Spooktacular (and Easy!) Halloween Project

I was so inspired by this cute project on Pinterest, I just had to try it with our family.

All it took was a canvas (which I found on super sale!) painted black:

…plus some feet dipped in white paint. I used sharpie for the eyes, and a paint pen for the lettering. So simple! Check this out:

I must admit, our feet didn’t make as good of ghosts as my inspiration picture. I think I’ll actually go back and fill in a bit of our arches to make more ghastly ghouls.  But, I’m super inspired to continue fun family canvas projects for other holidays as well. They’ll make great decorations and keepsakes as our kids (and family) grows.

Mini Apple Pie Adventure!

I saw this on Pinterest the other day:

With it being fall, I thought…”Hmmm..can I make apple pies like this?”

The answer was, YES!

I used my favorite pie recipe..and it definitely tasted as good as it looks. YUM!

Old Window, New Purpose!

Inspired by Pinterest, and my other crafty blogger friends out in the internet universe, I decided to try my hand at rehabbing a shabby old window I found at a garage sale a few months back.

I used this as my Pinterest inspiration:

Then set to work on this icky old thing:

      

Several layers of paint were showing through, and while I do love the shabbiness, I do not like the thought of lead chips peeling off everywhere. I decided to go the “encapsulate” method and slap on a few more layers of my own.

 

 

 

After a lot of backyard spraying and a few layers of black and white, I took it inside to dry.

My husband cut up an old cork pin-board to fit the space where there is not glass. Perfect size on the first try! I wedged it in and added some hot glue to hold it tight.

 

 

 

 

 

And behold, the finished product!

 

 

 

LOVE LOVE LOVE how it turned out. My walls are such a bright green in my kitchen, that I didn’t have to back the window glass with anything – the marker stands out on it’s own.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Very fitting to have my first Pinterest project have a pin-board on it.

 

 

 

 

 

It was really so easy. You too can make a fun Pinterest project!

Enough is Never Enough

Today as I read through blogs filled with creative ministry and home ideas, I am surprised by a single thought that came with no warning: “How do all of these awesome women in ministry have the best portraits? What do I have to do to get one of those?”

How could I be worthy of a picture like that?

I was shocked at myself, and a bit confused. Huh? Where did that come from? I followed the rabbit trail a bit, but was ill-prepared for the floodgates that opened up. A torrent of thought and emotion that I didn’t know had been building came pouring out of my heart. And my eyes. If I’m being honest (and I will be for you), I’d felt the uneasiness of late, yet couldn’t put a finger on what was amiss. Something. And here it came, pouring out:

I’m a wife, Lord. And a mom. And I’m trying to keep my home inviting and my son fed and clean and engaged. I’m a bookkeeper who balances figures. I am meeting new moms and striving to encourage future ones. I sing to you when nobody listens and I’m happy backstage or on the sidelines or holding down the fort in the evenings. I love your Word, and I want to be like you. But I don’t have a beautiful picture to display. Is it enough, Lord?

Is it enough. A question which had silently become a statement in my mind – a faulty plumb line I was using to find the center of things… I had been asking the question without realizing. Am I worthy? Is it enough?

Just as quickly I was answered by the voice I cannot describe except to say that it is His.

No, it is not enough. But I am enough.

I only wish I had asked sooner.

What I do, what I have, will never be enough. And He will always be. I knew that, silly me.

He is enough for you too, friend.

Books (or) How to Turn the TV Off

I turned off the TV this week, and picked up a book. Well, six books. (yeah..) My world was being saturated with noise and I needed some time away from the Tube.

So, to replace habit with habit, I returned to an old love, Book.

Ahhhh…breath of cool air. Mind engaged, room quiet (at least when twoyearold is napping), relaxing moments.

Silence with my thoughts.

Funny thing was, the more pages turned, the more I felt the need to write, to open the Word, and then write some more. Amazing. God was reading over my shoulder, and it was quiet enough to hear Him breathing.

New habits take about a month to stick…right? So I declare August my month of reading. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Anyone want to join in? Have a title I should check out?

Use it or Lose it (or) Keys to a Baker’s Dozen

While reading this morning something caught my attention, and I just can’t shake it:

And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” Mark 4:24-25

Immediately preceding this statement, Jesus tells his disciples that the light from a lamp is not meant to be hidden, and things that are hidden or secret are meant to be made known. So I’ve always thought vs. 24-25 were talking only of your outward FAITH. You know..this little light of mine (hold up your little light now!)..immediately comes to mind. Like the more faith/light I show in telling others about Jesus, the more faith/light I will have kinda thing.  Now..that’s true..but there’s more to be found in these verses than I’d ever thought.

Here’s some background: My energy level has been suffering this year. Too many Dr.’s appointments haven’t been able to pinpoint a real cause, and as a result I have only been giving 90% effort in some areas – trying to conserve my “energy resources” somehow. “That’s not bad!” you might say. (Heck, I said it.)  But, in light of what the Word says..that means I’m not gaining in any area. I’m even losing, so that 90% comes out of a smaller and smaller whole.

WHAT?!..so when I try and conserve that little bit of energy, I’m actually losing it?

Yep.

God gives each of us the energy, or strength, (or whatever) that we need for each day. It’s different for everyone, because everyone is different. But it’s meant to be used. If I only use 90% of what I’ve been given, it’s like I’m asking God to use the 90% size measuring cup when he gives me my daily dose of energy.  (Then I’ll only use 90% of that, thereby decreasing my total energy use to 81%…so my energy continues to decrease even though I’m trying to “conserve” it. Yes, God speaks to me with numbers sometimes.)

But if I use all 100% of what I’ve been given effectively, I’ll get the 100% sized cup, plus a little extra. Bonus! (I imagine a baker’s dozen of energy cupcakes are coming my way.) And if I use all of  THAT, then I’ll be given more still.

Tell me more, Jesus! How do I get started!?

FAITH.

Oh. Not so far from where I started, really. If I don’t believe that God will give me the energy I need, even increasing it, having all of this knowledge really does me no good. I’m really tying his hands.  Stop keeping a cupcake for yourself – give it away! Call one more person! Do some extra dishes! Spend extra time in the Word! You’ll end up with a baker’s dozen every time.

I’m so thankful that the Holy Spirit is the one who changes us from the inside out.

What’s only been getting 90% from you lately? Is it time to do something about it?