Our Bench redo

A couple of weekends ago, I found a great bench at a yard sale. I knew it would take a while to redo and finish only because I've been traveling a lot recently. I went to Cleveland to visit family for five days, and then I went to Nashville to visit my sisters for three days. So I finally got around to finishing the bench, and I love how it turned out!

First, I sanded it down the best I could.

Then, I painted it with a white primer.

Then, I painted it black - which I really like. (oops...forgot to take a picture of it just black!)

Then, I had to build the seat! I bought some plywood, 2in foam, fabric, and a staple gun!! I'm loving all the new tools I've gotten since I started refinishing furniture! :)

I had to cut the foam to fit the wood, and then glue it down.

Then all I had to do was wrap the wood/foam with the fabric and staple it down.
While it's not perfect, I love how it turned out!

Our new bench is in the guest room, waiting for a visitor! 

 Now, On to the next project. I'm working on another little "happy" for my sweet nephew Henry!
God Bless!

Back to school...

I'm not going back to school, but my sister Hanna is! She will be entering her 3rd year as a teacher, and I am so excited for and proud of her. I'm going up there today to help her set up her classroom. This will be the first time in five years that I won't be setting up a classroom. I'm actually kinda missing it! There's something about setting up furniture, putting decorations and posters on the walls, getting things organized, and making the room special for all the boys and girls that will be coming in.
Oh well...I'll just help Hanna this year! I made something for her, too! I saw this on pinterest and wanted to try it. It was a little tricky figuring out how to lay the crayons, but it turned out good, and I hope she likes it.

This is one like I saw. 

So I bought a frame, and painted it black. 

Played with the design a little to make the "M", and added a little background with some scrapbook paper. It was a fun little project! I hope she likes it! :)

Happy Tuesday!
God Bless

Facebook...

To facebook or not to facebook? 
I have been on facebook since it started how ever many years ago while I was in college. At first it seemed like a popularity contest...who could get the most friends. Then it became a connection to the past...I could look up old friends from my childhood (like my best friend in elementary school!). Then it was a way to keep up with people without actually talking to them on a regular basis (like finding out that my cousin who lives in China is engaged).
But what about all the dangers of facebook?
This was brought up at my family reunion this past week (hence the week long hiatus). Nothing on facebook is truly "save" and protected. While privacy settings may prevent some people from seeing my information, the truth is, people can hack into facebook and find out way more about me than I may want them to. According to my dad, everything posted on facebook actually belongs to facebook - posted comments, messages, pictures, videos, etc. Even if something is taken down, it's still there somewhere. Employers look at facebook pages, and people have lost their jobs because of it. So is it really worth it?? While it's a great way to stay connected to people...there are a lot of problems associated with it. I'm considering canceling my account.
I don't know if I want the world knowing that much about me.

God Bless

Ironman

Some call it crazy. Some call it insane. Some call it a feat worth trying. Some call it the hardest, most challenging, and best thing they've ever done in their life.

It's the...

Paul and I watched a show about the Ford Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. I was inspired. So I started my research on the Ironman. It's a race that started out as a competition for Navy Seals, and is now the most recognized world endurance event. There are two different Ironman Series - the Ironman 70.3, and the Ironman 140.6.

Ironman 70.3 - 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run - 8 1/2 hour time limit

Ironman - 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run - 17 hour time limit

Talk about true physical strength and endurance. You qualify for the events according to spots available in each age group. I don't know what all the age groups are, but there were men and women in their 60's and 70's at the World Championship! I'm 26. Add it to the bucket list?!?

As stated before, I was inspired.

So far, I've run 2 half marathons (13.1 miles), and a couple 10Ks. 

Right now, I can run about 5 miles without any problems. I haven't swam in....years. And I enjoy leisure bike rides around Daniel Island with my family. 

I would say I have a just a little more training to do! Well, that's if I were to actually attempt something like this. I think I might start off with a couple sprint triathlons. Those have various swim, bike, and run lengths. For example, there's a sprint in Gulf Shores that's a 300 yard swim, 10 mile bike, and 2 mile run. That might be something to start off with to see if I like it. Anyone want to do it with me?

So maybe I add the Ironman to my bucket list. I don't know. It would be an amazing accomplishment, that's for sure! We'll see!!

God Bless

A "must see"

Paul and I just watched "To Save a Life" from New Song Picture Productions and it was amazing. If you saw "Facing the Giants" and "Fireproof", this movie goes in the same category. It's a Christian movie, with an amazing story. A popular high school boy enters a rough time in his life after his best childhood friend, whom he had been estranged from, commits suicide. During his grieving time, he starts to talk with the youth pastor who presided over the funeral and discovers God has bigger plans than he did.  The whole movie has some powerful ideas and current topic issues that we really need to hear and pay attention to - the most obvious being teen suicide, but other topics that we can all relate to - like where is God when our world feels like it's falling apart? And what do you want your life to be about?

Here's the trailer for the movie - I would highly suggest watching it.

And here's the link to the website. Check it out. To Save a Life

We all go through struggles in life. Sometimes our problems seem to big handle. I have a had a few myself. But that's what is so amazing about the God we love. He is bigger than all our struggles. Bigger than this life. And His love for us is even greater. Being a Christian does't mean everything in life will be perfect. Jesus tells us that we will face struggles, there will be difficult times in our life. In John 16 he clearly says, "In this world you will have troubles. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33). And gave the promise in Deuteronomy that "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged" (Deut. 31). There is hope. Our hope is in the one true God, our Lord Jesus Christ.
But we can't stop there. And this is another message from the movie. We have to spread that hope in the Lord, and share the love of Christ with those around us. We are called to serve, and love, and care for those around us. We need to be reaching out to those who don't know the Lord - whether it's in school and it's the popular kid, or geek, or the kid who's in detention every other afternoon; or in the workplace with our colleagues and bosses. We never know how the Lord will use us to reach others. But He is. Let Him work through you.

We serve an amazing, loving, just, good God. Amen.

God Bless

Updates

Sorry it's been a while for an update. Here are some things that have been happening.

1. My new garage sale find! Its an old bench, with "good bones" as the seller put it! I'm planning on sanding it, either painting or staining it, and also making a cushion seat for it. It may take a while before you see the "after" picture!

2. We had some new friends over for dinner this past weekend. They are a sweet couple from Paul's class. So for dessert I wanted to make popsicles. For July 4th, my mom got me this amazing popsicle maker called a ZOKU. You can make ANY type of popsicle you can think of - so I made peach! They were yumm-o! However, it took a while to figure out how to make them.

We did have finally have some that turned out, but we were so excited and wanted to try them, that we forgot to take a picture of them. Next time!!

3. I'm finally settling into a daily routine. Not working is not as fun as I thought it would be. I'm an active person. I like to be doing something, and not having a firm schedule like I've been used to for the past 4 years, has really thrown me. However, I've been really good about not watching TV all day, or mindlessly playing on my computer. My days may include exercising in the morning (either running, walking, or P90X), Bible and quiet time, working on "projects", reading, errands, house chores. I just started babysitting two days a week, which helps as well.

4. I've been reading Francine River's newest novels - Her Mother's Hope and Her Daughter's Dream. Both wonderful stories of mothers and daughters, and how God works in their lives.

5. God has really been teaching me to trust in Him and to find rest in Him. It's not always easy. I'm a control freak. I like to know what's going. But sometimes, I don't know everything and I can't know or do everything. But God does. He is in control. His love and grace are sufficient for me. 

Have a blessed day.

God Bless

My latest project

My crafty and creative sister in law gave Paul and me a very cute going away gift: My First Home. I wanted to make something similar for Henry, but with my own touch and creative mind (or somewhat creative mind). I went to Michael's (one of my favorite stores) and literally sat on the floor in the middle of the isle playing with possible combinations for Henry's gift. I finally picked what I wanted, and set to work. Here are the pictures to show...

 My tools - wood, paint, mod podge, hot glue gun, two types of ribbon, little and littler wooden flower pots, big and little wooden circles (for the base), and wooden spheres.

And of course, my supervisor who watched every step along the way!

The final result. Not quite what I had initially dreamed in my mind, but I still think they turned out cute, and my sister and Henry liked them!

And one more picture of that sweet baby just for fun!

God Bless!

Words cannot express

So I'm going to let the pictures say it all...

He was a natural holding a 2 month old.

There is nothing sweeter than holding a sleeping baby. I cried. More than once. Happy tears!

The happy parents!

 Papa and his first grandson.

My parents are amazing! 

I don't think they get any cuter than this! Henry Christopher Wells. 

And we did have some fun too! Bowling was a huge hit - but so not my game. I came in last. Both games. Enough said. :)