Redeco

I don’t believe I’ve even mentioned this in any of my blogging–partially because of embarrassment about the length of time that it’s taken–I have been redecorating the house since about September of last year. I started looking around and realizing that we still had unpacked boxes almost a year after our move and that I hadn’t really updated anything since we moved in. So, while I was eating lunch with Danielle, my best friend from childhood, and another friend of hers after Bible study one day, I started to bring up my dilemma because D’s good with the whole decorating/accessorizing thing. I opened my mouth to tell her that I was in desperate need of a home makeover, when Tracey, the other lady with us looked at us and said, “I’m trying to start my own design business.” WHAT?!! Is my God good to me or what??? Yes, He is, and here’s one of the reasons why…she continued to tell us more about how she had finished her design classes and she was trying to find “guinea pigs” who would allow her to consult and design rooms for her portfolio–FREE OF CHARGE!

So, she came over the next week, took measurements, took her “before” photos, and decided that while since we were going to redo the living room, we should also do the kitchen and dining room!!  I bought new drapes the next week, Michael painted the walls the week after that, and then we sort of slowed down. A couple of weeks later we hung the new drapes (after, I’m sad to say, we had had a sheet over the windows because he took down all the valences and rods to paint), and a couple more still Tracey came over to help me repaint a shelf and our TV console.

We took a break from the living room for a month or so to turn Calli’s room from a nursery into a “big girl” room. That took us almost all of November and December combined, and it was supposed to be completed by her birthday (the first day of Dec.). I am surprised that Michael didn’t kill me during that time. He would come home every day from work and paint from suppertime until well-past bedtime while I occupied Calli. All of her toys and clothes moved to our bedroom during that time AND, after choosing semi-gloss Tiffany-box blue with large, multicolored polka dots and hating it (loathing it), I decided I just wanted a flat purple paint on the walls. Like I said, I’m surprised I’m still living. He didn’t complain one bit…I think he secretly hated the awful blue with polka dots worse than I did. So, we finally got the paint up–purple walls, pink closet, bought some new shelves, added wooden letters to the wall, and converted her crib into a new bed with “big girl” bedding. I do have a confession to make, though. I bought fabric for her curtains (she has two windows), and I have yet to sew them or put them up. I think the neighbors must think she has a beach-themed room because for now there are beach towels thrown over her curtain rods…

I am a bad mother.

Okay, so I have been looking for an affordable area rug and a sofa with a chaise (so that I don’t block my beautiful view from the front window of the horse pasture accross the road) since September!! Last week, I walked into Pier1 to buy (the last two) curtains for my dining room windows because they were FINALLY on sale after five months, and came out with an $80 rug that had been $320!! Who does my God love more than me?? This one purchase, and purhaps the beginning of springtime, has spurred me to jump back into my redecorating project!! I am going to try to complete the living room–sofa and all–by next Friday (April 2). Don’t judge me if it’s a week or two later, but a girl like me has got to set goals or nothin’ gets done!

The funny thing about all of this is that I have learned that I truly, truly love to repurpose furniture. I have been going to thrift stores and shopping around in my own home to look for ways to reuse something! I have a plan for each room in our home now! I’ll try to continue posting updates and photos. First the living room, then the dining room, kitchen, office/study, craft room, and finally our bedroom. BTW, the ladies at our church completely gutted, designed, and decorated our two bathrooms before we moved in. I didn’t just leave them out. A girl’s gotta have somewhere nice to powder her nose, and I definitely do.

Somewhere in the middle of all of this, I plan on planting a couple of gardens (vegetable & floral) this spring too! I’d better get off here and get to it!

odd photos

I like to take pictures of little things that intrigue me.

I was typing one day, and this ladybug was wandering across the keys. I guess she or he (I guess they can be either even though they’re ladybugs.) was just heading to the house…

 

And this one was taken just tonight. As Michael took a very whiny Calli to the car to buckle her in, I filled her juice cup. My full, unopened water bottle was sitting next to her cup, and I bumped it. As the water glugged out, it left this imprint of Calli as she had been all day–a little fussy!

I am excited…

Tonight, after a long day Michael, Calli, and I ended up at Sidestreet in Tryon (check ‘em out on facebook!). We were on our way home way too late  and Calli was in the back seat  just singing and talking to herself. Michael and I were talking about how much we love living up here. We weren’t sure we wanted to make the move here when the pastor’s position was first offered to Michael, but we are SO glad that we did. It has completely changed our lives. We were talking about how we need to do what God wants us to even if it’s not what we want to do at the time. We paused for a minute to hear Calli singing “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus,” only she’s made up new words for the song. She sang, “I am excited to follow Jesus”—is that not the sweetest thing you’ve ever heard?? She does this kind of thing all of the time. When I have prayed about something or if we are just cleaning the house together, Calli will start singing a song that goes right along with whatever God’s doing in my heart! She is my most precious daughter! 

This is definitely going in the notebook!

25 Random Things

I was “tagged” on myspace and facebook to do this. I didn’t think that I could come up with 25 random things about myself, but, of course, I did. And I left out a few things that I should’ve listed, like the fact that I have an irrational fear of things going in my mouth. I don’t know where this fear originated or why it is so prevalent, but I just realized that I had this fear last fall when a bird got in our basement. My main reason for not going down and shooing the bird out the back door was because I was afraid that it was going to fly into my mouth! (I know…it’s irrational!!) Upon further examination of my fears and conversations with two of my close friends (who were ROFL), I realized that this is the reason that I don’t like things that hop (grasshoppers, crickets) and rodents (mice, rats)…I don’t want them to get in my mouth. I can’t explain it; it’s an irrational sickness.

Okay, so without any further rantings, here is my original list of 25 random things about me:
1. Michael is my soul mate. I believe that Michael was created just for me. We are nothing alike, but he is exactly what I need and want to complete my life. It’s funny because he was right there in front of my face for years and I never thought that he’d be the one that I would call my husband. I’m so happy I can!

2. Calli is the sweetest, cutest, funniest kid ever! She totally changed my life!

3. My sisters are my best friends, and my best friends are like sisters. I think that I have the best family (this includes the Stuart girls) and the best friends on the planet.

4. I am perpetually late. It doesn’t matter how early I get up, how much I plan the day before, or how fast I drive, I am always late. It’s a curse. AND I don’t like it when people try to give me time planning advice or make remarks when I show up. AND It doesn’t mean that I’m disrespectful of your time or that I am lazy. It’s a problem. I know.

5. I don’t paint my nails because I don’t like for them not to be perfect. I also don’t have them done because I don’t like to have something to maintain. (Thus, the reason for the absence of hair dye.)

6. I am very sarcastic. It’s a gift; what can I say?

7. I have three personal life goals at this point in my life: to become a licensed counselor, to be a backup singer in a Christian band, and to travel to Rome or Paris.

8. I like to debate– not argue — debate. A friend of mine put it like this, “I like to bring up a topic and bat it around a little.” This doesn’t mean that I intentionally try to offend people; it means that I like to know what other people think even if their views don’t match mine. I do, however, think that I am always right—doesn’t everyone?!

9. I am the oldest of five: three sisters and a brother. This is why I am bossy and like to be alone. It’s also why I never wanted kids. Of course, I’m glad I have one now!

10. My favorite sayings these days are, “Why do you hate me?” and, “I’m just sayin’.”

11. The bane of my existence is a sticker that doesn’t completely come off. You know, when you buy something and you try to take the sticker off, but half of it stays?! I genuinely hate that! Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

12. I have realized that when people start a statement with, “I’m not trying to be ugly, but…” or “I don’t mean to talk bad about people, but…” that person is just about to talk ugly or mean about someone else, so beware. Oh, yeah, sometimes this one bothers me, too (it depends on what follows): “I’m just telling you this so that you can pray about it…”

13. I taught school for two years until I had Calli. Teaching and I had a love/hate relationship. Sometimes I miss it; sometimes I’m relieved that I don’t have the stress. I now call myself a “teacher of one.” Staying home was a decision that wasn’t hard for us, but Michael is working two full-time jobs so that I can do it!

14. There’s nothing better than: a good cry, Michael’s hugs, capturing a perfect photo, Calli’s giggle, the right music for the mood I’m in, restful sleep, LOST, a neatly organized space, just-popped popcorn, a Beth Moore Bible study, Starbucks peppermint mocha truffles, a finished project, my DVR, and a night out with my girls!

15. I am truly 29 this year. Of course, I will be 29 next year too… and the year after that. But this year, it’s the truth.

16. I’m a grammar snob, although I frequently use run-on sentences and split infinitives in my blogging/writing. Billboards, commercials, or signs with misspelled words and incorrect punctuation irk me. Do they not have word-processing software?

17. I have lived in four states: VA, NC, SC, NJ, and, between 1998 – 2001, I moved ten times. Don’t ask.

18. [The following statement may sound political, but it’s really more relational.]
I like Barack Obama. Call me naïve. No, he was not the Republican candidate, and, yes, I know I am a Baptist pastor’s wife, but from what I can tell he is kind, patient, and a loving husband and father. This is godly leadership in action…look it up. Also, he actually said the words, “I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior.” When other people say this who bear the same fruit that he does, we believe them. Why don’t we believe this of him? I’m not saying that I agree with his every policy or that he has the solution to every problem in our government; I’m just saying that I think that God does have the solution to our every problem and that “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord” (Proverbs 21:1). So, I like him…it’s how I feel, and I will continue praying for him and his family.
That’s all I’m sayin’!

19. I always thought that I would get to a point in my life when I would be happy with how I look, but I haven’t gotten there yet. Maybe when I’m thirty. Oh, well, then that’s never gonna happen. (See #15.)

20. I sing my words when I talk, and apparently this frightens people who are meeting me for the first time. Well, maybe “frightens” is a strong word…maybe “concerns” is better. This is because I think in songs. Really, I’m thinking of one right now. [Special thanks go to Kristen for calling me out on this.] I notice my friends doing it too when they’ve spent too much time with me. I think it’s a Biggs girl thing.

21. I have been called a “fund of useless knowledge.” This is because I love learning. Useless facts fascinate me. The only problem with this is that I feel like I have to share everything I learn with others. I don’t advise doing this. ‘Makes you [me] look like a know-it-all.

22. I recently started a notebook with funny things that Calli says. It includes things like, “I love you all the way up my nose!” She is such a goofball!! This is reason #45,409,840,958 why I love her!

23. I love DIY (projects and the channel): scrapbooking, beading, painting, renovating, repurposing, sewing, knitting… I also like power tools A LOT!! This is where the brother-in-laws come in…Michael does not share in my love for DIY projects. He plays along, but he’d probably rather be at the dentist.

24. I love preteens/middle schoolers—they are a breed all of their own! They are loud, emotional, and fickle. I love them! I get to teach a 4-5 grade class on Sundays, and it is so much fun to be able to teach them—and I have a whole week to plan one lesson!

25. I am a perfectionist. I will do and redo something until I am satisfied with it (or too aggravated to do it again). When I was younger I spent hours practicing handwriting. I tried to come up with new fonts. I would write out the alphabet over and over (usually during church) and mark out the ones I didn’t like. I admit I still do this sometimes.