Painting!!

Dad Mc's handy dandy airless paint (primer) sprayer

Obviously I was not the one doing the direct application of the primer. I just followed with a roller. My hair was pretty white on top, but you can't really see it.

The primed dining room/ kitchen. I guess I haven't taken a picture of it painted yet...



The East (back) of the house

The South side of the house, there will be a garage/ breezeway there eventually...


Our front porch with pansies, my favorite!!!

FINALLY SOME COLOR!!

I have dreamed of a grass green laundry room for over a year now, and here it is!!!

I always thought red was a hard color because there were so many different hues.

I am finding that applies to pretty much any color. Thankfully I have a good buddy in the area to help me hash thru all the pros and cons and realities of paint samples (i.e. the dark color I think I love will most likely be way too dark when applied to a whole room) I think that a color obsession should be listed as a requirement for all pastor's wives :-)

Overload

I woke up this morning feeling tired. Physically, mentally and emotionally. Not sure why.

I painted the dining room/ kitchen yesterday!! I am so excited that my kitchen is just around the corner. I can't wait for a kitchen sink!!

I am usually pretty clueless as to what is happening in the news, but due to catching bits and pieces of talk radio, Internet news, and conversations, I have been quite concerned lately with the tenor of our nation.

Don't get me wrong, I have been concerned and praying for quite some time, it's just that some things lately have been SCARY!!!

The obvious media distortion surrounding the TEA parties, the action to rescind the "Conscience Clause", over the counter Plan B for girls under 18, trying to make the HPV shot mandatory for 8 year old girls, homosexual "marriage" okayed here in Iowa, and hate crimes legislation are just the tip of the iceberg.

I struggle with balancing when to act and when to "Just Pray". All the guilt and fear about political issues combined with my less than perky disposition had me feeling very overloaded.

Most times when I feel like this I simply hide in a book or a movie to cease all thought. Add to the mix emotional eating and you have a very unhealthy response.

I really wanted to hide this morning just to escape feeling the way I did, BUT I took it to the cross. I knew I needed the encouragement of God's word to stay my heart. At first I planned to just tune into our radio to hear the messages presented there. There are just times I need the truth presented.

Instead God laid on my heart to jump back into my Bible study material. A study on Faithfulness, His faithfulness and my response to it.

God was so lavish, and met exactly the need I had, funny how that works! I don't know why I even think He could do anything less.

Our study on Faithfulness took us to Hebrews 11, go figure. I had not read far when the name Noah popped out to me. Noah lived in such a sinful time he and his family were the only ones willing to follow God's way.

It has been worse before. There is no new thing under the sun. God was at work during that sordid time.

Next up came Enoch. Quite simply, he pleased God. God made each of us for His pleasure, I am to please Him.

Two things I needed to hear:

• God will call me when He has a course of action He wants me to take politically or otherwise. Guilt and fear are not His tactics.
• EACH thing I do I need to do to please Him

I know it may not be profoundly deep to anyone else, but it was for me and it was exactly what I needed. That and the 1/2 hour nap afterward.

I am off to vacuum up the layer of drywall dust upstairs and to paint my laundry room!! (Green)

Pictures will be forthcoming. They just happen to be one of the many things I am behind on. Posting them, catching up on a week of blogs, (all 9 I like to keep track of) Facebook, laundry...

P.S.
The wind keeps making one of our vent flaps make noise and it's driving me CRAZY!!!!

3 Boys 1 Piano

James, Jake, & Jesse

Seeing Red

If you didn't already know, my FAVORITE color is Red.


Red was also the favorite of my Granny. (my dad's mom, Delphia) I wasn't a big fan, of red, while she was alive, but I have found increasingly over the years I am drawn to all things red. (except Hellboy)


I don't really think it has anything to do with her particular tastes, but it is a nice connection!


Have you ever noticed how things you grew up around become your own favorites?


My grandparents are big coffee drinkers and while I was away from home in Life Action I began enjoying it simply because the smell comforted me. Some would say I didn't really enjoy the coffee due to the fact 1/2 my cup was fulled with flavored creamer.


My mom's favorites are M&Ms and Kit Kats. Guess who else enjoys them?! Daddy likes Coke and Peppermint Nougats. Again, they are favorites of mine!


Back to red: When we first started planning a house my instant choice for exterior color was.... RED! Don was very unsure, but by the time came up with another color I thought would work better, he had decided red was the way to go and wasn't swayed by any other colors.


I literally spent a year noting red houses and buildings to see how they looked in all 4 seasons. Red is a touchy color and it is very easy to get it wrong.


I finally decided I wanted the color of the little school house in Cedar Falls. I acquired paint samples and took them to the school to try to match the color. Paint was bought, tinted later, and I was giddy to paint me some siding to see how it looked. I was kinda concerned by the color visible thru the bubble on the top of the can. It looked a little mauve. Scary!!! I got the first coat on.... it looked REALLY mauve, at least when wet. I was freaking out!!!!


As it dried it got darker and I liked the color, but I was still unsure how it would look actually up on the house. I found out today and I LIKE it!!!


Here's to 2 years of stressing over a paint color!

I guess you can't really see it, but I still like it!

South end of the house

Part of the West side

Dear Coffee Pot

Dear Coffee Pot,
I know you know how much Don hates you, but honestly, he did not mean to drop a hammer on your carafe Saturday. Trust me, the only thing worse to him than having a coffee pot, would be having to buy one!
I am just relieved it wasn't me! I think I have at least 3 carafe hits under my belt.
You see you and your dear carafe were given to me for this very reason.
I will be seeking a new carafe at Goodwill soon. I have plans to invite my dear caffeinated friend over soon, and you will need to be up and running. (caffeinated coffee would probably help too)
Please forgive Don. That was quite a crash!!! Here's hoping we found all the little pieces of glass!

Happy Birthday Bubs!!

Happy 29th Marc!

Go Cubs!!!

Before and After

Before 17"

After 32"

God provides so many things!

Just yesterday my brother mentioned how funny it was to see our miniature (17") monitor set up with our DVD/ VCR/ Wii. Granted it was a small screen and it was interesting to try to play any 2 player games on it, BUT it was ours it worked and though we would like something larger, we were content.

Also yesterday, the same brother mentioned that my grandpa had a couple of TVs he was getting rid of. My grandpa "moves" a lot of stuff. He has many friends and he is very helpful about finding homes of the unwanted items of others. We have a beautiful and helpful set of encyclopedias thanks to his connections too!

Anyway, this AM I had coffee with my grandma and when grandpa came in I ask about the TVs he was getting rid of. He had one, 24" or so, but it was as deep as it was wide, and we don't really have room for that. He mentioned he had a flat screen out in the garage, but that it didn't work. He said we could have it if Don wanted to check it out.

Knowing electrons fear my husband, I brought it home.

Long story short, this TV has a "power lock" feature. Don simply downloaded the owners manual, read some pertinent info and TADA!!! it works!!!

God also provided a bunch of fuel for our wood stove last Monday. I noticed a tree being cut down in town about 10 days ago. Last Monday as I was taking the kids to school I noticed all the wood from said tree lying in the yard. I stopped, knocked on the door, and ask if the wood was spoken for. The man of the house said we could have it!

Don and a couple of my brothers pick it up, and Don also went back this weekend to rake up the brush and repair a couple of ruts he had left in the yard.

The owner went from:

"You can have that lumber."

To

"I have 2 more trees I am going to be cutting down and you can have those also."

To

"I will tell all my friends about you and let you know if anyone else is cutting down trees."

Praise the LORD!!!

I think I need to start doing a Magnificent Mondays post. You know, let people join in and share things God is doing that only He can work out! (Anybody know how to make a button?)

God has been doing so much in my heart thru His word and especially thru our study on the fruit of the Spirit. I am incredibly thankful for His work and the peace of being in His will and seeing Him at work on a spiritual level. His working in the non-essential areas is just another layer of comfort. It's feels so safe to know He knows our hearts and desires and can provide in such amazing ways!

Easter 2009

Easter Egg Hunt (compliments Grandma Mc)

Candy!!

Prayer Before Breakfast

Breakfast at Church

Uncle Mike's Pancake Factory


A few pictures of our kids in thier duds.
(They kept them clean all morning. Note the blue teeth and lips... Some KIND soul decided to hand out ring pops after church)

He is Risen!!! He is risen indeed!!

All this followed by dinner at my folks. Have I mentioned how much we love having them in the new house. It is so nice to all get together!!

I'm SO Excited!!

Tyvek commercial no more!!

P.S. My kitchen will be ready to paint after Saturday, or early next week!!

Pandora's Box

It seems since the less than mild weather last spring all new houses are coming equipped with a storm cellar.

Ours was in the plans way before the tornadoes and subsequent warnings last year. It's primary purpose is to be a cold cellar where we can store canned goods and such.

For now it is literally filled to the brim with various things we need stored.... including our spring clothes.

So, since we cannot afford to buy all new wardrobes, I needed to unload that monster. (oh, and there has already been one small tornado in Iowa, so Don mentioned the fact that it would be handy to actually fit us all in there in the event of extreme weather... that's a thought)

Anyway, all the excuses I had for putting of this chore had run out yesterday afternoon. I had to crowd the dining room table into the living room so I could use the "dining room" for a staging area.

It's a mess! We seriously had 2 single box springs and 3 mattresses, plus 3 single bed frames in there!!! McCallum Mattress Factory... can I help you!

Of course the kids were intrigued with all the "treasures" unearthed in the process. I am still needing to sort thru the clothes, but at least the job is started. We got snow yesterday so the spring clothes can wait a bit.

My kids had a really hard time suiting back up in snow gear this AM. I had a hard time finding snow gear!!

The Body

Ephesians 4:15 &16

(The Message)

He handed out gifts above and below, filled heaven with his gifts, filled earth with his gifts. He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train Christ’s followers in skilled servant work, working within Christ’s body, the church, until we’re all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God’s Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ.

(KJV)

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

These verses were fresh in my mind on the way home from church this morning, not because I heard them while I was there, but because I SAW these verses at work.

Firstly, I have the wonderful privilege of being the minister of cards and flowers at our church. I love this job! It is very much a part of who God made me to acknowledge the joys and pains of others. We have had a load of surgeries in our church this month and I was checking with the powers that be to make sure I didn't overdo it. Their response: You are free to do what ever God prompts you to!

Also a large part of who I am is a love of color and thus paint. Seeing we aren't to the painting stage here at our house I undertook our church nursery. It was needing an update and again, I was given the freedom to serve with my gift in this area.

Don was quite sick this morning and thus I was at church on my own with 4 of our 5 kids.

Much as we had hoped it would pass us by, we did indeed get a load of blowing snow this morning. The vehicles in the parking lot were covered with at least 3" of snow. As I headed out with my gang I was blessed to find our pastor and deacons out "serving" by clearing a path to each car and also clearing the snow off all the vehicles.

It may not seem to some like that big of a deal, but it was the perfect example of a body working together to meet the needs of all. I was very blessed by the action, and heartened by the knowledge that our body was working together.

To top it all off tonight we heard from a fellow parishioner tonight in our evening service. (another example of the body working together) He challenged us with the understanding that we are ALL ministers. Guess what passage came up in his message?

Again I was very blessed as this man opened his heart to share what God had been teaching him. It was so right on!

Thank you Father for the way you bring people together and the provision you make for unity and burden bearing in the church body. Thank you for our pastor and his consistent example of servant leadership reflecting Christ thru his life. Thank you for our men and their faithfulness to step up and lead in the church and in our homes. Thank you for my fellow sisters in Christ and their willingness to embrace all you have for them. Thank you for the multitude of children you have blessed us with. Thank you for the things they are learning. We pray they all come to know you personally and they thrive and grow for You.

Thank you for Jesus and His sacrifice to make this all possible.

All Glory to God!

• Great grandparents
• Grandparents
• Cousins (from 2 generations)
• All my sibs
• Aunts & Uncles
• Birthdays
• Cake
• Supper
• Bikes, Balls, Running, Cars and other toys
• Coke and juice boxes
• Singing
• Piano "recital"
• Friends "like family"
• Kisses
• Hugs
• BABIES!!
• Smiles
• Games
• Cell phone ring tones
• Latest workouts
• Total chaos

It is good to have my family close!

So Right On!

I found this clip over at Vicki's blog. It SO perfectly describes how I feel. God is doing TONS in my heart and life, but not just mine but also many around me. I am very grateful for all He is changing in me and in the others on this journey!

Click here. I am having trouble loading the video.