Cover to Cover

I was struggling.

Men have been going to war for eons.

Women have been saying goodbye to their husbands since war began.

I was not unique in this, but I was struggling with deployment none-the-less.

One night, in the thick of distress {ugly crying} I heard the song Psalm 91 by Sonicflood. The lyrics struck a chord with me and I wrote the words on my heart.

“God you are so many things.”

I have been reading the Bible since I could read, but I couldn’t tell you exactly what those “so many things” were. That night, in the middle of excruciating missing, I made a commitment to read the Bible cover to cover to find out who exactly God is.

 

Tonight I shut the cover behind Revelation 22:21.

It took me nearly three years.

It was an epic, trying, emotional, frustrating and fulfilling journey. Sojourn.

With all 2272 pages of Eugene H. Peterson’s Message accounted for, I discovered that I haven’t even touched the tip of the iceberg on finding, seeing, knowing who God is.

Tomorrow night I will break open Genesis 1, New Living Translation, and start the journey over.

“You are my refuge and strength. You are my hiding place.” That is who God is… just to start with.

 

PS. For those who feel the call to read the Bible through for the first time and you want to start with the Message, feel free to ask me about my thoughts on starting with that translation.

It's Been One Year

March: Flu Recovery (the same flu from the last post)

April: Broke my right arm because I fell down {Clumsy Much?}

May: uhm-teen doctors’ appointments

June: Finally adapted to being a lefty

July: Epic wedding in Asheville with friends

August: Endless work and physical therapy

September: Admissions Travel Season

October: Admissions Travel Season month 2 and FRANKENSTORM! (Awesome storm for us but insanely tragic for the Northeast)

November: Wonderful Thanksgiving with sisters, parents, brother-in-laws, nieces (one was being in utero) nephews and cousins  

December: Volleyball league & Christmas with the Lavoies = games and good conversation until the AM

January: Interviews and the decision to leave my job for a new career

Feburary: Hello Hannah! Grown ups, Abbey and I, flew to WI to love on our new niece.  

 

It was a doozy of a year to say the least, but I learned so much. Mike deserves a medal for surviving this year with me. He was a hero in many ways {too many to list now, but I will soon} Thanks Mike.

Smoothie Talker

Cold and flu season is attacking my throat. So I have been fighting back with VITAMINS and a touch of healthy paranoia after watching Contagion. On top of fresh kale, carrot, apple and ginger juice, and 3 squirts of Zicam every three hours, I have added this tasty treat, which is my take on the Green Monster Smoothie:

Grab your blender or Magic Bullet (two thumbs up on this single serving product!) and mash everything together.

• One Banana
• Two handfuls of Baby Spinach
• 1/2 cup of Greek Yogurt. Greek yogurt is super rich and full of 11g of protein. I like to use plain yogurt in this one because the fruit is naturally sweet (ps. like Dannon's Greek brand the best.)
• 1/2 cup of frozen blueberries and strawberries
• 1/4 cup of milk

Blend until smooth and enjoy.

Hopefully my self prescribed concoctions will do the job!

Ps. I don't recommend Contagion. Being star studded doesn't mean much.

A Day to Remember

I am trying to get back in tune with my crafty side. She went into hiding after college ended. Life huh?

Well because of this great website called Pinterest my craftiness is coming back out.

For this project you need:
1. A basic sewing machine (a product every household needs.) Mine was a cheap Kenmore from Sears. (Suggested and appreciated from my cousin Sarah)
2. A set of large stamps (or stencils.)
3. Plaid Paint (Made in the USA)
4. One yard of tan burlap (On sale today!)
5. Pillow Stuffing
6. A date that rocked your world. The one on here is our wedding date.

Homemade Chalkboard Paint

I have been looking at these amazing glasses in Southern Living and Country Living... They are just tumblers with chalkboard paint. You can write who is drinking what... So cute! But I am not able to pay the price that they were asking. So I decided to research how to make them myself. Long story short... I didn't make them. I just made Homemade chalkboard paint. Everyone from Martha to every other crafty blogger had the same recipe. "FOOL PROOF," I proclaimed and went to work




Step 1. Find a surface you would like to turn into a chalkboard. Then head to your local home improvement store and purchase Unsanded Tile Grout. Pick out a paint (you can even use leftover paint that you are storing in the basement. I suggest that you use semi-gloss paint) Clean the surface that you are painting. In a party cup mix 1 cup of paint to 2 tablespoons of grout. Mix well. (Plastic forks are great for mixing)




Step 2: Using a roller (Not a brush... yeah I know one is displayed above) coat the surface with paint and let dry. Repeat this step 3 or 4 times



Step 3: Lightly sand the surface with fine sandpaper until it is smooth.




Step 4: Decorate it and write on it! Then hang it up somewhere!




FYI: This stuff is pretty durable. I dropped the board twice and it didn't chip and it erases like a regular chalkboard.


Total Project Costs:


Board: Free it was laying in the basement

Grout (10 lb bag): 11$

Paint: 3$

Frame: Just some hotglue, twine and sticks from the yard.


Total: 14$ with a ton of grout left over for more projects.

Next project: Homemade Chalkboard Paint on Tumblers!!!

Old Timer

I walked into the house today to see my dinning room table covered in Chicago Cutlery. These knives were given to me by my grandmother. They were given to her as a wedding present 60 some odd years ago.

I created a scene of my Grandfather sitting at his dinning room table sharpening those same knives for my grandmother, just like Mike had done earlier today. Dale Price was a manly man. He had strong hands, even though they always shook. He treated ladies like ladies. And he knew how to sharpen knives. We all know that real men know how to sharpen knives.

I saw Granddaddy Dale tonight as I looked at those knives. I could see his white hair, liver spots, bruised hands and lanky figure. I could smell him, his soap, the hardware store and the scent of his car.

It was nice seeing him tonight.

Greater Things

So, it has been a while.

Sorry.

I would post some pictures... but I sent my camera swimming in the New River!

Mike and I splurged majorly for our 5th year of marriage (WILD HUH?)... We bought kayaks. And within 30 minutes of our maiden voyage I flipped .... right after I opened the dry bag. Wamp Wa.

Good Grief! 5 (count 'em ... 5) Years. It has been a crazy ride too. and fast.

I wish someone would have warned me about that. It just flew by. I feel like yesterday I was attending his Bootcamp Graduation.

Any who. I love Mike and I hope that I love him still 5 years from now. That is my prayer!

*3.24.13: I thought that I would add this photos that recovered from the maiden voyage... right before I flipped...