She's Worth It

Don't you just love a good before and after?

Sometimes it takes a while.

Sometimes it seems like it is taking forever.

There she was when I began to blog about our lives. The Chair was the second post I ever wrote, yet somehow it has been the one I always go back to when I begin to reminisce.

She finally got her makeover. I finally got up the nerve to change her. She was $15.oo at that garage sale so long ago.

She's different somehow, don't you think?

Her back.

Gone are the channel-stitches. All pretty and button-backed now.

We left her finish the same. We kept some age on her.

Her damaged leg was repaired. No more tape and glue holding her together.

Gone is the old brass nail head trim and in its place, a simple double welt.

The classic linen shows off her pretty carvings now.

She even got a new shabby chic pillow to keep her company.

It's the place where we read to our girls at night before bed. It's the place where dirty clothes end up. It's the place where toys and books and blankets and hangers get piled. But she's new. She's different.

She was worth it. Worth the wait. Worth the money. Worth the time. Worth the worry that it wouldn't turn out right.

Worth it.

Do you have a project that you've been putting off? Are YOU that project?

Thanks to Rhoda for hosting the Thrifty Treasures party again this week!

Do You Remember?

A good while back, I did a quick update to our sweet little hand-me-down table.

I added burlap and ribbon for a quick fix to tide us over until I had the energy or something to paint it.

Remember? If not, you can go back to read about it HERE.

So, I guess I got some energy and painted, sanded and aged our sweet little thing!

So happy with how it came out!

Quick Before and After

Remember this sad hibiscus? She was left here by the previous owners and needed some TLC.

Look at the crumbling pot!

Now look at her, repotted, fertilized and on a fancy roller in our new backyard!

You can catch a glimpse of the new patio and second try at sod. Sad, sad story what happened to the first try at sodding the entire backyard. This time, we're doing well.

She's got so many new leaves sprouting and four buds ready to bloom again! Now that she's finally in the right size and not-crumbling abode, I hope she'll take off!

Do You Look Up or Down?

When I look down, I see my past failures.

When I look UP, He can see my corrected path. He can see what I've done right in the past. He can see what my future, though not perfect, holds. He can see how I'll learn from my past failures.

When I look down, I see my character flaws.

When I look UP, He can see my desire to please. He can see my raw and transparent self. He can see my desire to be honest and true. He can see my true character being woven through my innermost being.

When I look down, I see myself lower than others.

When I look UP, He can see who I will become. He can see where I stand, not according to others but with Him. He can see me standing in His place of eternity. He can see me up where I belong.

When I look down, I see my stubbornness.

When I look UP, He can see my determination. He can see how I strive for perfection on the first try. He can see my frustration with anything less. He can see my resolution and purpose. He can see how I'll never give Him up.

When I look down, I see my imperfect body.

When I look UP, He can see my beauty. He can see my face, my body and my soul for what it really is. He can see through me to what is good and perfectly made. He can see my beauty, body, mind and soul.

Presented with a challenge, a disappointment or obstacle, I tend to look down. I'm working on seeing myself from His point of view. I'm working on looking UP.

What do you do? Do you look UP or down?

Because I Can't Keep a Secret...

and neither can they. The girls have something to tell you:

And here's the proof:

That second line came up in 'bout 20 seconds flat!

Back when I started this blog for our family, I knew we wanted to have more children and I also knew that we might be moving. In the very first post, I outlined a few goals for writing.

So #1...check.

#2...check.

#3...check.

NOT so sure about #4.

#5...check!

Now I know there are lots (ahem, three) of you who NEVER post comments. I need a few here today.

And while you're at it, would you answer me a question?

How did you find this blog and would you keep reading if I changed the name of it?

Slo-Mo

I'm learning to move slower here.

The speed limits are lower.

The urgency isn't there.

The race to get there the fastest is over.

Our life is now moving at a much slower pace.

I have to remind myself that this new way is better.

I have to remind myself that this new way is best.

While my children are growing like weeds, I am slowing down in order to grasp all the small steps they are taking.

A jump here.



A dance there.



Smiles of joy.



A realization of how life is.



And it's moving slower now.

I've got a goal, and it's slowing down.

Well, I never...

If you haven't heard by now, The Daddy and I are going to Africa. 

Soon. 

Along with 10 other individuals. Including her and him.

I've never been on a mission trip, but I will be on one. Soon.

I've never been to Africa, but I'm going to Botswana. Soon.

I've never led a small group discussion with a stranger in a foreign country or in the US for that matter, but I will. Soon.

The Daddy and I are going together to grow closer to one another in Christ while we help facilitate a conference with Open Baptist Church in Botswana. David and Denise Glenn will be leading the conference entitled, Freedom for Families, modeled after Denise's study Freedom for Mothers and David's study, Wisdom for Fathers.

I HAVE heard Denise speak on a couple of occasions, and I HAVE done two of her bible studies for moms. After hearing her story of obedience to God, I HAVE come to understand more about my OWN calling as a wife, mother and Christian woman.

Our part in the conference may be small, but I know God's plans for this mission reach far beyond my little part. Is it possible to feel so little, yet feel so empowered by His Spirit?

It's a 10-day trip. Soon.

We'll be gone from our girls for longer than we've ever been before, but we'll be together.

Is it ironic that we're leaving our children to facilitate a conference for families? 

Is it scary that every minute isn't planned and I have NO WAY to control what God has in store for me? Wait, a minute...

Isn't that how each and every day is? I think I am in control, but I am not. 

He is.

And now I'm going. I never thought I would.

Well...I never, but I will.

Taking One for the Team

This season for The Daddy and me has been pretty rough. I'm talking about our respective football seasons. Living in the South, the Fall can be a time of rejoicing as well as a time of disappointment. It can be a time of good food, good friends, and good memories. This season has been pretty rough.

In my profile I mention that I was once a crazed UT (that's TENNESSEE, ya'll) fan. It's been hard watching football since we've had children. My trips to Knoxville slowly dwindled as we took more and more trips down to the plains of Auburn. The Daddy used to get season tickets before our children were born. We used to love snuggling up on the couch and watching our teams battle it out with other SEC powerhouses. We used to plan gatherings based on which team was playing which and when. We used to dress in orange on a regular basis, for goodness sakes!

C.'s love of Auburn has not dwindled, but I know he's been disappointed with a team that was picked to win the SEC West who has struggled and fought for each win it's gotten. My love hasn't exactly dwindled, but it's been hard for me as well. I went to UT during the Peyton Manning years. I didn't have to experience this much heartache except each year when we played Florida. Those darn Gators!

This year, I have hardly even looked forward to Saturdays. I don't watch College Gameday, much. I have been really out of the loop when it comes to the players, the coaches, and the thrill of autumnal Saturdays.

Going through this down-season, I recognize that I've experienced the same ups and downs in my short walk as a Christian. I accepted Christ on January 15, 2002. Since then, I have gotten married, become a wife (two entirely different things), worked as a teacher, struggled (somewhat) to get pregnant the first time, had another child 18 months after the first, gained 60 pounds, lost 60 pounds, gained 40 pounds, lost 40 pounds, celebrated birthdays, celebrated new jobs, moved to a new house, and experienced countless peaks and valleys. I've sung God's praises while all things were well, and I've cried out to God when I couldn't see His presence.

It's so much easier to root for your team when they're winning. Is it easier to "root" for God when all is well in your life?

I've got to come back to this topic. I haven't really thought it through, but I know it's a good one. I'm going to need to do some reading. In The Word. Because I forgot to tell you...

My Bible Study is on hiatus until...February, possibly March. AAAAAACCCCKKKK! Now I'm going to need to be responsible for my own Bible reading? Guess I'm going back to the two books that I haven't finished from last year.

So even though it's a down season, I'm going to cheer on our teams this weekend. Go Vols! and WAR EAGLE!

Christian TMI

In the Christian world, how much information is too much information? I've thought about my testimony a lot and it's a pretty powerful story, even without all the gory details. It's actually quite a sweet love story between me, my now-husband, Jesus and God. Oh, and don't forget the Holy Spirit. Gosh, gotta give that guy some credit! He/she/it is within me and I just forget sometimes that he (let's call it "he" for my sanity) is there.

Anyway, what I'm really interested in talking about is, how much of your sinful life do you really need to reveal to make an impact on someone? Can you really expect another man or woman to hear about just how down and dirty you were/are and still respect you?

Sometimes I get lost in the idea of being a new creation.

Sometimes I think people from my past, who know a lot of the dirty, scary stuff about me, won't recognize or believe how much I've changed.

Sometimes I worry that the fun-loving, crazy side of me was lost when I admitted how sinful I was and that I really needed someone to save me.

Sometimes I burn with embarrassment when I think of my behavior and what people must think about me.

Sometimes I ask myself, "Have I really changed as much as I think I have?"

Sometimes I get bogged down by others' opinion of me.

Sometimes I soar on angel's wings with the thought of how much God loves me.

Sometimes I crash and burn with my own self doubt.

Sometimes I think, if only they all knew what kind of person I really am.

Sometimes I think, how did anyone ever put up with me?

I mean, right now, I have a huge knot in my throat just thinking about the life I led.

I've just recently gotten back in touch with many former classmates, friends, and sorority sisters via Facebook, aka Huge Time Gobbler. I even got to talk on the phone with a friend from WAY back yesterday. After high school we lost track of each other because she chose not to go to college and I did. She got married and had kids while I was in the depths of my darkest hours, i.e. my most sinful (is there really such a thing?) in college. She alluded to the fact that she had heard about how I was doing back then and that she was so happy I had come out of that time and found such a happy life. We talked about former classmates and how some have really changed but stayed the same. It's weird looking at people you once knew so well. You never thought, "Hey, she would be a great mother." But now, we've all grown up. Some of us are doing the exact same things we did in high school and college. But some of us have experienced real transformation. Some of us have become mothers. Some of us have become wives. Some of us have become aware that the world does not revolve around us. (Still working on that one.)

I wanted to avoid getting back in touch with my past because I didn't really want to be reminded of who I used to be. I didn't want to be reminded of what others thought or could be thinking of me. I didn't want to. Period.

I finally began to think, "Hey, these are the people who knew me-who REALLY knew me-and now here's the chance to show them how God can work."

God can take anything and turn it into gold.

God can work on even the most stubborn.

God can bring joy where there once was sadness.

God can pull you up out of your darkest depths.

God can listen.

God can speak.

God can love anyone no matter what you've done.

God can forgive through His Son.

God can forgive.

God can forgive.

That's the one that took me a while to believe. That's where I got stuck. That's where I had to give up complete control and allow myself to become what He wanted me to be. To be loved. To be forgiven. To be His.

So now you're wondering, "Gosh, what exactly are her deepest, darkest secrets that only God knows?" I guess I've gotten to the point where I believe that He has forgiven me, and I don't need forgiveness for those things from man. I have decided to keep those things close to my heart so that if I'm ever presented with the opportunity to share with someone who really needs those examples of forgiveness, I'll be ready. 1 Peter 3:15 says, "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."

For now, we'll file those things under "Christian TMI."