Denim and Lace

A Little Bit of Everything

2011-04-08T15:09:00.000-05:00

Again, it has been awhile. This time I have no excuse. March brought some fun things! A visit from my mother, the mark of another year older, and many more blessings.

My bff visited from NC late March. It was very exciting to see her and her little one! It's strange how not much has changed since the last time we were together, but how SO much has. I hadn't even met C before, and man is he a cutie pie! I had such fun shopping for him and with my bff! We had a blast eating out, hanging around the house, and just talking like we used to. I so wish she lived closer!

I started my container garden this week. I wanted to start small and have it mobile in case we found a house sometime sooner rather than later :) We planted cherry tomatoes, strawberries and green peppers. Supposedly, they should do well together and in the container, but we will see! It is all a learning process. Unfortunately, I don't like to make mistakes ... so lets cross our fingers. I'm slightly protective over my little plants. Last night we had ourselves quite a thunderstorm that woke me up. I just had to make sure that my plants weren't getting blown away ... or flooded! I just cant wait to pick some sun-warmed cherry tomatoes from my garden! I plan to take pictures along to way to show my green thumb in action. I wish I was better at taking photos. I carry our camera in my purse everywhere I go, but I never remember to take pictures. It is something I am working on ... but its one thing on a very LONG list.

I've been reading "Comforts from the Cross" by Elyse Fitzpatrick. I've returned to is several times for my daily devotional reading and I HIGHLY recommend it. God reveals more and more to me through it and it is very rejuvenating. I struggle to speak truth to myself and find that this book has helped as I grow in that area, among many others. I am planning to get a jump on my reading list... we just have to see how many books K will let me order at once.

Well, that is a little bit of everything.... or maybe just a sampling of what I've been up to. The weather is starting to get nicer and I am excited for what Spring will bring!

Days Like These

2011-03-18T15:49:00.000-05:00

I spent the afternoon with my best friend from high school/college. It was very much the same as it was before. Sitting in her parents living room, laughing about fun times, eating food, talking about boys. Except those boys are now our husbands and in the background of all that fun- was her beautiful cooing baby boy. If we had known then, where we would be today - I think we would be delighted at how good He is.

It's days like these, spent reminiscing and then driving a little too fast down a back road - the warm air blowing in and the radio on too loud, that I am back there again. Back in my old chevy cavalier driving down those same roads. I wonder what I would say to myself all those years ago. I probably wouldn't have taken my own advice anyway. I was just sure I knew everything. Ha.

I think I would tell myself not to worry so much, God really is bigger than everything. To be nicer to the people around me and look outside my little world. I would tell myself to save a little of the money from my high school job and spend a little more time at home on the weekends. Not that I would change a thing; I feel so blessed to be where I am, to have a wonderful husband. The Lord has provided in SO many ways. I just think I should tell myself - there is more past today.

True Confessions of a Stay-at-Home Wife

2011-03-09T09:03:00.002-06:00

*** This one too... This one was from a couple of weeks back. ***

Confession #1
This may be the toughest job I have ever had.
It sounds easy, but it can be difficult emotionally. There isn't anyone to commend or praise me for my 'wonderful work' during the day. I mean, let's face it, there isn't anything life changing about clean laundry. However, and most importantly, it has forced me to seek what God wants from me as his child. I may not know why He has placed me in this role, but I will find joy in it.

Confession #2
I feel guilty
When budget day rolls around and I compile the previous week's expenses I feel guilty. If only for more cushion in our savings account, there are times I wish I had a job.

Confession #3
I love it
I enjoy staying at home. When people ask me what I do, I get to say I am K's wife. And what a blessing that is! Weekends are chore free and when K gets home from work we can spend time together - or he can spend time on something he enjoys doing. We still have un-fun things to tackle when K gets home ... and once we buy our first home we will probably have many more things I can't do on my own ... but we have much more free time. I am also much less stressed. I can give 100% to what I am doing. When I was working I never felt like I was able to do anything right, like I had too many pots on the stove.

An Accent

2011-03-09T08:47:00.001-06:00

*** oops. I found there were a couple of posts I didn't actually publish. This one is from December sometime***

I thought this was such a neat idea for drapes. I am sure it isn't new, but I stumbled across them while Christmas shopping and liked them. These are from Urban Outfitters, but it would be fun to hunt for unique pieces and make it my own. It would be one of those subtle touches- like the cherry on top!

Broach used as a tie back for drapes.

Antique doorknob used as a drape tie-back.

Status Update

2011-03-09T08:05:00.001-06:00

Nothing new to report in my life. I actually keep pretty busy and am finding joy in where He has me. My days generally start by waking when K does, getting his lunch together and morning conversations about the day's plans. I work out, shower and begin attacking the day's list of to-dos. Some days are tough, especially when the day is longer than my list. But I've found the closer I am to God the more joyous my days are.

I'm excited for spring, it will be here before you know it! There are a handful of projects I want to start that need warmer weather. I would like to redo some furniture and I plan to garden! We will see how it goes, I've never actually planted anything that then successfully grew! Lucky for me (and whatever I plant) my brother and sister-in-law gave me a gardening book for my birthday! My new favorite thing to do is find new recipes to try out. I found this website http://www.howsweeteats.com, she has some really great recipes posted there. She uses some interesting ingredients (not as strange as Rachel Ray) so I will probably end up messing up/substituting a lot along the way... but that's the fun part, Right?!?

Well, I should hop to it. I plan to blog more, I just get going and forget all about it. This month should have more to share!

Church Shopping

2011-02-02T18:26:00.000-06:00

Questions like .. "Will I ever find a hair stylist/dentist/doctor/chiropractor... I like again?" swirl around your head when you move. Silly as they sound, it stinks to break in a new hairdresser.. but those are so minute compared to finding where God wants me in the Body.

This is the part of moving that I dreaded the most. It's difficult to leave behind friends and your normal routine, but to find a new church to call home is not something I was looking forward to. We have been in T-town for about a month now, and have been to a handful of churches in the area. Sometimes I feel like Goldy Locks. I want a church not to big, not too small... I want a church that is just right. But, it's not about what I want, or what will make us the most comfortable. We are actively seeking the church He wants us to be apart of. A place where we can served and where we will be called out onto the carpet (lovingly) because we are daily sinners. I just need to remind myself of this... weekly.

We are slowly finding our grove here. K is back to work and enjoying his job. I am loving being his house wife and serving him in ways I frankly didn't have time to when I worked full time. I haven't closed the door on going back to work. I still look for opportunities and have an ear out for them, I am just patiently (as much as I can) waiting.

Prayers as we continue to seek His will and not our own.

Oh, and to end on something funny...
Word is we are experiencing a "snow-pocalypse" here. That's quite a title for a few inches of snow and a little ice - I will say it might not be as bad here as other places in the state, but it still makes me laugh.

my red high heels

2011-01-13T16:21:00.000-06:00

It has been a whirlwind, and will continue to be I am sure, as we begin this part of our journey. Keaton began his new job this week and our stuff should be delivered any day now. I have spent my time reading books I've put off, researching things I've put off, and catching up on some TV online (a guilty pleasure). Next week will be spent setting up the new place, transferring the us over to Kansas officially, and continuing the job hunt. I'm not sure what I want in my next job, so it is making the processes a little more difficult than I had anticipated but I am faithful He has prepared something for me.

Prayers as we adjust to this transition and follow Gods leading in this new place.

2011 To-Do List

2010-12-28T10:07:00.000-06:00

In no particular order, I have listed some goals I have for myself for 2011.

Learn to play the piano. I would love to be-able to read music and at least have a beginners ability to play the piano. It is so beautiful and I would love to incorporate it in my worship time.

Learn to sew. Now, I don't intend on sewing my very own denim jumper or starting a fashion line, but I would like to know my way around a sewing machine and be capable of beginner tasks. There are little projects I would like to tackle on my own.

Garden. This may need to be a gradual task, but I would love to start gardening. Some flowers, fruits, and veggies. Maybe I will start small this year with a small box garden.

Change. Really, being more intentional and present in the Sanctification process. This year a small group of women read "You Can Change" by Tim Chester. It was a wonderful book and a great time of encouragement and accountability. We each selected a sin in our lives that we felt spired to tackle. Mine was my anger rooted in my selfishness. I hope to speak more truth to myself and allow less of my flesh to get in the way.

Given my tendency to make grandiose lists, I will force myself to end there!

Browsing

2010-12-23T14:16:00.000-06:00

While browsing around the other day I stumbled across some art inspiration for a VERY distant future child's room.

I just think this is so adorable! It looks pretty simple, and can be customized to any room by the art paper you select

This one too! Could be boy or girl depending on

the colors and paper.*

I often come across things that I don't want to forget, but wont get to use for a while yet. I tend to clip them from a magazine and file them away. Otherwise I would have piles and piles of Pottery Barn catalogs all over the house! I also do this with advice. I will hear someone talk about a book they recommend for disciplining your child or sharing the Gospel on there level and I have to write it down. Even if I never get to use it... maybe I will remember to pass it on!

With the extra time I will have on my hand soon, I might just dream up ways to implement these with grown-up style so I can have a project!

*I stumbled across these and other cute ideas on etsy.com!

Holidays

2010-12-07T18:53:00.000-06:00

We've been so blessed to have so many people here to share the holidays with. We spent Thanksgiving with some friends and had a wonderful time. and I discovered a new love... puzzles! I don't know what it is about them, but for a seemingly boring activity - it was very fun and exciting! K and I decided to tack that on to our holiday traditions too. We had the opportunity to skype with our family Thanksgiving day too. Living so far from family has been difficult at times, but wonderful at others. We lean on each other and have become our own family. I discover new things about him every day and am thankful daily that God blessed me with my best friend.

For Thanksgiving K and I baked an apple pie - I have so much fun baking with him... it can be messy but tons of laughs!

We decorated for Christmas this past weekend.... photos to come! I love what Christmas decorations bring to a room. So warm and comforting. We have had so much fun integrating family traditions and making new ones of our own. We pick a special day to decorate the tree, watch Christmas movies and spend time together.

Well, thats all for thanksgiving! We're getting excited for Christmas and there is a lot of planning and shopping yet to do.

In the Beginning

2010-11-23T20:01:00.000-06:00

We (I) decided to finally give in and join the blogging community. I will admit, I am mostly excited about picking a background and blog hopping than anything but I do think it will be fun to update family and friends with our adventures. I realize I am entering a world filled with blogging mommies, but maybe tales of our adventures will capture someones attention!

K is not as excited as I am about this, though he probably knows more than anyone just how un-interesting we are. I will pretend this is a joint effort (picture us deliberating over what story to tell and where the proper emphasis should be placed....) but really, it will be a me thing. However, a warning... like the blanket I am crocheting, the scrapbook I am working on, and the picture I am painting... this is likely to get shoved into a corner and forgotten once the excitement fizzles.

But, until then... I will kick it off by posting a blast from the past. Check out that smirk.