Home Goals

About three weeks ago, I sat down and listed out some summer goals. The list got so long that I had to categorize it. Hoping that posting it here will give me incentive to complete all projects on the list. In no particular order here is the list of goals for our home this summer:

Home Goals

• paint our bathroom
• paint office and guest room
• make curtains for our room & guest room
• make 16x16 frames
• sand & paint frames. Order mats & glass for frames
• hang the gallery wall
• find a swing for the back porch
• find a table for the back porch
• decorate above the sideboard- find a pair of lamps
• get new candles (I'm ready for a new scent!). Thinking a trip to the new Aspen Bay store
• chalkboard for the big frame in guest room
• CLEAN windows  
• stain the front door and clean the door knob
• replace crates with a bookcase

 On Tuesday the windows got cleaned! Found this recipe online and I recommend it. The windows in our breakfast area were filthy. The morning sun comes in through these windows which literally "shone a light" on the dirt. I had been eyeing the dirt with a vengeance for awhile.

Cleaning solution:

1/4 cup of white vinegar
few drops of Dawn or dish washing liquid
water

I made a big batch, so I used more vinegar and Dawn than what is listed above. First, I dusted the shades, took the screens out, and vacuumed the window sills. Second, I scrubbed the windows with the cleaning solution. Third, I rinsed the window with clean water because they were soapy. Finally, I dried the windows with a microfiber towel. Steps 1-3 were repeated on the outside of the windows.  

These windows needed more than just Windex. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge Windex fan; but these windows needed really cleaning. I did Windex them once they were dry. Now the windows are spick and span, and it makes me smile when I look at them. One home goal down! I enjoyed this project more than I thought I would. I blared Pandora, Gus followed me around, and before I knew it I was finished! As I was cleaning the dirt from the windows, I couldn't help but think what an illustration it was of what Jesus asks us to do on a daily basis- if we confess our sins, our "dirt", he is faithful to make us clean. 


Now I'm off to the paint store! Happy Thursday!

Us and Gus

Remember Creepy Jenny and the little bet we made? Welllllll, as you can see Creepy Jenny is alive and well, so we got a puppy!

We picked him up yesterday and are in love!

He didn't want to ride anywhere but on the console. He'd be in my lap then he would walk over to Trey's lap then right back over to mine. Finally, he settled for the middle and slept on the console.

Look out Hernando here comes trouble!

His name is Gus. Short for Otis Augustus Estes. Say that five times fast! ;)

Gus the Goldendoodle. He's 8 weeks old!

Gus like Gus-Gus the little mouse from Cinderella! Kidding. We both liked the name Gus. 

Those eyes....

This is my favorite picture!

First family pic!

Then he crashed.

Family pic re-do.

We think he likes his new home. 

 10:00pm on the first night home. Mission "sleepy puppy" was a success! He had a really great first night in the laundry room. We took him out late before we went to bed then got up really early to take him out. I've spent today whisking him outside every 15 minutes, but it's totally worth it! Stay tuned for more of Gus and us!

Montana Dreaming

In 3 hours it officially will be summer break for this high school English teacher.

Trey and I celebrated this morning, and as I walked out the door I said, "I bet there were some days you didn't think I was going to make it to this day." 

Not going to lie- there were some really hard days this year. But there were some really great days too (like today! Just kidding, there were others). Seriously, teaching is the hardest yet most rewarding thing I've ever done. I can't think of any other job I would want. I get to invest in little minds God made every day and hope something I say sinks in. As I sit waiting to be saved by the bell, I am reflecting on what I would like to do differently next year. 

The first thing that comes to mind is to have a better attitude each day. There were some days when I would have given my right arm not to come to school. I grumbled while getting up and grumbled while coming in the door at the end of the day. So I'm praying for a more enthusiastic spirit and better attitude toward work because I want to invest my best into these kids. I might be the only Jesus these kids see in a day, and "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength."

Second, I want to get up earlier and have my quiet time in the mornings. 

Thirdly, be less selfish with my time. Maybe it was the newly-wed thing, but most days I wanted to go straight home after work and spend time with sweet husband. Whatever this entails, I'm praying God will show me where I can invest my time. In Ann Voskamp's words, "whatever He puts in front of you do it with great love. This is what makes any day, anybody, any life great." 

So when September rolls around and I'm grumbling and pushing snooze 3 times, y'all remind me of this last day of school post, please.   

Sorry for being sappy this post was supposed to announce our summer/1 year anniversary trip!

Trey and I are going to Montana! We knew we wanted to go out West this summer and have had Montana on our list for awhile. Trey has been before, but this will be my first time!

 

We are staying just outside of Bozeman in this darling cabin. That view.... We used VRBO. Try it if you haven't. I love staying in homes/cabins verses hotels. It leaves you the option to stay in and cook or go out! I have this strange obsession with going to the grocery store especially when we travel.

 

We'll be fly-fishing, running, and taking in the sights of Montana! 

 

I couldn't resist this picture. Seriously though, Trey has seen this rock. It's called "Brad Pitt Rock". How original. Trey has two fishing days planned- one without me and one with me!

 

And I'm running in the Madison Half Marathon while we're there. More on the marathon to come, but there was talk of bears, wolves, and sheep dogs in the race packet. Want to know what they said about the sheep dogs? Don't run if one starts chasing you. How are you going to tell a runner in a race or anyone being chased by anything NOT TO RUN! Apparently, the sheep dogs will try to "herd" the runners. The dogs are wild and don't respond to any human commands. The thought cracks me up. Oh and let's not even talk about the bears. 

I'm super excited about the race! It's really well organized; lots of people are signed up; organizers do patrol the road for wildlife; and there is support along the way. I love running, and I love running in new places. It is the best way to see a new city, area, or in this case- the mountains!

We are thankful we get to take this trip, see more of God's beautiful creation, and celebrate being married a whole year! Woo-hoo!!

Mother's Day Edition

Y'all, I've got 5 days until summer vacation! The struggle is real. However, I think I'm going to make it. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...

Here's a "better late than never" Mother's Day post.

Things my mama taught me:

Always lend a helping hand.

Smile! :)

WORK.

Any time is a good time for a Diet Coke.

Blare music while cleaning the house.

Pray and go to church.

Exercise- it's good for the body and soul.

Light a candle when company's coming.

Popcorn is perfectly fine for dinner.

I'm still learning how to perfect her carrot cake recipe.

Push your cuticles back and wear lipstick.

I wouldn't have happened without her and July 20th, 2013 certainly wouldn't have happened without her.

She is the cornerstone of our family, my best friend, and I'll never stop learning from her.

Keep dancing, Mom.


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On July 20th, I got another mama! I love my mother-in-law, and July 20th couldn't have happened without her either!

We share a love of Diet Coke, local discount stores, and do-it-yourself projects.

I'm already learning so much from her.

She raised the man of my dreams and has welcomed me into her family with open arms.

Mrs. Betty is the best!

I plan on uploading our official wedding photos to the blog over the summer. It's one of my MANY projects. Stay tuned!

5 days.

***Photo cred: the amazing Masa Kathryn Hensley at Masa Kathryn Photography in Columbus, MS. 

Do One Thing A Day That Scares You

I want to go camping every weekend from now on.

Friday we packed up and headed to Heber Springs, AR.

Not without a list first, of course.

We got there barely in time to get a spot at John F. Kennedy Recreation Area & Campground which is along the Little Red River. It was "at capacity." The Little Red River begins at the dam of Greers Ferry Lake. Fun history fact: officially opening Greers Ferry Dam was JFK's last major appearance before his assassination.

 Before the sun went down we had everything set up, and Trey had started a fire.

 Yes, we had electricity to which Daddy-d said "wasn't camping", but we only used the outlet to blow-up the air mattress and for the lights. Globe-string lights are the best investment I've made. They make me happy : )

 Smores also make me happy.

After a delicious dinner of hot dogs and smores, we played with "the big camera" as I call it. It is a Nixon D60 which I am learning how to use better. 

Night-time is not the best time to learn. Obviously, not enough light which results in a very slow shutter speed. I also thought after dinner would be good time to confess to Trey that I don't think I have ever slept outside in a tent. Sure I've been camping- in a RV, but not a tent! He didn't seem too surprised by my news.

 I liked this one of the tent and lights.

Case in point of slow shutter speed: see above picture. The streak of light behind me is a car's headlights. 

The temp dropped A LOT on Friday night. Thankful I packed extra blankets. I think it got into the 30's. I didn't mind the cold while falling asleep to the sound of the river rustling. That sound was better than any sound machine.

Glorious morning came, and this is when I realized how much I was really enjoying camping. Have you ever been awakened outside by birds singing the sweetest songs? 

I'm convinced birds were God's original alarm clocks.

This noise, however, is the most unnatural thing to wake up to. That sign should read "Danger: When  Horn Sounds Beware of Loud, Obnoxious Blaring at 5:50am."

This little bridge made me smile every time I crossed it. That little brick building is the restroom. Trey says this picture should be titled "When Nature Calls."

Besides waking us up at 5:50am the horn has another purpose. It lets you know they are releasing water from the lake into the river resulting in a very high water level; therefore, we couldn't fish. T was such a good sport about it!

So we hopped in the truck and went to Petit Jean! 

I could hardly believe these views were in Arkansas!

That's the Arkansas River.

Petit Jean means "Little John" in French. 300 year old legend has it that boy and girl fell in love in France. Boy was sent by the King of France to explore America. Girl did not want him to leave, so she dressed up like a boy, "Little John", and sailed on his ship to America. They crossed the Atlantic, came up the Mississippi River, veered off onto the Arkansas River, and finally stopped at this rock formation/semi-mountain. Girl became sick, and they finally figured out she was a girl. She died here, and that's why they named it Petit Jean. True story, well, true legend.

This structure was at one time some sort of meeting house or school. 

Really pretty stone.

This is was a huge rock cave on the mountain called "Rock House Cave." If I would have been an Indian I would have wanted to be in the tribe who got to call this place home. Hmm... wonder what my Indian name would have been?

After exploring Petit Jean, we came back to camp and checked out a little creek that the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission are trying to make into stocked creek for kids 16 and under like Dry Run Creek. Places like this are stocked with HUGE fish for children to easily catch. Trey has come so close to "borrowing" a kid for a day at Dry Run Creek.

We didn't see any fish in there, so we think maybe they are still working on it. 

Just like I am still working on some of my fears. Jumping across a creek. It sounds simple, but I was scared to death when it came time to jump. I bet Petit Jean was terrified of the journey to America in disguise too. Love makes us do some pretty brave things. 

Awhile back, Trey and I adopted a motto, "Do one thing a day that scares you." So when I get scared I think about the motto, or we say it to each other. Then I think, think, think, think, and THHHIIINNNKK about it....  

And just jump. And every time I've been scared but "jumped" anyway or gone through with what scared me, it's turned out ok. And I look back and think how silly I was for being scared. Just like I'm looking back at these pictures and laughing at how embarrassingly small that jump looks. 

Have you done anything today that scares you?