without training wheels

Kylee finally decided a few weeks ago that she wanted to take her training wheels off of her bike. That weekend, Josh worked with here for about an hour and she got it.  She liked riding her bike before, but not a lot.  Now, she has been riding every afternoon.  It's so much more fun without those training wheels.  I'm so proud of her.  She was outgrowing her bike but I told her she had to learn to ride without training wheels before we would get her a different bike.  I just found one on Craigslist (a $120 Schwinn for $25!!)  that I am going to pick up next week, so she is super excited to get it.

my new bed

Awhile back, I stumbled upon ana-white.com of a mom who makes furniture and posts free plans.  Growing up, I watched my Grandad and Dad build things but never had myself.  I had refinished some things with my dad when I was young and have continued in the past few years.  I love doing it.  Building a big piece of furniture was very intimidating to me, so I started small with a bed for Kylee's 18 inch doll. I was hooked and decided to attempt a bed frame for us.  I've had my eye on this bed from Pottery Barn for a long time, but didn't love the price tag.  When I found this bed plan, I adapted it to look more similar to the one from Pottery Barn by adding a foot board and different feet. So, with a little help from Joshua and a friend Jason, I built it.  I love the way it turned out, and especially the price tag!  I don't think this will be the last piece I build, because I had way too much fun!

Before & After Dresser

My dresser has been finished for a couple weeks, but one of the knobs was missing so I waited till I got a new one in the mail to take pictures (the knob will probably show up now!). Oh, I did find out from my mom that the dresser was either my dad's or one of his brother's when they were boys. :)

Before

(one of the top knobs had broke, so the two on top are the new knobs)

After

refinishing furniture

I am in the middle of refinishing a dresser that I have had since I was in high school but wasn't new when I got it. My grandmother gave it to me. It had been in their house and is maybe 40 years old. Anyway, it was time for a transformation.

As I was sitting there sanding it down to the bare wood (wow, that takes a long time), I started thinking about how sometimes our lives are like an old piece of furniture. Yes, we do the job we are suppose to do and look "ok" but our Heavenly Father looks at us and sees something so much better for us.

Sometimes all it may take is a light sanding and a new coat of paint. That's not so painful and doesn't take so long. Other times, He may have to sand us down to the bare wood (painful and takes a long time), put a few coats of stain on us (takes even longer), and then a couple clear coats on top of that. Then there are those times that He does all that plus re-purposes us to do something else in our life. That requires a lot more work and time (something we don't really like).

No matter what kind of refinishing God does in our lives, when He gets done our lives are so much better for it. We are more like Him and are doing what we are the most happy doing because God knows us better than we know ourselves and loves us more than we can ever imagine.

When that refinishing is over (well for the time being because I will always need God working on me), He doesn't just put us in some unused closet where no one can see us. He puts us with others, so they can see what God has done in our lives and we can give all the glory to God. If there isn't glory being given to God because of what has happened in our lives, than what was the point of it happening. It's all about God. When I can think like that, I am so much happier.

Well, this pondering of life's lessons was more for my sake, but I hope anyone reading this might have been given something to think about too.

"Let this be your prayer, 'Lord, this is what I desire. Please do it or something better.'" - Priscilla Shirer (from her book "One in a Million")

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord." - Isaiah 55:8

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will hear you. You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek me with all your heart." - Jeremiah 29:11-13

Kylee's 6th Birthday Party

Kylee decided to have a birthday tea party this year. We had a lot of fun planning it. I got a lot of ideas online from here and here. We ended up having 10 little girls plus Zane who all brought their favorite doll or stuffed animal. A friend from church found tea cups and saucers at a local antique market and then gave Kylee a tea pot that she absolutely loved. Kylee loves pink and hearts, so it was really easy to decorate and very inexpensive. Usually I make the kid's birthday cakes but this year, I decided to spare the stress and have our good friend Dillon make it. It turned out perfect. Kylee was absolutely thrilled.

Individual heart shaped pizzas, strawberries, and watermelon. Berry tea and raspberry lemonade to drink.

Happy Birthday to Kylee!!

We didn't have a table big enough so we ended up using an old door with Rubbermaid tubs to prop it up. (Thank you to my mom for that suggestion)

Bead table (they all made necklaces) and gift table.

Everyone plus a couple little girls who came to pick up their older sisters.

the birthday invitation (the other side had the where and when information

Place cards

Favor bags (they are suppose to look like large tea bags)

Summer 2011

So, since it's been forever since I blogged, I'm just going to post some pictures from our summer. I loved having Kylee home and Zane loved having her to play with all the time.

Church fishing trip at a pond

A visit from Joshua's dad (Zane, Papa, & Kylee)

A visit from Amy (Kylee, Aunt Amy, & Zane)

Lots of time spent with Gracie. This day was at the Children's Museum.

A picnic outside in our yard!

Sonrise Camp (Zane, Taylor, Kylee, & McKenzie)

me and my hubby

Easter Nests

I found this recipe for Easter Nests. They were so easy and turned out super cute. Kylee took them for her Easter party at school.

Easter egg hunt

They had the Easter egg hunt last Sunday afternoon. Zane had so much fun and Kylee found ton of eggs this year.

Gracie, Taylor, & Kylee