#208-209-210 - Anna's Swim Awards

Okay, I'm gonna try to play catch up with the 'ol blog! Last Wednesday before church we went to the Dolphin's swim awards banquet. They served pizza and then they handed out medals for all of the swimmers. They had a pool party from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m., but we didn't want to miss church so we didn't stay.

Sissy, Holly, & Anna

The coach told Holly that she wants to see her swimming next year! Hopefully she will!
Anna getting her medal.
It's been a great year with the swim team and we're excited to be apart of it next year.
Hebrews 11:6
"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

#207 - The Master Makeover

I've gotten so far behind this week and it is for good reason :) Brian left last Sunday to go to North Carolina with another man he works with to attend a class for his work. I had the bright idea to re-do our bedroom while he was away. I did this in another house we lived in when he went to the Philippines on a mission trip in 2004. Only that time I had some extra help and I re-did the living room and kitchen (including painting the cabinets!) But this time my goal was a little more simpler! He knew I was going to be doing this, but it was still a surprise nonetheless. That is one reason why I didn't want to post any pictures while he was gone because I knew he'd be checking out my blog! Ha!

So here is our before pictures:

(side note: I really wanted to get new furniture while he was gone and downsize to a queen bed, but all good things must come to those who wait!)

I didn't get a picture of our bathroom before I took everything down. But you get somewhat of an idea with this one.

I worked on taking that border down last weekend so we could start painting Monday morning!

Anna and Holly helped a bunch along with my sister!

Now......here is the after:

I've still got to get some curtains and a new quilt, but this is a good start!

We've had our bed in every spot in this room, but on this wall. I have to say that I love it there because it opens up our room so much.

I purposely didn't want to take down the wallpaper in our bathroom's linen closet. It was the same wallpaper that Brian's grandmother had in her bathroom. It's not that bad and honestly I didn't want to scrape any more! I really should've taken a before picture of this closet, but at least I have an after shot of it!

Here is the undecorated bathroom. We're going to redecorate as we go and as we find stuff we like. First purchase must be curtains though. I was going to try and make some, but it is much cheaper to just buy them when they go on sale. We're gonna be making a short trip to TN for our anniversary in a couple of weeks and we're gonna look for some stuff then. Brian came home last night and loved the room, by the way! I'm very grateful for his job and the opportunities that he has ,but we are extremely happy to have him home!!!

Romans 7:6
"But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter."

#206 - She Would've Been 66 Today

I'm getting behind a few days in my posts, but I'll try to catch up soon! I've been painting, scrubbing, and scrubbing some more!

Today would've been Mama's 66th birthday. It's still so hard to believe that she's been gone 8 years. I would love to see what she'd think and say about our girlies!

Here she is with Brian and me on our wedding day - August 10, 1996.

Philippians 3:14
"I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

#204 & 205 - Wallpaper Border = Evil

So, we've lived in our house for almost 5 years. Our master bedroom had this lovely hideous border on the walls (if you have this border and are offended I apologize):

Honestly, it just isn't our taste.

But the sad part is that almost 5 years later, this colorful picket fenced border was still hanging on our walls! So sad.

Even sadder is the fact that part of the background on it is yellow:

While the other background on some of it is beige:

Even more sadder is the fact that I didn't realize this until about the 3rd year we lived here! Ha!

I decided that it was finally time to re-do our bedroom!!! I started taking it down yesterday afternoon and I am happy to announce that it is completely removed from our bedroom and bathroom!!!! Brian has helped patch holes and the girls have helped between the scraping and the clean-up.

A really great thing to use with wallpaper/border removal is 1 part generic fabric softener with 2 parts water. After you peel off the top layer of paper spray the bottom layer with a spray bottle filled with that solution and wipe it with a rag. Let it set on there for a minute and after it starts to bubble start scraping! It works much better than anything store bought we've ever used.

Fun times! :)

I think we've decided to go with the color at the very bottom. Vintage Yellow. I want to eventually decorate with some antique reds and I just love that color combination. I took some before pictures and when I finish I'll post the before/after ones!

So if I'm missing for another day or two, you'll know where I'll be! :D
Psalm 90:16
"Let Your work appear to Your servants,
And Your glory to their children."

#203 - Practicing the 'Ol Golf Swing

This afternoon in the blazing hot heat we decided to go to the driving range and hit a few golf balls. :D It was fun! Then we had Sonic for supper :) and after waiting for our food to digest (does Sonic food ever really digest?!) we then decided to jump in the pool. Then we heard thunder and got out. :)

Here are a few shots from the afternoon action:

Brian pointed out Holly's bent arm like she's getting ready to hit a softball...hehe!
All three in action.

Psalm 19:14
"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer."

#202 - Blue Sky Randomness

Last night when the girls and I were leaving Walgreens the sunset and sky was absolutely gorgeous! I took this picture with my cell phone (along with the rest of the pics in this post):

It was the prettiest combo of pinks and blues.

The girls and I went to a swim birthday party today for a girl they go to co-op with. They had a great time!

After living in our house for almost 5 years I am finally redecorating our bedroom. I'm going to paint it a golden yellow color and decorate with antique red accents. Here are some samples of fabric I found tonight at Hobby Lobby that we like:

I'm going to use one of these materials to make some pillows and maybe curtains with. I think the first one might be my favorite.

The girls had outgrown their four-wheeler and decided to sell it. With the money they want to buy new bicycles. Tonight while we were in Meijer's, Anna took one for a little test drive. Holly did too, but I was too worried about her running someone over to take a picture!

Psalm 119:30
"I have chosen the way of truth;
Your judgments I have laid before me."

#201 - Good Deal

I'm not an extreme couponer or anything, but when I find a good deal I just can't pass it up!

I got the following tonight for $4.22 (w/tax)!!!

I had a $2.00 coupon on the Expo dry erase markers that I had printed off a month ago and I also had a buy one get one free on the razors. They were on sale tonight at Walgreens with $2.00 Register Rewards and they also had a $1.00 off coupon on them! I was so excited!!!

Psalm 24:5
"He shall receive blessing from the LORD,
And righteousness from the God of his salvation."

#200 - Two Things

I recently discovered popping popcorn on top of the stove in an actual popcorn popper! It's one of those that has a wheel you turn and it rotates the heating kernels as it pops. Tried it for the first time a few weeks ago and now we love it!

I remember being a little girl and my mom fixing it even more old fashioned than me and even using this pan:

Sweet memories!
We got to keep Bella last night and we had so much fun! I also pulled out this old step stool that my mom also used for a high-chair for all of the grandkids! It was perfect for Bella!

Psalm 71:17
"O God, You have taught me from my youth;
And to this day I declare Your wondrous works."

#199 - The Evidence!

On Sunday when I was taking pictures of the Sheriff's Department, Anna was also taking pictures. :) So she also got evidence of me "shooting" the Sheriff and his Deputies! Ha!

I hadn't uploaded her pictures until this morning and saw this one in there. She also got some good ones at the cookout. I might have to seriously hire her!

Isaiah 41:10
"Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’"

#198 - I Shot the Sheriff!

Brian's dad asked me a few weeks ago to come to a cookout today and take pictures of the Sheriff's department. We took a group picture with all of the deputies and staff and then some individual pictures also. It was a fun day and I got some great experience! (Even though I was super nervous!)

Here is Sheriff Poppy and his girls!

Romans 13:1-3
"Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same."

#197 - Anniversary for Friends

Anna and I went to a 25th Wedding Anniversary cookout for some good friends of ours. Their sweet daughter asked me to come and take pictures for their surprise party. So I brought along my helper! :)

She used my other camera to help take some backup shots. She did a pretty good job too!

Tomorrow afternoon I'm going to take some pics of our Sheriff's department for my father-in-law!

A little nervous, I am.

Also, our best friends and their kiddos are leaving in the morning for a mission trip to Guatemala! Can't wait to see what all God's got in store for their time there!

Romans 1:16
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ,[a] for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek."

#196 - Sad To See It End!

Tonight was the last night of VBS and we're kind of sad to see it end. It was a fun week and the way our VBS is ran makes it so much easier on everybody so that the jobs/duties are spread out enough so it's not so tiresome. We can enjoy it a little better this way!

This is our Youth/Associate Pastor on the left and our Pastor on the right. We love both of these men dearly and are so very blessed to have them shepherding us.

Hebrews 13:7
"Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith."

#195 - Bible School & Bella

Since I hadn't taken a picture of Anna at VBS I thought I'd catch her off guard tonight and snap one:)

Pam and Bella came over to visit us tonight and she found the box of styrofoam peanuts that I hadn't gotten rid of yet. She had a good time!

John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

#194 - VBS & the Big Apple

Our VBS is this week and it has been such a blessing! There are several other churches in our area also having their VBS's so our numbers are down, but it has still been great!

Holly getting ready to sing at the end of the night closing time. Looking forward to the next two nights! This week is flying by.

Romans 10:17
"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

#193 - My Attempt at Tilt Shift Photography!

The girls and I went to VBS tonight and had a great time! I didn't take my camera in, but I hope to tomorrow night.

I heard about tilt shift photography a while back and looked up a tutorial of how to do the editing. It is where you take a photo and make the illusion that it is a miniature scene.

Here is one of the locks at the Panama canal. This is the first one that I did:

This one was taken last fall in Plymouth Harbor, MA. Do the boats look mini?!My sister-in-law took the next two in Belgium and I thought they were perfect scenes to "tilt shift!"

This last one she took in Morocco.

Can you see the effect??? I think it looks neat and puts a little different perspective on the editing process.
James 1:17
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

#192 - Swim Conference

Anna's swim team had their conference today. It was blazing HOT! As in - heat index of 116 degrees - HOT! But we had a canopy set up and plenty of cold water to drink so we were all fine!

Anna did really good with her heats. I was able to video a couple of her races with my new camera and as soon as I can convert it I'll upload it on here. But she won 1st place in her butterfly heat!!! I was so proud of her!

We left before it was completely finished and I'm not exactly for sure what they placed, but I'm sure the team overall did great!

*UPDATE* - they placed 3rd out of 13 other swim teams!

Here she is after I told her she got 1st in her fly heat! She had no idea. :)
My sister Suse came to watch! Holly asked Eli to pour our cold cooler water over her! She said it felt good!
We got home after 11:00 p.m. and crashed!

Isaiah 4:6
"And there will be a tabernacle for shade in the daytime from the heat, for a place of refuge, and for a shelter from storm and rain."