Meeting Winter 2015 - Bundling Up and Hunkering Down

 

I'm from Palm Springs. I grew up knowing Summers that lasted 10 months out of the year. Heat stroke, dust storms, and sunburns were all too familiar.  It was almost 100 degrees on our wedding day - in DECEMBER!  Good ole Summer...I know you well.  And yet, I'd been told there were other seasons....seasons with colorful leaves, blooming flowers, and rain showers.  Those seasons sounded so alluring.  My husband and I moved to Houston in 2007 and I finally experienced Fall and Spring (in a Houston kind of way). These seasons were so new to me and I loved them! But, at 32 years old, I had still never met Winter. Before our move to TN I had never seen snow fall.  Winter was the elusive season I had only seen in Thomas Kincaid paintings and Holiday cards.  Winter was that season that the old books described as a time of "bundling up" and "hunkering down" until Spring.  It seemed like such a peaceful time of planning, reflection, and togetherness.  

Moving to TN, I knew I would finally have my chance.  So, when we got 1/2" of snow in November I jumped up and down like a little school girl and ran out to take pictures.  But, that wasn't really Winter.  We got another dusting in January, but that wasn't really Winter.  We had some warm spells as we charged through February and I started to lose hope. But, just as I pulled out my potting soil and seeds to prepare for the spring garden, Winter arrived.

And it really is lovely!

 

 

 

 

Now that I've experienced "hunkering down" after a snow storm and waiting for the roads to thaw, "bundling up" next to the heater after a mad dash to the mailbox and back, building a snowman with my daughter, dodging snowballs from my husband, dreaming of a spring garden as the snow buries our field, hanging blankets in the doorways to keep the warm air from floating away, sliding across the front yard in my crocs, and digging out the back porch steps for the dog, I have to say: Winter, I'm so very glad to have met you.

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven..." Ecclesiastes 3:1

PPScripture Lullabies - Healing Scripture and Peaceful Music for Young and Old - Hidden in My Heart volume 1, 2, and 3.

 

This post contains affiliate links.

 

I know lullabies are for babies and our mature, discerning ears should be interested in more "grown up music".    But, this grown-up has found a CD set that has completely redefined my appreciation for music.  These powerful songs have brought peace in my life, empowered me to stronger faith, and eased my soul during times of distress, unbelief, and fear....and yes, they're lullabies.

I know God's Word has the power to heal, to encourage, to enlighten, and to strengthen our hearts.  But, we don't always have the courage, the access, or the strength to read it.  These songs have helped me in those times. When my mind needed renewing and my heart needed soothing.  

Here is a brief description of the three volumes available:


Vol. I
This cd was given to me as a gift. I immediately melted in to the soothing ballads. This volume as a whole reveals how God relates to us as a Father. The song titled "I Will Never Leave You" portrays God's loyalty in such a personal way.  The lyrics begin: "When your sky is cold and lonely and your heart is filled with fear..." Who hasn't been there? I think we've all fallen in to a desperation that only God's peace can conquer.  This song brought that peace...and still does each time I hear it.
The song titled "Love Is" really brought me to a new revelation about God's character.  A very obvious revelation that I probably shouldn't admit I had overlooked for so long:  God is Love.  So, 1 Corinthians 13 is a description of God. I know - duh! I can be a little slow, sometimes.  Understanding WHO God is has brought more peace in my life than any other truth. Hearing His promises over and over is a priceless blessing.


Vol. 2
I bought this cd as soon as I found out it existed.  I was so pleased with the first one - and already wearing it out - I couldn't wait to hear 12 new songs. And I WAS NOT disappointed! Another beautiful collection of hope-filled music. This volume is a beautiful portrayal of how God relates to us as our Creator. I have learned to adore each song for it's own particular beauty during different times of struggle. Like when I thought my cd player might give up on me after the 16th round of "Everything is Possible."  But, it held out. And so did I - thanks to the comforting truth of God's Word.  When we were expecting our youngest daughter, I would play "Wonderfully Made" to bring me back to a place of appreciation and awe of the life within me when there was nothing else to appreciate about my 3rd trimester aches and pains. And now we play it for her during her nap time!


Vol. 3
This volume has a different feel to it.  It is wholly focused on how God relates to us as our Savoir -through Jesus. The songs are a reflection of Christ's life, His sacrifices, and the power of His love.  The song titled "By His Name" is a great spiritual weapon to wield in times of doubt.  Songs like "Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled" and "All For Us" have the perfect melodic beat to lull you to sleep...every time!  Don't play these songs in the car unless you've filled up on caffeine. They are THAT calming.  Like a warm blanket, a comfy chair, or a massage....for your heart.

If my heart felt adoration isn't enough to convince you to get your hands on one of these musical gems ASAP....I'd like you to know that the creators of this beautiful collection *donate 1 cd to a pregnancy resource center for every 10 cds sold! So, not only can you soothe your soul with these powerful tunes, you can be a part of sharing them with others. (*You don't have to purchase 10 cds, but they do make great gifts!) 

When I find a blessing like this, I can't help but share with all who will hear. These songs are beautifully sung, and professionally recorded. But, there is a power behind them that is supernatural. As God's Word is carefully tuned to music, an unexplainable peace is broadcast in every note.  I can't explain it. It's really something you'll want to experience yourself:

Honestly, if you want one, you may as well just order two. They make GREAT gifts for baby showers, holiday gift exchanges, Mother's day, birthdays, and just because. We all know someone who could benefit from some peace and comfort in their lives. 
FYI:  Expectant mothers will smile sweetly when they pull this cd out of the fancy blue or pink wrapping and thank you politely....but after days of sleep depravation, when they tear through the pile of baby gifts at midnight and finally unwrap this miracle-maker and lull that baby to sleep....they will call you...and thank you again...and probably cry a little. I know, because I started giving these things out like candy as soon as I learned of them.  I wish our family would have encountered them a lot sooner.
I hope you find a great blessing in these, as we have!

Raising Chickens - The Totally Normal Way Part II

 

Farm Shelves For Your Country Kitchen - A DIY Project

 

This post contains affiliate links. 

 

 I have been very eager to share these pictures with you. This project made an immense impact in our kitchen -both in visual appeal and in added storage space. These shelves are a grand milestone for our family. They mark the path where we crossed over from "building a kitchen" to "having a kitchen".

 

With all the mess and chaos of remodeling, I lost sight of my vision for a while. My dream of a cozy country kitchen was a faint memory as I walked across bare floor joists, just yearning for a place to boil water. Decorative whims really take a backseat in such a time of desperation (read about our "indoor camping adventure here).  So, when the floor was finally finished and it came time to piece the room back together, I wasn't in a particularly creative mood.  It was a mad dash of measurements, logistics, and prayer. 

For a few weeks we were so pleased to have a place to chop, simmer, sauté, bake, and broil (praise the Lord!), we hardly noticed what a bland space I had concocted. 

 

 

Although we adore the functionality of the kitchen, it needed the warmth of color, the charm of  personal touches, and more storage!  So, I skimmed through google images to find a starting off point then sketched some ideas for my husband.  Before I knew it, he came back from the shop with these:

 

 

It's a little hard to envision at this point, but trust me, these simple *rustic* brackets could be your best friend. You could stain them, paint them, distress them....you could alter them for a chunkier or more slender profile...or you could ask your husband to miter the edges so they look like this....

 

 

 

That's what I did...and I LOVE THEM.

 

This project was so simple. We are hoping to use this process to add shelving in several rooms in the house (once we get that far down on the To-Do list), namely the bathrooms, the craft room, and possibly the dining room. So simple and versatile! And cheap - yay for cheap!

 

My husband collected all the leftover bits and pieces he had laying around in the shop to build the brackets and we just used pine deck board (at $ .70 a board foot) from our local lumber yard for the shelves. We definitely came in under $50 for the whole project. 

 

 If you're looking for a supply list, here's a rough estimate of the project supplies for (3) 72" shelves:

(2) 2'x2'x8's -for the "L" shaped pieces. 

(1) 1'x3'x8' -for the angled pieces.

(18) 1.75" screws - to attach the corner of the "L"

(36) 1.5" finish nails -to attach the angled sections

(18) 4" toggle bolts -to attach brackets to the wall (unless your brackets line up on studs)

(3) 1'x12'x6' boards - for the shelves

hammer

drill

Kreg Jig (optional)

48" level

 

And here's how the project went (I forgot to take pictures on steps 1-4 - sorry!):

 

 

Step 1: Cut all your bracket pieces to the dimensions of your shelf (sizes vary by project)

Step 2: Assemble "L" brackets

Step 3: Hold angled bar in place on your "L" and predrill holes for your nails.

Step 4: Remove angled bars and keep aside.

Step 5: Measure your wall to find the location of your brackets and predrill straight through the brackets and the wall for your toggle bolts.

 

 

Step 6: Insert toggle bolt through hole in bracket and place toggle brace (facing back toward you) on the end and screw it on about 1/3 of the way.

Step 7: Once both toggles (on one bracket) are in place, slide them together in to the predrilled holes and screw in to place.

 

 

Step 8: Repeat this process, being sure to keep your brackets level with each other (I recommend using a 48" level here, but we improvised with a straight-ish piece of metal and a 12" level).

 

 

Step 9: Tape around your brackets and paint the wall. *This step can be avoided if you don't get so excited to put shelves up that you forget to paint the wall before getting started! =)

 

 

Step 10: Place your shelves on the brackets and marvel at the beauty of them!

 

 

Step 11: Marvel a little more....sooo pretty.

 

 

Step 12: Dig out the box of treasures you found in the attic when you moved in to your old farmhouse to display on your new shelves. Fun fun!

 

 

Step 13: Fill your shelves up!

 

Step 14: Celebrate a dream fulfilled.

 

 

 

Finding Rehoboth - And Finally Coming Home

 

"...and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land." - Genesis 26:22

 

Rehoboth means “spaciousness”.  For years I clung desperately to that verse, feeling cramped and frustrated with city life, yearning for a “forever home” in the country.  And for years I was bound by confusion, wondering why I had this “selfish desire”, being so unsure of God’s will for our lives.  There was so much I didn’t understand. I was tied to the idea of an unpredictable God, so ignorant of the true gospel and His abundant love for us.  I was unwilling to trust my Heavenly Father as a person of peace, protection, and provision.  I was confused about His character, His intentions, and His promises. I became comfortable with a distance in our relationship, wondering what He wanted from me, wondering when I was crossing the line, wondering who He really was… until His mercy found me.

And now, just a few short months later, I am here, living in a 100 year old farmhouse on 7.5 beautiful acres, so sure of God’s love for me and His good will toward us.  I am amazed at the miracles I’ve seen, at the grace we’ve witnessed, and at His loving hand in our lives.  I am amazed at how His truth has set me free from the burden of guilt and the bondage of fear.  I am amazed at His word and the strength I’ve gained from it.  I am praising His name for His provision, His direction, and His comfort. I am learning to run to the shadow of His wing and walk confidently in that security. I am learning to trust, to live by faith, and to receive graciously.  I have so much to share about this journey, but it’s still in my heart.  We're still trying to take it all in. This surreal reality we had only called a dream before.  This land of spaciousness and peace, where there is room enough for three generations to share a roof.  This place of great potential for the fruitfulness He has promised.  What a journey.  I desire so desperately to share it with words, but they haven't come to me yet.

In the mean time, I have pictures:

 

And someone else's words:

These are some of the lessons that really opened my eyes to God's true character and His deep love for us. I hope they are a blessing to you:

God's Kind of Love: http://www.awmi.net/extra/audio/1054

 

The True Nature of God: http://www.awmi.net/extra/audio/1002

 

 

Raising Chickens - The "Totally Normal" Way

My husband had a little concern about bringing a dozen adorable chicks home last week. Not because of the smell, or the noise, or the hassle of raising a brood of chickens. His hesitation was centered on a joke we often shared at the thought of moving to the country and raising hens.  He would say, "I don't know about bringing home little baby chicks....I can just see you two (me and our daughter) carrying them around in your apron pockets.  Or dressing them up and taking pictures. You might stop spending time with humans all together and just make a little nest for yourself out in the coop." 
His insinuations would lead to an amusing conversation about the beloved group of poultry fans, we like to call, "chicken people."  You know, like "ferret people", "nascar people", "starbucks people", or "Mini Cooper people."  Each group with their own unique zeal.  Each group so loyal to their craft.  Each group so obvious to the rest of us.
I would eventually say, "No...if we get chickens, we won't be "chicken people."  We will stick them out in the coop, and act totally normal."  We would all laugh and carry on dreaming of our country adventures.

Well, now we are living those adventures here on Rehoboth Farm.  There can be no more speculation.  We have had these fluffy babies for a whole week. And really....I don't think my husband really had anything to worry about. Do you?

 

 

See...Totally normal!  *wink wink*

Using Reclaimed Materials: A Lesson in Liberty

 

As my husband and his father cut through an exterior wall to extend a closet, they tossed little chunks of gnarled wood into a heap in the grass.  As soon as I saw those worn scraps, I had a vision for them.  They were distinctive. They had history. They were going to be treasure!  I gathered them up and stowed them away until the creative juices could flow.  And flow they did. After a little hunting I discovered that what I had was some original Dutch Lap siding –the full 7.5” hardwood planks. Even with years of paint and dust, they had a sweet charm.   I made a set of word signs.

 

 And then another.

 And another. 

 

I had so many ideas, I ran out of raw material.  I had exactly enough to complete five 3 piece sets.   I was eager to continue production. They were bold, beautiful, and totally unique.  They carried the power of God’s Word with such simple elegance.  I wanted to make MORE!!!  I’m not going to say the thought didn’t cross my mind. In fact, I might have even asked my husband very nicely…but, in the end, ripping the rest of the siding off the house just didn’t seem to make sense.  So, we set them aside and kept busy with other projects.   But, I couldn’t seem to walk away from the idea.  New verses kept presenting themselves as perfect candidates for my “salvaged siding signs”.  But, I had no more siding to salvage.  What to do? What to do?

I realized that this would be a reoccurring issue as we used up the materials we had on hand.  Some pieces were very old and very unique.  I felt very limited by the ability to make only one item when I had so many variations dreamed up.  Overall, I wanted our products to be genuine.  I wanted our shop to have heart. And I struggled with the idea of new materials mixed with the old.  Should we just use up everything we have and go hunting for more? Should we find local lumber and build our own “vintage-looking” items?  Or stick only to “reclaimed wood” and “salvaged hardware”?  Choosing a direction we felt comfortable with was a journey.  We walked the fence for a while, asking the Lord to bring clarity and peace.  And we know He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. So, it wasn’t long before we had our answer.  He made it clear that although the inspiration may come from reclaimed material, we are not tied to that.  He lovingly showed us that those salvaged items were there to inspire us, but not necessarily sustain us.  And they certainly weren’t there to bind us. We were free to find a new source.   I love that about God. He paid a great price for our freedom and spends a great deal of time reminding us to walk in that liberty.  I am learning to recognize bondage in any form as contrary to God’s will in my life. When I settle on that truth, it makes decisions so much easier. 

So, asking around our tiny town, we found a supplier that could order some Dutch Lap Siding in…and we’re back to work! 

 

 

 

 

This wood did not come from the side of an old farm house with rich historical value, but it is still treasure to me. It taught me a precious lesson: Liberty itself is a treasure. 

Now that I am free to create to my hearts content, the possibilities abound.  Single Word signs, color combos, Nursery décor, gallery sets, and more!!
And this time, we have enough materials to allow for custom orders – so, you can dream up your own variations!

Visit our shop and design your own!