Reveal Day!

I've decided to get technical...technically, the kitchen is done! The "breakfast nook" will need another day for the final coat of paint and the herb shelf in the window...

Kitchen re-do day 6

my first "doh!"

the screws for the new drawer pulls are too short

the screws from the OLD drawer pulls were attached to said pulls and sold at this morning's garage sale

DOH!

another trip to Lowes...

kitchen re-do day 5

hanging cabinet doors

not typically a one-person-job

but this one person did it!

kitchen re-do day 4

23 doors

8 drawers 

prime

wait 30 minutes

prime

wait 60 minutes

color

wait 4 hours

color

good thing i don't have to be up early tomorrow!

kitchen re-do day 3

inspiration

Kitchen re-do day 2

A quart of red

A container of blue

and a stick of butter

now if you get THAT reference, you'll have to let me know!

Kitchen re-do day 1

My FAVORITE piece of the new look!

Please Don't Divorce My Friends

"Fidelity": Don't Divorce... from Courage Campaign on Vimeo.

Ask and you shall receive

dang...

i'm a firm believer in asking for wisdom and guidance

but i'm also analytical and a stubborn problem solver

so for years i've been analyzing my body issues...without really asking for guidance

i've asked for relief to my suffering...but never really an ANSWER

well, not from the Spirit anyway...I've asked Doctors

I asked God for a doctor...and I was led to a GREAT D.O. who has been encouraging and thorough...but has only managed to eliminate possibilities (which is good, but not great...it's still frustrating NOT knowing what's wrong)

So I FINALLY asked (ask and you will receive)

and I heard "gluten"

so I asked again...because I'm stubborn

and again I heard "gluten"

I said "this can't be the answer that has to be another wild trip down self-diagnosis road"

Then...totally out of character I inhaled food with that mystery ingredient and BOY did my body respond (I'd been "fake carb" free for about a month and feeling phenomenal...but that also coincided with my AD prescription and Anti Viral for EBV so I attributed the improvement to better living through chemistry)

I was slammed so hard against the wall it felt like I NEVER began a course of treatment

visited my D.O. and mentioned my Spiritual prodding...and she agreed

we're going through the testing phase to confirm the suspicions

but something is settling right in my soul like I've never experienced with any other diagnosis

I think we've finally found it

ahhh

The Beatles meet the Mahna Mahnas

...or Cage Free meets the Popoffs

There's an emptiness in our space today... Aimee, Jeff, Nichola and Quinn completed their RV repairs and are no longer "fenced in" our yard.

I keep singing the Mahna Mahna song...mixed with the chorus from "All you need is Love"

so it's like...

All you need is love ... Mahna Mahna Mahna

anyway...now that I've firmly planted that earworm in your brain...enjoy some of the pics of the Crystalline Rainbow that are our kids :)

modern day tea leaves

"Inspiring others toward happiness brings you happiness"

This was the quote on the tab of my yogi tea bag this evening and it is so true.

Page 52

So one of my goals for 2009 is to have my work published in a major publication...I meant my writing

I guess I should've been a bit more specific when writing my list.

But...imagine my surprise when my tattoo artist tells me my pic is in some images from a convention the hub and I attended last year. He neglected to say the images were also published in the March '09 issue of Tattoo Magazine...but I figured that out, and of course bought a copy!

My "regular" cashier at the local bookstore said, "Wow, don't think I've ever seen you buy one of these!" To which I promptly replied..."Well this is the first one I've been in!"

So okay...my name isn't anywhere, can't even really see my art...

But more importantly, I told the universe I was going to be published this year and it listened...I need to use the power of my words more often!

Way Down Upon the Suwaneeeeeee River

Our Family camping trip

5 days upon the Suwannee River...yes I know you're singing already!

What's Your Waiting Strategy?

I delivered my second message this past Sunday...First Sunday in Advent.

It's interesting watching the playback and learning my "preaching style."

I'm definitely more of a storyteller than lecturer...I think I'm okay with that but I'm sure I'll go through several "styles" on my journey to ordination...

I'd love to hear your thoughts so comment away!

curb appeal

so rather than buy myself a new cd or book for each of my "self-milestones" I've been working on the front of the house.

I painted the door red a few months ago...and have been gradually adding flowers, plants, trimming back bushes...my patchouli cutting from several posts back is now quite a healthy, vibrant, LARGE plant (under the "Home" sign)...I'm thinking of starting some new cuttings and sharing the patchouli love...

Well today I purchased paint for the shutters and a new door handle for the front entrance...

here's a before pic

I'll post afters once the work is done....

CRAZY LITTLE MOMMA COME A KNOCKIN',
COME A KNOCKIN' AT MY FRONT DOOR, DOOR, DOOR; 
CRAZY LITTLE MOMMA COME A KNOCKIN',
COME A KNOCKIN' AT MY FRONT DOOR, DOOR; 
CRAZY LITTLE MOMMA COME A KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCKIN' 
JUST LIKE SHE DID BEFORE.

~At My Front Door~ ala Ringo Starr, Pat Boone, et. al

Is there REALLY double the stuff in a Double Stuf Oreo?...

ice cold milk and an oreo cookie

they forever go together in a classic combination

when a dark delicious cookie meets the creamy cold sensation

it's a chore to be mature when you're crunchin an O R E O

Love Yourself as Your Neighbor

This is my first crack at a "real" sermon delivered on a Sunday in front of folks sitting in a "church"

I'm currently discerning the call on my heart to preach and the place my family and I currently worship is an AWESOME, forward thinking, progressive community that is REALLY encouraging. Pastor Linn is helping me along with my journey of discernment and I'm currently exploring becoming a student in-care.

I'll post my various experiences and attempts...feel free to comment away, I have nothing to lose and everything to gain from your thoughts :)

...camera one...camera two...

new cameras take MUCH better pictures

this is just a few of my faves...still sorting the rest

more to come

Homecoming Game

Blog lurker beware...

I got a new camera as an "early" Christmas present

Saturday, we managed to capture 222 family memories that might otherwise have gone with the start of the new day

not to worry...I won't post ALL 222 but some highlights include:

Bryana's homecoming game (she had to walk with TWO football players...look closely, they're not ACTUALLY touching)

Forrest's first night time lacrosse game

Target practice

and pics just because I could

I felt sooo alive

I forgot how much I love creating photos

even the hub noticed how much fun I was having!

photos coming soon :)