Planters

I bought 4 clay planters at a garage sale for $10.

Now they look like this...

Sarah helped me plant a few flowers.  I'm waiting to get a few plants from a friend to figure out what I'm going to really put in them.

 

Living thru faith,
Misty

Healing

This morning we took Matt for his 4 week follow-up with the orthopedic surgeon.  He has two more weeks on crutches, but he can put about 50% of his weight down now.  This was not the news he was wanting; however, the doctor was pleased with how it was healing and thinks we are right on the right track.  He'll start physical therapy next week, but no baseball this summer.

A friend's daughter came home from the hospital today after being hospitalized with a bad kidney infection.  While there is more healing to do, we are so glad she is feeling better and I know they are all glad to be home.

My mom went into the hospital this evening after feeling bad all day.  Right now they are saying it is diverticulitis, but they will be keeping her overnight for some more tests.  Hopefully, she will not have to stay long and healing will begin.

We also received an uplifting report about another friend's son who has been battling his second round of cancer.  He is not yet cancer free, but has been enjoying life again as a teenager.  He smiling and laughing and having fun with his friends.   With continued treatment, his body is slowing healing.

So it has been a mix of good news and not so good news today, but we know Who is in charge of it all. We praise Him for the healing of these earthly bodies He has created for our souls.  And while sometimes healing does not come in the way we think it should or as quickly as it should, we continue to praise Him and trust Him.

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior."  Habakkuk 3:18


Living thru faith,
Misty

Filing Cabinet Redo

I'm sorry I've been absent for the last several days, but things have been a little crazy.  Nothing big, just busy...

Here is one of the painting projects I promised you.

I found this at the very last stop in our garage sale extravaganza this past Saturday.

 

I paid $5 for it.  

Since it has to be in our bedroom, I didn't want it looking like a cheap metal filing cabinet.  

So, I went to Lowe's and bought a can of this.

Brian took the handles and lock off, then I went to spraying.  

Now it looks like this...

(Unfortunately, I haven't had any good lighting in our room when we've been home this week.)

So, after buying the spray paint, we now have a nice looking filing cabinet for $12.

It blends in with the bedroom instead of standing out, which makes me much happier.

We have done some other things in the bedroom and will hopefully get "finished" this weekend.

I have more to show you, but I'll have to keep you waiting...  :-)

Living thru faith,

Misty

Manic Monday

This Saturday I spent the morning going to garage sales for the first time since I don't even know when.  I went with my friend Brooke and her two girls.

We had a great time and found some great deals (more to come on those).  But we all agreed that the find of the day was this CD...

What a blast from the past!  I think the girls became fans (despite us embarrassing them a little with our singing).

And guess what!  They are touring again!  :-)

Living thru faith,
Misty

I Need a Weekend to Recover From My Weekend

Saturday I spent 5 hours with a friend & her girls going to garage sales (more on those finds later this week!), went to a wedding, bought a ceiling fan for the boys' room, and visited our friends & their new baby in the hospital. 

Sunday we went to church and lunch and then got to work.  I worked on two painting projects (I'll share those later this week, too!), Brian put up the ceiling fan and some re-purposed shelving, made a trip to Lowe's and Walmart, unpacked some boxes of books, and a few other miscellaneous things.

Now I'm really wishing I had one of these...

 (via houz.com)

Living thru faith,
Misty

Retirement Party, Senior Night, and a New Baby

This morning we went to breakfast to celebrate our friend Ken's retirement.  We have known Ken since 1993 when I went to work for him for 3 years.  He was a great boss and has remained a treasured friend.

This evening I worked concessions for the baseball game.  It was Senior Night and, of course, I cried even though I didn't know any of the seniors. 

A couple of the mom's did such a great job with the table decorations!  

Yesterday, a friend had her baby. 

Oh, I can't wait to get a hold of this precious gift from heaven!

(Taken by her proud daddy)

I think we have hit all the generational celebrations in just two days!

Living thru faith,

Misty

We must be doing something right...

As parents I think most of the time we wonder if anything is getting through and then there are those moments when you know you must be doing something right.   Tonight Daniel cleaned off the table and took out the trash without being asked.  Then he did the dishes while I was putting Sarah to bed just to surprise me.  

My angel straightened up his crooked halo a little bit tonight.

Living thru faith,

Misty

Soups On

I don't know what is going on with this weather!  The last two days have been cold and rainy.  I'm so tired of being cold.  It was time to change the menu and make some soup.  I picked up a couple of cans of cream of potato soup after work, added milk, leftover ham & corn, cheese, bacon bits and we enjoyed some Ham & Corn Chowder.  Now I'm finally warming up! 

(My batteries died in my camera, so all I had was my phone.)

Now it's time to get Sarah to bed and watch the season finale of NCIS with the rest of the family. 

Living thru faith,

Misty

Reading

I miss reading.  I haven't sat down with a book in what seems like ages.

Before the move, I was reading this...

Holy Experience

and this...

Simple Mom

So, my goal this week (besides getting through the mountain of dirty laundry - where does it come from?!), is to get our bedroom set up and feeling like a place to relax and read.  Right now it still feels like we are moving...

Living thru faith,

Misty

It's Bath Time!

We have officially reached that time when baths occur every night and most times when we first walk in the door.  There is no sitting in the water.  She just stands there while I get her cleaned up.  Otherwise, she would just be sitting in dirty water.  Even after a good head washing, you can still find tiny pieces of mulch in the hair.

She doesn't look that dirty in these pictures.  I didn't get a chance to take any the day before.  Mulch from the top of her head to the tip of her toes (and she was wearing tennis shoes)!  The sweat and sunscreen just makes it stick even more! 

She may look like an angel, but there is mischief in those eyes!

You can't really tell, but there are specs of dirt & mulch all over her cheek, eye lid, & nose.

Yep, it's time to stock up on Spray & Wash again!

This came home with her, too!  Undoubtedly, her little horse spent some time outside too.  I'm not sure if it stayed out in the rain or if they added water.  Either way, it's just plain gross! 

And there is a purse to match.  Oh, joy!

Living thru faith,
Misty

Blessings through raindrops

Life isn't easy and sometimes we feel like our prayers are not being answered, but in the words of Laura Story, maybe His blessings come through raindrops.  Maybe if we step back for just a moment in the midst of the rain and the storm, maybe, just maybe we can see His blessings...

Blessings

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things

(Chorus)
'Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if the thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
And all the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

Chorus

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home

Chorus

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise

Living thru faith,

Misty

For you, Nan

My grandmother has been anxiously awaiting more pictures of the house and I finally got everything cleaned up enough to take some this evening.  Lighting wasn't that great for pictures because of the time of day, but they're not too bad.

From front door

From living room toward hall/master bathroom

From bathroom toward living room

 

 My poor lamps waiting for me to finish the end tables...

There is still more that we are wanting to do, but for now we are just trying to find a place for everything and keeping it picked up (the latter is not always the easiest thing to do!).  


Maybe I can get the tables done this weekend...maybe...

Living thru faith,
Misty

Detours and Plan B's

Friday was Daniel's birthday and he wanted to eat at Applebee's for super.  We ended up having to make a little detour.

Sarah somehow scratched her cornea with a little plastic airplane in the 15 short minutes we were at home before heading to eat.  She is doing really well now and the patch is only to keep her from rubbing her eye.  After we left the Urgent Treatment Center we went on to Applebee's.  I have to say we were quite a sight, Sarah with an eye taped up and Matt on crutches!

Saturday Daniel had some friends over for lunch and then Brian took them to see the movie "Thor".  They had a great time, but I think they ended up eating a lot of junk from the concession stand. (I purposely fed them before they left to avoid this.)

I discovered about 30 minutes before the party that I have "lost" my decorating tips in the move.  I found some small white chocolate chips and at least made some semblance of a football field.  I wasn't able to write "Happy Birthday" on it, but he didn't seem to mind.

We had planned to go to a local country club for lunch on Mother's Day.  After we got there we realized that it was going to be about $100 for all of us to eat!  I can't really justify that, so we came up with a Plan B.  We ended up having a delicious meal at another local place with some of the best fried catfish north of N' Orleans.  We also were able to all travel in the same car since Matt's knee surgery.  He was finally able to bend his knee enough to fit in the front passenger seat of the Ford.  I was also able to take a good nap this afternoon, so overall it was a good day!  :-)


It was a weekend full of detours and plan changes, but we managed to celebrate birthdays, Mother's Day, and roads to healing. God continues to show us that even though things don't work out as we had planned, He is still there helping us through each day. 


In honor of our moms, I close with this video of Anita Renfroe (one of the funniest Christian comedians I have ever heard).  I think I've heard my mom say just about all of these, except for the texting & ipod ones - those I'm using on my kids.  Thanks, Mom, for putting up with me even though I spit peas at you, locked you out of the house in the snow, rolled my eyes at most everything you tried to tell me, and thought you were an idiot during most of my teenage years.  Yes, now I'm getting payback...

Living thru faith,
Misty

My Baby Turns 12!

Today my baby turns 12!  It's hard to believe how fast time flies.

He got sticky tac in his hair while playing with a poster during nap time in Kindergarten!

Daniel is funny, kind, creative, passionate, and a bit mischievous.

He is my angel with a crooked halo.

It is never boring!

I love you, Daniel!

Living thru faith,

Misty

Taste of Home

We had a little taste of home tonight for supper.

Fried okra and sweet tea!

(We threw in some mesquite chicken and steamed carrots to try to offset the grease.)

These southern transplants were very happy!

Living thru faith,

Misty