Friday, January 6, 2012

A new year, a fresh start, a blank page.



You have been handed a new book.
Its pages are blank.
Its spine is stiff and the paper smells fresh.

You crack open the ledger and thumb through the crisp pages.
All empty.
Not a single line of prose.
Not a single jotting of a memory.
Not a single letter, sign or symbol.

Every space available.
Every room a vacancy.
Every chapter void.



What will you do with this diary? Is your memoir a mystery, comedy, or tragedy? What would the title read? The chapters? Will you do with this diary the same as you did with last year's? Will you write within its pages the same verses, the same resolves, the same worries?


What if, instead of being bound within the binding of yesterday, you could scribble new dreams? What if your journal, instead of failure, recorded fruition? Instead of regret, rejoicing? Instead of fear, faith? But, despite your own determination, your quest for perfection is unattainable. Your hunt for holiness, useless.

However, the hero in our story defends our honor. The villain who would hinder and sabotage our deliverance is bested and crushed! Our worthless virtue becomes exquisite beauty. Since God reconciled us through Jesus,
we all get a fresh start with new mercies and new grace. 

Every single day.
Every single page.
Every single line.

As you pick up your pen to write in your new year's book, within the narrative will you record the truth, when confronted with lies? Will you testify to hope when driven to despair? Will you submit to His authority as the Author and Publisher of your faith? If you belong to Christ, you are a new creation. The old things have gone; everything is made new! 


What a note-worthy novel yours will be!

Monday, January 2, 2012

Christmas Day

 She's in her stocking up to her armpit


 Santa's rolling in the paint supplies


 She got a 'whore-monica!'


 and wants some lessons to 'play it like Alvin'


 gold coins in her stocking at MeMa Debbie's


 and a Cinderella costume (!)


and a Barbie car!




Christmas Eve!

 i 'think' she likes it.


 opening our present from England--Santa in London!


 opening gifts with my my niece and nephew, Jane & Eli


 i 'think' he likes it


 the traditional Christmas pictures with Great Grandma Jean



 Sara, Grandma & Janey Bean


 all the girls


 the Winklers


 Scott having a sweet moment with Jane
(the moment before she smacked his face with that toy)


 opening toys & Christmas cookies make kids crazy!


 Eli & Schaeffer Jo both got 'snowman kits'
Eli 'snowmanned' himself


 faster, Uncle Scott! faster!


 setting out chocolate milk & cookies for Santa
carrots for the reindeer





 bursting with excitement


Santa's been here---and to everyone a good night!



Sunday, January 1, 2012

the princess potty: Before

the 1960's wallpaper and border
which, contrary to current belief, everything does not trend back


the main complaint--the large amount of unused space
(the walls are actually white, I'm not sure why they look like urine yellow-gross!)



the vanity and sink



 the inspiration for the update-the amazing vintage gold medicine cabinet. 
i LOVE


close up



 yikes!
this must go. 






Now that the holidays have come and gone, and we still have a week to do with what we please, I thought I'd tackle my bathroom. One of the unusual things about the vintage of our house is the 'master bathroom'--sans the bath. I find it tremendously charming, and immediately fell in love with the gigantic vintage gold medicine cabinet.

Check back later this week for the finished product--while the granite top and new sink will not be here, you'll get a solid idea of where my design idea is headed for this exciting project.