Truly Worth Your Time

I know most of us have busy lives (as a friend of mine puts it..."no time to fart left") (did I just say that???) anyway, if you ever get some time to sit and read, read this!!! 
Such an amazing testimony.  I promise it will encourage you to a greater faith.  It's like a great book...once you start, you won't be able to stop. 

Rickety Benches

So a little while back our next door neighbor move out of state.  After he left we saw that he had left some stuff in his back yard (yes we peaked, but our fence is low so it's hard not to).  Anyway, my hubby texted him and asked him what his plans were the for the left over stuff... he told us to have at it!!  Yay for us!  My husband got this really nice Rubbermaid shed, which was so great because we were in need of one and we had been searching Craig's list for one.  Then we found a nice set of car tires so we grabbed those, listed them on Craig's list and may a couple hundy!  I also saw a couple old rickety benches I thought I could possible do something with.  They were sun beaten, splintered and dirty...nothing a little sanding and paint couldn't take care of.
Here is a before pic...

Since we are re-doing the back patio I figured we could never have enough seating so I upholstered one to make it more comfy.  I was going to do both but I didn't have enough fabric.  I am kind of thinking I may make a coffee table out of the other one since I am kind of into that worn wood look.  Maybe slap some grey stain on and a piece of glass on top??? 


Anyway, here was my morning project...

I painted the legs white and then sanded them up a bit.  Then I added the foam, batting and fabric.  After a million staples and one very sore thumb....A new bench for my back patio. 

In one of the pictures is one of two chairs that I am going to be using at the farm table (another Craig's list buy and re-do).  And the humongous farm table that is some what in the photo is our dining table for outside but since the back yard is under construction it is in our kitchen.  My house is a bit crowded!!  I have been meaning to post the before and after pics of the table and the crazy sanding/ painting story that goes with it. 




 

Soul Surfer

We finally watched Soul Surfer the other night.  I am glad that I was not expecting much because I would have been really disappointed.  The movie was okay at best.  Acting...two thumbs down, and as far as being a "Christian" movie...well if you consider mentioning God a couple times, having a Christian song in the movie, leaving Christ out of the scripture verse they quoted. etc. etc... luke warm at best!!!  I am a bit disappointed by other Christian organizations recommending this movie.  I shouldn't be surprised, luke warm seems to be the trend.  So many missed opportunities in this movie...such a bummer!

These guys have a fun job!!!

Now that the concrete slab is gone it was time for the structure to come down.  We all joked about connecting the structure to our contractors truck and pulling it down but we weren't sure if that was the best choice.  Our back patio was not some tin roof that could easily be pulled down.  Once it came to making a decision we decided to choose the more fun approach. After much prep work and one failed attempt we finally did it.  The video does not capture the coolness but you can see it did work and it was fun!!!
Here are some pics along with the video.
 

Before



Now for the new floor and new structure. Yay!!!

More Construction...Back Patio

This weekend consisted of taking out the existing concrete floor. This concrete has been curing for more than 50 years and some of the areas were close to 10 inches thick!!!  Between Dad, hubby and I we were able to rip it out.  I have always wanted to work a jack hammer.  I have to tell you, if God would have made me a boy, I would definently be in construction!

 

Before



And of course each girl wanted to take a ride in the "tractor"

Our back patio.

 

After pic.  Whew!!  That was fun!

Now we can rip the structure down. Wait until you see this!!! Some chains, a bobcat and wah lah!  I'll post the video tomorrow.

Divided the Movie

http://www.dividedthemovie.com/#watchlink 

A young mans journey to find out why we are loosing our children.

A Tall Glass of Encouragement

Not that anyone noticed....and not that I expect anyone to notice but, this blog took a bit of a shift.  I went from sharing spiritual things...to sharing about my thrifty finds and the fun home projects I have been working on at home.  Not that that is a bad thing but if you could see my heart as the Lord does you would see that the shift was due to my lack of zeal, disappointments and very discouraged heart.  Don't get me wrong, I am going to keep up with my fun projects because I really enjoy them but I just have to say that my heart is in a better place.

Here is what I know, and what my heart is totally okay with...

Relationships are seasonal.
Relationships are purposed.
Sometimes they last and sometimes they don't.
Friends come and go. 
They are a gift to be enjoyed.
Friendship brings wisdom, love and comfort.
Friends share truth. 
Friends love you through the growth spurts.

Having said all of that...Here's what I also know,
Relationships were NEVER meant to end on a bad note.  Even though they are sometimes seasonal, God would never end a season on a bad note.  Although it does happen and God is so good to reveal so much to us in those times of separation, we as believers should never be okay with unreconciled, unresolved issues.  It should be a deep pain in our heart and soul until things, Lord willing, get resolved.

A good and very wise friend of mine encouraged me that when relationships goes through a rocky time it is very important to always (and I say all of this with a lot of !!!! because they are all so very important)...
1.  WAIT, Be Patient!!!
2.  While you are waiting, ask the Lord to reveal what He needs to reveal!!!! (Usually the issue that caused the break is not the real reason for the break...God allowed the break to happen so that He could reveal the real heart issues.)  If you continue to focus on the "issue" you will miss it all.
3.  Commit to Pray for restoration, even if your heart is not there yet!!!
4.  Think the best of that person!!!!! (so hard!!!) 
and then most importantly, TRUST that the Lord IS doing good work.

Even though I knew all of that to be truth my impatient heart began to hurt so bad from some spiritual battles in my life that I became soooo discouraged and depressed. 

Literally last night and this morning I told the Lord that I felt like my heart could not handle it anymore, that my heart desperately needed some encouragement.  I asked him this morning to heal one of those spiritual battles in my life.  That afternoon He did more than that.  He not only restored a friendship, He made it stronger than before.  Pride was washed away, Satan's lies were revealed, pain was totally removed, hearts were completely encouraged and truth prevailed.  And because of what was done on the cross, there was complete restoration.

Needless to say...I AM TOTALLY ENCOURAGED!!! 

God's work is...... SOOOO GOOD.  and I say that like I was completely! and utterly! dehydrated! and the Lord just poured me a nice big, huge, over flowing, refreshing cold one. ahhhhhhhhhhhhh.    of course I am talking about a drink of water ;)