Our Lives Renewed

I am abandoning this blog.  I've created a new one for the new me.  Please come follow me at  Our Lives Renewed  Life is so much bigger and better there.

What's Your Super Power?

Do you have a super power?  If not, what would you want it to be?  Mine?  I have the ability to have more interests and hobbies than the entire state of Texas residents combined.  Yep.

Can I do them all at once?  Only in my head.  My mind is always going 90 to nothing while my body stays put. One day I'll be able to prioritize.

We didn't plant a garden this year.  Last year's drought sent Clayton running far away from the gardening world.  This year we have had a nice supply of rain and I'm regretting not planting.  I guess it's really not too late.  I don't know.  I bought some plants anyway and am going to try my hand at it again.  I told Clayton I wanted us to build a greenhouse when he comes home.  It won't be anything fancy, but I'm looking forward to it.  I want fresh veggies all year long and I want to learn to can/freeze everything.

The new house has an apple tree.  I'm not sure the variety, but as soon as I found out for sure I want to make some apple butter.  It wouldn't hurt to make some juice too, since I've traded in sodas for apple juice.  There's also some plum and pear trees there.  I have no idea what to make with those.  Some other type of tree is there, but I'm totally lost as to what it is.  The fruits look like they may be pomegranate, but they haven't turned any color or changed size since Easter.  I just don't know.   I'll see if I can get some shots and maybe any of you out there who garden can help me identify them because Google isn't helping much.

I just need to do some more researching before tackling this new hobby of mine.
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Allison made swim team after all!!!  She's so excited.  It's been practice every single day and meets on Saturdays.  It's worth it, though.  She's such a great swimmer!

Emily will be going to English riding camp in a couple weeks.  She's sooo excited about that!  She loves the fact that her teacher actually has an English accent.  It just makes it authentic that way, right? ;)

Disney is in a month! :)

Murphy's Law

I've been a blog slacker this year, so far.

I just wanted to post tonight as I take a break from editing pictures and get caught up on things in blogosphere.

I'm not sure what I posted about last, but to get you on the same page as my brain, I'll just start by saying the new house I bought back in January is going to be my future photography studio.  I still get to keep our classroom there too, so that's great!  I have it all planned out.

Since I've been doing a lot of photo shoots lately, I went ahead and bought a new laptop, a point of sale program, an updated version of Photoshop, and some things here and there to help me start off and stay organized.  That was two weeks ago.  Today, I woke up and went straight to my laptop to finish editing the last few photos I had of my last shoot, when I saw my laptop wasn't charged.  I had it on all night.  Must have been the outlet.  I take it to charge on another outlet. Nothing.  Great.  So, off to Best Buy I go to get a new charger.  It's not the charger, they say.  It's the computer.  Seriously?  Tomorrow, I take the computer back.  Guess what?  All those programs I have, they are on that laptop.  Perfect.

The worst part of that situation is that a family member passed away the other day and they are wanting some of those pictures to be buried with that family member.  So, I'm up all night tonight using a computer and very outdated version of Photoshop, editing pictures until I'm going blind from the computer screen.

Allison's been waiting all year for May.  She has been looking forward to joining the swim team.  I ask about it at the beginning of May.  I'm told all this week are the sign ups and practice, to come any day we can.  After leaving Best Buy, we run to Academy and get her gear.  We leave all excited, ready for her to get back into her swimming.  Her element.  We wait for 30 minutes before hearing the words, "Roster was turned in this morning,.  It's too late to sign up."  Seriously?

Ah, but it will all work out.  My best friend and I spent the day yesterday at the spa, soaking in some much needed pampering.  I've never had a full body massage.  I didn't care for it much, though.  Are they supposed to hurt?  My muscles were so tight, she spend most of the hour trying to pop those things loose.  I cringed the entire time, I believe.  The facial?  HEAVEN

I took Morgan's little brother and sister shopping the other day.  Their mother and I have decided we like to think of me as their Godmother.  It may seem an odd situation, but with me, that's really the norm.  Check out the fancy boots, Madlynn picked out.  Snazzy!

Of course, a trip to Joe's fed our bellies.  

Love those two!

Morgan is taking a makeup artist course.  It's just for fun, but I'm learning as she does.  I wanted her to take it as an extra service that can be provided at the studio, if desired.  So far, I've learned quite a bit.  It's fun!

She also has a "new to her car".  She loves it.  I love how when we get out of it, she makes sure we don't leave anything behind, yet, when she gets out of mine, there are things left behind.  Hmmm.

Ok, so that catches us up.  Well, for the most part.  Must get coffee in my veins and get back to work!

TTFN

A Year Behind

Better late than never, I guess.  Let's face it.  I have wonderful intentions, but it just takes me a while to tackle everything.

We decided to stay where we are.  I think that little room I have off my laundry room decided for me.  Ok, maybe not, but it really did have a big influence on me.  I feel settled in our decision.  Good.  Happy.  Relieved.

So, as far as what I'm talking about being a year behind is my little work space.  Remember sometime last year I showed you where Clayton and I had cut a door that was in the way and put it as a desk in my craft room?  Well, after buying the small house, I took all my crafts to it and all that is out of the way now.  I decided to use that little room for a home office.  I put the kids to work painting (most every time money helps them bust a move).  After using brushes that actually made their work harder on them, and myself going in and touching up when they were getting burned out, the room was painted.  Ahhh I sure did enjoy not having to do it all by myself! (The pictures make the paint look YELLOW, but it's not.  It's a very subtle lime green.  I'll try to take a picture with my good camera when it's complete and see if that shows more true color and look of the place) :

So, right now I'm pretty close to the halfway mark in there.  I thought I just needed a few more small details, a couple trips to Ikea and some bits and pieces there, and I'd be through.  It wasn't until I sat down and wrote out every single detail I wanted when I realized I'm far from finished.  I came up with two entire pages of things I still want to do in there.  A lot to add, even to the main wall above the desk.  Oh well, I'm truly enjoying the ride.  I'll post more pics when I'm finished completely, but here is what is done so far:

(ignore the creepy reflection in the frame above)

These pictures are NOT showing justice to how it's really looking in there, but.....

Oh, I also laid new flooring in there as well.  Just haven't taken a picture yet, but it looks so great!

One of the biggest problems I'm facing is trying to figure out how to cover those breaker boxes without making it look too cluttered.  I have a few ideas, but not sure just what yet.

Another project I started is Morgan's closet.  It has been piled with my junk all the while we switched out bedrooms.  It had carpet in the bottom of it and with the bathroom next door to it (with a leaky toilet), I knew there was some crazy stuff under all that mess.  There was.  So, I ripped out carpet and laid down my favorite cheap flooring in it.  She's been gone all week and I wanted to give it a total makeover with paint or wallpaper, but just didn't have time.  I'm excited to get it finished for her.

I found this closet organizer on Pinterest and thought it was a great idea.

I wanted to make it and tweak it to fit Morgan's needs, so I'll be adding a small mirror at sitting height for her along with some other things so it will serve as a vanity also.  She doesn't use hairspray, so that won't be a problem being by her clothes.  I am ready to get it finished!! (long way to go, obviously)

The next project this coming week will be finishing Emily's room.  It's ridiculous that it's not finished as close as I was.  We have gotten an intense amount of rain (thank God), so I haven't been able to air out her dresser and desk.  It still reeks of the storage building.  We've had nice sunshine the past couple days, so I'll take it outside tomorrow, hopefully.

Things are really coming together.  I'm enjoying seeing the changes in my home.  I just needed a push to finish and that push was inside me all along. : )

More pics and posts soon!

Yes, money speaks volumes to teens.  Maybe I won't even have to do any office work!

What To Do?

Since the day Clayton laid eyes on my little house I purchased for Mae's, he's wanted to move in.  I was against it from the moment I saw that light bulb above his head.  This was MY dream.  I felt like moving into it would be ripping that dream from me.  I mean, after all, it's prime location for a business and entirely too small for our family.  I can't honestly say I wasn't a little perturbed he even had that thought.  The more he talked about doing this and that to the yard, the more irritated I got.

As he's been gone for the past month, the girls and I have stayed quite a few nights in the new house.  The idea of moving in is growing on me.  Yes, it's small, but I've quickly been reminded how we lived in a house about the same size as this one when all 6 kids of ours, under the age of 9 were all running around and things were just fine.  The bedrooms in that house were a lot bigger than this one, but we have a lot less kids at home now.  When they come home, they crash on the sofa anyway.

I used to want to have a home big enough for company, future grandkids, the whole nine yards.  Now that I've been struggling to downsize, I'm seeing that as silly.  Maybe I'll kick myself in the future over downsizing, I don't know.  I see my mom living in a home that's fairly small.  She has a teeny tiny yard as well.  She has 5 kids, all of us with at least 3 kids and spouses, and we all fit perfectly fine in her home during the holidays and such.  I see my mother in law with a HUGE 2 story home, and no one uses the top floor.  Ever.  You should know by now how much I can't stand wasted space, right?  Who needs that electric bill anyway?  I sure don't.

Ah, but then there's the fact that I absolutely love my home.  The big one.  It still needs to be finished, but what I know I want to do with it, I just melt.  The electric bill there is a lot higher than I'd like, or that I've ever paid before.  There are some problems we are still facing that drains my energy.  (found a leak in the laundry room ceiling about a month ago)  It's going to take a lot of money and time to get it complete, and the note is 3 times more expensive than the small house.  I love the house though.  I also still want Mae's.

I'm torn.

I've sat down and weighed out the pros and cons of living in the small house.  It would mean all new furnishings because the rooms just aren't large enough for what we have.  The location is great for convenience, but not exactly the location I have in mind for a home.  This is where Clayton and I differ entirely.  He's a city slicker, I'm a country gal.  It makes it very, very tough.  I feel exposed living in town and it's not a neighborhood in that there are gorgeous lawns to live next to.  This house is the only residential building on the block.  The rest are businesses.  That's great if you don't care for neighbors.  Which, honestly, I don't.  (I'm a snob)

This is just a huge decision.  Maybe the answer will present itself soon.  I pray it does anyway.

If only it were this easy:

Learnin' and Eatin'

The girls and I have been working on school and the new classroom.  It's so nice to be over there, even though it's not even close to being finished.  It's a bit uncomfortable because I still need to get some sort of desks or run to Shreveport to get my large table from my sister to have in there.  I also would like to get a large rug or something to cut down on the echo.  Ceramic tile floors with no curtains and a high ceiling will do that.  In time.

Anyway, learning is what we do in there.

Monday.  AKA Ice Cream Monday for the kids.  It's been a while since we've had it, so they quickly reminded me now that we are pretty much settled in.

This little guy was a gift from my Realtor.  I'm not big on things like this, but he really is adorable.  I needed a place to put our dry erase markers, so I thought about him.  Works nicely, I think.  I probably won't ever put a plant there.  I'm a plant killer.  (room needs a good paint job, but I'm not even going there right now.  Just shows up worse in pictures)

I also bought the first thing for the house that will eventually be Mae's.  (another story, another time, why it won't be immediately)  I love love love it!  (anyone willing to come and get rid of that awful bright yellow paint, bring it on!!)

We've been trying out new recipes this past week.  We've made a pizza pull apart dish sort of made like monkey bread.  I don't think any of us liked it.  Too dry.  Way too dry.  Another one we did was very very good and will be making it again and again.  It's great for an appetizer during the holidays or even a lunch (very filling).  It's extremely simple which is something I'm trying to find for lunches at the new house.  Totally almost mess free.

Recipe here

Here was another crescent recipe we found on Pinterest.  It was a bit of a disappointment, but not entirely.   They didn't cook all the way through, but were plenty browned on top.  By the time they did get finished on the inside, they were too browned and way too dry.  Nutella filled crescents.

Our next recipe will be these breakfast pockets :

This week has been a week of stuffed bread, that's for sure.  Next week I think I'll try everything Crock Pot.

When God Speaks To Others For You

My goals were going ok.  Not perfect, but ok.  I blame too much going on to focus too hard on them.  After all, no one is perfect.

Right?

(Justification of my failures)  

I seriously wasn't being hard on myself at all.  I'm still not, actually.  I do have a different view, however.  I received this text message from my stepson yesterday.

 When I read it, I thought, eh, ok.  Didn't really pertain to me at the time.  At least I didn't think so.  I've never been an avenger.  The scripture he mentioned is why I've never been an avenger.  Then, later on during the day, I was shopping iTunes when I came across a Christian group who is from Monroe, La where we moved from a couple years ago.  This group came to our church several times and I just fell in love with them.  So, seeing them on iTunes was more than thrilling for me.  (I bought every album)  As I impatiently waited for all the songs to finish downloading, I played the first one that was finished.  It.Brought.Me.Back.  Back into the Realm of God that I have been out of for so long now.  Christian?  Yes.  Of course.  Always.  Focused on God wholly?  No.  That's obvious.  I then reread Adam's text message.  It hit me like a ton of bricks.  I am ALWAYS telling people who are going through rough times, "It's not WHAT you go through, but HOW you go through it."  I tell them this because I KNOW it to be true!  Being focused on the positive, on God, having faith this too shall pass, KNOWING (time to look up at my subtitle to this blog that's been here all along)..."For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11.   It's right there.  All of it.  Right there in my face and I'm totally not focused on anything but trying to figure out when it's all going to end and when I'll get my break.  


So, even though I really didn't have revenge on my mind,  I realized Adam was saying much more than that.  God is going to rescue me.  He is right here with me, watching everything I'm having to go through.  Everything that will bring honor and glory to him in the long run.  I don't have to worry.  I don't have to let bitterness take a spot in my heart and steal my happiness.  I am only bound if I choose to be.  I choose to have my focus on God.  My Strong Tower.  How ever so quickly I tend to forget.  

So, before I fell too hard again, my lens has been refocused.  I was almost redirected there, but I'm good.


Edited to add this:

I failed to mention the song that downloaded first was one I used to love, but mainly because it was "catchy".  I loved the lyrics before, but yesterday, they really spoke to me!  Funny that this was the first song that downloaded even though it was chosen well down the list.

It's called "All It Takes is a Shout"

The chorus:
All it takes is a shout
and the walls fall down
walk in and claim the ground
that the devil's had too long

All it takes is a shout
with a voice of praise
and a little faith, no doubt
all it takes is a shout

Of course the second verse was VERY powerful:

I've been circling my problems wishing they would disappear
While their yelling and their taunting, keeping my bound in my fear
Now I hear the Spirit saying turn and face your enemy
God has finally won the battle lift your voice and you will see!

Such a blessing to have heard and seen this group in person.

Check them out: