♥ Painting Progress ♥

Remember me posting a picture of me painting the deck with a roller around Memorial Day?  Well, with the exception of one weekend, we have been working every weekend of June and some week nights when we could.  It's been a project that was attacked by Jason, my daddy, and me.  This was all done with a roller and sometimes a brush where needed......TWO COATS!

Here's a before glimpse, so you can see the transformation:  (And please excuse the clutter and plastic lying around...it's still in working mode.)

BEFORE:

And now!  AFTER:

We used the color we have on our outbuilding/shed.  It's the closest we could get to the cedar color we like in a stain, since this is a paint.  It is called Ginger Spice by Olympic.

We're still working on the rest of The Cedar Loft/Garage area.

And when we're done with this?  Well then it's time to do the house!  But this time, it will be with a sprayer where possible!  Do you hear me shouting "Praise the Lord"?  :)

Thanks for stopping by!  Hope you have a wonderful day!  :)

♥ Tammy ♥  

♥ J.O.Y. ♥ (Wordless Wednesday)

J  esus first.

O thers second.

Y ourself last.

♥ Tammy ♥

Chats on the Farmhouse Porch

Good morning friends!  What a beautiful day it is!  :)

I enjoy popping in over at (blogging friend) Patrice's house and chatting with her on the farmhouse porch.  I'm joining her today and you can join too by clicking on the link below.


This week's questions are fun!   :)  Here we go!


1)  Do you enjoy grocery shopping?

I enjoy it much more these days since we go as a family to do our "big grocery shopping".  We tackle it together with 3 carts and dividing our list so we can conquer it much quicker!  And my hubby is there to help sack and load groceries.  :)  It is much more enjoyable to me this way! 

2)  Are you following any particular news stories?

No, not really.  I love when good things make the news!  Those get my attention!  :)

3)  How do you feel about all of the technology we have today?  Is it too much, just right, or not enough?

I tend to resist technology a bit, or at least for awhile.  I'm not quick to jump on the bandwagon.  It is usually my hubby that talks me into getting or trying something.  It seems that there's always the rush to get to the "next best thing."  I miss the simpler days, but I do have to say that I love my camera, laptop, and my smartphone.  They can be time robbers though......I have to be really careful.  Technology is a good thing I suppose, but I do miss old-fashioned simplicity!

4)  On a scale of 1-10 (1 being the least), how much do you worry?

I have "worry" written in my Bible (from back when I was a teen) defined as "taking on an added responsibility that God didn't intend for you to have."  I don't want to be a worrier and I try to trust God more and worry less, but I would still have to give myself a 4 or a 5 because it's in my nature.

5)  Without any of your responsibilities or concern with how you would accomplish this, what would your three dream jobs be?

I'm living out my three dream jobs actually.....wife, mother, and teacher (teaching my children at home).  Other than that, I would like to be a published author (preferably books for children), a photographer, or have our own family business.  :)

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Thank you for stopping by!  Have a wonderful day!  :)

♥ Tammy ♥

Pinned it, Made it! Monday ~ Week 45 ~

Good morning! 

Along with the "official" first day of summer, came rising temperatures for us, making it almost too hot to be outside in the middle part of the day.   So I decided to try out a Pinterest idea for Luke that he would keep him busy inside during these times.   That's what I'm sharing today for Pinned it, Made it! Monday. 



Have you seen it?  It's almost like playing in a sandbox.....except with beans!  :) 

Here's the original pin:

Source

Here's ours:

Luke absolutely loves this.  He keeps asking me if I will leave it out for him.  He has probably spent  hours playing "construction site".  He has played with it in the floor of the kitchen and on the table in the dining room.  I even let him take in the living room one day, but I found myself picking up beans off the wool rug later that evening.  :)

Easy entertainment!

Guess it's tempting for the big kids too.....I caught Joy playing in it!  :)

Now it's your turn!  I hope you'll link up something you've pinned and tried out from Pinterest.  But if you're just stopping by,  that's okay too.  Thank you for stopping by! 

Happy Pinning and Creating!  Have a great week!  :)

♥ Tammy ♥

Faithful Friday - "The Screwtape Letters"

Have you read The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis?

I'm not finished with it yet, but it is such a great book...a timeless classic.....really an eye-opener as to the many ways Christians are being "tripped up" in our everyday lives!

If you're not familiar with the book, it is written in the form of letters from a "demon" corresponding to his nephew instructing him in wordly-wise subtle ways to "trip up" Christians so as to win them over (or in this case, one particular young man).  He uses tactics such as thoughts, temptations, actions, beliefs, intellect, and much more.

It reminded me to be more aware that there is spiritual warfare going on around me constantly, and that I have to stay anchored in Jesus and His Word and be on guard to the Temptor's guiles and ways.

Here's an excerpt from what I read this morning that especially caught my attention (The uncle demon, Screwtape, is telling his nephew demon, Wormwood):

"Think of your man as a series of concentric circles, his will being the innermost, his intellect coming next, and finally his fantasy.  You can hardly hope, at once, to exclude from all the circles everything that smells of the Enemy: but you must keep on shoving all the virtues outward till they are finally located in the circle of fantasy, and all the desirable qualities inward into the Will.  It is only in so far as they reach the Will and are there embodied in habits that the virtues are really fatal to us."

Wow!  Keep shoving the virtues out - this is exactly what is happening!  This is our culture today.  Also the Bible is being pushed to the "fantasy" circle where it has become just stories - instead of accounts from history!  Oh, there are so many ways this is true!

If you haven't read this book, you really should add it to your reading list.  Satan really is working over-time and we don't even have a clue as to all the ways.  This book is an eye-opener! 

We CAN overcome though!

 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Philippians 4:8

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

 

John 16:33

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You can link up or read more Faithful Fridays posts on Joy's blog by clicking on the Faithful Friday button above! 

 

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great weekend!  :)

 

♥ Tammy ♥ 

♥ Collecting for Decorating ♥

Oh to be able to just go on a shopping spree to get everything at one time that I need to decorate a room.....what a luxury that would be!  :)  But then I guess part of the fun is the hunt for that special thing..........which also gives me time to afford each one. 

I've been slowly collecting things to decorate the bedroom that we just worked on remodeling in March and April.

Everything I've gotten so far has come from thrift stores and flea markets/antique malls except for the twiggy star, which came from Etsy. 

Found this ladder at the Antique Gallery too.  :)

I've still got a few things in mind that I'm waiting on and something I want Jason to make for me for that room.

I'll be excited to share the decorated room when I'm finished with the collecting (just a little more) and the decorating!

And I'm so behind on my blog visiting...please don't give up on me if you haven't seen me around lately....I'll be by soon! 

Thank YOU so much for stopping by!  Have a wonderful day!  :)

♥ Tammy ♥

Pinned it, Made it! Monday ~ Week 44 ~

Is it just me, or do Mondays roll around really quickly?   Summer is moving along much too quickly!  Anyway it's time for Pinned it, Made it ! Monday......a time to share something we've pinned and tried from Pinterest.

This week I'm going to share something that's fun for kids....a little mix of learning and fun.  I pinned it to my Love to Learn board.  Here's the original pin:

Source

Get a ziploc bag (I used a gallon one that actually zips closed) and fill it about a third to a half way with paint.  I also used washable paint.  Close the bag and gently distribute the paint throughout the bag by squishing it around.

This is great for the kids to practice writing letters and words, or just drawing.  It works a little like an etch-a-sketch in that the letters disappear after a few seconds when the paint is moved around, or at least it did for us.  They can use their finger or a Q-tip to do the drawing/writing.  Luke did a little of both.

 

I can tell that I will have to watch him closely on this because he was very curious about the paint inside.  :)  Also, next time we do it, I will tape it to the table like it said.  It just makes it easier for little hands to handle it.

It was fun!  :)

Now it's your turn!  Have you tried out something you've pinned on Pinterest?  We'd love to see!  Grab my Pinned it Made it Monday button from my button page and link below.

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great week!  :)   

♥ Tammy ♥

♥ Family Fun ♥

Hi friends!  How's your summer going so far?  It's supposed to be HOT here later in the week....mid 90's.  I can't complain too much though because we have had some milder days this year (actually had a spring), especially for June in this area!

Our days have been a buzz of activities ever since we finished Algebra!  :)

Joy and I got to get dressed up......and wear our sundresses and cowgirl boots for the first time......to a wedding!  :)

Saturday (a week ago), we attended the wedding of a long-time friend of our family.  I thought the vows were beautiful!

Samantha and Michael



Joy with Sam

I didn't get a picture of Sam in her wedding gown, but it was a beautiful mermaid style gown.....she changed into another dress for the dancing at the reception, which was when I brought out my phone camera.

Joy was right there dancing with all the young girls.  Luke didn't like sharing her.  :)

This is Joy and long time friend, Katie Beth.  I have pics of these two from the age of two on up! It doesn't seem possible they are this old....they're growing up too fast. 

Instead of throwing rice or bird seed, the guests released balloons as the bride and groom left. I thought that was really pretty!

This wedding must have got Luke to thinking......he told Joy that when she gets married, he's going with her!  :) 

Knowing the dad of the bride and the cut-up that he is, we knew the father/bride dance wouldn't be an ordinary sentimental one of the sorts.....so Jason had his phone video camera ready.  And we were right!  :) I thought I'd share this for a smile today.  And yes, that is my husband laughing in the background!  :)  His laugh has been known to stop a show before (and make his kids want to hide under their seat)!  Lol!  It takes it a few seconds to begin the song that they dance to...and then make sure you keep watching past the 2 minute and 30 second or so mark....that's when the fun begins!  :)



Then last Sunday evening we took the kids to a local carnival.  The carnival usually comes in the spring (around Easter) and then again in the fall.....so this one was a little surprise.  The kids spotted it right away and asked Dad if they could go.  And so we did.  :)

Joy has always been a little daredevil when it comes to riding rides, even as a little thing.

And you know how Luke loves to be with Joy......well he hung with her on every ride that he was tall enough to ride.

He wasn't that excited over the carpet slide because he slipped off the carpet and did a little tail spin coming down on his belly.  After that, he was done with that.  He was content to watch Joy slide down it.

And then this past Thursday, I took the kids to the Pink Palace Museum.  We had a great time there as well.

Creepy, huh?  Some Indian tribe did this!

For me, the highlight was this vintage cupboard and stove though.  That would be what got my attention!  :)

These days, we've been hanging around the house doing a little more of this.......

Life is good.....enjoying these summer days of family fun!  :)

♥ Tammy ♥

Pinned it, Made it! Monday ~ Week 43 ~

Hi there!  So glad you joined me today for Pinned it, Made it! Monday!   :) 


This week I'm revisiting an old post made before I ever began Pinned it, Made it! Monday - back when I first discovered Pinterest....early last summer.   Since I didn't really try anything new this week from Pinterest, I thought I'd share this again, since some of you may not have seen it.   It's SO easy and kids love it.  It's a fun thing to do with things you more than likely have on hand at any given time. 

It is toast painting!  Here's the original pin:

Source

All you need is bread, milk, and food coloring.

Joy and Luke enjoyed this tremendously!  And as I recall, Luke ate every single piece of toast.  :)  For my original post, click here.

Now it's your turn!  Have you got something to share that you've tried out from Pinterest?  Just link up below and grab the button from my button page at the top of the blog!  We'd love to see what YOU have been up to!    And thanks for participating!  :)

Have a great week!

♥ Tammy ♥  

♥ Our First Strawberry ♥

Since we love strawberries around here, we planted our own this year.  You may remember us getting that space ready awhile back.

Well as I figured.......the rabbits (alot of them around here) and birds love them too.  So much so that just about the time we were getting ready to have ripe ones to pick, they would be gone....either the birds or the rabbits were treating themselves.   It was so disappointing!. 

So......we picked up a fake snake at Walmart to put out there to hopefully deter the birds and rabbits.  It was so funny when we went to check out at the register, the clerk wouldn't even touch it....she asked Joy to scan it.  Lol! 

Anyway, I guess it's working because we got our first big juicy strawberry!  Doesn't it just make you want to reach out and pop it in your mouth?

We move the snake around from time to time just in case we have some smart birds or rabbits.  :)

Can you guess who enjoyed that first strawberry?

If you guessed Luke, you would be right.  Joy had her eye on it, but Luke beat her to it! 

We're looking forward to many more!

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your weekend!  :)

♥ Tammy ♥ 

Faithful Friday - "Exercising Faith"

For the past couple of weeks, I've been reading the book, God's Smuggler, aloud to Joy.  It has made me realize just how weak my faith really is.  This guy (the author - known as Brother Andrew) worked behind the Iron Curtain smuggling Bibles into those communist countries during the height of the Cold War.  I admire him so much and praise God for men like "Brother Andrew".

It is amazing to me how strong his faith was (and still is) and how he exercised it to the greatest extent, fully expecting God to come through for him, which of course, God always did.....from getting him through security checks into countries where Bibles were in clear sight in his suitcase or vehicle - yet he was allowed through.  Many times Andrew would pray, "Lord you know those Bibles are in clear view in my suitcase or in my little Volkswagen.....would you please let them be hidden from their eyes", and there are amazing stories of how he made it through time after time.

Then there were the times when he needed an exact amount of money for his ministry, for tuition, to print Bibles, etc.., and it was so exciting to see how God provided exactly what he needed, sometimes at the very last possible moment, when most folks (including me) would be ready to say that it just wasn't going to happen this time.  But he also tells of the times when God urged him to do something that he really didn't want to do, like giving away money to a homeless person who would "probably just blow it in a tavern", because he knew he needed that money for his mission field.  Yet he did what God said, and God turned around and immediately blessed him with what he needed when he needed it.

And then there was the time Andy prayed for a wife - a helpmeet to him - one that would love him and understand and put up with his life as a missionary....... and God gave him his precious wife, Corrie, who has been by his side all these years as they live out their ministry to God.

I can't even scratch the surface of the many times Andrew exercised his faith, fully putting his trust in God in the smallest and largest of circumstances.  This book has brought tears to my eyes many times as I read how God provided every.single.time.  And it was also fun to see that Andy was like me in a way - always trying to guess how God would provide - and God with his sense of humor, never did it the way he would guess, but always His way - a way Andrew called The Royal Way (the way only a King would do - never stooping to lowly ways).  :)

I've enjoyed sharing these stories, or experiences as I prefer to call them, from the book with Jason on our walks in the evenings as we talk about our desire to live out that kind of faith - to exercise it to its fullest extent.  It seems so hard, yet I know that what God did for Andrew, He can and will do for me.  After all He's the same yesterday, today, and forever!

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

 

Hebrews 13:8

And God will do the same for you too!  Wouldn't it be great to exercise our faith to the fullest every day and just see what God can do? 

Do YOU have a special testimony or story of a time that you fully trusted and exercised your faith and God came through for you?  It is encouraging to share these stories with each other!

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Thanks so much for joining me today for Faithful Friday.  For more Faithful Friday entries, click on Joy's button above, and better yet, link up your post! 

Have a great weekend!  :)

 Blessings,

♥ Tammy ♥