Nothing

Well, this week hasn't gone as planned!  DS began to get sick again on Monday night and by Tuesday morning had a sore throat and that barking cough.  So off to the dr. we went ~ and it's a good thing I took him in.  He has sinus infection and he was on the verge of pneumonia setting in :(  The medicine seems to have finally started to work and I'm hoping that he will be able to return to school tomorrow.

Having to be at home the last few days with DS has given me a chance to do some reflecting.  This past Sunday, we had a send-off for a missionary family.  This family should be an inspiration to all ~ I can't say too much about them as they are Creative Access missionaries and for their safety information must be vague.  However, the Lord has been working on my heart through them.  DH and I have had several conversations regarding them in the past, and more since the send-off.  We feel guided by the Lord to be keeping them in our prayers and are being pulled by the Lord to be involved in their work (although it will be from here).  I can say that whatever we can do to help them is what we will do.

Seeing their unselfishness has really put life into perspective.  They will be facing many, many trials and tribulations.  They will be doing without many of our modern day comforts.  It almost makes me feel guilty when I think of how primitive their daily living will be compared to ours ~ and they are doing because of their love of the Lord!

As I was trying to prepare lunch for DS and myself today, I caught myself thinking that I had nothing in the house to fix.  Really?  Our cupboards are full, the frig is full, the freezer is full ~ nothing?  I stopped.  This family will be living in the midst of poverty ~ where there really is nothing.  So I decided that I will not be buying anything but bread and milk until everything is depleted in my kitchen of nothing.  For lunch, I made grilled ham and cheese sandwiches.  For supper, we will be having tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches.  I am going to calculate how much I would have spent on food from now until things are gone ~ that money will be going to this family to be used for God's work.  It may not be much, but it's a start.

It's too easy for us to take things for granted ~ things that are wants are seen as things that are needs.  I sometimes take God's gift of salvation for granted ~ we all do.  We had nothing before He sent His Son to earth ~ He could have let us stay in our sin and live for eternity separated from Him.  He didn't.  He gave His everything to bring us back to Him ~ He had nothing but His Son to give for us.  This missionary family has nothing but themselves to give to Him.  We all have nothing but our hearts to give to Him.  As Christmas approaches, I hope that we all take time to reflect on the price that was paid for us and remember to give something back to the One that was sent to save us.  With out Him, we really would have nothing.

Goodwill Goodie Makeover Monday ~ Attempt 2

Yes, it's Monday ~ Yes, I missed Goodwill Goodie Finish Friday.  Last week was a whirl-wind!  Basketball practice, dance class, AWANAs, and then DS was sick on Thursday and Friday.  Needless to say, the magazine rack seemed to always come in last place and never was finished.  So, I'm taking a second attempt at it this week.  I was able to finish up most of my Christmas decorating today ~ just have the tree to trim!  With the dusting of snow that we received last week and the Christmas decor in place, it's really beginning to look like Christmas! 

More snow is on its way this weekend ~ just in time for DS's golden birthday!  I've been busy making plans for the party ~ lots of gold stuff is beginning to be seen in the house.  Not sure what the cake will look like yet ~ another thing to accomplish this week!  Can't believe that 11 years has gone by so quickly.

Time to wrap this post up ~ need to get DD to her basketball practice!  Check back to see if I have time this week to transform that magazine rack!

Goodwill Makeover Monday

I'm back!  Hope everyone enjoyed a safe Thanksgiving with lots of food!  We sure did!

Last week was so busy ~ DD's pink eye made a return, but I think we finally have it cleared up.  We enjoyed catching up with lots of family and even had a "mini-vacation", as the kids called it, to celebrate Christmas with family that won't be able to return in December.  It was fun to travel a short distance and stay in a hotel overnight with them ~ the kids were able to get lots of swimming in!

Today a warm front has blown in and I'm frantically trying to finish up some more painting before the cold returns.  As I'm looking at the stash of makeovers ready to go, the stash that hasn't been touched is staring at me :(  I'm hoping that this winter isn't anything like last winter ~ otherwise it could be April or May before I'm able to get to those.  However, I do have one ready to finish this week. 

Here it is ~

This magazine rack is actually one of the first piece that I purchased when I decided to start my blog and makeovers.  It has just been patiently waiting for its turn.  I don't know exactly where it will be used, but I'm sure I can find someplace for it!

Today, along with the warm weather, I received some sad news concerning a friend from high school ~ her husband passed away over the weekend.  He had been battling brain cancer for the last year and a half.  She is only 34 and now will be a single parent raising 2 small daughters.  Thankfully, she is a physical therapist and does have a full-time job and is fortunate to be living near her family.  My heart aches for her and my thoughts are full of her and her family ~ many prayers are being sent up for her today.  Just another reminder of how short our time here on earth is and how thankful we should all be for what we have.  I hope that she will feel the arms of our Lord wrapped tightly around her and her girls in the days and weeks ahead ~ may He give her the strength she will need to cope and continue on.

Taking the Week Off

Well, pink eye has hit again.  DD woke up this morning with eyes full of gunk ~ so glad that there is medicine left.  We were able to get some in right away, so she should be able to make it to school tomorrow.

With the holiday approaching and a crazy, busy week ~ dentist appointments, school conferences, dance classes, family coming, etc., etc. ~ I have decided to take the week off from makeovers and thriftyness.  Time to focus in my sanity ~ or what's left of it!

Let me take this time to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!  Take a moment this week and really ponder everything you have to be thankful for ~ it's too easy to get caught up in everything going on around us and forget how blessed we are.

Enjoy the holiday!

A Bushel and A Peck of Extras

So, I know that it's not Friday ~  I'm a little slow on linking up with Kelly at Kelly's Korner this week.  Her invitation this week is to show the "extra" rooms in our homes ~ and we have a few!  I thought I would start off with photos of our laundry/mud room.  What a blessing this room has been!  With it being right off the garage, it catches all the mud and dirt from the kids as they come in from outside.  Take a peek ~

Love the sink! 

One of our desks ~ this one is for the family

Hey ~ where did that gingerbread come from!

(Notice the makeover on the wall ~ it's working well for those bills!)

Coat/shoe closet

See ~ those gingerbread are starting to take over the house ~ LOL!

Now ~ onto the toy/game room.  This room has seen several "makeovers" since we moved in over 4 years ago.  The kids have outgrown sooooo many toys and it has "grown-up" with them.  It's in the basement which helps cut down on the noise level when we have friends over!  Welcome to Kid Central ~

Baby Land!

We love Little Mommy toys!

Hot Wheels!

Old dining room table ~ perfect for crafting and when friends come over ~ the kids can eat down here

(Linda ~ notice the highchair!)

The mini china cabinet was made by my great-great uncle for my mother when she was a girl.

Raggedy Andy and Ann

The dolls in the shelf were mine, DH, DS, and DD ~ the highchair was mine.

If you look close, you can find my childhood roller skates!

The kitchen, ironing board, iron, sewing machine, and playpen were mine.

Hope you enjoyed the peek into our "extras"!  I've enjoyed taking a look at everyone's photos this week ~ it's always fun to look at how others decorate and even find an idea or two to steal!

I have one more room that I would like to share, but time is running short this morning.  Hopefully, I can get photos taken and posted later this afternoon. 

Goodwill Goodie Finish Friday

Friday!  So, what was this week's makeover?  To be honest, I wasn't even sure what I would pick to makeover!  First, I thought a peg shelf ~ then, it was a recipe box ~ but finally, decided on this ~

It's a brand new cutting board that I picked up at Goodwill.  You can see where the label caused some discoloration.  I needed something to hide an outlet in my kitchen and this is the perfect size.  It was a bit tricky with the grooves, but in the end they just added some dimension.

Here's the result ~ (I included 2 photos because I couldn't decide which showed it better)

Here's how I used it to cover an outlet ~

Notice the gingerbread ~ they just seem to keep popping up places in our home!  I love how the grooves mimic the roll-top of the bread box ~ ties the whole display together, don't you think!

Thrifty Thursday

For today's Thrifty Thursday, I took a tour of our home in search of a perfect item to show.  I think I found it!  It's something that I came across while pulling out my stash of Halloween costumes a few weeks ago for the kids to go through.  I had forgotten all about this and am just thrilled to have discovered it!  It works in so well in the toy/game room.  Plus I received my January 2011 edition of Country Sampler today, and wouldn't you know ~ it's one of the top 10 collectibles for this coming year!  Now, mine is not that old, but my mom did make it and so it means so much more to me!  What could it be.....drum roll please......

A vintage dress with apron and bonnet!  My mom made this for me when I was about 3 or 4 years old ~ apparently I was obsessed with Holly Hobby. Can you believe how it matches the quilt?  We rescued the ladder from an old barn that we bulldozed on our acreage.  The rocking horse was given to my DS for his 1st birthday by my parents ~ I think it rounds out the display nicely!  I have a photo some where of my DD wearing this dress, but haven't been able to track it down.  When I do, I would like to frame it and hang it beside the display.

Who needs to go to a thrift store when you can just shop in your basement?!?!  I found a few more items down there that will be moving out of the tubs and into new homes very soon.  Decorating on a budget ~ love when I can re-purpose items I have!