love, life, and a smile

We had a fun time at the zoo this morning (a post on that later) with great friends. I am utterly exhausted so OF COURSE I needed a project to keep me awake (since the kids napped at the zoo and in the car - doesn't it always work out that way?). I've been wanting a Mumford & Sons quote displayed somewhere in our living room area that I can see every day. Their music and lyrics brings an instant smile to my face.

So here's a not-so-glam, but super quick project. I already had this frame on one of our living room bookcases with "family" on it. I just ripped off the paper from the circle scrapbook paper backing and replaced it with a quote I designed on the computer using a Pea Noodle font and one I found on another free site. It is just printed on color and printed on a piece of card stock. If you haven't checked out the fonts on the Pea Noodle website, you really are missing out. They are SUPER cute!

It says: "Where you invest your love, you invest your life" from their song Awake My Soul

Happy Thursday everyone!

Love to Cali

There is one song I remember my Gramps singing to me when I was a little girl, and now my mom and I both sing it to Eli. We tell him every time that Gramps used to sing this to us too. I'm not quite sure if he knows exactly what we are talking about but he definitely knows who Gramps is! His face lights up when we mention his (or Grams) name!

Grams & Gramps (and the whole Cali clan), here's some love from us to you!

Words: I love you, a bushel and a peck,

A bushel and a peck, and a hug around the neck,

A hug around the neck, and a barrel and a heap,

A barrel and a heap, and I'm talking in my sleep about you.

(You bet your pretty neck I do,

Doodle doodle doodle, doodle doodle doodle

Doodle doodle doodley doo - omitted by E)

I think if the videos were edited right, there would be a complete song in there somewhere. Just know that the tradition is being passed down and that we LOVE our Cali fam!

My comfort

Jesus says:

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)

I pray my SOUL will find rest in Him today and everyday.

Happy Monday!

A little switcheroo

I created a collage on our living room wall not long after we moved into our new house about a year and a half ago. I like the collage IDEA, but I felt like it was a little too busy for the wall above the couch and I just could NOT get used to the brown couches and the black picture frames together. I know some people are totally cool with it, and that's great. But there's just something about it that didn't look quite right to me.

SO, I've been thinking of making some large frames from old wood for a while, but soon figured out that making frames was a lot harder than it seemed. About 2 weeks ago, M had given me the day off to get some errands done. So, NATURALLY I made my way to DSW, Ross and Hobby Lobby. I'm VERY productive like that. :)

That day Hobby Lobby just happened to have all of their frames 50% off. I wanted to browse the sale but didn't really think I would find what I was looking for.

But then there they were. In all their glory. Beaming in a light shining from above.

Ok, not really. But they WERE just what I was looking for. Rustic, old, beautiful wood. And I love the coordination with the couches. It's a much cleaner look than before.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

When M got home from work, I showed him my project for the day and asked if he liked it. He proceeded to say, "Yeah, I really like it.....now can we keep it that way for at least a year?" I just laughed. Who is he kidding? And where would the fun be in that? I need the OPTION of rearranging, repurposing, recreating household items to keep my creative juices flowing. You ladies know what I mean. (At least that's what I told M to back up my opinion!)

{Paint Color: Sherwin Williams Rice Grain matched in Home Depot's Behr, Off-white fray swirl pillows-Marshall's, Suzani print pillow-Etsy shop, Picture Frames-Hobby Lobby}

Today, I am thankful

Today, I am thankful for answered prayers and for a gracious and loving Father who has chosen ME to be HIS.

Today, I am thankful for my first born.

Today, I am thankful for my baby boy.

But most of all, today, I am thankful for this man.

I am very undeserving to have a family like this and am thankful in a new way today.

I can't get you outta my head!

I have had these songs stuck in my head recently. Granted, I don't agree with EVERYTHING in the lyrics, but I seriously could listen to these over and over and over and over and.....

You get the picture.

Without further adieu, I present my songs of the week. (Oh, and I am always up for listening to new music, so please proceed with your recommendations!)

M and I were trying to find this show online last night and the only ones have all the background music tampered with. There's some legal issues since they used so many songs without permission (this was before all the copyright laws). Anybody who has ever watched this show knows that the music MAKES the show. We tried to watch an episode but it just wasn't the same. So sad.

Now, I can't get the theme song out of my head.

This one stirs up the wannabe hippie in me. Ahhh......LOVE it!

Mumford, how I love thee.

M used this as an example in youth group Wednesday night and it's been playing over and over in my head ever since. Thanks a lot. At least it's a good song.

And this one. Oh, this one. I just LOVE the sound of it. Beautiful.

What music have you been listening to?

Ode to P-Dub

Oh P-Dub, my P-Dub,

Thanks so much for coming

to the great city of Memphis,

To you I came a'running.

Your the coolest gal

and an awesome senorita.

You said we were "fun girls".

You really should have joined us for some 'ritas!

My life is now complete

For you brought Marlboro Man too.

It was the greatest Friday night

And I owe it all to you!

Disclaimer: All contents of the above poem may or may not be true. I may or may not have actually came "a'running". Don't embarrass me with flattery of my poetic abilities. I know I missed my calling.

Valley of Vision

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights; hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory. Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, that to have nothing is to possess all, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive, that the valley is the place of vision. Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine; let me find Thy light in my darkness, Thy life in my death, Thy joy in my sorrow, Thy grace in my sin, Thy riches in my poverty, Thy glory in my valley.

My soul needed to read and re-read and re-read this today.

I hope this was encouragement for you as well.

Here's a song based on this puritan prayer:

If we were neighbors....

I thought I would try out this post inspired by a friend's blog. It's a fun little writing assignment about a conversation that may take place if we were neighbors.

I'd hear a knock on the door eaaaarly in the morning.

We've been up since 6:00 and could use the company.

I'd secretly hope you were still in your pajamas because, Lord knows, I still am.

And probably will be until lunch.

It's that kind of day.

I'd greet you with a "howdy neighbor", trying my best to be funny.

You know I'm trying and give me a courtesy laugh.

I accept it.

I'd invite you in to my messy house but you don't even seem to notice.

Instead, you just push my pile of laundry aside and plop down on the couch.

I smile.

You ask what I've been up to.

I say that besides taking care of kids and the house, I've been trying to get back in shape.

And working my BUTT off.

I explain how I get discouraged sometimes because my body's just not the same as it was before kids.

You know I love the Beatles.

And, of course, think of the perfect song as encouragement.

We move on to talk about the weather and such.

About the snow.

The rain.

The earthquake.

Crazy. I'm glad we both agree.

I tell you we will be planting a vegetable and herb garden soon.

And tell you to stop by this summer anytime and pick some fresh veggies.

You tell me you have gardened before.

I'm ecstatic to have someone tell me how to do it.

I have NO idea what I'm doing.

You laugh and say, if I can do it ANYONE can.

I sure hope so.

I mentioned I got to meet Pioneer Woman this weekend.

She's my hero.

You say you love her too.

We talk about different recipes we've tried.

We go on to tell each other some light-hearted stories of funny things our kids have said.

Inappropriate ones.

Silly ones.

We laugh.

And laugh.

And laugh.

It's good for my soul.

You say you must go.

We plan to meet again soon.

I tell you thanks for stopping by and to feel free anytime.

LITERALLY.

We are at home every day and love the company.

Goodbye friend.