UPDATE...

We went out today to visit with our friends and they were gone.  We were sad but we totally trust God in this.  We prayed in the car that God would lead us...in particular, my heart was praying for Gabby. We were led to more new friends in need and had a chance to talk with them for a bit. Another sad situation...husband and wife on the streets. She was very protective of herself and stuff. Very little eye contact. It was evident she has had a hard past. She had some understanding about Christianity.  She has encountered some weird "god stuff" on the streets with others sharing and wanting to force things on them.  She did not want us to pray with them because of some "scary" expierences in the past but she did ask us to pray for them when we go home.  It was a great opportunity to share about the true Christ, His love for us, and the freedom He offers. It was really sad to see the way this lady viewed herself...almost unlovable.
Then it was a miracle what happened next. We started once again driving aimlessly around and we happen to see Curtis walking across the street and this was not a street that was close to where we had met him in the first place. I do not believe in coincidences or accidents! God is sovereign in EVERYTHING!  Curtis informed us that Gabby had a warrant out for her arrest and she was now in jail.  John too was arrested. Please pray. My friend and I are going to try to visit Gabby in jail this week. I do believe with all of my heart the Lord has lead us to her, just not sure why yet?  I just know that I want her to feel cared for  and most importantly that Christ cares! Please please pray if you are reading this!

Food Bags

A while back the girls and I, for a home school project, made food bags.  The girls wrote a verse on the bag, filled it with food and then we kept them in the car so we would always be prepared if we happen to come across someone in need.
We ran out of the bags a while ago and I had been really wanting to make more bags but had not got around to doing it.  This time though, not only did I want to make bags but I really had a desire to seek out those in need but was not sure what that looked like for the girls and I since it probably would not be safe for us to do on our own.  So I prayed about it.  Not to long ago I was having a conversation with a friend of mine in our home fellowship...she shared with me a similar desire.  So we bought some food, put our bags together and went out!  I can't tell you how much it blessed me!!!

I won't go into great detail but God did lead us to some precious people in need.  We have already visited them twice.  My husband went the second time to meet them.  If you are reading this right now please please say a prayer for Mary, John, Gabby, and Curtis.  Their situations are heart breaking.  All non related.  They just know each other from being on the streets.  To give you an example...Gabby graduated high school last year, she is from a broken home and is already out on the streets.  She is a very sweet girl with big dreams.  We had the privilege to share the Lord with them and pray over them.  We are very excited to go back and visit with them more.   As of right now they sleep in the back corner of an abandoned parking lot on blankets. 
The conversations we have had with our girls have been so deep, so eye opening and to hear them pray for these lost souls...there is nothing like it. 


I love love this song.  I can't even begin to tell you what it does in my heart.  When I was young I use to pray that it would not be the Lord's will for me to be a missionary (i know you all laugh cause you use to pray the same thing...well okay, not all of you).  Now, I would love it if He chose to send us.  I know you guys are giggling because you all know how much I love my make-up, home decorating and shopping....I can't begin to tell you really how much that stuff does not mean to me.  It means nothing to me but a little fun. There are times I despise all of that stuff when I think about the unfathomable number of people in need of Christ.  I don't want any of those earthly things to become waisted thoughts or time.  And I get it, it's not my stuff that is preventing lost souls from coming to Christ.  It humbles me though and I am so thankful for my blessings.  I don't deserve any of it.  Most importantly... I don't deserve my eternal destination. 

We are going to go back this week to visit our new friends.  Please pray for them...and for us.  I am not their savior...I cannot change their life (as much as my heart aches to provide for all their needs)...pray that we would share well with them and point them in the direction to the One who can.

UPDATE: 11/1/2011

We went out today to visit with our friends and they were gone.  We were sad but we totally trust God in this.  We prayed in the car that God would lead us...in particular, my heart was praying for Gabby.  We were led to more new friends in need and we had a chance to talk with them for a bit.  Another sad situation...husband and wife on the streets.  She was very protective of herself and stuff.  It was evident she has had a hard past.  She had some understanding about Christianity.  She has encountered some weird "god stuff" on the streets with others sharing and wanting to force things on them.  It was a great opportunity to share about the true Christ and the freedom He offers.  It was really sad to see the way this lady viewed herself...almost unlovable.  Then it was a miracle what happened next.  Driving aimlessly around we happen to see Curtis walking across the street and this was not a street that was close to where we had met him in the first place. I do not believe in coincidences or accidents! God is sovereign in EVERYTHING!  Curtis informed us that Gabby had a warrant out for her arrest and she was now in jail.  John too was arrested.  Please pray.  My friend and I are going to try to visit Gabby in jail this week.  I do believe with all of my heart the Lord has lead us to her.  I am not sure why but I want her to know we care and most importantly, Christ cares!  Please please pray if you are reading this!

Six Years Ago Today We Got A Call....

Two days later we were parents.

God's timing is perfect!!

Oh, how I love Craigs list!!

So check this chair out I found here locally on Craig's list. 

It's a Carbon chair which retails for $600 at CB2 and that is for the modern version.  This is the Mid-Century Modern version.  Whoop Whoop. 

I went to go take a look at the chair and the older gentleman who owned it was the cutest man ever.  He had the biggest pop belly with suspenders.  He lived on a farm with all kinds of animals.  The girls were very excited!  They got to pet horses, donkeys and mini horses. 

The owner was having a yard sale that day and when we walked up I spotted my chair.  In an e-mail he had told me the chrome was in good condition...poor man, he must need glasses.  It was crusty and rusted.  He wanted $50 for it which was good for this type of chair.  I offered $40 despite the fact it was all rusted.  I am always up for a good challenge.  As I was taking the chair away the gentleman says..."do you know the name of this chair" "no sir, I don't"  (at least the Mid-Century name)  He told me I should check into it because he was told it was worth quite a bit since it was vintage.  I still have yet to do the research.
So, wanna know how to turn a chrome rusted chair into a shiny new one...take tin foil, dip it into water and scrub.  The chrome looks brand new!!!  Of course I was sooooo bad at taking the before pic with all of the rust.  I was just so excited to get it outside and start working on it.  And then I of course had the cushions re-done as well...

It's white with sliveryish/grayish.

I am totally stoked!!! Score!

More Fun

Remember these pictures I painted....

Well you know me.  I like change.  I am getting rid of the green, actually it's all going outside on the new back patio.  Anyway, I am doing a minty kind of a greenish lightish aqua.  Haha, did you get that?
So I decided to paint over these pics with a color I thought would go better...

I also added a silver glaze over the top.  I also think it plays well off of the dining table.

Wait until you see the chairs I found off of Craig's list!!  I am in the process of refinishing the wood and the cushions.  Okay, I'll give you a sneak peak...

Totally Mid-Century Modern!!  I am currently working on the one you see on the left.  It took me 2 hrs to take that chair apart!!!  And my hands were killing me!  The fabric I got is the color of my dining table top.  These chairs, once they are done, will find themselves in our family room.
  So you are not going to believe how much I found these chairs for.  I actually found another pair of these chairs here in town and the person was selling them for $225 each.  If you look them up in Ebay you'll see they are listed anywhere between $150-500...depending on the condition.  I found mine on Craig's list in Jeff City MO.  My in-law are in the process of moving here so I thought I would just have these awesome chairs hitch a ride with them.  Okay so are you ready for the price....$50 for BOTH!!!!!!!!!  Whoop Whoop!!
My In-laws are making their final move next weekend and I have been able to find two more amazing finds.  Can't wait to show you!

The other day the girls and I decided to have another painting day.  I purchased two little canvases for the girls to paint on and I myself bought a long canvas to place above my fireplace.  I wanted to do something in grey and yellow since grey is the color running through the house and yellow is my pop color. 

Sorry about the shadows but I didn't want to take it down again.  I think it will look better up there once we have the fireplace sandblasted.  It's not professional but it beats spending hundreds of $'s!! 



Act 17:26

I think if things are ever going to look different it has to start in the Church.  I just recently heard a teacher speak on the topic of Race and even though her heart was in the right place and her intentions were to encourage unity, little did she know she accomplished the exact opposite!!  It broke my heart and actually started a fire within me.  Everything she said was so off and felt so wrong!  My heart was beating so hard I thought it was going to come out of my chest.  After the lecture was over, as insecure as I felt, I chose to speak with the teacher about some of the things that did not sit right with me.  She thanked me and then intellectually justified things.  As I drove home that morning the frustration inside of me grew and grew. 
Either the Church does not understand the theology of race or, not even realizing it, they have adapted to the cultures way of thinking including the terminology. We cannot expect unity if we think or act like the culture.  Think back to how you learned about Race?? School, movies, TV?  I know as a kid I did not learn from the Church.  The images I saw and the terminology that was used only created another generation of segregation. So incredibly sad!!  Thankfully I have come across some amazing pastors who have exposed the very poor teaching and proclaimed biblical truth.
There are some topics I really wish we heard the Church discuss more...Education, Race, and Adoption.  Very very important topics to the Church!
This video is such a great example of why even the church is slow to change in the topic of Race.  Segregation was accepted in the Church.  I hear my dad talk about growing up in it.  My Grandfather himself was very racist.  The crazy thing is, the Bible taught the same thing then as it does now.  What was up with these pastors back then and even now???  Seriously, THE CULTURE SUCKS and we the Church NEED TO WAKE UP!!!!!!!!



Bloodlines Documentary with John Piper from Crossway on Vimeo.

For parents out there who desire to teach their children the truth about Race I highly recommend Answers in Genesis.  Search their site, so many great things for kids.  The girls and I are going through this right now and it's GREAT!!!

Here is a short video, right to the point..

My First Collection

I have come across many women who collect a certain thing(s) or they've inherited a collection from a family member and I've always thought that was special but I've never come across anything I would want to collect or at least love something so much that I would want to store and keep around for a long time.  If you know me, I am the throw away queen!  As soon as I got back from my honeymoon I sold my wedding dress. 

I don't know if I am getting more mature (HA!), more sentimental (double HA!) or if I have just found something I can't take my eyes off of!!  My Grandma use to have a collection of plates that my Aunt now owns.  Every time I am at her house I admire them.  I have told her countless times that I would LOVE to inherit them but considering my Aunt has a daughter who too would love the set, I am pretty sure they will not end up in my cupboards. 

It never dawned on me that this was something I could collect.  My mind just doesn't think that way.  I am constantly looking around my house to see what I could sell, give away or throw away.  Definitely not collect and store!!!

So not that any of you care....but I just thought I would share with you my new collection.  I don't actually own any yet but maybe if family members read this post and just so happens to be on Amazon or in an antique store they can remember me at Christmas and Birthday :).

Just beautiful!!! And so versatile.  It's called Hobnail opps...thanks Mom.  It is called Imperial Candlewick.

I feel so grown up and sentimental. 

~And hubby if you are reading this I know collections give you hives. I promise, this will be my only collection ;).   

Back Patio is Almsot Done...YAY!!!

We finished the back patio ceiling this morning.  Tomorrow we are doing stucco for the back wall and then we will move the furniture out.  Whoop Whoop! 
We were going to go with the ordinary dry wall for the ceiling but then we thought...since when did we just do the ordinary thing?  I began to rack my brain and since we love the Urban look I thought some kind of metal would look great but, the cost would not be so great though.  I started to look around at junk yards and Craig's list.  I found a guy at a metal junk yard who had a bunch of used corrugated metal sheeting from a barn for a really great price!!!  Metal, rusted, used, good price... Man, did I do the happy dance!!!  I was sooooooooo excited!  This junk yard was heavenly!!  I could have bought so much stuff.  I actually ended up buying some J metal that is totally cool and rusted...they are awesome!  I am going to use them as picture shelves.
Anyway, like I said we finished the metal ceiling and I am over the moon!  I am so in love with it. 

Now I just need to find some cool industrial looking fans.