Crrafty Day

Craft of the day:

Okay so I have had this one page bookmarked (yes before pinterest, which I need to transfer allllll of my bookmarks to, I know, yes I have been a part of it since it first opened, no I haven't started using it until now)  Anywho [quit distracting me lol] I have wanted to make the Crayola canvas drip art thingy for forever!!!

(If you don't know what I'm talking about here is just one website that has it, fyi, one of my new fav blogs: http://naptimecraftmommy.blogspot.com/2011/07/melty-crayon-canvas-art.html)

So.....I did things a tiny bit different, this wasn't the first time I had seen this so looking at all of their outcomes I was 1. super nervous of failure and 2. determined to not make a huge mess.

Basically I took my canvas {Michaels had a sale where you would buy one get one free on these 2 packs of canvas' so I got a bunch in different sizes, this was the smallest of them **oh and bonus, found out during my second project with the kids today that they already came treated with gesso, SCORE!!!**} and my 64 pack of crayola crayons and put them out on the table and lined the crayons up to see how many would fit across.

In my case it was 35 so I separated all crayons into their perspective colors (all reds and pinks together, blues, greens, purples...so on and so forth) leaving out all the greys whites browns and blacks..Then I mathematically (lol) figured out how many of each and blah blah..Then I started trying to put them from darkest to lightest or whatever and said screw it and decided to just randomly put them down (in their color groups)

Then I took my handy dandy little hot glue gun and instead of doing multiple strips of glue I did it one by one, just picking up the next crayon and laying it down how I wanted. I noticed that in the other people's tries they had to take some up because they started getting out of line, so I went steady and slow and voila:

all glued down. Next you are supposed to take it outside and put it in the sun and let nature do it's thing, yeah well I'm not patient enough for that nonsense so I just went straight to the blow dryer step (with a twist)

Now I have pretty straight hair and rarely use my nice hairdryer BUT it did come with attachments (no I don't know what they are actually used for) and thought this one would be awesome to work with since everyone else's just splattered everywhere I figured with this controlled thingy it would help and guess what, it did!!!

I set up outside (basically drapped an old sheet over my screen door (since that is where the outside outlet is) and voila [sorry about the crappy pics, I was waay to determined to get this done to pull out my Canon so I used my handy dandy cell phone] *Make sure your canvas is propped up at a good angle so when the wax does melt it drips down. So I started and it was looking AWESOME!! I took a video:

So another thing that I did differently is I concentrated only on the tips of the crayons, I didn't like how others were looking like hot messes and I sprung for Crayola crayons and wanted to be able to read that (lol) so I only tried to melt the "bottoms". It really didn't take long and I was LOVING how it was dripping and slightly splattering at the bottom. I kept it up and stopped for a few minutes and started again to get longer and more drips.

Where I stopped the first time because I was afraid of loosing the awesome splatters at the bottom. Then I figured I could always try again and I really wanted longer drips so I started up the hair dryer again.

and this is what I ended up with. It definitely helped having the attachment for my hair dryer and then kinda working the drips down with it. Here are some more angles..I am so proud (can't you tell) I definitely need to do another one though since I don't have much else hanging in the playroom it looks pretty tiny. BUT no worries, I will be doing lots more projects coming soon to jazz it up :)

I also thought the splatter spots it made on the sheets were pretty too (lol it's the little things...)

So this was my little art project I did with the boys today, I did another one too but it's a father's day gift so that will have to wait :) I may not be the best blogger but it was fun doing this!

Bon Voyage..

I am NOT a single mother..I am and Navy Wife and proud of it..My husband may leave but he will be back, the months he is gone are tough but its my life. He choose to defend the lives of many no matter what the cost and I support him 100%. Don't ask me how I do it, I don't know, I just do..My life could be worse, your life could be worse..Never take for granted what you have. 

 Some days I may just want to be by myself and not answer the door or be polite, I think I'm entitled to that. Some days I will want a distraction but he will never be off my mind, no matter what. Some days I will just want to stay in my PJ's all day and that is okay. Don't apologize to me..you did nothing wrong, no one did, it's just life.

The peeves that get to me are "I don't know how you do it", "I'm sorry", and "I feel so bad for you". First of all..why do you feel bad for me? I am more proud of my husband than you ever can be, (no offense to any industry) but my husband protects your freedom, what does yours do?? Second why are you going to ask me how I survive? Some days I do and some days I don't..is there a certain answer you are looking for? If there is just tell me what you want to hear and I'll say it but I don't regret living this Military life..sometimes it sucks, sometimes it sucks more times than not but you know what I can say that I am among the elite and in a special class that is stronger than most. An alliance that can hold our heads high because our husbands leave us for the sake of our Country. I am a Military Wife and I wouldn't change a thing..Last but not least why would someone apologize to me?? I think that is a problem in our language we've started filling in certain blanks with the words "I'm sorry". There is no need for it. You didn't hurt me you didn't make my husband leave..you didn't do anything to me. Now maybe you have taken advantage of your freedom (as have I and most everyone else in the country) but I am not God, I'm not here to judge you. The Bible says "Judge not lest ye be judged" Matthew 7:1 and trust me I don't want to go there (ha ha ha). 

Look I'm not trying to "yell" at anyone..I get it "civilians" don't understand and most don't try too and honestly I am guilty of saying the wrong things to other military wives at times but I just figured I would write out my feelings..just for the sake of being able too..lol.. I appreciate all of my friends that are keeping me in the prayers during this deployment and for all the kind words. Its kind of weird being "Thanked" because I don't feel like I'm doing much other than living my life but I appreciate it and hope everyone keeps my husband and his ship in your prayers. 

**If you see someone in uniform take a minute and thank them,no matter where you are, it may seem weird in the moment but it will mean a lot to them.**

To be or not to be....

So, it's been awhile since I sat down and wrote a blog..Not for lack of thoughts and ideas..more for lack of time and energy. I've been trying to work out and keep the house clean and I guess life just caught up with me. Anyways...Jason just enrolled in College again to take some courses online and it got me thinking that maybe I should finish my degree as well. Now I'm not looking for a "career" per-say, just a degree in something that interests me. I love my job staying home with the kids, I wouldn't change it for anything.

I started college going  for a Music ED degree, well anything to do with Music is out because I only want to take on-line classes and choir on-line seems a little ridiculous (lol). I also don't really want to do education (sorry mom) not to mention it is also an impossible degree to do strictly on-line. I started thinking about how I want to draw closer to God and have a better relationship with Him. I looked for Religious degrees. I looked into the school Jason will be "attending" and I'm not so sure whether that is the right fit for me or not. I then looked into degrees from regent University which is the school Jason originally wanted to "go to".

Religious Studies really caught my eye..now it makes me excited and nervous at the same time. On one hand I will learn A LOT  which is super cool..I've looked through the courses and there are a TON and yeah some I wouldn't have chosen to take but those are probably the ones I will learn the most from. On the other hand I know it is going to be extremely challenging and hard and I don't know if it will be too much for me to take on. I have so many goals to accomplish and I'm not sure if this will be me biting off more than I can chew you know?

I have a lot to think about I guess..It would be something great to get my mind off of Jason being gone but I already have a ton of stuff planned to occupy my time. I guess I just need to pray about it.

No real challenge tonight..just be strong and know that God will never give you more than you can handle but He will push you to your limits. Also remember God blesses those who give selflessly. He reminded me of that one this past week. God is good! :)

Giving

So I am in the process of cleaning out the garage and getting rid of stuff..I felt God tell me awhile ago that I need to just give it all away. I started thinking that yeah no problem..I will give most of it away (note I said most) I told myself that I would sell the big things like the double stroller my cousin had given me and the baby swing and some other random things. Well I posted an ad on Craigslist.org yesterday and I have a lady coming over to look at the stroller..I said I was askign $30 which is nothing for a double stroller but I am really feeling led to just give it to her and surprise her when she gets here.

I mean really when you think about it what is a measly $30 compared to blessing someone with something that they really need? She has two children, 1 being autistic and she needs something to help him with his muscle spasms and what not. I know God will reward me in many different ways if I do this.

So she just came and when I told her she started to cry!! I feel soo good I could bless her. She is a Navy wife and was just going through an underway like I am and her husband is coming home today. She was telling me that this has been a very hard underway for her topping it off with finding out the new problems with her son not being able to stand and walk for very long.

I am so blessed to have been used by God to give her something she needed and something that will help her in her life. It's amazing how he does that. I just can;t even put down in words how I feel at this moment. I encourage everyone to try and bless someone in some way today. Whether it be with money or items or just encouraging words..you never know how you can change someone's life. The littlest things can have the biggest impact on someone else.

Deuteronomy 15:10
Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.

Deuteronomy 16:17
Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you.

Proverbs 22:9
He who is generous will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor.

Proverbs 28:27
He who gives to the poor will never want, but he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.

Luke 3:11
And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.”

Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8
Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.

2 Corinthians 9:10
Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness;

Blessed:Quick and easy

Enough said....

The love of my life

You know that saying that says something about 'seeing and imperfect person perfectly'? Well tonight I realized what the truly means. I found this great poem online and when I read it it summed up everything I wanted to say to my husband I just couldn't find the words..

Perfection in my Eyes

All I ever wanted was to be part of your heart, And for us to be
together, to never be apart.

No one else in the world can even compare, You're perfect and so is this
love that we share.

We have so much more than I ever thought we would, I love you more than
I ever thought I could.

I promise to give you all I have to give, I'll do anything for you as
long as I live.

In your eyes I see our present, our future and past, By the way you look
at me I know we will last.

I hope that one day you'll come to realize, How perfect you are when
seen through my eyes.

I mean wow..isn't that beautiful?? I realized tonight that the things that aren't perfect about my husband are what makes him who he is and the man that I fell in love with 5 years ago. I have also accepted that he really feels the same way about me. In no way what so ever am I perfect and if you asked me a few days ago whether he loved me for me including all of my imperfections I probably wouldn't have been able to give you a straight answer. Tonight was an amazing night talking to him..yes we had a couple moments here and there but all in all I realized that we are everything to each other and that he does feel everything I feel.

I also realized that all this is becoming apparent to me because I have given our marriage up to God. I have let him lead me in the words I say to my husband and in my actions towards him. I pray every day that we have a long and happy life together. God brought us together for a reason and I know that the reason is to be together for a lifetime. I still remember the first night we met. I had never felt that way for anyone or anything. It was like the peace of God came over me and told me that he was the man I was supposed to marry and spend the rest of my life with. Some people don't believe in love at first sight but I do because it happened to me. God made it happen, it was his will that we meet after everything that had happened in our lives. It was He who brought us together and who put us in the right places at the right time.

We have had our struggles..the devil almost won in destroying my marriage but that wasn't what God wanted and whatever God wants He gets! Through lots or prayer and forgiveness I can boast that my marriage has never been better. I know now that it is because I have put God first. I know things won't always be easy and I will make many mistakes but I know that God will forgive me and so will my husband.

I encourage everyone to give their relationships up to God..whether it be your marriage or if you are dating or even your relationships with family and friends. Trust in the Lord and you will notice a change in your life. It is amazing how much I have noticed myself change and all for the good. I much more secure with myself and just everything. You know, the hardest part is trusting. I don't know why but we as human's just have such a hard time trusting anything. The defensive mechanism always seems to kick on when all we need is to just let go and leave it up to God.

 **Thanks to Jeni for making me the beautiful image at the top**

Happy purely commercial holiday day!

Well its never meant a great deal to me.. Honest! My husband has known that from the beginning and why was I so disappointed when nothing happened today? I admit it, I hooked my doorbell back up and before that I left the front door open in case something showed up with something..But alas nothing, and it's better that way. I guess I was disappointed earlier even though I've been preaching "commercial holiday this..commercial holiday that" all day long and have for the past so many years. I guess no matter what your beliefs of the holiday you can't help but get caught up in the hype every now and then.

I was listening to the radio today in the car (Christian station of course) and they were talking about how some people love this holiday and some loathe it and call it "S.A.D - Single Awareness Day". They started going on about how none of us are really never not in a relationship just do to the fact of our relationship with God. Today gives you an extra excuse to spend time with Him. The same kind of excuse apparently other relationships need.

Like really why does your significant other need a day to show you how much they care about you. Like I would find it so much more special if my husband randomly surprised me with whatever on say June 6th. A day that he wasn't "obligated" to do something. We should want to tell our significant other everyday how much we care about them. Honestly I don't know where I'm going with this one today..guess I'm still alittle emotional..lol..

Let's make this challenge to surprise your love one in some way that shows them how much you care for them. It doesn't need to be candy or flowers or a stuffed bear. Remember that a note from the heart can mean so much more than any of those things, even diamonds!