ch-ch-ch-changes {pt. 2}

Central calendar wall with chalkboard paint...brilliant.

{I can say that because I didn't come up with the idea.}

Man, not many August plans...wanna help me fill it in? 

yarn along

I'm joining Ginny at small things where she spotlights two of her {and my} favorite things, knitting and reading.

Here is a peek at what's in my knitting bag today:

ch-ch-ch-changes {pt. 1}

As with many things I have a love/hate thing going with our house. I mean, we weren't supposed to be living here again, right? But here we are...God had different plans. And it's a good house.

There's no more living in-the-meantime, so I've undertaken some projects. A couple changes on the first floor have helped with a more settled, organized, make-it-my-own-again vibe.

The love-hate balance is tipping slightly back to the love side.

a thrifted dresser to organize hide our school stuff, subsequently skeeving my bed-bug phobic husband out....win-win 

{I found it with this paint on it...perfect color, just enough shabbiness}

the $2 globe was spotted by my MIL at a garage sale - she has thrifty eyes

{can bedbugs stowaway in a globe? see the world and all, right?}

earlier this spring I made the roman shades...and curtains and a table runner ~ went a little crazy with *burlap love*

I realize our corner smacks of a swimming shrine with the ribbons and trophies {merely for participation on the team.} They were stored in the kids' rooms, but whenever we have visitors they race up to retrieve them and show them off. They'll soon be put back.

And I am now noticing that I will have to find some more significant shelving if I am to homeschool two kiddos in this house {beginning in about 4 weeks...eeeek}...another surprise plan. Really, I thought we'd be in a different house by now with a different floor plan. But it's all good.

I'll share another little change that makes me happy...soon.

Downpour

{Whaaaaaat? Two posts in two days...could it be? Is the blahggy slump over? Don't become overheated with excitement...probably won't last...I can always think of reasons not to write.}

Just wanted to share these pics of two kiddos whose mother banished them to the out-of-doors for their excessive bickering, closed her eyes, heaved a sigh of relief, looked out the window expecting to see misery and moping and instead saw this.

Traffick Jam recap-long overdue

Better than a rain dance, just plan a pool day with me...I'll roll into the parking lot and so will the storm clouds. We're 3 for 4 in swim dates cut short by thunder. Oh, well.

Soooooo....I never told you about the walk, did I? Well, because of your support I was able to donate over $300 to the cause. Whoa! Thanks to you!

Two sweet friends walked with me. Meeting up with the other walkers at a park, we arrived early (never happens...) and got situated with our fanny packs (no, not really.) After registering and meeting the walk organizers, we headed to the little girls room  (all three of us being bladder-challenged) and emerged to get our walk on. Armed with route maps, we walked towards the park entrance and came to the first leg of the  route, but we couldn't get a visual on the group that had begun before us, so we weren't sure which direction to start. Another pocket of people gathered a bit later and aimed us in the right direction. Whew.

A young high school student had organized the Columbus walk. On a mission the previous year, she was changed by the people she met in Cambodia. She felt compelled to do something in her part of the world to help those halfway around it. What a powerhouse and what an honor to meet her. She's the kind of person I want to be when I grow up. We walked for a bit with her mom.

Being bladder challenged made for an interesting walk through residential streets and others with office buildings closed for the weekend, but we made do...always do.

About mile 9, I started to feel a little hitch in my giddy-up and we declared that mile the "cool-down." Sweet friends were troopers...even the one with a bum knee...I didn't know it even bothered her until days after the walk.

We finished in about 3 1/2 hours with a half-time break at McD's. Not bad and the weather was just right, warm but a bit overcast.

I'm planning to go back year after year. And the intrepid HS student is communicating about other events...film showings that bring more awareness to our community, press releases. Human trafficking is a global issue, happening all over the world, including the states. Much work to be done.

Here are three more intrepid ladies beating back the darkness in Cambodia. They are the ones loving on the kids, offering safety, compassion, and help for the kids caught in it. The money you donated, in addition to that donated around the country supports the centers they run.

Thank you.

what up?

whatchya been doin? 

who am I kidding, is there anyone even here still...

tap, tap...is this thing on?

what do you want to know?

no, actually...what do I want to remember from the last whirlwind weeks:

• long good morning hugs
• waking up girl stretched across my lap, watching Fraggle Rock...old school
• margaritas with friends
• best popcorn ev-ah at the drive-in
• sunset during worship at Creation
• bubblegum bubble blowing contests
• chore charts...that actually work
• dirty, filthy mini-feet...sure sign of a good day: when you have to scrub before bed
• boy who does what momma asks after only one request...I have countless examples
• hours of books on CD
• actually turning in reading charts for summer reading program...huzzah!
• friends following on interstate when the unexpected happens
• van with new smile (remember last summer's mishap? oh yeah, I never gave you the whole story...oops) and one new very special tire
• good books
• new babies with forever families...sniff & smile
• incredible young men who don't mind hanging out with middle-agers and school-agers (Susan, your boys are fantastic...and doppelganger alert: K reminds us so much of our nephew...wonderfully weird...the similarities, not the boys)
• embracing the people in my life as my family 
• fireworks
• campfire hair
• Sweet Man...keeping the place running
• hotel nights
• Sonic ice
• my out-stand-ing swimmer - Bean likes to walk to the wall to finish a race, afterwards exclaiming "I didn't know I could touch there, Mom!"
• wet hair and AC on a hot day
• carnie fries with malt vinegar
• painting rooms with wise friends
• watching a parade
• clean sheets dried on the line

Moments make life.