Pin Projects

I'm not much of a project person, but oh.my.word. Pinterest is so inspirational! I've officially accomplished 3 pins.

Here's the pin...

Source: pattyschaffer.typepad.com via Derek Lindsay on Pinterest

Here's a horrendous iphone pic of my recreation...

It took forever to make and cost way more than if I had just bought a completed wreath, but it is my favorite wreath attempt thus far. It makes me happy.

Pin #2...

Source: picky-palate.com via Derek Lindsay on Pinterest

Mine turned out pretty ugly but stinkin' delicious! Even Jack loved them. Of course Marie and Derek wouldn't touch them but that is no surprise.

I made them for my future sis-in-law's bridal shower. See more about that HERE.

3rd pin...

Source: happyhomefairy.com via Derek Lindsay on Pinterest

Jack, Marie, and I made them with Tay. Love craft time! And we got to talk about what the cross represents.

Lots more that I cannot wait to try! The recipes are incredible. I think this is next on the recipe to-do list...

Source: laurenslatest.com via Derek Lindsay on Pinterest

Pinterest is like the greatest invention for someone like me. I used to get all overwhelmed with the desire to try everything! Then when I was ready to actually try something, I couldn't find anything to do! Now I can organize all the amazing ideas and do things I never thought I could.

What pins have you accomplished so far?

Dresser makeover

We were given this dresser a few years ago. SO grateful for it.

(I was trying to decide which hole to use for the new knobs in this pic)

But man this thing was ugly. So I decided to paint it white. We had some high gloss white paint in the basement from the previous owners. So all I had to buy was...

wood filler
sand paper
quart of primer
paint brushes (which I learned was unnecessary)
mini foam roller and refills
knobs (half off at hobby lobby, of course)

I don't really want to figure out exactly how much I spent. I know it was a lot less than it could have been, but definitely more than I had planned! But it's okay because I'm thrilled with the results!

First I filled the extra holes from the hardware...

 

Then sanded, primed, and proceeded to paint about 8 coats of paint. 

Not kidding. 

I used regular paint brushes at first and could not hide the brush strokes. So with some seriously amazing help from facebook friends, I got the foam rollers and added a couple more coats. You can still sort of see the brush strokes but it looks more like texture and I like it.

Meet my very first real project that I did all by myself!!

Oh I know it's poor lighting! Very sad. It's such a beautiful pure white and I just love it! I got a free quart of chocolate brown paint awhile back and used it to paint the sides of the drawers...

I'd love to line the insides of the drawers with some bright pink patterned paper of some sort eventually. But since her clothes pack this thing pretty good, that may be a waste! We'll see.

Marie said, "Oh mom! It's beautiful!" 

Next step is to get rid of that nasty green on those walls. 

I'm so proud of myself :)

I am impatience defined.

Everyone struggles with being impatient. Everyone. Do not correct me if I'm wrong.

Some struggle more than others. I'm in the "more" category.

Lately God has really been "encouraging" me to work on this issue. I always try to avoid asking Him to help me be patient because we all know what that leads to... But it has gotten to the point where I've had to give in and straight up ask for it. I use the phrase "supernatural patience" hoping that God will get the hint that I need Him to do it all by Himself, because I just get in the way.

Seriously, every stinkin' time that God gives me an opportunity to practice patience, I fail. Fail. Fail.

Today, I was losing my patience with my impatience.

But tonight, I had a victory! A hugely miniscule victory! An annoyingly humbling victory.

I was driving home from Bible study (of all places) and I got stopped at the first light. Then I got stopped at the next light. Then there was a train at a crossing that I didn't even think was still in use. And I, for no reason at all, had to get home as soon as possible.

But God seems to have heard that sneaky word, "supernatural," because as I approached the flashing lights at the train tracks, I felt calm. My impatience was melting away at an alarming rate. And I found myself enjoying just sitting quietly, eating my apple, enjoying the peace.

While getting stopped at lights doesn't always set off my impatience, tonight it was. (Trains almost always do! Can I get an amen??) After the train passed and I drove through two green lights, it hit me that God had given me a victory. A tiny, but monumental victory. I was well on my way to getting mad and went the opposite direction by the grace of God.

I needed that tiny victory to prove that God and I can have many more in much bigger situations! I spent the next several minutes thanking God with joy in my heart.

There's a long road ahead, but I'm finally on it!

Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. James 1:19-20

My post csection thoughts

Baby Jacobs #3 is due in a few months. I remember so well what it was like when Jack was this age. I was desperate to have a vbac. I mean, it was literally constantly on my mind, in my prayers. I begged God on a daily basis for this gift.

Derek and I picked out a date (June 17 - 37 weeks). We prayed constantly that God would allow me to go into labor on that day and have a natural birth. Up until that day, I was confident God would answer that prayer.

Then the day came. And went. And Jack was getting bigger fast.

To answer your burning question... no, I did not have gestational diabetes with either baby. In fact, I often struggled with low blood sugar. I was also anemic during both pregnancies which supposedly contributes to low birth weight. Also, I gained significantly less weight with Jack than I did with Marie. And he was well on his way to being much larger than she was.

Every night I would think, this is the night! I will wake up to horribly painful contractions and jump for joy. Every time I felt any kind of cramping, I'd get excited and beg for them to get painful.

I drank raspberry leaf tea religiously. I sat on an exercise ball every time I was on the computer, working on jewelry, watching TV, anything. I bounced on it incessantly. I jogged. I made my food so spicy I couldn't taste it. I forced the doc to strip my membranes.

Some people used to ask why on earth I would want to go through labor when I had a flawless and minimally painful csection. The bottom line was that I felt like a failure as a mother if I couldn't birth my own children. Or at least try. Somehow I had myself convinced at a subconscious level that it was my fault that I had to have a csection with Marie. And I had to make up for it somehow. I had to give birth to Jack "the way God intended" or I was unfit to even be his mother at all.

It's nice to not be in that place anymore. God has grown me. He has opened my eyes to so many truths that have led me to be overwhelmed with thanksgiving for modern medicine.

If God hadn't given humans the capacity to come up with cesarean sections, my daughter would likely be paralyzed, or not have survived at all. And Jack would probably not exist as I may never have been able to have kids again. Having those csections was a couple of the best decisions I've ever made.

I'm also grateful Jack didn't come at 37 weeks, because when he was born at 39 weeks he was in distress and had breathing issues. One week early was almost too early. God knew exactly what He was doing.

He also knows exactly why He grows big babies in me while giving me a less-than-ideal body for birthing babes. It's annoying that I have no idea why, but He has proven Himself enough times to be more than worthy of my complete trust. 

I still pray for a vbac often. I still dream of my perfect birthing story. I mean, if I could give birth at home in a bathtub and know my baby would be safe, I would do it in a heartbeat! But I don't feel guilty anymore. I don't blame myself anymore. And I'm not frustrated that God would "curse" me so.

I have two beautiful, strong, healthy gifts from God with another growing just as strong and healthy. If God decides to allow a vbac, I will praise His name! If He decides it is best for baby and momma to have a csection, I will praise His name!

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways," declares the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than you ways and My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9

PA Christmas Vacation

Last year, for some reason, the Jacobs Christmas Recap was a very popular post. It was probably all the extended Jacobs family checking it out. There are a lot of them! Well, I'm very late and have all sorts to catch up on so I'll start with our wonderful trip to PA.

After an amazing Christmas Eve with the family, then our very first Christmas morning just the four of us (with spectators in the form of Maw-Maw and Paw-Paw), we set out for Cleveland.

Gram (aka G.G.) showered us with all sorts of gifts. In spite of Jack refusing to sleep, we had a great time. And God had some serious mercy on us for the final 6 hrs of the trip... we didn't have to stop once! (Well, except for a super quick refueling where only Derek got out). The kids were angels! Praise the Lord.

We made sure to get the wiggles out at Riverfront shortly after we arrived.

Then we had another Christmas morning

And were showered with gifts again.

We spent the rest of the week and a half getting as much in as we could. We played badminton almost daily. We caught up with as many friends as we could, and made sure Marie had lots of time with her friends.

We even got a library trip in!

We went to Heritage and New Life on Sunday morning. Didn't want to miss anyone!

And Derek and I got to go out just the two of us on a couple of occasions. One time we went to the imax and saw Mission Impossible 3. Awesome. And two separate double dates. Oh how I love my friends! Oh yes, and Thai Rak Thai's drunken noodles followed by a chocolate peanut butter milkshake from Mannings... my mouth is watering.

Overall it was just a fantastic and relaxing week and a half. We needed it.

It mostly felt like we never left even though it had been an entire year since we visited last. Huge pieces of our hearts are there and always will be. 

Now back to reality!