Round Farmhouse Kitchen Table

Last weekend we went to Branson for a few days.  Our condo had the sweetest Oak table, just like the one in the above picture.  I told Shane how I sure would love to have a round table in our kitchen.  They are perfect for a more cozy dinner feel and of course card playing.

This morning I got a text from my friend, it said...

"Hey girl-would you want an antique oak round table with two leaves?  In our garage???"

She said she was cleaning out her garage and was going to sell that table and just then my name popped into her head.

How sweet is the Lord to work like that?  It is just the kindest gift, the kind our home is full of.  We really have all kinds of Jesus furniture in our home.  We've got Jesus furniture and Jesus rooms, literally.  His hand is on so many provisions in our home, so many details and touches that His Hand provided.  And I'm not talking about the tall glass candles from the Kroger either.  No.  Some people have Bassett and Broyhill, not us though.  Most of it is straight up Jesus.  He has used so many dear friends and yard sales as vehichles (I am leaving this mispelling because... A) it makes me laugh B) can you even imagine I would spell the V word for car like that, but for the life of me the correct spelling escapes me) to bless our home.

One time my friend told me that God speaks to us fluently in our love languages.  My love language is acts of service.  I am just filled to the brim bubbly over my new table.  And so thankful to my sweet heavenly Father who always delights in making sweet provisions through sweet friends.  

So, I am thinking of painting the base celery green.  My chairs are white and our chair covers are a whimsical green, orange and blue floral.

(Thank you for the table friend, it is going to be a very special addition to our home from a very special family.  We love ya'll!)

Red Carpet of Pinning

Man I love Pinterest.  Every time I get repinned I feel like I'm accepting an Academy Award for something great.

The warm fuzzies take over and I feel like we're BFF's.  It feels like I was a bridesmaid in your wedding even though I don't even know who the heck you are or how you found my boards.

It feels like I am responsible for the amazing idea pinned on my board.  It's the darndest thing.  I do nothing but click a button and all of a sudden people think I'm the genius.  Ding. That was easy. 

And when you 'Like' my pin, well that's just about more than my heart can handle.  It's the highest compliment.  Ranks right up there with, "Your house smells so good or you smell great, what are you wearing?!"

So I'd like to take this time to thank the Internets people and the Pinterests people.  You are making me feel so good about myself, like I'm truly making the world a better place even though I'm not.

You make me feel like I'm living in a land somewhere between Pottery Barn and The Food Network even though I have ripped furniture and eat Ramen noodles.  I'd never know it and neither would anyone else.  Thank you creative people with good cameras who post good stuff.  Your ideas feel like my very own and I very much like that my friends think your great ideas are mine.  I'm becoming a rock star in my own right.  This newfound fame is doing me good.  I like taking credit for your sheer genius right here in the comfort of my own home.  I like walking the Red Carpet of Pinning.

I'd like to thank Weight Watchers because if me and my friends eat all the delicacies we've pinned for Christmas morning we're going to be 800 pounds heavier, and we'll be seein' ya bright and early Monday morning, January 7th.  Twenty Thirteen.

You did cause me some angst when I tried to decorate for Christmas this year, but I recovered.  Don't worry though, the Chocolate Crack recipe I just pinned on my Dessert board totally makes up for any hard feelings.

Christmas Party-Oops!

You just have to laugh when over 20 of your dearest Youth Group Leaders have just left the house. You're standing in the kitchen with the Mr. washin' up the dishes when he says, "Was that like that the whole time?"  "Huh?" I reply.  "The curtain, was it up like that during the entire party?"  And that's affirmative 10-4.

We tried to make it so nice.  Dinner, candles in the bathrooms, dessert table, Dunkin' Donuts decaf with the good creamer, the whole shabam.

We dusted blinds, shined baseboards (which is why said curtain was folded up like so), cleaned windows, lit the fire.

I even turned the homeschool folders around so they'd be all nice and professional like.

And we did have a nice party.  But at the end of the day there she is.  Folded up in all her glory.

Shirkers & Slackers

The Bible reading plan for Shirkers & Slackers.  Yesterday I was talking to a dear friend telling her my desire to read through the Bible.  There are so many ways to do this.  I didn't want a different Bible, I wanted to settle into my very own Bible.  Reading my very own Bible allows me to settle in and get to know it. 

It begins to take the shape of a well appointed home.  I love to move.  Houses not Bibles.  But they are very similar events for me.  Moving into a new house or Bible is the same.  Everything feels new and different.  It takes awhile to find a good rhythm and to begin to feel like home.

On the housefront, when we move into a new  house the first thing we do is clean till it sparkles.  Move all our stuff in.  We hang the curtains, hang the pictures, arrange and move and get to know our way around the new space.  Over time little touches here and there continue to make it home.  The only place I want to be.

Same thing with my Bible.  The more I settle into the words on the pages, mark them, and write in the margins, the more familiar it begins to feel.

But where to begin is always the million dollar question.  This Bible reading plan for Shirkers & Slackers is money.  Simply click on the link and print off the PDF file (for free!).  Fold it in half and tuck it in your Bible. 

It is arranged by days of the week.  That way you don't feel like a failure.  If you skipped yesterday or the month of November entirely, you are not behind.  Simply pick up today and keep going.  And the article attached to the link-worth its weight in gold because it is hilarious and makes you feel normal.

Page, thanks for the info about this great reading plan!

I'm linking up with Flower Patch Farmgirl today.

Seated

I ran by her house for just a minute to pick something up.  The atmosphere of her house has stayed with me days later.  What did I walk into?  A mother seated on the couch with her family watching a Christmas movie by tree light.

Remnants of cookies and milk on the coffee table.  A kitchen that still had the dinner dishes left for later.  And a mom who stopped to enjoy her family.

She knows the value of making time for the important.  She loves a tidy house same as me and you, but she also knows when to stop.  Lay it down for the important.

Keep seeking the things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Even our Savior is seated.  His work is complete and He is seated.  Not running around flustered, but seated.

We can stay seated all day everyday in our hearts if we'll allow it.

And we can physically stop and slow down, if we'll allow ourselves.

Plan ahead or deny yourselves.  My motto these days.  Would I be willing to deny myself something I want in order for something greater?  Would you?

Colossians 3:1

I Hate You

Dear Pinterest,

I hate you.  I mean, most days I really, really love you but today is not that day.

I got out of my chair last night for you.  It was 9:30 at night for Pete's Sake.  I was settled into my comfy chair and life was good.  It was me and my Peppermint Bark.  I reshampooed my hair for you Pinterest and you led me astray.  This is not the first time this has happened.

It was all in the name of a loosely tousled beach wave.  I followed your directions to a T.  Shampoo, comb, part hair into, braid both sides, take two Tylenol and call me in the morning.

A little unsure of the Pippi Longstockingish nature I took on, I emerged from the bedroom to face my husband who was watching football.  He did a double take and I proudly announced I was creating loosely tousled beach waves.

He said something about wanting to loosely tousle my wave.  You better be glad mother nature gave me a get out of jail free card or you would really be in trouble.

This morning I woke full of anticipation and wonder.  Excitedly I unwound the two braids.  Bye Bye Pippi Hello Baywatch.  Just about that time the scary music started playing.  I looked like a mix between someone in a horror film and the child from the 80's who just got her first crimping iron Christmas morning.

Pinterest I know you think my life is all smothered hashbrowns and late night Waffle House runs but I was in my chair with chocolate for heaven's sake and it was 9:30 at night.

Is it so much to ask for gorgeous hair with zero effort?

Yours,
Z

Store Bought Pie

I have Martha Stewart running through my veins.  I love her. Always have.

Even when the Pokey took her away, I was still a fan.

She's classic and has flawless taste.

Love her as I may, sometimes life calls for Store Bought Pie.

Take last night for instance.  You may recall I took a PDO (Paid Day Off) yesterday and ditched all my Motherly responsibilities.  I spent the day reading and writing.  The boys spent the day being kids.  Pretending, reading and playing make believe (is that the same thing as pretending?  ok, yeah, i thought so).

We had a Staff & Elder Christmas party and I had a task. Bring Dessert. So 15 minutes before the party we wheeled the bus into the Kroger parking lot. I chose the pudding cake with the neon orange $4.99 sticker. I put that sucker on my white cake stand and called it a day.

Lesson learned.  When life hands you a rainy day you serve up Store Bought Pie.

When life hands you Store Bought Pie put it on your prettiest white cake pedestal and serve it up with a smile.

My name is Anna and I approve this message.

Sink Reflections

Last week I decided I want to ask for a cleaning lady for Christmas.

Shane shot that idea down faster than I could say Windex.

It was one morning last week. As I stood in my bathroom getting ready with my shower shoes on because my floors were so gross, I got the bright idea that a cleaning lady would solve all my problems.  Can I get an Amen?

Girl, I got that pity party going faster than you could say Big Texas Hair.  We've got irons in the fire, etc...etc...etc...

Our days off are Friday and Saturday and who wants to spend their day off cleaning?  Exactly.

This has nothing to do with the fact that I'm overwhelmed, lazy and unorganized, OK? 

Since my dreams got dashed to the ground, I have gone to Plan B.

Plan B is always Babystepping my way to strong routines.  Last night I dused (or some may say dusted) off my Sink Reflections book and began reading.

Baby Steps.  Getting an area of my life back in order, whether it's cleaning my house or reading my Bible regularly, starts with small steps and creating a good routine.

Strong, realistic, small routines, are the key to creating habits that last. 

(I'm pretty sure I made that up all by myself in case you ever want to quote The Bugs).

 

 

When I have a good routine on Auto Pilot it always saves the day.  When I walk into the kitchen and a bomb has exploded, I know exactly what to do.  Start working left to right, top to bottom.  Clear the counters (always working left to right).  Wash the dishes, dry them, put them away, clean the counters, give the floor a sweep.  I assume this goes without being said, but good music and a candle are a must when house cleaning or freak out moments are happening.

 

So my babystep routines for today?

 

Get Up-Make Bed.

 

Get Dressed And Put Shoes On.

 

Tidy The Kitchen.

 

This is the plan for every day for the next 30 days.  Get Up.  Make Bed.  Get Ready.  Get Out Of PJ's.  Tidy Kitchen.  Carry On.

(and just so you can have more things to hate me for, I'm seriously thinking about ditching school today because it's raining, we have a Redbox, the kids are happily playing were happily playing for a minute, we all have books to read, the boys are creating a campsite in the middle of the living room, ya know, the usual)

J.R. Ewing

I just had to run in for two creamers.  The Enquirer on the end cap caught my eye.

J.R. Ewing died.

Putting my creamer on the conveyor belt I said out loud, "I can't believe it, J.R. died."

"What?"  the checker girl asked.

"J.R.  From Dallas.  The show in the 80's, he died."

"I have no idea what you're talking about.  I was born in the 90's.  Do you have your Kroger plus card?" (spoken in her best Valley girl accent with no breath in between words)

Keying in my alternate ID because no I don't have my card on me thankyouverymuch, the words sank in.

She had no idea what I was talking about.  She was born in the 90's.

I walked out to my mini-van and was in deep thought the entire three minute ride home.

J.R's gone.

We watched him every Friday night growing up while eating Taco Bell.

I hope Sue Ellen's OK.

Merry Christmas To You & Yours

 

Just when you think you've absorbed all the awkwardness...you realize there's a goat on her lap.

 

Thank you Pinterest.

You complete me.