Grey's Bedroom Makeover

Recently I shopped high and low for curtains long enough for our 10' ceilings...and not navy or white. I wanted a bold print that was fun and interesting.  It rarely goes well when I create a design plan before I shop because I can never find what I've created in my mind! It is so frustrating.  This day brought ooey goodness and delight!  I was wandering in Target circling for the millionth time hoping to miraculously find something striking and awesome.  I was complaining in my mind, "Why do they make shower curtains so bold and colorful? Why can't they just make what I want???".  So rude, I know.  (I don't usually write all that I think..need some censoring)  Anyway, at this point I'm staring at the shower curtains wishing they would become curtain curtains when the wheels started turning.  Aha! Let's just cut these babies in half, sew them back together, and voila- 10' curtains with a pattern! ...CHEAP!  

Small print: Then I had to call Nana and beg her to teach me to sew.  She graciously obliged only frowning a little.  It was a really fun and easy experience.  If I can sew these, truly, anyone can!  I am seriously the 5' girl who glues my hem because I can't tie a knot in the thread in order to sew even a button.

We surprised Grey with a room makeover- his was the first done in the house! He loved it.  Isn't the light fun?  Sigh...oh how lights inspire!

Breathe in...breathe out

Breathe in breathe out... My friend's wisdom at my state of shock because I'm 30! I think about my ear lobes starting to droop and wish I'd worn lighter earrings. I think about the wrinkles around my eyes and think I should have worn a hat at the pool. Then I really start to remember where I was when I turned 20. I was still in college in Orlando. I don't really remember turning 20. I was probably too busy pretending to be grown to have enough fun worth remembering. My 20's could be described as chaotic, full, transitional at best. they brought so much joy and friendship with some deep heartache intertwined. Much of the heart ache brought the friendships and change so can I regret? I think not.  I squeezed a lot into the first 4 years of my twenties then it took the last 6 to recuperate! 

I have really looked forward to being 30. The last year has represented a time of renewal for my spirit. New dreams have been created. Confidence is restored. Hope is strengthened. I have truly settled into who I am and how I want to live. Joshua has grown into a beautiful man of God and leader of our home. I would not know True Love if it weren't for my husband. He reflects Christ's love daily.  He reminds me who I am. He is my source of comfort and reassurance.  

In this next phase of my life with Joshua and Greyson I anticipate a lot of adventure. I am ready to enjoy life and share it with others. I laugh because, for my birthday, my husband bought me a bow with arrows and my parents gave me a bicycle! That sends a clear message that I am ready for some fun!!! This is the year for starting new hobbies.

I've recently shared with others that we can spend a lot of time striving to be: to be smart, to be pretty, to be friendly, to be Godly, to be good cooks, cleaners, employees, just to be everything everyone else is or looks to be. When that becomes too difficult Throw it out and soak in His presence. Being there heals all pain, covers all wounds, removes all shame and guilt. His presence brings clarity and perspective. It allows new dreams to be dreamed and for confidence to build. I can plan all day how I am going to be successful but I find peace and satisfaction when I am with my Savior who cherishes me and reminds me that His plans for me are good. I believe that is true so I am going to live that way. 

So here is to an adventure filled 30th decade!

The pantry is organized!!!

I've been so envious of the pictures I've seen of neat and organized pantries, but I could not bring myself to pay for the very expensive containers for the flour, sugar, etc.  I finally got desperate enough because the pantry was overflowing and the floor was covered in lunchboxes, ziploc bags, and the rest of the junk that fell off of the shelves!
Oh I'm attempting to make turnip greens today and the timer is beeping. Be right back!

So Target had lovely containers for $17 EACH.  ROBBERY!  So, I braced myself, put on a happy face, planned for astronomical and unnecessary delays and went to Wal-mart.  It actually was a pleasant experience and I came out with 3 containers for the price of the one at Target.  I LOVE THEM, by the way.  I get so excited when I get to use the flour or something.  They are so pretty and neat and clean and fun!  I also hung a rack on the door for all of the boxes with foils and lunch bags.  I am so excited.  I just want to leave the pantry door open for awhile...but I won't.

Diet Coke and Mentos Experiment

This experiment is old news but I've always wanted to try it and now Grey is at the age where he could be involved.  Don't you love having a kid as an excuse to do fun stuff?

Grey charted the ingredients in his journal first.  Then we had some friends over.  I bought 4 of each so we could do it several times and everyone could have a turn.  I read that you could put a strip of tape on each side of a row of Mentos but that was really flimsy.  We had this tube that came with Glowsticks in it and it worked marvelously to hold the mentos vertically in a row and allow them to drop quickly into the 2 liter. 

1. Gather Materials: 2 liter of Diet Coke and a pack of mint Mentos.
2. Put Mentos in a tube. Place a piece of paper between the tube and the open 2 liter so that you can pull it out quickly allowing the Mentos to fall in.
3. Have someone hold the tube and someone pull the paper out.
4.  BACK UP!!!!! TAKE PICTURES!!!!

Tyler and Allie

I have no words to describe how my heart swells when I think of Tyler and his baby.  I am so deeply thankful that he and Allie are sharing this experience.  I have hardly looked forward to a moment as I am looking forward to meeting my sweet nephew.  We will share a birth month and maybe a birthday (he is due on my birthday) so I already feel like we are connected.  October babies definitely know how to have fun and I plan on getting into lots of trouble with this Sloan baby.  I praise our amazing Father for this gift in our family.  He is working in mysterious and incredibly beautiful ways in Tyler's life and this baby is a reflection of His goodness.  I am so inspired and blessed by Allie.  She is an exceptional woman and absolutely spills gorgeousness everywhere she goes.  I especially love how Tyler and Allie share their love with each other.  They are a picture of grace and he loves her like Christ loves us.  He makes her a priority and proves that she is worth pursuing.  Marriage is a reflection that Christ is willing to fight and love and pursue and live for you...one person. If it were only you he would still chase after you and speak tenderly to you.  You are His passion and He chose to give His life for you. 

Somehow I got to be there for that miraculous moment when a daddy feels his baby move for the first time.  It is overwhelming to consider how a new life is created and developed so intricately.  I got to see Tyler experience and realize the depth of this new life then the giddyness that followed.

I'll need new shoes...

I am so tired but I cannot shut off my brain.  It probably has to do with the 3-4 glasses of sweet tea I drank at the very delectable dinner we attended.  I hope one day someone will read this and think, "Riley drank sweet tea! (aghast!) She is such a health nut!" Yeah right. It will go more like this, "Poor Riley, she drowned in all that sweet tea."  Oh well. I can only be good at a few things despite my efforts to be perfect.  Tonight we went to Beth's 30th birthday dinner at Nami's.  I tried to imagine my 30th. It is hard to think of myself as 30 because it is so far off, but when I do I'm tall, skinny, successful (suit and heels), smiling, and loving life.  I guess I won't be quite full grown yet since I only have 3 months and am still 60 inches, but most of my dreams have come true and some of them have changed. I am very happy and starting the prime of my life.  Established.  Mature.  Unafraid of the world. Making a new path.

I better get a new pair of shoes before I take on all of that. 

Life: By any name

I love when words flow bc I feel your presence. I live to feel your presence again. It feeds fresh breath into my life.  Sweet bitterness. Beautiful chaos. I could call it salt and pepper because life is a persistent and pervasive splashing of waves. Crashing and rolling. One moment I am the student and another the teacher, yet conviction is present with each word I teach.  Ever changing. Expectations shifting. Knowledge I would not have without you and a voice propelled to speak even when in doubt. Time In your presence leads me to be your hands and feet. 

The Summer Jar

This has been my first summer at home with Grey and I am so thankful for it.  I still like to be productive and use every moment.  The boys are feeling a little cramped with me at home! While I was working full time in my internships they got accustomed to having summer days to lounge and do boy stuff.  They have a man fridge that I am not allowed to use and they have lazy morning routines.  That all changed when I broke in the man fridge because I was thirsty and got Grey off the couch to play and "do something!".  In all seriousness I try to respect the manliness they need and when Grey looks a little bored I let him pull a very exciting activity out of the "summer jar of activities!".  I created it in my boredom.  It is categorized by color: purple= expensive (only about 5 of those in the jar), yellow= not too much money, and green= free.  Grey resisted at first because he is so cool, but he secretly loves it and has even started to ask to pull ideas out! Oh yea, who is the cool mom now??

Another easy but fun activity I dragged Grey into was creating a summer calendar.  Actually he was really excited about this idea.  He worked so hard on it.  He wrote the numbers in June and July all by himself.  I guess I won't worry about his fine motor skills anymore! The calendar has filled up with funness since we made it.  Each night we put a glow-in-the-dark star on the completed day.  ooh!

We've created a jungle diorama, been to Dollywood, made popsicle ice cubes, made lemon juice art, and journaled along the way.

oh no he didn't!

Yesterday Grey asked me about why people fight and kill each other.  I very clumsily attempted to answer with truth. I explained that we were created to desire God and that we were made to know Him.  When we are without Him we feel hungry or sick because we need Him and want Him.  When that is the case, our life can be full of sin, like hate, jealousy, and anger and these things can cause us to hurt other people.  He got very concerned and said, "you are jealous all the time!".  Well, of course, I tried to justify that my jealousy for someone else's ice cream cone, as an example, is "silly" and not harmful.  Since he could tell that I was struggling for words, he clarified by asking, "you mean it is dramatic? and lame?".  Well!  Who does my child think he is??? using such vocabulary (made me proud)!??!?  I may be dramatic, when needed, but I am never lame!

 

perceive it

I write all of the time!  I don't really know why...maybe so one day my grandchildren can really know me and maybe the stories will embarrass Grey a little.  I truly do count each writing as an alter marking God's sweet involvement in my life.  Lately, I've been wanting to share a bit...  

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.  Isaiah 43:19

I've been examining the effectiveness of my time recently.  There are so many ways to serve so it is essential to understand my passion and make every step count.  I am ridiculously busy but I have trouble telling what I do.  I don't know if that means I'm oh so humble (doubt it) or if I am spinning circles and not getting anything real accomplished (more likely).  So I've signed up for something new!  Seems like the perfect solution!  I also got out of a few other things that seemed good but showed no results.  I am very thrilled to embark on teaching a class at House of Israel.  What I meant to say is I'm scared to death, but why would I rely on my feelings?  They undoubtedly serve as unreliable.  


My prayer: Lord, please ignore the beggings of my heart and mold it to your desires instead.  Please provide exactly what I need.