WORKBOXES

Here's something a friend suggested to me. I purchased the kit and can't wait to get started. We're using My Father's World ECC this year and it will work well with workboxes. I feel like it is an answer to prayer!
http://www.workboxsystem.com/

Joseph's Forgiveness

Over the past few months, I've often thought of Joseph. As in, Joseph from Genesis. You know, the Joseph whose brothers hated him and sold him into slavery. In Genesis 37, it talks a little bit about his brothers' hatred for him as he was pasturing the family flock. Genesis 37::4 say "His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers; and so they hated him and could not speak to him on friendly terms." Verse 5 tells of Joseph telling his brothers a dream he had, but they hated him even more. He plead with them to listen to him, but they wouldn't listen, instead in verse 8, they say, "Are you actually going to reign over us? Or are you really going to rule over us? So they hated him even more...later they plot to kill him, only to sell him into slavery. Through many circumstances orchestrated by the Lord, Joseph is made ruler of Egypt and one day his long lost brothers enter his kingdom looking for grain for survival. Joseph, reveals himself to them. Shocked brothers, who not only are confused to find Joseph alive, but king! Joseph's response in Genesis 45:5? "Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life." In verse 8 he says, "Now therefore, it was not you sent me here, but God;"
This has been such an inspiration for me about forgiveness. Whenever I start to get bitter about how someone has treated me, I have to remind myself that God orchestrates things and God allowed it. If I remain angry, really I'm questioning God's decision and ultimately, His Sovereignty. We can all grovel and things often come up as reminders that feels like pouring salt on an open wound but God is good to allow me to be reminded of Joseph's response and I too, want to be generous with such an outlook. I'm so thankful for the examples of men and women that God provided for us in the Word. Our lives may be totally different, but we share the same God.

So, We Have Already Joined a New Church

Yesterday, we joined a new church. My husband and I were asked to speak a few words before the congregation in order to state our intentions of wanting to join. It isn't official yet, that will happen [hopefully : )] during the next church conference. At this point, we can now "act" like members and begin serving in the congregation. I wanted to share my words so that friends can see that God has brought us to a new place. Months ago, we were so distraught after leaving our other church. Never did we imagine a day like yesterday would come. It's always so difficult to see the light when you're in the middle of a mess. God is good to have brought us through. He was good even when we were in the mess--but we're so thankful that he's brought us to a new home.

My shared words yesterday:

I actually attended my first Sunday waiting for something that I wouldn’t like. Well, about one half hour into our very first service here, I heard [an older, very faithful man] pray. His kindhearted voice speaking of Christ’s redemption got my attention and I remember how much hearing him really blessed me that first day here. There was nothing that went on that I didn’t like.

I remember that I felt like the service was a culmination of pieces of the way I worshiped growing up—and I really love it.

So, I decided we could give it another week, maybe.

I can’t name the countless members here who blessed my family with kind words, hugs, smiles, encouragement, lovingly teaching my children, told me it was OK if the baby crawled under pews.

When we first left our other church and were wondering what on earth our lives would be like, I thought we’d end up settling for the next best thing. I never realized God would bring us to a church that I would love more than I imagined. I attended the children’s church planning meeting and was so blessed to see a group of people, differing in opinion, but spending the time to work it out and make a plan, it was really special. I want to be a part of that. It’s not any one thing…though I love the hymns and contemporary music, I love the prayer time, the praise time, the sermons have greatly affected my walk--I love that it all points to Christ, I love the language that many members use here when referring to gathering—worshipping together…I want to worship with you. I like the reverence exhibited here. The humility too. I love that my children worship with me. That means so much to me.

I love that you want my children here, crawling under the pews, but happy to be here.

My family has been so loved by this church and we’ve been ministered to and we have healed. And, now I would like the privilege to serve alongside you.

Sneak Peak New Web Site

Here's a little sneak peak of the "logo"
I've come up with for my web site.
Tried to piece it together using
photos of lettering I've done in the past.
We've been working on the site when I can.
If you really want to have a look, you can here:
www.kpittdesigns.com

CANON REBEL SURPRISE

This was a photo I took this evening--with MY NEW CANON REBEL! This cutie pie over here got it for me. Surprised me with it! I don't know why he is so good to me, but I guess I'm going to have to be good to him now. ; )
See how all the mess in the background is blurry? I think I'm going to love this camera.

This little cutie pie has a fever now, along with a bad rash--as does his older brother.
We'll be visiting a doctor for that. But, before his fever hit, he was interested in having his photo taken as well.
Doesn't he look like he's completely interested in my gift?
He's saying, "watcha got there, mama?"
"Oh nothing" I say, "Just my new CANON REBEL"
CUHlick! Click- click (insert kewl noise.)
I love how it picks up the red in his hair. My old camera would just ignore that. I promise not to be that annoying person at the party just clicking away. But, I definitely can take some awesome shots of my remodeled house and post about it!

Covering My Ottomans

I recently used the Nester's link to Fabric.com and checked out the Clearance specials. I decided I would only buy what was very very low priced and try to work with it. I was looking for upholstery material to cover two ottomans whose previous material had become so worn and uncleannable! Yes, I know that's not a word. Knowing what our life is like and that the "no eating in the living room rule" would be neglected, often out of my own laziness to enforce it, I knew dark material would be best. Is it my favorite? No, is it completely my style? No. I believe I'm pretty frugal, so I got what would go with our furniture and would be kid and mess friendly and would last. This is the same reason we got brown leather sofas. I got so tired of my fabric sofas always having stains and places to clean due to the little boys playing on them with chocolate or peanut being smeared on them. We were in a wholesale shop one day and we were able to buy the leather sofas that were on display--$100 off. It was deal we were more than happy to take.
OK, back to the ottomans.

• It's a pretty simple procedure to put these on.

The small ottoman, you simply cover and pull the material tight and nail it in place. I tried my best to gather it in the right spots so that it looked right.

The large round ottoman--that's a round table. With the legs cut mostly off.
Then you place 5 inch thick green foam on it, glued on of course. Then trim it with a knife so it becomes one with the roundness of the table. Then cover that with batting.
Then place the material on your kitchen table goodside down. Turn that foam and batting covered table upside down on that--with help of course, because it is after all, a table!
Then pull pull pull, have your husband shoot it with a nailgun while you hold the material in place. Our table had a very hard wood bottom, so after all the target practice, I plugged in my hot glue gun and secured all the fabric down. I wanted to make sure all of the material was stuck because I didn't want it showing at all.

It's actually a pretty simple procedure.
I have had this ottoman for about eight years and I can't get rid of it. It's a sofa sometimes, it's a table sometimes (especially for kids, they just sit on the floor); it's a footrest; a play area; a laptop holder--and it's easily moveable.

The little ottoman was just along for the ride. I has bought it at a second hand shop for $5 about 7 years ago. The fabric that covered it cost $4.78 from Fabric.com.

I'm sure I won't go that long before I cover these again, but that's what I like about them, I can change the fabric when I want.

My living room is still in the works. I'm frugal like I said. The other reason I don't like to spend a lot of money on stuff is that I change my mind a lot. I have very few things that I've liked forever. I had searched and searched for curtains/drapes and spent money on ones that a month later, I was sorry I bought. So, my mom brought those sage ones over for me as they were extra and I think they'll do. I really would love to find that perfect fabric for new ones. I just change my mind so much about what I like.

I'm definitely in the zone to start decorating more, so we'll see what happens and I'll post it here if it does!

Cake Toppers

For years I have painted and decorated nursery decor. This past year, upon the request of my amazing woodworker, Ed, I began decorating monogram cake toppers.

I've always kept my side business a little hush hush while writing this blog and was doing lettering only based on referral; or repeat client. Why? Because at one stage I had lettering all over my house and I got so overwhelmed with orders. My poor family. My prices were far too low and my husband expressed that for the little profit I was making, he and the boys were definitely feeling the neglect and it wasn't worth it. So I did what I needed to do: I stopped advertising. I also raised my prices a little. OK, a lot. But, these things take more hours than you can imagine. My current web site has needed an update forever.
I'm close to launching a new updated web site soon, so I will be announcing that some time. For now, these are some photos of cake toppers I've completed. Can you tell which ones are acrylic rhinestones and which ones are real Swarovski? These are all about 5-7 inches tall, made from wood and very delicate. Check back soon for news of the new site.