You couldn't hide it... even under a bushel.

Ok, first things first, men, I apologize.  This blog has momentarily taken a rather sharp turn into a DYI episode of "Martha".  So, if you want to ditch me during football/hunting season, and check back when our new home excitement has died down a bit, feel free to do so, I bear no ill will towards you.

Everybody who's still on board, check out what my little rock star and I worked on this evening.  Remember those lamps?  (I know, I know, "Again with the lamps?")






These are the ones that we liked.










These are the ones we bought at a thrift store. We were psyched and ready to refurbish....

But then, we discovered some "Mad Tea Party" furniture, which we also adored.







So, we decided to combine the two styles.

      This is what we came up with.  We don't have a lamp shade yet, but we are very happily hunting.

                




What do your kids love to do?  Dive deeply into it with them.

            






You'll be their greatest hero... I promise.





The Extroardinary Ordinary,

Me

Attencion! : Quarte Tres Chique Pour Moins que 9 Euros!

I'm thinking fancy thoughts today - hence the title "en francais".  I'm also thinking, "I hope no French speakers read that, 'cause, I'm pretty much just fakin' it."   

Today, I just couldn't hold out any longer.  I satisfied my "treasure-hunting" itch.  My daily "bedroom decor" discussions with Lulu have pushed us both into a state of ravenous obsession.  (I'm finally discovering a side of her that ISN"T Michael.) We are going to rock out her new room like no room has ever been rocked (well, at least cheaper than any room has ever been rocked).  As per her request, we are going with a black and white room, with teal ("Mom, you know that color that is in the yellow crayon box? It's called blue-green, I think, yeah, blue green.") accents.  Here are some things I collected at a local thrift store.

I LOVE decorating with clothes. It sounds crazy, but a nail, a cute hanger, and the right outfit, can become a really cool statement piece.

Remember that photo of the lamps that inspired us so much? I found two that pleaded with me in the store.  "Choose us! Choose us!", they cried.  I exuberantly answered them - out loud.  I wish I could stop talking to inanimate objects in public.  I know I look like a lunatic. (Do lamps beckon to other people too?  Maybe I am slightly mad ...)

 Pair the new treasures with these nifty things we already had,

and we have the beginnings of a totally "Lucy" living space.

And, dun dun dun! (that was suspense music) to stay true to the purpose of this blog, I must tell you why things like this inspire my daughter and I.  You see, we have been given the "mind of Christ".  We see beauty and possibility in things that some might consider junk.  Christ sees immeasurable beauty in you, regardless how you may be treated by others, or how you view yourself even.  If you give yourself completely over to Him, he'll shine you right up.  And when all the dust and gook is removed, you'll recognize yourself as the treasure He saw all along. 

A tout a l' heure!

Christina Lusk

My seven year old teenager...

She begged for this topiary everytime we visited Bed Bath & Beyond.
Eventually, we bought it.  But we went 50/50 for it.

Oi vey... My fairy princess reads words like, symbolic, and phenomenon.  But that's not all, I have been recently been informed that my second grader would like a complete bedroom remodel upon moving into our new house.  Request number one:  No more pink.   Boy, talk about being blindsided.  Where did this come from?  Only two years ago I took her to the store to pick out her bedding and paint colors.  Results: Ballerina sheets and cotton candy wall color.   Petition #2: Black and white please... with smidges of teal.   #3:  An office space?  Really?  Are you certain you're seven? Um, sure, Ok.

Found this bear at Goodwill, repainted it, and gave it to her for Christmas.

She made the painting in the frame in the background..

It took some some hidden tears to come to grips with the fact that my little girl is evolving into a bonafide young woman, and sooo quickly, but once I leveled with myself... She and I dove into home improvement mode.  Here are some things that are inspiring us this time around...

LOVE THIS - Lu's getting one awesome ceiling -minus the $4,000 chandelier.  Sorry, babe, maybe next time.

For "the office".  Crazy.  

This is going to be a fun art project for sure!

Hmm, maybe teal bedding?  Or her desk chair?  

I love you, Lucy.  I am looking forward to our upcoming adventures.  You are a priceless treasure.  Thanks for being so thoughtful, generous, and fearless.  Sometimes, I think I need to be more like you.

Notes like this, help me feel like we're doing a decent job.  Thankfully, we find them quite frequently.  Real ego boosters in times of need.

Proverbs 22:6 

              Train ^[a] a child in the way he should go,
       and when he is old he will not turn from it.

Wordless Wednesday - Story Time.

"When reading to friends, you mustn't forget to show them the pictures."

Matthew 7:12 (Amplified Bible)

¹²So then, whatever you desire that others would do to and for you, even so do also to and for them, for this is (sums up) the Law and the Prophets.

Have a nice day!
   

Daydream believer and a homecoming scene...

To save you the immense effort of clicking a tab, I am going to summarize yesterday's entry.  We found a house.  We LOVED it.  We placed a bid, so did many other people.  We gave God liberty to intervene on our behalf.  That pretty much brings us up to the present.

We got "the call".  It was a call of congratulations.  We (the right reverend and myself) leaped onto the ottoman at the same time and jumped up and down on it like a couple of screamy school girls. (I changed my password on this account, Michael, so don't waste your time trying to delete that.) And just because you're all (as in the five or so of you who will probably read this sometime before next year) so interested in what it looks like,  I bummed some photos of my new dwelling offline just before the listing post was removed from the internet.

This is my staircase.  (giggle, giggle... I have a staircase!)

Living room - (Notice the French entry doors!)

Two car garage, full basement, master suite, green shutters... 

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To the left of the upstairs window is a Hall of closets leading to a huge master bath.

Of course, there are some things yet to do to make it 100% us.  But, I think that's half the fun of getting a new house.  Don't you?

PS.  Thank you, God.  Your guidance, goodness, mercy, faithfulness, and peace are responsible for everything good in our lives, but right now, ESPECIALLY OUR HOUSE! 

Also, please enjoy this llama.