Happy Independence Day!

I just wanted to take a minute from our day and wish you all a very happy Independence Day!

I hope you have a safe and fun holiday celebration. 

I also hope you take a moment and give thanks to God for the freedom you enjoy living here in the United States of America. Without God, this nation would not exist as it does today.

This country is a result  of our forefathers seeking religious freedom.  That is what drove them to leave their home country and make the dangerous journey to this strange new land.  It was for the express purpose of being able to worship God in the way they chose, that they fought to be a free nation. 

I am thankful for the tenacity and 

commitment of those brave people.

It is because of them that I can wake up each day and read my Bible.  I can attend church freely every week.  I can discuss God with a stranger that I encounter at the park, I can meet together with others in my home and have a Bible study. I can openly and freely teach my children about God.  All without being persecuted.   

It is something to be extremely thankful for.  

This independence that we often take for granted. 

So celebrate it loud and proud, and do your part to make sure that in 20, 30, 60, 80 years, we will still be able to freely proclaim the name of Jesus Christ in this country.

Happy Birthday To Me!

For my birthday this year I really only wanted one thing. 

So, Hunky Hubby spoiled me and gave me exactly what I asked for. 

A new patio table. 

He built it himself. 

Young ladies, listen up, marry a handy man.  

You will be glad you did. 

Anyhow. . . 

We had really outgrown the patio set that I received as a birthday gift from my parents 10 years ago.

Which is why I really wanted a new table.  

But, they are really expensive an the store.

So, I showed H.H. a plan off of Pinterest, and he made a few alterations and built me the table of my dreams.

He brought it home to me in the raw.  

So, we had a very romantic time picking out the perfect stain color together.

 We chose a semi-solid stain from Cabot, largely because it was on sale and because H.H. said it was a good quality stain.

After much deliberation we chose the color Spanish Moss.  We were trying to find something that currently coordinates with our siding, but would match the door we put in a couple years ago, and would look good if we changed the stain color on the house siding, etc . . . So we had a lot of factors that were influencing us.  

We also thought that we will probably eventually repaint the deck the color we chose for the table.  So even though we were choosing a color with only our stellar memories of what the colors of the deck/house/door are -  we actually really lucked out and picked a a great color.  It actually matches the door almost perfectly. Which I think is good. 

I had a helper who wanted to stain the table with me. Just remember that it is very important, if you are like me, to wear gloves during this process. 

Or you will have Spanish Moss colored hands. 

That can look a little creepy.

I am happy with how it turned out. I am also so excited that we can now entertain more people on our lovely back porch. 

Sitting at the same table together. 

Instead of separated by miles.

 

It's going to be a happy place.

Come join me for a cup of Chai anytime.  I'd love to sit a spell and chat with you.  

Book Review: Firsthand

The latest book on my review list is 'Firsthand' 

by brothers Ryan and Josh Shook

 

It is written to inspire people who have grown up in the church or in Christian homes and have yet to make the faith they have grown up with, their own or personal. 

There comes a time in each persons life where they need to know what they believe and why.  They need to take the faith they have grown up with and personalize it. Live it out loud in their own lives. The Shooks encourage each person to question their doubts, fill the emptiness in their lives with the only One who can and will fill them.  They also remind us that "our weaknesses can become our greatest assets because they draw us closer to the Lord". They encourage stepping out in 'faith risks', stepping out in reckless abandon to obey God.  It is a book that challenges each person to individually examine their faith and gives encouraging steps to become filled with a genuine faith that belongs to them alone.  

I think that the book is well written, the intent behind the book is true and they have done their best to lay a clear path based on personal experience.  

In thinking back to my own personal history, which would have been exactly the target audience this book was aimed at, I questioned whether this book would have been helpful to me?  

The first question that came to mind is, if someone is living their faith secondhand through their parents/church, would they be willing to read a book on this topic?  The answer I have come to is: maybe.  If the person has awakened to their need for more - then yes, I think this book could be very beneficial.  It will definitely lead them in the right direction.

Maybe you are looking for more in your faith, or you know someone else who is.  This book is for you.

You can find it here at Amazon or on CBD.  

Thanks to Multnoma's blogging for books program for this copy of 'Firsthand'

Dish Soap Stand {a tutorial}

                       I found this fun idea on Pinterest.  

I loved it and wanted to rush right out and buy all the pieces to make it that minute. But I live 1 1/2 hours from the nearest Target/TJ Maxx/ or any other cool store. So in an effort to be thrifty, I spent the next year looking for the perfect candle stick.  I had found one last summer, but alas, it came as a set and I liked them too much to tear them apart.  So, patiently waiting and keeping my eyes open, I finally found one at a rummage sale with my mom and sister this past weekend.  It did come in a set of three, but I convinced my mom that she only needed two candle sticks to be happy.  She wasn't sure she believed me but I convinced her that I needed that single, solitary candle stick to make my life complete.  
The best part though?  The original owner of those candle sticks was selling the whole 3 piece set for 1.00!  I actually had to look twice at the sticker, I couldn't believe it! 
That's what I call a super score!
I got my super cute plate from TJ Maxx of course. 

Here is all you need: 
1-candle stick
1-cute plate
1-hot glue gun

Just make sure that the top of your candle stick is smaller than the bottom of your plate of course! 

Heat up your hot glue gun and slap some hot glue on that candle stick.

Turn your cute plate upside down and stick the candle stick in the center of it. Make sure you work quickly so that the glue doesn't cool down and harden before you get it on the plate. 

And voile! You have a beautiful stand to add style and beauty to your kitchen sink.  Which frankly could use a little pick-me-up, at least in my house. 

All you need to do is add your dish soap and hand soap to your lovely new stand.  I put my dish soap in a glass decanter that I picked up from TJ Maxx for $4.00. That way it looks even prettier.  I may have to find a pretty bottle for the hand soap next.

 

I hope this inspires you to make your space a little less ordinary.  Beauty and creativity don't have to be 

expensive or difficult! 

Enjoy!

Jana

Remember Them

photo credit: Mimi Kramer

It's Memorial Day today.  
I'm pretty sure this fact hasn't gone unnoticed by most of us.
But what have we done to truly remember the men and women who have paid for our freedom with their service?  With their own freedom?  With their lives? 
Too often we don't do much but give the holiday a passing thought.  Maybe think about it briefly when we take in a parade. 
Maybe just be thankful for an extra day off? 

I want to take just a moment to express my thankfulness.  

I have a a husband who was in the Air force, a father who was in the Navy, an Uncle who was in the Air force, and a brother and sister-in-law who are still serving in active duty in the Air force. I think there was some great grandpa's who had some involvement in the armed services not to mention cousins and other relatives too. 
Each of them has given their time and made sacrifices to serve our country.  I am so grateful to them all.

I especially want to give a shout out to my sister-in-law and brother right now.  They have been active duty soldiers for over 21 years.
Currently my sister-in-law is serving overseas in Kabul Afghanistan.

Mimi in her battle-rattle. photo courtesy of Mimi Kramer

She has left her husband and 16 year old daughter and 11 year old son and answered the call of duty to travel far from home into a hostile environment.  She isn't doing it because she wants to be separated from her family, but because it is what duty demands. While she is over there, she will give her all and do her job to the best of her ability in service to our country.  In service to you and to me.

 So, when you are thinking of our soldiers both past and present, please remember my brother and sister-in-law. Remember their sacrifice.  Remember my niece and nephew. Remember their long days and longer nights being separated from their dearest loves. They will be separated for over 6 months.  That's a long time in a 16 and 11 year old life.  My sister-in-law is missing out on sports competitions, sweet 16 birthday parties, milestones, good night hugs, kisses good morning, and a lot more in between.  My niece and nephew are missing out on the presence of their mom who has been ever present in their lives.  My brother is missing a partner, a friend, a lover. He has to carry the load at home on his own. He has to go to bed alone each night and wake up alone each morning.  And so does she. She has been enduring  a high stress, high danger atmosphere every day.  She has been risking her life, every day.  When they are reunited as a family, they will each be different than they were when they were first separated. They are giving so much for us.
Are you grateful?
Remember that even today while you were enjoying your brat fry and parade there are soldiers on the front lines, facing danger, living in hostile territory doing their duty for our country. 

Sacrificing so that we might remain free.
Take some time to remember them.  
More importantly, take some time to pray for them.  Pray for all the soldiers who are out their doing their duty. 
And be thankful.  
Without them, we wouldn't be free.

My brother, sister-in-law, niece and nephew just before she was shipped out.

Mini-Milestone

I just had to get a picture of this grin before it changed.  

The other front tooth is very close to falling out as well. It is just a matter of hours or days before it will be too late to capture this mini-milestone.

 I don't know what it is, but I love the gap-tooth grin. 

I think it's adorable.

It also gives the viewer an accurate impression of the 

mischief this guy can get into. 

He just loves taking pictures. 

Can't you tell? (in case you can't tell, I'm being sarcastic) 

But he does love making faces!

Stay tuned for the updated photo after the other tooth falls out.

It's gonna be a good one.

Ugly Thrift Store Art Gets a Makeover

This summer I helped plan a wedding shower.  

I wanted to make a fun chalk board that could be used not only as a shower decoration but also as a gift.

I scoured the local Goodwill for a suitable frame.  

I loved the oval shape of this piece, but the art inside: 

Hideous! 

In case you can' tell, there is a collage of dried flowers and mushrooms on top of a 

terry cloth towel in that frame.

I'm sure it was cool once. 

Maybe.

But, it had good bones, so I went for it. 

I even got it half off.

A little white spray paint, and a couple layers of 

chalk board paint on the glass, 

and we now have a beautiful message board.

This project cost very little, especially if you happen to have leftover chalk board paint laying around. 

Plus, the bride-to-be was happy to learn she got to take it home. 

Win-win!!

Happy crafting!