Around the House {Guest Room}

Don't you love when you find something super cheap at a garage sale, not sure exactly what you want to do with it, but it ends up being just the perfect thing? Makes up for all those things you end up selling again in your own garage sale.

I found this last year for just a couple bucks.

I thought I would paint it and put it in Marie's room but there just isn't a good place for it. So we've had it down in the guest room.

It just hit me the other day that the color we used in Jack's room would match the guest room perfectly. So I sanded this little baby down, whipped out the foam paint roller, and transformed it with a simple couple of coats of beautiful navy blue.

I love it! But I had a cool idea after I finished that I can't do now. Underneath the old blue color was red. You can kinda see it in the pictures. I shoulda really sanded this baby down so more red was showing, then painted the navy, then distressed it. It would have looked amazing in the Americana guest room! But it's okay. I'm pretty stinkin' happy with the results. Here it is in its home...

Comfy, cozy, little corner of the guest room.

We're praying for a full size bed so couples can comfortably stay. We'd also love to get rid of this...

(Just the bowflex, not the trampoline or light in the background! Sorry for the horrible pic). I've been holding on to this baby for much too long. It's in excellent shape bc it's barely been used! We're asking $400 if you know anyone interested! ;)

When we get this puppy outta there, and get a full size bed, we'll center it in the room and it will be a much more complete look. But for now, I'm happy with the American pride in the corner :) Which, by the way, is made up of all garage sale purchases except the bed itself.

Gotta love garage sales!!

The Power of the Cross

Father, help us to be overwhelmed with the power of the cross this Easter. How undeserving I am! And yet You love me this much.

Thank You.

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