Lawn Ornament



Our new "lawn ornament"

Our house in on the market! We've spent some extra energy decluttering, sorting, storing, throwing, and prepacking our belongings. We've tried to unpersonalize our home so that when potential buyers come it they don't see all our stuff, but rather a home that they could potentially live in. We haven't repainted anything and didn't have big projects to tackle, thankfully. But I finally tackled all of the little cleaning details that I usually try to overlook! I know I should always be in a habit of cleaning baseboards and dusting ceiling fans and window coverings. Now that those tasks are finished I love how fresh it makes each room feel! There are other things I would enjoy doing like replacing the carpet and a few other improvements...but we're going to let the next owners put that money into the house.

My little helper wiping down baseboards

Please join with us in praying that God would bring the right buyers at the right time at the right price!

A-theologing we will go...

The long-awaited news has arrived: Brad has been accepted to Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, MI. We are planning to move in early August...and so begins the checking off of a list of to-do's that is 5 months long! We've made the announcement here officially, and now it's time to let the word spread. We're excited, a little mournful, and a bit overwhelmed. The biggest prayer items on our minds right now are 1) selling our house and 2) getting a good serving of financial aid to help us next year, and 3) overall wisdom in so many decisions yet to come.

Every spring Brad encourages the students in the youth ministry to "finish well" whether they are seniors wanting to mentally check out, athletes with a lot on their plates, or the average student anticipating summer break. Now that reminder is for us. We have a lot of responsibilities and relationships here that deserve our attention, even while we work at tying up lose ends and planning for our departure. The end is in sight and a lot needs to happen to be ready for this huge transition. I think I need more encouragement to finish well and stay engaged than Brad. I'm antsy to get moving on details that don't really need to happen until June or July! Patience and perseverance are what's needed!

Any tips on moving a family of four across the country and downsizing from a home to an apartment?

Tooth Brush holder

Again, being painfully practical, I needed a solution to keep C and P's toothbrushes and toothpaste from rolling out of our medicine cabinet. So here's what I came up with.

So simple and it's been working great! Here's all you need:

3 toilet paper tubes

a scrap piece of cardboard for the base

4 pieces of fabric approx. 6" x 6"

hot glue gun

Glue the fabric around the toilet paper tubes and around the cardboard base. The fabric is a little wider than the tubes so just fold the edges inside and glue them down. Then hot glue the tubes to the base. Voila! The variations of this are endless. Unfortunately the tubes aren't quite big enough for adult sized toothpaste, and brushes are too topheavy, but it has solved this problem for me in a simple, cheap, crafty way!



More bibs

If it isn't obvious, I've had the crafting bug lately! Unfortunately I have a hard time doing anything that isn't completely practical. But thankfully, I have a new niece to make something for.

I altered my original bib pattern to have rounded corners, to give it a softer appearance. I also took the advice of the fabric store attendant and DIDN'T prewash the fabric! Eeek! I thought that was a cardinal rule of sewing. So, my sister will have to tell me how they wash up...I also used cotten batting instead of polyester. It's more absorbent and less bulky so the bibs are a little more trim and attractive. At least I think so!

I chose three coordinating fabrics to make them reversible.

Side 1:

I also attempted to do some embroidery-type quilting, to prevent seperating and puffing after the many washes they will probably sustain. 

Side 2:

What do you think? I'm really happy with them, but like I said, we'll have to see how they work, practically. They are sized for a 6 month old to 2 year old child. (Can be used for older children but it might be too small, depending on the child.) Definitely intended as a meal-time bib, not a drool bib for an infant. My sister requested the ties, rather than velcro, since it's too easy and tempting for a child to pull off a velcroed bib. I agree, although when Cora's hair got a little longer it was hard to tie bibs on her. I had to teach her to how hold her hair up so I didn't tie it in the knot! Good thing my kids don't grow hair until they're almost 2!

Any ideas to make them even more attractive and useful?

Tile Coaster Craft

Craft night with girlfriends! Yeah! My friend guided us along this simple Tile Coaster craft.

 Materials needed: tiles (small for coaster, large for trivets), Modge Podge, tissue paper or napkins, scissors, brushes for applying Modge Podge, felt or cork and hot glue gun.

Cut pieces of tissue paper that you want to use to decorate your tile. If using napkins you'll have to peel the layers of paper apart so that you get one thin layer.

Using a paint or sponge brush, apply a thin layer of Modge Podge to the tile. While still wet, place tissue paper pieces on tile, then cover with another good layer of Modge Podge. Set aside to dry. When dry, apply a sized piece of felt or cork to the bottom side of the tile with hot glue so that the tile won't scratch the furniture it's intended to protect.

So simple, affordable and attractive! I went with holiday themed coasters because we did this craft soon after Christmas, but now they are packed away waiting for December!

I have not used Modge Podge enough to perfect the technique. Does anyone know secrets of how to avoid the wrinkle affect that usually happens with Modge Podge?