Sunday Serenity

This is the basis of intimacy with Jesus. I only know Him in the embrace of His person when He is allowed to 'do.' I have attempted to do service for Him; I now want Him to serve through me. I have lived my life for Him; He wants to live His life through me. My ministry has not been pleasing to Him; He wants to minister through me. I have struggled, attempted, and tried; I am tired and have accomplished nothing. I will rest in Him who came to source me. I will respond to His doing. I am a Jesus pusher!!!
- Dr. Stephen Manley

(Dr. Manley is scheduled to speak several times at our denomination's District Family Camp next month.)

Deck the...Deck

Awhile before we were married 33 years ago, a girlfriend and I planned to strike out on our own, um...together, and rent an apartment. That fell through when she met someone, became engaged within two weeks, and set off to marry her prince. I was a young thing in my parents' eyes, and they didn't want me living alone, so that was the end of that. Meanwhile I'd purchased a little bistro patio set at Englander's. But in all of her pale yellow splendor, Miss Bistro ended up in my parents' basement for another few years.

Fast forward to married life, when she came out of hiding and adorned a deck (first home), a paver patio (second home), and another deck (present home). She's gone from yellow to black, and recently to Heirloom White. What was I thinking, covering her original yellow cushions with ugly green vinyl?


Ah, that's better; a retro oilcloth print!




Miss Bistro has held up well over the years. With a fresh coat of paint and newly covered cushions, she's still going strong, and prettier than ever.

The Seemingly Endless Bed and Bath Redo

In an attempt to make some progress with the redo, I tackled a small project. Forgot to take any 'before' shots again; sorry. At least I'm consistent.

This wall hanging was a garage sale frame made of plastic to resemble wood. (I know--classy, eh?) I spray painted the frame with my bf Heirloom White, accidentally broke the glass, got disgusted with myself and made my project-gone-wrong disappear. After the shelf redo, though, I decided to retrieve it and try adhering fabric to the frame's backing using spray adhesive, centering our last initial on the fabric, and adding a hanger. (The letter 'S' was a self-adhering mirror for which I paid $1.49 and then spray painted HW.)


It's presently hanging over the towel rack. Not sure I love it there or at all. Maybe it'll grow on me. Maybe it needs something?

Shelf Redo

So I shopped the basement and found this (formerly) unfinished pine shelf that included a punched tin 'Home Sweet Home' sign peeking through the top portion. (I was country when country was cool.) After carefully removing the tin to spray paint for another project, the sweet hubs cut me a piece of plywood to cover the entire back.

I used spray adhesive to cover the plywood with one of the prints I'm working with to redecorate our bedroom. Meanwhile, after a good cleaning, I spray painted the shelf with my old friend, Heirloom White.


After stapling the plywood to the back of the shelf and adding a new hanger, it was ready to put up above the night table. I have to say I'm pleased with the way it displays my Willow Tree collection.



Here's the coordinating curtain fabric. I have yet to make bathroom curtains and maybe a bedskirt if it's not too much print. If the valance looks crooked, that's because it is. I couldn't wait to hang it, unhemmed, before leaving on recent trip to visit family in New York, and haven't gotten around to hemming it since. Oops!



It feels good to be moving ahead with this bed/bath redo!

Rummage Sale Chair Makeover

Late! Late! Late posting to this blog, and late to the trash-to-treasure scene. However, I'm excited to share my first chair makeover, inspired by the creativity of so many fellow bloggers. I accidentally deleted the 'before' shot from the camera; sorry. So...please imagine a medium-stained, scratched chair with a faded, country blue, small print, polyester cushion--something that would go for, say, $5 at a rummage sale.

Now--with a little cleaning/sanding, a can of black semi-gloss spray paint, and a yard of fresh home dec fabric--ta-da!


I think she's cute, comfortable, and functional--providing extra seating when needed. I spotted the cushion fabric at JoAnn and fell in love:


Are these makeover projects addictive? I can't wait to do another one!

Finally Back

It's good to be back. I missed you!

Please forgive my prolonged absence. Last spring, the Lord called me to a step of faith--to commit a considerable amount of time and energy to in-depth study of God's Word and facilitation of weekly core group discussions for our local Community Bible Study. Following some intense training, I began serving last month. This is a humbling experience, bringing a degree of painful growth as it lies quite a distance from my comfort zone. I'm thankful for God's mercy, love, and patience as I inch uphill toward, I pray, maturity in Him.

Mums Revisited
My experimentation with mums was a success. Here's a photo of the sweet yellow blooms that brightened our deck with the approach of autumn weather.


Cute Cupcake Wrappers
To dress up some carrot cupcakes for a clergy appreciation dinner, I found some darling brown tulip baking cups here. Just place the wrappers in your muffin tin, turn batter into the wrappers, and bake! I used a simple piping tool to add the cream cheese frosting without getting it on the wrappers. If interested, you might want to shop around; after ordering these, I found them at better prices elsewhere online.


A couple of other projects--a small, painted chest and a writing desk with an antique sewing machine base, both for our bedroom--were completed during my time away from blogging. I hope to share them with you here, very soon.

Blessings!

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

Isn't a baby one of God's most amazing miracles? Near the end of camp grandma, a talented friend met us at the park for a photo shoot of our grandbabies. She happens to love the swirly pattern of hair on a baby's crown, so she captured the top of Elliana's head.


A few years ago, Ethan's daddy photographed his chubby little feet.


Since I happen to think baby parts are just about the sweetest things around, I decided to display the photos of Ellie's crown and Ethan's feet with Psalm 139:14 for a meaningful (to me) collage.


Perhaps you would like to join me in praise to our heavenly Father for the miraculous, most precious gift of life.