Craft Day

On Monday I hosted my third Craft Day. I got the idea this past fall when I saw a fun wreath I wanted to make and I thought, "It would be so fun to get a group of friends and make these together!" So I did, and Craft Day was born. We all bring our kids, our supplies, and a yummy food to share for lunch. This time I found a great Easter craft from here. Cathe Holden at the Just Something I Made blog has the neatest DIY ideas, and this one was so fun and easy. It is an Easter Egg holder vase. I got a variety of spoons at our local thrift shop and used a pickle jar for the vase. It only probably took us maybe 30 minutes to complete our projects. Of course, that didn't stop us from using a whole day together to chat, eat and fellowship. Such a fun, useful way to spend a day. Good for our souls and our home decor! (I didn't get pics of everyone there - totally meant to but just forgot!)

No Skeletons in this Closet!

Last week while the kids were on spring break, I decided to tackle our mud room. It is a room that is off of our laundry room. It often ends up being where we place (or throw) things that don't have a good home. So, after this happening all winter long, it was a huge mess. Because it also opens to our carport, it's hard to clean it out while the weather is cold (at least for a wimp like me) One day we had perfect weather, the kids were outside playing,and I decided to go for it. It was wonderful! I love, love, love getting things organized. Last year my husband put great shelves in our mudroom for me, so I just had to rearrange, throw away and donate the things in the room. This is the end result:

Don't you love the fancy sidewalk chalk holder?

Now you can tell there is a door in there! I still need to paint the steps, but now it is a fully functioning mud room where D. can come in with his dirty boots and clothes on and not get the rest of the house dirty! Mission accomplished!

Hello? Anybody there?

My poor blog is so neglected. If there was a Department of Family and Children Services for blog mommas, I would be turned in for sure. I haven't been on the computer as much lately because I got an iphone for Christmas so I get all my emails on it, and I gave up Facebook for Lent, so I hop on the computer to read blogs and then get off pretty quick. Almost every day I think of something I want to write about on my blog, but just don't get to it. I'm hoping to get back to it soon.

But, I found out about a new site that I just had to share with you. The way it was explained to me is that it is what might happen if etsy and groupon had a baby. It's called

heartsy

I think it is the neatest thing if you like (or love) etsy like I do. They have deals for different shops on etsy each day. How cool is that? I would almost always rather buy handmade than commercially made stuff.

So, sorry I don't have any new stories or fun ideas right now, but I promise they are coming! I thought you all would love to know about heartsy if you didn't already and see a pic of my latest knitting finished project - my French Press slippers. It was my first felting project. I was so excited when they were finished. I wear them all the time now. Hope to see you here again soon!

Book recommendation

This week I read the book, Dwelling:Living Fully from the Space You Call Home by Mary Beth Lagerborg. I picked up the book at MOPS a month or so ago. It looked like something that would encourage me and give me some ideas. I have to say that I loved it. Mary Beth doesn't really focus on decorating or the material part of our homes, although she does talk about it. It is really about using our homes to be the people we are supposed to be. What we want our homes to "feel" like, and how we want people to feel while they are in our homes. She also discusses community and how we can increase our sense of community through having people in our homes and neighborhoods. I would highly recommend it to you. I will be returning our MOPS copy next time I'm there, so you can check it out next!

Also, on the home front, I have never loved a home appliance the way I love my Haan steam cleaner. My sister got a Shark steam cleaner last year and I checked them out, but decided on the Haan. It only uses water, so it is better for the environment and our homes, and it sanitizes as it cleans. I am actually happy to clean my floor with it. And as you can imagine, that is a new feeling! So, although I can't give one away, here's another great recommendation. I promise you will love it if you get one!

My great project

I find it so neat how when God puts something on our hearts, He keeps reinforcing His call if we are open and listening. Since feeling like my word of the year should be "heart" I have felt His reinforcement over and over. It began with a discussion with my sister in law about how easy it is to let our homes and families play second fiddle to all of our other commitments and how our lives feel out of control and unbalanced when that happens. I don't believe that is how God wants me to live. Then another conversation with a friend, Kristin, about how even when we have a day planned doing laundry, cleaning potties, etc. if someone asks us what we are going to do we say, "Nothing." Really, doing laundry and cleaning potties might seem like nothing, but it's a big part of keeping my family happy and moving in the right direction, but it's sooo easy to push these things aside for funner, lesser things. And then, when I went to MOPS on Friday, our devotion by my sweet friend Kimberly was about Nehemiah and how he kept being interrupted and he told the important people trying to talk to him, "I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down." (Nehemiah 6:3) She had heard Andy Stanley do a sermon on this. Whatever it is that God has called us to do is important. For me right now it is being a faithful, loving wife and mom. So, doing the dishes, laundry, cleaning potties, etc. are important because they matter in my great project. I almost cried while she was talking about this because it was like God had his hand on my shoulder squeezing it and encouraging me to stay strong in my resolve. Then, I was doing the dishes later in the day and heard Sara Groves' song "Generations". It is all about doing things to leave for future generations. It again reminded me to press on in my great project of being a wife and mother. It's so neat how God has whispered and used so many things to keep my focus. Even today I turned down a request to go shopping. (I know, the horror, right?) But, I need to get things done around here. Just the usual, but I don't want to get behind much more. I am rambling, but wanted to share my encouragement with you all so you too can say about whatever it is God has called you to do, "I am carrying on a great project." Be encouraged that if God has called you to do it, He will see you through on your journey, no matter how small you feel it is.

Total shallowness

Just a quick post to see if any of you know about this? I saw an advertisement for the Invisibelt in a magazine I believe and thought, "That is a great idea!" Then I went Christmas shopping at a gift shop in Oakwood that I love, Nest Feathers, and I saw it! I was so excited. It works. It keeps your pants up while you are wearing a shirt untucked, but there is no bulge like there would be from a regular belt bucklet. Anyway, I thought I would pass it along to my friends as a PSA. Consider it my Random Act of Kindness today. ;)

One Word

Each year for the past few years, scrapbooker Ali Edwards has chosen one word to define her upcoming year. She has encouraged and inspired many, many of us to choose our own word. I have done it for the past 3 years. I didn't know what it would mean when I started, but it has been fun and it has helped me focus myself when I needed focus. This year I have chosen the word heart. I have been very convicted lately about doing too many things that do not encourage or help me with my spiritual life or as my role as a wife and a mother. All things that are the most meaningful to my heart, and what I feel my calling as a woman is. My verse for the year to encourage and remind me is Matthew 6:21 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." So, friends and readers, if you see me or find me doing things that might not go hand in hand with my word or my verse, please let me know. I am sure I will need all the help I can get. What is your word for the year? I'd love to hear!