my desert mission

It's hard to believe that I've been home for a month already! and boy, has it been a busy month!

Most of my friends knew I was traveling to the desert, but a few didn't. I spent a week, along with 40 other Jacksonvillians, in Dubai. yep, that's in the Middle East. We served overeseas aid workers. I was able to share my skills as a hairstylist to bless these faithful servants. We did about 60 haircuts and 20 hair colors. Below is a picture of the space we used as our hair salon. For the M's, it was like being in a salon back in the states. The ladies were chatting, the blow dryer was going, that hair product smell, and we even had People Magazine. :) The M's loved it. They were so appreciative. They kept expressing their gratefulness....although, I feel like I was the one receiving the blessing. When the M's were in my chair, I was able to hear their hearts. and their stories. Such a blessing! Many of the M's have a two day drive into a city. TWO DAY! For things like groceries, supplies....or a simple haircut. I was even able to teach a few ladies how to cut their husband's or son's hair.

Honestly, I can't imagine what it would be like to have that calling on my life. but I could tell that it was only out of a grateful heart that they answer the call. It's hard, and there are risks, but there is no greater joy than serving our loving Father.

This the conference room where the M's met daily for the week:

(there were about 160 total)

Besides working with the M's, the desert was my favorite part of the trip. I didn't want to go out to the desert, but Jill (above) and Jean covinced me to go. I am so glad! The desert was beautiful! BEAUTIFUL! The sand was such a pretty rusty-orange color. The desert just went on as far as the eye could see. It made me feel so small... and just made God even more amazing.

The World's tallest builing, The Burj Khalifa.

hello from the desert.

hello from the derert! Having an amazing time in the UAE! I must say I didn't expect the desert to be so beautiful. The views are breath taking. God is so big, and I am so small.

bedtime prayer

(mommy) Dear Jesus,

Thank You for Daddy

Thank You for Mommy

(Jolie) Thank You for Jolie...

Thank You for haircuts

Thank You for eyes

Thank You for mouth

Thank You for chin (as she points to her chin)

(mommy) Thank You for kisses... as I give her a Good Night kiss

We Love you, Jesus. Amen.

Every night we go through the bedtime routine... bath, pjs, read a few books and say a bedtime prayer. I wish I could remember every moment of Jolie's precious childhood. but I know I wont remember everything. Tonight was one of those moments that I just want to remember forever. ♥ She is so sweet and innocent...and apparently thankful for haircuts :P She pretends to give her Daddy haircuts every moment he allows. And she's really thankful for her chin. Maybe because her little double chin is ticklish...not sure. :) She is also counting. While reading a book tonight she started counting the trees illustrated on the page. one, two, three....ten, eleven, twelve...bout-teen, bout-teen, bout-teen. She makes me SMILE :)

Jolie helpind Daddy wash the cars, just another thing she loves to do with her Daddy.

blushing bride

the beautiful miss Lauren
pre wedding...calm as a cucumber.
her hair or extensions?





you wouldn't know it, but those are extentions!
they matched perfectly (yay! go me!) so I had to take a quick pic!
Congrats to the happy NEW married couple, Lauren & Justin!

"L" is for {love}

"L" is for love...
and I L♥VE my family!

"M" for Mark...the love of my life
"J" for Jolie...the princess
{The "J" pendant has the crown on the back, cuz she is a princess, for sure! The "M" has the ♥ on the back}

You can customize the charms to be just about anything you want...

Art Under Glass

my family...I keep them close to my ♥

right now

1. She is very affectionate, with just about everyone...but Mommy and Daddy in particular AND her boyfriend Talan.
2. She likes to "cut" Daddy's hair...or she'll tell me how pretty my hair is.
3. Yesterday she told me I had pretty eyes...how sweet!
4. She is now at the age where she PreTenDs.... pretends to shop throughout the house with her grocery cart, or pretend to make dinner, or the cutest...She pretends to be at the Beach in the living room. She will put out her beach towel, put on her sunglasses...
5. She's Mommys bff...we go everywhere together.
6. Some Sunday mornings we go to Panera. This last Sunday she said, "look Mommy, the muffie store!" Apparently she really loves those chocolate chip muffies...I know, bad...but she's too cute to say no. :)
7. We have to 'trick' her into taking a nap these days, so we both lay on the couch, and in no time she's sound asleep.

8. Her and Samson (aka puppy) are buddies
9. She now likes her piggies to be painted
10. She is 100% her Daddy's girl. She adores that man...as do I. We miss him when he's working nights. but when Daddy's home, she is all about her Daddy ♥

When ever she sees a cop car, she gets all excited, thinking it's HER Daddy. "Look Mommy! Daddy's car!" Sometimes I get excited too...wishing it was him. We love the man in our life!

Hair soaks up oil spills

Watch this video to see how Matter of Trust is able to recycle a great natural resource, HAIR! We can do our part to help...

kitchen nook

before: blah

after:

I have finally come around to finishing up this kitchen corner project I started back in March! It was taking me a while to get 'inspired'. I couldn't decide just what to put on the walls. I ended up hanging this old window given to me from a friend. The window has been sitting in my garage for about a year...patiently waiting for a new home. I love how old and weathered it looks! and how a simple old window can be art.

I had also been on the hunt for pillows, but couldn't find just what I wanted.

So, I MADE pillows!

This was my first solo sewing project! They aren't perfect, but they still look really cute! The large pillow in the back is burlap with a big chic button. The two matching pillows have small orange designs, almost like pineapples on the them. And the small stripped pillow was made with fabric from an old bed skirt. I will probably make another stripped pillow or two, since I have the fabric. :)
I love our new kitchen nook. This is where we have breakfast every morning. Jolie loves to climb up onto the bench all by herself. (as she will tell me) She's getting too big!

Never Forget...

Happy Memorial Day!

To all who are serving, or have served our great country...

Thank You!!!

Jolie and I went to St. Augustine to attend the Memorial Day Service held in the US cemetery. We joined our friends Shawn, Terra and Cheryl to remember and thank all those who serve. Jolie's bff Talan just happened to be there too. :) I'm really glad we drove down there... not only was it nice to see friends, but it was good to 'pause' and pay respect to our soldiers.

kitchen table

not a great photo...but here's what a little paint can do...
I was feeling bored with my kitchen table. Mark and I purchaced this table while we were engaged, almost 7 years ago. (wow!)
I kept day dreaming about new tables....
I had visions of tables and chairs dancing in my head.
ok, not really.
but with a toddler, why buy new and take the chance of it getting bumped and bruised? A little bit of paint and distressing made it feel like a peice of furniture. I'm really happy with how it looks! I'm satisfied...for now ;)

backseat driver

I LOVE driving...and looking to the backseat to see this sweet face!!!

What can I say? She just makes me so happy :D

Happy Birthday, DaDDy!

trip 2

our mini Disney vacation...

Out of everything, the teacups were Jolie's favorite! She called it "tickle my tummy"...and rode the teacups 4 times. :) She was also very excited about the Dumbo ride. Mark and Jolie rode Dumbo once....which is enough, considering the long line. Jolie had so much fun! Mommy and Daddy were pooped by the end of day 2. :)
Back in March, Mark and I volunteered at a thrift store through the "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day" program. We had two free vouchers, which we were able to upgrade to a 4 day pass for $21! We couldn't pass that up! So, we were able to have a mini Disney vacation. I, personally, love Epcot. Especially since there is a Garden theme going on at the moment. The flowers were stunning!

Grandma & Grandpa came to FL

they came....so we went to DISNEY! Jolie had an amazing first visit at the 'happiest place on Earth'. She loved Mickey and Minnie....and now has a new obsession with Snow White.

It was so nice to have Mom and Dad in town. When the arrived at the airport, Jolie ran to Mom "Grandma!!!" She also became very attached to Dad...which just melted his heart. :)

Easter

I've been such a slacker....but here are few pics from Easter Sunday. We had dinner with some great friends, the Cockley's. Jolie and I were so happy that Mark was able to join us for a little bit. (in between his night shifts) It was a day full of BLESSINGS!

paneled ceiling

I would LOVE to do this...

to our ceiling in the kitchen and dining area.

Mark and I were one week from signing papers on the house. Things were going smoothly...we had all our moving arrangements planned. Part of the contract on the house was that the previous owner has to put a new roof on the house. Which was great for us! Being that our house is 40 years old and in Florida (were everything is built right on the cement slab) any re-piping is done so in the attic. Well....while re-roofing, a pipe was hit. Leaving our already old and ugly kitchen looking like this:We were within a week from closing! We were so upset...and almost walked away from the house. But that little nail allowed us to completely start over. Something that we wouldn't have been able to do for a few years. The kitchen was a hideous sight...but I had a vision...

There are still so many little things I'd love to do to the kitchen. The thing that bothers me the most about our kitchen is the ceiling. It is far from perfect. The texture isn't consistent. I can still see where the big gaping hole was. So...I've been thinking...

I love how the white paneled ceilings look. They really give a space the cottage flavor and comfort. I would just be tickled PINK if I could cover up our bumpy ceiling. The kitchen and dining room is one large, LONG room. The groves of the paneling would make the width of the room seem more balanced with the length. I'd also like to install more recessed lighting....cutting more holes into the ceiling before the re-do.

Here are few more pics for inspiration...

Don't you just love the idea? I do!

St. Simons Island

Yesterday we drove to St. Simon's Island, GA for the day. We started driving north intending to go to Savannah, but decided to turn off early. (an hour early...Savannah is 2 hours from our house) St. Simon's Island was such pleasant little surprise! It has such a quaint little village with shops and restaurants. Beautiful homes and gardens! I told Mark that I wanted to move there! I guess I'll have to settle for an overnight trip.

my 'timeout' corner

the kitchen corner: before....


the kitchen corner: a work in progress!

The more progress I make on it, the more I like it! First we had a bench built into the corner. It was a very lonely little bench for a while, but I'm starting to pull things together. The light fixture was found at Lowe's. I fell in love with it at first sight. I ♥ shabby chic! I found the *awesome* fabric at Joann's. It has all my favorite colors! ;) black, brown & beige! Next I'm going to attempt to make pillows. This has been a slow project...but thought I'd share my progress so far!

What should I do with the big bare walls???
an arrangement of plates?
an old distressed window?
shelving for plates & bowls?