and planning! I get all excited about calendars and writing things on them... i know that is rather dorky. Basically what it is is creating a mission statement for your family, making goals divided into different categories, and then planning on how to do them each day, week, month and year. This is our first year doing it so we have had some months were the family plan did not happen. Plus unexpected things happen and you just have to be flexible with life, but this is a great tool to help your family stay on track and focused. I am not going to share our whole family plan because it is 3 pages long, but just the basics of it:

Categories: Finances, Marriage, Family/Parenting, Outreach, Church Life
Then under each of those categories we wrote down the things that were important to us. Goals we had for each sections. Here are a few examples from each category
Finances: Maintain a monthly budget. Evaluate it as a couple. Live and give generously.
Marriage: Date night once or twice a month, Yearly getaway alone, Pray nightly together, Read 3 books a year together,
Family/Parenting: Daily family worship, Keep a family journal,
Outreach: Plan a monthly thing to do as a family to reach out to our neighbors and city
Church Life: Have someone over for dinner twice a month

The last Sunday of each month Don and I sit down and look at the upcoming month and we decide on who we want to invite over for dinner, when date nights are going to be, when family nights are going to be, what outreach we want to do. It is a great way to keep it all going. Like I mentioned before we are so not perfect at this. There are things on the family plan that we have never even done before, but it really helps.

Here is the audio and here is the blog to get the whole picture. Happy planning :)

The Fall Wreath is Finished!

For a few days I thought this wreath was going to have to be a Christmas wreath because it seemed to take forever! All those little flowers were a bit time consuming, but I am so happy with the results. This is my first Fall wreath to make, so I am sure they will get better over the years. I got the idea from here Check her blog out she has some super cute ideas. Anyone else finished up some wreaths for their front door if not you should make one. They are fun and of course they make your front door look cute :)

a close up of all those flowers

Little Ones and Phases

Well, so much for blogging 3 times a week. Life has been full lately, so obviously family comes before my little blog. I have been thinking on the phases that little ones go through. Moms all know what I am talking about... during the time that they are going through them it seems like the end of the world or the most frustrating experience EVER! For instance, teething or not eating, changing their sleep patterns, being clingy. Currently, some of our little phases (most of them are towards Owen) are Owen's new wake up time. The past two mornings he has been rising at the lovely hour of 6:30! That is too early in our house. I have things to do before they get up. I "plan" for them to get up at 7:30, which is usually the case, but not the past two mornings. Naturally, this can be frustrating because it does take away from some of the mornings things i do before they get up, but I have to remember that it is just a phase and he has done this before and he will go back to sleeping later. And if for whatever reason he doesn't I will just adjust my schedule. And then the ever changing eating habits. Owen will have wonderful days of eating and then weeks of only wanting bread, oatmeal, fruit, yogurt and of course anything that has sugar in it! These are the frustrating days for me. I so value a good healthy diet for my family, so for him not to get those wonderful greens that I cook or good fiber and protein from a yummy lentil burger my mind can go crazy! (i could insert here various tips i have found on eating and toddlers, but that is another post) And then let us not forget the "clingy" phase. Owen still cries and cries in the nursery at church or if we are at an unfamiliar place and I leave the room... flips out! With all these things that Owen is going through my main encouragement is that my Lord is to be trusted in all of them. He cares greatly about these things and He comforts me through them... the small and the big. Also, that these are things they just have to grow out of... I am doing things to help Owen eat better, I am helping him to stay in the nursery. For me it also shows that he still greatly needs me and needs to be near to me. One disclaimer, I do think you have to be careful in claiming a behavior as just a phase. Disrespect, tantrums or any other unacceptable behavior should not be simply written off as a phases. While it may be a phase it still needs to be handled and administered with the proper disciple to help the child grow and learn that that behavior is not acceptable at anytime.
I cannot leave out my little Eden bug, currently her little phase is dressing herself. And let me tell you she is a fashion forward little girl. She will come up with some of the craziest little outfits that I just cannot let her walk out in public in. At the same time I do help her in picking out her clothes and I am really trying to give her the independence she wants in deciding what she is going to wear. But it is SO hard for me. I love love picking out her cute little dresses and hairbows!!

Do you have currently have any little phases you are going through with your kiddos? Let this time be a learning time and not a frustrating time. I understand I am right in the middle of many :)

Eden in one of her many crazy outfits, don't you just love the white leg warmers and Christmas socks!

Owen only eating cornbread at dinner last night, but he sure did love that cornbread

I don't want to be poor...

I have always thought that The Beatitudes were a beautiful and very encouraging part of Scripture. A few days ago, they came up in my time with the Lord and I was struck so differently by them. I found myself saying no, I don't want these things. Here is the text for reminding....
"And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said:

'Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.'"- Luke 6:20-23

I don't want to be poor. I don't want to be hungry. I don't want to weep and I surly don't want people to hate and exclude me. All day long my flesh and the world tells me that I should live a happy, fully satisfied life with love from everyone. Don't get me wrong the Lord does want wonderful things for His children, more than we can ever imagine, but more than that He wants to give us things of lasting value. He wants us to gain and long for Kingdom treasure. I still view the Beatitudes as a beautiful part of Scripture, but I see it now as much more challenging. I am challenged to strive more for the things that will last and things that the Lord finds valuable. Oh Lord, flood my mind and spirit with things that please You!

Hospitality part 2

So, I have realized if I am going to do this whole blog thing I have to do it early in the morning. Otherwise, I am just rushed and cannot get my thoughts together. I think being a mother forces you to be a morning person... well, at least for me. I love the quietness of the house. Anyway, I wanted to add a few things about hospitality.

First, hospitality is not having a perfectly cooked meal, a spotless house, a beautifully set table and children that don't make a sound. If that is it then I have failed. Hospitality is welcoming people in your home, your life and making them feel at ease and loved. It is also engaging with them and letting them know that you care about what is going on in their lives and you want to share a meal together to grow in community. As I mentioned earlier Romans 12:13 reminds us the importance of hospitality, "Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality." When we show hospitality we should be aiming to meet the needs of those around us and show them the love of Christ. Seek to show hospitality it is an active thing. Typically, something you typically have to plan to do. Here are just a few tips:

Practical tips:

• My husband and I plan each month together. At the end of one month we will look to the next and see what we want that month to look like. It includes a lot of different things, from family nights, to date nights, but one part of it is deciding who we want to have over that month. We try to have at least two families over per month. Sometimes it's just one, but we aim for two. We have found if we do not plan then it doesn't happen. The week gets busy and schedules get full.
  
• Then I usually set up the time with the other wife if we are having a couple over. Sometimes my husband will, but normally it is me.
  
• Like I mentioned before Don and I love to cook, so a lot of times we will plan the menu together, but sometimes I just do it.
• If cooking is not your "thing" do not let that stop you from having guests. Do something simple like a sandwich bar followed by an ice cream bar. You can be so creative and cute with those simple and no cooking needed menu items.
  
• Again, the point of hospitality is not the food, but loving and welcoming people into your home.
  
• If I do not know the people super well Don and I will briefly discuss what we should talk about. I probably think on it more than my husband. I just enjoy it when conversation flows.
• Let your children be involved. Of course this depends on their age. And to be honest this is something I want to grow in. Let them set the table. Help stir. Anything to involve them. If other children are coming over we talk to Eden about playing with them and inviting them to come see her room.
  
• Don't worry too much about your house looking perfect. People really don't notice if you have scrubbed your floors or not. Or if you have dusted the top of the bookshelf. I do believe your house should be in order and not a mess, but don't think you have to have it spotless. That is too stressful.
  

I recently read an awesome book about hospitality that is full of so much wisdom and very practical advice. I highly recommend it. It's called Practicing Hospitality: The Joy of Serving Others by Pat Ennis and Lisa Tatlock.

So, I encourage you to invite someone over. Enjoy fellowship. Show the love of Christ to others.