taking a break

but you might have guessed that already since i haven't posted in a very long time.  this blog became something that felt more like a chore than a creative outlet for me.  so, I'm taking a break.  not sure if or when i'll be back.  I've enjoyed the time here on the blog, just need some time away from it, from the computer in general i think.  i can spend way to much time on it.  most times i feel encouraged by other mommy bloggers but sometimes i leave feeling like I'm not good enough, don't make enough nutritious dinners, don't spend enough time playing with kids, or reading my bible.  i get caught in the comparing. it isn't good for me.  so there are just a few blogs that i read now.  ones that appeal to me, not just because of the way the look and the photos and the design, or the awesome crafts they do,  but because the words these women share inspire me to be a better Christian, wife and mom.

Under the Sycamore by Ashley Ann
Whatever by Meg Duerksen
Contented Sparrow by Megan

thanks for joining me in my little space of the world wide web.  now go check them out. be inspired.

hawaii?!?!?!

ha ha.. I'm going to title this post the same as the last because I'm not sure we were really in Hawaii. it has taken me awhile to get the words together to write this post and share photos and today I'm not even going to do the whole thing. i just wanted to share another blog post that spoke to me this morning, brought me back out of my little pity party and got me headed in the right direction again... hopefully.

you see it rained every day we were in Hawaii. not just a little shower here and there, but big storms with hail and tornados, 15 inches of rain fell in the time we were there. we had one really lovely day of sunshine and that was it. i came home from our trip feeling frustrated and bummed out. after a few days passed, i got really frustrated and bummed out with myself! i had missed an awesome opportunity to dig into the Word, to grow in my relationship with my Lord, and to be amazed by his power. it wasn't the kind of power i had planned on, full of sunshine and ocean breezes but it was most definitely His power!

He promises to be faithful! it was right in front of me the entire time and i missed it. the beauty of his storms and then the rainbow to follow. i'm hoping i don't miss the next opportunity he gives me to praise him in the "storm" and to see beyond my expectations. He has great plans for me and gifts for me, if i only open my eyes and hands wide enough to receive them.

hawaii?!?!

yep... Hawaii! in less than 24 hours we will be on our way to Hawaii.

just dave and i.

we have been wanting to go to Hawaii for years, and now we have friends that are stationed over there, so we are going for a visit. we are so excited. seems surreal for sure!

i have lots still to do and just got a call from the school that i need to pick up the kids at 12 due to bad storms coming our way. so i better get off the computer and get to work.....
all i can say is.... my GOD is the most amazing artist there is. i can not wait to see this beauty with my own eyes.

HUGE transformation

well here she is... Daves new office space and ware house. isn't she beautiful? well, not here, she's not, but she becomes beautiful. Dave has big dreams, that's one of the reasons i love him so much, and the best part is that usually if he dreams it, it happens.

this building had sat empty just about a mile from our house for many many years. the roof had completely fallen inside, it was a MESS to say the least. reminds me a lot of this project.

but it had good bones, great location and a lot of potential.
dave met with the owner and worked out a deal and it became property of Reliable Building Services about 6 months ago.
the above picture is standing inside the building looking right up into the sky. nice sky lights if you ask me :)
the guys worked hard, and carefully, to take the old roof down without knocking the concrete walls down. this was a dangerous job and i did lots of praying while they worked.
photo above with with all the new trusses on.
i will leave you with on last photo of the inside before they started hauling trash to the dump.

dave is using 3/4 of the building for warehouse and shop space, the other 1/4 is for offices. last night i went over to the office to clean up a little bit before he had a big meeting today with a homeowner and architect.

i snapped a few photos with my phone before i left. it sure has come a long way!

the colors look really off, it is really more of a light tan, but this is the front lobby area. the door to the left leads into Daves personal office. we stained the old concrete floors. they have so much character, i just love them. i found the chairs at a used furniture store and re-did them. i love taking on projects as well. mine are just a little smaller scale. :)
still the lobby area
lobby again

the photo above is of the second office. dave has a whole crew working for him now. God has really been growing the business. we are blessed for sure.
this is Dave's office space. he has a great bright window to look out of during the day. the color is off in here as well, it is a medium dark brown. desks are from IKEA.
the chairs i got were 4 for $40 bucks. then i just bought two curtain panels from walmart for $12 to recover them. i love how they turned out. they just needed some cleaning, sanding, new urethane, and recovering. look as good as new... and they are comfortable.
i did some paintings for his walls.
rug is from walmart too. he still wants to build a big long work space in the back of the office but that will come with time. i'll try to get over there with my real camera too some time and get some photos of the outside and the workshop as well.

hope you liked the little tour of Reliable Building. If you are local to Greeneville TN and are in need of any home repairs or a custom built home give us a call. 423-342-4331.

multitudes 65-77

continuing the list:

65- time to exercise at the YMCA

66- that i actually ran 2 miles today

67- a shower alone and time to do my hair and makeup

68- sweet time with friends, talking about the lord and raising our families

69- grocery shopping done for the next two weeks

70- a menu planned out for the next two weeks

71- friends lending me clothes for our trip

72- my niece who is going to do an awesome job with our kids while we are gone

73- that we get to go on a trip of a lifetime-just the two of us

74- for friends meeting their newest daughter in China this weekend

75- for a delicious dinner made special for me last night by the Wids

76- for the plans coming together for a girls weekend

77- seeing life long friends being truly happy

missionaries

missionaries come in all shapes and sizes....

our children at school

sponsoring a child through Compassion International

being a missionary over seas

helping out an neighbor

using our gifts and talents to spread the love of Christ... that is what it is all about.

using what we have been given to Love on other people.

i am so proud of both of my parents as they are both using their talents to do that very thing.

Dad is in Chad, Africa right now with a medical missions trip with the church. Dad doenst really have any medical training but the village also was having problems with their generator and water pump... two things that are of daily use to them and help with everything they do each day. I am amazed and proud of my dad. never in a million years could i picture him on a missions trip to Africa. He comes home in just a few short days. They are working at an orphanage. i told him to hug on some babies for me. mom thought he might try to bring one home if he could :) you can follow dad journey by going to the Spanish River Churches blog here. please join us in praying for the team as they finish out their time in Chad.

Mom isn't in Africa, but just as much using her talents for the Lord. mom is an awesome seamstress but got a little burned out. she tried doing a little sewing business and things just werent taking off like she had hoped. it is hard to put a lot of heart and time and energy into something that doesn't work out like you had hoped. Mom recently donated a bunch of her dresses to their church's clothes closet, but she also found this great opportunity to help show love and joy to kids struggling with cancer. you can check out the blog post about it here.

mom and her sewing buddies have made 20 bags filled with goodies to send off to young cancer patients. i know those kids will feel blessed with a new hand made gift. while mom and her friends sew the bags, they pray for the children receiving them and that is the greatest blessing of all.

so we don't have to travel far to be a missionary. we just need to do what we do best and love to do, but do it for the lord.

mom and dad, so proud of you guys. thanks for being a good example to us of sharing Gods love and story.

i pinned it, i did it - kids crafts

tuesday required some watercolor therapy... for me anyways :)

kids didn't have school and we had two extra kiddos with us all day. i found this pretty project on Pinterest and thought we could all enjoy it.

it is a wet on wet watercolor technique. click here for the full instructions....

my bigger kids had a harder time just painting blobs of color and letting it run. they wanted to really paint flowers. made me a little sad that they are already fighting the tendency to make everything look perfect and how it is in a photograph rather than letting go and being creative, taking risks....

i enjoyed the project as well. the last photo is mine. might frame it and put it in the girls room.