decorating

Household life and balance…?

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Balance? I’m not sure that gets achieved daily in my world, but maybe over the long run.

Each day is a new adventure as school is out and both Tim and I are in the house together all day. Finding new rhythm to each getting our own work done – job hunting and design respectfully, helping each other in our respective work, and then working on house projects together. As we work to accomplish the to-do list and be productive in the waiting process (seeing what job will open for Tim in the fall), we are enjoying time together and time with our little guy.

The daily routine of the house seems to fluctuate and I almost find myself checking to see what day it is. The fall and spring activities have all reached their summer break and summer weddings are in full swing with programs, place cards, gift boxes, guestbooks, and favors to be designed. Small businesses are in need of logos and business cards. And the basement that was nearly finished… well, we organized all of the finished the living areas which means – I am still working on the basement!

Life is always full of change.

It is in the moments of change or waiting for direction that I remember the value of the day and God’s direction in the past. From living in Rockford, IL to Chicago to moving to Des Moines, IA there is no possible means that I could have planned my life. But taking steps to follow God one day at a time has led to a life so rich and full that I am glad my plans and thoughts rarely seem to “workout” in the way that I thought they would.

Balance is found when I let go and walk slowly… maybe today I’ll just take a few minutes at a time. God can handle the day, the week, and the next month quite well.

Where did 4 weeks go?

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Do you ever have moments in life when the time just seems to fly until you realize all of the little things are really adding up and begging to be completed? This realization summed up my weekend and then as I start this post and I see how long it has been since I updated… well I was not exaggerating the fact that weeks have somehow slipped by!

I awoke Saturday to this thought when I walked in the kitchen and realized my typical vacuuming was not even going to come close to cleaning the disaster of the floor. It needed washed. The highchair needed scrubbed, not wiped down. And as for laundry… well 4 baskets of clean clothes are great, but it is much better to find clothes that have been folded in a drawer not dug through in a pile and left for another day.

In the world of “The Organization Project”: It’s April… my deadline to have the 2nd bedroom completed. Well, we are at least close. It is cleared out and the baby stuff from Uriah’s room has found a home in the closet shelves for the next little one to make use of. The crib is in the room and I have to blank pieces of wood awaiting their respective photos. So the fun stuff is yet to come, but the canvas has been readied! Uriah wanted to give you a tour of his baby brother’s room…

BabyRoom1 BabyRoom2

The basement. Organized piles abound (yes, these are generally organized and sorted!). Now I just need to put everything into a usable easy to access and return-to-their-place-when-finished location on the shelves. And finish moving a few garage sale items up and out. I think we will be there in the next couple of weeks… at least I am optimistic. Then on to adding color and laying down the mix-n-match carpet squares that are leftover samples from architecture firms.

Basement

Lastly, I have found a way to include the last untouched closet in the house in this organization project. The games in the back closet are not accessible… so down to the basement they go to find a home on an open shelf and add a little more interest to the unfinished space. Besides who wants one closet left a mess at this point in the game! (Do you like the cheesy pun!)

Games

Until the next entry and update in the process…

Organization Part 1

Organization Part 2

What’s the best way to organize?

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Especially when the are looks more like a condemned dump site (or close enough to it!)…

Get excited about it! What do you want to do with the space, the time saved not hunting for things, the money saved not re-buying things you already own! What other reason make you excited to organize?

I want to create a room for our second child, an office where everything is organized and TOGETHER in one space, and a kids play area that has room to run.

That chore is going to require some organization and rearranging of furniture. I know that many experts say to try to find new pieces or organization systems to help you get excited and create a new system, but my goal is the opposite. I do not want to buy any new pieces. I want to reutilize what I have, organize, sort, throw!

I have decided a few things. The new office/play area is going to be in the unfinished basement, but…

  • I want to WANT to go down there.
  • I want my son to LOVE playing down there.
  • I do not want to feel like I am in a dungeon. : )

And the random pieces of wood in my basement and garage, they are going to be re-purposed for good!

The goal is to be finished with the basement by the end of April and the second bedroom by the end of May. So, hold on because weekly updates are going to be coming. I’m sure some weeks will be more productive than others. Watch as ideas unfold and the progress becomes a finished project. Oh boy here we go!

I’ll post pictures when there is progress… but right now I’m not willing to show my complete chaos (in the end I’ll post before pics)! : )

Oh my Goodness….

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It’s here! Christmas is here the end of the work day, my last work day before Christmas! (My sympathies to those who have to work over Christmas.) I have one work errand to run and then it is off to make a birthday cake for Jesus… something my little guy gives a great big excited face about every time I mention it!

What are you most excited about? This week may bring anxiety or sadness about stressed relationships and people who you are longing to see again, but cannot. It may be stressful with the things you want to finish before Christmas arrives. BUT I hope that all of those things pale in view and feeling when you remember the love that God has given us. Jesus came to walk with us on this crazy, difficult journey of life. He didn’t just tell us how to survive, but He showed us how to blossom in this world.

We will always have trouble, but Jesus has overcome. He gives abundant life, starting now, with a plan and a future that is better than anything we can imagine. Marvel at Jesus this week, relish His love, and have a very Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas2013

Thanksgiving… It is here!!!

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I am so excited that Thanksgiving is on Thursday! I can hardly wait to see everyone and celebrate. I found coloring place-mats at Target and thankfully bought the exact number of people coming so far… unless there is someone else who joins in! Want a place to go where the cooking will be done for you! : ) Come on over!  (Don’t worry I’ll come up with additional place-mats for you to color!) Parade, people, food, games, and counting our blessings – I don’t think there can be a better agenda for a day!

Here are some of the things for which I am thankful this year:

  • My family who loves us, encourages, and prays for us
  • My husband who so lovingly deals with me and gently leads me to know Jesus more and who has endured and completed nearly 70 college credits in one calendar year – I am so proud of him
  • My son who is helping me understand how I need to obey God without excuse in the same way that we are trying to teach him to obey us without excuse : )
  • Endurance from God for the long days and hard times that are just a part of life
  • Encouragement from God and others that makes the long days worthwhile
  • The incredible support of some amazing friends who have walked through the crazy with us
  • Those who have encouraged LeA’Tev and allowed us to serve you this year
    • In particular, this past week I have been blessed by the response to the “Jesus is… Christmas” countdown. Your response and support of LeATev is among our many blessings and we have begun to pray daily for those that have received the cards. We are praying that they would truly help each person to focus on Jesus this Christmas and love Him more.

Thank you to those who read and follow this blog. Life is truly a beautiful design crafted by the Master Designer “who works all things together for the good of those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose.” (paraphrase of Romans 8:28)

Thank you for being a part of this sojourner’s journey; I am very thankful.

Thanks

Serving…

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The start of summer marks many people heading out on short-term service projects all around the world.

It is a privilege to serve Jesus Christ with every talent that you have been given. If you have breath, Jesus has a purpose for you! So even if you may not think what you can do matters – serve! Loving God and loving people are the only things that matter in life and the only things that truly do last forever.

I have been privileged to serve several ministries throughout many years using graphic design and interior design. From decorating ministry buildings for the season, selecting design and color during the construction process, creating graphics, or simply creating set designs to accent the message being taught; I have been grateful to serve with what God has entrusted to me to use.

Watch LeA’Tev on social media this week to see a few of the graphic designs created for non-profit ministries and non-profit ministries supported by LeA’Tev.

Telling A Story – Part 2

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Your home becomes the only place in the world where visitors get a visual glimpse into your world. Since most of us do not live in magazine worlds… although I often wish for the Jetson’s Rosie and the automatic Dresser… our home needs to be us and not someone’s idea of the current ideal.

People can pick up a magazine anywhere, but they can only see your family personality at your house – so enjoy the process and don’t feel pressured by what you find in stores and books.

Did you answer your questions!

  • What are your favorite colors?
  • What do you want people to feel when they walk in your home?
  • What things do you have that you want to showcase – things you “love” or things that are just uniquely you?

NEXT STEP – Where to begin:

  • Pick a starting point – Decorating everything – the entire interior space now!
    • Doable, but I would recommend getting someone to at least give you good advice and walk with you through the process. And be prepared to either spend lots of time or hire some aspects to be completed by professionals.
    • I have assisted people whose home was either destroyed through disaster or have interior design within their construction budget and everything has to be done now, upfront.
    • If this is you, feel free to contact me. I would love to help you!
  • Pick a starting point – Already in an existing space.
    • I like to prioritize my top three-four areas that I want to focus on for three reasons:
      • 1. I sometimes need time to finish processing an idea, so I know what my secondary priorities are and I can work to create each space a little at a time.
      • 2. I enjoy creating design and art in my house, but if I start adding too many areas and ideas all at once – it is not creating it’s a to-do list… I have enough to-do’s already!
      • 3. I can create, save, and budget well for small portions. Larger items that may need more time can be put on hold, while  I can still move on to smaller items and areas to work on for a bit.

What are your top three areas? An area can be as small as a section of one wall or as big as one room.

Pick one and let’s begin!