Pantry Problems and tons of updated pictures(RENOVATION Remodel part number - who knows?)

  Yesterday, my hubs got home and just had to finish cutting the wood that had been delivered that afternoon, to fit in our pantry.So, he cut.  And cut.   And cut some more.

Finally around 10:00 or so – all the wood was cut for some awesome custom pantry shelves.  He just had to glue and nail them together (a quiet job.)

Then after we heehawed and managed to remove the door frame to insert the rather obnoxious shelving into a cramped pantry closet – it looked awesome.  Only one more unit to go….

11:00 p.m. – hubs walks into living room.  Sad face.  He whispers…"I cut the shelves wrong…they need to be re-cut.”  Notice the time. 

Last shelf.  Only 6 boards.  Complication – our neighbors are asleep.  They wouldn’t be - if we turned on the LOUD saw.

So, we didn’t cut.  (sniff sniff)

Next Day -

He cuts all the wood in the evening after a down pour of rain.  The new shelves won’t fit in the doorway of the pantry.  We have to remove the island.  Yes, the island.  It has granite on the top.  Not cool.  My finger gets pinched in moving it.  Not cool, again.

We get the new shelves in the closet but still won’t fit.  He has to take the shelves we put in yesterday and remove them.  I lay on the couch with a tremendous headache and listen the the pounding.  If it wasn’t so real – I’d be laughing.  Did I mention – we have company coming? 

It will work out.  Always does. 

I might need more tylenol.  Or something stronger – like chocolate milk.   I love chocolate milk.  It soothes me.  I admit – I’m a kid at heart.

In other news….

(no I’m not expecting – my friends are constantly thinking that is the only news that I could have!  Maybe because of all the times I’ve said – Guess what???)

Not sure how long it has been since I’ve updated you on our kitchen remodel so here are some recent pictures.

My beautiful sink…which I LOVE!!!! My cook-top – we haven’t became friends yet. This is going to look so different – can’t wait to start on the backsplash! My island…I LOVES!!!! LOVESSSSSSS…… What do you think I should put in it?  Suggestions….???? Do you see the area above the ovens?  I’m contemplating what to put in there…do you have more suggestions – I’ll be glad to hear or see them!!!!   Don’t you love this?  (Never mind the mess…it is all going in the pantry when the pantry has shelves!!!) Our other table will go by the far wall…can’t wait! And cabinets…Oh, can you just imagine! Tools are going to be restricted from of my kitchen after this is over!  Tools – OUTSIDE!!!!   No exceptions unless you have written approval from the HEAD CHEF – who is me!  This already looks different!   I guess I haven’t taken the updated updated pictures. This is the table where we do our school!  How I miss doing school! I’m putting our bar stools together – hopefully tomorrow. I love my eldest!  He is a clown! The living room without furniture.

  Okay, so that is our renovation…still in progress. 

To see the beginning – go here!  

The before!

It is a long ride….

Blessings to you!  You are loved!!!

Memphis, Cracker Barrel, Nashville, 911 and lots of PRAYER!

I’m a Texas girl!  But, I LOVE Tennessee!  Always HAVE!When I see that we are crossing over the bridge into Memphis…my heart starts fluttering!  I get excited because I’m vain enough to think – Tennessee welcomes ME!  Truly – I know I’m the only one who probably gets soooooo excited about going here!  (At least in my family!)  Do you see the sign to Nashville? 

It meant to say…. “Nashville – the city where Lana would love to live!”  (But can’t!  So she just visits and not enough!)  I like Memphis as well!  Although, the mountains are beckoning me! 

You see a lot of people are called to Tennessee because of their musical ability.  I’m afraid – if they heard me sing, I’d might be kicked out of the state.  So, I just tap my fingers.  And smile!  A LOT!  I just love this state!  Pretty skyline!   And this!  I heard it was going to be demolished.  But, not sure if it was a rumor.  Still an interesting site! Another look….Gorgeous! Speaking of gorgeous, my hubs!   I just love him!  We LOVE road trips! We were getting tired…so we stopped by the famous Cracker Barrel!  (Started in TN, I may add.) My lil’ one takes this game serious! I mean serious!!!

After this meal, we still had a WAY to drive!  We decided to either sleep while driving or stop in Nashville and get up early.

We chose to drive to a Hotel that had suites (a must for our family) that was by the airport even though it was a bit out of our way.  We love staying at Country Inn and Suites – they always give GREAT books to my kids that we can take with us.  The books alone are worth the stay!  One of the Princess’ picked up Charlotte’s Web – which we used in homeschooling this past year.  Did I mention the books are free?  AWESOME!   (This Works for Me!)

Do you believe that God always – ALWAYS directs your paths?  Well, even if you don’t – our prayer before our trip was that God would direct our path to His Glory and grant us safety!

After a good nights rest, my hubs and I were getting ready for the day.  I went to the hotel’s window and looked outside (at mountains – oh I love them!).  

Well, I noticed a man grabbing his stomach.  I thought at first he was drunk.  Then I noticed a man driving a hotel van, tell him to walk over to the curb under the tree, while he parked the van.  I then wondered if he was having an appendicitis.  He could hardly stand. 

People began to surround him. Within minutes, a policeman, ambulance and fire truck showed up.  I woke up the kids and told them to come to the window to see what was going on.  We then started to pray for this stranger. We prayed and prayed for God’s ultimate healing on his body!  It was precious to see my little ones call on God the Father to help this man.  They have such faith in the Lord, even in their jammies. Just as quick as it started – it was over.  The man was taken away to a hospital.  It turns out a car had hit him.  I’m not sure what happened to him but my kids - learned to pray for the sick even if they are strangers.  I believe God had sent us to that Hotel just for that man!  He put us in that room that had a perfect view yet the man never knew we were there. 

God is so faithful and has secret prayer warriors even when you might feel totally alone!   

Blessings to you!  You are loved!

An unplanned trip to Paris-without our passports

My kids are great in the car.  They read, watch videos, and look for fun opportunities to laugh at with the family. When we get out at the rest stops – everyone has permission to go crazy!  They can be loud, run, and make silly faces.   Sometimes silly faces just seem to break the “serious” mode. I like their little personalities – laughing is such a stress reliever.  At the hotel…can I just say “suites” are the way to go with large families with small children.  Everyone had a place to sleep and a HOT breakfast!  I can’t tell you enough how much I like “SUITES!”   Isn’t this a neat building?  It is in North Texas – Sulphur Springs, I believe.  Another neat building.  I have no idea what it is…might be a courthouse. I just love buildings that have painted signs on them!

Now for our unexpected trip to Paris!  We totally woke up one morning and said “Today – why don’t we go to Paris?”  All the kids agreed.  We’ve been studying Europe and the Eiffel Tower for the past few weeks.  This was the perfect opportunity to go.  We didn’t even need passports!

Are you ready?

Welcome to Paris, TEXAS! Seriously, it is an Eiffel Tower with a cowboy hat.  My kids looked at us like we were crazy!!!  They knew this wasn’t the real one.  They wanted to go to the top and there were no stairs or elevator!But, we still loved the rush.  Any Eiffel Tower will do when you are in love!         Yes, we are that for sure!      I love my man!  He makes me laugh and loves to please me by taking me to CRAZY places! Underneath the tower is a map of Texas.  The underside!  One last “in love” picture!        Don’t you love the sign?  In English and Spanish – no French here! We had to HURRY for this storm was on our tail!  He was holding it back!  What a strong man I have! 

Blessings to you!  You are loved!!!