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Thursday, February 27

Welcome to the Stone Collective!


LIVE IT OUT! Stone Collective

The Stone Collective is a community making much of Jesus as we 
create art, photography, prose, poems or music that commemorate the 
wonderful things God does in our life. Based on the passage in 
1 Samuel 7:12-14, each month we will collect Ebenezer Stones as a 
regularly practice in the art of worship via our creativity. 
Want to join in on The Stone Collective? 
Create your own Stone and link up to LIVE IT OUT! Blog. #TheStoneCollective

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I'm honored to be a part of coming together as believers to remember.
Remember what God has done and who He is and who He says I am.
We'll come together at the end of each month to remember and
share what God is doing. Because I can know the presence of God,
as real as the hand in front of my face, and then I step out
into the world, and I forget everything I know. You know?


There are so many things I can see God's handprint on in my life.
Meeting Jesus through Young Life at age 13
Becoming a Young Life Leader in college
Moving to Los Angeles to teach
Moving to Hong Kong to teach
Meeting Darryl
Marrying Darryl
Having babies
Creating art
Starting a business

These are the big things.
 I want to remember the little things
each day that remind me
of His presence and His goodness
what it means to have abundant life in him.

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Real Life

Hi Friends, I haven't posted much on real life around here.
My goal this year was to post once a week about real life..
Thoughts and frustrations. The good and the bad,
Because this is it, friends. Life is in session.
I easily forget this simple truth and end up looking forward a little too much,
instead of being right here and treasuring these crazy moments and days and weeks.
I don't want to miss it! So here we are...

Right now: 
Thankful for the rain and coffee.

About to go insane with one adorably sick two
year old who won't keep his clothes on



and one extremely persistent five year.
old who always. wants. more.
Breathe in. Breathe out.
We're working on it...


My goal for today to maintain my personal sanity: 
BE CONSISTENT MOMMA.
No warnings, just time outs the first time.
I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. 
Breathe. 

Can we be honest for a minute?
Have I ever told you that being home with kids is 
10 X harder than working full time? For me it is. 
Every time I say that I feel like I need to explain:
I feel super fortunate to even get to be home with them.
I know lots of moms who would love to be home with their kids.
blah, blah, blah. yes. all that.
I know I am where I'm supposed to be.
But some days are tougher than others, right?

Our big outing on this rainy day:
Bank. $.99 Store. Sprouts. 
Maybe a lap around Target, if we get desperate.

My goal:
shower.
feed my children.


The highlight of our month:
Auntie Cami & Uncle Steve came to visit from Texas.
Jack & Josh have two new best friends (don't tell Papa and Grandpa)
They are serious playmates. We went to Legoland.











and we took a tour through the Midway,
an Aircraft Carrier in the Harbor.








We all went to the beach. In February.
Uncle Steve played in the water with the kids for hours on end.
He needs to live here, and rent himself out to parents
like me who can't brave the 0 degree water.
Okay, that may be a little creepy, but worth every penny.







In my art world... um...there is no new art to speak of.
 My spirit is willing, but my flesh falls into bed at 8:00.
I'm not even exagerating. Jack asks me to snuggle, and how can I resist?
I am down for the count.


We made the big decision for me to work part time for at least another year.
So we are on the 0 spending, pay off all of our debt, Dave Ramsey plan.
Can I just tell you that... we are making it!
What the heck? I'm so encouraged.
We are squeezing every penny out of everything and
we are making it work!
I say this with such fervor because on paper, our budget doesn't work.
On paper we come up short. Every month.
But then you buy some art (Thank you!), or Darryl gets some overtime
and it just works. Thank you Lord!


Holy art love, Batman. Can you even stand it? I can't.
I love this artist. All of her work, 
but especially her mixed media, makes me so happy.
I love the combination of textures with clay and wood and subtle tones 
I just can't even describe how or why her work speaks to me.
Makes me want to go buy a big block of wet clay & start playing. 


We are doing this Gideon study in my bible study and I love it. I love her. 
And I'm not just saying that. She's rad. 
I'm super sad to miss this morning: 
coffee, friends, CHILDCARE, and Priscilla?
Seriously, what more could I possibly ask for?
If you haven't heard her, do yourself a favor and indulge. 
I just bought the video sessions from this study
(they're only $5!) and worth every penny.
Okay. I'll stop. but you will love her too.
Here is a great little podcast about being content.

That's about all that's going on around here.
Um, just one more thing:
I think these real life posts are important because
I've been doing a bunch of crafty house stuff...




and the blog is starting to look a little... shall I say...clean?
plastic. shiny. perfect. did I mention...clean?

And that's just not me.
I am messy. and broken and trying my best to be real here.
and the crafty pictures on my blog make me happy,
but please don't think they're real life.
I kind of assume you already know that,
but I just want to make sure, mk? mk.

We're off to take baths and read books and take naps.
Happy real life, friends.
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Wednesday, February 26

DIY Mossy Monogrammed Wreath



Okay so, I know it's still February, but I'm ready for spring.
I thought I'd freshen up our porch with a little mossy monogrammed wreath.


Materials:
Moss (I bought this loose moss from the craft store)
A big wooden letter
A Glue Gun
A Big Frame (From a thrift store)


1. Glue on your moss.
My B is all spray painted from another project I used it for,
but don't worry about that.
Just cover small portions of your letter with
hot glue and press moss down on it.



2. Give your letter a trim.
It will look a little hairy.
Just cut around your letter with sharp scissors.



3. Spray your letter with a clear acrylic sealer.
I used the Mod Podge brand, but any brand will do.


4. Find a frame that your letter will fit in.
 I found this at a thrift shop years ago and painted it white.


5. Tie your letter to your frame with a little burlap.


6. Hang up your letter & enjoy!




Happy Spring , friends!

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Sunday, February 23

Sunday Scripture Art, Romans 8:37

We are more than conquerors, friends.
Through Jesus. Because He loves us. 
He has already won. 



Happy Sunday.

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Friday, February 21

Ready for spring. Bright and Easy Spring Flower Collages

I'm kinda ready for everything spring.
I had so much fun making these heart collages,
that I decided to make some simple little flowers.


I love the texture of the wood and canvas 
burlap and paper together.

Plus, the boys are *finally* getting into painting and making with me.
Most kids live for this stuff, right?
When I was pregnant I had dreams of hand print turkeys 
and egg carton caterpillars, and do you think my boys have
 wanted anything to do with making? No thanks, mom.

So, one day while I was painting, Josh started painting with me 
and then Jack took notice and started too.




So I had them paint a bunch watercolor paper for collages for me.



Then we did what every good artist does when s/he is done...
took a dance break.




Here's what you you do to make these little cuties:
1. Get your kids to paint different 
colors and shades of watercolor paper. 

*Here's a little trick to make your children's 
paintings not turn out the color of poop: 
Only give them 2-3 colors and white.
It will turn out beautiful. I promise.
When they ask for brown or black hide it and lie, 
Hmmm, I'm don't know where those are.


2. Prep the wood scraps.
(You can refer to my heart tutorial here.)
First, get 7 months pregnant and decide to sell your art at shows.
Then go to the brink of insanity and decide that might not be the
right thing for you and your family right now.
Dismantle your display unit that you built and
chop them up in random sizes.
Drill holes in the top. Easy, right?!?

The easier & cheaper version:
This should cost you $3 tops.
Go to the wood scrap pile at Home Depot.
Pick out a few nice pieces, go home, and chop them up.
Paint them & adhere little pieces of burlap with Mod Podge.


3. Add little pieces of canvas
with Mod Pdge.



4. Make flowers
Cut out circles and leaves and shapes from
 the watercolor paper from step one.
Play with color and shape and texure.






5. Dance! 
Cuz your almost done.



6. String them up!
Individually, or together,
these little cuties will make you long for spring.



























Happy Friday, friends.
We are off to the park to burn some energy and keep mommy sane!

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