Some Former Junk

So, as you know I have been collecting various shapes and sizes of junk. I am getting better at being more selective....but sometimes things just call to me. Some need paint....some need so much more!!This cute little sheep just needed some paint. He is even better than I hoped for. I just love GW. I have been wanting some old books to use under lamps and what not to make them taller. I didn't want to pay a lot so I got some ugly old books.Then I covered them...not so ugly any more. I used paper on 2 and fabric on one. The paper was easier to work with...FYI. Oh, and I just used double sided tape to stick everything together. I have seen this on a few blogs and I must say....it turned out pretty good.Then there was this cute little oak shelf. There is A LOT of oak trim in my house. Before I had oak trim...I thought I wanted oak trim. Now that I have it...and cannot paint it....I'm over it. Anyway, this little shelf was pretty great....if you're into that sort of thing. I, however, am into PAINT!!And so now it is black....and fabulous. Magic in a can, I tell ya. Then there was these guys. Pretty straight forward. Just some paint and fabric....oh, and wooden letters. Drum roll......... A small grouping for Christmas!! WOOHOO!! ((The color really isn't this orange....not sure what that is all about)) So, this what I have finished (other than a couple of gifts that I can't show you yet).With any luck and a little less humidity, I will mow through the rest of these frames by Halloween....yeah, maybe....if I'd quit buying more!!

Such A Long Day

Now that Kevin is in Texas, Thursdays are his P-day. He is allowed a small amount of time on the computer to e-mail his Mama. I find that on Thursday I am very distracted and constantly checking my mail. I am trying to stay busy....but it is hard. It's also 18 months (tomorrow) since my Mom died. It has been gnawing a hole in the box that I keep the painful memories in. They are escaping from that safe place in my head where I keep them so I'm not caught off guard by a tidal wave of emotion. This week I have been tearing up with no apparent provocation. The other morning an older gentleman stopped to chat with Heather and I while we were loitering on the sidewalk after class. He was talking about how he was trying to stay busy. He had lost his wife recently (cue the tears). Oh, man. His lip quivered and I almost lost it. I am getting pretty good about not becoming an emotional pile of mush on a daily basis....but around certain anniversaries or holidays I am still a wreck. So if you notice it...sorry...just pretend I'm normal. I'm trying to pretend the same thing.

On a more cheerful note, Jo went to girls camp last week. It was different that the camps she (and I) have been to in the past. This was an encampment. Not sure why...really. It was held on a college campus in SD. There were girls there from MN, ND, SD, OH, MT, WY and maybe one more...but I don't really remember. They stayed in the dorms and met girls from all over the church. They had classes and played games and made quilts (for a service project).They were treated to a concert from Kenneth Cope....which, I might add....Jo LOVED!!! She got to meet him and everything. The highlight of the trip (according to Jo) was meeting Sister Elaine Dalton, the General Young Women President.WOW!! Jo said she was just full of light. She met all the girls and spoke to them and hugged them all. Jo said she could just feel the Spirit rolling off her. Jo was reluctant (to say the least) to go to this encampment. It really ruffled her feathers. But she went, promising not to have a bad attitude the whole time. True to her word, she tried to relax....and she did. I haven't seen this smile on her face for a long time. I am so thankful she went and I am thankful for her YW leader, Charlene.Char has been exactly what my Jo has needed. I owe her a HUGE debt of gratitude.

I have also been redoing some of my tired wall groupings. I have had the same things on the walls of my house for 15 years. I love lurking on other peoples blogs to see how they are decorating. You'd be surprised at some of the things that seem to be coming back. Do you remember those GIANT fork and spoon sets? They are all over Blogland. I found 2 sets at Good Will yesterday. I let them stay there. I just can't wrap my brain around that yet. I did go shopping around my own house and came up with some new things to group together. I am still waiting for a big letter R for the empty frame.I got that frame and the shelf and the lamb at GW (yes, Lana....I am the GW queen). With a little paint and some scrapbook paper they got a fabulous new home. I made or had everything else in my craftroom (aka craproom).I think it looks pretty good. I will like it even more when that stupid R gets here. I have so many more projects in various stages of completion. Some are gifts...some are not (sorry honey). I'll show you more before and after shots when they are done. I am in need of a craftroom on the main floor of my house. My poor diningroom table becomes my work area. Someday....right??

Self Esteem

I think I might be a little goofy from all the spray paint fumes today....but I was thinking. I tend to do that while I paint....think...that is. My brain uses that time to mull over various topics until I am ready to share them with someone....hopefully with enough mulling, they will make sense. So I was thinking about a conversation Heather and I had while standing around after class the other morning. ((side note)) We do that a lot. We'll stand outside our exercise class and chat and watch the next class go in for their morning dose of torture {love ya Natalie!}. Sometimes we are even there when that class comes out!! Talk about embarrassing. We watch the old men wander into the cafe for their morning coffee club, too. We've endured the comments on our sedentary state...and kept on gabbing. ((back to my ramblings....)) So on one such morning we were talking about the way we (as women) see ourselves. I see my friends (I'm including my sisters in this column today, because they are my closest friends!) as fabulous, brave, stunning women. Yet listening to them talk....they see themselves as less than all that. I'm sure I am guilty of the same thing. I have a friend who is a FABULOUS Mom and a great listener. I have a friend who never backs down from any challenge in her life....you won't catch her hiding in a food lined cave. And another of my peeps is a wonderful decorator with a creative soul and a runners body. And still these women see themselves as less than fabulous!! Who knows why we discount ourselves and the talents and attributes we bring into every situation. Who knows why we judge ourselves so harshly, instead of seeing ourselves as our friends see us. What would happen in our lives if we took a step back and looked at ourselves as our friends do, as our kids do, as our Moms do, as our spouses do? Who would we see? Would we see the petty little flaws that seem huge and unending to us....or would we see the the beauty and compassion, the unending potential and the near perfection? Would we be nicer to ourselves....more forgiving? For the rest of the day....and tomorrow if I can swing it....I am going to try to see myself as my friends see me. I will try to see myself through the eyes of my kids. I will try to see the potential my Mom swore she saw. I will try to see that person that Jim sees when he looks at me. Maybe I'll learn to not be so hard on myself....we could all use a little of that. Maybe it will motivate me to be a nicer person in general.....maybe.

Two Down

Two finished and delivered. Whew!! That makes 3 to go. I am waiting on a letter for one...Susan...yours should be in the mail in a couple of days. Jackie, I am still mulling over just the right colors for yours. Any suggestions??
Remember this little beauty?? All gold and faded birdie fabulousness?? Well...look at it now!!
Magic in a can...that what they should have named spray paint. Truly...that's what it is. Here is the Pay it Forward gift I made for Salena, over at the Ness Nest. She loves it...and so do I.
Have you paid it forward today?

Remember This?

I've been doing a few projects lately. It's kept me busy and out of trouble (mostly). I found this plain tray at GW a couple of weeks ago.It was a dollar so I figured I could find some use for it. I don't use trays a whole lot so it took me a minute to see it's true potential. Of course I painted it red....really...was there any doubt?? I tried using it as a pile catcher in the kitchen....but really??? Do I need an excuse for the family to pile stuff on the counter?? No, they do just fine on their own. Where to use it?? Then, I was cruising around Etsy and found some vinyl letter phrases that I loved. So, I bought a few without any real plan on how to use them. I'm kind of impulsive that way. ((impish grin)) When I laid the freshly (beautifully) painted tray next to the newly (very promptly) arrived vinyl phrases....well...magic happened. The tray fell in love with one of the newbies and this is the product of their union.I love it so much....but again....where to put it?? As I was contemplating the universe at 3 this morning....it hit me. The perfect place for my lovely red tray is the top of the book case.I bought the tall thingies at Hobby Lobby for 90% off. I got them both for $3.00. I was planning on using them for book ends but the were too tall and really just not quite right. I moved the owls from a lower shelf (also GW finds....ahh, the magic of spray paint!!). I do love them there. So, now I am on the look-out for book ends...but hey...the tray has found it's perfect new home, as have the owls. All is right with the world....for now...

A Rollercoaster Ride

The last 4 weeks of my life have been the most emotional since 2/14/08. I have had tremendous highs and heart breaking lows. Today in the space of 6 minutes I've had both. The phone rang...not completely unusual. I looked at the caller ID....huh...a Utah number. I knew Kev was flying out to Texas today.....did I dare to hope?? I picked it up. An almost familiar...yet just a bit different...voice exclaimed "MOM!!" I almost fell of my chair. I was so excited to hear that again. My emotions took me through the roof. Turtle Balm to this Mom's soul. "Hey, Bud!!" Was all I could squeak out. Then I pulled it together knowing that he didn't have much time. He asked me about the new 4-wheeler and he told me how much he missed the dogs. He has lost 15 pounds and has already worn through one pair of suit pants. We laughed at some things he's seen and he told me he misses me just a little. Then the pay phone chimed in and he needed to go. I told him that I love him and I would talk......."I love you, Mom." Click. My heart went from the highest heights to a crash landing on my unswept kitchen floor. I guess habit takes over. I'll talk to you later just seems like the right thing....but later means December. On the bright side, I got to talk to my son for the first time in 20 days today. He is doing better than I could have imagined.....better than I could have hoped for. So why am I weeping in a puddle of broken heart? Maybe I'm just not ready to let go of him. When he left 20 days ago I knew he would never really be mine again. His heart now belongs to the Lord and serving Him. And when he comes back....he will find some pretty young thing who will claim his heart forever. While I welcome this for him...I guess I still need time to get used to the idea. Oh, how I love this child of mine. And miss him.....

Happy Birthday To You!!

Yesterday, August 1st was a very important day in my life.....back when it was 1979. You see I had a younger brother and a younger sister and my Mom was about to give birth to another sibling. Now this was before gender identifying ultra-sounds....so we were about to be surprised. Well....most of them were going to be surprised. I wanted another baby sister. You see, the one I already had didn't like to play barbies or house with me (she was 3 for crying out loud!!). She wanted to hang with Travis and play "boy stuff".
I needed and prayed for a little sister who would be like me and want to do girly stuff. Boy...if I had only know the power of prayer back then. My poor Mom....I did get a little sister who was very much like me....and still is. She is very different than I am too. She is strong and courageous. She is hip and cool (just ask Jo). She is one-of-a-kind. I just love this girl.
We have such a good time together. It wasn't until a few years ago when I noticed that not everyone was BFF's with their Mom and sisters. I'd just assumed that everyone had that remarkable bond. huh...I was wrong. We are so lucky to have each other. It is very hard for me to live so far away from them.
Miss Kim is a great listener and is always there for my kids as well as me. She never seems to tire of our incessant whining. She offers good advice and a shoulder when we just need to cry it out. I do wish that I could have been there for her birthday...but instead I just have to wish her all the happiness and the richest blessings from here.
So, my darling sister, I love you more than I can say and I miss you terribly. Someday I will live close to you again and we can hang out and resume our wild and crazy ways (like going to Wal-Mart together!!) Oh, how I love that girl!!!