For those of you who were wondering, I have been surfing free blog spot templates online looking for a new look. It's amazing what you can find. I have a new one up but am not sure I like it, so it will probably change. Just ran out of time that day to keep working on it.
Due to David's insistence, I'm posting this cartoon. I apologize in advance for any misconceptions.
After a month vacation from blogging, I decided to show you’ all what I have been up to.
The painting project has taken on a new meaning - which I will explain later - but for now this is what is done.
I found this shower curtain at a garage sale for $3.00. You can't see well in the picture but it's got a bizarre variety of color hues from blue to green and gold. I had a lot of difficultly getting a paint color that matched, but after 3 tries I came up with this mixed "Cream Brule" and "Coriander seed" on the top and the same olive green in my kitchen on the bottom. The decorations are a work in progress.
I decided to place the Chair Rail up higher then the other bath for a different look. The top paint color is "Flure DeLis" and the bottom is "Tumbleweed". The mirrors were a Christmas gift from my sister. Thank you Dawn, I love them.
THE MASTER BEDROOM
I used the same "Tumbleweed" in the bedroom.
My mother has passed on to us girls a recipe from my Grandma Brown for these wonderful cucumber pickles called "Stickle Pickles". We loved them growing up, and I am working on getting my family to like them also. David is proving to be a tough sale. =)
Please excuse the bad hair day.
I husked (along with my two helpers), cut of the cob and froze about 22 dozen of corn. This is one of our favorite veggies and we love the fresh rather then the canned kind. It's well worth the work.
My dear friend Heather in Colombia inspired me to attempt creativity and make some skirts. As I am soon to have another niece, I made one for Sidney as well as matching ones for each of my two nieces. These are very simple to make, just find a pair of shorts or mini skirt at Goodwill for a dollar, and some pretty material that matches. Then cut off the bottom of the shorts, add some lace and trim, gather the top of the material and sew it on to the bottom of the shorts. I am going to try some with a shorter top (cut just below the pockets) and layers of different coordinated material. I saw some similar to this at Wal Mart but to get the right size at the waist they end up being VERY short. These turned out longer at the top then I liked, but I wanted to keep the pretty designs on the jean material.
Thought you'all might need a laugh. Talk about feeling disoriented...
Please excuse or otherwise ignore the links after the video.
I have been working on a project - painting our house. I started in the kitchen and went with a olive green. My kitchen space is small, so I didn't have much wall space to paint.
Zak loves to help me with anything I am doing, but he is especially enthralled with painting. I let him help in an area least likely to be seen - behind the stove.
I have started the hall bathroom, but I am going to wait to post pictures until I have it completed. I am waiting for my dear husband to put up the chair rail. Then I will share the pictures.
In mid June, David needed to make a quick weekend trip to PA for the annual Mission Helps Board meeting. Like last year, we had planned that he would go alone, meaning I still had to take off work as we wouldn't have babysitting. At the last minute, his parents decided to help us with the tickets. What a wonderful treat. The children and I got to go along and we extended it to be able to enjoy a week long vacation. Our parents live about 5 miles from each other. I kept it a secret from my parents that we were coming, and got to give them the surprise of their lives. Needless to say, we had a blast. Unlike some families we know, we actually have a pretty great time when we get together. Someone I work with was shocked to find out that I actually talk to my Mother-in-law at least once a week if not more.
David solving the world's problems with his sister - Joy and bro-in-law -Fred.
In David's family debating various issues from Global warming to the future of the Italian Papist is common. I usually take to the kitchen to find dishes to wash when things heat up.
Mamie and Pappy Evans have swings in their front yard.
A source of much enjoyment.
Mamie and Pappy have a wonderful long hill which is great for sledding in the snow. David was having a second childhood re-discovering how to steer a wagon down a hill. Surprisingly he didn't tip it over once. Note the seat cushion to protect the posterior.
Taking time to smell the .... ok it's only petunia's.
Kaaviya Joy, our new niece. Mamie's 11th grandchild. This was the first we got to meet her. She belongs to Joy and Kithir (David's sister and bro-in-law)
Mamie had just gotten 4 wk old chicks when we got there. The kids loved to hold them. And going to the shop to feed them and check them was a frequent occurrence throughout the day.
Sidney and Cedric.
Cedric is 5 y/o and belongs to Fred and Adena Bennett (David's sister). While we were there we had a Birthday party for his little brother who turned 1. Cedric is holding papers which he told his mom he had spent a lot of time preparing. He told her it was a sermon to preach at the Birthday party. (His Dad is a preacher) Sadly he never got around to giving it, I think due to nerves and to many cousins to play with.
Mamie and Sidney (David's Mom)
This is the view from David's parents deck. Gorgeous huh??
I can't tell you how much it made me want to move back to the country. So what if you have to drive a half hour to Wal-mart, it's worth it to have this kind of peaceful existence.
But... as I have learned, God can give peace even with a small square of grass and 8 foot high block walls for a back yard.
My side of the family. In order from Left to Right. Jeffery Gordon, Zak, Sid, Matthew Stinebrickner, Gavin Gordon, Kaylee Stinebrickner.
Dawn and Todd came up from TN, for the board meeting as well. We had a great time together again. I have been very blessed this year as we got to see each other at IHC as well.
My dear pregnant sister, Dawn. She is expecting their 3rd in Aug.
Behind her is my father, looking at something very studiously ??
Having a banana Party on the steps. At the top is Zak, and Jeffery. Below them is Kaylee, Sidney and Matthew. Gavin was somewhere else.
This is Zak pushing his little cousin Mathew Stinebrickner. He is not quite a 18 mos old and is a very advertersome little tike. My poor sister has no fence on their 5 acre property, and he, like most boys, loves to explore. We had just rescued him for the deep dark woods and since he was not to fond of the idea of returning to the safe back yard, a creative ride and push from his big cousin Zak was the ticket to convincing him.
OH the JOYs of unpacking.
I don't mind getting ready for a trip, it's coming home and then unloading all the things you thought you needed to take. I always wonder, what I was thinking... "Did I really need so many pairs of shoes..."
Sidney decided the duffel bag made a great seat for her popcycle break. Have I mentioned She LOVES popcycles. I think it may have even been one of her first words. I know, I know, the sweeper does not make a great backdrop. I never said I was a great photographer.
It's nice to be home, although I am already dying from the heat. We have been hitting the 90's already and it's ONLY MAY. YIKKESSS
Pray for me that I shall Endure. God is teaching me not to complain...I'm not always a fast learner
Our dear friends Bud and Sherry were so kind to water our flowers and plants while were were gone. David is still a country boy at heart (I am too, I just don't go to all the trouble) so this year he tried again to plant a garden in our back yard. It is doing amazingly well, and we are enjoying turnips, turnips and more turnips, (he got a little carried away with the turnips) as well as sweet peas. The carrots and lettus don't seem to be ready yet, and the corn decided it miscalculated the days, as it is so hot, so it started to tassel. The poor things are only 2 feet high.
Excuse the grass which is in need of a hair cut.
First fruits of our "hard" labors.
As some of you know we made a flying trip back to Ohio for IHC this year. This is the second time we have had to drive there from Arizona, because of Davids responsibilities in Mission Helps as their PR Director. He was responsible this year for developing and designing new displays for them. Needless to say, what hair he has left -is white. (just kidding) He was stressed beyond belief to meet all his deadlines for printing, but Thank the LORD, the last items for the displays arrived the day before we left.
IHC was a special time this year to meet old friends from Penn View and worship together with such a wonderful large group of believers. As you know, we attend a VERY SMALL church and we were joking that when the singing started we would be ducking, and running for cover, wondering what the loud noise was.
One neat thing that happened this year was that Zakary got to sing for the first time in the children's mass Choir. He is in the blue shirt in the center of the picture. The boy in the red shirt at the bottom, is my nephew, Gavin Gordon, my brother - Alan's boy. It was a touching scene to see my little boy, and his cousin up there with all those other future church leaders, preachers, and missionaries. I couldn't help the tears in my eyes as I thought of the wonderful heritage I have to pass on to my children. I am so thankful for the Holiness movement, and the privilege to raise my children to know the truth.
It was great to see some of our friends and share many great talks and laughs. Bro and Sis Bryan are dear friends and spiritual examples to us.
We also got to see many others who I didn't get a chance to take pictures of, but it was a fun time.
After leaving IHC following the last service Thursday night, we traveled all night to my sisters home in Tennessee. I have to say, I have been blessed by the most wonderful sister in the whole wide world. She is my best friend, and a great garage seller!!!!
The cousins had a great time together, along with some "friendly" cousin rivalry, but in the end they all shed tears when it was time to say goodbye. Zak and Sid had a blast being in the country, and enjoying lots of fun experiences. Sidney was delighted to get to
ride a real hoossee.
Trampoline fun!!!!
The sweetest sister in the world, who is 5 mos pregnant. We had a blast talking, shopping and cooking, and oh yeah - keeping the peace between a 4, 3, 2, and 1 year old. I bribed David with a promised back rub if he would watch the kids one afternoon, while we went shopping and had some much needed quiet time. We agreed before we left to - back rub time equal to half the total time we were gone. Alas, I now owe him and hour and 1/2 worth of a back rub. But it was well worth it.
Did I mention I have a jewel in my Husband??!!! Not many men would attempt to babysit 4 children under under 5 y/o.
