From Birdies Nest...The BOOTH

Howdy y'all.  I've been MIA lately, since I was getting my booth ready.  It has already seen changes.  You may remember me saying I was getting it ready...well birdie let me use her vanity/desk as my booth, and I added cute 'found' shutters on top.  She kept saying you can "use" my desk, I'll "share".  What that really meant in birdie language was...you used it, now I want it back.  Yep, it was in the shop for about a week.  Birdie would come into the shop and say "I need my desk back, bring it home, dad can get it".  It was cute actually.  To her, she was sharing, letting me 'use' her desk.

Here is old (week old) booth:

We had a plumbing issue last week and water came through her wall from our bathroom, ruining her carpet.  We had to pull out her carpet and as it sits {for now} she has the yucky concrete floors and a pretty new rug on top.  In doing so, I moved her bed over to the wall and she had a nice space to play.  I thought the desk/vanity would look good back in her room in its old spot.  See, I cannot stay focused on any one thing, for any length of time...but her room looks cute {for now}.

Now, you must know my dear sweet, patient hubby made this booth for me.  He is a "rigger extraordinare".  He has the vision in wood, tools, man talk.  I have a different vision...pretty, not necessarily functional or practical, just pretty.  That is where it is hard for hubs and I to work too closely on projects like this.  I have my jobs and and he has his.  He calls me when he is ready for me or wants my help...then and only then.  "Go on, now git", that is usually what I hear.  Whatever works, right!  So, here is the grand booth he made from free scraps and a few purchases from a habitat restore.  He is so clever, I think I'll keep him...{wink}

So, this is the much anticipated "BOOTH" and its name sake...Birdie.  She loves her posing and of course having her desk back makes her happy too.  We are all happy.  Hubs, because this contraption is out of 'his' garage; Me, because we did it 'somewhat' together; and Birdie gets her good 'ol desk back in her room.  Thank you Lord for giving us this creativity.  Now Lord, could you please just make it a success...I'm not asking much, am I?

Like I said, start of school and lots of projects, always keeping busy.  Not too busy though.  I have started a new Bible study on Tuesday mornings and I think I'm gonna like it very much.  It has a little homework, but that keeps me in His Word.  I leave you with the verse I need to memorize:

"...but the righteous will live by faith-" Habakkuk 2:4


This is a study on having faith when life is not fair, right or just.

Until next time,
Serving Him,
Christina

Catching Up!

Hello,
I have trouble keeping my focus on one, two, no three areas.  Let me just admit it now, I am not good at multi-tasking.  I think I've mentioned that before, though.
I have birdie back in school so I have A Lot more time to "do" stuff, but there always seems to be too much stuff to do.  Thankfully I get the family laundry done and put away, and mostly keep the house picked up.  So, why do I still feel so out of it?  Maybe because I am at a loss without my baby bird in her nest...no, that can't be it.  I cherish my alone time, sad but true!  I so enjoy quiet, and when hubs is gone off to work and the bird is off at school, my house is totally quiet.  No TV, no music playing, just quiet.  Aahhhh!  Does anyone else crave quiet like I do?  (I know my dad does.)  There is so much noise in the world today with TV, computers, and music.  All great stuff, just so noisy.  I even try to steal away into my "woman cave" (my craft room), but you can only shut out the noise so much.  They need to do their "thing" when they get home, so I try to enjoy the quiet while they are away.  There, I've said it out loud for the world to know...I am a home body like my bird and crave quiet...boring, I know.  But that's me.

However, I have been busy, (in my attemp at multi-tasking) to get stuff ready for my booth.  I start it September 1st, so I have been making and creating.  Will definitely be posting pictures once I'm finished and the booth itself is ready.  Really excited and feel so crafty, just wish I didn't have "chores" to keep calling me away from the fun/crafty work I need/want to do.  Doesn't everyone feel that way about their hobbies/favorite past-times?  But life must goes on...

I am trying to get caught up on things I didn't do this summer because I said to myself, "I'll do this and that once birdie is back in school".  That time has arrived, now where do I begin.  Like working out!  I have been horrible at this task.  I know how much I need to do it, I have just had NO desire and therefore I haven't worked out regularly...at all.  Shame on me.  But with the cooler weather approaching, I'll do more.  At least that is what I'm telling myself.  I have not been motivated at all this summer to workout, or do much of anything productive.  I gotta snap out of my funk and get busy.

I leave you with a verse I just found:

"...it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."  1 Peter 3:4

I have a long way to go to get to the gentle and quiet spirit that is pleasing to the Lord.  But I am a work in progress, but at least I'm trying.

For the next post, I will be writing about our recent trip to Glorieta for a family retreat.  It was a fabulous experience...so hang on to your seats in anticipation!

Until Next Time,
Serving Him,
Christina

First Day of School Parts I & II!

Well, it has happened, whether I wanted it to or not.  The dreaded first day of MIDDLE school!  And guess what?  We both survived...Birdie was eager to get out of bed this morning, which only happens when there is something special to look forward to.  In her book, today was one of those days.  Thank goodness for small miracles!  So getting ready earlier than years before - to ride the bus - was a piece of cake... today.  Tomorrow will be anybodies guess.  She was happy and giddy and pleasant, yay for mom.  We had already set out the weeks worth of clothes, so there wouldn't be any fighting, so no drama in the clothing department this morning, and breakfast and all the usual stuff of brushing hair and teeth went smoothly as well.  Shew!  Then on to pictures.  Well, you gotta have proof of the first day of school, K-12, and thus far, we are now at 7th grade.  Getting birdie to pose for the camera is always easy.  This is one of her favorite past-times.  Getting pictures taken and posing...see!  Then, we hear the rumble of the bus coming and she is jumping up and down in the drive way.  Not only that, but her fellow bus companions are standing up ready to greet her getting on the bus.  These kids are so sweet and really love each other.  Off they go down the street, and I start walking back to the house and it just hits me.  There goes my baby, and here come the tears...yes, even at 13 years old, my birdie leaving for big 'ol junior high makes me cry.

Is it all moms, at all stages, or is it just me?  Please tell me I'm not alone in this.  So, I sit down sobbing and praying, (thankful God can understand my gibberish) for the Lord to watch over her and protect her.  And HE did!  She did fine, as I knew would be the case, but we have such a hard time letting go, don't we?  We both survived the day.  I drove up the long route to pick birdie up on her first day; had told her yesterday I would and then we would celebrate with ice cream and she could tell me all about her day.  I spoke with her teacher and she said my bird had a good day, but was tired.  Its tough on a gal going through all the rigors of middle school.  Then we headed to town for that much deserved ice cream...mostly for momma!  I had a rough day, ya know.  She told me a few details but I'm sure by bedtime more stories will surface.  But we got through the infamous 1st day of Middle school.  Part I - the dread, the fears.   Part II - she did just fine and my baby bird is back home in her nest.  Maybe momma bird will sleep like a baby tonight...

God is so good, He cares for us and knows all our fears and silly worries, but wants us to bring them to Him anyway, and them leave them with Him.  That is the harder part for me.  Bringing them...easy.  Leaving them...still a work in progress.  Well, I am exhausted!

Until next time,
Serving Him,
Christina

What's Cooking!

Cookin' in my brain that is...I will be opening a booth (in the little store I work in), in September.  I am really excited and a tad intimidated.  Why?  Well, there are two other booths in the store that do awesome stuff.  Actually there are several booths in the store, all with great stuff.  But the two I'm referring to are great.  I'm not trying to compare myself or my stuff with theirs, our items will be different.  I just don't want to flop and fail miserably next to their booths.
 
**We are not to compare ourselves with others, we all have our gifts and talents**

These other two booths are great and so creative, I just need to let my style shine.  It is for the glory of the Lord, not me.  He is the one, afterall, that gave me these talents, right?  Well, like I've said before, I think I found my niche.  I get to work in a cute, quaint little store and be around people and that takes care of my need for socialization and craftiness.  Yay!  Thank you Lord for directing my path and that I finally was listening and paying attention...It took me a while to get to this point, but here I am!!  Slow learner I guess, or is it stubborn?

Plus, birdie has been able to be with me at the store and during this last week while we have been repainting and getting it ready to open under the new owner.  She has a ball there and thinks she is helping and has been the entertainment...in a matter of sorts.

I took birdie and her best bud to the city the other day to "hang out".  I drug  brought them along while I did a super duper shopping spree, buying stuff and junk to make for my booth.  Birdie's buddy kept asking, "are you done yet?".  They had a grand ol' time cruzing around Hobby Lobby and Goodwill, though.  Both of them have cell phones and I entered all appropriate phone numbers in all our phones before we went into the 1st store.  They took off to "wander" and let me get my crafting mojo going.  As you can imagine, my phone rang about 100 times.  "Hi mom!", "where are you?", "what are you doing?", "can we go yet?", but it was surprisingly a good time had by all 3 of us.  They had a great time back together since being off for summer.  Their teacher used to call them "Frick & Frack".  Said they fought like an old married couple...heehee.  Then I took them to their favorite place to eat...I tried so hard to persuade them to go elsewhere.  Can you guess where we ended up for lunch???  Yep, McDonald's!  Oh well, they were happy.  Then we went to the movies...we saw "The Smurfs" , and they had a great time laughing.  So, all in all, it was a great outing.  I got my shopping done, they were able to wander without me hovering, and they had lunch and a movie.  Good times!  Birdies phone is getting low on minutes, but she and her bud were texting...how cute!

So, that is what I've been doing this week, oh, and also had to register birdie at middle school.  We got caught in a rain storm, so that helped take away my apprehensions and need for tears.  We were SOAKED!  Got through it, now I have to get through the 1st day of school/1st week, however long it may take.  But, at least I have plenty of things to keep me occupied.  Working on my booth.  Lord help me...

Until next time,
Serving Him, Christina

 

The Little Store!

Well, I had been stressing over what job I would do once birdie went off to middle school.  I felt I should be doing more to help contribute to the family {financially}.  Why is it we women do this to ourselves?  We want to be "stay-at-home" moms (ya know...hands on), yet we feel we should contribute by way of money.  Well, I think it's our society and the devil.  Always telling us we need more, do more, be more.  I had been praying for God's guidance and wisdom, so I would do the right thing for our family, (as well as for my sanity).  A side note: I am not cut out to be a working-outside-the-home kind of gal.  So, now that I know this I can {sort-of} stop stressing, I can move on.  Remember, I was working at this little store and getting paid to make cards and be crafty.  Fun, creative, great hours and...birdie could be there with me all summer.  But, that voice {from the world/devil} kept getting louder.  I hate that voice!  It kept telling me what great money I could make and all the great things I could buy.  Can I get an Amen here? Yet, I felt the Lord telling me to stay put.  There may not be great money, but you are contributing some and able to be there for birdie and take care of our home.  Birdie is the most important part of our lives and God gave her to us to take care of, not push her off on someone else to raise/care for.  I had several of my friends and family praying for me about a possible job.  Guess what?  It fell through, or as I'd rather put it...God answered my prayers.  I was not meant to take on another position where I would have to put job before kid/family.  So, I will stay put!  The little store has a new owner and will be a little different, but same idea,  and the best part is, I can still have birdie there if she needs to be and she can even get off the school bus there at the store.  How great is that?  So, God knows what I need and made it possible.  Thank you Lord and thank you to all my wonderful friends and family who lifted me up in prayer over this subject.

Now school can start, plus I'm ready for cooler weather.

Here is a verse I go back to time and again:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall make your paths straight."  Proverbs 3:5-6

Until next time
Serving Him,
Christina

Just a Summer Day!

Howdy y'all
Well this summer has been different from past summers.  How?  Well, I can't really put my finger on it, its just been different.  Like, the forest fire and need to evacuate, and birdie's summer school schedule was different.  This year they were up at the Jr. High and only went 3 days a week but for 5 hours.  The kids got to do things in the community and some cool field trips.  Unfortunately, it was cut short a week due to the fire/evacuation.  But, birdie had a great time with her classmates and really enjoyed being at the jr. high, which I was really worried about.  She also rode the bus and didn't get car sick, YEAH!!  So this means she'll be fine once school starts, riding the bus to and from school.  I was concerned about that aspect and figured I'd have to drive her all the way up there and back, everyday.  That is a long drive, plus, there is a lot of road construction on that route, Yuck!, but, all is well in that department.

We haven't really been anywhere for a "summer vacation".  We did spend a weekend up the road a piece, in the "big city".  Enjoyed the hotel and pool, some shopping and eating out.  Woohoo, we are animals when it comes to traveling...just joshin'.  Boring is more like it.  But, birdie loves to stay in the hotel room.  She gets all set up and does "her thing".  "Her thing" consists of playing office with the room phone, the notepad (which she tends to use every page of) and pen, and now she has her own netbook/laptop (a "cheap" freebie I got-it doesn't even work-but she utilizes it in her own way).  Oh, let's not forget, the mirrors and the TV.  See, birdie has everything at her disposal, so why do we need to leave?  She gets bugged about going and doing, but, since she needs some down time, she is always happy to return to the room.  However, during our weekend get away, I got a terrible migraine.  So hubs took me and birdie back to the hotel so I could rest, while he went to the store to buy me some meds.  Even with such a nauseating, pounding headache, birdie was super quiet and played on the real laptop and her "other" office items with minimal light in the room, so mommy could rest.  Such a sweetheart.  Have I said enough what a good girl she is?  Well, its true!  I don't know if others recognize that about her, but she is so easy to care for, get along with and does not need much to entertain herself.  We are truely blessed to get to be her parents.  Thank you Lord!

We also made a special trip to get birdie's hair cut before jr. high starts.  You know, a teenager needs to look just right, so a new/easy 'do' was in order.  She was so giddy and excited.  Cute haircut...don't ya think?

Birdie also tried something out of the norm for her.  I had to really push and plead for her to try this, but she did it...fearfully.  She had such a great time, she wouldn't stop talking about it and wanted to do it again.  So, I said yes...I had to after pushing her to try it, and then she actually loved it.  Well, love to her was going at her speed.  We respect that as her parents, she tried it and we were proud of her...see!

makes mom and dad proud...she tried something she was afraid of.  But did it!

So, this is pretty much what we've been up to this summer, a whole lot of nothin'.  Oh well, that is what is great about summer.  The lazy days, aaahhhh!

Here is a verse to leave you with:

1)"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2)Honor your father and mother - which is the first commandment with a promise -3)that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."   Ephesains 6:1-3

Until next time,

Serving Him,

Christina

Crazy Busy...Now Relax!

May ?:
Hello all you blogger friends,
We have been so busy with the last month of school, I am finally able to sit down and relax, and enjoy summer.  I only have one kiddo and can't imagine how crazy others get with several kids and several of their activities...all I know, is that ours is over...for a few (10) weeks.
Birdie had so many things going on this last month of school.  They were all fun and I'm glad to have those memories, just glad to have gotten through them.  There was the 6th grade class trip, where they went up to the mountains and camped at a YMCA camp.  BUT, no modern facilities here, (except the kitchen - where hubs did "his thing").  So, due to her "issues" and how easily freaked out she can get, we chose to stay in a little town right down the road from the camp.  Much better, plus it had real beds, real windows, electricity, plumbing and heat.  Does that tell you what the camp did not have?  Yeah, talk about roughin' it...not my cup of tea either.  It is a cool experience for the kids, because they do a lot of team building and activities that require team effort.  Also a high ropes course.  Birdie did it...at least at her ability level. We were so proud of her as well as her teachers and classmates.  You go girl!

July 19:
Well, as you can see...I have totally let the ball drop on my blog since early May.  Just been enjoying summer with my bird!  We got through the end of year dance recital, 6th grade party and graduation.  Quite tearful, but good tears & good memories.  I will terribly miss her elementary school.  Such wonderful people there, but we must move forward...part of life...I guess!
Then she & I went to the great state of TX. to do some visitin'.  Good times, just hectic traveling with the bird in extreme heat...we are wimps, and it was only early June.  We are fortunate to live in the cool mountains, hardly any humidity.   Aaahhhhh!!
But, came home to smoke from nearby forest fires, and then we had our own.  Yikes!  So hubs stayed in our town to help/work...this is his thing, his type of work, while birdie and I headed north to the in-laws home.  It was crazy hectic there too, with 2 other families besides ours, so...thankfully they have a LARGE home, lots of room to spread out.  So, that was 13 people, 4 dogs, 2 cats and a hampster, and NO casualties.  Amazing!  Thanks R & C, it was a great time!

When we headed back home, birdie started her summer school program and a Pilates class.  She really enjoyed the summer school program alot, however, it was cut short a week due to the fire and mandatory evacuation.  Oh well, what are you gonna do?  She is still going to the Pilates class, so good for her, as well as swimming.  Boy, by the end of the day birdie is beat and sleeps so sound.  YAY!  There are 4 weeks left of summer vacation and it seems to go super fast...how can that be, the regular school year drags on and on, but summer zips along and then poof...school again.  Oh well, what can you do?  Its all part of life.

So below are some pictures of the bird in our crazy month of May...Enjoy!

Getting ready for field day, then off to 6th grd. Ropes

with dad, aka Camp cook

Climbing up, up ,up Shew!

In her beautiful "modern dance piece" costume...so pretty! 

and here's our graduate...TaDa

puppy sitting for Tex & Winnie...Aaawwww

So, this is what we've been up to.  Nothing earth shattering, just life.  A day in the life of birdie...actually a few months, but here it is.

Later,

Serving Him, Christina