Is this the right decision?

I am not so sure!

but we are committed now...

the carpenters came and lowered the beams...loudly

so that we can put a metal roof on...

and screen in this porch, who doesn't love a screened in porch, right?

but, do you think we made the right decision to do this on the front of our house? The viking below is not so sure. Come on...comfort me, please....by the way, hubby has his 5th knee surgery tomorrow. Say a little prayer for him please. Ta for now, and thanks for...telling me how amazing the screened in porch will be on the front of my house, because really, there is no turning around now....

Casting Crowns Concert & tail gate

28 friends and family headed out Saturday to drive 1 1/2 hrs to catch an amazing concert with Matt Redman & Casting Crowns!

This cute girl (and when I say "girl" I mean the one on the left), decided we should forgo a meal at a restaurant

because there are 28 of us

mostly energetic teenagers

who really just want to do...this

so we did this...we brought food, a mish-moosh, and hung out in the parking lot before the concert.

we took pictures of each other, with warnings...

we laughed a bunch

we spent time hanging out

we took pictures

especially cute pictures of all our great kids

some of the moms too

a group shot of the adults

and finally a photo just before the concert was to begin. I believe the tail gate was a success. A first for most, but a fun first. The concert...well, that was just another blessing from God.

Project upon project

Does anyone else ever ask themselves, "will this project ever end" or is it just us? Here are only a few of our projects, big and little. See our water tower in the middle of "no landscaping"?

A closer look at the water tower, still waiting for the metal roof.






This is my couch in my bedroom, I love this however, it is sitting under a wall of windows that are still in need of window treatments. Good thing our neighbors aren't too close. Yet, I am sure they have probably seen things that they NEVER wanted to.

Then there is this pair of amazing lamps. Yup, no lampshades. Haven't found any yet!

aren't they cute though

In spite of all the on going projects, like this picture that still needs to be hung, OR, the cottage, that I have showed you in previous post that is completely torn apart, I could certainly have real complaints, right. Life is good. Truth be told, I don't know what we would do living without "project upon project".

bad week gone good

There are some things in life that are truly difficult and don't seem to make any sense. I had one of those things happen to me last week. It was awful. I was really struggling. Then in the midst of my struggle my son Gradyon told his father and I that he wanted to run for 8th grade class president. He was really excited as was his little brother Jackson. He wrote his own speech, made his own posters, stickers and with the help of his brother, did all the things necessary to be prepared.
Watching them, listening to them and being around them took my attention off of myself and my sadness...amazing, isn't it? I think God knew I needed that and it really did help. The sadness is still there, but right in the middle of a tough time, my 13 & 12 year old sons, without even realizing it kept me going.
Thank you Graydon and Jackson!! Oh, and congratulations on winning the position of Class President Graydon!!!

Then of course there was my husband right there as always. He knew I needed a lift and took me to one of my favorite thrift stores. Even though he can barely walk because he had blown out his knee again. He is due to go in for his 5th knee surgery on the 24th, until then he hobbles. I have a few pics of the things I found. Two cashmere sweaters 14.99 each, fun frame for 1.50, white metal towel dispenser for 4.00, glass dish for 2.00, cool light for6.91, measuring cups for 1.50 and a mercury glass tiny creamer for 2.00.

This large candle stick 3.99. I will probably paint this

and my favorite find from the day...a towel rack for 9.99 that still has the restoration hardware sticker on it.

Then it was off to the Rose Bowl!!!!!

I found some great rosaries that I will use in my jewelry

some great earrings, rhinestone buttons and pendants

a fun, something or other, that I will use to display necklaces

an old painted paper towel holder

got two of these pillows

my favorite for last, love this chandelier, it will look great in my cottage. I will show you when it is hung. Well, hope you all have a great week.

our simple life...

today was the boys first day of school. i wake first, and as i walk through the house, i am happy...i see old chippy things everywhere

i wake the boys from their beds...it's time to wakey wakey

learning is on the horizen

my guys turn on their lights and rub their eyes

feed their pets, then themselves....

it is time...little man on the right, 8th grade, oh ya.
little man on the left, 6th grade, oh ya.
as for me...today was laundry...tomorrow i clean a concrete floor in my cottage, then paint it....any tips?