My Studio

This is a time I wish I'd taken up photography seriously. I'd love to edit these pics so they look uber-professional and dreamy. But reality is all I have the skill for. Oh well.

This month I worked really hard to turn our Kidz Kave (hang out room) into the Studio (art studio). Hubby painted and moved furniture in. I worked at bringing in things I had around the house to create a space that brings a smile to my face. I have a few things I'll be adding and changing, but it's about 3/4 of the way done.

This is where I keep all my supplies. I ordered really pretty seashell themed papers to replace the funky bright papers. That will make a big difference. I like my mess to be behind closed doors. I wish you could see my cute little birdcage on top of the hatboxes. So charming.


I love my little sewing organizer. I bought the wooden box from my favorite consignment shop and covered over the painted flowers with that cute ribbon (I got from the same place) that says "Life's a Beach."  I think I want to hang something I've actually sewn over the whole table. Guess I should get sewing :)

This is the new Kidz Korner. I used a plant stand to organize all their papers, markers, canvases, etc. It's a fun place for them to go to get all their goodies. I realized after I snapped the pic that my favorite part--the white wooden carousel we store all the colored pencils and markers--was missing. It's being used by these cute kids making some awesome paper cities. I'll post about that later.

This is our cute little paint wall. I might eventually replace the paints with artwork we create. But for now, it's fun to see all the bright colors! The magnet board below the paints is temporarily bare. I have a feeling all the bare spots in the room will be filled soon enough.

This is a fun way to display my ribbons. I'd say I buy most of my ribbon either for Valentine's Day or for my girls, hence all the pink. I'm excited to see the messages the children plan to leave us for inspiration. 

This is one thing I love love love. I'm sorry I can't photograph better. I got a frame I love from Goodwill and replace the glass with galvanized metal. Then I put all my embellishments, buttons, sequins, etc. in clear condiment containers from the local restaurant supply store and hot glued magnets on the back. I can see all those little things I've been saving for year, but not using because they were a mess in a drawer. The silver platters above are held up with DiscHangers and are from the dollar store. Cheap but cute.

This is my very favorite part of the room. I haven't decided if I'll leave her white or start embellishing her with all sorts of doodads. That could be really fun! She's on the wall I want to put my favorite inspiration pieces, and things I create. I will see this wall as I sit and create.

My boys have asked for me to not make things so "pretty." I gently reminded them that this is "my" room for this season, and I am sharing it with them. TeeHee. 

The next room we'll tackle is my hubby's new model train room. It used to be a playroom.

Enlightening or Embarassing?

Why not keep going with a good thing?


10. My dog is the Candy Cane Caper. Our 13 year old husky has apparently developed an affinity for the striped goodness. That means there can be NONE wrapped up under the Christmas tree lest he sniff them out and tear into them.

9. Bubble wrap is still the best Christmas gift. Every year I remember this--after I've spent untold amounts of money on the things it comes wrapped around. (Yes, I ended my sentence with a preposition. What's scarier is that I called myself out on it. Maybe it's time to get some work!)

8. For the first time in my life I love drug reps. I was recently diagnosed with allergy induced asthma and came away with some costly samples. Keep on, time-hoggers.

7. Fast food is the enemy. No matter if it's from Taco Bell or the local pizza place, it's nasty, provides no nutrition, and makes my muffin top bigger. Time to cook large amounts of food and freeze.

6. I am a terrible mother. My children asked me if I would color with them, and I pushed them off to write this blog post nobody will even read. Really?! I have a need...a need for...words. Not as exciting when it doesn't rhyme :(

5. Boys' dress shoes are rare and priceless. They will wear these shoes for caroling, Christmas, to celebrate the first Saturday of the year, when the sun shines past 5pm, for Easter, until their toes pop out the end, because at these prices I will force myself to learn how to make them into sandals.

4. I own a hair crimper. And I nearly used it tonight. On my 11 year old daughter. I used to use one on my 11 year old self. I am officially old. I should have gotten the hint when they started playing "my music" in elevators at JC Penney.

3. I like getting away with girlfriends. Soul Restoration 2 inspired me to do something I've always wanted to do, so I planned a girls' getaway. It. was. so. fun. I got some bad news while I was away, but my friends wrapped me in love. They are the awsomest!

2. 40 is going to be a good year. I learned so many things during 39 that I can finally live in the freedom I know is mine. Thank you Jesus!

1. It's important to love extravagantly while I have the chance. Because someday the chance will be taken from me.

Growing Forever

Source

My daughter heard:

Whatever you will be in life, 
you will be by the time you're 18. 

You will never be more than that.

Of course that's not what was said, 

but it is what she heard. 

Only seven more years to get it right.

 Pressure.

Nothing new for decades.

Tears.

We laid on our stomachs on my bed.

Time for a growing-up girl chat

about filtering what we hear

and from whom we hear it

and in what context.

Time to share

TRUTH.
 

Sure I grew up to the age of 18.

I grew bones, hair, brain power.

I grew in knowledge and experience.

I even grew in character and love.

But if I'm honest

[and I try to be]

I've grown the most 

in the past eleven years.

Since she was born.

Since I became a mother.

Since my heart filled up with love

and set me on a journey far above rooftops.

TRUTH:

We never stop growing.

He who began a good work in us

will be faithful to complete it.

He constantly molds us into His image,

full of grace and mercy, 

loving us far beyond what even

our earthly hearts can comprehend.

No, sweet child,

you will not be all you were meant to be

by the time you are eighteen years old.

You will be all you were meant to be

when He completes you.

Another Top Ten?

Really, do I think I'm David Letterman? Or is that Jay Leno? Can you tell I don't watch the late-night shows? Well, every now and then I sneak in a SNL. But I usually can't make it past the opening monologue.

...sigh...

10. I am a hermit. A high introvert. Seriously high. I am surrounded by extroverts.  All my friends know the ins and outs of each others' lives, and I'm stranded on this little island, watching what tidbits I can see from afar. I want to be involved. But in a feast-or-famine manner, I deplete myself in "friendship binges." Help!

9. I am gearing up to start Soul Restoration 2 with Melody Ross. The rest of the online class is finishing up right now, but I ran into some unexpected delays (see above); so I'm getting ready to dive in. First I need to set up my craft room. At least unearth the table. So....ahem...I'll be starting Soul Restoration in December 2013. (teehee)

8. I'm loving my Bible study. It's on words, based on the book of James and it's pretty powerful stuff. Let's just say my husband is very, very thankful I've been invited to participate.

7. I am fed up with my gut. My muffin top. I know it's time to cut back on the junk food when I get golf-ball sized fat deposits on the inside of my knees. Blech! I'm having a mental block that says, "Come on, girl. You still have room in those new pants you bought because you outgrew your old ones." True. But not inspiring. All I need to do is get up and bike in the mornings like I used to, and "just say no" to treats. I'm a treat-a-holic. For true.

6. My identity is not directly tied to my size. I keep reminding myself. (see above)

5. I am completely, totally, awesomely stoked for a girls' retreat coming up. Eight of us are sneaking away for a few days to a beautiful 1928 era cabin a little north of us. I've got twinkle lights and roaring fireplaces on my mind. It'll be just in time for frost and early Christmas. Yay!

4. We've moved Thanksgiving. To Saturday so my sister and her family can join us. If you come from a family that takes tradition very seriously, like I do, you know that's BIG news. I wonder if we'll end up doing something completely hip and untraditional. Could be kind of fun!

3. I'm letting things go. That's code for "Don't look too closely if you come to visit, because the other guests are really dust bunnies dressed for company." Between schooling at home, adding in extracurriculars, Bible studies, occasional playdates (see #1), and some time with my husband, I've simply run out of time. Ignoring housework seems to carry the least serious consequences. Time will tell.

2. I'd like to write fiction. There. I said it. Out loud. In public. (Thank God nobody reads this blog!) I love poetry, and I have somewhat of a handle on non-fiction when I get serious about it. After all, I paid a lot of money to get my degree in Professional Writing and Publications. But I've always been afraid of writing novels. Maybe I'll start with short stories. I know they're technically harder because you have to weave so much into a short piece. Still...maybe Soul Restoration 2 will help me get started.

1. I am almost 40. Another out-loud admission. Not so exciting as writing fiction. But I'm thinking of how I'd like to celebrate next spring. Maybe a 40 things list...things I'd like to do or try. Or maybe singling out the 40 people who've most influenced me in my life to thank them. THAT would be fun! Ideas, people, ideas!!

You are a spectacular audience. Nary a cough in the midst of my tirades. I look forward to my next top ten list. It's a little bit cleansing, as self-help-pitiful as that sounds.

Breathe. Remember.

Breathe in.

He is my strength.

Breathe out.

He is my peace.

Honestly, that's what I'm having to do lately. Seems like we went from whirlwind vacation to hurricane to one marvelous day of school to death in the family to two weeks of catch-up, not so great schooling. I feel like I'm shoving about 80 hours worth of work into each day. Our house is a wreck. And don't even remind me I have to get up into the attic to exchange clothes for the season. That will just do me in.

I had to go shopping today. Poor me, right? I lost twenty pounds last year, so I gave away most of my clothes. Ten of those pounds found me again. Dang, they must have built-in GPS! So I have nothing that fits me. My little sister came to rescue me at JC Penney, to keep me from cyring a river in the dressing room. It was fun. After I bought some clothes, I ate a highly fattening meal and drank an empty-calorie beer. Whoops.

I've spent the evening packing for an educational field trip four hours from home, My hubby told the children he'd put up the car dvd player, but mean home school mommy nixed that idea. They're going to have to listen to books on tape and read tons of history books. Oh, I'm mean!

I could keep rambling, but instead I'm going to read a half hour of "I Don't Know How She Does It,," because that chick is way more stressed and busy than I am. I don't know, kind of makes me feel better. Sad, I know.

it is well

I can assuredly say none of my grandchildren will be named Irene. She cut into the last week of television priveleges my children have until next summer. She is not very popular in our house.

All in all, we're very blessed as far as the weather anomalies over the past week. We missed the east coast earthquake--the sand in NC didn't rumble too much. We did pack up and leave the beach early when we were boarded up for Hurrican Irene. Something about the nailing into the house freaked me out and we packed up and left in an hour.

We're showering at my sister's house today (and the kids are getting in some tv) because we have no power. It went out Saturday night just after we finished Soul Surfer. My hubby spoke with our county councilman today and he said we're not on the schedule to be worked on for a WEEK.

Is it a catastrophe? No. Really, the only thing we're missing is a frig and hot showers. We can drive the 30 mins. here to shower. And maybe even visit her mall which houses a Build A Bear. My kids are itching to get there. We can eat non-heated things for breakfast and lunch, and maybe we'll get invitations for dinners. (We have one for tonight.) Or we can try grilling. Our grill has a side burner for steaming veggies.

We are truly blessed. Truly. Nobody's hurt. We're having fun. We have amazing friends and family. But I'm still battling a feeling of...not sure how to describe it. Loss, maybe? Disconcertment. Displacement. I'm not sure. But that's why I will sing "It is well with my soul."

Melting

Last December, I wrote this post, Thawing Out, 

when I was just finally beginning to awaken to life

 after a long, hard spell.

Today I can say I'm just a little sliver of ice 

floating around in a tall glass of cool water. 

What a splendid place to be! 

This morning I read a post on home schooling and got a nostalgic, 

"I remember when life was like that," feeling deep in my heart.

Melt.

I'm inspired to put together our art room.

I even dreamed about it last night.

My Ikea catalog is dog-eared with possibilities.

Drip.

I rearranged two twin beds and rearranged dressers for my girls.

This weekend I'm going to help them put up their wall decorations.

Splash.

I'm almost back...

though I think of Sara Groves' words:

But the places that used to fit me

Cannot hold the things I've learned

I'm glad they can't.

I'm excited to find new places.

Scared, but excited.

Isn't that what living is--dangerous and fulfilling?
I'm right where I need to be...
and I'm feeling it.