Swift Kick in the...Pride

I've said it before and I'll have to say it again--pride is such a stumbling block for me.

There's an issue I've been wrestling with for years, an area of my life that is very confusing and causes so much stress and so many bad feelings.

And associated with that is someone who I've not spoken to in years, whose name causes my stomach to ache, literally, with regret.

I've been so confused about all this for so long, and Sunday morning at church I finally, finally listened to what that still small voice was saying.

Apologize.

Admit it:  I was a jerk.  Yup--those exact words have been running through my mind since Sunday.  

So simple, but I've overlooked that truth for seven long years, trying to find fault everywhere else.

I was a jerk.

Admitting that to myself was eye-opening, and it led me to a larger truth:  my heart's been wrong for seven years, and I've been wandering, trying to find a path that will lead to happiness and fulfillment.  Wandering is the operative word.

My prayer is that I am able to change relationships that have been damaged by my attitude and ego this past 7 years, and possibly restore the broken friendship.  I don't know if that will happen, or how it would work...but this old friend will be getting a note in the mail from me in a couple of days, and I hope that she will forgive me.  And if she doesn't, that's her right.  But I had to confess and apologize.  Just knowing that has taken a weight off, and I'm heading into the next season refreshed and renewed, with a singleness of purpose that's been missing for way too long.

Craft Fails, and a Little Fun

My niece is leaving for college this week.  I had a few last-minute projects to wrap up for her birthday and to help her take care of a few details...and it felt like Friday was one LONG craft fail.

Sigh.

She wanted to take her large Audrey Hepburn canvas with her, but can you imagine a 40"ish canvas in a dorm room?  Or in a Honda, for that matter?  So I had the idea that I'd just make her a dorm-sized one.

Fine.  Then I realized I used the wrong picture, and I should have made her dress black.  So I put it in the closet and figured I'd redo it when it got closer to her birthday.  Or, you know, Friday, the week before she left for school.  The kids and I went to pick up spray paint because in the meantime, Keely had requested a Jackie O canvas like the Audrey Hepburn one...only in pink.  So, I thought, sure--what can go wrong?

Um, it could be HIDEOUS.  That's what could go wrong.

And the new Audrey?  Yeah, not sure what I did wrong but the paint just wasn't right.  Sigh.

I had the idea to do a 3rd hanging for the group, so I picked the Coco Chanel quote, "A girl should be two things, classy and fabulous."  I wanted to do something cool, like Keely, so I thought an ombre background would be neat.  Only...it blew onto the ground before it was dry, and I ended up with dirt in the paint.  Bleh.

I wasn't deterred--I made a vinyl stencil of the quote and spray painted it (attempted to spray paint is more like it) onto a chalk/magnet board.  And I didn't get a picture, but it was BAD.  Lesson learned:  why stencil when I could have just used the vinyl I pulled out to make a stencil?  Double sigh.  So, my Boy and I put our heads together and came up with a new idea for the magnet board--a cool scrapbook paper and her monogram, which she is crazy about right now.  But more on that in a minute.

So this is what she ended up with:  a remade magnet board, and an initially-rejected Audrey.


While I was at Keely's last week helping her pack (you know I live to organize--it was like Christmas for me!), we found her laundry bag.  I was all, sure, I can put your name on it, no problem.

Problem:  White fabric paint didn't stand out on the lime mesh.  So we tried pink.  And it didn't really work, so I took it outside and used dark pink spray paint.  Only...I sprayed outside of the stencil.  And the stencil slipped at some point in the process, so the Y was smudged.  And the fabric paint adhered to the paper I'd put in between the mesh layers and even a soaking in the washing machine didn't get it...oh, I wanted to cuss!

So, I ended up running to WalMart and getting a replacement bag, and cutting vinyl to make her name. But, the place where I press the vinyl was closed, so I'll get it done tomorrow and put it in the mail.  Geez.

The whole monogram thing started when Keely asked if I could make a monogram for her new computer case.  I was like, sure--because I always say yes.  It's a sickness.  So, I learned that monograms are harder than they look.  But I figured it out, and I NAILED it.  Ha.   After a long day of craft fails, it felt good to knock out several vinyl monograms for her.  I went a bit overboard, though, and ended up sitting up for a few hours later than I should have weeding the vinyl.   It was totally worth it!   I also made a few for our cousin (Keely's freshman roommate!), which was fun.  Turns out, Ms are tough in this kind of monogram.  Who knew?

I wanted to do something fun for Keely, so I thought I'd make her a pajama shirt to go with some cute boxers.  So, I did.  And all was well...until I peeled off the wet stencil with ink on my hands and smeared white fabric ink on the shirt.  AAARGH!!!  Thank goodness it's just PJs...

Once we got going talking about what we COULD do with monogramming, vinyl, etc. it was hard to stop.  Keely wanted a monogram for her new lamp, so I was happy to oblige.  She put this one on herself--not bad for her first try!

...and then, like her aunt, Keely went a little nuts with the monograms.





And those are just the pictures she sent me--I suspect there are lots of things in her room that now bear her monogram.  :)  We had such a laugh over the constant stream of photos that James decided to have a little fun at Keely's expense, and posted these photos on her facebook page:

 I won't name names, but somebody actually thought we put those stickers on Bubby while he was sleeping.  Photoshop, friend...Photoshop.

I don't think I'm ready for Keely to go off to college, or Reagan to start high school, or Kayci to start her last year at Krause and Noble to start his last year of preschool...but time marches on, doesn't it?

When you give a kid a camera...

Noble woke up ready to go the other day, but he had to wait on the rest of us.


Luckily, he figured out a way to keep busy...






































And my favorite:

Sweet Thought...Bad Pics!

My Boy and I were joking yesterday about something I wanted to blog about but I told him I didn't want to use his photo on my blog...don't want you guys to get spoiled or anything!  So, here are some phone pics because that's how I roll.

A sweet friend had a baby girl last week.  Since baby makes 3 sweet girls, I had to do something for the big sisters, too.  I know the flowers don't match exactly, but I saw them and couldn't resist. Besides, they made a plain paper bag so fun!  (I'm goofy...I folded the bags so that they were small, medium, large...just like the girls.)

Fortune? Cookies

Finishing lunch with Nana & Dan at the Chinese Buffet...got a kick out of the knuckleheads' fortune cookies. Try Truth cookies:





These have already come true!

Control Freak Who?

That's the punch line to one of my favorite jokes...and also one of my biggest stumbling blocks. They say the first step is admitting you have a problem, right? So, I walk in after Noble finished making his bed.


The control freak in me wanted to straighten it--we have company today, for Pete's sake. But the preschool teacher Mommy in me was just happy that Noble makes his own bed, and is actually improving...so I went with her. Happy Friday, y'all!

Morning Buzz

I love sitting here, listening to my Boys play.

This morning, Noble is Buzz Lightyear and Daddy is Zurg.

photo:  from Daddy & Bubby's trip to HEB a few weeks ago :)

I hope this is what Noble remembers, and chooses to do with his own kids.  I know James has freelance work to do, but I love that he stepped away from the computer just to PLAY.

It's something I wish I was better about--just PLAYING.  Ironic, no?  That used to be my job.