tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49696150006356649962023-11-16T01:21:37.291-06:00All of me...so farUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger494125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969615000635664996.post-80129968344686999262019-05-02T08:35:00.001-05:002019-05-02T08:46:08.957-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Running on Empty</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_pXxER23lPxJdbpgOWY6nUKOFZIk46p5NTuOrawiOi-YJaizp7CIYLrwJjuRx8Z0jYdw2RnqY4_fzd8eZoyjY9BafSeAgYQ_2GFD5q2S4FYy5H1u7ao8ns_GQIsCYFWcQxObvfwEdup9/s1600/20190426_082946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="855" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_pXxER23lPxJdbpgOWY6nUKOFZIk46p5NTuOrawiOi-YJaizp7CIYLrwJjuRx8Z0jYdw2RnqY4_fzd8eZoyjY9BafSeAgYQ_2GFD5q2S4FYy5H1u7ao8ns_GQIsCYFWcQxObvfwEdup9/s400/20190426_082946.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A week ago, I pulled into town to do a shift at my job </div>
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and realized I needed to find a gas station....and quick! It was early Sunday morning and nothing was open so I went to the closest gas station and just sat at the pump waiting for them to open. But I sat there safe....knowing that in a few minutes someone would open the doors and come rescue me. </div>
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My van is empty, coasting into the gas station on fumes, and the Range says "0 kms to go"</div>
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How often do I let myself get this way? </div>
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I coast through to the end of the week on fumes because I've been so busy (either taking care of actual business/other people/work, etc....or procrastinating and just not paying attention to how I'm feeling or what I need to keep going). I'm kinda ashamed to say that I have found myself in this situation more than once....not the van....but me....running on empty and still trying to do, do, do. </div>
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And then, right when I need the reminder, God sends a song. Always. </div>
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sd19S3sNh-Y" width="560"></iframe>
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So I will be still, and know you are God. </div>
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That moment of sitting, and knowing that He is God.<br />
I'm Safe.<br />
I'm Rescued.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969615000635664996.post-16164210987411989362019-04-11T08:46:00.000-05:002019-04-11T08:46:30.320-05:00Expectancy<h2 style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">(not my photo....but a free one that says what I want to say)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm not sure how 3 years went by and my blog went unattended. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm guessing part of it had to do with living in Survival Mode for a few of those years; letting the things that feed my soul fall to the wayside while taking-care-of-business had to be a priority; raising kids through some cray-cray teenage struggles; figuring out who, in fact, I am in this new world I've found myself in; and just the busyness of life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OK. I'm <i>exactly</i> sure that's how 3 years went by and my blog went unattended. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />But this week, my cell leader asked me to share my story with the ladies in my cell. It was more of a Q&A, and less of me speaking solo, in the end, because we're that kind of group....and I loved it. One of the reason I haven't shared much of my story publicly is that I think my story is best told on a comfy couch with a cup of coffee, and not from a podium somewhere. But whatever the case, having to write some of it out this past week or two forced me to go back to some of my old blog posts to remember what I was feeling back then. In the process I have been reminded of many things.....primarily how <b>God is faithful</b>. <b>No matter what</b>. He has given me so many verses, songs, words, people, etc., to see me through some of the worst circumstances and I am in awe of how He's carried me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And so I find myself on the cusp of another new world now as my youngest finishes high school and I am investigating a new career path....or possibly just an additional career path....? We'll see. Whatever the case, I KNOW that my God will continue to be faithful. I know that he will continue to provide and carry me. I have long held to the theory that I can't live with expectations.....but rather live in EXPECTANCY of what God is going to do. I'm excited to see. It will be good. Stay tuned :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And in the meantime, I'll leave you with the verse that has come to epitomize my life as I wait for what God will surprise me with: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Habakkuk 1:5</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"Look at the nations and watch, and be amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe even if you were told." </b></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969615000635664996.post-67157038083037512512016-02-01T07:54:00.001-06:002016-02-01T07:54:06.349-06:00100-day ChallengeI'm starting some "resolutions" now in February. It's not too late, is it...? And to kick start, I'm journaling about 2 different 100-day challenges I'm doing. <div><br></div><div>1. THM 100-day challenge. I've eaten THM (Trim Healthy Mama) for awhile now but I got really off track (aka: lazy) last summer when I was commuting back and forth to HSC every other day and eating on the road. Not my finest time of self-care. I had other things on my mind. Anyway....I do know how great I feel on THM so I have great expectations from this 100-day challenge. The basics are: on-plan eating for 100 days; exercise (I'm doing what I can here); and setting a few other smaller goals for yourself. Goals are set....I even have an accountability partner....and she's seen my "before" pictures (never to be posted online under threat of death). </div><div><br></div><div>2. I'm also doing a 100-day challenge from Hilsongs. I'm not actually sure when the plan first ran so I've kinda adopted it to fit my own schedule and it seemed good to run these together. Basically the plan is to read a chapter of the Gospels each day (there's 89, so there are 11 grace days built in) and to do something creative each day. I have no shortage of creative things I WANT to do....the problem for me is putting them off (cards, Project Life, etc.) and never reaping the soul-resting consequences of being creative....or not seeing the creative in some of the more mundane things I do have time to do (cooking, enjoying movies, walking through the art department at school, etc.)</div><div><br></div><div>So....that's my Februrary 1 - May 10 plan. 100 days of eating well, staying in The Word, and hopefully finding a snippet of time to be creative again. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPicjyFT2KgvpLlxmxMvjqgnd48HOWh4hxkmGmrvC46bQ8lf_Hh_cMiDVVtr27dfD4OX1azkd1eSZeIgh_7zb9iktWgTjWIWSsdh3zUtCAzIfCQemhXzi9h47HGXwuzVaKBZIirRh1AN2-/s640/blogger-image-370767499.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPicjyFT2KgvpLlxmxMvjqgnd48HOWh4hxkmGmrvC46bQ8lf_Hh_cMiDVVtr27dfD4OX1azkd1eSZeIgh_7zb9iktWgTjWIWSsdh3zUtCAzIfCQemhXzi9h47HGXwuzVaKBZIirRh1AN2-/s640/blogger-image-370767499.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969615000635664996.post-58303028539364821522016-01-22T07:47:00.001-06:002016-02-08T08:05:05.232-06:00A re-post.....but a great reminder.<h2>This blog post from 3 years ago popped up on my Facebook feed and I was stopped in my tracks and reminded anew how important it is to remember that God's love endures. No matter what my circumstances seem to be, no matter my perspective, no matter what I see....his love endures forever. So, I'm sorry, on a blog with such infrequent posts, to repeat myself...but this needs to be on here twice. (Reposted and edited, from Jan.22, 2013)</h2><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I read Psalm 136 today in morning devotions. Here's a snippet - in case you need a reminder of this great Psalm (complete text at the bottom of this post):<br><br></span><h3 style="text-align: start;"><span class="text Ps-136-1" id="en-NIV-16198" style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Psalm 136</span></h3><div class="poetry" style="text-align: center;"><div class="line"><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><sup class="versenum">1 </sup>Give thanks to the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, for he is good.</span></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="right"><div style="text-align: start;"><i>His love endures forever.</i></div></span><span class="text Ps-136-2" id="en-NIV-16199"><div style="text-align: start;"><sup class="versenum">2 </sup>Give thanks to the God of gods.</div></span><span class="right"><div style="text-align: start;"><i>His love endures forever.</i></div></span><span class="text Ps-136-3" id="en-NIV-16200"><div style="text-align: start;"><sup class="versenum">3 </sup>Give thanks to the Lord of lords:</div></span><span class="right"><div style="text-align: start;"><i>His love endures forever.</i></div></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><sup class="versenum">4 </sup>to him who alone does great wonders,</span></div><span class="right" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div style="text-align: start;"><i>His love endures forever.</i></div></span></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br><br>So....I was reading this text again - like I've read it many, many times before but this time I was actually reading the words outloud. All of them. Even the repeated refrain "<span class="right"><i>His love endures forever" </i>which I (and I'm probably not the only one) skip over or just read in our heads. It struck me as I read all the good, and bad things in the first parts of the stanzas that ALL of them ended with "</span><span class="right"><i>His love endures forever" </i>no matter how wonderful or horrible the action seemed - creating the sun, or killing kings. </span><br><span class="right"><br></span><span class="right">And then I wondered...WHAT IF I read my life like that.</span><br><span class="right">I mean, I KNOW it in my head - that God's love endures forever; that he loves me; that he works all things together for good....</span><br><span class="right">but what if I actually SAID it outloud like that - attached to the good, and the bad.</span><br><span class="right"><br></span><br></span><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I woke up this morning wide awake and breathing.</span></div><span class="right" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div style="text-align: start;"><i>His love endures forever.</i></div></span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">My coffee was great and devotions were challenging</span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-4" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i>His love endures forever.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-4" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It's -43 with the windchill outside and I have to walk to school<i>.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-4" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i>His love endures forever.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span class="right" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">My van is in the garage and getting it back today will mean a big bill</span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-4"><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-4"><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-4" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i>His love endures forever.</i></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span class="right" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">My son got a part in the community play "The Sound of Music."</span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-4"><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-4"><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-4" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i>His love endures forever.</i></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span class="right" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">My daughter did not get the part she auditioned for.</span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-4" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-4"><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-4"><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-4"><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-4"><i>His love endures forever.</i></span></span> </span></span><i><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-4"><i> </i></span></span> </i></span></span> </span></span><i><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-4"><i> </i></span></span></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-4" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-4">You see how this could go on and on....I could list every good or bad (in my perspective) thing that happens in my day/life....and still, His love would endure and every little thing in my life would filter through that understanding. I think this would change my perspective on a lot of things. I think I might start to see many more things as gifts from my loving Heavenly Father. I also think I might begin to see HOW he's working things together for my good instead of being frustrated that I can't always see it.</span></span><i><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-4"><i> </i></span></span></i></span></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: start;">Today's Edit: </div><div style="text-align: start;">It's Monday - first day of a new semester of school. </div><div style="text-align: start;"><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">His love endures forever.</i></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I'm loving my job this year. </span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">His love endures forever.</i></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">My son has unrelenting headaches from post-concussion syndrome.</span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">His love endures forever.</i></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I am on a roller-coaster with another child.</span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">His love endures forever.</i></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I'm going back to school. </span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">His love endures forever.</i></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">My bills are piling up. </span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">His love endures forever.</i></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The coffee is good this morning. </span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">His love endures forever.</i></div><div style="text-align: start;"><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></i></div><div style="text-align: start;"><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">His love endures forever.</i></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br><br><br><br><br>As promised: the entire text of Psalm 136<br></span><h3><span class="text Ps-136-1" id="en-NIV-16198" style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Psalm 136</span></h3><div class="poetry"><div class="line"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="text Ps-136-1"><sup class="versenum">1 </sup>Give thanks to the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, for he is good.</span><br><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-1"><i>His love endures forever.</i></span></span><br><span class="text Ps-136-2" id="en-NIV-16199"><sup class="versenum">2 </sup>Give thanks to the God of gods.</span><br><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-2"><i>His love endures forever.</i></span></span><br><span class="text Ps-136-3" id="en-NIV-16200"><sup class="versenum">3 </sup>Give thanks to the Lord of lords:</span><br><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-3"><i>His love endures forever.</i></span></span></span></div></div><div class="poetry top-05"><div class="line"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="text Ps-136-4" id="en-NIV-16201"><sup class="versenum">4 </sup>to him who alone does great wonders,</span><br><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-4"><i>His love endures forever.</i></span></span><br><span class="text Ps-136-5" id="en-NIV-16202"><sup class="versenum">5 </sup>who by his understanding made the heavens,</span><br><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-5"><i>His love endures forever.</i></span></span><br><span class="text Ps-136-6" id="en-NIV-16203"><sup class="versenum">6 </sup>who spread out the earth upon the waters,</span><br><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-6"><i>His love endures forever.</i></span></span><br><span class="text Ps-136-7" id="en-NIV-16204"><sup class="versenum">7 </sup>who made the great lights—</span><br><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-7"><i>His love endures forever.</i></span></span><br><span class="text Ps-136-8" id="en-NIV-16205"><sup class="versenum">8 </sup>the sun to govern the day,</span><br><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-8"><i>His love endures forever.</i></span></span><br><span class="text Ps-136-9" id="en-NIV-16206"><sup class="versenum">9 </sup>the moon and stars to govern the night;</span><br><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-9"><i>His love endures forever.</i></span></span></span></div></div><div class="poetry top-05"><div class="line"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="text Ps-136-10" id="en-NIV-16207"><sup class="versenum">10 </sup>to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt</span><br><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-10"><i>His love endures forever.</i></span></span><br><span class="text Ps-136-11" id="en-NIV-16208"><sup class="versenum">11 </sup>and brought Israel out from among them</span><br><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-11"><i>His love endures forever.</i></span></span><br><span class="text Ps-136-12" id="en-NIV-16209"><sup class="versenum">12 </sup>with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;</span><br><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-12"><i>His love endures forever.</i></span></span></span></div></div><div class="poetry top-05"><div class="line"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="text Ps-136-13" id="en-NIV-16210"><sup class="versenum">13 </sup>to him who divided the Red Sea<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-16210a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+136&version=NIV#fen-NIV-16210a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup> asunder</span><br><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-13"><i>His love endures forever.</i></span></span><br><span class="text Ps-136-14" id="en-NIV-16211"><sup class="versenum">14 </sup>and brought Israel through the midst of it,</span><br><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-14"><i>His love endures forever.</i></span></span><br><span class="text Ps-136-15" id="en-NIV-16212"><sup class="versenum">15 </sup>but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;</span><br><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-15"><i>His love endures forever.</i></span></span></span></div></div><div class="poetry top-05"><div class="line"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="text Ps-136-16" id="en-NIV-16213"><sup class="versenum">16 </sup>to him who led his people through the wilderness;</span><br><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-16"><i>His love endures forever.</i></span></span></span></div></div><div class="poetry top-05"><div class="line"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="text Ps-136-17" id="en-NIV-16214"><sup class="versenum">17 </sup>to him who struck down great kings,</span><br><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-17"><i>His love endures forever.</i></span></span><br><span class="text Ps-136-18" id="en-NIV-16215"><sup class="versenum">18 </sup>and killed mighty kings—</span><br><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-18"><i>His love endures forever.</i></span></span><br><span class="text Ps-136-19" id="en-NIV-16216"><sup class="versenum">19 </sup>Sihon king of the Amorites</span><br><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-19"><i>His love endures forever.</i></span></span><br><span class="text Ps-136-20" id="en-NIV-16217"><sup class="versenum">20 </sup>and Og king of Bashan—</span><br><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-20"><i>His love endures forever.</i></span></span><br><span class="text Ps-136-21" id="en-NIV-16218"><sup class="versenum">21 </sup>and gave their land as an inheritance,</span><br><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-21"><i>His love endures forever.</i></span></span><br><span class="text Ps-136-22" id="en-NIV-16219"><sup class="versenum">22 </sup>an inheritance to his servant Israel.</span><br><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-22"><i>His love endures forever.</i></span></span></span></div></div><div class="poetry top-05"><div class="line"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="text Ps-136-23" id="en-NIV-16220"><sup class="versenum">23 </sup>He remembered us in our low estate</span><br><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-23"><i>His love endures forever.</i></span></span><br><span class="text Ps-136-24" id="en-NIV-16221"><sup class="versenum">24 </sup>and freed us from our enemies.</span><br><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-24"><i>His love endures forever.</i></span></span><br><span class="text Ps-136-25" id="en-NIV-16222"><sup class="versenum">25 </sup>He gives food to every creature.</span><br><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-25"><i>His love endures forever.</i></span></span></span></div></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="text Ps-136-26" id="en-NIV-16223"><sup class="versenum">26 </sup>Give thanks to the God of heaven.</span><br><span class="right"><span class="text Ps-136-26"><i>His love endures forever.</i></span></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969615000635664996.post-14981679139275934932016-01-22T07:33:00.001-06:002016-01-22T07:33:15.673-06:00Mountain #1<div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipglYZRly-7Dn4OrAFG8dtVcu1ZIlJYhm52yTJ7Gg1G84KwUtnZbbSshfys8W3Vu7uVgBlqeE6yUR_JrGloyskrfx6B1bX3Gz0I9hysK1KCiA-DIMHha3D-jD_1ccudT-GFkk9JyI_tMY9/s640/blogger-image-1357312736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipglYZRly-7Dn4OrAFG8dtVcu1ZIlJYhm52yTJ7Gg1G84KwUtnZbbSshfys8W3Vu7uVgBlqeE6yUR_JrGloyskrfx6B1bX3Gz0I9hysK1KCiA-DIMHha3D-jD_1ccudT-GFkk9JyI_tMY9/s640/blogger-image-1357312736.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></span></div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">TRUST. </span></div><div>The beginning of this journey, I think, is in dreaming big. Asking for big things. Trusting that there is nothing too big for God even when these things seem like mountains to me. Here's mountain #1. My kids. Every parent feels like they're failing at times in sure. Some of us more than others. And legitimately some of our kids face more obstacles than others. But I am trusting for my children to be God's. Not in word only. They've all made decisions for Christ in their lives. Early on. With childlike faith. But I'm trusting for more. Big faith. Big hearts. Big testimonies. Big mountains moved in their lives so that they will all willingly call themselves 'The Lord's.'</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Isaiah 44:3-5</span><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b><i>"For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. </i></b></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b><i>They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams. </i></b></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b><i>One will say, 'I belong to the Lord'; another will call himself by the name of Jacob; still another will write on his hand, 'The Lord's,' and will take the name Israel. </i></b></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b><i><br></i></b></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9KT6YTTP0Iy8CKvV1we9CDxe8qym3f64KbAqBri-ngfL9uNWQbvsSqd_zVT7YLYKDfuZFwFzhkxBMwXpgadfHUulIXzEM2iUgdCKOmPxC4xjHCtySFWFCwSmR_DNfJgeLNqmlaGhEsLl/s640/blogger-image--1663475039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9KT6YTTP0Iy8CKvV1we9CDxe8qym3f64KbAqBri-ngfL9uNWQbvsSqd_zVT7YLYKDfuZFwFzhkxBMwXpgadfHUulIXzEM2iUgdCKOmPxC4xjHCtySFWFCwSmR_DNfJgeLNqmlaGhEsLl/s640/blogger-image--1663475039.jpg"></a></div><br></i></b></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969615000635664996.post-43438222967976561372016-01-11T07:39:00.001-06:002016-01-11T07:43:37.165-06:00One Word: TRUSTI haven't ever really done the one-word thing before. Choosing, or allowing God to choose, one single word to be my focus for the year. I've had words that have been my focus in the past: safety, peace (lots of times), simplify, etc. But to actually sit, early in January, and ask God for a word....? I haven't really done that before. <div>This year I think my word is TRUST. </div><div><img src="webkit-fake-url://9305bcb0-f469-451a-a10b-c8be06574653/imagejpeg"></div><div>It's not a word I think I would have chosen on my own. I have a faith gift. And trusting is not something I generally struggle with. I trust God. I believe that if he says He'll do something, He'll do it. </div><div><br></div><div>But I think maybe God is asking me this year to ask Him for bigger things; to actually write down and pray for things so big that ONLY He could possibly give them; to put aside the fear of "it could never happen/I don't deserve it/it's impossible" and ask. And trust. Trust that He's got it. Trust that He can do it. Trust for bigger and bigger things. </div><div><br></div><div>The first verse he impressed on me this year. On January 1st, actually, was this one: </div><div><div><br></div></div><div><img src="webkit-fake-url://e81e5d6e-740b-4713-ab70-019b99dd0dd0/imagejpeg"></div><div>He knows how to give good (and big) gifts. He wants to bless. </div><div><br></div><div>So I've started my list. My list of big things. Things so big that when He shows up, there will be no doubt that it was Him. </div><div>And I'm going to trust. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969615000635664996.post-44142881948423315392016-01-02T09:45:00.000-06:002016-01-02T09:48:50.362-06:00A new year....a new song<div class="ytp-html5-clipboard">
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A new year, a new song.</div>
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Time for resolutions? I guess. There are always things I'd like to improve on and do better. I don't know if I'd say they're resolutions. Last year one of my best accomplishments was, for the first time in my almost 40 years as a Christian, reading through the Bible from cover to cover. I'm amazed at how it all flowed and fit together into this beautiful story. I've known the parts and I've read it all before....but never in order and with purpose like that. I'm really thinking about doing it again this year. My early morning coffee/reading times before anyone else was up were some of my favourite times this year! We'll see. And of course I'd like to eat better and exercise more....or exercise at all. Aren't those the standard resolutions we make? It's a journey, people. </div>
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But here's my real resolution.... </div>
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To let go. To trust. To keep my eyes on Jesus. </div>
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Even in the storms to remember that.... </div>
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He's there. He's in control. He's got this.</div>
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You know how you have that one song that you play over and over and over on your playlists? It won't leave your head; it gets you choked up every time; it encapsulates what you feel. This is my song right now. I hope that it will be my song all year long. </div>
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The whole concept of "letting go" has been a theme for me for about 5 years now....letting go of what I'd thought I'd be; letting go of what my own (small) dreams had been; letting go of what I thought I needed to be ok....and just letting God catch me; teach me; show me what his dreams for me are. I love the bridge, "Let go, my soul, and trust in Him. The waves and wind still know His name." </div>
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Of course they do. He is LORD. The waves and wind obey Him. </div>
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I can trust that He can handle the storms in my life too. </div>
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And, I get chills sometimes singing the line "This mountain that's in front of me will be thrown into the midst of the sea" because I KNOW He's moved mountains for me in 2015 and I'm excited to see what He will do in the new year. There are still a few more mountains I'd like to see removed from my life and I know He can do it. </div>
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Bethel Music - It is Well</h1>
Artist: <a href="http://www.songlyrics.com/bethel-music-lyrics/" title="Bethel Music Lyrics">Bethel Music</a><br />
Album: <a href="http://www.songlyrics.com/bethel-music/you-make-me-brave/" title="You Make Me Brave Album Lyrics">You Make Me Brave</a><br />
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Verse 1<br />
Grander earth has quaked before<br />
Moved by the sound of His voice<br />
Seas that are shaken and stirred<br />
Can be calmed and broken for my regard<br />
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Chorus<br />
Through it all, through it all<br />
My eyes are on You<br />
Through it all, through it all<br />
It is well<br />
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Through it all, through it all<br />
My eyes are on You<br />
It is well with me<br />
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Verse 2</div>
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Far be it from me to not believe<br />
Even when my eyes can’t see<br />
And this mountain that’s in front of me<br />
Will be thrown into the midst of the sea<br />
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Bridge<br />
So let go my soul and trust in Him<br />
The waves and wind still know His name <br />
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It is well with my soul<br />
It is well with my soul<br />
It is well with my soul<br />
It is well with my soul</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969615000635664996.post-23517315536365751422015-09-29T20:18:00.000-05:002015-09-29T22:50:09.012-05:00<div style="text-align: center;">
Anthropologie has these amazing books cut into monogram letters. </div>
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One of my best friends sent me the
original Anthropologie picture and asked me if I could make her something
like these. I couldn't really back down from a challenge like
that, could I?</div>
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Anthropology: </div>
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So cool and so feeding my love of recycling/upcycling and vintage and power tools - they really tick all my boxes :) Buuuuttttt, they're almost $30 each. Seriously? Can't justify that. Not when I can pick up these awesome vintage Reader's Digest Condensed books from local thrift stores. And I not when I have a cute little lime green Bandsaw just begging for some action. </div>
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So, I put out ads using this picture looking for Vintage RD books - the ones from the 60's with these awesome colourful covers. </div>
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Lots of books started showing up at my house....so yummy!!</div>
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And then I went to work. I may have tackled a tough one to begin with but one of my best friend's last names starts with G and I wanted to make her something. Her son (who's first name starts with G) is convinced I made it for him. That's ok too. </div>
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This set of two I made as a gift for my Brother-in-law & Sister-in-law. </div>
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And I did get around to making the letters for the first friend who got me started down this road. Her last name is only 4 letters so it was a fun little project and by the time I did hers, I had many books to choose from so I could pick colours that went well together. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969615000635664996.post-51454150785564852532015-09-03T09:07:00.001-05:002015-09-03T09:07:31.398-05:00Happy new year! I'm in year 13, I guess, of having the school year influence this feeling I have that everything starts fresh in September. New books and clothes, new schedules and plans, new work experiences and school grades....it feels to me, at the beginning of every September, like it is New Years Day. <div> There's a slight feeling of loss now too, recognizing what didn't get done during the summer. And a feeling a apprehension as always when starting something brand new. But for the most part, I'm ready for the adventure. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-xdPMOvvpVG9JdbJu0Y_NB-xVkVqpjGntuTqgPIDO_uTwJqN0THsqSURIadWS7_-Dbycnail2Cmltq4vefMhibrGsN09AL4uimaKvCwDy1q41YZ_z0hvCXSpdrB3I78r5Dz5O-NYV7vk/s640/blogger-image-1865674801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-xdPMOvvpVG9JdbJu0Y_NB-xVkVqpjGntuTqgPIDO_uTwJqN0THsqSURIadWS7_-Dbycnail2Cmltq4vefMhibrGsN09AL4uimaKvCwDy1q41YZ_z0hvCXSpdrB3I78r5Dz5O-NYV7vk/s640/blogger-image-1865674801.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">One plan I had this summer was to finish ready through The Bible. I started in May with a very lofty goal (see chart at the end of this post - Read through The Bible in 90 days) and I knew I wouldn't finish on schedule so I gave myself an extra month to finish with the goal being to be done when school started again (next week Wednesday). As you can see, that won't be achievable. Just today I'm finished Isaiah and starting in on Jeremiah. I wish I could say it is solely due to the fact that I got sidetracked by all the truths that God kept showing me and the pauses I had to take to absorb what he was saying to me. And in some cases that was (and is) very much the case!! But sadly, there were also many days of procrastination, too much TV watching, busyness, driving here and there for various things, and days full of errands (both good and not good). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So....my new goal (a New Year's Resolution of sorts) is to be through the Bible by Christmas. I have no illusions that reading straight through is any better than any other reading plan but it's something I've always wanted to accomplish and I do have to say, reading at this pace has been fascinating because you get to see the bigger picture as the stories unfold. I read with a bright pink highlighter in my hand so I can highlight the parts that speak to me and I can come back to them sometime when I'm studying for a different purpose. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Here's my plan that I'm "following" or, maybe I should say, the plan that inspired me to get going. Enjoy! Happy New Year! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YyLskoMQaKmcdV1-I8zJulDA0VAFFXcvE9vWQTcgzYufFTnjLirWvHi12-Vt0gf7xYYop-NI3qPi9obHQblqxqAS6SSoTNryFIxzdXwsr943-jpyoTJFeJ01ob29a53v8bL9oi4chZNS/s640/blogger-image--1658645899.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YyLskoMQaKmcdV1-I8zJulDA0VAFFXcvE9vWQTcgzYufFTnjLirWvHi12-Vt0gf7xYYop-NI3qPi9obHQblqxqAS6SSoTNryFIxzdXwsr943-jpyoTJFeJ01ob29a53v8bL9oi4chZNS/s640/blogger-image--1658645899.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969615000635664996.post-11822382227214816882015-04-27T07:23:00.001-05:002015-04-27T07:23:33.360-05:00Monday Morning VeggiesI love to be organized. Please don't read that as, "I'm always organized," because that would be quite far from the truth. But I do love to organize and I do love it when I AM organized. I function better when my desk is organized. I sleep better when my rooms are clean and organized. And I find that I save a lot of time when I'm organized. <div><br></div><div>Here's one of my organizational moments: lunch veggies. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHSacydv-2BUDLpusi1mb21vAn_GIWRjZTRnshvURlwIvO4JvBzIEvhI6uJHlCmlG6_ukVhiVupG664IhQzEmRuzV_aStSpgj1g93Q4jhVqEKwVKIRz3feA4KtcbQYAuZU3OFs1qOIVKp/s640/blogger-image--516299506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHSacydv-2BUDLpusi1mb21vAn_GIWRjZTRnshvURlwIvO4JvBzIEvhI6uJHlCmlG6_ukVhiVupG664IhQzEmRuzV_aStSpgj1g93Q4jhVqEKwVKIRz3feA4KtcbQYAuZU3OFs1qOIVKp/s640/blogger-image--516299506.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>It's 7:05 am and I'm done making school lunch veggies for the week :)</div><div>A salad a day for me, bags of veggies for each day this week for 2 kids, and a giant bowl of salad left at home for my one kid who likes to come home for lunch. I've cut 15 minutes off every other morning this week and stretched our groceries to last for the week instead of being caught unaware late Thursday night and having to run to Superstore. </div><div><br></div><div>Next week could be an entirely different scenario and you'll see me scrambling to make it work....but for now, this week is taken care of. Yay Me! </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969615000635664996.post-37833925244359518992015-03-16T18:13:00.001-05:002015-04-07T14:11:00.028-05:00Service weekend<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Our Lifegroup from church did a service/work weekend. Several families went out to Red Rock Bible Camp and helped with a bit of spring cleaning to get ready for their spring camps that will be starting soon. Together, we scraped paint off of bathroom stalls to prep for repainting, completely cleaned out the Tuck Shop including defrosting the freezer and scrubbing walls with "magic erasers," emptied sheds, cleaned cabins and bathrooms, built floor supports in a couple places that needed it, washed down tables and benches and helped with a lot of kitchen work. It was a super long day of good old- fashioned manual labour. Wonderful!<br />
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We ended our workday with a great visit, some nighttime tubing down to the beach, good coffee and a Bible study with communion. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969615000635664996.post-10894285302479051662015-03-06T08:19:00.001-06:002015-04-07T14:11:28.141-05:00Sorry, World.I found something I've been searching for at my local thrift store yesterday....and it was only 10 cents. Yay me! I felt very accomplished and very lucky. Until I read the bottom of the receipt and saw that my purchase is a gift to the world. Now I feel like a cheapskate. Sorry, world.<br />
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In related news, I am still on the hunt for more older-style Reader's Digest Condensed Books (the kinds with the patterned paper covers*** - not the kind that are supposed to look like solid coloured leather). If you have any kicking around....or you have parents or grandparents who need their collections thinned out, give me a shout. I'll help. And I'll contribute to your (or their) world next time. </div>
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(***Books like these)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969615000635664996.post-83326420732294675322015-01-01T11:19:00.001-06:002015-01-01T11:19:18.201-06:00A New Thing<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4wtpI3TCm8-Z2srqvy8rUtO1GHyL4_jeMqGh47a78pbbUkKelsnBkTtOo7HWdIlZItGUIn3juBUFxXDu0ys-l-QdyR60qyCXLrLmWPyOFxi3mmpLqvcrDpTEW1kN1hW2-3jT_BzQCon0/s640/blogger-image--1116484183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4wtpI3TCm8-Z2srqvy8rUtO1GHyL4_jeMqGh47a78pbbUkKelsnBkTtOo7HWdIlZItGUIn3juBUFxXDu0ys-l-QdyR60qyCXLrLmWPyOFxi3mmpLqvcrDpTEW1kN1hW2-3jT_BzQCon0/s640/blogger-image--1116484183.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Happy New Year! It's the first day of 2015. And how fitting that the verse of the day in my Bible App is this one:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><b> Isaiah 43:19. </b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><b>"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This is a part of one of my favourite chapters....reminding me that God cares for me, loves me, and is always providing for me. He has plans for me that are good. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The part that I get a kick out of the most is the slightly sarcastic: "do you not perceive it?" How many times has God blessed me and provided for me and I haven't even noticed. I'm in my own little world, focussing on the things yet to be done, and I miss out on all the ways he's already moving in and around me. Lord, open my eyes to what you're doing right now. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I also love the verb "am making." It is not finished for me yet....he<i> is making </i>a way....currently, and continually....its a journey. I can't expect perfection or a finished work. It's a process that He is doing and I am privileged enough to be a part of. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And lastly....and maybe the best part....is a little line not included in this verse but tucked several verses further down in the chapter. The second half of verse 21 says,<i><b> </b></i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">"...that they may proclaim my praise." </i>The reason for all of this is that His name will be praised. Not so that my life can be comfortable. Not so that I can brag about the things I have. But so the whole world will see what a great God I serve. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">My goal then, this year is to:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">1. See and notice what God is doing around and in my life. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">2. Jump in and be a part of the process wherever that may take me. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">3. Proclaim the praises of the One who holds my whole world in His hands. </font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969615000635664996.post-42717959736142146322014-07-04T11:20:00.000-05:002014-07-04T23:32:03.632-05:00Before-and-After<div style="text-align: center;">
I know lots of people are waiting for before-and-after photos of the Dome I moved into.....and they're coming.....trust me. I'm finally off work for the summer and can devote more than 5 minutes a day to renos. So the before-and-after shots ARE coming. I promise. I've already done lots around here and I've got a few more major things to finish up.</div>
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In the mean time.....it was time for a little bit of a personal before-and-after makeover.</div>
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This is me - before. My hair grows like CRAZY....and last year I made a "huge" change and finally cut bangs but this time it was time for a real change. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGbUibHZ0T-PSgmpp4TH0d6914GK_4CMUz2cbTP-9vfGi_QPeq7p580-V70cXgF1tANM_7-EdjW-pxrDjG0T9mpnMSiMhUS7qhGJU5sOazYIjznxWb1yReg2zfDkumJYdwJG8ouXINTtFN/s1600/IMG_7046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGbUibHZ0T-PSgmpp4TH0d6914GK_4CMUz2cbTP-9vfGi_QPeq7p580-V70cXgF1tANM_7-EdjW-pxrDjG0T9mpnMSiMhUS7qhGJU5sOazYIjznxWb1yReg2zfDkumJYdwJG8ouXINTtFN/s1600/IMG_7046.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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After: Shorty-short-short. I love it. I feel like this might be my best weight-loss plan ever. Looking forward to no time spent in the bathroom doing my hair, no headaches from ponytails, and hats! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifRJPyLY02VfNcg9zZuBUfeAWG3y0hF2Zr7qtEx73Sc8ELFx7k7QWf6O8aG3XSuPy-DDBBip6p7yYgoeIuQYwUKXubq5TizAO1G8XSVlxUeqV2tvWP7S2Q6nFAi92bZv-Iq9ptFLNDAddt/s1600/IMG_7049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifRJPyLY02VfNcg9zZuBUfeAWG3y0hF2Zr7qtEx73Sc8ELFx7k7QWf6O8aG3XSuPy-DDBBip6p7yYgoeIuQYwUKXubq5TizAO1G8XSVlxUeqV2tvWP7S2Q6nFAi92bZv-Iq9ptFLNDAddt/s1600/IMG_7049.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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THANK YOU so much to Elisa Griffin-Boily at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Serenity-Nails-Spa/101405079928879" target="_blank">Serenity Spa</a> (which just happens to be a 2 minute walk from my house!) She's amazing!!!!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969615000635664996.post-1231300421454717252014-04-20T05:34:00.000-05:002014-04-20T05:38:34.531-05:00What we walked into....We tackled a few more renovations in this move than we'd originally intended too....and so the before/after pics of that are going to be a little while yet. But for those of you who are just too curious about what the Dome house looked like when we walked into it (pre-renovations), here are the original photos taken from the real estate site.<br />
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Warning: 50 shades of brown ahead:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwEvY0HNKl0hzYV7Ve3EAdkv-KoLcB7iG_xNTnQHa9-NXuw3mdp9DSWK7WSCa_K60f7LJeLHnRagBT6fqqQ20Fq9zFhD_mshzkAFALYoa2fDK0AjweGD30fMa6pHSr0wZ3WGBkKBtrZSD/s1600/image33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwEvY0HNKl0hzYV7Ve3EAdkv-KoLcB7iG_xNTnQHa9-NXuw3mdp9DSWK7WSCa_K60f7LJeLHnRagBT6fqqQ20Fq9zFhD_mshzkAFALYoa2fDK0AjweGD30fMa6pHSr0wZ3WGBkKBtrZSD/s1600/image33.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is what it looked like when we went to see it. Easy to see why one of the house nicknames in this area is "the Igloo House." Other nicknames also include: "The beehive," "The Franklin House (because it looks like a turtle shell)," and "The Hobbit House."</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijA7g8xydxRuKQW7ppFISOAJT2cn0zHyWIZ3Kp63iCo0qYzYSXouavU5nESup9WWsYc3n4MgzWl9WJh5Ica7loJWoXA61H31cqG2IQIUlN-I9WxZGZpnsqNiFuWZSf2GmCX8j8GLxUYJhW/s1600/image153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijA7g8xydxRuKQW7ppFISOAJT2cn0zHyWIZ3Kp63iCo0qYzYSXouavU5nESup9WWsYc3n4MgzWl9WJh5Ica7loJWoXA61H31cqG2IQIUlN-I9WxZGZpnsqNiFuWZSf2GmCX8j8GLxUYJhW/s1600/image153.jpg" height="240" width="320" /> </a></div>
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Same view - but in summer. I almost can't believe it ever will be summer again so this might be the only shot I'll ever have like this. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHFTUN6XsTL6MStXhs5IIVDgPgn3jDRH2tG0hdw_TpyZWpSezvcso19rDQxMFTnss-OjDrLxsRxRvGstif_gp-MIMxGiFMVEGqczHls015TwwiDELTIAwtBuDZyzTvkGWDJoiYnqNRHOvZ/s1600/image32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHFTUN6XsTL6MStXhs5IIVDgPgn3jDRH2tG0hdw_TpyZWpSezvcso19rDQxMFTnss-OjDrLxsRxRvGstif_gp-MIMxGiFMVEGqczHls015TwwiDELTIAwtBuDZyzTvkGWDJoiYnqNRHOvZ/s1600/image32.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
The back of the house. This large window is directly into the kitchen and lets enough light in this house to bring sun to the whole upstairs! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_jzmmsQEQPHTQ-6Ikb8GcdfwaXd0MoE0cSqSOIZKawrypO9n4kAhTcuPYkQmxs63nav5fBryHYcI7KsTsGqV0kSNLL-8aIjImIYgdpHAiCLn3-70nEbQxhh-oNkiYOz1gpPEGvXiYhkn/s1600/image28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_jzmmsQEQPHTQ-6Ikb8GcdfwaXd0MoE0cSqSOIZKawrypO9n4kAhTcuPYkQmxs63nav5fBryHYcI7KsTsGqV0kSNLL-8aIjImIYgdpHAiCLn3-70nEbQxhh-oNkiYOz1gpPEGvXiYhkn/s1600/image28.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
The garage. A huge selling feature for me even though, as I write this, the garage is completely full of boxes of stuff. Not sure how so much stuff gets accumulated but in the spirit of purging, I asked our movers to put all boxes labeled "basement rec room" into the garage so that most of it will be on a garage sale and not back in my basement.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6nSIEf6XHVp3UcevUQW9AoHj0pd0fCcbavmpYlP4YEkxz_e6w3r_EevoNC_lXRtx56YQBDEiebMpTts6yIJ7K49HJLu4MhQnhDhvq0tPl2yHLUWPcy5HvmoGQ3UkOB_YbZxv4LerYcNW7/s1600/image37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6nSIEf6XHVp3UcevUQW9AoHj0pd0fCcbavmpYlP4YEkxz_e6w3r_EevoNC_lXRtx56YQBDEiebMpTts6yIJ7K49HJLu4MhQnhDhvq0tPl2yHLUWPcy5HvmoGQ3UkOB_YbZxv4LerYcNW7/s1600/image37.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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The kitchen. This long bank of cabinets runs almost exactly across the center of the circle which is the house shape (12-sided actually but round enough). Lots of cabinets. One thing you can't see is that they've run the exhaust from the range directly out through (yes, through) all of the upper cabinets from the range all the way to the window. So...in the after pictures you'll see in a week or so, you'll notice that we've built in something above the cabinets to reclaim that space for food and dishes. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusrfB1YeDCXQhHMRYNBpJweZHjs52OCUz0p5cm74XTdwm5fq21Yue6tcUXcTJDdhyxoWfAr0vIyEzGOEXIzn8cvbQ4zdAIT3LxD3k_lUdJDXzIZl13Z2h5cE6TGuuKDppfDYLkpCagZZV/s1600/image38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusrfB1YeDCXQhHMRYNBpJweZHjs52OCUz0p5cm74XTdwm5fq21Yue6tcUXcTJDdhyxoWfAr0vIyEzGOEXIzn8cvbQ4zdAIT3LxD3k_lUdJDXzIZl13Z2h5cE6TGuuKDppfDYLkpCagZZV/s1600/image38.jpg" height="240" width="320" /> </a></div>
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Did I mention everything is a shade of brown? Very cabin-esque.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGVLKWMRVKVyGlbBptufTsPHTqCeStg9p12R1flm3LqL3vktkfFW7oMmsRruV9p2IkQ02srTW-eDvV0LfjW5HPo4v3prBDPzG5H4k3EY5TiLemP02ZGxeRT8YBnzex74t_CKnlyQ7DZlI/s1600/image39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGVLKWMRVKVyGlbBptufTsPHTqCeStg9p12R1flm3LqL3vktkfFW7oMmsRruV9p2IkQ02srTW-eDvV0LfjW5HPo4v3prBDPzG5H4k3EY5TiLemP02ZGxeRT8YBnzex74t_CKnlyQ7DZlI/s1600/image39.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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More brown - the large entrance closet, the shiny floor which reflects the sunlight from the big window into the whole house</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbbOw8VuXNOJiuT599aRH3aDxNNgHU8bRYfMo5QWxEzxaV8ZVm0TIUkDGUMeSfeQ-47ydVFhEfawbTOYoRw97g53dyxc7dz3DEJ7KkwuBdr5SyqpDZDbQTNG9_Ak4rYm2N1M4R4uzyCE8/s1600/image40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbbOw8VuXNOJiuT599aRH3aDxNNgHU8bRYfMo5QWxEzxaV8ZVm0TIUkDGUMeSfeQ-47ydVFhEfawbTOYoRw97g53dyxc7dz3DEJ7KkwuBdr5SyqpDZDbQTNG9_Ak4rYm2N1M4R4uzyCE8/s1600/image40.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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There's the big window. </div>
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Main floor 2-pc bathroom and laundry. </div>
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Small living room. It's really more of a sitting room. I don't think we'll even have a tv up here....just a place to sit and hang out. Interestingly enough, everytime I think about my dream house and how I would design it, I always put a place IN my kitchen with a couch or a couple of cozy chairs for people to sit in while meals are being made. This is, essentially that set up.</div>
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Basement "bedroom" which will be getting a window.</div>
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Basement rec room - really a great size for us even with the intentions of building one more bedroom down here. We're pretty happy with this and because it was all recently re-done, we're not doing a whole lot of renovation down here. </div>
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Basement bathroom....small but easily enough for my teens. Shower is around the back of the door.</div>
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View from the front door area: to the right, that sitting room and to the left, stairs to the loft. This is a good photo of the ceiling construction. Giant triangles, manufactured at Hanover Doors, brought to the property and assembled on site to my understanding. It's really a fascinating house. The big puzzle for one of my math-oriented kids is how/why some of the connections are six-sided and some are five-sided. It keeps him up at night staring at his own ceiling.</div>
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Masterbath/ensuite upstairs in the loft. Yes, those are swinging saloon doors on there. Look now because those were one of the first things to come down in the renovations (especially because this is the only bathtub in the house and there'll need to be a bit more privacy up here). A very large closet in here though - I'm excited about that. Big enough, I think for all of my clothes, including my dresser.</div>
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Another view of the masterbath....coming in from the door. Did I mention everything in this house is (was) brown? Chocolate brown toilet, sink and jetted tub. </div>
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Upstairs loft area. Can't legally be called a bedroom by real estate standards because there's no window. There was a skylight but it leaked apparently (as they tend to do) so it was taken out long ago. This room will have to serve as my bedroom and craft room as well for a few years while my kids are all still living at home but it's easily big enough to do so. This picture is a bit deceiving as well in that the wall at the back is completely straight up and down - not angled as it appears. </div>
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Well...I may have bitten off more than I can chew in the renovation department so those "after" pictures, like I said, will have to wait a bit....but for those of you who were anxious to see what we've gotten ourselves into....there you go. </div>
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Today, just some introspection. I know my life (the bad parts) barely begins to compare with being taken captive but I am drawn over and over to this page as I think of where God has brought us. </div>
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I feel like I'm dreaming sometimes. And I can't help but smile (and yes, sometimes sing) when I read, think, or say the words: "The Lord has done great things for us."</div>
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(Interesting side note: the reason this passage in my Bible is slightly pink is because the back page has highlighted the first verse from Psalm 127...."unless The Lord builds the house, it's builders labour in vain...")</div>
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One of my lifesaver friends whom I love and respect on so many levels had this brilliant idea to "hide" a verse in my new house as I was renovating. Not hide in fear, so that no one ever sees it but hide it so it is a part of the house and I'll think if it often. So, before the carpets go in on the stairwell up to my room....I've Sharpied a verse on the stairs that has been our verse for several years now....Habakkuk 1:5</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="text Hab-1-5" style="position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: block; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">5 </span><b><i>“Look at the nations and watch</i></b></span><b><i><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Hab-1-5" style="position: relative;">and be utterly amazed.</span></span><br /><span class="text Hab-1-5" style="position: relative;">For I am going to do something in your days</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Hab-1-5" style="position: relative;">that you would not believe, </span></span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><i><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Hab-1-5" style="position: relative;">even if you were told.</span></span></i></b></span></div>
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5 years ago if you'd told me I'd be here, I never would have believed you. Even 6 months ago it would have seemed slightly crazy to think we'd be where we are...but...here we are. God's timing, God's leading, and God's great big plan. </div>
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Here's a panorama shot of the stairs. It's not perfect 'cause let's face it....who among us can take a steady photo while walking up stairs?? (If you can, I don't want to hear about it.)</div>
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And these are the steps leading up to the landing....directly when you come into the house. It's hard to see but on these I've written James 1:7<br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><i>Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father</i></b></span></div>
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(Note: these are also my poor attempt at panorama - the steps aren't curved like that)</div>
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Ok. Enough blogging. I have a LOT of work to do yet today to get ready for movers. I'll be back with updates :)</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969615000635664996.post-4915853130020854712014-03-25T23:25:00.002-05:002014-03-25T23:33:28.108-05:00What I'm leaving behind<br />
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In a little over 3 weeks I'll be leaving this house that has been my home for more than 12 years. </div>
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It has seen the very, very best of me and the very, very worst of me. </div>
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tears and laughter; </div>
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fights and making up; </div>
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ups and downs; hot and cold; </div>
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babies, toddlers, preschoolers, grade schoolers, middle schoolers and teens; </div>
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times of great faith and times of great doubt; </div>
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fears and failures; joy and triumphs; </div>
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marriage and divorce; </div>
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hard work and silly play; </div>
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In the last few years there have been a lot of changes around here with regards to the house. </div>
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Physically,
the house has gone through a complete overhaul. The unnecessary was
discarded, donated or sold. The necessary was acquired and put to good
use, including a new stove, hot water tank, flooring, roof, paint, etc.
etc. I've worked hard to maintain a house that I never thought I'd have
to care for on my own. </div>
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Emotionally,
the house has seen it's share of ups and downs too. My prayer several
years ago was that this house would be a place of peace and safety. For
me. For my kids. For anyone who would step over the threshold. And I
have to say, God answers prayer! No amount of renovating by me could
have done this miracle and made this house the home it's been in the
past few years. </div>
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So....am
I sad to leave it? A little, yes. But I know that the God who carried
us this far is leading us into a new adventure and the home he built
with us here....can be built again, even better, at the new house. And
any ties I have to this house, are dwarfed by the much stronger ties to my God who has never, ever left us on our own. I'm sorry....I just can't say it any better than this: </div>
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A few photos and memories of the house we're leaving behind. (Note: these photos were taken professionally to sell the house - something that happened, literally, overnight - so if you're thinking my house ever really looked this good, the joke's on you)<br />
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My "spa" bathroom: I loved this room. We initially renovated this room because one of our children dropped something in the toilet that was irretrievable. Even the plumber told us to take it out to the backyard and smash it and let him know what was in there (the cap to a spray can, incidentally). My favourite part, aside from the colours.....a deep soaker tub which, yes, I will miss dearly!</div>
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My craft room: I love how neat and organized it looks here. If you know anything about me at all, you know it only ever looks like this just before I start creating. I was very excited a few years ago when my two oldest wanted basement bedrooms and all that was left for me to scrapbook in was this Upstairs room, with a window :) </div>
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Laundry room: yes, I'll miss this space. It's not finished but it reminds me of how God provides....2 freezers with food to spare and a washer and dryer that have lasted and lasted and lasted.</div>
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Teen room #1: Style maybe defined as Vintage meets IKEA meets Grandma's afghan.</div>
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Basement bathroom: Again, my favourite "waterfall" colour.</div>
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Shed: (obviously these pictures are in no particular order) This shed has been snowed in all winter so honestly, it'll be a surprise to me what's all in there when we get around to digging it out to move :)</div>
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Pre-teen room: Go Bombers! </div>
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Pantry: So much lovely storage space. THIS, I will miss!! </div>
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Dining room: This room has seen many meals, many games, many family discussions, and much love! </div>
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The front yard; This yard reminds me of football games and toboggan slides; sprinkler wars and basketball games; furniture painting and yard sales; somersaults and bocce ball; late night coffee and early morning....well, coffee too :)</div>
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Rec room: otherwise known as the Xbox room. Many a sleepover has happened in this room - exactly my intention in finishing out this room and stocking it with piles and piles of blankets and pillows.</div>
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Master bedroom: I will miss this room. This room has definitely been touched by God and it has become a place of peace and laughter and lots of silliness. You can't see it in this picture but above the white dresser in the far right corner, there's a TV mounted on the wall. We've had so many family movie nights with the 4 of us snuggled into this bed. Funnier still is that recently most of us are close to 6' tall and we also have 3 cats joining us. It's a big pile of fun :) The kids are trying to convince me that I need a King size in the new house so we can still all fit in there :)</div>
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Kitchen: I painted these cabinets just this last Christmas and the flooring was done last August. I adore these colours and I'm really sad to leave them. I'm copying a bit of this in my new house but it won't be quite the same. Lots of cooking and lots of eating happened here!</div>
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Playhouse: Rockwall, slide, rope ladder, secret trap door, and monkey bars.....this was a unique design that we made ourselves. I have no idea how many kids have played on this but I pray that the kids who will be playing on here this coming summer will be as safe, happy and silly as mine were. </div>
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Teen bedroom #2: Snowcone green. It's even brighter in real life. </div>
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Living room: Another room that's probably never been so clean and neat before....and maybe never will be again as long as we're around.....but a room that's been full of family movies, wrestling matches, deep heart-to-heart talks, coffee with friends, a party or two, Christmas gatherings, meals, devotions, music and drama. </div>
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There you have it. What I'm leaving behind. A house that was my home....but in the end, to me, just a house. Our home will be where we end up (wait for the next blog post)and this house will go on to be home to another family who will love it and find love in it.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969615000635664996.post-16415795587207768262014-03-16T00:48:00.000-05:002014-03-16T00:53:29.342-05:00The house story....and walking on the water<div style="text-align: center;">
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This has been a crazy season here at our home. Crazy-crazy. </div>
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Like nothing I ever thought would be happening.</div>
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This song keeps running through my head the whole time: </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/dy9nwe9_xzw" width="560"></iframe>
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It's long, I know, but well worth the listen....trust me. </div>
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If you don't have time to listen just now - here are the lyrics.</div>
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<header>
<h1 style="font-size: 2.3em;">
Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) Lyrics
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<span class="icon icon-cd"></span>JOEL HOUSTON, MATT CROCKER, SALOMON LIGHTHELM</div>
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You call me out upon the waters<br />
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The great unknown, where feet may fail<br />
And there I find You in the mystery<br />
In oceans deep, my faith will stand</div>
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And I will call upon Your name<br />
And keep my eyes above the waves<br />
When oceans rise, my soul will rest in Your embrace<br />
For I am Yours, and You are mine</div>
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Your grace abounds in deepest waters<br />
Your sovereign hand will be my guide<br />
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me<br />
You've never failed, and You won't start now</div>
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<br /></div>
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So I will call upon Your name<br />
And keep my eyes above the waves<br />
When oceans rise, my soul will rest in Your embrace<br />
For I am Yours, and You are mine</div>
<div class="verse">
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Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders<br />
Let me walk upon the waters<br />
Wherever You would call me<br />
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander<br />
And my faith will be made stronger<br />
In the presence of my Savior x 3</div>
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We're moving. I think that's the craziest of all. </div>
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Coming out of the divorce with my kids all living primarily with me in our family home has been a HUGE blessing. They needed the stability and the assurance that both their dad and I had their best interests at heart. And for the most part, it's been a fairly smooth transition. But I've known all along that with only my single income, keeping this house wasn't an option indefinitely so I've been keeping my eyes open for something to downsize into that would both a.) fit my current family and also b.) be a viable option for me when they all move away from home (which, sadly, kids tend to do). </div>
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I've looked at several houses and I've been scouring the local real estate sites for a long time now. The house that piqued my interest the most was a house I went to see last Fall. It had almost everything we needed except for 2 things. 1.) The price point between what I could get for mine, and what they were asking for that one wasn't a wide enough gap to make it worthwhile. And 2.) It was weird. </div>
<div class="verse">
By weird, I mean it was ROUND. </div>
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I couldn't quite wrap my head around such a weird house and whether we could pull it off. So, despite seeing it in person twice last October, I let it go and decided to wait. </div>
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The months went on through this viciously cold winter and I kept looking at real estate websites, flyers, and even private sales. Nothing seemed to jump out at me and the more I looked, the more I kept coming back to this house I'd looked at in Fall. This January/February, I had a month or two of stress over it. If you know me at all....I'm not a worrier. I don't worry. I don't stress. But this house issue was causing me stress. Finally one day in March, I was sitting and doing my devotions in the morning (house on the brain) and I came across this verse:</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">James 4:2</span></div>
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<span class="text Jas-4-2" id="en-NIV-30340"> <i><b><span style="font-size: large;">You do not have because you do not ask God.</span></b></i></span></div>
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<span class="text Jas-4-2" id="en-NIV-30340"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sometimes you just KNOW that you're being spoken to....am I right?</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Jas-4-2" id="en-NIV-30340"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, I wrote down the verse. And then I took out a clean piece of paper and started writing down the list of have-to-have's in a house. Not any house in particular, just a house. And I asked.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Jas-4-2" id="en-NIV-30340"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">About 2-3 days later, I received an email from my real estate agent. It said (in part) this:</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Jas-4-2" id="en-NIV-30340"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>"Cathy,<br />
Do you still think about the round house? It still has not sold. I would
be willing to write a lower offer and give them the opportunity to
respond to it. They can say no. </i></span></span></span></div>
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<b><span class="text Jas-4-2" id="en-NIV-30340"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Sometimes we have not because we ask
not."</i><br />
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And again.....sometimes you just KNOW.</div>
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I knew. I knew that at the very least, I had to explore the option one more time.</div>
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Long story short: I went to see it again; completely reconciled the "weird" factor in my head and knew it would come down to finances. I offered really low; they counter-offered middle of the road (well within my window). I listed mine a few days later (after a few long, hard days of purging and cleaning it up); asked high and got a really nice counter-offer (also within my window) <i><b>the day after </b></i>I listed it. </div>
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Signs like that are hard to ignore. </div>
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Crazy-crazy. </div>
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Not at all where I thought I'd be. </div>
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In the past few years: Working full time? In a middle school? No more grade 1's? Divorced? For the most part single-parenting? Teenagers? Owning a house, on my own? Selling and buying another house, on my own? </div>
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I feel like I'm walking on water....deeper than I ever thought my feet would wander....into the great unknown where feet may fail. My feet. May fail. </div>
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BUT I am totally seeing that I'm finding God in the mystery of this adventure. He's calling me out. His sovereign hand is my guide. He hasn't failed and I expect he won't start now. And in the middle of this my faith is being made stronger in the presence of my Saviour. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969615000635664996.post-5739539204103638152014-02-04T08:46:00.001-06:002014-02-04T08:48:10.370-06:00Only a month...So....<br />
I'm only a month late to wish everyone Happy New Year from the blog. Sorry :(<br />
It's been a crazy-crazy month. Usually January drags by because it's back-to-school after the lovely Christmas holidays and it's cold beyond belief but this year it seems to have slipped by me without even saying "hello." Several of the reasons for this are quite personal so I'll leave it at that. I had a few sick days during the month and we also had 3 snow/cold days this month so the "long work weeks" in January were quite disjointed and scattered. Or maybe that's just where my head's at right now. I feel like I'm resurfacing just now, after the Christmas break. Yikes.<br />
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OK.<br />
So, my last post had pics of my torn-apart kitchen cupboards. I did finish. I'll show you pictures next time.<br />
For now, a couple pictures of one of my other projects/New Year's Resolutions - to get back to being a little bit creative :) I make cards to sell so I keep on trucking in that area even when I'm not feeling creative. And honestly, even when it's "just a job" it still is the one thing that feeds my creative soul when I'm feeling down. But this month I actually got to play a little too. I taught a class at <a href="http://thescrapbookcottage.ca/" target="_blank">The Scrapbook Cottage</a> (thank you Sharon) over Christmas. An impromptu class because the teacher couldn't at the last minute, so it wasn't my own designs but it inspired me to dig out my own canvases later and get started on a few more things including getting some kits ready for kids to make canvases. The, suddenly, I found myself agreeing to teach a class at my school for exactly this same project. Mixed media canvas projects for kids. It went so well. I wish I could show you pictures of what the kids made....wait, maybe I can if I crop the kids out. I'll work on that. For now, i'll show you my 2 samples that I quickly whipped up so the kids would have some idea of what to work toward.<br />
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Keep in mind....middle school kids, first time crafters (some of them), and yes, boys too.<br />
Here are my 2 samples :)<br />
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Fun, right?<br />
I'll try to crop down the photos I took yesterday so I can show you some of the fabulous things the kids came up with all on their own. Unbelievable! I love being creative and I love getting others to be creative!!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969615000635664996.post-41064593447799960782013-12-25T00:36:00.001-06:002013-12-25T00:41:13.455-06:00Can't sit still.Merry Christmas!!<br />
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Hope you're all having a lovely holiday season. </div>
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I have 2 weeks of holidays at Christmas. Sounds nice, right? </div>
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But as a single mom working full-time I have a really hard time taking a break and sitting still for too long. It seems like there's always something that needs doing around here and my "to-do" list never seems to have an end. </div>
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This Christmas though I've been really trying to enjoy my time off. I've slept in several days, had coffee with some friends, eaten lots of chocolate, had long leisurely mornings of devotions and coffee snuggled in a quilt with a cat (or 2) and watched some movies with the kids. So much fun!! </div>
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Oh... And because I really can't sit still, I've also bought a "new" van and I've got my kitchen cabinets prepped for their first paint job. </div>
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I'll be back in a week or so with an update on the cabinets and hopefully some great "after" pictures. </div>
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Have a great Christmas and a very happy New Year. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969615000635664996.post-36360274301496573402013-12-12T22:44:00.001-06:002013-12-12T22:44:39.418-06:00A little Christmas decoratingI always have TONS (I'm Canadian... guess I should use TONNES there instead) of ideas for decorating for the holidays. If you don't believe me just as Pinterest...it'll tell you. What I don't have tons (or tonnes) of, is time to actually implement all the ideas I have. That's why I was particularly proud of myself for actually putting something together this year that resembled artistic decorating :)<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLBbyADcONeMmOL4RdXpGih9tI1Jz-nkbP-S5jnZHAePioTlZryN4G3NLPjT3cEhGjICdMq4SJYMfrweP4oQFsiffMxZJp5fdAaw2ItDgwCdiOcW-Ths2tZBwp804f3xqx8dQGNuVLNQg/s640/blogger-image-1615073689.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLBbyADcONeMmOL4RdXpGih9tI1Jz-nkbP-S5jnZHAePioTlZryN4G3NLPjT3cEhGjICdMq4SJYMfrweP4oQFsiffMxZJp5fdAaw2ItDgwCdiOcW-Ths2tZBwp804f3xqx8dQGNuVLNQg/s640/blogger-image-1615073689.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>I bought a few of these vintage light fixture glass globes on a local buy-and-sell sight and then I happened to find a few more at a thrift store having a 1/2-price lighting sale (woohoo!). The garland has been up on my upper kitchen cabinets for the past year and the middle section's lights burned out so instead of unravelling the whole thing, I cut out that section of garland and just pulled out the dead lights. Now, the shortened garland was perfect for my buffet light display. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnR74IwCG7olhjQWIRaa8aJoCvuC-7gXlRLu4kk5mvN6YKBrYgBfM1t9Q9QCWLcUTTwkTYFAGfYVK7ZXWngc5jHPCX8THQYz0zMoxsQrRAYQi18m5fW3jxp1AKZr7n1bPZmhMWF0vYFb-n/s640/blogger-image-681360053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnR74IwCG7olhjQWIRaa8aJoCvuC-7gXlRLu4kk5mvN6YKBrYgBfM1t9Q9QCWLcUTTwkTYFAGfYVK7ZXWngc5jHPCX8THQYz0zMoxsQrRAYQi18m5fW3jxp1AKZr7n1bPZmhMWF0vYFb-n/s640/blogger-image-681360053.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>I'm not entirely happy with the wall display behind it yet....it's a work in progress still...but the window frame, home sign and birdcage are staying when the Christmas parts come down. Then I'll have to decide what to add to the collage. </div><div><br></div><div>Inside each light fixture I have a little battery-operated tea light. It irks me a little that they glow different colours of yellow and orange so sometimes I just use the display with the garland Christmas lights. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FA6X2sE4FkBcVp_tHpjU0-Uf6dU0DR9aQQo4e0m7eSD-7Rvf50p1gp3q7p87kFMm-srk6CEMZZduD9mXqTI7x0fBfX9BQMrYhMF7qADGB_3Wos_GrZU6EX62dOAFF9x0Zvki_WfBCKZH/s640/blogger-image-1711763560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FA6X2sE4FkBcVp_tHpjU0-Uf6dU0DR9aQQo4e0m7eSD-7Rvf50p1gp3q7p87kFMm-srk6CEMZZduD9mXqTI7x0fBfX9BQMrYhMF7qADGB_3Wos_GrZU6EX62dOAFF9x0Zvki_WfBCKZH/s640/blogger-image-1711763560.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>It makes for a cleaner white light while still reflecting off the glass globes. </div><div><br></div><div>I think these might get packed away with the decorations and the tree this year an I'll try to expand on this for next year....</div><div><br></div><div>...OR...maybe I should put them into year-round service up on top of my kitchen cabinets now that they're garland-less. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_71zrQUReOQXDET2WT8jcas9qv87PKSOA_1aX6WdQK7MmubU-wR4Uyn8jUi-z1cQnvSAtwKJ_sRmUg6UkmbufVF5KPNPG1BqbbjyU96srmj1J0uL364L1oAjBmOYpfkIJHhWZnWhWpEIN/s640/blogger-image--1830969815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_71zrQUReOQXDET2WT8jcas9qv87PKSOA_1aX6WdQK7MmubU-wR4Uyn8jUi-z1cQnvSAtwKJ_sRmUg6UkmbufVF5KPNPG1BqbbjyU96srmj1J0uL364L1oAjBmOYpfkIJHhWZnWhWpEIN/s640/blogger-image--1830969815.jpg"></a></div>(BORING!!)</div><div><br></div><div>Who knows what might happen around here. The moments I am both feeling creative and also have time to BE creative don't line up very often but you never know. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio30qdIcwJQSnpgLIGwL61HGP1H-bu9lGXTslsmT7ndYy-oNIFJs9kUNFXaUVttw_P1G_6DwpGKybG87vMrEA4L5AQvPxjuQmoLaF_b0yZCoGTqCKqRJLUaTH-RJXSuC4IGAO_42EuP2sv/s640/blogger-image--1267192076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio30qdIcwJQSnpgLIGwL61HGP1H-bu9lGXTslsmT7ndYy-oNIFJs9kUNFXaUVttw_P1G_6DwpGKybG87vMrEA4L5AQvPxjuQmoLaF_b0yZCoGTqCKqRJLUaTH-RJXSuC4IGAO_42EuP2sv/s640/blogger-image--1267192076.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Merry Christmas! </div><div>Cathy</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969615000635664996.post-17182646427322930292013-12-11T14:53:00.001-06:002013-12-11T14:53:13.801-06:00Sick Day<div style="text-align: center;">
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Today's the day. I've been putting off taking a sick day for awhile....pushing through being way overtired....but today's the day. Sick day. Woke up dizzy and with a nasty headache. I have visions of these sick days ahead of time - that I'll get better instantly after calling in sick and have these long days alone to catch up on housework and chores. Yeah....not so much. Went back to bed after sending the kids out the door to school and only woke up at 11:30 when my phone rang (wrong number - Grrr). </div>
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And now I'm on my way back to bed. Spent a little time watching old Storage Wars episodes and checking out some Christmas inspiration. I have high hopes of getting some crafting done during my Christmas holidays in 1 1/2 weeks.....guess we'll see. I'm pinning some ideas and saving them for later.</div>
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But for now....back to bed :)</div>
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PS: Some scrappy contests you might be interested in:</div>
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<a href="http://www.canadianscrapbooker.ca/jackie/?p=8454" target="_blank">Canadian Scrapbooker - 12 Days of Giving </a> </div>
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<a href="http://www.papercraftsconnection.com/blog/2013/12/twelve-days-of-giving-day-1/" target="_blank">Papercrafts - 12 Days of Giving</a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969615000635664996.post-66199226372970256692013-11-19T19:30:00.001-06:002013-11-19T19:30:57.650-06:00Sick days for MomsI have a great job. Good hours, rewarding work, amazing co-workers, and paid sick days when I need them...just to name a few of the reasons I like my job. <div><br></div><div>But when I come home tired and "less than 100%" at the end of my workday, I still have to be Mom. No paid sick days. In fact, not good hours either. And no co-workers at all, so that sucks too. The work is still pretty rewarding, or at least most days it is. </div><div><br></div><div>But somedays I need a sick day </div><div>So today, and I'm not ashamed to admit it: I lay in bed playing iPhone/iPod games with my boys, I let my daughter go to a friend's house for supper, I threw in a frozen pizza here at home, and as soon as supper was over, I climbed right back into bed. </div><div>Aaaahhhh. </div><div>The dishes can wait. </div><div>The laundry can wait.</div><div>I made myself a cup of coffee...</div><div>...and I just may just have a nap before bedtime :)<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIU2MuQ6YrVacPgZ7uGEue1XBbpZ-j7a3g94kd6fNuF7QfwslK-4QSVkkA9WObIUU9pskFwXfxMJv_wXE3z2URwPP9ZAxdB1TZPJCPhC1ewinviU6RHOz7inWL3B5AsV2Ut9b3a1TSKWWo/s640/blogger-image--1433358971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIU2MuQ6YrVacPgZ7uGEue1XBbpZ-j7a3g94kd6fNuF7QfwslK-4QSVkkA9WObIUU9pskFwXfxMJv_wXE3z2URwPP9ZAxdB1TZPJCPhC1ewinviU6RHOz7inWL3B5AsV2Ut9b3a1TSKWWo/s640/blogger-image--1433358971.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969615000635664996.post-42380769769369216832013-11-02T07:59:00.003-05:002013-11-02T07:59:45.640-05:00Win with DCWV!!My favourite scrapbooking supply company is giving away 12 HUGE prizes.......just linking you up in case you want to be one of the "other 11." Fingers Crossed.<br />
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<a href="http://dcwvinc.blogspot.ca/2013/10/giveaway-stack-holic-survival-kit.html">http://dcwvinc.blogspot.ca/2013/10/giveaway-stack-holic-survival-kit.html</a><br />
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<img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrr1c6GbD7nY5xQf6j3bHLS-oFBBHa_ywDr0Ri3oLOOZGP_t57TwBo1TxlVjtOiMbqBcno-UffMQE40ot76SYi-R4YOXi9yyGawV6tCB1I3IyeIxZ7fUSJ-ZPRlOjNfn4VrSEj7pFDzFW/s640/SSKweb.jpg" width="640" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969615000635664996.post-68120458105848556532013-07-26T20:13:00.001-05:002013-07-26T20:14:56.226-05:00Yay Pinterest!I've had a project idea saved on Pinterest for-ev-er. Finally this week I found the perfect piece to work on to do a 1/2 painted-1/2 stained dresser. <div><br></div><div>I bought this piece at a thrift store:</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYnDFMVYkW0HZGaAVf057llkn65nI0tMir4WMBbdvYoqRJaOcgCsjbM1N53Vk-q3TosS2HdQfZ3BFd-ExjmULLla9zqTJXSwgdxuC27Ea51LoGuwglE39tRQFWAQbONqFuDC1v20PDVkIo/s640/blogger-image--893566890.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYnDFMVYkW0HZGaAVf057llkn65nI0tMir4WMBbdvYoqRJaOcgCsjbM1N53Vk-q3TosS2HdQfZ3BFd-ExjmULLla9zqTJXSwgdxuC27Ea51LoGuwglE39tRQFWAQbONqFuDC1v20PDVkIo/s640/blogger-image--893566890.jpg"></a></div> </div><div>I really liked the lines and the curved top but before I got at it I wasn't sure how well it would strip down. So I started to sand it. The dresser itself sanded fairly well. Easily enough to paint nicely. But the drawer fronts took one look at my orbital sander and whatever finish was in them practically fled in fear LOL. They sanded right down to raw wood in one pass. Not just raw boring wood though. But raw with a gorgeous diagonal grain running through them. As soon as I saw this I knew they needed stain and not paint. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgl6GS4YLi-Lx7Kfh0_oZVEgg0VA8a2aZGCeerXMQRBZtGdCLtsEfJpO_N4LwqwK0HwnlaXO3cAb171onJe9ESORGqRBQ7BASi_Ms-AT2rrwugtGsfdWbq8FtfXfwpQJkaATZMiCG3bVg/s640/blogger-image-2144833695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgl6GS4YLi-Lx7Kfh0_oZVEgg0VA8a2aZGCeerXMQRBZtGdCLtsEfJpO_N4LwqwK0HwnlaXO3cAb171onJe9ESORGqRBQ7BASi_Ms-AT2rrwugtGsfdWbq8FtfXfwpQJkaATZMiCG3bVg/s640/blogger-image-2144833695.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>The dresser itself got a couple coats of an antique white...</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxbGMS6-uI4QxiGv7ZK_SUTOPAfKNu980hSFtjuZa9g4tHLXDLk5FMNeRchOs7hB0Bzz4oporfmxBhr1LlLczEWtbnT-bpKOOSP8-4U1mBHq3S6ExwX2K91ZwyvMSA_qh7LLlDnz7fNJ30/s640/blogger-image-2054503493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxbGMS6-uI4QxiGv7ZK_SUTOPAfKNu980hSFtjuZa9g4tHLXDLk5FMNeRchOs7hB0Bzz4oporfmxBhr1LlLczEWtbnT-bpKOOSP8-4U1mBHq3S6ExwX2K91ZwyvMSA_qh7LLlDnz7fNJ30/s640/blogger-image-2054503493.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>And I added in these great white porcelain knobs that I also found at the thrift store for $0.10 each.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgno-udj-3xnO0IlaTlQnqHejtphYNUAtnlMgQMKiGOIJwpA6d6J-r2mJMIT_DAtRD0OQomfGb30-M2qGZhGAO2irXKsnc5DNpSzUlGXQ4C7qM_uA73xjm0jjrLEuiKPCwJhpbODpnvv_fe/s640/blogger-image--175578901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgno-udj-3xnO0IlaTlQnqHejtphYNUAtnlMgQMKiGOIJwpA6d6J-r2mJMIT_DAtRD0OQomfGb30-M2qGZhGAO2irXKsnc5DNpSzUlGXQ4C7qM_uA73xjm0jjrLEuiKPCwJhpbODpnvv_fe/s640/blogger-image--175578901.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>And this is what the final product looks like. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-rujJ-h0bp1TI3qisd67IGbcY2hQL6u2TeP1gXJ6D0ibxG-_ZU3RfbxLgmyLg8790daLai5icYFbD71O77ulBhSV9aI7FjQHrF6R1XqyRU5zz7NQROpisOseg3AYKKhBiOWDXXosm7vkc/s640/blogger-image-144160986.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-rujJ-h0bp1TI3qisd67IGbcY2hQL6u2TeP1gXJ6D0ibxG-_ZU3RfbxLgmyLg8790daLai5icYFbD71O77ulBhSV9aI7FjQHrF6R1XqyRU5zz7NQROpisOseg3AYKKhBiOWDXXosm7vkc/s640/blogger-image-144160986.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Pretty cute eh? </div><div>I think this might be my favourite dresser so far....in part because for a change I didn't just pin something and leave it there as inspiration...I actually did it!! </div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0