Happy 1 Year Blog Anniversary to me!

We went to the Springville Museum of Art yesterday for a short visit.
It really is an amazing Museum.
It is free.
Of course, people can donate money but it's still free!
Really. Amazing!
I will go more often!

I waste too much time on blogs, but it's been fun, inspiring, and good for me.
I will try to be more efficient in posting and reading.
I will try to give myself a time limit on how much time I spend on the computer.
I will have to make a plan.

It's hard to believe it's been just one year since I started my own blog.

Oh, what a year!

Another change of sheets (and more).

This is the bed that we gave Chris and Amanda. It was too big. They like it and it looks adorable in their apartment.

We had this bed since we moved into this house which is nearly 10 years (in July). I have always loved it so we put it back in our room.
I really did not like this bedspread. I got it because it was cheap and that's not always a good reason to get something.

I splurged and got a comforter set from Target.
I LOVE it!
It probably is cliche to have a white comforter but I have always loved the look. LOVE.
It is so comfy and cozy that it is hard to get out of bed in the morning.
I have been wanting more calmness in the home and I LOVE this.
I really want new carpet and curtains but those will have to wait and wait and wait.
I really really LOVE it.

I wanted some grown up lamps. I don't think we've spent more than $20 on lamps before and we don't have many lamps. These are about $70 which about gave me a heart attack but I really really love them. I cleaned off the bedside tables (which by the way: one was given to us and the other I bought at DI for $15 and painted them years ago). I cannot fully express how much I love those lamps!
I have been thinking of re-painting the screen (we got the doors at DI and paid $9 for all of them. I painted them and Jeff put them together---years ago).
Again, more projects!
I love being able to change something and liking it and I really really like this!

Before and After.

I still like this look but it was feeling a little too "Easter basket".
I almost bought some pillows at target but I remembered I had some downstairs that might work.

Just a little change with no money and more snow.

I had painted some furniture black a couple of years ago but I have quickly tired of it in this room.
So....

I wanted it lighter in this room.
I would LOVE to have those kids back in the room.

I have loved this chair but I have been tired of all the different woods and we have a TON of wood in this room.

I do love the new covers that I made. The cover for the seat cushion is just safety pinned in place.

It definitely is lighter and it took a deep breath to actually paint it.

I like how these go together AND I didn't have to buy anything new except for paint.

I didn't want to buy anything new for the table, ALTHOUGH I was very very tempted.
I just found things around the house that I already had.  Someone gave us the teak tray for our wedding, 24 years ago. There are shells from Costa Rica in the round small pink dish, big shells from a Utah Walmart. There is sea glass from Kauai, Florida, California and Costa Rica in the small pink heart shaped dish. The chess set is from Mexico and pretty books from the shelf.

I like the fact that it made such a big change, with just paint and elbow grease.
It'll do.

Tuesday lunch with Jeff.

Jeff and I decided to have lunch every Tuesday.
We are unable to go on many dates just the two of us and I really really need to go on dates.
So yesterday was our second Tuesday lunch and we went to Pizzeria 712 (we have been there before but it has been awhile and it's really really good pizza).

Projects.

I am in the process of two new projects and there are more percolating in my brain.
I am painting a wicker chair which is a lot more work than you think and I just finished painting a coffee table.
I will take a picture when it's done or mostly done.
I started with a bright white paint but it was too bright.
This is a parchment white and I LOVE it!
I am wanting a lighter look in my home which leads me to my next project:  painting three walls in our great room. Although, I'd like to paint my bedroom and bathroom too but those will have to wait.
We bought the paint last night. Five gallons.
What was I thinking?

I got a card in the mail!

I follow another adorable blog.
Jill draws what she see's in "TODAY I SAW".
She lives in the UK!
How fun is that!
I requested that she send me a card because she asked if people wanted a card. And I did!
Yesterday I got her darling card in the mail!
How fun is that!

Bravery.

They both decided to wait to get married.
It's one of the smartest things they've done.
They don't have a new date yet.

They want to wait till he goes to boot camp for the ROTC.
They want to wait till they both have jobs.
They want to wait till they are better prepared.

It's perfectly ok. More than ok.
It's so much better now then in 2-3 weeks (like after the invitations are sent OR the flowers are paid for OR after anything else is paid for---we will only loose $50---which is much better than what it could have been).

She was very calm last night.
I'm much calmer than I have been in the last 6 months.

Let life go on!

Hero.

One of the definitions of a HERO is:  a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength.

Davis is one of my heroes.
Davis has had a rough couple of weeks. He started hearing voices again which is very scary for him.
Davis frequently deals with severe anxiety and tries to accomplish task despite the anxiety he feels.
Davis passed off his welding joints and can start a project today in class. He is so excited. This shows tremendous effort and such courage to stick with and accomplish such difficult task.

He is the reason I am a stay at home mom right now.
The other night I was so humbled by his sweet spirit, his gentle strength and the intensity of his fears.
I hope I can be equal to the challenge.

Shpick me!

We went to the Animal Shelter yesterday.
It was a test of will power and I passed!
We love those animals.
But we already have enough here at home so we just looked.
They put on a show and boy, do they want to come home with us.
We got Wilson from an Animal Shelter in Florida. He was the best dog there!
We sure miss that dog.
Go to the Animal Shelter and save one of those animals, will ya!

Sewing a quilt.

Did you know you can go to Deseret Industries and pick up supplies to make a quilt (all you have to do is buy the batting) and then take it back and then they send it to somewhere in the world where someone really, really needs a blanket?


I have only made one quilt in my life.
I was really, really nervous to pick this quilt up but I really, really wanted to make one for someone who could use it.
I asked a friend how to put it together so I could sew it. I looked on-line for the how-to tie a quilt (I have helped people tie a quilt many times before).
I did not piece the quilt together. I only sewed the whole thing together. I only picked out the color of the yarn. I only started tying the quilt.

Yes, you can.

Engagment pictures.

Britni is working on her photography. She took these silly kids to get their engagements done.

The name of her website is Bird Wing Photography. Clever.

Sheyla has just a little over one month till she get married.

We have a bit more to get done! Yikes!

Announcement!

Chris announced at family dinner last night that Amanda is pregnant!
They haven't even been married two months!
Those things sometimes happen.

I'm going to be a Grandma!
Me!

How ironic!

The other day I noticed this natural phenomenon.
I guess it got crushed in the package.
Just in time for Valentines Day.
I know, it's silly that I took a picture.
It's more ironic that since Friday we've had problems with our septic system. So much so that on Sunday we had to have someone come out and have them suck out our septic tank.
Gross.
No more problems.
Yeah.
See.
Ironic.

One of the cutest pictures...ever.

I follow Cute Overload.
You should check it out!
This is one of the cutest pictures! Ever!
Look how the one is closing her eyes!
So sweet.
That's how love should be.
Happy Valentines Day (on Sunday)!

Things as I see it...

This picture is kind of silly for me to take.
It's ice melt.
In a bucket.
There is a dead leaf.
It just struck me as beautiful.
Weird but true.

Have a great weekend!

It was only a tent.

A year and a half ago we went camping at Payson Lake.
I have been frequently thinking about this tent that we only used once or twice. We bought it for the Pioneer trek and ended up not using it because someone had another tent that he knew how to set up quickly.
I have been thinking about this tent because of Haiti and how so many people in Haiti desperately need a tent or any type of shelter. I had been thinking about this tent because someone had a van parked at the community center to collect items to be sent to Haiti. So, the other day we took the tent and gently placed it in the van, amongst all the bags and bags of clothes and other items that were already in the van, soon to be sent to Haiti.
I have been thinking about how grateful I am for my house, for our beds, for our food, for indoor plumbing, for the ability to go to the store so easily, for clean running water, for access to good health care, for our family members that are safely going about their lives and for so much much more in my life that I often take for granted.