Mod Podge Strikes Again!

My helper in all things crafty. And our supplies. You like the makeshift cutting/glueing surface?

Well, fear not, I have found another Mod Podge craft! Thanks to my sister, Robyn, I got the idea to make a covered notebook from here. There is no real skill involved (my kind of craft!) so I kind of made it up as I went along! I found the scrapbook paper on clearance for $0.21 at Hobby Lobby- I used three different ones, already had the Mod Podge, bought the composition notebook for $0.25 at Target (although I was a little bitter because the first one I went to was out! Another trip out for a notebook that only costs a quarter? Really?) and the big expense was the adorable ribbon- a whole dollar! Other than that, I used my trusty hot glue gun and a button I already had. I knew I had been saving those extra buttons for something! So total cost for (what I think, anyway) is a ridiculously cute notebook -or prayer journal for me- is $1.75 with tax! Score!
This is Jocelyn's notebook. It was kind of the trial run and she was in a hurry to use it. I measured the paper and cut around the cover exactly, but that didn't give me the smooth edges I wanted.

So with mine, I cut an extra flap so that I could fold it over and glue it to the inside of the cover. You can barely see the flap in the right hand side of the photo.

The finished product. I am so proud that I picked such fun paper!


See the super cute ribbon? Don't you want some?:) I glued a piece to the front and back covers so it would tie on the side.
A close up of the flower. I made it myself! I found the easy tutorial here. You better believe I will be making more of these! Definitely worth the time and it turned out so beautifully. I used two different kinds of paper and then I cut two of the green ovals out of the leftover paper to make the leaves.

So there it is. It did take a little while to make (about 1 1/2 hour ) but I was so pleased with the result. Now, I have the perfect sermon note and prayer journal! Yay!

Beautiful Boundaries

I have really been struggling these last couple of days. For the last two years I have participated in PWOC, Awana and a moms' Bible study at my church. This year it seems everything is falling apart. PWOC has changed some of their childcare policies and I do not feel peace about participating with things as they are. It is nothing to do with spiritual things, but I am a really high-stress person and I don't think I would adapt well to dealing with constant uncertainty over whether or not I would have someone to watch my children. There are some other things going on as well, and I can't seem to clearly hear that I should attend. The Bible study leader at our church stepped down from her position last semester and no one has stepped in to replace her. I really respect her decision, and I have prayed about whether or not the Lord is asking me to lead, and I really don't think He is. We struggled with a lot of disorganization in our Awana club last year and while I am planning on attending this year, it remains to be seen where I will serve. Basically, everything that I have been a part of in the last two years is in some state of upheaval as of right now.

If you know me AT ALL, you know that I like to be prepared. I am most comfortable with the familiar and "new" is extremely stressful for me. I know that it is not imperative that I be involved in all these activities, but each has been a place where I could share of my talents and also receive insight, love and encouragement. It is hard for me that it is already August and I don't know where this is all going. I really feel the call in my heart to just "wait" but patience has never come easily for me. I get frustrated that I don't know what to do, I also get frustrated when there are things I want to do but don't have the time, talent or ability. Clearly, I get frustrated often....

I have been praying about all of this for the last few weeks, and I have also been reading through the New Testament. Today, however, I felt lead to read in the Psalms and I started in chapter 16. I stopped on this verse:

"The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;

surely I have a delighful inheritance."

I think part of my problem is that I don't like boundaries. I don't like to be told, "no". As much as I like the familar I also don't want to feel like there are things that I can't (or shouldn't) do. But as a believer, boundaries have been set for me. That shouldn't aggravate me, it should make me feel safe. Loved, knowing that my Father cared enough to set restrictions to keep me safe (and maybe others safe from me!) and not only that, but he didn't make them miserable, harsh lines-heavy gates and high fences, they are pleasant. More like rivers and flowering hedges. If I stay within the bounds He has set for me then I won't run into problems that I wasn't meant to handle. I don't have to worry about these things-He knows what is going on. For some reason He has seen fit to set these boundaries for me now.

" I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.

I have set the Lord always before me.

Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken."

It was hard for me to believe that those are verses 7-8 of the same chapter. I can rely on the Lord to show me my boundaries, that tells me where I should go. He has given me His Holy Spirit and I don't have to rely on my own feeble "wisdom" to make choices. I don't have to be shaken, fearful or fretful. If He is my focus I will know what I need to do, but also I will clearly see the lines that aren't to be crossed. Just because the grass is greener on the other side of the fence doesn't mean that it is the place I need to be. Boundaries are another one of those things that we tend to think of as negative. We see them as a "no, you can't go there" rather than a "Yes, you can stay within this area and have all I have to give you. You can be cared for aand learn and grow within this safety." I want to hear the Lord saying, "yes" in these limitations right now. I know that my boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places, I know that He will counsel me and He will be at my side, keeping me from being shaken. My life is surrounded by pretty picket fences, I can be secure knowing exactly where I am in the Lord. I don't have to worry about the things beyond my control. I know He is taking care of everything outside-at the same time creating beauty inside the lines, too. He is showing me right now where my boundaries are, perhaps creating new ones, or removing ones that I no longer need. I just have to have faith to believe that it is all coming together for my good and have the patience to see it through.

Boring to Bold!

I have been on a DIY kick lately. I have been reading design and crafting blogs like they are going out of style. Since I struggle with crafts (I can't paint, am not artistic, I don't sew, etc.) I was super excited to find some projects I could finally do.Okay, so probably not a big deal to those of you who are really crafty and creative. However, I am neither, so I was thrilled to find some projects that I could do quickly (and I have to admit it, easily) this weekend. My friend Lindsay and I picked up the supplies we needed and finished these little light switch covers on Saturday. I am so not craft-oriented I even had to buy an Xacto knife! I also had my first introduction to Mod Podge-love it! I will definitely be scouring the internet for more crafts to use that on. If you know of any-pass on the info. I was really pleased with the results! I also was thrilled with my re-made clock. I forgot to take a before picture, but as it is a cheap $3 clock from Walmart, I am sure you can imagine the previous plain white background. Not boring anymore!
Ugly, boring, plain light switch covers-need I say more?
Waiting to dry...


Lovely Vanna, I mean Josie, models her new matching cover-she was thrilled!
The bathroom-I snagged some left over paper from Lindsay because it matches the bathroom perfectly!
My favorite one- in my room. The dark graphic really pops!

The clock with it's snazzy new background. It is a little hard to see in a photo but it looks really good in person. This project was harder than I thought but it turned out well. It bugged Joel that I didn't match the papers-he couldn't seem to understand that I didn't want them to be the same! Silly boys...:)

P.S. If you want to make these I have plenty of Mod Podge left!:) No, really I swiped the instructions from here. I kind of came up with the clock idea on my own. :)

Lovin' Summer

We have been really busy trying to squeeze in a dozen activities this week before Joel goes back to work on Monday (boo for going back to work!however, happy for the paycheck!) and also before some of Josie's friends start school.

Monday- We went to the pool. We have discovered a love of the post pool. It was the second time we had been there in less than a week! We invited some friends to join us and had a great time enjoying splashing, "swimming" (the kids love paddling around in their life vests) and going down the water slides.

Tuesday- We visited the Denver Zoo with some different friends. We had never been there before. We were worried it might rain but Josie prayed and it didn't! So cute.:) They have a great elephant exhibit. Carson loved the animals, it was sweet. Josie had her final ice-skating lesson for this session. She passed Snowplow Sam One with flying colors and is eager to start her next class.

Wednesday-We finally did some grocery shopping (big news to us!) and caught our first SkySox game. Carson sat perfectly still and watched the first 4 innings-completely enraptured! It was adorable. They both enjoyed dancing to the fun music and they made it up on the big screen twice. The home team lost (badly- 2 to 8) but it was still fun. I was really impressed with how well the kids behaved.

Thursday- This was a big day for me! I climbed the Incline with some friends. We had some time constraints, so we only went up half way and came down the trail. If you are not familiar with the Incline it is a mile-long set of "stairs", made of railroad ties, leading up a mountain. I use the word stairs loosely because they are not evenly spaced, placed or sized. It is one of the toughest workouts I have ever done! I am ready to go back and tackle the whole thing, though, even the 4.3 mile trail back down. It was amazing! Joel took the kids back to the pool, which they thought was great. The pool also encourages napping, so I think that is great!Then Josie had a party at church so Joel and I spent some quality time with Carson. That was fun, we don't get too much one on one with him. I also was able to score some great deals at Gymboree with some Gymbucks I had been hoarding since late May. I heart new Gymboree!

Friday- We are going to the "Spray Park" today with the friends we accompanied to the zoo. We went once last year and the kids really enjoyed all the different nozzles and water features. We are going to picnic and soak up the sun. Next week it is back to routine so we have to squeeze in all the fun we can!

Happy "Helpers"

My proud little bed-maker; didn't she do a nice job?

I walked into the bathroom the other night before bed. I was greeted by: toothpaste on the sink, two toothbrushes in the floor, uncapped toothpaste tube, crushed Dixie cups and various other odd and assorted pieces of stuff. My first thought was: "Wow, I'm so impressed that Josie helped Carson to brush his teeth." That was when I realized that I am not quite such a failure as a mother as I sometimes think I am. I was not necessarily grateful that I had to pick up and wipe off all that stuff, but I wasn't frustrated by it.

Trust me, there are plenty of things about my children that make me consider joining the circus. Anyone who has ever had a 2 year-old, or a 4 year-old (and especially those of us who have had both-or bless you-more!) know what I am talking about. There are definitely moments when I reach that banshee decibel and I am sure my neighbors do not appreciate it. However, I have to say that honestly, I have more positive thoughts about my children than negative ones. I really try to look at the bright side, and try to figure out their motivations. That is what led to the thought about the bathroom diaster. I know Josie loves to help Carson and I could tell by the disarray this was the cause. Joel had put the kids to bed, and while he is more conscious of messes than a lot of men I know, he must not have realized he needed to help the kids brush their teeth.

I think that is really one of the signs of a good mom-recognizing the underlying intentions of our children. When Jocelyn makes a HUGE mess in her room but I remember that she spent a whole hour entertaining her brother I try to make sure that I thank her for that, rather than just ranting about the clutter. This is not to say that the times when she drags out everything she owns in a 30 minute period just because she is bored that I do not make sure that she is the one doing the majority of the cleaning. But when I know that she is not the only offender (and she was helping me by keeping him sidetracked) I try to be a little more understanding.

I laugh when Josie "helps" me by lining up all my shoes outside my closet, or when she puts the laundry away-all together in the same drawer. I think it is cute when Carson "helps" clean up his dirty dishes-by putting them in the trash! Maybe not so cute when I realize I am missing half of my matching Ikea bowls, but I didn't complain too much about replacing them. I take a ton of photos of my kids and definitely when they do something that I realize may be exasperating, or just not helpful, now but I will probably think is funny later. Like when Carson got into a bowl of Hershey's kisses and tried to eat them with the wrapper on. Or when he put dirty laundry from the floor into the dryer. I realize that they are just trying to help me. Such as the times when Jocelyn puts away the upstairs basket (I keep it at the bottom of the stairs and put things that need to the other level in it to take care of later) and I can't find my shirt because she put it in my sock drawer. Or when both of them clean any of the mirrors and/or windows with baby wipes. Talk about streaks!

I definitely am not a perfect mother, but I think it shows great progress -for me- that I don't demand constant perfection from my kids. I really try to focus on how they try to please me-that is really the heart of obedience. There are certainly times, more than I can count, that they have intentionally disobeyed. That merits discipline, sometimes calmly and patiently administered, other times not so kindly. But I am certain that any wise mother would tell you to seek to understand your child's motivations. Also, I try to remind myself that if they have done something they thought was helpful that isn't, then I can take that opportunity to show them the right way. If they have done something to the best of their ability (such as when Jocelyn makes my bed) I praise their effort anyway. They will both hone their skills as they grow older. Taking a picture of my bed, with my beaming 4 year-old on it, so pleased with herself, will be a wonderful memory when she is making her own bed in her own house.

I also wrote this post as a reminder to myself to take more joy in the things that may not seem so joy-inspiring. I don't think everything has to be a "I'm so thankful that my child has arms so he/she can make all these messes." But I don't think it hurts to think, "Look at that helpful spirit or newfound ability", when they maybe pull all the books of the shelf while "dusting'. I want my children to learn to be self-reliant, helpful, cheerful and independent. Those character traits aren't developed overnight, so at times I need to remember certain messes are just stepping stones-and to keep the cleaning wipes handy!