In the Storm

Stories 2019 | Big boom

Jeff and the boys went pistol shooting in April with a few of Jeff's friends and they did a lot of shooting with various pistols, including my little SIG SAUER. While my sweet little SIG makes a boom, one of the guys had a big assault rifle with him and everyone had their turn making quite the bigger boom. And, had a blast doing it. APR ‘19

Stories 2019 | what we do

I took a scrapbooking class by Ali Edwards called Hello Story 2. Several years ago, I had taken her 12-week Hello Story class and deemed the class my favorite online scrapbooking class - still consider it the best. I figured her 3-week Hello Story 2 class would be just as fabulous, albeit shorter. I was not disappointed in any way.

Along with her monthly classes that are available by a subscription, which I subscribe to of course, her additional classes are phenomenal! Over the years I have learned, realized, that one can find inspiration from a variety of sources. More recently Pinterest has become a plethora of inspiration for color choices and layout inspiration.

In her latest class, Hello Story 2, Ali shared the above right page (something similar to it) as inspiration, as a way one could incorporate journaling within numbers, maybe a list of 10 things or simple a running journal entry within the numbers. I loved the page and knew I would be creating one like it.

Above are the results. I added a gridded layout on the left side with complimentary photos and embellishments. I am thrilled with the results. 

Stories 2019 | Samuel at 2

Samuel is saying so much at 2 years old even if much of it is difficult to understand clearly - but he is talking, and it is obvious he knows what he wants to say, even if we’re not understanding. It seems like overnight he wasn’t talking but a few words, then BAM!

His attention span is , has increased and requires less - attention from others - thus can play individually for longer periods and doesn’t require Ashley and Brads constant devotion to him. It is noticeable and exciting to see.

The most dramatic change over these past couple of months is Samuel’s response to Jeff and I. Except for when they first arrived, Samuel has smiled and laughed with little shyness or - obstinance. He loves his picture taken and is playful!

Although Samuel is eating better he still eats very little, comparatively. His pediatrician still affirms Ashley that, while a little underweight he’s fine - he’ll eat when he’s hungry. In the mean- time, he drinks Pediasure to supplement when he doesn’t eat well.

Samuel, ever since he was born covets his dad’s chest to fall asleep and nothing has changed. He still must fall asleep with Brad holding him. They’re in for a struggle putting him in his own bed but, at least, he adores his dad.

52 Weeks of Giving | 19

And for the joy set before me...It is seriously why I do this. This giving back. Because there is total and complete joy and satisfaction in giving. There is a reason Paul quoted Jesus, taking Him at His Word, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35). Even though these acts of service are hard sometimes. Even though I have to sometimes ask my sons for help...still joy. We made Monster Bars this week for the Sunshine Girls for two clubs. When they asked for Monster Bars I had to look them up, but man, I was excited when I saw they're a peanut butter, M&M, oats, and peanut butter chips bar cookie. Yum!

Stories 2019 | For the Love of Spring

Without a garden of my own, filled with blooming flowers of various blooms and colors, I have had to resort to those grocery store bins of bunched flower arrangements. It's not the end of the world kind of decision, but I have craved some life in my - life. In our home. I'm bringing live flowers every couple of weeks, depending on how long the blooms last, and putting them on display.

And, enjoying the outside inside. I glance at them often as I pass them by for their beauty and because they simply make me happy. This was the first bundle of flowers I purchased from Kroger, I believe, but I've purchased from Walmart, even, and Publix, too, since that first bunch of flowers.

Stories 2019 | Taking a Risk

What's so brave about this picture?

It's this rug. That's what is brave.

Our living room is 16 x 20 and I knew when it was finally time to buy our forever living room furniture I also wanted, actually needed - for design purposes - a large rug. And that rug would be what ties the entire room together. While turquoise is most assuredly, still, my favorite color, I wanted to incorporate indigo and navy blue, and white, because those colors look amazing with the burnished saddle leather couch and chair we were ordering. We had saved for a year and a half for the couch and chair and thankfully I only needed a few months of savings for the rug. I’m not sure how many websites I visited to find THIS rug. One. Perfect. Rug. I had to put on my brave - some serious bravery - to hit the buy it button. But once we opened up this beautiful baby, all 11’ x 15’ of rug that all the primary furniture fits nicely on, I was in love.

Even more so then I could have ever imagined - and so much more. And, although the rug covers almost all of our gorgeous engineered wood there is still enough wood visible that I’m totally satisfied with the results. Even now, more than a year later, this bold, colorful, far-outside-my- comfort-zone, rug still makes me so very happy. Well, the rug, and those forever pieces of leather furniture were simply the beginning of a living room design I love. When I was choosing our rug, I weeded out options down to two rugs. That’s when I took them to Jeff. I said to myself I would let him pick the one he likes between those two (because I did like both). He liked both as well, but preferred THIS baby! I am so glad he did, too. Of course, when it came in and we laid it out all he pretty much said was, “It’s big!” That is true! But, we needed a big rug for our big room and big furniture.

Thankfully, Jeff falls on the side of my design choices and other than his comments, “It’s big - and colorful!” He was on board. John and Jarrod, both artists, loved the colors but thought it was ‘big’, too. So, I guess I did good! The rug still blows me away - the choice I made, and the colorful, bold pattern, even more pronounced because it is big! But, the perfect size, if I do say so myself for the size of our room. Journal APR ‘19

Stories 2019 | This I Know

This I know for sure #001. I love hanging with my girl, Ash

This I know for sure #002. Ian, my Ian. I love coming home and having Ian greet me with a "Hello, Grammy," because he just always sounds like he really missed me, and it comes from the heart. I simply enjoy talking with Ian. He prefers to be alone - that's his autism talking - but when he does talk I am so ready to listen.

This I know for sure #003. Wyatt is one of the most likable, easy going kids I've ever met. Except at the dinner table. Then, he's a handful. Of course, he's his mother child. Ashley used to be the last one at the dinner table, too.

This I know for sure #004. (Well, I hope for sure, anyways) One of these days - soon - Samuel is going to be excited to see me and he'll come to me on his own. He's getting closer. He has spontaneously responded to me with sly smiles, and playful expressions. I know he's on the verge.

This I know for sure #005. This girl, my Ashley, makes me smile. And, laugh! Always.

This I know for sure #006. The personalities of these three boys are ever-changing, ever-growing, ever- becoming who they are created to be. It is a joy to be a part of their life and watching them grow.

52 Weeks of Giving 2019 | 18

 

Not every year, but most years, during HIS Radio Friend Raiser events, we are prompted to give back to the station, which is a listener-supported only, Christian radio station and we love it. While we rarely listen to HIS radio at home we always have it on in the truck - except for Saturday evenings when they play Z-radio (Christian hard rock). It is a gift to us, this radio station, and we're simply giving back.

We turn the radio up in the truck anytime one of our favorite songs comes on. It's pretty cool when all four of us are jamming to The River by Jordan Feliz, or You Say by Lauren Daigle.

window shopping | a mother's day excursion

Mother's Day is fast approaching. Usually twice a year I post a long list of things I'm admiring and just would simply love to have for myself. I was inspired when my daughter handed me a birthday list - a long list - of things she wants.

It's all about options. And I've given my kids - and husband - options:

Tieks_^® have long been on my want list, but I've an interest more recently when I decided I simple needed a pair of red flats. What better way to try out red flats then with a pair of Tieks? They don't make half-sizes so I'm guessing a size 9 would do the trick. The only draw back? They are expensive! But, if it's the only gift I receive I'd be a happy camper. I mean - mother:)

Then, there is the AWAY Carry On. After traveling abroad last October I found out fairly quickly this is a NEED! I need a carry on case. And, if I'm going to purchase a carry on (or have one purchased for me:) I want the best. It's the way I roll. Buy once and never have to buy the same thing again. I call them my 'forever (insert well-made, have for a lifetime piece)'. While I would love to stand out with a pink carry on, pink is so not my color. But, this coast color satisfies my style and not too over the top, nor too understated. And, with a summer trip planned and a fall trip and hopefully a birthday trip, a carry on would be a lovely gift for this momma.

I have adored the RAE DUNN mugs from afar for far too long. She has a VETERAN mug set that would be awesome for Jeff and I, but I have wanted the LAUGH one from the moment I spied her mugs and fell for the simplicity of the hand drawn stick letters. Clean and simple and to the point. And, would so add to my mug collection!

Mirror, mirror on the wall - I mean, vanity...There is no real reason why I haven't purchased this vanity mirror - other than I didn't want to seem - vain - but with my aging eye sight, and wanting to experiment with - say it isn't so - eye shadow - I'd really like this vanity mirror.

I would like to begin weaning our plastics cabinet to become a glass cabinet and I thought beginning with a size I could take to work with me, for salads, or a protein and vegetable meal, would be the ideal place to start. As a review reader, this set sounds like a winner. And/or these, and/or these, and/or these.

Journals are my love language. I love, simply, to collect them. Ok - I write in them too. Everything from to-do lists, to reading logs, to want lists, to bible studies, to note-taking, daily tasks, food logs, and anything else I can jot down to remember or review. These lined journals are gorgeous. I love all the colors - except black. But, one cannot beat the classic bullet journal, either.

One broke, but with these - options!!! They are seriously on sale right now!

I never know what my nose will appreciate but someone put a Honolulu Sun hand soap in the bathroom at work, and I love the smell for my hands. Don't think it would be a fragrance for spray, maybe, a candle, but definitely not a lotion, either.

I have a new leather BIG bag from the Noonday collection that I adore! But, it is big and things can get lost. I would love this pouch for my pencils and pens to keep them handy and protect my bag from pen marks. Or this one!!!

In color 53, 54, or 55! "Write His Word on your heart!"

And then there are scarves. Over the past year and a half I've fallen hard for scarves. Now that spring is upon us and summer in Savannah comes in fast and early I have my eye on some light weight scarves to dress up my summer wares:

This one, this one, or this one. Or either of these: A woven stripe print oblong scarf at Maurice's, or this one: I.N.C. Ombré Tissue-Weight Wrap, Created for Macy's

 

And, that's a wrap...

 

 

Stories 2019 | Just Lovely

I decided back in March that I would regularly, every couple of weeks or as long as a bouquet of flowers will last healthily, purchase one - or two - bouquets of flowers. Nothing fancy. Just beautiful and eye-catching.

I was in Publix the other day picking up a hard-to-find cheese (Horseradish cheddar) for an upcoming meal, and grabbed two bundles of this gorgeous, colorful array. It makes me smile every time I walk by, or come into the room as they catch my eye.

If that is all they are there for - their beauty makes me smile - worth it!