Elephant for Dinner

Everyone has peaks and valleys, even as Christians we experience them. We learn to lean on the Lord during those times. In times of peaks we thank Him for all that He has given. In times of valleys we lean on Him for our strength. I have been in a valley for a while now. You set out in life as a young adult, get married and have all these ideals of what your life will be like at different stages. My life is very different than I had ever dreamed of. My husband is gone a lot on business which leaves me to raise the kids on my own. I am far away from family. I am homeschooling. Some of these things are so much better than I could have thought up and some were no where in my realm of thinking. Because of this valley my home is a direct reflection of my brain. I have been living in chaos, or as the FlyLady calls it, can't have anyone over syndrome. I know He wants my best in all I do, but sometimes I have a hard time doing it. I know He has a plan for me, a plan far better than I could ever imagine. But I am sitting in front of a very LARGE elephant that I need to eat....how do I eat it you ask?! With LeAnnes words of wisdom, one bite at a time. I am starting by pointing my feet in the direction of the peak and if it takes days weeks or months by golly I am getting to the top once again. I am going to lean on Him and find the strength I need to eat that darn elephant once and for all!! Pray for me cause I think I might need it....

New Year

School starts tomorrow. Spent most of the day working in the school room getting things ready. I will still need to do some more through the week once I see how our new schedule is. I love homeschooling and that little boys butt!!!!!

Paint Re Do

I hated the yellow of yesterday. Off to the custom paint store today and THIS is the color I was wanting. PPG Y1 or my description Lemon Chiffon.....MUCH BETTER

More More Progress

Before:

After (almost):

More Progress

A quick photo post of what I have been doing to my tiny trailer. I am finished with step one of a two step or maybe three step self paint job. I hand painted back on the shasta emblem I don't think I did too bad...Next up is a lot of measuring and taping then the yellow on the bottom half. I have nearly finished the inside also. Just some small jobs here and there left then it's all about the decor.

"Home" again

Why is it that no matter how long you have lived away from your parents you always call where they live "HOME"??!

I am in PA again, trying to put the final push into my tiny trailer. I so want to use it this summer and I am finally starting to see the light at the end of the trailer tunnel.

So as soon as I felt well enough, I loaded the kids and the dogs in the car and off we went.

Not sure if mom and dad realize the blessing of having the tiny trailer in their yard. It gives me far more incentive to come home more often.

Tomorrow will be a Birthday dinner for my dad. I don't think he knows about it yet, not that I was keeping it secret. I will post some highlights from the main event and maybe even an inside shot or two of the tiny trailer........

PenPals

Talk about two happy kids. There is just nothing like getting mail when you are little. The smile on Keegans face was priceless when he was opening the envelope!


Thanks Delena, those letters were awesome!

*edited to show a picture of me sick but on the way to recovery.

I think I'm dying......

I don't do sick very well! I'm a big baby....

one last thing about the Shasta

*image from www.retrorestoration.com

This will be what the final paint job on my Shasta compact will look like. The original paint scheme should be all white with an orangy red slash, however at some point one of the previous owners painted the hideous battle ship gray stripe it currently has. I am dreaming of the day that it is complete, wings and all...I truly would have loved a shade of pink, but instead will settle for a light pink ice box and girly chandelier over the sink.

**i am in bed with a terrible head cold, summer colds stink!!

Shasta Update

For those of you interested in the Shasta I have made a collection of the photos on Flickr. It shows the progress from the beginning up until my last visit home. My new counter tops have been installed along with the stove and sink. I still have a bit more painting to do along with the outside paint(which will make one of the biggest impacts). It is so close though I can almost taste it..

*follow this link for my floor plan, mine is the one on the bottom.

WIP

This:

Is slowly turning into this:

We are closing off a random entrance between the formal living room and the family room. It will give me more options for furniture placement and we can finally hang the TV. My hubby can't picture it yet, but he will see it was all well worth his effort in the end. I am now bracing myself for the dust that the drywall sanding will provide....

**side note: i took keegan to the dr today after a night filled with crying about his ears hurting. sure enough a double ear infection. the medicine should kick in tomorrow night.

Thanks Mr Flora

Last week we went down to Hatteras Island for a few nights and days with some great friends. We had a blast!! Rock Band until midnight every night and some card playing made for some late night fun with adults. During the day we were on the beach enjoying the sun and surf and friends. All because Mr Flora had to work there for the week and had a house to share.....WOO WOO!!

Just Back

Keegan when not under the weather:

We just got back in town today from an awesome few days with friends. God is good for giving me such wonderful people in our lives. I am blessed with AWESOME friends. But those stories will have to wait for another day, I have a dude that is sick. I brought him home early this morning cause he was burning up with fever. He says he hurts every where and he can't breathe out his nose. A summer cold, YUCK! Stay tuned for some great photos of the past few days and run down of all that happened.