Knots

I am very familiar with back pain, not quite sure why but I get pain in my lower back alot. This has been happening for for almost 10 years now. I can't sleep to long, I can't lay in a funny position, I can't wear too high of heels, otherwise I'm in pain for the next day.
But the back pain I had the last few days, now that is new to me. I have had pain in my shoulder for about a month now, but this weekend it got worse and worse. I could actually feel a large lump under my skin, I can touch it, but when I do the pain shoots down my arm and makes my elbow numb. Of course in my true fashion I started to overreact and go straight to the worse case scenario! Surprise!
I started googling what it could be and was disappointed to keep coming up with just a muscle knot. As I have never had one before I didn't think you could actually feel the knot.
Dennis of course knew that I was in crazy mode and blamed the pain in my shoulder with the new "exercise" equipment we got.

We got an As-Seen-On-TV over the door pull up bar! And Dennis looks just like that when he uses it! :) I can't even pull myself half way up, how could I have injured myself?
So to humor him, I decided to treat it as a muscle knot. Off to the store I went.

I got heat wraps and Aleve, after the first patch I was still in pain, the darn knock off brand didn't even get hot or actually stick on me.
But when I woke up this morning the pain was way less. I can still feel the large knot, but when I touch it, it doesn't send any pain down my arm. Still not positive if I really injured myself on a wimpy attempt at a chin up or not, but at least the pain has subsided.
So off to work I go, I will still monitor my large lump, but hope that it goes away. If not, I do still have a free 1 hour massage gift certificate, what a good time to take advantage of that. I'm sure they can tell me if that is normal. (Cheaper and feels better than the doctors!)

Man of God

After attending an amazing celebration of life for a friend's Grandfather on Sunday, I felt moved. As I didn't know the late Reverend when I walked in the door, I felt like I was apart of him after leaving.
Everyone continued to refer to him as a Man of God. We celebrated his legacy, his life, and what he left behind for his family, a chance to follow Jesus.
It was the most beautiful, heart wrenching funeral I have ever been to. Watching the intimate and sad moment that his wife of 59 years had to say her final goodbyes. The way she clutched her bible and sobbed. She knew where he was going, but in that moment it doesn't make it easier.
Hearing that at his bedside right before death, his grandson accepted Jesus Christ for the first time. Learning of his life, Reverend, Navy, Missionary in Mexico for 10 years, Doctor of Theology, Pastor, Chaplain, Father, Grandfather, Faithful Husband, and Man of God.
I can't help but think, how will I be remembered? What legacy will I leave, will I be thought of as a Woman of God. It makes you stop and think of everything you are doing, is it significant? Are you living your life fully, are you living it to the Glory of God. That is the life I want to live. The legacy I want to leave behind, and I want to be referred to as a Woman of God. But what does that look like?
All I know is that you can only live in today, but make sure that everything you do, you do it to the fullest.
I don't have the answer to this question, I'm just pondering it, but writing it down always help me to think it through, it is in writing, now I can truly live up to it.
So ask yourself that question, how will you be remembered, its not about what they say at your funeral, its about the life you lived, the impact you left, and your legacy to follow.

My first yarn craft!

I have been at it again! I have always wanted to learn how to crochet or knit, but today is not the day. I did however have some yarn experience for the day.

Yarn Monogram:

Cheap and easy project, all you need is Paper Mache Letters, one skein of yarn, I used Jiffy Yarn

and my favorite tool the hot glue gun!

Glue the tip of the yarn around the base of the letter and wrap very tightly around, once you wrap the whole thing (the corners won't be fully covered), go back and wrap it again, you should only need two times around

I added a left over flower from my Felt Flower Scarf and a little bit of ribbon for color

Hang it on your door, put on your mantel, or use as a wall decoration.

I really liked this project, I foresee these as gifts :)



Melted Crayons

Since I have this overwhelming addiction to Pinterest, I have made an effort to actually do all the crafts I have been pinning. Some turn out good, some are a bust, I think this project was fun, but I would love to do it again and perfect it.

We did a melted crayon art project, super easy!

For this project I had a little helper, I swear he wanted to be there, he just hates his picture being taken :)

First we organized the crayons, Dennis picked the colors, he wanted dark blues and purples, but if you were to group more colors next to each other it would have worked a little better

Hot glue each crayon to the top of the canvas, the easiest way to do this is to glue the canvas then put all the crayons on it, but we had to learn that :)

Thanks hunny :)

Dennis is a perfectionist, he wanted to make sure all my crayons were lined up correctly

After all are glued, turn a hair dryer on high and hot and start melting

Again, we learned some lessons, you only want to heat the top of the crayon, the lower you go the more you will spread the existing melted crayons and merge the colors together

Get the hair dryer nice and close to the crayon top and just melt, you ca also move the canvas around to get the desired drip

It looks like a mess and it sort of is, but I know the next one we will do a little better :)

I'm almost embarrassed to show you the pin that I got the idea from! But here you go:

Its perfectly melted, perfectly straight and all that! A. she used lots of the same colors in a row (good idea), B. she melted from the top, C. she did this before. D. she is just way better at it then us!

But we had a good time doing it together and will do another, why not we have extra canvas' and lots of crayons left! (and next time I will control the hair dryer, Dennis didn't let me hold it once!)

Miracles and Blessings

This miracle comes not from me, nor anyone I know, although through chance I feel like we are connected.
My parents finally purchased their "dream home". They have been in search of a one level home that can hold them, my grandma, my sister, entertain their many guests and all my mom's hobbies. They found that, and more! This weekend was the large painting party, we attempted to paint 7 rooms, and got really really close to actually making that goal, the last room was only primed, but close to being completed.

This was my first time seeing the house, my mom had told me all about it, and I had seen pictures, which due the house absolutely no justice. This is a large abode! It screams elegance with its enormous entry way, expansive living spaces, endless french doors, beautiful built ins and you have to see it master bathroom. If I wasn't high by the painting fumes I would have thought about taking pictures.

Here are the ones that were on the listing, I'm telling you they don't do it justice!



I know this looks super 80's and in fact it is, but it is pretty darn cool, double head step in shower!!!!



Okay so on to the miracle.... when my mom was telling me about the house she talked about the writings on the wall (actual writings on the wall). I didn't fully get it til I walked in. Almost every room has words of affirmation and bible verses on the wall. One of the back bedrooms was a bright yellow color with a large prayer in the middle that said: "and by his stripes Mason is healed" Isaiah 53; 5 (by stripes it is referring to Jesus' wounds).

I know it is far away, but can you see the words?

All through out the house you see these, in the hall bathroom it says, "What can I do for someone today?"
On the fridge has Mason's medicine schedule, 2 injections for blood clots, 4 rounds of heart medicine and 2 rounds of a barbiturate. (listed were the drug names, and times for them, I googled to find out what they were for, but don't remember the drug names now).

You can barely see it, but see the white writing on the fridge?

This is what continued my curiosity, actually my freaked out feelings. I started to worry that the little boy with is name all over these walls, passed away, possibly in this house?
So this morning I wanted to do a little investigation. It is a little too easy to find out the owner of a house, just a quick public records online search and then to Google I go. I googled the little boys name and up came his mom's blog (named after him). I was happy to find out right away that the little boy is still alive, but then I decided to read his story. Mom and dad started their blog the day they found out about Mason's health problems. She was 6 months pregnant when they found out their unborn son had Congenital Heart Defect, the left side of his heart didn't work. They were told that he may not make it to term and die before birth, this is where the miracle begins.
By the first blog post I felt intrigued and connected to this family, even though they may never know who I am, just by their posts they have changed me.
Their first post was explaining the news they JUST received, this touched me:  Things like this would not happen if those that bare the burden could not handle it. Our marriage is strong and grows stronger though times like these. Our Father has blessed us plenty in our life and we believe there are many more blessings to come, including many blessings that come out of times like this.As I continued to read about his diagnoses and their struggles, I couldn't help but be sucked in as if it was a movie unfolding before me, but it was so real, so real to this family and that made my heart ache for them. As I'm planning for my wedding they gave birth to a 9+ baby boy that they couldn't hold, at 11 days old he had his first of 3 (so far) open heart surgeries, they tell of how the doctors kept his chest cavity open for days to heal and how you could actually see his heart beat, the father was able to touch his own baby boys heart!
At 8 months old he had to return for his 2nd surgery, then again at 3 years he had his last. How their little miracle walked for the first time, how he talked up a storm, which after his 2 strokes and many seizures the doctors were afraid might not be possible. How a little boy only half a heart survived so much. He went against the odds, their was another family they became friends with, their little boy had the same heart defect, but after his surgery he didn't survive.
What they had the whole time was faith, a deep faith that they knew God had control of their lives, that he knew what he was doing, that no matter what happened they knew God had his hand on it. They treasured every day, cried every tear, and grew with every smile their son made.
It was a beautiful story that I never should have been a part of, but I'm grateful that I was able to read it, and feel like I shared a part of it, she had pictures of the little boy smiling in front the fireplace that my parents now own. The chills I got when I walked in to the house I originally thought where his ghost, I know know are his spirit, they are filling the home with hope.
If you want to read Mason's story or read their blog,  there it is!
They don't talk about why they left his house, or where they are now, but all I know is I think God laid out their path, and I have this gut feeling that I was meant to read that story.
In one of her entries she writes: If you are reading this entry – I don’t believe it is by accident. I believe that I wrote this today for a reason… Maybe it was in the sole purpose to touch your life?
Chills hit my spine and that spoke to me.
So now to fill this story and change my life, I will be intentional as she wrote:
I know that each day that the Lord gives me this year is a gift. I know that I don’t want this year to “just happen”. I know that I don’t want to waste precious / delicate days. I know that I want to be intentional.
God Bless!

Another Boy!!!!

Our friends Jason and Ashleigh had their gender reveal last night, as it was a last minute idea to have one they just had the little ones picture out front to see if you could pick his sex...

If you look at this picture really close, you see his butt cheeks and then start to figure out that he is a he, but then keep looking, what are those perfectly spaced 4 little bones? Knuckles? Yes that would be little baby Cruze fondling himself on camera!!! Not just on camera, but they had video of it! Everyone got a laugh out of it, even Ashleigh said she turned beat red when the ultrasound tech pointed it!

Ash was measuring big so we were all hoping for twins, guess we just got one big boy in there! Can't wait to meet him, now we know Deklin has a best friend on the way. Speaking of my little prince, here are a few I took of him too.

I was holding him here, he looks so comfortable and peaceful in my arms, he loves his Auntie :)

But before we get to meet Baby Cruze we get to meet Baby Van Wely, they decided not to know the gender until the little bundle comes out, so that will be an extra big and fun surprise. Less than 3 months to go!!! Wondering if this whole round will be boys, Hollie, Crystal, Ashleigh and maybe Karen? :) Either way, I just got the invite for her baby shower, I thought I loved parties before, baby showers are on the top of my list, I love the games, the growing bellies, and all the fun gifts, can't wait for this one!

 I have so many craft projects I have been collecting, instead of doing them, I keep getting more! I can't wait to work on this amazing antique window I got off of Craigslist, and the glass pieces from the Goodwill I got to go with it. The other day we drove to Lake City and drove by a Goodwill and a Value Village, my eyes lit up and almost yanked the wheel to get off the road, but Dennis told me I wasn't allowed to go until I finished all my projects at home.. so not fair!!! :( But that is probably good idea!

I finished one! I got this amazing collection of buttons from my mom and wanted to make a chalkboard for my craft room.

This weekend I also picked up the Peacock vases that Hollie and I painted at my FAVORITE place Clayful Creations Studio We did a technique class, so much fun, and look at these bad boys we got back!

Hollie's on the Left and mine on the Right

Hollie's really resembles a peacock feather, but I still like mine too. I think I might design a bathroom off of this piece!

Okay gotta get ready for work!

Lent

Since I became a Christian 3 years ago I have participated in Lent. I hear a lot of people say, since you aren't Catholic you don't have to. Its not about me thinking I have to, like it's a requirement, it's about using the opportunity to grow in my relationship with Christ. Every time I desire the vice I gave up, I turn to Christ, I pray, I talk to Him daily and I grow spiritually. Its funny cause I hear this reference that Lent is only a catholic observance. Check Wikipedia!
Lent is the Christian observance of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday.
During Lent, many of the faithful commit to fasting or giving up certain types of luxury as a form of penitence.

So every year I search and seek what I should give up. I read this article http://rachelheldevans.com/40-ideas-for-lent-2012 I love getting ideas from others as to what they will deny themselves or fast on. Then I came across 40 Days of Water, the first thing that drew me to this was the fact that it was a mission raising awareness to the poverty and water problems in Uganda. (As Uganda has a piece of my heart)

I wasn't looking for anything more then an idea of something to give up, but to couple that with a great cause? I think it was a match made in heaven! Build my relationship with Christ while I struggle with a vice, and raise money, my own money, not asking for money or making it an event, but seeing what I can give up and how that can help others. I'm all in!
I read some more about their charity Blood:Water (yes resembles Charity:Water I believe they were founded the same year), I loved their mission and their direction, and it was founded by Jars of Clay! They help against HIV/Aids and water in Uganda, both something that touched us while we were there.
For 40 days I will replace all beverages with water, I will track all the drinks I give up on their website and at the end I will make a donation of the sacrifices to Blood:Water. The hardest part for me is coffee.... I alone could have given up coffee and been drastically changed. I love my coffee, I actually walk like a zombie to work and only perk up when I smell that glorious coffee brewing in my Keurig. I love to walk around with my coffee mug on the weekends, and generally fill it up atleast twice.

Hopefully praying to God will open my eyes and keep me focused as much as my loved coffee did! I also enjoy drinking juice in the afternoon, a beer when we go out to dinner and pop with my fast food (ewww), all of that will be replaced with water. I'm sure I will be feeling better after lent and you never know this could be a wonderful thing for my health!
I shared the website with my sister Jessica and she decided to join me in this adventure, and she threw on another challenge! Give up swearing... as this sounds easy, it is the only lent I failed at in the past, what a great time to try it again. I don't like my trucker mouth, and sometimes it shocks me when the F-bomb just goes flying unexpectedly. The tangible was always easier to give up, the alcohol, the meat, the coffee, but to give up a natural way of speech will be a challenge. I will have to think before I open  my mouth, and find other ways to tell a story, and share an angry moment. I will eventually need to watch my mouth when all my friends babies get old enough to repeat me anyways, better start now!

So here I go, no coffee, and no swearing!