The Blessed Wall

"You have got to be kidding"...This was my response yesterday morning when I awoke to this. In June. Almost July.



So this pretty much sealed the deal for me. Yes, we will indeed still try to move. The only thing that has kept us here this long is our home. With the market so bad, we're not sure if this is an option right now. But we are definately going to try everything in our being to make this move...trusting that the Lord knows the desires of our hearts. But this snow was actually the smallest thing that happened yesterday.

I hit a wall. No, not literally, but emotionally. I hit my all time low yesterday and by the time it was noon and the baby decided to be fussy all day and not wanting to sleep, my husband picked up the kids, loaded them in the car, and said to go sleep and gather myself. I think he seen how serious this had become. I've still been trying to adjust to the thought of having two kiddos instead of one, especially a new one that doesn't like to sleep or nap like my first one did. I don't function when I have no sleep...with no way to catch up. So as I laid in bed crying my eyes out, one because I was so tired, but mostly because I suddenly felt like a failure as a mom. A weak mom. Thinking, "how can i do this, I am failing, I am not being the mother that my kids and my husband need me to be".  So after I caught up on some much needed sleep, then drove over to my brother in laws to pick up my kids, through all of the tears still falling, the Lord revealed this song to me...

I've been ashamed, and I've been put down
Head in my hands, my life on the ground
Left heaven to save, liars and thieves
Sinners like me, your blood sets us free
But who am I, that you would remember me?

Take what I have left my Savior
Take me with you from this cross
When I leave this life completely
Remember Me.

It hit me. Showing me that even though lately I've felt like He was so distant, He was still there. He was still guiding me. I just didn't see Him, because I was too busy looking the other way, being busy. So I laid it at His feet and left it there. Not to continue to dwell on it, but to praise Him for bringing me to my knees.

Then after a blessed night sleep, with my baby sleeping through the night, It reaveled to me this morning, that one big reason I always feel so overwhelmed and out of control, is because for the last 11 years at the office I have been organized. I am no longer organized. I fly by the seat of my pants daily...and in turn it has caused chaos in my home, in my husband, in my kids, and in me. So I decided to do something about it. I'm organizing. No, not just putting things in bins and labeling them. But oraganizing a schedule for myself daily. Carving out time for my quiet time with the Lord, time with my kids, time to clean, time to blog, time to work on home projects, time to develop and brand my design business, time to plan meals. Yes it sounds like an OCD kind of thing, but this I have discovered, is how I roll. I feel better when I know what to do that day, so I don't make my bed, about in tears, thinking..."where do I start" everyday and beating myself down for not getting it all done. And when it doesn't get all done, crawling into bed and feeling blessed for being able to be there for my family. So...this is what is next. The organizing of my life. The life that the Lord has blessed me with as a wife and a mother.

Thank you, Lord for Remembering Me.

Miss Olivia and Her Fight For Cancer

Please keep Olivia and her family in your prayers. She is my husbands stepmom's grandaughter. She is a great example of God's blessings to us!!

 

Shiny, Frizz Free Hair? Yes, Please!

That's what I was up to last week. I made my way to the city to get a Brazilian Blowout. No, not a brazililan keratin treatment that some salons offer, but the actual Brazilian Blowout. Let me tell ya...this stuff is AMAZING! Post shower, my hair is shiny, frizz free, lays almost perfect, including taming my cowlicks (im not sure how you spell that, so i'm going to do the sound it out preschool thing ;)...all while having some great volume. The real test? Today...went to the pool with the kiddos and hubby, then jumped in the truck and went to Grand Lake for the Art Festival...grabbed some lunch...came home and took a nap...and it never really looked any different from when I first combed it...and that's all ive had to do with it so far. Not to mention, no more tangles when I'm out of the shower.  They say the curl will stay nicely too, so that's my next attempt...but so far...I'm.In.Love.

Aged Metal Letters Tutorial

Hi All, Hope your having a great summer so far. It has finally stopped raining (and snowing) for a few days here and I'm starting to get adjusted to having two little ones instead of one.  I've been trying to get Tate's nursery completely finished, and these letters for the wall are part of the last few things. I figured at the rate I'm going, I'll probablly get it done just in time for me to change it again when he needs a big boy room.  These were super easy and I am IN.LOVE. with the finish.

I fell in love with these weathered zinc letters from Restoration Hardware...but at $69 each, it was out of the questions...on to Plan B.

I started off by purchasing these letters at Joann's. 

Painted on a coat of black paint.

Then I broke out some other paint that I had...Ralph Lauren's Metallic Paint and some Acrylic in Burnt Umber. I used the same RL paint in my Sunburst Mirror Tutorial.

Using the RL Metallic, dip your paint brush and in a circular motion, half hazardly put this on top of the black paint. Do only small sections at a time, as this dried almost immediately.  Using a paper towel, rub in a circular motion and rub the paint in further. Then check your OCD at the door.  There is no perfection here.

Then using a sponge brush, I blotted on VERY THINGLY and VERY SPORATICALLY the Burnt Umber Acrylic. This gave it the "worn and weathered" look, like the antique rusted letters you dig for at the flea market.  This is where I started to fall in love with the finish.

He's learning, picking this stuff up as he watches mommy.

Gorilla Glue some hanging hardware on the back and they go up on the wall in the nursery. You can stack these as well if you have ledge shelving, but I wanted them directly above the crib, so this was the option I chose. 

(yes, I still need to paint the cord covers on the wall)  

I love how they turned out. You can see more of the Nusery Here. 

Linking up to these Parties:  The Shabby Chic Cottage, Beach Cottage, Remodelaholic, Funky Junk Interiors, The Shabby Nest

2 Little Miracles

When I purchased my new camera last fall, I started to experiment with some of the lenses and some new textures. With Tate gracing us with his presence, I decided to take some updated pics of my two little miracles before the time of them growing up disappears before me.  They truly are my miracle babies, both born early and both loved more than we thought it was possible to love someone.

A Miracle of Miracles

I don't have too many words to describe this video...its a miracle of miracles...a blessing like no other...and an AMAZING account of faith. Glory be to God, for he is every loving and merciful.  Don't pass this video up...its definately worth the time to watch.

The Land of the Living

Back to the land of the living (sigh).  I've been having a hard time getting too much done other than feeding, changing diapers, feeding again and slipping some sleep in there. It definately made having just my daughter feel like a piece a cake after having to juggle a three year old and a newborn...all while trying to get back to the land of the living...the place where others are out and about daily...the place where sewing just for fun is...the place where you have time to even think about home projects that are needing and wanting to be done. 

Remember when I said that I managed to paint the black door one day while the kiddos were asleep? Well here she is all in her black glory.  I was waiting to dress her up a bit with a newly made wreath or a very substantial door knocker (on the wish list), but *ahem* its been a little crazy around here and I am missing my blog land, so here it is...plain and simple.  It's amazing to me though, the compliments we've received on how it changed the look of the house, just from changing it from white to black.  How about you...what color is your front door? What do you adorn it with?

The Announcement

I've been trying to capture some moments and pictures of Tate, before I blink and I miss the times of him being a newborn. This last week I set up shop and snapped away with my two little ones. (Those pics will be posted soon)...and here is what I ended up creating for his birth announcement.

Oh Spring, Where Are You?

As I sit and watch the snow fall dump, I keep asking myself..."Spring, where are you"? I am getting cabin fever something fierce, especially since I'm still recovering from the new arrival of our new little addition to the family... all while balancing this new adventure with my three year old :) I managed to get only one small project done, and the list is growing for the rest of the house...but spring, I NEED you...to bless me with green grass to look at, and to bring some motivation and sunshine to my days. 

I hope spring is already on its way and alive wherever you are!





Image via Rachel Ashwell

The Blessings of Parents

 I am so thankful that my parents were able to be here the last 2 weeks! I ended up getting an infection right after Tate was born, and my mother was truly a BLESSING for being able to help with the new baby while I was recovering. I can't wait for them to hopefully come back and visit again in the fall...it cannot come soon enough. It has been REALLY hard having my parents move so far away when we have little ones. I was raised around my grandparents and was so close to my grandmas...I can't imagine life without grandparents!! I really miss having my mom around too...you get used to that best friend just being a car ride or walk away...it really makes you sit back and think of what is really important...and how short life really is...not to be surrounded with those we love most.

After the years have passed, I hope my husband and I can be such a blessing to our children, as our parents have been to us.

He's Here!

Do you remember my last post on Wednesday with the nursury sneak peak? Well that night, my water broke and after our 2 hour commute to the hospital, I had 40 minutes....then Tate Jorgen blessed us with his presence...5 lbs 3 oz. I was at 35 weeks, and he is doing amazing! He was able to be in the room with us, while the NICU nurses checked in on him every 3 hours or so. He got to come home with us and we are now welcoming a new little boy into our family!

My parents are coming into town this week to stay for the next two weeks, so I won't be on here much. I'm ready to have some much needed family time and enjoy my time at home with my new little one and the rest of my family. Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers...I know they were answered :)

Nursery Sneak Peak

Because I'm on bed rest, it's been a little hard to get up and take updated pictures of the nursery. Today we had lots of sunshine and natural light, so I was able to take some pictures. It's not COMPLETELY done yet, but all I have left is some wall decor and some small odds and ends. But with bed rest, no projects for me :-)  Hopefully that will change soon...I'd love to get this room finished before the baby actually gets here.  So here's a little sneak peak...