Valentine's Decor ~ Part 1

I love how the changing of seasons brings fresh inspiration. With February just around the corner, I got bit by the love bug!! First off, I wanted to switch out the ornaments in my apothecary jar to something that would fit the Valentine's theme. I had some jelly hearts that I used for a pop of red, which I layered with puffed marshmallows. I like the final result....except I'm somewhat tempted to EAT the candy when I walk past! );

The runner on the kitchen table was looking rather bland, so I decided to create a new one. After visiting Walmart, I found some white burlap [as opposed to the natural color], which I loved. A yard was only $3.74 and I only needed about half that amount!

I started by cutting it to the size I needed, and then pulled threads until I had the desired fringe length. [Call me weird, but I love doing this!! (;]

Now I cut the fringe so that it's even. If you are able to cut in a straight line to begin with...you can eliminate this step! ha

To give it a bit of pizazz, I added some ribbon ~ red, to be exact!! Here's where some basic sewing skills come in handy. Just lay it on the burlap, and pin it in place if you like. I just stitched it fast on one side of the ribbon, but you could do both. A sewing machine would be faster, but I don't own one. Furthermore, I get a kick out of stitching. Don't ask why!

Tada!! The finished product, completed in about 15 minutes! Check back soon for part 2 of my Valentine's decor.

Friday is nearly here...and the beaches in Florida. I.can't.wait.  Love to all!

Chalkboard Makeover!

Happy Monday y'all!! I'm excited to share a project I did a few weeks ago! 

I'd been on the lookout for a chalkboard to hang in my kitchen for quite some time...with no luck. I didn't want just any chalkboard; it needed to be oval...and in my price range. 
After a trip to Goodwill, I found the "perfect" solution. It was this gorgeous dated picture for $4.95! [The cashier commented on how beautiful it was, but I didn't have the heart to tell her my plans for it!! haha] 

I thought I had taken pictures of the painting process but couldn't find them. I sprayed the frame with an ivory color, and coated the glass with a few coats of the chalkboard paint. I was pleased that it worked so well on the glass! [The spray can had instructions on the number of coats needed and the drying time as well.]

Voila! My chalkboard!!! I get such a bang out of writing messages on it...a carryover from the days I was obsessed with being a schoolteacher, no doubt. Maybe I'll even use it for menus when we have guests! 

Have you painted anything with chalkboard paint recently?

World View Wednesday ~ Guatemala

The beautiful country of Guatemala became dear to my heart in 2005, when I spent 8 weeks working at an orphanage located in the mountains, not far from Guatemala City. I went as a volunteer through Orphan Resources International, http://www.orphanresources.org/index.html, an organization based in Lititz, PA. They provide food and medical supplies to numerous orphanages in Guatemala, as well as send out work teams to help maintain the homes and pour out love on the hurting and abandoned children who live there. I was privileged to spend my time at the Fundaninos Children's Home, and just fell in love with the kids there! Their stories were heart-wrenching; many of them had been abandoned, had lived in abusive homes or had parents who simply couldn't provide for them. All of them were looking for someone to love them, for a place to call home. 

These little chicos were a rodeo!! My job was to help bath them and tuck them into bed at night, which was no easy task [but totally worth it] when they would sweetly say, "I love you"! 


These little kids are some of many who are forgotten, neglected and unloved. The number of orphans in Guatemala has only increased through the years, and there is a huge need for workers who will give of their time and resources for this ministry! If you are interested in learning to know more about this work, click on the link above or message me. I treasure the memories I made there, and dream of the day I can return...hopefully, this time with Eddie and Hadassah! 


Tonight...I will kiss my baby and thank God she will grow up in a home with a mommy & daddy who love her. And I will say a prayer for the many sweet children who don't even know who their parents are! Will you join me?


"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress." James 1:27

Word for the Year

The beginning of a new year always makes me introspective.

I love to remember. 

I like to think about where I've been and where I'm headed.

I like to have goals to work towards, even if they get a little lost in the shuffle of life!

Last year, I chose one word that summed up my purpose. 

It was worship.

As I discussed my "word for the year" with my sister-in-law, suddenly I knew what it would be!

TRUST.

In times of change, difficulty and grief, I struggle to trust that my Father knows best. 

That He cares.

But in the past few months, I've felt Him asking me to simply choose to trust.

I won't always understand.

It won't always be easy.

And sometimes, it will hurt.

But He has my good in mind and loves me with a love that I can't fathom!

So, with His help, I choose to open my heart and trust.

What is your word for 2012? I'd love to hear it!

Christmas Blessings!

Things I love about Christmas

:: a cozy fire on a cold night ::

:: ornaments that remind me of the gifts Jesus brought me: Joy & Peace ::

:: a Christmas tree, with its twinkly beauty ::

:: red decorations ::

:: wrapping presents for people I love ::

:: family ::

:: a precious baby ::

:: My Saviour! ::

Without the gift of His life 2000 years ago, there would be no Christmas.

No Joy!

No Peace on Earth.

Because of Him, we celebrate!

Because of Him, we have hope.

O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the LORD!

Christmas Craft #2

Happy Monday, dear friends!! This post was supposed to be up last Thursday...but life happened! Hadassah has started teething, which means naps are shorter and baby a little more fussy. So I'm finding it a bit challenging to get everything on my to-do list crossed off. But I'm learning [slowly!] some thing about what is truly important. And some days, that means saying "no" to anything other than hubby, baby, and of course, getting some food on the table! I'm sure you moms can relate.... So, no, I didn't get much time to work on crafts last week, but I wanted to share a super-easy project I did for the Christmas brunch I hosted!

They are place cards that I fell in love with when I saw them on Pinterest! You just need to gather some fresh greenery [at your neighbors', if you're lucky like me! Or even better, at your own house], snap the branches into even-sized twigs and cut off the ends of the greenery. Use a hot glue gun to glue two twigs together on the ends, and then add a spray of evergreen to complete the card holder!

The actual place card can be whatever you choose! There are so many fun free designs to download online or at Pinterest, of course!! I chose to make my own, using some old music sheets [thanks, Amy!] with black paper to make them pop. They were a perfect accent to the Christmas decor and had a natural, outdoorsy feel. And...they were Free!! 

So what's your favorite place card holder? Any fun Christmas-themed ideas? I'd love to hear them!

Jesus for the Day

Our church has a long-standing tradition of putting on a Christmas play each year. This year, "Mary's Story" was the featured production. Everyone did an outstanding job and it brought a whole new meaning to the Christmas story for me. Since baby Truman couldn't be at church Friday evening, Hadassah had her first acting role as baby Jesus! This mama was just a little bit worried about how she'd do...she's usually a sweet baby, but hasn't learned just yet that there are certain times you just smile and act happy!

Here she is, talking to "Mary"!

And posing with Mary's friends...

And here's "baby Jesus"!

She actually did really well...other than crying before she was born! As soon as they started talking to her, all was right with her world and she behaved nicely for the rest of the scene!! Whew.

But this whole acting-as-Jesus got me thinking: what if we all were Jesus for a day? What exactly would change in my daily routine? Maybe I'd take the time to make a phone call to a friend that's struggling, or take a meal for the mom who just had a baby, or visit the lady who just lost her husband of 50 years. Aren't we supposed to "be Jesus" in real life? He isn't here in body anymore; we are! And He's counting on us to be His hands, His feet, His voice. I don't know about you, but I know that I want to "be Jesus" in my community and to my family. So many times, I've chosen to do what I want to do, rather than obey the Holy Spirit when He asks me to reach out in love. I think I'm too busy or too tired. But He didn't make any excuses. He came...willingly. How can I do any less?