The "Long Distance" Hug

Looking for something fun to do with my son, I came across the inspiration I needed on Pinterest . {This seems to be a reoccurring theme with me!} I found the idea of the "Long Distance" Hug from  tonsoffunpreschoolactivities.blogspot.com and revamped it a little.

This caught my eye as a terrific way to send some love to his Nana Great who lives in Oklahoma. Many, many states away!

I used:    

• Multipurpse paper
• Scrapebooking paper
• Finger paint
• Balers twine
• Glue {I used E-6000 because that is all I have, believe it or not.}

               

{the "Long Distance" Hug}



It was kind of funny when I put the paint on his hands. He gave me a look like he wasn't sure we should be doing this. {You know, paint stays on the paper!} He was game though and washed it off right a way.

After waiting for the hand prints to dry I cut them out and glued them onto scrapbook paper I had doubled over for durablity as well as keeping the back side from being stark white.

I added the baler twine by gluing the ends in between the papers instead of just taping them to the back side. Then voila! The perfect "Hug" to help close the gap between loved ones!  

Enjoy!

Because of a Drip

About a month ago we installed the water line for our icemaker to our freezer. We had a little problem with installation, but it was quickly resolved. We checked for any leaks and found none. So we went on business as usual.

The third week of January we went to my brothers for the week. Had a very laid back restful vacation. Our trip back was delayed a day due to weather, but we made it home early evening Friday night. We couldn't get into our driveway due to all the snow that accumulated while we were gone so my husband snow-blowed out a path for us to walk up until he could blow out the whole drive. Once inside, it became apparent almost immediately that we had a problem. {Water dripping from the rafters of the basement from below our kitchen cabinets.} Lovely!

We quickly realized that the water line we hooked up to the freezer was the culprit. Not sure for how long, but drip by drip it turned into a watery mess. So we fixed the leak, cleaned what water we found, thinking that we were okay.

A couple days later we realized we were in for a world of hurt. Our wood floor began to buckle from all the moisture. The floor actually started to affect our cabinets and counter by pushing them both up.






{Our wood floor buckled in front of our cabinet}

 





We laid this floor about a year and a half ago before we moved in. So, in essence this is a brand new floor. We chose hickory because of the look and durability. Although, unfortunately for us, wood flooring isn't waterproof!

So thus began the task of taking out the cabinets, counter top, removing the stove and refrigerator, and of course some of the floor. Also when we laid our flooring, we laid an underlayment similar to carpet pad to help isulate and muffle noice. Turns out that holds water very well, and when we tore out the flooring some of the underlayment was saturated still.

{Mold found on the bottom sides of the pieces that were affected}



We had to rip the flooring out all the way down the wall past our sliding glass door! We salvaged what we could by taking out nails and reusing as many pieces as we could.



{When I say "we" I mostly mean my husband with some help from my dad.}



Finally,after we relayed the floor, we were able to start putting everything back in.





{Notice a flat floor!}


What a day! Yes, we did this all in one day! My hardworking husband with some help from my dad, did a fantastic job! I think God was watching out for us, because the whole project went so smoothly! Now everything is back to normal and we are still double checking to make sure all is good underneath the counter. We do NOT want to go through this again!



{Finished!}





Hard to believe a little drip caused all of this! Lesson for all DIY homeowners: Always check and recheck your work, no matter how small the project!





Homemade Soap Scum Remover

Well, thanks to Pinterest, I have found an amazingly simple recipe for homemade soap scum remover! It is free of all those harsh chemicals that you don't want to breathe normally let alone while pregnant! The only two ingredients you will need is blue liguid Dawn dish detergent and white vinegar!

The recipe that I found at  http://www.lifecraftsandwhatever.blogspot.com/ calls for 1 cup vinegar microwaved for 2 minutes and then add 1 cup Dawn to spay bottle. I didn't need that much so I just mixed equal parts to get the amount that I thought I would use. Obviously if you use less, then you should also decrease the microwave time as well.

Spray on your shower walls and tub and let sit for a couple hours and then sponge off! It is so simple and it works extremely well! I would highly recommend that you try it!

Enjoy!

Expecting!

We have been waiting for a long time for us to finally have another baby. Our son will be turning four, so I guess it is about time! We are so EXCITED!

I have been feeling great! I am 21 weeks along now and doing very well. I had a couple days of nausea in the first trimester, but I am happy to say that is it! {Yes, I know, I am one of the lucky ones and I appreciate that.} I LOVE being pregnant!

Last week we had our ultrasounds! {No, we did not find out the sex of the baby. Looking forward to the surprise!}

Baby is healthy and very comfortable in it's rather cramped quarters. I am feeling more and more movement, although, I have been the only one to be able to feel it so far. I can't wait until my husband and son will be able to feel the kicks too!

It is truly miraculous what God can do! Enjoy your day!

Finding a Way to Give

I always new that I would go to school for art. I knew I didn't want to work for someone else being told what create. That was all I knew. I graduated in 2007 from Kendall College of Art and Design. It didn't take long after I graduated that my husband and I wanted to start a family. At that point I was working full time and so was he. I worked up to my delivery with our son, and after I was immediately in a dilemma. I loved working, I loved my job, but I also found that being a mom was on a whole new level. A decision had to be made, and surprisingly it was easy! I would stay at home.

{The face that changed it all!}

We worked our schedules so that on my husbands days off I would work part time. It worked out pretty good. Then we had an opportunity to move back "home" to be closer to our families. So we did. And I became a full time stay at home mom.

I have to admit the decision wasn't hard. It was definitely life changing in many ways. The biggest change was going from two incomes to one. It is a big sacrifice, believe me, we had to change the way we lived, but it was so worth it!

Many things have happened since. One of the biggest changes was my husbands job change this last year. We took a huge pay cut. It would be safe to say we are now a very modest one income family. The hardest adjustment for me is probably the inability to give monetarily. I am a giver. At times it drives my husband nuts, not because he's not, but because I can go overboard a bit.

I also struggle with the fact I have a degree that I am not really using. God gave me a gift, a talent, for art. And I haven't been using it to my fullest. I will say, however, being a mom, comes first. And yes, art has and will take a back burner, but when I have time, I will do something little.

I have two problems, not having money to give, and having a gift or ability that I am not using to the fullest. So what do I do?

Well, a couple days ago, I woke up at 3:30 in the morning and couldn't go back to sleep. So I decided I would read a little until I tired. I read only a couple paragraphs and was hit with my anwser. The part I read was about a women who didn't have any extra money, but wanted to give to help others. She had a gift of baking so she asked her Pastor if after Church she could sell her baked goods so that the money she made could be given to ministries. She was using her ability God gave her to serve others! God gave us certain abilities and strenghts to serve others and to use for the good.

The Bible says in Romans 12:6-8 "We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contribution to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully."

Then, 1 Peter 4:10 says, "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in it's various forms."

So my answer was this: I would use my art to serve and help others. Therefore, there are four pieces now in my Shop that I am donating 50% of my sale to Lydia's Gate. Lydia's Gate is a faith based nonprofit homeless shelter that is just starting up in Oscoda County, the county where I grew up. They are in need of start up funds, and are trying to buy a house to use as the shelter.

{Daydreamer}



{In Good Hands}

{BSA Motorcycle}

{Van Andel Arena-Reflections of Grand Rapids}

I am not doing this to make myself look good to others or for an ego boost. I am doing this because I feel that is where God is directing me. I am doing it because there is a need, and I have a way I can help. We all have strengths and abilities. If we all used them to help others, think of all the good that could be done!

I finally feel that my art has a purpose, that there was a reason I was given this talent. I feel that I am doing the right thing, by my family, by staying home instead of getting a career in art. I am still using my gift at the same time instead of casting it aside. This is what is right for me, for our family. I pray that you find a way to use what you have in the way that is right for you, to give back and to serve others.