The things that have been running through my mind lately...

I have been feeling like I need to write in my journal lately, but every time I go to do it, something happens, and I don't have time. It makes me wonder how my mom managed to write in a journal for me until I was three or something.
Time has been passing too quickly for me. Another friend of mine just got married. She was lots younger than me! I don't feel old enough to be married... yet I have been for almost 5 years now. How did my husband get so old. ;) I can't believe I am married to someone who is 26. Never mind the fact that I am only two years younger.
It seems like just yesterday I was studying out things like where to go to school, and how to cram in enough practice before I took the ACT. Now I'm studying up on things like potty training tips, how to make enough money to pay the bills, and how to better assist an overwhelmed student who is also my husband.
Am I really old enough to have kids?
Jarom is turning 3 in a few months. I should throw him a birthday party.
I feel like my social life consists of discussions with a two year old. And yet somehow those conversations are rewarding. It makes me feel important that he can talk to me, and ask me questions that have simple answers. Someday I worry that I won't be able to answer the questions that he asks me, so I should probably enjoy these moments while they last.
Taysia is such a funny girl, and yet even now I can tell that she is going to be a handful. I watched her running on the grass outside today. She was laughing as the wind was blowing in her face. Her blond hair was blowing straight up, and the look on her face was one of curiosity and joy. Where did the time go between her being a tiny baby in my arms, to the picture of her in my mind running into the wind laughing.
I was looking at the pictures of Thayne and I on our wedding day, and remembering how nervous and excited i was that day. I was so worried about making the right choice. I was scared that I was jumping into marriage too fast, and didn't have a clue what I was doing. Yet inside of me, I knew that it was right, and perfect, and that I wanted nothing else than to be married to this man for the rest of my life.
How small those feelings were back then compared to now.
I feel like marrying Thayne opened a whole new world of blessings to me that I couldn't even imagine at that point in my life. Blessings that came in the form of tiny heartbeats, and fingerprints.
Its funny how when I think about all my blessings I have a hard time getting past these three. I guess when I really think about it, my family is all that really matters to me. What I did to deserve these blessings in my life I will never know. I feel so average. So far below anything special, and yet my blessings make me feel that somehow I am more. That I am worth more. That I am capable of more that even I know.
I believe that inside each person is more potential and strength than any of us can comprehend, and as we reach inward, to the best parts of ourselves, we find that strength - that potential - and watch ourselves become more than we ever knew we could be. It is all a matter of seeing good, being good, and doing good that unlocks that potential to ourselves and the world around us.

Always Creating Something New

Everyone knows that I love to sew, and craft, but I decided to try my hand at something a little different. Anna at knock off wood opened my eyes to all kinds of new possibilities.
This was my first attempt at making furniture. I decided to start with something easy; a nightstand for Jarom's room.

Her plans are SO easy to follow and I couldn't be happier with how this turned out!

I love how sturdy it is! This is one of those pieces of furniture that I know isn't going to end up on top of anyone because they decided to climb on it.

It is absolutely perfect!


You know what the best part is?
I made it by myself! Ok, Thayne helped a little, but really it was only because he wanted to try out the nail gun that we bought, and was a little jealous that I was the only one getting to use the tools. :)

And it cost me right around $15 to make! You can't beat that!!!

Diaper Clutch Tutorial

I finally finished it. Sorry for the wait.
GO HERE
for this.....

redecorating the bathroom

I have been busy these past couple of weeks. I think I have a terrible case of spring fever, and because I can't go out and plant a garden or anything like that I have started all kinds of projects. The first project: redecorating our main bathroom. For those of you who saw it before, you know how bad I needed to do this. The "decorations" that were in there before was a shelf that held Jarom's rubber ducks... quite the show piece, I know! : )


So, after deciding that I had a total of $0.00 to spend on it, I went right to work, working around the rubber ducky/bubble shower curtain, and blue towels that we already had. I have seen so much going on with burlap lately, that I wanted to try it myself. I also wanted everything to tie together the colors I had chosen (blue, black and cream).

I painted some frames that I already had black, distressed them a little,

added burlap, and then printed off a few bath time pictures of the kids,

adding their names, bubbles and other effects for fun.

That was one wall.

Next I decided to try painting the burlap to give it a slightly different look, yet still sticking with my theme. That's where the bubbles came in. I think they might be my favorite piece. They are so much fun, and really pulled the "bubble theme" out.

On my final wall I decided to make some shelves. They were so easy! I made them out of a scrap 1x4 that I got at The Home Depot for $1.01! Not too bad! The only thing that would have made them easier is if I had my chop saw a few days earlier.

That's right baby!!! Thayne finally gave in and bought me this. I have been wanting this for years, and yesterday it finally happened! (He thinks it is his, so don't tell him the truth) Actually, we got an AMAZING deal on it (and it came with a $199 table - free!), so we would have been crazy to not get it!

Confession: I am not a photographer, I don't even pretend to be one, so these pictures really don't do it justice. Not to mention, my bathroom is small enough that I can't even get a picture of a full wall unless I am standing in the corner of the tub, and even then...

But, I am so happy with how it turned out! Now I don't have to feel embarrassed every time someone asks to use our bathroom.

And.... one more addition, that I just made today - with my new saw I might add - Jarom's stool! (Made out of scrap 1x4s and 2x4s) Just tall enough that he can use it to go potty, yet sturdy enough to not tip like all his others have been. And it matches! Oh wait, you probably already noticed that.

The other things I have been doing?

1. planning and carrying out a super fun Primary quarterly activity. We had a missionary activity, where the kids received a call to different parts of the world, and went to different stations where they got to do fun activities and such.

2. refinishing a china hutch... it isn't done, but it is looking AWESOME!

3. Still sewing baby bibs.

4. Keeping up with two insanely active children. This should have been number 1 on my list!

5. Babysitting. . . .

I feel like it is time I slowed down a little and focused on a few more simple things.