Bits and Pieces

Just wanted to hop on here for a few minutes to let everyone know that I still am blogging now and then, and also to let you know that tomorrow we leave for 10 days at family church camp. This is always a hightlight of our year. The kids look forward to it so much, and I must say, this year I am going with an intense desire to be refreshed and renewed spiritually in a way like never before. This has been my prayer for the last several days in preparation to go. This week has been full of packing, doing up all of the laundry, running to the store for one more thing that we need, and then packing some more. Tomorrow evening we pull out of here, and thus begins a much needed time of R&R. (Stole the picture from Ladonna's blog...thanks Ladonna.)

The other day Jonathan and Danae were in a silly mood and decided to dress up like old people. They even did a little skit for us, which was quite comical, I might add (I think they got the whole "skit" idea from when we were at youth camp). Anyway, we took a few pictures and shared several laughs and made some happy memories. It was great seeing them using their imagiations. I thought I would share one of the pics.

Then the other day, for the first time, Jonathan got Makayla to leave a pair of sunglasses on. She was just too cute. And when I took her to the mirror to see herself, she just laughed, she thought it was so funny. She looks like the "wild child" doesn't she? Hair everywhere (she won't leave hair accessories in).

And then a couple of nights ago, right after supper, she began playing with this little hat that belongs to a doll of DaNae's. She was cracking us up, and enjoying all of the attention as well.

And one final, parting shot...

Good night to all.

Bedroom Make-Over, June, 2008

I told you that I would post some pictures of my bedroom makeover that I did. I did it as a surprise for Paul for Father's Day. On Friday morning as soon as he left for work, I got up, and started stripping wallpaper. After that I ran to Wal-Mart to buy the paint that I needed. Came home, and got the painting done. Then ran to Joey's wallpaper store and hunted down some border. Came home, we ate lunch, and then after lunch the boys helped me hang the border. The rest of the afternoon was spent hanging new curtains, shelves, pictures and mirror, putting on the "new" comforter, etc. The kids really enjoyed helping and being part of the big "surprise". I had just finished running the sweeper and putting the final touches on when Paul arrived home from work. It was fun, and he was sooooo surprised. Here is a picture of the "before".

And here...drum roll please...is the "after"

It is completely different than it was before and I just have to tell you about my bargins. As many of you know, I love to get bargains wherever I can (my neighbor acquses me of carrying a gun). So here goes...the comforter, pillow shams and bed skirt all came the local thrift store. The decorative pillow in the middle (which matches perfectly, same design, etc.) I got at the Salvation Army store in Indy. The lamps above the bed I got at a garage sale. The shelves they're sitting on came from Hobby Lobby 50% off. The canopy I got at a garage sale as well. The beautiful lamp sitting on the table on the right side of the bed I got at Goodwill for $4. The wall paper border was 5.99 a roll. So all in all, I did the whole make-over relatively inexpensive, and it was a blast. The picture really doesn't do it justice. It is much more impressive in person. But, oh well. At least you get an idea. I'm thinking about re-doing my bathroom next. We'll see!

Has It REALLY been that long?

Oh my!!! I just got on my page and looked at the date that I last blogged. It's been so long, nobody is probably even coming to this page anymore. I guess maybe I'm about to find out. Anyway...let's see if I can give you a quick overview of some of the things I've been doing over the past few months.

In May DaNae turned nine. It doesn't seem possible.

Then, of course, it was just finishing up the school year with all of the year end school stuff. Then we hit June and I'm not where the last month and a half have gone. The seventh of June a girl in our church got married and I did her flowers (real ones. She ordered them on-line and they never came in. She had to go to Sam's on Friday and buy theirs). I did her decorating as well, and Paul did the cake. On Friday night, as I was working to get the flowers done, and Paul was working his tail off as well, our electricity went out. We ended up moving everything to the church and finishing up there...very late that night, I might add. It was fun, and everything turned out very nice. Here's a pic of the cake Paul did for that wedding. The wedding was for Brent Stetler and Denisa Campbell.

Here's a pic of the bride's bouquet.

Then after re-couping for a couple of days after this busy weekend, I did a total room make-over in our bedroom as a surprise for Paul for Father's Day. I don't have a picture of the room re-d0ne. I will have to post it later, and I can give more details then. I got up early on Friday morning, and by the time he got home from work at around 4:30 the project was complete. It was fun. The week immediately following Father's Day, myself and the children when to Friends Youth Camp for the week. They were in need of some help in a couple of areas, so we were gone for that entire week. The kids had a blast, and Jonathan, who will be old enough to be a camper next year, got to see first hand what "youth camp" is all about. He can hardly wait until next year. It was an interesting week, all five of us in one room, and the bed breaking in the room directly above us at 12:30 a.m., and thinking for sure they were coming through the ceiling. But we made memories that we will never forget, and it was worth it.

The week after we got home, Pilgrim Holiness Camp was going on right here in Frankfort. The children enjoyed going to the children services, and we enjoyed the services we were able to attend as well. Shortly thereafter, of course, was the holiday weekend. We went to my parents and went to Shipshewanna, Indiana for the day. Had a blast shopping and enjoying being with family.

The past several days have just been more of the same...getting Jonathan to piano lesson, taking DaNae to violin lesson, running Jeffrey to summer tutoring, taking Makayla to the doctor (she had an ear infection), and on and on the list goes. Summer is flying by and the kids are having a blast in the new pool. (Jonathan accidentally put a huge gash in our other one while mowing the yard...he felt so bad, but it turned out ok, cause now they have a bigger one.) It seems the days are filled with making sure music lessons get practiced, reading books with Jeffrey to help him with his reading, keeping Makayla from getting in the pool and keeping a diaper on her (I think it's time to potty train). Oh, last week I did do some redecorating in my living room as well. Got some great inspiration when we went to Shipshewanna. I'll have to take a picture and share it later. Also, I was able to give a facelift to the Sunday School class where I have been helping at church. Painted a couple walls, and had a beautiful 4x8 bulletin board installed. Got it painted and decorated as well, and it looks awesome. Thank you, Mike Peck for installing it for me. Also, Paul did another cake on Friday, and I was also able to help him with that as well. Another beautiful job...of course.

In about 10 days we will be packing up the motorhome and heading to family church camp for 10 days. Can't wait to get some much needed R&R as well as family time. We look so forward to this time in our year. Great time of spiritual renewal and rest. Then when we get back home it wil almost be time for school to start again. It's been a fun summer, but it has flown by.

I'm going to close this post for now. Thought I would post a recent picture of Makayla as a parting shot. She's growing by leaps and bounds, and is no longer a baby...she is now a toddler, and prematurely entering the "terrible twos". She sure is a sweetie though. Be sure to let me know that you stopped by, so I'll know if it's really worth it to keep the blogs rolling.