Miss me?

All those blog posts then…nothing!

So sorry!  I try not to broadcast over the internet when we’re traveling.  But golly, do you have a lot of blog posts from me coming up!

Remember the couple that just got married that I posted about last few posts?  We joined them on their honeymoon.

No, no, no…it’s not weird.  It’s so much fun!  I mean, really, it’s not like we’re in the same room with them.  Puh-lease!

We joined them on a Mediterranean cruise and we got to see Spain, Italy and France.  I have so much to tell you and so much to show you that I don’t even know where to begin!  So many blog-able moments.  For now, I’ll start with a random list to whet your appetite.  If you’re a Facebook friend, I’ve uploaded some pics there so hop on over and check ‘em out.

• We visited 12 cities.
• And 6 airports.
• We had 2 unexpected hotel stays.
• Our luggage was lost not once but TWICE.
• We now know who NOT to fly with.
• Coughcoughhiccupdeltaairlinescoughgag.
• We can’t wait to go back someday and bring the kids with us.
• I’m already planning how and when.
• I think I want to learn Italian.
• It was fun to say some Spanish in Spain.
• I never knew I could wear one set of clothing for five days straight.
• Royal Caribbean rocks at dealing with lost luggage situations.  And I mean, ROCKS.
• Gelato is amazing.
• My body clock has no idea what time it is and hasn’t since we left almost two weeks ago.
• Do I have to come back to reality yet?

Going Somewhere, Gulps

You may or may not remember that nearly two years ago I posted a YouTube video about Cardboard Testimonies, even sharing my own cardboard testimony if it were me on that stage.

Yesterday, I got to be on that stage.

Can you believe it??  What a blessing!!  I was just so incredibly humbled and excited when I got the email asking if I would participate.  See, God reads my blog, doesn’t He??

What an incredible service it was.  Our pastor has been doing a series on hope and this was ideal for that series.  There was a video testimony earlier in the service from a couple who lost their little girl in a car accident a couple of years ago.  Yes, tough to watch.  Then the cardboard testimonies.  There was not a dry eye in the room and by the end, everyone was standing and clapping and crying and singing.

What was so amazing about having this event in your own church was knowing the people on that stage – knowing them, knowing their testimonies, having the opportunity to know them more – it just makes it that much more powerful.  Knowing that some were hanging on to hope in that very moment as they held their sign – hanging on with everything they had – was more powerful than I can describe in words on a mere blog.  Knowing how far some of these precious people have come is just incredible.  Seeing victory before my very eyes is joy unimaginable.

Wanna see?  Of course you do.

Chets Cardboard Testimonies – May 16, 2010 from Tim Trinkle on Vimeo.

God Stuff, God of My Story, Great Music/Videos

S before the wedding

We attended our first wedding together as a family, and to be honest, I wasn’t sure how G and S would do.  As it turns out, they had a ball and so did we!  They absolutely made the whole event enjoyable for all of us.  Just wait until you see the pictures of them on the dance floor…  Above is S looking over the ocean before the wedding started while the guys got their pictures taken.

The Ringbearer

G was quite the serious little ringbearer but he had trouble staying with the flower girl.  He was more interested in getting to his goal (standing next to Mr. Mike) and holding onto the shell holding the rings.  He held the rings, delivered as requested, and at the end exited the festivities by holding Mr. Mike’s hand instead of walking with the flower girl.  He must still be in the “she’s got cooties” stage.  I’m not sure.  Regardless, he was the most handsome little ringbearer ever.

S kept busy during the wedding

S worked on sand castles during the wedding.  Well, as much as you can in dry sand.  We then moved into the reception hall to enjoy the meal and the music.  Once the first dance was over for Larry and Jenn, G and S were happy to take over the dance floor.  Take a look.  G was helping S do spins and everything!  S also liked to push us off the dance floor so she could have the whole space to herself.  It was S’s personal stage apparently.  :)

Dancin'

Dancin' with mommy

Both kids had no shortage of dance requests for the dance floor.  They also invited themselves into many couples’ arms to join them in their dances.  Our children?  Shy?  Nope, apparently not.  It must be a recessive gene in mine and Chris’s DNA that became dominant in their DNA.

Another miracle?  Our children actually got Chris and I to dance in public *gasp* for the first time – you know, in front of real people and everything! We only dance by ourselves in the comfort of our own home because my musical skills usually don’t translate to my feet.  In public.  I’m still trying not to hyperventilate over that one, but I think we did manage to keep a good rhythm and look great!  Besides, everyone was watching the cute kids, right?  :)

Growing Up

Heart in the sand

Who were the true host and hostess of this little wedding rehearsal and dinner at our home last night?  It certainly wasn’t Chris and I!  Their initials were G and S.

S charmed the socks off of everyone and I suspect talked their ears off.  Chris bought them their own bumblebee and dragon party hats and I think S wore hers the whole time.   G likewise turned on his own charm and made fast friends by giving away “hearts.”  The more he liked a person the hearts he gave away.  You always know where you stand with G.

We laid down a blue tarp and spread out sand and beach toys and brought the beach to the party since we couldn’t quite have the party at the beach.  I can tell you that the kids loved that!  Even a few of the adults, truth be told…  ;)

G took his job as the ringbearer very seriously, only getting tired right in the middle and having a seat  right where he stood.  Not bad for a five-year-old.  This evening, he will hold a large seashell with the real rings inside.  We practiced this morning and I stood in for the flower girl.

Shortly, we’ll all get dressed up  and head out for a beach wedding – dragging along beach toys for S to play with during the festivities.  My only hope is that we won’t end up in the water.  I’m tempted to wear my swim underneath my sundress just in case.  My children love the ocean.  No, I mean, they really love the ocean.  They are going to think it’s a dire sin that we will be that close to the water and not be able to get in.

We just might end up back at the beach tomorrow for a real swim after my piano studio recital.

Going Nowhere

We’ve been in the process of a very long remodeling project – very nearly done now, just minor details remaining.  Since we are mostly do-it-yourselfers, it’s a long process indeed.  After that the ball moved more into my court for a decorating makeover.

Uhhhhhhh….

Not my forte.

I finally threw up my hands in defeat and enlisted the services of a sweet friend from church who is an interior decorator.  And a genius interior decorator at that.  She allowed me to use about an hour or so of her time to walk through my house and throw lots of ideas my way, even using stuff I already had!

As soon as she left, I immediately used one of her ideas to spray paint some frames I wasn’t too crazy about.  By doing so, they were changed into something I love.  With spray paint.  Imagine.  And here I thought everyone was kidding about the wonders of spray paint.

From frilly silver frames to a nice satin black

Did I mention that while I was spray painting them that our friendly neighborhood snake came out to visit.  I think he wanted a new coat.

*hahahahahaha*  I crack myself up.

Fast forward a couple of months.  I put the rest of the list of to-do’s from Monica’s suggestions on the back burner as I dove into homeschooling research, piano lessons, and, well, life.  Then this week a sudden change in plans for some friends’ upcoming nuptials resulted in their rehearsal and rehearsal dinner being held in our backyard and on our deck.

Being the delightfully fully female woman that I am, my mind immediately looked around my home and thought, “Oh no, I’ve GOT to finish the house.”  Which made complete sense considering everyone was coming to hang out in the backyard.  Of course.  But if you are female, you understand that this does not matter.  It must be as close to finished as financially and physically possible.

Enter Hobby Lobby.

I ever so gratefully entered Hobby Lobby and encountered and 50% off sale.  They knew I was coming and would be in desperate need, didn’t they?  Love it when that happens.  I found the frames I needed for a picture project for my piano studio, a piece of art I fell in absolute love with also for the piano studio.  Wanna see the almost-finished piano studio?

Photo frame collage - Piano Studio

Monica suggested a cube-layout of pictures for above my desk.  Yes, I know one or two are crooked.  I’ll get there.  I also know a couple of the mats are a different color.  I’ll get there, too.  But when pressed for time…it’ll do.  I love it, tho!  I love looking up and seeing my whole family in the great pictures that our friend Jess took last summer.

Dance Me to End of Love - art print above digital piano

This is an art print by Jack Vettriano called Dance Me to End of Love.   I’ve always loved it.  We have another print of his called Singing Butler hanging in our living room as well.  I saw it on sale for 50% off at Hobby Lobby and couldn’t even bring the letter N-O to my lips.  I know it probably needs to be a little bigger for the space but we’ll work on that later.  For now, I love it.

Almost the full effect in the studio...

So the piano studio is almost done.  I need some book shelves in the corner where I am standing the take the pictures, and Monica suggested some tall greenery behind the other corner of the grand piano.  I do have a desk chair for the desk – it’s just not put together yet.

The Homeschool Classroom

Monica suggested getting canvases and letting the kids paint to their hearts’ content and hanging them on the walls for the classroom (former formal dining room).  G’s canvas was fairly minimalistic.  S’s was wild and crazy.  Are we surprised?  Not in the least.  We can all tell who guided the middle canvas.  Yes, there is a slight uphill slant to the canvases.  Mommy apparently can’t hang straight.  We’ll straighten them later.  Or just have fun as I watch everyone tilt their heads to the side as they look at them.  :)  Anyhow, in the future, this room will get some coats of paint, shelves, a computer, etc.  Lots of work to do here before fall.

Ready for the living room?

Couch - before.

Scary, I know.  You might want to avert your eyes.  Dogs, kids.  Dogs, kids.  Stains.  If anyone tries to sell you on microfibre and how easy it is to clean, don’t believe them.  It’s a lie.  Monica made a great, easy suggestion for making slipcovers but since I don’t have that kind of time I thought I’d trying buying bed sheets to use as slipcovers on our L-couch.  I chose dark brown jersey (t-shirt material) sheets and wrapped the fitted sheets around the top cushions and the flat sheets around the bottom cushions and draped around the edges.  What do you think?

Living room!

I’m SOOOO excited about how well that turned out.  I bought new throw pillows also.  Hobby Lobby had the crosses for 50% off and S helped me pick out several to put in the empty space on that well (where there used to be a doorway).  Yes, there is a train table as a coffee table, why do you ask?  ha!  It has since been moved to G’s room.  No opportunity to get a real coffee table yet but I have my eye on one at World Market.  Maybe later this summer.

So while we are not yet complete with the home redecorating project, I certainly got a major part of it done in two days!  Perhaps hosting spur-of-the-moment large parties motivate me…who knows?

Anyone home redecorating big or small you would like to share?

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