Sunday Song {Oceans-Where Feet May Fail}

I have had this idea for.ever.
To post a song that touches my heart at the beginning of the week.
To reflect, meditate and dwell on.
Music speaks to me like nothing else ever will. I want to be a great and articulate writer. Unfortunately, I lack the ability to convey my deepest thoughts and feelings that make sense.

When my heart is happy or sad, I find joy, comfort and peace in song. This is what I love most about leading worship. Getting lost in the song. I never see the people starting at me, my heart and soul is in complete and utter worship of our Savior.

I could be having the crappiest day ever and then it all be turned around by one song on Way-FM.

This week my song is Oceans Where Feet May Fail by Hillsong.


The lyrics:

You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand

And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You've never failed and You won't start now

So I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior
[x6]

I will call upon Your Name
Keep my eyes above the waves
My soul will rest in Your embrace
I am Yours and You are mine

1st. Her voice is amazing. Her "haunting" sound takes me to a deep place of worship.

2nd. This song is based on the story of Peter walking out onto the water. Read more HERE.

3rd. Do you ever feel God preparing you, not calling you...yet, but preparing you for something. You don't have the faintest, well maybe an inkling, but it is so unknown and unsure. He is preparing me/us. I love that about God. He doesn't just give you something you can't handle. He prepares you for it, if you are sensitive enough to feel the leading. I find myself declaring

"Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders, Let me walk upon the waters; WHEREVER you would CALL ME. Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander, and my faith will be made stronger, In the presence of my Savior. Amen."

I know there isn't anything I can't handle as long as I rest in Christ. When I am frustrated, this song is my prayer this week. "I will call upon [HIS] name and keep my eyes above the waves."

Essential {Oils} for your Health

Let's talk about oils.
You are probably thinking "you are a RD, what do you know about essential oils?!"
You would be correct. I don't know much. However, I am learning a lot along the way.

Check out my "other" blog the RD Files to see what I am learning.
It helped clear up my sinus infection in 2 days and helps my daughter{who never sleeps or goes to bed well} and me for that matter SLEEP!!!!

Because I am turning into one of "those" moms. :)

DIY Chalkboard

I know there are 112 tutorials out there on making your own chalk board. It isn't exactly rocket science.
But one thing I found different to do was using this CLEAR chalkboard coating from Americana DecoArt. I linked the amazon site, but Hobby Lobby's was way cheaper for the big bottle at $5.99 {without a coupon}.

The cool thing about this is you CAN make anything a chalkboard and in any color. Sure you can go buy tile grout and mix it in and all that, but I like less steps and mess. 

{source}

1. Choose a surface and a cute helper. I choose this mirror I have had in storage for ever; just waiting to be called upon to be used for greatness.  I choose zinc color acrylic paint. When painting mirrors you need to use acrylic paint. Go slow and wait before adding extra coats for coverage as it can peel off. I had a bit of trouble with this, but I just used my foam brush gently and saturating the few areas that peeled and lightly smoothed them out.

2. After it is dry you paint on the clear coat horizontally and wait about an hour and then paint on another coat vertically. Then the instructions say let it cure for 24 hours before you coat it in chalk.

3. The next day I rubbed chalk all over, apparently this is the secret to chalkboards...I don't know why but it helps you write and erase better. Now for the moment of truth...as I was nervous it wouldn't truly work...BUT

edit: it worKed. Geez. How embarrassing. 

::hangs head in shame::

YAY! Up next a frame...that is in the works and then hanging it above our buffet. 

This is what our kitchen/buffet looked like before. I was tired of the wine/chef look and wanted something different.

 I wanted a new buffet {for cheap} but yet to find one. Plus, we paid a LOT of good money for this one and selling it for $50 really didn't seem right. So I do what I always do, I improvise. I took the top off and am updating the look with stuff from around my house. So far my buffet update has cost me $8 at best. $1.49 for the cheveron runner and $7ish for the chalk board paint materials. Everything else I own/found or re-purposed. That feels good to me.  I have a whole bunch of projects I have been working on around the house to update and change/organize and so far I have maybe spent under $30 for all of it!

I can't wait to get the chalkboard completed and hung so I can change out the quotes with lots of fun and inspirational sayings!

Tree of Thanksgiving.

When Toby died, I went into a funk. I had zero desire to get out any fall/halloween type decorations.

However, a few days ago I decided we needed to get into THIS season. The season of Thanksgiving. It is a stepping stone to prepare for Christmas. I realize this is an American holiday; but I think every culture has some sort of season of thankfulness. We need to prepare our hearts and take a moment to realize what God blesses us with each and every day. And His ultimate blessing--sending Jesus to Earth to create a way for us to get to God! My kids need to start looking around and finding things big and small to show gratitude.

Enter the Tree of Thanksgiving.
I collected some dead branches from our "forrest" out back, stuck them in a pretty can and called it a day.
Then I cut up construction paper in "leaf-esque" shapes, punched some holes and called it a day.
Each morning we all take a moment to write what we are thankful for. I have been amazed after only doing this a week that Lo and MW race up to the plate to get a leaf. Lo has so many things she is thankful for it is hard for her to narrow it down to 1-2 to put on the leaf. This makes any mom's heart happy. To watch your kids grasp the concept of gratitude. Even if some of the things they are thankful for are "giving up my toys; SO I can get new ones. :)" --Leighton. Or "Pat" {my weird pinch pot bowling guy statue sitting on the buffet from HS---what can I say I love Pat too buddy!} They are taking a look around and recognizing we have much to be thankful about!

Our Tree of Thanksgiving. {notice "Pat" by the lamp :)}

This is Lo's 'Toy' quote.

And our new chalkboard and print. "Enter His Gates with Thanksgiving and into His courts with Praise; Be Thankful unto Him and Bless His Name."~~ Psalms 100:4 

I made that cool chalk board {details to come}and I am proud of how it turned out! I am in a kitchen re-decorate mode. It has only taken me a year. 

Our lonely Fall decor. 

Girls on the Run

This is a BIG deal for me.
I ran my first ever 5K. I ran for the first time ever yesterday.
Well, minus that one time we tried to "train" for this thing. HA!

A few months back I had this brilliant idea, as most of mine ideas are; that we should train for a 5K.

Please note that:
1. I don't even want to run 4 houses down to get our mail.
2. I was a born sprinter. It was a God given talent that made me and my 2 sisters track stars without even trying. We showed up, boom, took home the gold.
3. Did I mention I hate running?! I mean who runs miles for fun?! I am fairly certain that even if a bear was chasing me, I would just lie down and play dead and pray.

Back to my brilliant idea, I hear running is a good calorie burn, Meg wanted to get in shape and I thought it would be something Chad and I could do together. All the makings of a brilliant idea.

LET'S DO THIS!

Let's see Meg and I ran together 2x way back in September and Chad was never able to come. BUT I had already signed Meg and I up for this run. We were doing it.

Meg and I we are not only track stars, but we are "world class fly by the seat of your pants and still knock it out of the park"  types. We were a tad worry as race day was looming; but I had faith in us. I knew what kind of bad-A's were were. No one else did. BUT I DID!

I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire
Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar
Louder, louder than a lion
Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar

Yep, no one. Not even my own husband believed in me to do this. Even Leighton laughed. My parents laughed. You know that kind of hurts. How would they like it we laughed at them when they went out to do something they set their minds to. Even if you don't think we can, just believe in us. But that's okay. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. And you know what as I walked out the door to the sounds of Chad "mocking" me I said "I'll show you! I CAN do this and I WILL prove you wrong." That's usually all it takes for me, someone to NOT believe in me to show them I WILL do it. Just to spite you. I am sure that is totally Biblical, but the passage is eluding me. :)

Almost race time!

So we ran. We only stopped very briefly for a quick minute or two walk 2x. I actually felt really good the whole way. I didn't feel like I couldn't do it. I felt empowered. And the weather was A-MAZING! Warm, with a strong cool wind that felt good on sweaty face.

Meg was a trooper with me...but not sure I can convince her run another one. 

1/2 done!!

When I ran towards the finish line I picked up the pace as the song "Loser like Me" from Glee comes blaring into my ear buds. Hearing the chorus of "Just go ahead and hate on me and run your mouth--So everyone can hear--Hit me with the worst you got and knock me down" As I crossed the finish line was perfect! Because that is how I felt. No one believed we could do this, but we did! I finished with a time of 34:23! Not bad for my first run. Just doing it all was a huge accomplishment. I couldn't wait to get home and gloat share my good news with Chad.

Everyone did apologize for not believing in us and were proud of us! Now I can't wait to do another one! What is coming over me?!

We DID it!!!!

The Lyrics to the Glee song are below:

Yeah, you may think that I'm a zero
But, hey, everyone you wanna be
Probably started off like me

You may say that I'm a freak show
(I don't care)
But, hey, give me just a little time
I bet you're gonna change your mind

All of the dirt you've been throwin' my way
It ain't so hard to take, that's right
'Cause I know one day you'll be screamin' my name
And I'll just look away, that's right

Just go ahead and hate on me and run your mouth
So everyone can hear
Hit me with the worst you got and knock me down
Baby, I don't care

Keep it up, and soon enough you'll figure out
You wanna be, you wanna be
A loser like me
A loser like me

Push me up against the locker
And, hey, all I do is shake it off
I'll get you back when I'm your boss

I'm not thinkin' 'bout you haters
'Cause, hey, I could be a superstar
I'll see you when you wash my car

All of the dirt you've been throwin' my way
It ain't so hard to take, that's right
'Cause I know one day you'll be screamin' my name
And I'll just look away, that's right

Just go ahead and hate on me and run your mouth
So everyone can hear
Hit me with the worst you got and knock me down
Baby, I don't care

Keep it up, and soon enough you'll figure out
You wanna be, you wanna be
A loser like me
A loser like me
A loser like me

Hey, you over there
Keep the L up, up in the air
Hey, you over there
Keep the L up, 'cause I don't care

You can throw your sticks and you can throw your stones
Like a rocket, just watch me go
Yeah, L-O-S-E-R
I can only be who I are

Just go ahead and hate on me and run your mouth
So everyone can hear
Hit me with the worst you got and knock me down
Baby, I don't care

Keep it up, and soon enough you'll figure out
You wanna be, you wanna be
A loser like

Go ahead and hate on me and run your mouth
So everyone can hear
Hit me with the worst you got and knock me down
Baby, I don't care

Keep it up, and soon enough you'll figure out
You wanna be, you wanna be
A loser like me
A loser like me
A loser like me
A loser like me
A loser like me

DIY with Sass {Gas Pump}

I am starting a new segment called "DIY with Sassafras" aka Leighton's Kidspiration.
She named the segment herself. I was going to go with Toddler DIY. BORING she said, how about Sassafras? It's your segment baby girl.

Sass comes up with all sorts of things to create. These are all completely from her mind, her ingenuity with little assistance from the 'rents. I figure A. I don't want to forget her cuteness. B. Maybe it will inspire you and your kids and C. Maybe she can put these in her portfolio someday.

I recently went on a rant to anyone who would listen about toys and the impending gifting of toys courtesy of Christmas and their birthdays. It dawned on me to really just sit back and take in HOW/WHY my kids play after the umpteenth time I yelled "GO PLAY WITH YOUR TOYS!!!!!"
1. I am bothered by the fact that we have an entire room dedicated to toys, that are seldom ever touched.
2. My kids' FAVORITE toys {and I kid you not} are in ORDER:
                 A jump rope and dog leashes.
                 Their pink pony and walker toy both scored at a garage sale for $1 each
                 Their Jake sword, or really anything they can use as a sword.
That's it. They just HAD to have a Jake and the NLP ship last year...played with 2x. As my mom always says I can't wait to buy this for $40 so I can sell it at a garage sale for $5. Truth.
3. My kids just like to be imaginative. I applaud this. I think we don't encourage it enough today. My kids like to be physical. They love to be outdoors riding bikes and scooter or just drawing with chalk.
4. Finally they love crafts. Even MW. They love to color and create. Guess that goes without saying when you are highly imaginative.

Therefore, I am over certain toys, especially after my daughter flips through a toy catalog and finds a toy gas pump and exclaims "we can make that!" And that is just what we did this fine morning. We do a lot of online shopping so we have just 1 or 7 extra boxes on hand.

Now for the Tutorial on your DIY Gas Pump:

1. Find large box.
2. Mom outline gas pump images.
3. Have your Little color, decorate and write their logo on gas pump.

4. Dig through recycling to find and empty contain that resembles a gas pump handle. We chose a small liquid creamer bottle.

5. Find some sort of tubing. We happen to have clear tubing lying around from another project. You could use rope, old phone cord...the possibilities are endless {be creative--see if your Little has any ideas.}
6. We hot glued the tubing to the creamer bottle, but depending on the cord you choose the attachment may very.
7. I cut an "X" in the side of the box and we slide the tube through, so as she pulled it out to "gas up her car." it would slide in and out easily without completely coming out.

8. Take the Littles out to try out their new gas pump on all their "cars!"

~Love Sass.

State Fair 2013

Headin' to the fair.
I love the fair. It is full of childhood memories to me. Up until I married Chad we hardly ever missed a fair.
Chad hates the fair. He only tolerates it because his favorite daughter loves it and begs to go.
This year we decided to forgo naps and go right after lunch, because someone had to work in the morning. Yes, me. I do work sometimes. :)

I wasn't sure how MW would do sans nap, I knew Lo would be fine considering her taking a nap is considered a miracle; but he did fabulous!

And we're off. It was a gorgeous day unlike last year, a bit hot, but tolerable.

Whenever the kids see horses they always think of their cousin Landrey. So here is a horse picture just for you Lans!

Watching the bear show...didn't quite make it in time...

Now most little girls would be thrilled to see princess Cinderella. No Lo she was more into Mr. Incredible in the back.

Waiting on the train. Grammy's tradition with them.

Wet 'n Wild time. When Lo was just a tot we came across this splash area. We weren't prepared for that, but it was hot and I couldn't refuse a little girl a run in the sprinklers. Now we know better. I pack suits, towels and extra clothes. We are pros now!

Finally the rides. This is the first year for rides. We went on dollar day as to not have to take out a small loan to afford 2 rides...I mean really $4 for one 30second ride?! Get real. Both kids loved the rides. MW stuck with all the cars and Lo she was looking for a thrill.

So I put my hands up...the butterflies fly away...

The tilt-a-whirl. My mom and I's all time favorite ride. Today we added a new generation to the fun. Both kids would just scream for glee. We loved it.

Then there was the spider ride. Lo insisted she could ride it. So she and Meg got on. Let's just say she survived, but she most likely will hold off for another year or two on that one again.

The time of his life!

Sass being well sass. After the spider ride these rides were L-A-M-E.

Ah, the roller coaster. MW was freakin' out. Lo kept him fairly calm during the ride, but his face was hilarious. He wasn't sure whether he wanted to cry, laugh, scream or jump off.

Chad looking on with such excitement and enjoyment. Bless his heart he tries, but this may be his last year he is invited. :) Did I mention he HATES the fair?!

We really ran out of time to look at stuff and see animals due to all the fun on the rides, but we did manage to hi the birthing center on our way out and saw these newborn baby pigs. So cute.

And that was our whirlwind day at the fair. The kids didn't even cash out in the car on the way home they were so pumped. It was a good day.