Computer "Room" Makeover

before

after

Our computer "room" is actually the closet underneath our stairway, this really works out well because the "room" is in the great room and we can keep a close eye on the children when they are online. However, being the pack rat that I am it tends to get a little messy (thank goodness for the door)! This was by far the hardest space that I painted during my makeover, I ripped out the nasty, stained carpet added the peel and stick parquet tiles, new trim and a new chair to give this little space a fresh new look. I really like how it turned out, now if I can only keep it tidy, wish me luck on that one, LOL!!

I have been a scrapbooking fool lately, I'm trying to complete three albums for my brothers by Sunday! Yes, I'm crazy but they are looking so good and it really isn't that hard to do three of everything when you are doing exactly the same design. I'll post pictures when I've finished.

We are celebrating Christmas with my family this weekend because my youngest brother leaves for Iraq in three weeks, please keep him & his family in your prayers. The last tour that he served he wasn't married and didn't have any children, this time he is leaving a wife, 5 year old son, two year old daughter and 4 month old daughter behind. It's going to be really hard on my SIL she is going to stay in Kansas with the children instead of coming home, so please say an extra prayer for her.

Take care and have a great day!!

Use What You Have

I'm trying to "shop" my house for things that I don't use to make a few inexpensive Christmas decorations.

I desperately needed something new for my front door, I was so tried of the cheap WalMart prelit wreath from years ago so I took a little walk up my charming country road with my handy dandy Pampered Chef kitchen scissors (we jokingly call them "the bone cutters" because they will cut through anything) to cut some fresh pine and to look for a few pine cones. Then I rummaged through the box of Christmas decorations that are missing a piece or broken but you can't stand the thoughts of throwing them away and found several things that I could use for my front door project. The next step was to get out the hot glue gun and go to work!

This is what I came up with, I really think it looks nice against the black door, one of my neighbors stopped be yesterday and wanted to know where I had gotten, that makes me want to make more things.

What are you making for your home this Christmas season?

Makeover Photos

kitchen after (ignore the Thanksgiving leftovers on the stove, I was to tried to move them!)
foyer after

foyer before (dull green)

First and foremost, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!

Here are a few photos of my recent home makeover. I still have a few projects that I would like to finish before Christmas but I'll have to see how I'm feeling before I tackle anything else at this time.

I'll try to post the rest of the photos tomorrow, If I'm not to worn out from shopping Black Friday sales!!

Many blessings to you and your family!!

Sneak Peek

Here is a little sneak peek at my kitchen before the makeover, tomorrow I will post after photos of the kitchen and computer cubby.

Have a great evening!!

Painting, Painting, Painting

I'm still alive, just covered up in paint! I'm almost finished then I will start posting pictures. Have a great week!!!!

A Sea of Blue

The last few days all I have been seeing are shades of blue! I have been painting my kitchen, foyer & dining room, the kitchen is finished, the foyer just needs a second coat, the dining room is primed it needs to be taped off then I can start adding color. Since my computer crashed I have lost some of my older photos but I will try to show you the before and after photos when I've finished. I didn't realize how dark and dingy my walls looked with the deep red and olive green, even the boys have noticed how much larger the rooms seem with a few coats paint. I will give you a little hint, the new shade of paint is called Mercer Blue.

Have a great day!!

October 25, 1998

October 25, 1998 was a day that changed my life forever! After spending the evening with my parents the night before, the long drive home and being five months pregnant at the time with our first child I was easily exhausted, so Tom & I were sleeping in on that crisp autumn morning eleven years ago when the phone rang, it was my youngest brother Kevin saying that our Dad's heart had stopped and to get to Ashland as fast as we could. When we arrived at the hospital my middle brother Wayne came to me crying, he gave me hug and told me that Daddy was gone, I looked around and saw my oldest brother Steve comforting his eight year old daughter, I felt like I would fall to the ground then I saw my Mom and I lost it. You see my Mom & Dad had a marriage that was truly made in heaven, the love that they shared for each other was like no other, they were in the prime of their lives, they both were 55, Daddy had semi-retired, they were traveling all over the world on fabulous vacations and were building their dream home on the coast of Florida when this horrible tragedy struck. He was a kind, thoughtful, intelligent and wonderful man who helped so many people in his short time on this earth, he was always the first to lend a helping hand to a neighbor in need, to churches or to help missionaries around the globe who needed vehicles or Bibles for their congregation. As a true testament to his character he did these things and much more anonymously, he never wanted recognition for his generosity which only assures me of what I all ready knew about him, that he was indeed a man of God. He was a powerful presence in our family and is missed everyday in so many ways by all of us. I look at my children and wish that he could see them and that they would've known their grandfather.


It's amazing to me how time goes on even when you think that it couldn't possibly without the people that you love the most. During the past eleven years our family has welcomed five new grandchildren, his youngest son has served in Iraq for a year and is leaving in a few weeks to serve another tour, the older grandchildren he knew are graduating from high school and starting their lives at college, Mom still mourns him everyday but has learned to smile and enjoy life again. I'm thankful that we are able to heal and move on but in everything that we do he's always in our hearts and on our minds.