What is this new thing?

Wow!  It's been so long since my last post that blogger has updated and changed everything!  So here is a post to try and get used to it.  I generally feel I'm pretty adaptable to new things, so here goes.

Here's a photo of our new hiking boots.  Need to get some use of these before we head to Glacier National Park in August!

Trying again...

So I'm going to try and get back into blogging. I do enjoy it. I enjoy the story I can depict from pictures & reflect. No promises, but I'm going to try. So to start that, I wanted to share at the turn of the New Year, our family celebrated a big milestone - My Niece Maggie's First Birthday. Only 1 short year prior, we were on our knees asking God's healing miracle to touch her fragile life. And He answered in a big way. She is now a fun, spunky, playful, smiling, one year old. And she just took her first steps this last week. So I was just reminded of her beautiful birthday celebration. This niece holds a special place in my heart because I was there from the very beginning!

My sister did such a great job with the decorations, and she even let me help a little.

"Let me have some of that!"

Hugs and Loves for all

Big brother was a lot of help too.

Cutie!

Before and After

Drum Roll Please....I've been waiting almost 2 years to post this: When we moved in the downstairs bathroom needed a lot of help. So we embarked on a remodel. Here are the photos!

Before features: Metallic Butterfly and Floral Wallpaper. Dark, small shower, and oddly shaped counter - you can't really tell from the photo but the counter was skinnier on one side so the door would shut.

After: Functional, bright, colorful, with a door that now leads into a walk in closet!

Shower with a jetted tub!

I love the cheerful color tiles!

A few fun features: Cute & functional shelf

Corner mirror

....and one of my favorite parts: the heated floor controller!

We are so blessed, to be so spoiled. Thank you Lord for helping us complete this project!

Thankfulness

I'm sitting here this morning, in the living room of my parents house, while my husband is still sleeping on the air mattress - in the same room. Everyone else in the house is still sleeping, or staying quite in their rooms. Why I am up, is...I got my sister, mom, and myself out of the house to make it to Jo-Ann Fabric Saturday Doorbuster Sales. Well, I'm not too smart and I didn't check the ad for what time the store opened on Saturday and assumed it was the same as Friday!! Oops...we got to the store promptly at 5:50am, and there was not a car in site. Not even employee cars that I could see. So we laughed, and drove home.

I am thankful though. Thankful for the willingness of my family to get up and do something crazy like that together. Thankful for them not hating me for not knowing the correct time. Thankful for people who are flexible. This weekend hasn't been all that we've expected, but then again, why should we ever "expect," when God has other plans in mind. I'm glad God keeps reminding me that He's in control, and all I need to do is hang on for the ride, and not try to drive myself.

I love Thanksgiving time. It's a wonderful holiday that families and friends can share together, remember to be thankful, and eat good food.

Fall 2011

We summer has passed, all too quickly. We've had a good and busy summer, working during the week, and then pulling ivy, putting on new roofs, cleaning, helping with family, visiting nieces and nephews....it all goes too fast.

I just wanted to share a couple of photos of the bounty of God's Creation we get to enjoy here in the NW! I truly love living in the NW...despite all the rain...the rain does bring lots of good yummy things to eat and enjoy!

Blackberries!

Apples...and the process to applesauce

Ready to cook

I also was blessed by a bag of plums, and I decided to make it into plum jam. Thankfully, plums are dark, because I kind of burned it a bit...but it's still decent so we saved what we could. I slowly continue to explore more of my home culinary art, often it doesn't turn out quite how I expected, but I still am glad I tried. Anyways, here's to a lovely fall....our leaves haven't quite

F-A-L-L-E-N

yet...But, when they do that's what I'll be spending all my free time doing....

B-L-O-W-I-N-G!

Few Campin' Pictures!

For our 5th Anniversary, Tobin and I decided to go camping. We've also been trying to go camping with the DeBackers, so we did it all in one weekend! We decided to head south for some sure sun and warm weather! And we found it!!! Camped at Squaw Lake, near Applegate Lake. It was somewhat secluded, and nice camping...not quick car camping as we had to pack all our stuff about 1/4 mile, but was very fun and more quite than other campgrounds or lakes!

There were several rope swings!

I don't think I've ever gone off a rope swing into a lake before....I know pathetic, but now I have and loved it!

One...

Two..

Three!

Porter's Fish...well Uncle T caught it, but Tobin was quite the fisherman as well, catching about 5 fish the evening before...nothing to eat but still better than his Aunt Christy!

Off for a Bike Ride! First Ride!

Maryanne out in the Kayak!

Tobin swimmin' in the lake!

We saw turtles!

Love the warm weather and sun!

Lilypads!

Camping Princess!

Taking Porter out swimming.

And Tobin going off the rope swing!

Chair Project

So we still have no furniture in our upstairs living room. We've kind of been waiting for the funds for leather couches...well those funds aren't here, and there are plenty of other things to spend our funds on. Anyways, I got up the notion to reupholster a chair by some of the blogs I read. I mentioned this to a lady I work with, and she offered a chair that they wanted to get rid of, for free! Couldn't pass that up to at least give it a try. Took me a while to find the right fabric at the right price. And out came a chair that I spent $100 total for supplies. Now it should last a while!

Before

Tearing apart

I started with the cushion first

Midway

After!

Where I got my inspiration: All Things Thrifty

Now we have a chair in the living room!