happy birthday...

to you

dear sweet Fairmaiden.

power of five...

Do you have a hard time focusing?

I do.

Do you get overwhelmed with all that there is to do?

I do.

Do you play little motivational games?

I do.

I have this little game I play...it's called *5 things*

throw away 5 things

put away 5 things

finish 5 things

comment on 5 blogs

5 more minutes on the elliptical

Just do something...

That's what's I'm playing this week...

Friday is our holiday open house

at Shabby House

...and I am so not ready...

off I go. 1...2...3...4...5

Powder-ey whites...

Here are some photos of my downstairs powder room.

It is the first room I have ever painted all white...

the family thought something was a little off when I did it...but I really like it!

a new day...

Thanks gals,

Time has a way of leveling things out.

We're doing much better now.

It's a tricky balance-this blogging is.
Do we post real stuff?
Or just the pretty?

Talk to you soon,
Rene'

disappointment...

Disappointment

blew into our home

this week

like a cold winter's wind.

and with it feelings of

discouragement, weariness, and fear.

But those are only feelings.

It is in times like these

that I come back to these life verses.

As for God, His ways are perfect.

2 Sam 22:31

(Oh, don't get me wrong...

I've battled with this before...

perfect is perfect...always...

not just when it's going my way)

But I trust in you, Oh Lord;

I say, You are my God.

My times are in your hands.

Psalm 31:14

Have a blessed day of rest, dear friends,

Rene'

just a few...

of my favorite (white) things.

Thanks to all

who wished my daughter and me

a Happy Birthday!

See FADED CHARM for more white pretties.

another milestone...

~My baby is 13 years old ~

After many years of praying

for the Lord to bless us again.

She was born.

Just a few days after my 36th birthday.

A baby that would bless me, comfort me, and humble me.

Abigail Hope

We wait in HOPE for the Lord;

he is our help and our shield.

In him our hearts rejoice,

for we trust in his holy name.

May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord,

even as we put our HOPE in you. Ps. 33:20-22

Such a delight

such a joy

such a challenge.

You can see the age spread in my children here.

16 years.

Having a toddler in the house with teenagers

is a time I will never forget.

Algebra and diapers.

Who needed TV for entertainment?

The things teenage boys teach.

Like how to spit.

There was always a helper and playmate around

but also always another *parent*.

She couldn't get away with anything!


She is her Daddy's girl and her sister's friend.

She is

competitive, athletic and plays the piano beautifully.

She is persistant, observant, repetitive, opinionated.

She will tell you like it is. She is tough yet sensitive.

She loves being an auntie.

She's a tomboy.

She can throw a football and use the drill.

She's a girl.

She loves chocolate and hates spiders.

She makes us laugh.

She determined to conquer the Rubik's cube

and then went on to th 4x4 and then 5x5.

Did you know there were such things?

She's my keep-me-on-my-toes girl.

My keep-me-young girl.

She's my Girl.

gather...

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying:
And this same flower that smiles to-day
To-morrow will be dying.

The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,
The higher he's a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
And nearer he's to setting.

Glorious birthday roses from my sweetheart.

We are off for a weekend of REST.

whitey-whites...

Good morning, girls.

Today I'm showing you more photos of my newly-decorated laundry room.

I posted them earlier in the summer but I know that some of you are new.

and there are just not enough hours in the day!

Only 2 more weeks of oustside painting and then I'm movin' inside!

Fall cleaning is on the agenda and maybe a little more decorating?

I'm looking forward to it...

I appreciate all the sweetness you all leave for me,

really I do.

I'm trying to make the rounds....

Have a great day and skip on over to Faded Charm

(see link on side bar-something was not working and I don't have time to fix it)

to see lots of fun stuff!

Rene'

wait....

A phone call...noise...then silence.

Minutes that seem like hours.

My daughter was talking on her cell phone to her boyfriend when there was a lot of noise. the phone went dead and then no answer. "Mom I think Tyler was in a wreck...what do I do?"

Pray.

Wait.

Fear comes...all the things it could be...imaginations gone wild...what to do?

Pray.

Wait.

Do the next thing.

Our family has seen plenty of loss and heartache these past 5 years...

no rose colored-glasses anymore.

Pray.

Wait.

Think on what is true (phil 4:8)

What is true?

God is good... God is in control.

Does that mean nothing *bad* happened?

No, it means God is good, God is in control.

Minutes seem like hours...finally the next call...everything is Ok-Tyler rear-ended the car in front of him.

Thank you, God.

Pray.

Wait.

God is good...God is in control.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,

and in His word I put my Hope. Psalm 130:5