Planning Ahead

Times are a bit uncertain lately with the election drawing close. There are freedoms and liberty on the line, for sure. I post a lot of it on Facebook. Since I am an over-thinker, I wonder where our country is headed in terms of religious freedom. Right is called wrong, and wrong has more rights than any of us started out with. Am I concerned? Well, yes. Am I panicked? No. I know the One who holds my future. But, then...I wonder...{picture me with movie bubble above my head}.

[This summer, I have watched quite a few movies and tv series of every scenario possible of "the end". Blackouts, zombie apocalypses, nuclear bombs,floods, volcanoes, and general mayhem that leave you feeling unprepared for disaster. Why? Because they're awesome! I think, "Hmm. I need to put some food and supplies aside just in case." Then, you know, LIFE comes along and messes that all up. Okay, based on what I have stocked up, David, Emma and I would last about a week. Probably less for Emma, since we have lots of canned yucky stuff like mustard greens and tomatoes. So, here's what we're going to do. Trust God. Yeah, all you preppers out there just swallowed your gum, didn't you? I know, I know. God gives us enough sense to prepare for a hard time, even if it is short. I get that. I BELIEVE that. Well, He did give me sense, but He hasn't supplied the job or the money yet, so I guess He'll supply it for us then.] {end movie bubble}

So, what is my point? (Yes, I have one.) I realize that I have failed in relating WHY I post things about the evil goings-on and political unrest in our country. I guess I assumed everyone knew. Why do I post the horrible crimes that Hillary gets caught doing? Or the freedom we just got signed away by Obama's almighty pen? Why do I share when I find out that FEMA camps are manned and operational in every state? Why do I care that this law or that law was just passed without anyone's notice? Is it because I'm afraid? No. It's for several reasons:

1. I love this country. I'm a patriot. I love our history and our heritage of seeking freedom in order to worship the God that loves us.
2. Getting knowledge out there inspires people to fight it. Yes, sometimes all I can do is hit the "share" button, but there are people behind the scenes fighting for our country's freedoms. We can join them in prayer, and in taking a stand with our votes. We can show love to each other in the midst of a racial war that is shaking our nation to the core. A war that was started by our leaders to cause civil unrest and hatred. Are we just let this hate grow, or are we going to take Jesus' love to our neighbor?
3. If the events happen that I think our nation is headed toward, what is the church (body of Christ) going to do? Are WE prepared to minister in a FEMA camp, when we may not know where our loved ones are? Do we have enough of God's word in us to share with others? If food is scarce and people are scared, how are we prepared to love and help them? The church (believers) will be called to a DIFFERENT ministry than we have had in the past. What about massive job losses or a food shortage? What if we are no longer permitted to gather publicly? Do we know how to pray? The Apostle Paul lived in days like that. So did Peter and John. We need to think about it. We need to acknowledge that it is a possibility.

Yes, God is in control. He always has been. But I will remind you of Pentecost, where the believers were given power by the Holy Spirit. THEN, persecution came, and they were scattered throughout the world to share the gospel. Many suffered and died. The "church" had to learn a new way to minister to each other. Throughout history, Christians have lost freedoms and have been persecuted. I believe it is coming to America.

So, fight to keep God in this country as long as we can. Silence and doing nothing is not working. We must stand for Him. Band together to support Christians who are being run out of business for standing for their Biblical beliefs. Sign petitions. Share laws being voted on, and contact your representatives. Be informed and VOTE. There are seats coming up for election that need to have good people voted into them. That's WHY I post. I'm not just complaining. I'm not just trying to scare people. I'm not afraid...well, okay, maybe a bit. God's got this, but we have responsibilities too. Do nothing, we lose everything.

We are forgetting that Christian people came to the country to build a free nation, and they fought for the freedom we have. People are still fighting for it every day since then. Why are we believing that we should just sit back and not worry about it, because what will happen will happen, and we can't change it? Really? History does not support that. God is getting kicked out of this country, and we better take notice.

Anyway. It sure is hot outside.

Returning from the Upside Down

Well, I've been gone for quite some time. Don't think anyone noticed, but since this blog is basically for my own opinions and thoughts. I wasn't too concerned. My world has been everything from upside down to sideways and all the angles in between. I've struggled with so many things. Life is weird. It's hard. It sucks sometimes. I withdraw.

Now, I'm getting my feet back under me, and I want to share some things I've gone through and some things the Lord has patiently showed me. Okay, so he had to use some bricks, but I did eventually get it. There are so many things going on in this crazy world. Political unrest, racial wars, crimes against our law enforcement, and just plain meanness. I saw on the news that a 74-year-old man was shot over a parking space today. What in the world?

I may have lost my balance, and I may have lost my interest in life for awhile, but I never lost my faith in the Faithful One. Many times He has had to pick me up and throw me over His shoulders like a "sack o' taters". Often He was rescuing me from certain destruction that I was running headlong toward and at times from my weariness to go on. My humor is sometimes born in pain, so join me as I trudge through this weird thing called life. One of my gifts is encouragement. I may not have answers, but as I come up beside you, and walk this loopy road of life with you, let me tell you what you mean to me and throw in a funny story or two. I hope I inspire you or lift your spirits just a little. At the least, maybe you'll be a little distracted and not notice the rough road.

The Gift a Strange Man Gave Me Today

The past couple of days I have been in "recovery mode". Whenever I over-extend myself, my muscles react...with pain. I try not to be grumpy, but the two vertical lines between my eyes usually betray my discomfort. Most of the time, I don't even realize that I do it. Emma says I even frown in my sleep. 

I normally delay errands until I feel better, but today, I had to go to the grocery store. I'm working my way through a crowded store trying to just get the necessities. Taco stuff. Toward the milk section, a guy comes around the corner, and smiles...a big smile. He was tall, thin, long blond pony tail, about mid-forties. Hmm, I think, he looks like my brother. I just give him a quick glance and ignore him, as I usually do to male strangers. I stand there and think about the next item I need. I look up again, he looks at me and smiles again. Not a flirty smile, just a nice friendly smile. Like you are supposed to do when people look at you. I smiled back, though i didn't feel like it, and we went our separate ways. 

That's so nice, I think to myself. That made me feel better. Hmm...how many grumpy and STUPID people could I have made feel better today if I had just smiled at them. When I got to my car, I looked in the mirror. Wow. I had two deep lines between my eyes indicating I had been frowning for a good long time. I felt horrible. I wished those had been creases around my mouth from smiling and laughing all day. What a nice thing for someone to smile AT ME when I looked so grumpy. I recalled a few exasperating times when people were in my way or lolly gagging down the isles. 

Sometimes, even when lessons are learned after the fact, we can benefit from them. Sorry to everyone in Food City Kodak for the grumpy face. I wished I had smiled at you all, and I would have had more fun too. Next time...I will.

So, if the only good thing you can do tomorrow is smile...do it. It might just make someone feel better.

Kimberly

Facebook: Evil or Good?

Recently, there has been a little bit of controversy in our family about Facebook. Some think it takes away from personally contacting each other, while others believe it is the best way to get message and news to friends fast. Some. Of our family uses it, some don't. I, myself, was rather reluctant to get caught up in the new sensation, which seemed to suck people's days and lives away. I finally succumbed for this reason: I wasn't getting information about my friends and family that everyone else was getting. 

I wanted to know up-to-the-date info the moment it was posted. I signed up. Now, I love it! I see it as a tool for staying in touch with friends and family who live far away or have as busy lives as I have. We dont live in a "Little House on the Prairie" town, with everyone we know in the same city. I have had friends overseas and in fighting countries that can let their loved ones know how they are doing. I have dear friends, who have given the news of a death of a loved one. Prayer requests, which would have had to go down a line of numbers, are now instantly able to be seen and prayed for. Thanks, encouraging words, scripture, and pictures can all be shared at a touch of a button. BUT, some complain, "We'll, now no one stays in real touch any more." Really? Because I have 300+ friends that I KNOW love me, but would not be sending me pictures in the mail or personally calling me for prayer or just to catch up. Fact is, no one was staying in "real touch" anyway.

With that said, yes, Facebook can be used to say mean things, hurt others, or complain about life in general. Don't like those kinds of posts? Guess what? You can block them or ignore them or...a million other things. Most of the time, I just scroll past those people's posts. Some times I feel led to encourage them. 

What about family? This is a recent area of contention in my extended family. If they see something on Facebook before they have personally gotten the information from me, they have a cow. The thing is, our family, like most families, has grown to unmanageable proportions. My children are now having children, and there are spouses of siblings and children and their families. 

Yes, I do talk to my mother and father personally. Yes, I see my children in person and talk to them by phone or text if they are busy, which they almost always are. Other than that, it is not possible to call each and every person I love and want to hear from. I hate the phone. I hate talking on the phone. Don't know why. I just DO.

Most of my family and friends get Facebook updates and messages on their phone. My best friend, who now lives in another state, is TERRIBLE at staying in touch by phone. She's busy...working, raising a family, taking care of her house, but every once in a while she posts a picture or her kids give an update on Facebook, and I feel connected. Our world has shrunk, people. Our friends are global, not just local. We move from house to house, state to state, and even change churches, but can still stay in touch with each other.

So, in conclusion, this is what I have to say. I LOVE Facebook for the most part. I will continue to use it to share what is going on in my life, ask for emergency prayer, and watch what my friends and family are doing daily. If YOU have a problem with that, pick up the phone and CALL ME. That is all I can tell you to do. 

If your feelings are hurt, because you saw something on Facebook before you heard it from me, be thankful for Facebook, because it might have been a day or two before I got around to a phone call. Forgive me. I never intentionally hurt someone. Still don't like it? De-friend me and get no information at all. I really don't care. I have more on my plate than I can handle on most days, and I make mistakes (lots), and I'm forgetful, and I'm a dork......on and on. But know this: mess with me on Facebook, say mean or hurtful things to me or about me, and I WILL remove you. Period. I don't have place in my life for hate and ugliness. I choose not to participate in it.

Kimberly

Upholstery Tutorial

I bought these wonderful restaurant benches at a local thrift store for $30... Not each, but for both. They were exactly what I was looking for. Actually, I was only looking for one bench for my laundry room, so we could take off our shoes and coats, while NOT standing in the doorway.

This is a step-by-step tutorial of how I transformed these benches into beautiful, useful pieces in our home.


I used an electric sander, and had to remove most of the paint on this bench, because it had been painted several times over stain and varnish and was peeling badly. Then, I put drop cloths down, and spray painted (out doors, of course) it. It took two cans of Valspar Interior/Exterior Satin in Tropical Foliage.

Next, my daughter and I headed to JoAnne's Fabrics for the upholstery I would need for this bench and the one for the laundry room.



Because the outdoor fabric was 54" wide, I was able to buy one yard of the fabric needed. It was expensive ($19.99/yd.), but perfect colors for my back porch and the bench.

The first thing I had to do was remove the two strips of wood that were on the back. these help to guide the seat into the base and keep it in place.
Next, I had to remove piping around the edges of the seats since I was not going to do piping. I pried it loose on the bottom with a narrow flathead screwdriver. Then used scissors to just cut the piping strip off without cutting away the seat covering. This will help my material lay smooth on the edges and corners.



Center the bench upside down on the material. I used my kitchen counter for this part. I took the center of one end of material and stapled it to the center of the underside of the bench using a staple gun. I did the same on the other side, then stapled the material in the center of the long sides. So, now I have the center of all four sides of the bench with one staple holding the material in place.



Then working from the center staple, hold the material taut and staple 1 in. apart toward the corners, but stop about 2 inches from the end. Do this on all four sides. I didn't have to worry much about evenness, because of my pattern, but if you are using stripes, make sure to check often to assure you are keeping material straight.



It should look like this.

Pull the material over the corner to make sure it will cover and mark it. Then, I cut off the excess material to keep it from being too bulky. Cut from your mark to the edge in a "v". Pull the material over the corner and staple in place.



My bench seats had a board that ran along one edge, so the bench front curved under. This edge was a little more difficult to tuck and make smooth. I basically did a hospital bed corner and stapled it as smooth as I could get. Because this was my first upholstery project, and I had no idea what I was doing, I went back around and reinforced it by stapling another row of staples. Then, I used a small hammer to hammer down any staples that were sticking up a bit.



I trimmed the excess material close the second row of staples, and put the wooden strips back on in the original holes.



Here is the finished seat on the painted bench. It is bright and looks like Spring. The color of the bench matches a small metal table and chairs that are on my porch. I love it! Both benches were so easy and fun to do. I had enough of the orange material to pad and cover the two stools at my counter.

Re-upholstering booth seats

I got these two great booth seats at a thrift store for $15 each. The paint was peeling off the wood, and the vinyl was pretty old and stained. One seat was going to go go in my laundry room, so when we get home, we can sit and take our shoes and coats off. The other was to go on the back porch.



As I began sanding the bench going into the laundry room, it revealed it had been painted multiple times, which I expected, but the colors were exactly those I had just painted in my laundry. I loved the sanded look with the cream and red showing through. So I decided to leave it, and not paint it.



Here is the bench sanded, but I haven't done the upholstery yet.



This is the finished bench in the laundry room. The opposite wall and the wall with the appliances are a pumpkin orange color. The laundry is located off the kitchen, which is also Italian colors of olive green, orange and red. The next blog will be a tutorial of how I upholstered this bench and the the one that is outside on the porch.

I painted an antique!

Well,first I have to say that I love antiques. I always wondered why a person would paint over beautiful wood and "destroy" an antique. Because it gets ugly at some point, that's why. A friend gave me an old dresser about ten years ago, and I have used it for my makeup table. When we moved, it was so decrepit that I just kept it in the basement and used another desk for my makeup.

When I was finally able to turn part of the guest room into a craft room, I knew it would be the perfect size. Upstairs it came. But, as you can see by the picture, it was in terrible shape. Sooooo......I decided to paint it. It took a few days to get the nerve, but at last, I took a small brush and applied a small amount in an inconspicuous place. Ta-da! It was beautiful!

I took the plunge, and it came out so pretty. It's a light, muted spring green, and the antique brass pulls look pretty with the color, so I just left them like they were. I just put one coat of paint on, and in some places it soaked in, giving it an painted antique look. I like that. I didn't know what to do with the leather top, since it was in pretty good shape, so I left it for now. I think I am going to get a piece of thick plexiglass and router it out to fit the top. Then I will have a good surface to wipe clean of paint and glue.