Goodbye Fake Wood-Grain...

OK, some updates from yesterday.



For clarification purposes I think I should tell you that we just painted the paneling rather than removing it. We're pretty sure the paneling was installed way back when in order to hide cracks and wallpaper. And to remove it, would probably mean the walls crumbling...remember this project? Yeah.


Ben and I managed to get the office emptied, taped, primed, painted with 2 coats, and then reassembled all in one day.(thank you to this friend for taking Jake so we could accomplish this!)


I mentioned before that we were having some issues with the color choice. I had been dreaming of the office in a lovely shade of butter-yellow. But-tah.

Ben did not share my dream. (Sad, isn't it?) He was thinking something more manly...like green, since it's his office and all...and the fact that I've gotten the choice in every other room in the house, he won. In theory...this makes sense.

So...I submitted. And spent the day convincing myself I liked the green while at the same time grieving the loss of the but-tah dream. *little tear...still grieving*

He loves it. Which really does make me happy...and I really do think it will grow on me. And it really is his office...

Before:

Paneling. And lots and lots of shelves that house lots and lots of books.

More paneling:

And now Internet friends, meet talipot palm green.

The books: This is just half of the wall of books and shelves. For those of you married to pastors...you know they come with lots of books ;)

Go Green. Literally.

....maybe I'll paint the kitchen in creamy buttery yellow....

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Finally Breaking-Up With the Paneling...

Ben is on vacation from his "secular" job this week. YAY!

Today we're starting the project that we've both been putting off for the three years that we've lived in the parsonage.

The office. More importantly...the paneling in the office.

Not pretty. Paneling and I are not friends.

Before we actually moved in, I painted the paneling in all three bedrooms, but ran out of time for the office.

Since then...it has been driving me NUTS! The office is right off the living room...and ya'll know it's where the computer is...so I'm in here...well, you know....I won't specify the exact amount of time.

We've not been able to agree on a color...but on Saturday, we went ahead and picked one out...and then spent all of Sunday having second thoughts.

I should have some before & after picks soon!

In the mean time, we get to paint together :)

Let the prayers begin ;)

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The Dead-Bolt is Necessary...

This is why I have to dead-bolt lock our doors...during the day, while I'm home...

He's mastered the art of sneaking out of the house, ever so quietly...to fill up the watering can and then make a mud hole at the bottom of the slide...where he proceeds to play in it...fully clothed.

Did I mention it's like 50 degrees out while he's doing this?

Little rascal.

He's seriously lucky he's so dang cute.

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I Make it Difficult...

Have you ever been absolutely positively certain about something? I mean really thoroughly convinced of what you feel, certain that your feeling won't change?



I have.



And I've had those very same feelings change, in the blink of an eye...which always tends to feel a tad bit disturbing at the time.



I know, deep in my heart that God knows the desires of my heart better than me. He's proved this over and OVER about a zillion times in my 30 years of existence.



Why then, do I go about life, trying to push my own agenda? Trying to convince Him of what I truly want, sometimes feeling like He's gonna make me do something I don't want to do and I'll be totally miserable?



It makes no sense...it's gotta stop.



I mentioned yesterday that God is ever so gently showing me areas in my life that I have maintained control of...haven't quite handed over to him...or handed over and then snatched right back.



I'm good at that. Hanging onto something till I realize I've completely messed it up or I'm completely unsure of what I want...then go before Him, begging for His wisdom and direction, and then getting discouraged when He doesn't immediately tell me what I should do.



I realized this week that He doesn't immediately tell me what to do, because I'm not even in a place to be able to hear Him.



How do I get to that place? It's a question I ask all the time...it's a question I was asked this week.



The answer is simple but I don't often like it.



Obedience.



His way...trusting Him, taking those hard steps of faith that are sometimes so very scary. Out of the boat and onto the crashing waves, so to speak. Sometimes the steps are so very basic that we ignore them...thinking they're too simple, wanting to just jump ahead.



I generally want Him give me some sort of assurance that this is gonna work out for me...that whatever the step of faith it would feel easy. But that is not required of Him...He owes me no guarantee, except that He will be with me, and that I am required to obey if I want His blessing on my life. And, I have the absolute guarantee that He knows more than I do.



So, today...if you're feeling His nudging in some area of your life, but you're resisting...you're not alone. And, if you're choosing to obey, and are still scared outta your mind...still not alone. And if you're resting on the assurance that it's ok to be scared, but trusting He's got a plan...not alone. I'm with ya on all of it.

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Oh...I Meant it Alright

Ever have those moments where you think, "Hmmm, Thursday already...what did I do this week?"



Having one of those moments as we speak.



I've been running here and there...and it's been fun, but today...gotta stay home and actually put away the laundry that has been clean for days, but strung all over our bedroom floor because it's disobedient and won't fold and put away itself...dang laundry.



I've also been learning some huge ginormous spiritual lessons from that one little study I mentioned before...Seeking Him. Lately it's been on obedience...which is not my strongest area when the obedience happens to require something that makes this flesh want to run around tiny-town screaming. OK...so I exaggerate slightly. The other is forgiveness...which isn't too hard, right? HA! Yeah right.



The words haven't quite come together for those posts...but I know God will bring them when the time is right...in the meantime, He's making me practice those two things...good times.



And, just for the record, the other day, on my humiliating video posts (that I'm not even gonna link to), I happened to say that I hope you all sounded or looked like dorks so that it would make me feel better....I didn't mean it....ok....yes I did. I did indeed :)

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Happy Birthday Mama Belle

Guess who turns 37 today?!?

My BFF, whom I've never met in real life...Mama Belle, she's on the left. She's freaking out a little about turning 37...silly girl...look at her, she's gorgeous!! And talented to boot!

Her hubby came up with a great little suprise for her birthday...and I'm hoping that she too thinks it great, because if she doesn't...well, it was ALL his idea...I'm just sayin' :)

Happy Birthday Mama Belle, The Movie Star!!!

And in 6 years and 2 months I'm hoping to look as fabulous as you my friend ;) Sorry...I just had to throw that in there...because that's what friends do...

You too can go wish her a big 'ol Louisiana Happy Birthday over here....and check our her blog while you're there...you'll see why I like her so much.

And check out more videos at:

Rachel, Jessica, Amy, Wendi, Jackie, Julie, and Jodie

Enjoy :)

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Now You See Me...

What was I thinking?!?!?

Seriously. This is so not good for the self esteem.

The first video below, I did in August as a trial run...and I'm sharing it with you for the sheer "shock" value of my traumatized self. That sentence makes no sense...

Also, I have a couple disclaimers.

1. In real life, I do not, in fact, have raccoon eyes. For my next video, which will be....never...I hope to have some of those high-wattage Hollywood lights that make every wrinkle, flaw, and raccoon eye disappear. Next time.
2. This is likely THE MOST BORING post along the linky journey of I See What You're Saying...I think there should be a prize for that...I'm just sayin'.

My actual "See Me" post is below. Good luck. Thank you blogger for pausing on the absolute worst expression possible.

To see more videos (that are more interesting) go up and click on the owl box ;)

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