EEEK you have to see this!

I have to admit I'm in a proud place right now...just tickled pink:)  One of my very favorite bloggers interviewed me in her photographer's interview spot.  Miss Becky of Life with Kaishon chose ME this week.  This is major people.  Those interviews are a-maz-ing!   Please please go here and check it out:)

Have a blessed day.

butterfly kisses

A few months ago Little Chick started a new bedtime ritual.  It came out of nowhere.  In addition to the turtle star nightlight, noisemaker, and air purifier she now surrounds herself with about a dozen of her sweet little stuffed animals.  Each one has it's own special assigned seating.


I have no idea how she falls asleep all smothered with those toys.  It makes me a little claustrophobic looking at her, but it must calm her and make her feel safe and that's a good thing.  She also needs her butterfly kisses before I leave the room.  I love the giggles that always come when my lashes touch her cheeks and vice versa.  It makes my day:)

We've been getting all our sleep overs and play dates in.  The girls seem to be taking this moving thing with such stride.  But it's the little things that come out that make me wonder.

The girls made goodbye books for each other.  When she read through the last pages I could see her eyes mist up and she quickly made her way to the bathroom.  Saying goodbye is hard no matter what the age.  It breaks my heart for them.  It's going to be good.  I know they will adjust and make friends in no time.  I'm really not worried.  I just wish this part was easier...and over.

Have a blessed day.

highlights and curtain calls

This last week was chuck full of activities for Big Chick.  It started with a trip to our wonderful hair lady Meme.  When she was finishing up their cuts last month I just couldn't bear the thought of not seeing her again, so we made a little appointment for...HIGHLIGHTS! 



I know.  I'm crazy right??  She's way too young.  Now I'm going to have to keep up with it. UGH!  But you know what?  She was tickled pink.  Meme did a great job.  She just gave her a few little sun kissed strands.

And she looks absolutely adorable.  She has the perfect hair color to highlight.  It gave her a fresh new look:)  I'm really excited for her.  Now she's officially ready for junior high!!

We are in love with this gal.  She adores my kids.  I know she does.  She asks them questions and really cares about the answers.  She's so down to earth and real.  I wish we could swoop her up and take her with us.  And she'd come too.  She's so excited for our move to Virginia. 





The other exciting part of last week was Dinner Theater camp.  She's been after me for months about being in a play.  She loves to sing and really has the desire to try acting, SO we signed her up for camp.  It was perfect. 

It gave her a little taste of what it's all about.  They had camp every day for three hours and then on Friday they gave a little performance.  I could tell she was really nervous.  She's never done anything like this before.  She wouldn't smile at all during the first act.  The dancing parts were stressing her out.  She kept biting her bottom lip:)

By the end of the show I could tell she had loosened up and was enjoying herself more.  I'm really glad we had a chance to squeeze it in before we left.

The girls also finished up the soccer season.  Can't say we were sad to see it come to an end.  We sat in so many cold and rainy practices and games.  Cussing Minnesota under our breath...no we wouldn't do that!;) 


It seems things are wrapping up here.  There's some closure happening.  Boxes are being packed and projects are being completed.  It's Honey's last week at work.  Things are progressing.  It's a good feeling.  Excitement is replacing fear.  Just like Big Chick with her play.  I'm getting more comfortable with every step.  It's the final curtain call.  I feel a bow and a curtsy coming:)  Oh to end this journey with the sound of applause.  Now wouldn't that be grand!

Have a blessed day.

the sweetest day

When my friend Suzanne mentioned taking the girls to a strawberry field this week my heart literally skipped a beat.  One of my favorite things I remember about my childhood was the strawberry patch in my parent's garden.  I love strawberries, but not those pulpy tasteless grocery store variety.  Nothing can beat a fresh out of the patch ripe berry.  Pure bliss:)

It was the perfect overcast cool day to go pickin'...a cool 60's degrees.  Everything was lush and green with all the rain we've been getting.  Those berries practically jumped into our crate.  We had our cute boots on, ready to take on any mud puddles that came across our path:)

The thing about doing fun things with friends right before you move across the country is it gives your heart a big squeeze.  Like it sucks the breath right out of ya...leaving you laying limp on the ground.  I don't know how many times throughout the day I had to stop myself from going down the doubt path.  He's paved this new road for us.  HE'S opened the door.  I am not afraid!  Repeat.  He's paved this new road for us...

I love this lady and the way the Lord placed her in my life.  I'm writing this completely teared up because I want so badly to shove her into the back of my car and drive her with me to Virginia.  She's just a blessing, plain and simple. 

She's a keeper.  One of those once in a lifetime friend's that would do anything for you, AND we happen to have blogging in common.  How often does that happen??  Blogging is a language and community like none other and to have someone who gets it...gets me.  What a precious gift.

The fun thing about hanging out with Suzanne is that she lives in a different area than me.  So she takes me to her neck of the woods and we do fun things like strawberry patches and...

Peppermint Twists. 

I can't even remember the last time I went to a drive in fast food place.  You know the kind where they bring it to your car and hang the tray from your window.  SO FUN!  It completely goes against my weight goals right now, but I don't even care.  If you can't remember the last time you had a french fry or a milkshake it's been too long;)

We took a drive through the most beautiful countryside.  We oohed and ahhhhed over old barns, green fields and little lakeside cottages.  It was the most fun I've had in like forever!

Then we went back to her house and her son William made us shaved icees from his new fangled machine.  Can you have too many sweets in one day?  It was heavenly.

Guess what we had for dinner?  I told you it was the sweetest day ever!  It just doesn't get any better than this.  It made a memory...a sweetest day memory and as I started thinking about all the fun things I've done in Minnesota over the last 7 years I came up with a list.  My top 10 MN blog posts.  Hope you'll go down memory lane with me.

Favorite Minnesota Memories:

1.)  Most exciting day

2.)  The perfect wintry day

3.)  The most sentimental day

4.)  Bucket list artsy day

5.)  Favorite fair day

6.)  Most exhilarating day

7.)  Favorite rainy day

8.)  Most spontaneous day

9.) The dream fulfilling day
10.) A journey girl day

Have a blessed weekend.

and so it begins...

 


The hard part of moving obviously are the goodbyes.  I am emotional to a fault.  Let's just say I live and love very deeply.  Goodbyes about do me in.  It's the part from the beginning of this process that made me not want to move forward. 

Today I had to say goodbye to these sweet women.  Women for the most part that I haven't known for very long.  I kind of shimmied my way into their neighborhood bible study, and they of course welcomed me with open arms.  It's been such a blessing to study the word with them.  There is a richness that comes from friendships when the Lord is the common thread.


I'm praying so hard that the Lord leads me to another bible study with women I can connect with.  It's like air to me.  I need it so desperately.  One because I'm lazy when it comes to studying the word on my own, and two because friends are vital to my well being.  I know He knows this.  I'm sure He's got it covered, but if you could pray that specifically for me I'd so appreciate it!

I'm feeling kinda down on my physical self lately. I've gained 10 pounds since last year. 10 POUNDS!! And I can tell.  My clothes are a little snug. My face and arms look pudgy.  I'm a stress eater, and there's been just a little bit of stress going on lately. Funny thing is my honey is losing weight. Well actually it's not funny it's annoying the he$@ out of me. He's looking lean and fit and I'm going all soft.  I know I shouldn't wait for another day to start cleaning it up, but I feel like I can't properly focus on myself when everything is in complete chaos around me. Hopefully once we get moved in and settled I can put it in high gear. Anyone with me??




This picture completely cracks me up.  Let's just say I don't do candid well.  I look like I'm saying DUH or DER!  That face is in reaction to the gift my bible study girls got me.  It was the sweetest necklace.  It's a glassed in mustard seed with the scripture Matthew 17:20 engraved on the back.  It says: If ye have faith as a grain of a mustard seed ...nothing shall be impossible unto you.  They also prayed over our family and the move.  Goodness I was snotty mess when that prayer was over.   So grateful for them and that new reminder that I'm wearing around my neck.  It only takes a tiny of speck of faith to believe that great things will happen.  Surely I have at least that much faith right?? 

Have a blessed day.

a trashy make-over

I know I should be packing, but something about this move has inspired me.  I have projects going left and right.  Hopefully I'll get an extra dose of energy to get everything done in the knick of time.

Honey has held onto this trash can since he was a little boy.  It was headin' to the garbage pile...actually in my arms ready to be tossed when I remembered seeing this.  My friend Melody did the most amazing tutorial for a trash can redo.  She used a 5 gallon bucket, but I figured this cowboy can would do the trick nicely.

Better already!

Then you slap on some paint.  Doesn't have to be pretty.

Cut some pretty papers or fabric into a scallop design and then ModPodge the heck out of it.  I hated this part.  Decoupage glue and I don't mix.  It's like impossible to get rid of all the wrinkles and bubbles, but you know what?  It doesn't matter.  You can't mess up this project!

When it's all dry, write out some of your favorite sayings with a permanent marker and voila!  From trash to treasure literally.  I can see it in my studio now;)  Can you believe it used to say Dallas Cowboys??

Have a blessed day.

la la land

(table, lamp, chair, hanging picture frame...la la land.  love pillow TJ Maxx)

Exactly one month from today we move into our new house.  YIPPEE!!!  Can I make a confession?  I lay in bed at night and dream of decorating.  I have the furniture placed, the walls painted and the paintings hung.  It's so much fun to try and picture it. 

Much to my honey's demise I have found the best occasional store EVAH!  It's called La La Land and it's in downtown Chaska right across the street from Dunn Brothers Coffee.  The owner has put together quite a collection and she would probably say I've become her most loyal customer.  Last month I think I single handedly paid her rent!

My style is evolving a little.  I find myself drawn to more simple feminine pieces.  I just know this cute little chair will fit in somewhere.

The room I dream about the most is my studio space.  We have a rec room upstairs with doors that will hide my mess and it's all mine.  I feel so incredibly spoiled.  It will be big enough to have a table for my jewelry making, a table for my painting and a desk for blogging...yeeeeee!!!!  I have it painted, organized and ready for creating in my mind.  It looks out onto our backyard full of...you guessed it TREES;)

I'm a sucker for anything wire.  I've always wanted some vintage locker baskets.  I bought the most amazing industrial type shelf at IKEA recently and it is going to be chocked full of my supplies.  These baskets will make it look so cool.

I had a round vintage laundry basket in our dining room before, but when I saw this square one I knew it would be perfect to hold all our board games.  You just don't see square ones very often. 

This is what started it all.  I fell in love with this turquoise hutch/desk for Big Chick's room.  Remember her room is turquoise, pink and chocolate brown.  It's going to look awesome in there.

I think I've lost my mind...Honey thinks so too.  I know I should be purging and throwing stuff out.  Trust me we've done that too, but it's oh so fun to dream, plot and plan out a new space.  I can't wait to see how it all comes together.  ***BTW if anyone wants this couch it's free to a good local home.  Just email me.  See I'm purging;)

Hope you have a wonderful Father's Day:)

near death

I will be the first to admit I don't read my Bible like I should.  I get lazy I guess, so when my friend Sasha told me about a daily devotional she reads that comes directly into her email called Girlfriends in God I knew I needed to sign up.  I've started reading it and it has become such a blessing.  I feel like the gals who write it are talking directly to me. 


Today's devotional was about angels.  I grew up with my mom teaching me to pray that the Lord would loose his angels to guard, protect and watch over me.  So every morning before the girls get on the bus or before we get on with our day we pray and we loose our angels. The Bible says For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. ‘Because he loves me,’ says the LORD, ‘I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name’ (Psalm 91:11-14, NIV).  Isn't it a wild thought that we have angels encamped around us?  They watch over us and keep us from harm. 

{find here}

When I was growing up I clearly remember three times that I had near death experiences.  One time when I was maybe 10 or 11, I was working in a concession stand at a baseball game.  I didn't have rubber soled shoes on or anything grounded and I happened to touch a popcorn machine or something that had an electrical short in it.  It took a hold of me and I felt myself being electrocuted.  I seriously could not let go.  Someone had to pull me off.

{find here}

Another time I was at a friend's swimming pool and jumped in the deep end and sank to the bottom.  I vividly remember looking up and my life more or less flashed before my eyes.  I didn't know how to get to the surface.  I was in panic mode.  Someone jumped in and saved me.  And then finally when I was in high school I was crossing over a busy highway and from out of the corner of my eye I saw a glimpse of silver.  It was a kid I went to high school with in his tiny little sportscar.  I had pulled directly in front of him.  I remember crying with relief and shaking like a leaf.  There was no way in the world his car didn't drive right through mine!!! 


There are countless other times I'm sure that God has had his hand on my life and spared it in one way or another.  Have you ever come close to death??  Do you believe in guardian angels??

Have a blessed day.