Hold Your Horses!

I love a project and sometimes I just get in the mood and I can’t do anything until said projuct is complete. Sure you can drink that COKE in the LIVING ROOM. Yes you can dump out EVERY SINGLE TOY out of your toy box(s) into the floor. Have fun while I am painting this canvas. Some people do drugs, my mom says she eats chocolate, I make stuff.

I also love Dirt Cheap!!! I know it’s pretty gross in there most of the time and when I was 9 months pregnant with Mary Flynn (acutally the day before I had her) I made Rob go in there with me and he proceeded to knock over 15 coffee cups off a shelf, and swore he’d never go back, and he’s kept his promise. Probably for the best since I sometimes look at my clock and realize it’s been over an hour – time warp. Still using and LOVING that Paula Deen dutch oven I got that day! I hate it, but I am hoping to see more of her stuff in there soon with WM not carrying her line anymore! I sometimes hesitate to buy things at Target because I am afraid they will get it at Dirt Cheap and I will be mad at myself for paying full price. I actually have a lamp shade on one of my buffet lamps in the living room that I got from there and I won't buy it at full price at target because I JUST KNOW I'm gonna find it at DC eventually -- so we have miss-matched lamp shades. Probably doesn't drive anyone crazy but me and it's my own fault. Anyway, it’s so sparatic it’s like a surprise every time you go in. But it’s the closest thing to Target we have in this little town, so I will take what I can get. I had become a little disenchanted over the last few months, but I have gotten some pretty awesome stuff there over the years! I digress…

Here is where two of my loves came together on Saturday. First, I saw this on IG!

 I just LOVE that saying – so Southern, so reminds me of my childhood, and so something I say just about every day to at least 1 of my 3! When talking to a friend about making it for me and we were talking about canvases I realized where to go – DC!!!  And like I said, I am quick to pull out the spray paint and ribbon and get my craft on from time to time (these times seem to be eternities apart – when I get to heaven, there will be lots and lots of crafts, art, ribbon, paper, paint, etc., in my mansion – I will finally get around to all those projects I have pinned on Pinterest. J).

So I pop in to my local DC and look what I found – this lovely canvas of some European city. And the price -- $2.00!!! Yeh-Yah!!!  PROJECT READY!

After spray painting white, then gold (LOVE! METALLIC! SPRAY! PAINT! – may be about to paint A LOT of stuff around the house with that), I meticulously cut out letters that I printed out HUGE. All while playing a Saturday morning game of CLUE! (which I lost because you have to pay attention and I was busy cutting, thank you Rob).

 

And then I glued the letters onto the canvas, let them dry (not long enough), then painted over that with Chalk paint. And here is the final project. My letters kinda stuck and my blue paint seeped under them too, but I must say I LOVE the look. And the saying!! And it now hangs right by my back door, where 9 times out of 10 I am saying, “Hold your Horses,” – I probably need to make another one that says, “You need some shoes on!”

p.s. I also made this dip this weekend from this month's Southern Living to test for tailgating and let me just say for the record -- it is awesome! It was in their Tailgating feature, which did not show Mississippi State on one of those cute cupcakes. :-( We will still have fun at our tailgate and cheer on our DAWGS though! This recipe WILL be “On the sidewalk” in 2 less than two weeks! Go DAWGS!!!

 

Fits of Mercy

I love my kids, I really do but sometimes, somedays, they can suck the life out me and I have to laugh (and want to cry). Mary Flynn has taken to some “doozy” fits of epic proportions. You tell her “No,” (or yes for that matter) and well, all you know what can break loose! Yes, I know she is 2 and learning to make her own decisions but GEEZ!!! Rob looked at me the other day and said, “I’m taking the spawn to school.”

Saturday night, after a busy day of birthday parties, birthday dinners, and a visit with some friends (with no nap, mind you) we start home at around 10 p.m. This sweet little angel baby two year old starting screaming in the car. Luke, who was also exhausted, had complained of a headache, so when her screaming got to decibels even the deaf dogs could hear, so did his. At that point all you can do is laugh, and pray that we all get home in one piece because no spanking, words, or life lesson would work at that point, and a 5 year old and 2 year old with no nap, who are used to going to bed at 8! What ensued when we got home was something out of a horror movie.

I couldn’t believe my two year old could cry, scream, writhe, say “no”, pull out her own hair, and kick that much and for that long. GOOD LORD IN HEAVEN ABOVE – HAVE MERCY! She gave a whole new meaning to “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” At one point I looked at her and said, “Mary Flynn, I am going to win.” To which her daddy said, “She doesn’t know what that means,” and starts laughing. And he was probably thinking to himself, “A 2-year old and an only child who likes to get her way (which is me, in case you didn’t know) – now this should be interesting.”

Finally after promises of books, movies, etc., none of which worked, I decided to bed we would go and I was going with her to make sure we laid this hit to rest – PUN INDENDED! Laying there in her bed I looked at my sweet baby trying for the 100^th time to make her way out of her bed to get away from me. Screaming, crying, and kicking, “Let me go, Let me out.” And I told her that I loved her and started patting her back. I felt like I had gone 8 rounds with Mike Tyson when she finally closed those big blue eyes and gave up. And at that moment, I realized that only a mother could love a child during and throughout a colossal meltdown like that. And a thought occurred to me: “This must be how God feels when I continue to push Him away. Crying, kicking and screaming, wanting my way – just like a 2-year old. Trying to do things myself and my way and throwing big ole fits when I don’t get it! And He says, “I have already won and I know what is best for you my child.” And what peace I would feel if I would just give it (whatever it is) over to Him and let Him do His thing. WHY IS IT SO HARD TO DO THIS! Why would I want to keep these burdens on myself when He is there to take them! Help me Lord not to fight but to listen and do what you call me to do.
And this verse from came to mind. Matthew 11:28-30 says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

In a conversation with a friend we were talking about this and she said, “Let’s just give lay it at His feet and go have fun!” Now fun might not always be the way we feel, but it sure is nice to lighten our load and give it up to Him. A lesson both Mary Flynn and I are learning together…at 2 and 32 (sounds better than 35)! J

What in the world am I doing writing a blog. I am ordinary, but I can be used. For years, God has been telling me to write. Well, I've always enjoyed writing and talking (too much most of the time) -- and can be kinda funny at times. I am going to try to use my ordinary, sin-filled, fun, not-so-perfect, joy-filled, crazy busy, love-filled, wouldn't-change-it-for-anything LIFE!

I am listening to what God has to tell me and sharing it here as my journal. Hopefully I will stick with it this time, since my last post was 10 months ago!!