Some Musings on Change

So my life has been turned upside down over the last 3 months. We have a new home in a new state. We have a new school for Jo
and a new job for Jim. We have a new ward and new church callings. We have new people waiting for us to get settled and get on with life. My Dad is adding a new member to our family as well. Lots of new going on around here. In case you didn't know....new is hard for me. I like old. I like constant and reliable. Change is hard for me. I guess that is why it is so prevalent in my life. When I am having a hard time adjusting to the changes life has thrown at me, I tend to withdraw. I am content to sit in my house and work on decorating or organizing or a paint project or two. I know that it is hard for new people to meet me that way....but that is their problem...right? I am content with the amazing friends and sisters in my life that love me, quirks and all. But here is the rub....I get to set an example for my daughter on how "normal" people get out and meet new friends. Sheesh, I am SO not qualified for the job. She has to go to a high school with 1600 other kids....about twice the size of her last school. I will tell you that not one of those kids in her classes has extended an invitation to sit with them at lunch or hang out after school. The church kids have been OK, but she doesn't see them at school....it's that big. How can I teach her to adjust to change when I myself struggle so hard with it. I have found that I tend to internalize her pain along with my own. Not a good idea....as I tend to "eat" my feelings. I have tried to change that long developed habit. I am able to do other things to fill the holes in my heart...but there are times when it is too strong, and I am too weak. So here we are, no right answers in sight. Looking for the end of the tunnel and hoping there isn't another train coming in the mean time. Are you good with change? How do you cope?

I Hate Change

I do. I hate change. It kind of gives me a rash. But Blogger, in it's infinite wisdom, has decided to change some things. Until I get it all figured out....bear with me. All I wanted to do was change the font color. Of course, that meant following the trend of change. I will accept it and gripe about it the whole time. That, my friends, is truly how I roll.


Just a note...
I figured it out. Take THAT Blogger!

A Touch of Aqua

Lately I have been diggin' all things aqua. I even painted my laundry room a startling shade of aqua. It is surprisingly bright. It does look better with stuff on the wall. I am hoping to tone it down a bit more with some curtains. Then I can show you...my friends who don't judge me....the finished project. I am waiting to show you the finished project because it bugs me to show anyone until it is finished and fabulous. Just how I roll. That being said I found THE CUTEST little owl EVER! I was looking at Hobby Lobby the other day....just scanning the fall decor when I came across this little gem.
There were 3 sizes but since they weren't on sale yet....I only got the littlest one. The thing I love the most about him are his eyes. It's hard to tell but the lines around his eyes are aqua. Yep...one thing I love (owls) enmeshed with another of my loves (aqua). I really heart him!
And then at the dollar store...there was this little guy. Cute...but the most awful shade of nude. A sad washed out hue of peach. I like a lot of variation in my pumpkin display....But I just couldn't love this color. So....cue the spray paint. (You're shocked, I know)
So here it is just plain old aqua. Beautiful, simple....a bit boring.....
I do love the simple look, but I figured I could do better. So, I brought out the glaze and the q-tips.
Now he has some dimension and personality. And he is SO fabulous.
He makes a statement without saying a word ;) I do love the unexpected pop of color. My other pumpkins seem to like him too. He's a keeper!
Bring on Fall. I am SO ready!

And I'll be linking to a few parties...

Toot Your Horn Tuesday
The Pumpkin Patch
The Creative Juices

Butterflies....in the Zoo?

It's true. They have butterflies in the zoo. And a nursery too...they have hundreds of chrysalis's that hang around until they hatch and are set free in the butterfly enclosure. They are really pretty. And just a little FYI...Papillion means butterfly....in French. Just sayin'.







So, there you have another reason to visit the Henry Doorley Zoo in Omaha. C'est magnifique!

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh....and Gorillas

This is my third trip to the zoo this summer. This trip included Jo, Reid, Mitchell and Melanie. The weather was about 15* cooler than it had been on my previous trips so the animals were a bit more active. The lions are always a favorite. We were checking out this female lion that was right next to the glass when the big male decided he wanted in on some of the people watching too.
He was seriously huge. Jo wasn't sure how safe she felt next to the glass.
So then she was going to sneak up on him....RAHR!!!
He was just stinking cool. AND HUGE!
She decided to roar a bit for us. I loved the zoo today.
For you Mel, this one would make a beautiful coat!!
Sorry for some of the glare. The sun kept bouncing off the glass that separated us from the animals in their indoor enclosures. The outdoor shots are a bit better.
This guy had just finished eating his raw meat breakfast. Tasty......
The Sun Bear looked as if he might like to jump the fence at the top of his cage here.
Making a leap for it.....
Just kidding. He just needed a better seat to scratch is bum...
More glare.....sorry...He was so contemplative. You could almost hear him hatching an escape plot......
And these are the best! There was one guy outside that seriously changed posses for me about ten times and finished it off by flipping me the bird. AWESOME!
There was a chase in the inside enclosure. The little one was playing tag with the big silver back. When they ran next to the glass they banged on it to scare the watchers. They like the reaction it gets.
I'll post some cool butterfly pictures and our Build a Bear trip soon. I need to go work on my newest paint project. I'm making a ribbon holder from Jim's 8th grade wood shop project.

Not Exactly

You those times when you have the bug to make something....but you really don't know what. I had that happen a few days ago. So I wandered into the magic the messy craft room and started to look around. What I came up with was a linen tea towel and a foam craft wreath and an over abundance of fall ribbon. Wreath!! Ok...in my head there was a picture like this...
or this.....
or even this....
But, let's face it....my flower arranging skills are limited and I hate trips out in the 95* (plus 95% humidity!) heat.....so I tend to use the stuff I have on hand. I took the tea towel and cut off the edges and then tore it into strips. The foam wreath base is green and not so pretty...so I used the towel to cover the green.
I wrapped the strips around the wreath and fastened them with hot glue.
Then I hung it on the wall and took a picture. Ok...obvious...I know. Sorry.
Now for the ribbon. I got a bunch of ribbon for 75% off at Hobby Lobby last year and needed to use it. I cut something like 2 feet off of each spool and started wrapping it around the beautified wreath base.
And then I hung it....oh...you get it....It was missing something and the bows I was making didn't seem to fit. In my purge to get ready to move I must have rid myself of a lot of fabric as I couldn't find any fall fabric to make flowers. So I cut into some stray fall bunches I had lying around and hot glued them on the ribbon.
This isn't quite how it looked in my head...not exactly. It is different...I guess that is good. Still not what I expected. I guess that all can't be winners.
Here's hoping your crafting adventures prove more fruitful!

Check out this link party and find some great ideas!!

How Does She Know?

I have a friend. In the grand scheme of things...we haven't known each other very long. But she is always there at just the moment I need her. It's like she can read my thoughts...from miles away. Once on my Mom's birthday (she didn't realize it was a tough day for me) she invited me out for lunch. She said she just felt like I might need a minute out of the house. When I told her what day it was...she was thankful (as I was) that she followed the small prompting she'd received that morning. On Mother's Day she showed up to my house with a huge basket of Gerbera Daisies. They are a favorite of my sweet Mom and I love them as well. She knew (without being told) that I struggle on Mother's Day and was prompted (yet again) to show me she was thinking about me. She does these things all the time. I will admit to being terrible at asking for help. I tend to suffer in silence. I withdraw into my safety zone and camp there until I feel well enough to come out again. This woman has the ability to see into that hidey-hole and send me some sunshine. Just this morning I was feeling lonesome and scared (about my upcoming race). I feel totally unprepared and was contemplating giving up....when I received a most welcome text message. It was a simple message telling me how much she loves me and thinks of me often. I wrote back and told her briefly of my fears for the race. She gently reminded me that all I could do is my best and that my Mom will be there with me no matter how fast or slow I run. Through my tears I thanked God for this woman who always knows what to say to make me face my unrealistic expectations and get real. She is amazing. I hope everyone who reads this blog has someone in their life who helps them get real. I hope all of you follow those little promptings (no matter how small they seem) and send some sunshine to those you love. It may just be that life preserver that will pull them out of the sea of doubt....or loneliness....or whatever demons are pulling them down. I thank my friend. I love her. I have been blessed with the most amazing (selfless) friends. I do believe that one of the biggest blessings of moving 1100 miles away from everyone that I knew and loved was finding new sisters to add to my life. Thanks for the rope...the waters are calming and I can see the shore.