Home Sanctuary

I stink!

Yeah, that's right.  I stink! 

At uploading photos into my blog.

At operating a DVD using a PlayStation2 controller.

At doing math in my head.

At remembering the differences between an F-4, F15, and F16.  (G.T. has tried to explain this a hundred times!)

At downloading music into my ipod.

At listening to my son's stories without telling him what the right thing to do would have been. (I ruin all his best stories.)

At picking out clothes in colors other than black or white.

At working out.

At remembering names. (Thanks to Katherine, I'm working on it.)

At remembering to turn on the dishwasher.

At staying focused on one thing at a time. (Now what was I doing?)

Special thanks to my son, who helped me write this partial list.  Funny, but it was real easy for him to think up stuff!  Oh, we've had a good laugh at my expense, and I'll deal with him later.

Rachel Anne

"Pore Souls"

That's what we have here in Texas, and alot of them!  That's Southern for "poor soils," and it must be said slowly and with a shake of the head.  Just for grins, say it out loud in your best Texas twang, and add "Yep, that's what we got in these here parts!" (Spitting afterward is optional.)

In this area, we are "blessed" with deep, dark clay soil, which sticks together like gumbo when wet and then cracks into deep fissures when dry.  We are also "blessed" with a crumbly white rock, called caliche, which wreaks havoc with foundations and is horrible for planting anything in.  Everything is made that much worse with the current drought we are experiencing.  It's really at a crisis level.

Yesterday, we noticed new cracks in our concrete porch.  Have they been there all along and we never noticed, or are they brand new?  Whatever the case, it seems like there are more, and bigger ones, than there have ever been.

It struck me suddenly how my own personal cracks are more visible when I'm in the middle of hard times, drought if you will.  I like to think of them as "ISSUES," but the reality is that they are the little sins that erode my foundation in Christ.  I struggle with fear, bitterness, discontentment, anger, and hey, that's just with my own family!  I'm ashamed at all the things I pass over everyday, and not even notice they are there!

Foundation and soil experts tell us that we need to take care of our home's structure by regularly watering the foundation, to keep it from cracking.  My own "pore soul" needs regular watering, too, and I've often neglected it.  No wonder those cracks show up when the pressure is on! 

Thankfully, the Master Builder Himself is in charge of construction, and He is watching over the foundation being laid in my life.  He guarantees that that He will always do His part.  The rest is up to me......to lay down my "issues," by bringing them to the cross, and leaving them there.  I'm determined to take care of my foundation every day: spending time with my Builder, going over the "blueprints" in His word, and keeping the soil well-watered in prayer.  I'm also....

Praying for Rain,

Rachel Anne

And Then There Were Three....

It has been quite a week at our house.  Well, I take that back....it has been quite a summer.  But this week in particular was poignant and sad.  Elle, our oldest daughter, got married a month ago and had already moved out.  More on THAT later.  On Sunday, our second daughter, Em, moved out to go to college.  I still have a lump in my throat.  Now that I think about it, that lump has been there all summer.

Now that both girls are gone, their bedroom is strangely clean.  There are no clothes on the floor, makeup on the dressers, papers on the bed.  There are no ipods, cell phones or laptops laying around.  The bathroom is sparkling.  There is no one in the shower at midnight, no voices talking until 2 am, no one snacking in the kitchen or watching movies at ungodly hours.  I hate it.

G.T., our 12 year old son, slept in our room the first night Em was gone.  It was like we three just needed to be together, to circle up.  He said he keeps thinking she is coming home and it's just now sinking in that she isn't going to be there every day.  I know that feeling.

Here's a tip to parents whose kids are leaving home:  Don't watch any old family movies before they leave!  Take it from one who knows--seeing your young adult kids as the cute little children they were yesterday is not a good idea.  We thought it would be fun to reminisce about old times when we brought out the boxes of (mostly unlabeled) videos.  We'd pop in a tape and be surprised at the content, which we hadn't looked at in forever.  There were our two little red-haired girls opening presents, or riding bikes, or being silly.  There was our boy in blue overalls, riding a big-wheel, or playing in the sandbox.  Both Tom and I had to leave the room more than once with tears in our eyes, pretending to get a glass of water or adjust the room temperature.  We didn't want it to turn into a "cry-fest," as G.T. calls it.  But, darn it, it is just SAD!  Saying goodbye to an era in your family's life is hard, and I don't like it.

Everyone says that you get used to your kids being gone, and that you'll even come to enjoy new freedoms.  I do look forward to having more time to myself, to think about being more involved in various things, but I will miss the whirlwind of having two beautiful teenage daughters in the house.  They brought so much life, and joy and fun to our family.  This summer was like a special gift.  It was the five of us together, hanging out and working on the wedding.  We swam and played volleyball in our cheesy blue pop-up pool and we loved it.  We watched movies, played games and goofed off.  Now all that is over, and there is school, and college and work..........and, oh yeah, only three of us left in this old house.

Call me sentimental, but I am having a hard time believing that there will ever come a day that I won't miss the past.  Don't get me wrong, I am excited about seeing these girls launch into their futures and I am thrilled about G.T. just getting into the fun teenage years.  But it is the sweetness of little fingers and toes, flannel jammies, warm goodnight kisses and bedtime stories that are forever gone to me, and I grieve the passing.  Most of that stuff passes so gradually that you never even realize it's gone.  It is just when you drive away from a college dorm, or unload the last box into your newlywed daughter's tiny apartment that you feel a pang that tells you that something really, really precious is over.

Ecc. 3:1  There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven...a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance...........

You won't mind if I shed a few tears, will you?  Pass the Kleenex, I feel a cry-fest coming on.

Rachel Anne

Failure

There are days in which I feel like a failure.  Maybe the kids aren't behaving, the house is a wreck, I'm behind on my "To Do" list, and I've lost my temper more than once.  It often seems like other people have it so together, and I am struggling with the basic day to day tasks and needs of a growing family.  As a mom, there are opportunities to fail around every corner, and this is not how I want my children to remember their childhoods.

This morning, my eyes turned to Psalms 145-147.  I was reminded of how many times I have needed those words of comfort over the years.  Ps. 145:14 says "The Lord upholds all those who fall, and lifts up all who are bowed down.

No matter how many times you fall, He is there to pick you up.

No matter how heavy your load, he will lift you.

Whenever you call on Him, He is near. (145:18)

He is near.

There are so many promises in those short chapters that you can't help but feel hopeful and encouraged when you read them.  The Lord is watching over you, to sustain you, to help you, and to lift you up. 

If today is one of those "Failure" days, take a moment and meditate on those chapters with me.  I'm printing out several verses and putting them on my fridge so I will think about them throughout the day.  Let's be "Company Girls," and stick together.

Rachel Anne

Paint Junkie

If you've read my profile, you know I am a Paint Junkie.  I am a True Believer in the power of paint to transform just about anything old thing into something new!  Here are some of the things I've painted:

• Upholstered wingback chairs
• Linoleum floor
• Brass lamps
• Kitchen cabinets
• Kitchen chairs
• Countertops
• Mailboxes
• Metal filing cabinets
• Wicker furniture
• Ford Explorer bumper and faded black plastic trim (Tom did this)
• Light fixtures
• Drawer pulls
• Every kind of furniture, frame, glass, pot etc. imagineable

If you are interested in step-by step instructions on any of the above projects, leave a comment and I will post them. 

Also, if you have a project you'd like help with, I'll be glad to give you my two cents!

Rachel Anne

Ode To Buttons

A Eulogy

He was a good cat.  He left us in much the way he lived his life with us.  Quietly, and without fanfare.  No one really remembers how long we had him: 8, maybe 9 years.  Buttons came to us as a stray, and quickly won the hearts of everyone but my husband, Tom, who once dropped-kicked him out of the house.  Eventually, even Tom had begrudging respect for him, saying, "yeah, he's a pretty cool cat, he's alright." 

Buttons must have realized early on that we weren't really Cat People, in that we don't assign elevated status to furry felines, so he managed to keep a low profile.  He went from being an inside, suburban kitty to an outside, country cat when we moved, and he did it with class.  He accepted his role as mouse/cricket/snake catcher, and relished the freedom of wide open spaces.  He outlasted at least 5 other cats, a true Survivor. 

Aloof, yet affectionate on his own terms, Buttons was a paradox.  He would follow us on long walks (he was a Company Boy), but far enough away to be considered an observer.  Maybe a protector.  Often he would sit nearby, just out of reach so we couldn't pet him, but he would purr to let us know he appreciated the effort.  Then again, he was known to settle on our laps and while away the time, especially if we sat outside in the breezeway.

I'll miss seeing his silhouette on top of the car in the moonlight. I always kind of felt he was keeping watch over the place. 

I'll miss seeing that "silent meow," in which his lips moved but no sound came out.  It was particularly effective when he would look inside through the glass door when it was cold out.

I'll miss seeing him draped over a porch chair, or crouched with his tail curled around his front feet. 

I'll miss seeing him touch noses with our big old Lab, Beau, and I'll miss that loud purr he had.

In the end, we noticed him aging right before our eyes. We thought he started looking a little mangy.  He didn't take care of himself with pride like he used to.  His coat looked dull, unkept, and he was missing a few teeth.  Poor Buttons, we would say.  We wondered how much longer he would last. 

Then one day, we noticed we hadn't seen him in at least a week.  And just like that, he was gone.  No grave to dig, no body to bury.  We've all agreed it was the perfect way to end for a really cool cat.  He left us wondering, scratching our heads a little, and reminiscing about his life. 

No, we really aren't Cat People, but some cats are just a cut above the rest.  Buttons was that kind of cat.

Rest In Peace, buddy. We'll miss you.

Rachel Anne

Lazy Cook/Smart Cook

There are two ways of looking at my cooking methods--kind of like the "half full or half empty" glass, I choose to believe the half full, "Smart Cook" view!

I use Planned Leftovers alot.  You know, cook once, eat twice.  Though not a big fan of casseroley foods (ate too many as a kid!) they do have their place.  Following are some easy examples, and I'm sure you can think of many more that would work for your family.  The trick is to cook up more of the meat (or main dish) than you need for one meal.  It takes NO extra time. 

Day One: Grilled Chicken (Grill twice as much as you will need for one dinner)  I like to marinate them in Italian Dressing first - YUM!)

Day Two: Using the leftover chicken breasts, make

• Fajitas (saute onions and peppers, heat up some beans and throw on some tortillas)
• Chicken sandwiches on buns (open a can of baked beans, chips)
• Chicken/veg Medley over rice (saute up whatever veggies you have on hand, onions a must, add sliced chicken right at the end to heat, and serve over rice.
• Chicken/veg Medley over drained Top Ramen Noodles
• Soup

Day One:  Pot Roast in Crock Pot  (Get a large roast)

Day Two:

• Shredded up pot roast/gravy sandwiches or over rice
• Use meat with barbeque sauce for BBQ Sandwiches
• Baked potato topping/ salad

Day One:  Ham with some kind of potato

Day Two:

• Pasta salad with ham pieces
• Scalloped potatoes with ham
• Baked potato topping
• Ham sandwiches
• homemade pizza with ham topping

Other ideas:

• grill up extra hamburgers/hotdogs, store in ziplock.  (Grilled hotdogs taste sooo much better, even reheated)
• Make a huge pot of spaghetti sauce, freeze into meal-size portions.
• Ask Katherine for her White Chicken Chili recipe and make a bunch of it. (Or, use the recipe on the back of Bush's Navy Bean cans)

You get the idea.  I really only cook an original meat about 3 times a week, and use the cooked, leftover meat for reincarnated concoctions.  By using the planned leftovers, everything usually tastes fresh, especially when you add a fresh salad or vegetable each time.

Lazy or Smart, it works for me!

Rachel Anne

Winning the War on Whining

This is my first WFMW.  Thanks for the invite to join in.

Doesn't whining just make you want to jump off the nearest bridge?  My kids really had whining down to an art form, and it seemed to peak between ages 2 and 5, with some pretty remarkable moments well beyond.  Here are my tips for minimizing this annoying habit.

1.  Learn to hear whining when it happens.  It might sound crazy, but whining can become such a common tool for communication that you don't even hear it anymore.  (But it is easy to hear other people's naughty children!)  I actually prayed that God would train me to listen better.

2. Give your little ones the right words and tone to use by having them repeat YOU saying what you want to hear.  Ex. "Let me hear you say "Mommy, may I please have a cookie?" not "I waaana cookieeeeeeeee!"  Humor and exaggeration are completely acceptable when you give them their lines.  Be patient, they will get it.

3.  Help them learn delayed gratification by setting a timer for a couple of minutes.  "Yes, you may have a cookie when the timer rings, but not if you whine while you are waiting."  Be generous with the praise when they are able to do it!  Waiting is an important life skill.

4.  Call a spade a spade.  Help the ones who are old enough to understand to realize that they are trying to trick you into doing what they want, by crying and making a scene.  Gently remind them that it is disrespectful to speak to you that way.

5. This may be obvious, but don't give in to whining when it happens.  I often found myself just giving the darn cookie because I was tired of hearing about it, and that only delayed the training.  You really shouldn't have to say "no" more than once or twice, not 10 times.  Or 50 times.

6.  For kids who are really old enough to know better, give reasonable consequences. 

7.  Be an example!  I am surprised at how many things I myself complain and whine about. Out loud. In front of the kids. 

8.  Don't give up.  You are training those little ones and it does take time.  Years even.  So be kind, and be consistent.

9.  Don't be afraid to say "no," even if they ask for something properly.  Compliment them on how they presented their request, but give them your answer anyway.

Whining can be a passing phase, and with love and consistency, you can help it pass by much more quickly!

Rachel Anne

"So.... how did you get started painting murals?"

I am often asked this question, followed by, "Did you major in art in college?"  I have to laugh because I never would have imagined myself doing what I am doing today.  Painting murals and doing decorative "stuff" in people's homes and businesses was never really on my life "plan."  I'll tell you the story of my 7th grade art failure and why art was the last thing in my career goal in another post.  No, I didn't major in art in college, I only wish.....

A Hobby is Born, Or, Birdhouse Bonanza

After our last child was born, I thought I might like to learn how to "tole" paint in my spare time.  I figured I could hand make some presents sometime and it would be fun.  My first project at the local Michaels store was painting a grapevine wreath on a tile.  I still have that tile in my kitchen, behind the medicine in the cabinet by the sink.  Every now and then I see it and have to shake my head.  It certainly showed no promise of bigger things!  But I thought is was great, and bouyed by such instant success, I promptly started painting every birdhouse, stool and plaque I could get ahold of. I gave them as every birthday, Christmas, Mother's Day, housewarming gift that came along, until I realized that pretty much everyone I knew didn't really need any more of my crafty things.

Eureka!  A Craft Mall!

For any of you that have EVER tried seeking their fortune in a craft mall space, you know what I mean when I say, I was glad when my year's lease was up.  I didn't actually LOSE money, but I didn't make any, either.  When my stint there ended, I still had some inventory, so I found a couple of local shops that were willing to take my things and sell them on consignment.  That really turned out to be a great way to do it.  They didn't have to pay for inventory until the items sold, and I had no overhead.  I attached a business card to each thing, and occasionally, the phone would ring with a request for painting a custom piece. 

Every Business Needs a Good Plan

My main goal with my business was to make enough extra money to get my hair done without feeling guilty.  I have tried to stay true to the basic tenets of my plan by getting my roots done regularly, but darn it, I still feel guilty about the cost.  Why, why does hair have to grow so fast?  But I digress.

Meanwhile, as I started getting those phone calls, I kept working on my skills.  Learning brush control, figuring out how to paint flowers and vines and roses..............all BIG BIG players in the early days, and they still contribute to my bread and butter.  I took professional faux finishing classes and bought every book available.  I got a few projects under my belt for friends and around our own house--all photo ops for a fledgling portfolio.

The Big Break, Or, God Orders our Steps

The Big Break came when I gathered up all my courage and went to a local interior designer with my portfolio.  I was very nervous and almost left before speaking to anyone.  But when I met the owner of the firm, there was an instant connection, and she offered me a chance to do some work in a Parade of Homes house she was designing.  It was an opportunity to "go pro" and get some "cred," as my son says.  It was a turning point, and came just when G.T. was entering school full time.  The timing was a God-thing, and allowed me to gain enough momentum to actually make enough to consider it a "second income."

Second Income Becomes Only Income

I'll save most of these details for another post also.  Suffice to say that Tom's job was downsized shortly after 9/11/2001.  That seemed like a good time to jump into this painting thing lock, stock and barrel, especially since we didn't have a whole lot of other choice.  Funny, how God's leading can be so clear sometimes.  But we were excited!  We had always dreamed of working together in a creative field, and here we were!  It was the best thing that could have happened for us, and we have never really looked back, except to remember what it was like to have health insurance.

We've been able to do some really, really fun projects.  There are lots of pictures on our website, and I'll be happy to talk about them.  Occasionally, when I am up on 27 foot scaffolding, (or reaching behind a potty to do a faux finish) I pinch myself and thank the Lord for this amazing chance to make a living doing art, of all things.  And every day, I feel (in myself) unequal to the task.  It is only by relying on the Lord's strength and ability that I can accomplish the projects I am given, and I mean that wholeheartedly.  It is a testimony to God's sense of humor to delight in giving this gift to a 7th grade art-class dropout, and proof that you just never know what is around the bend.

Ps. 90:17 And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us; Establish Thou the work of our hands; yea, the work of our hands establish Thou it.

Yes, we do have Company Boys

In response to Dennis's recent comment, I want to state for the record that we are NOT gender exclusive.  We do have Company Boys, Tom and G.T. being charter members of the club.  Membership is open, requirements are the same as for being a Company Girl:

Just hang out, be around, and share the moment.

Dennis, you and F. are always welcome.

Rachel Anne