Mid Summer Check In

Happy July!!!!  I can't believe how quickly summer is flying by!!!  Sadly I've only made it into our pool once!!  ONCE??!!  That's awful.  We've had tons of other things going on around here though.  Jessica and I have been on a decorating kick.  My mantel has been driving me nuts ever since we moved in.  The family room in general is dull and dark and it's hard creating a fun mantel when all of your supplies are dark and drab too :/

I woke up one Monday knowing that it was the day to hit Hobby Lobby.  It felt right in my soul, it was to be the day of the deal.  I would come home with great finds and spend little cash, and as a result have the perfect mantel...full of color and fun!!!

The kids were game and we were off!!!  We hit an 80% off sale and the cart was packed (they're small, it doesn't take much).  We had just rounded the first corner of the store and suddenly the lights went out!!!!!  Uuuuuuuuummmmmmm.  The employees asked for all of the customers to head to the front of the store until they could determine what the problem was.  I'm thinking "crap, I better not lose my stuff"!!  Next a fire alarm starts ringing throughout the store and we are asked to leave the store!!!  Leave. The. Store.  Buuuut, my stuff???  What about my stuff??

I hesitantly left my cart by the front of the store and promised to return to it before long.  Those delicious items would find a new home with me no matter what!!!!!!  Luckily there was another crazy customer who felt the same exact way that I did!!!  So, what did we do???  Well, we did what any devoted, task driven, sale lovin', sane minded customer would do.......we sat on the sidewalk and waited!!!  I'm totally not kidding!!!!

 

There we are....waiting it out!!  It took the better part of two hours, we deterred many an eager customer and had to break a LOT of hobby lobby hearts.  It was sad, but we had no choice.  I wish I would have taken a picture of my friend, Gale.  She's the crazy customer that waited it out with us.  She was a blast!!  We hit it off and I think she easily could have been my aunt.  She would have fit right in!!!

 

So, the lights came on and we headed back in.  Customer Satisfaction was top priority and we all went home with our beloved treasures!!!!  Some of the employees joked about us sitting out there for so long and said they would make us "I survived the Hobby Lobby Blackout" t-shirts!!  I would totally wear one...no lie!!

 

 

Well we made it home and had fun setting things up and decorating.  I'm sure the mantle will change every other week!  In fact, I've already added something new to it!!

 

 

I'm sorry that the pictures are small. Apparently I have a crappy phone camera and they're all fuzzy when I enlarge them. I picked up the "Grace" print at 50% off!!! The turquoise orb, the yellow flower pot, yellow metal candle stick and the small plate.  The yellow star was previously natural wood colored and I hit that with some spray paint.  The cabinet door and window frame were pieces that I already had.  They may be getting a makeover someday soon. 

 

 

I also grabbed a fun yellow pillow.  It was on clearance for $4.00!!!! FOUR DOLLARS FOR A THROW PILLOW!!!!!!! I should have bought more!!! Jessica grabbed a few fun pillows (that I don't have any pictures of) and a fun bicycle print for $2.00!! We are both glad that we sat it out and the day turned out to be a success!!!! 

 

 

More recently we hit Michaels and Jessica got a few fun frames for her bedroom and is currently working on a fun, colorful photo/frame collage for Julia's side of the room!!! 

 

 

 

"Whatever" print from http://megduerksen.typepad.com/

 

I've already changed the mantel a bit.  Things don't stay the same around here for very long, in case you haven't picked up on that yet!!

 

"Nest" print also from http://megduerksen.typepad.com/

 

I found the white frame at Wal-Mart, although it wasn't white when I bought it.  I took a can of white spray paint and liked it much better!  Well, that's it for now!!  I have to run some friends home and head to youth group!!!

 

Hope you're staying dry and cool and having a great summer!!!!  I'll check back in soon and fill you in on my cookie progress!!!

Happy Summer and God Bless
<3 Lorraine

 

 



What's been going on?

Things are starting to slow down around here.....a tiny. little. bit!!  I thought I'd take a few quick moments to catch you up on what's been going on around here!!!!  The last time I stopped by it was April, I had needed a break and had some big things on the horizon....you can read about that here!!

So, May:

I decorated my first (and probably only) barn wedding!!  It was a blast!! It was scarey!!  It was a personal challenge, trusting in the abilities that God has given me and the encouragement that I got from friends and family.  There were many times that I wanted to quit and run away (which is my "panic button")  But....I didn't do that, I pushed through and it was amazing!!!!

photo courtesy of Satta Photography

 



I wish that I could share all of the pictures with you, because it was such a great wedding!!  All of the details matched the bride and groom perfectly and the photographer did an incredible job at capturing it all!!! I could probably do a post just on his photography, his shots were unbelievable and magical!!  Make sure you check out his website, one word of caution...he's based out of Thailand!!  But he does visit the states and I believe he's planning a trip back here in the fall!!  Check out his facebook page here!! {tell him I sent ya!!!}

After the wedding came Jessica's GED test...which she passed and is now a High School Graduate!!!  At age 16, I might add!!!  She's done her first year at community college and is well on her way to achieving the goals that she has set before herself!!  We are very proud of her, to say the least!! 

Two weeks after the wedding, I was on to our Youth Group Girls Retreat!!  It's another decorating opportunity for me, plus (and way more importantly) a chance to really pour some Jesus into these teens that our youth team work with!!  The theme was "Obsessed" and it was based off of a six week bible study book by Hayley Dimarco.  We tackled the things in life that we tend to be obsessed with and then wrapped it up by looking at what it looks like to be Obsessed with God.  It was an incredible weekend!!

 

"Are you ready to unpack your Obsessions?" This is where girls could come and write down things they were ready to let go of; things that were taking over the space where God is supposed to be.

We hid a large ping-pong table behind that burlap and bookcase :)

Just a few areas that I get to decorate!

 

Sunday morning we wrap up with a sunrise service on the beach!! We are up at 4:45 and out the door by 5:00.  It's an incredible way to spend a morning after digging deep all weekend.  To sit on the empty beach, anticpate the rising sun, and hear the crashing of the waves is a very humbling experience.  It's definitely the highlight of the weekend.

 

The Ladies Tea was next on the schedule and it was a blast!!!!  The ladies had shown me this picture at the last tea and said "THIS IS WHAT WE WANT YOU TO MAKE US!!!!"  Okay, maybe they weren't that demanding, but I wasn't about to let this group of ladies down!!

 

 

So this is what they got!!!!  

 

I went with the zebra print with hot pink, because, well, why the heck not!!??  They are such a sweet and fun group of women and this ministry is something that I'm so honored to be a part of!!!  Next tea.....The Mad Hatters Tea Party!!!!  Should be fun!!

 

I've had a few cookie orders mixed in between and a few more to come!!  I've done Thomas the Train, Princess, Birthday (hat, gift, cupcake) and I have a rehearsal dinner and a pirate party coming up!!  You can check out my facebook page here.  I don't know where this will go, but I'm enjoying it for where it is right now!!

 

We've officially wrapped up our homeschooling for the summer!  Joe is off on a mission trip this weekend, Jaysen heads to camp in July, Julia turns 9 and I will be at camp in August as the craft lady and a teacher, while Jessica takes care of the camp store and Joe camps that week!  We're hoping to have our pool cleared up soon and I'm looking forward to a lot of lazy days at the pool!!!

 

Life in between these events have been sweet with a little taste of this and that.....here a few pics!!  Okay, so I was going to give you a few more pics, but blogger isn't cooperating!  And maybe it's best anyway.....you might be sick of pictures, who knows?  Bill and I got away for a quick weekend escape!! We went to a B & B in Havre de Grace, MD and it was a much needed break and rest!!  The flowers have been blooming diligently and whenever we have a second, we are out there cutting them and making beautiful arrangements to enjoy!

 

I've had to fight looking at my summer as being over before it begins .  We always have one major event in each month and I tend to glaze over and miss the in between times.  The backward bucket lists have really been a help for me in that area and I'm sure I'll do another one throughout the summer.  If you want to check them out, you can do that  here and here!!

 

What have you been up to and what's on your bucket list??  Do you have a summer bucket list?

 

God Bless <3 Lorraine

My sweet escape

After a month and half of being MIA, you get two posts from me in the course of three days!!!  How lucky are you??  lol 

I sat here on Tuesday evening determined to take the night off.  I've been going full steam, non-stop for, well, ever (or so it seems) and I just knew that I had to force myself to take a break.  I figured I'd just sit and do nothing all night, maybe hang out on Facebook, peruse Pinterest and probably stalk Instagram.  Then I realized, that's not truly a break!  It's fun, mind you, but not the break that I was needing.  After pecking out a quick update post I had the impulsive idea to text my sweet friend Shawn, who lives around the corner to see what she was up to.  She has the best farmhouse around and I pass it five out of seven days.  Her wrap-around porch and rocking chairs call my name each and every time I pass by!  It was calling my name from a mile and half away and I jumped to respond!!!

She was out when I texted but would be home soon.  That was my opportunity to doubt my impulsive self and spiral downward into a little pit of self-pity.  But......I saw that one coming and dodged it, explaining to her why I was texting.  She was game and I was ready!!!  This will probably embarrass her, and I don't mean it to, but she is the cutest, darn, country gal I know (she uses gal instead of girl and it just adds to the cuteness).  I pull in to her horse-shoe drive way and there she is in cute blue, denim overalls, Wellies (green rubber boots that are customary foot attire in these parts), her hair pulled back, pushing a wheelbarrow full of, I think dirt and tools!

First thing I said when I got out of the car was "You are so stinkin' cute, I can't stand it!!!", to which she laughed (embarrassedly) and gave me a big hug!  She and her home offer me such a deep, beautiful, peace that I almost can't handle it!  We settled on having a cuppa hot tea and as she went in to prepare that, I wandered around a small part of her property and snapped pictures.  It was such a beautiful evening, the space was quiet and freshly manicured and I could just deeply breathe and exhale.  It was exactly what I needed.

 

There is so much life and creativity in this yard that it's hard to not capture it and freeze it in time!

 

 

I have always joked with Shawn, that one day she was going to come home from work and find me sitting in her back yard!  I don't know why I've waited so long to do that!!  I felt God in every detail, every plant and structure. 

 

I told Shawn that I was taking the night off and didn't want to talk about anything "work" related.  My mind needed to rest and this was place to do it!

 

Instead of the front/side porch we sat at this private little table tucked in the back side yard.  It was more perfect that rocking chairs. 

 

We talked, and talked, and talked.

 

I took a little walk across a little bridge to visit with Justin and Emily (Shawn's sweet little donkeys)

 

They were a little wary at first, then I got down on their level.  Justin stayed back, but Emily couldn't resist a little girl time!!!  We girls just love to get together, don't we.  They are so sweet!!

 

I had to capture her pretty, little mane <3

Looking back from the pasture at the house.  Shawn and her husband Steve, have done such a wonderful job recreating this home and property into such a beautiful get-away.  I can't get enough of it!!



 

I don't know what kind of tea we had, but it was perfect!  We chatted until well after the sun went down, with no thought of time or schedule.  I have to admit, though, we did end up talking a little bit about "work".  We discussed my plans and ideas for the wedding in May that I'm decorating for.  Shawn has some great organic ideas and the resources to help me pull it all together.  After relaxing for so many hours, talking plans didn't seem like work at all, rather it was fun, refreshing and stress free!!!  The way that it should be!

 

We ended the evening praying for each other and just praising and thanking God for His goodness!   Both of our husbands find themselves in work positions that they/we never would have imagined.  Our futures are somewhat uncertain and that can leave a "gal" feeling tired and worn.  Though our circumstances change and are shakey, our God doesn't change and He is the only sure thing that we can stand on, so that's what we did!!

 

I woke up this morning (wednesday) feeling well rested, refreshed, renewed and ready to face my day and all of the "jobs" that God has set me to do!  I am planning on escaping more frequently.  Finding a quiet, peaceful, loving place to sit, explore and soak in God's goodness is the way to go!

 

Tell me, where and/or what is your sweet escape?  I'd love to know how you refresh, renew and recharge!!!

 

God bless <3 Lorraine

 

Hello?? Anybody there?? Hellooooooo!!!!

 

Hey friends, anyone interested in gathering again?  I may have to clean out some cobwebs and find us a place to sit!!  It's been a month and a half since I last stopped in!  I just wanted to give a quick little picture update as to what has been going on around these parts over the past weeks!!!

 

 

I scored that burlap-ish lamp shade at a thrift store today!!!  Psyched!!!  I also found some happy mugs, and these ugly, large owl lamps that are going to be a fun makeover project!!  I also got them cheaper than they were priced - double score!!!

 

I painted this ugly, pink room a nice creamy, tan color!  The picture doesn't do it justice.....think Pepto-Bismol....I kid you not!!!!  Not in my house, mind you.....someone elses!

 

 

I had a beach day with friends (I NEVER do this, EVER)

 

 



I'm decorating for a wedding in this barn, in May!!  I'm super DUPER excited, and nervous!!

 

 

Someone is about to get their driver's permit!!!!!  A gift from God <3

 

I found these cute chevron shoes!!!  Just enough spring color to brighten any outfit!!

 

AAaannnd this sweet, little purse!!!!

 

Finally got our Sub back - so we can all ride to church together again!!!!  Four months of driving two vehicles to church on sunday and switching between vehicles through the week to save on gas!!!  Another gift from God and some pretty awesome friends <3

 

 



This is the wedding shower that led to my "gig" decorating the barn wedding!  It was so much fun creating a rustic setting for this shower and I can't wait to do it again!!

 

There has been so much more than what is shown here, but I didn't want to bore you!  I thought I just stop in to say hello!!!  I promise I will be back again, SOON!!!! 

 

I pray your spring is off to a fantastic start!!!!

 

God bless <3 Lorraine

Whatcha Readin'?

Hey guys - I've been pretty busy lately, but I'm not gonna bore you with that story again. Today I wanted to talk about the books I'm currently reading! I'm not super impressed with any of them, but without further ado...

I started reading this book a looooong time ago. I love Francine Rivers books, but this one has been a little slow. I can't seem to get into it. You can find the book on Amazon here. You can also read the story summary there, it's really not a terrible book and a friend has promised me that it's really good at the ending, I just can't seem to get into the story.


The Harbinger has gotten a lot of publicity in the past few months and the story is really quite captivating. I have to say, though, that I was very skeptical when I first started reading this, I went in with an image already conjured up in my head; go in with an open mind!! That's all I'm going to say. The message throughout the story is so very critical, I would definitely recommend this book. However, I feel like I sizzled out a little bit at the end, I need to get myself together and just read! Read more about the book and author here!


A few friends and I started reading this book together. It's a fictional novel based on the storylines of Job and Dinah. I love how the book makes the characters come alive and I'm excited to get farther into the book. It's really hard for me to read extra stuff right now because of my school work, but this is something that I want to finish! The book is available on Amazon, here!

That's all that I'm reading at the moment! I've never done anything like this on the blog before, but it might be something that I'll do again. Leave a comment telling me what you're reading right now!!

~ Jessica

 

The Light

Hey guys - I'm on spring break and getting back into the swing of blogging! Between midterms and papers being due, I've been busy! But, I'm back to blogging and couldn't be more excited. Without further ado.....

 

"The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not overcome (understood) it." - John 1:5

A week or so ago I started reading through the book of John, and not only 10 verses in, I came across the above verse. I've read it dozens of times, and oftentimes I dismiss it; however, this time it struck me. The darkness can't understand or overcome the light. A picture popped into my head, I imagined a flashlight. Ironically, the same day I came across this verse, our electricity wasn't working. As we looked for a flashlight, in the dark, I realized that when you shine a flashlight in broad daylight, you can't see the light coming from it. All you see is the flashlight. But, when you shine your flashlight in a pitch-black room, the light shines brighter than ever.

 

God gives us a light, His light, and it is illuminated by the darkness and the trials that we go through. A flashlight without some source of power behind it means nothing. But when that flashlight, equipped with batteries and power, is turned on in the dark no amount of darkness can diminish the light. How bright is your light shining? Did you turn it off when the darkness surrounded you or did you continue to keep it shining bright?

 

~ Jessica

weary and worn

Sometimes things get just a bit too heavy to hold.  Sometimes in the midst of the hope that you carry, you just become worn out and weary.  Sometimes, you have to acknowledge the baggage so that you can lay it down again.  Sometimes, we need to empty our hands and our hearts so that they can be filled up again, not with the burdens, but with the Hope of Glory.

My hope is not wavering, my heart is just weary.  It's been a tough 2 plus years, the Lord has been beyond faithful and I've not doubt that He will continue to be faithful until the end!  But friends, can I be honest with you?  I'm tired.  I'm tired of running every day, I'm tired of struggling financially. I'm tired of trying to keep my focus on the right things.  I'm tired of seeing people I know and love, and frankly, seeing people that I don't know, suffer. 

(I pulled over to the side of the road, in case you were wondering)

I'm tired of the politics, the pain, the injustices.  I'm tired of the loss, the mourning, the suffering.  I'm tired of saying "no" I can't, we can't, you can't.  I'm tired........I'm ready for the skies to break open or at least my current situation to break open and for change to come. 

At the same time, I am relieved that I do not have to carry the weight of these burdens.  I am relieved that I love and serve a God who is in the midst of these situations and who is actively working in them.  Even if I cannot see it.  He is there.  I am relieved that I have the ability to voice my pains and frustrations and that it will all be alright.  That God does not judge me based on the things that I cannot carry.  I can only carry them so far and then turn them over and  He will pick them up and carry them for me.  For that I am thankful.

Here's a song from Tenth Avenue North....it's kind of where I am today.  If you're feeling worn out, I pray that this lifts you and that the Spirit of God fills you up!!!!  Thank you for letting me get this off my heart.

Have a blessed weekend friends!!  God bless <3 Lorraine