Sunday, April 29, 2018

Sunday Verses

short devotional on having hope and praising God no matter what
Happy Sunday! The saying around Montana is, " If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes." That has proven true this spring with snow, warm sunshine, rain, and wind all occurring within a few hours. Life is like Montana's weather--always changing and unpredictable. Hope is the common thread that weaves through life's ups and downs. Choosing to hope continually keeps us moving forward when we don't want to. Hope is something we can hold on to, trust and rely on, and rest in when we need to. Look for hope and know that praising God through life's ever-changing seasons anchors us and spurs us forward through our daily lives. 

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Upcycling Old Books

Okay, whenever I do something with old books, I feel like I need to have a disclosure: very few old books are worth money, thousands of old books are thrown out daily by thrift stores, and if it is sitting on a shelf collecting dust, it is better to find a new use for it.

buy old books form the thrift store to upcycle
So, there you go. But, if you are a bibliophile you may want to go to another post.

Sunday, April 22, 2018

Sunday Verses

how to look forward and not dwell on the past
Happy Sunday! Yesterday at my daughter's track meet, due to a glitch in the time recording system, she ran the hurdles race two times in a row. She ran the race better the second time and got a PR (personal record) in it. Second chances can be a good and welcome thing. God gives us do-overs as he works things out that may not have succeeded in the past. God tells us to try again, that the next time won't be like it was before. I am thankful to be loved by a God who doesn't want us to dwell on past mistakes, but rather gives us a fresh start, over and over if necessary. Instead of focusing on what has gone wrong in the past, look forward to the new things Jesus is doing in your life.

Sunday, April 15, 2018

Sunday Verses

devotional on God loving and delighting in you
Happy Sunday! As a parent, seeing our kids do and experience what they love brings us joy. Knowing the people we love are happy, makes us happy. Jesus feels the same way about us. He loves seeing us enjoying life, having fun, laughing, and doing the things that delight us. God takes pleasure in us, in YOU, and he is pleased when we humbly and fully savor this life. And, because he values us, he gives us the gift of salvation--a gift we can rejoice in and be thankful for. Amen?

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Rustic Chippy Farmhouse Shelf

I am in show preppin' mode, which means I am a little crazy this week. I go through stages before a show: 1.) I have plenty of time, I will get so much made. 2.) I am doing great (pat on the back). 3.) Crud, that took longer than I expected. 4.) I don't want to do the show, I am going to quit and not go. And finally 5.) It is what it is, I didn't get it all done, but I did alright!

Today I am stage 4! In 24 hours I will get to stage 5. 

Here is a bookshelf I built for the show.
Rustic Chippy Farmhouse Shelf

This piece was inspired by some scrap barnwood boards I had that were too short for many things. I decided they would be perfect for a little bookshelf. 

Rustic Chippy Farmhouse Shelf

Sunday, April 8, 2018

Sunday Verses

short devotional on letting go
Happy Sunday! If you like motivational quotes like I do, you have probably heard things such as: never, ever give up, believe it to achieve it, and that the tough keep going when the going gets tough. These are all good words of wisdom, but there are instances when we need to stop and need to let go in order to receive God's best for our lives. Letting go of our ideas and hopes for ourselves and our children is hard. It means we have to give up on what WE think is best and trust that God has something better. To let go we need to really believe that God wants good things for us and embrace his ways and look forward to what HE has planned. Surrendering our intentions to God is not easy, but it always better.

Monday, April 2, 2018

Red Chippy Farmhouse Work Table

When you hear farmhouse style do you think black and white and JoAnna Gaines? I think most folks do nowadays. But, when I hear farmhouse I think green and red and yellow and white. I think of furniture that has been hobbled together from bits and pieces in the barn over a long winter.

And that is what I had in mind when I built this piece last week.

use reclaimed wood to great an authentic farmhouse work table

Sunday, April 1, 2018

Sunday Verses

short Easter devotional on hope
Happy Sunday and Happy Easter! Spring in Montana can be disheartening. I am always looking for signs that warmer days are on the way: robins nesting, gophers in the fields, tulips and daffodils pushing through the snow. Some years it seems that these signs forget to return in a timely manner. But, even if I don't see them when I want to, I KNOW warmer days and summer will eventually return. Easter is the celebration of Jesus's resurrection--the reminder that when the worst possible thing happens, there is room for hope. Hope looks forward, perseveres, and allows us to have faith in possibilities, even when we do not see it. This Easter let's celebrate the gift of hope. And, if you feel hopeless, hold on to what you cannot see, keep your eyes on the empty tomb, and let Jesus fill you with HIS hope.