Before and (Almost) After

Okay, well here it is, getting closer. The house isn't finished, but getting so close I thought I would share some before and ALMOST afters.

This right here is the east wall of the front room. The windows on the north wall are still there, this is just a slightly different angle. When I do the final before and afters I will make sure to get as close to the original angle as I can.

This is the living room. The window right there on the west wall, its gone. We took all the windows out of the east side of the house because we will be adding a garage at some point in the future. See all that trash there? I didn't get to take before's before the work actually started, the WHOLE HOUSE looked worse than that when we bought it. It was empty for several years and local kids played in it. That's Tye, Sandi and Gunther in the picture there, some of my wonderful friends who came to help. Ember and Tina helped in there too, they just didn't make it in the picture.


This is the north wall of the kitchen. The doorway on the east wall is removed because it was right where the entertainment center will go in the living room and it was pretty redundant. We just didn't need it, so now, its gone. That looks like a door in front of Judy in the before picture but it was actually a door from another room leaning against the wall. Floyd came and painted the kitchen, and he doesn't know how much we appreciate that.


This is the south wall of the bedroom. Pay no attention to the hideous breaker box and wires in the after picture, it has a cover, but it was off last night when I was taking the picture because Robbie was wiring stairwell lights (Thank You!!). You'll either love this paint or hate it. Its about half and half right now. Tye calls it the lizard room, but I love it!

My house is really coming along, and none of it would be possible without our friends, thank you all so very much!! You mean the world to me.

Glasses

I really don't like this picture of me, but its the only one I have that shows my glasses. Check it out, my kids got the same glasses as me.

Amazing Photography!

I have GOT to tell you about my friend. She's going to kill me because she has no idea that I'm blogging about her today. First and foremost, she is an AMAZING friend. We met the very first day of my freshman year of High School in homeroom. We had Mrs. Connie McKee and we had so much in common and became fast friends. She was there for me through the madness of high school, through the craziness of my stupid years (she even wrote to me when I was in jail) and she bought the outfit that Austin came home from the hospital in.

Anyway - I could totally go on for hours about how wonderful she is - but that's not why I'm writing. My friend, Jocelyn, has an amazing talent for photography! I got one of her pictures for Christmas and its the first thing going on my kitchen wall!!

Now is your chance. Jocelyn has opened an etsy store and you, too, can own some of her awesome artwork:

When you go to the store, there, on the second row "Ready To Fly", that's the one I have. I LOVE IT!! It literally took me three days at Christmas to pick the one I wanted. They are all good!!! There are three more that I plan to get very soon. So, please, take a minute and visit http://www.JocelynInTexas.etsy.com its shopping therapy at its best!!

Painting Has Begun!!

This isn't by any means the finished product. But its a very good start. This is one of the walls in the bedroom. This wall used to have a window in it. The base coat is a light purple. It will have a dark purple glaze and white trim. I found a bed at Wal-Mart that I would love to have to go in there, its white metal frame and is only $179!! Of course then we will need mattresses, but I REALLY like this bedframe! Vaughn is anxious to see the walls with the glaze on them. This is all so very exciting. Being able to do what we want in this house and truly make it our very own.

If you live in Borger and aren't part of our small group then you may not have gotten the email that sweet Sandi sent out. We will be painting on Thursday night and everyone is invited to come, especially if you like to cut in, because Sandi and I, well we really don't enjoy the cutting in.

I'm not sure yet which room I like the most, but I really think its the front room. I got the pitcher in the picture today. It's not as big as I thought it was, but it was only $3 so I'm not that upset. Let me explain the background for this set here. When we bought the house, a friend of ours called. She said, "Kaci, a friend of mine has a sofa she needs to get rid of and I thought of you." So I called the lady and we go to pick up this sofa. The sofa is ten years old but has never been sat on (upon?). Conkling would kill me for not knowing the proper grammatical way to end that sentence. While we're picking up the sofa, the woman comes in with a lamp, some plate hangers and several antique plates and asks if I want them.

You see, I am going with an antique theme in the front room. Since the house was built in 1920, I am really shooting to try to capture that in there. I have a beautiful antique armoire (that my sister tried to get from me), some books and a radio that were left in the house for me by the previous owner's children. In my mind, I already have the room set up, including a tea set out of this china pattern...a tea set that I don't have yet. I plan to order it one piece at a time from eBay. So if you're yard sailing or flea market shopping and you see a teapot or cups and saucers with this pattern, holler at me. The stamp on the bottom should read "Royal China, Doorn". Oh yeah, and if you have any old books, I LOVE books!!

So that's an update on the house. Before and afters will hopefully be coming very soon!!

Thank you so much to all of our friends who have helped along the way. The guys who crawled through the attic and ran wiring, Mike for helping with the plumbing, my paint helpers, Brad and Katie, for everything you do for us and for everyone who prayed!! Thank you!

If I can pray for you, please let me know!

Growing Up!

Look at him. He is so handsome. He is so smart. He is my son.

Austin Sean was born June 18, 1999. He will be 10 next month. That just hardly seems possible at all. He is definately loved. I pray every single day that he really does know that.

I remember being pregnant with him 10 years ago and rubbing my big ol belly and wondering what kind of man he would be. I still wonder. I hold onto God's promise that if we raise up our children in the ways of the Lord, when he is old, he will not depart from it. So I know that he is in the Father's hand. I know that he has such great aspirations. I know that God directs his path.

I want the whole world to know how proud I am of this boy. How proud I am already of the man he will become. How proud I am to be his mom. Never ever forget, son, that you are loved and cherished. Never forget that there is a place in my heart that no one can fill but you!

Thanks Geek Squad!

Okay, a little background...like 3 years ago or so, Vaughn did some work for a friend of his. Friend knew Vaughn wanted a digital camera so as a token of appreciation Friend bought Vaughn this very nice camera.

January 2008, we went to visit Vaughn's son and very first (there I go with the very first's again) grandbaby. The camera decides its done. The lens won't extend and the camera won't come on. YAY! <---(sarcasm) Kodak says send us $133 and the camera and we'll fix it and send it back to you. Why, oh why did Hertner's have to close their repair shop??

So the camera sits. I get it out every now and then and take it apart, put it together, beg it, cry, yell at it, pray for it and it decides its not having any of that. Stupid, stubborn camera.

So the other day, I decide to call Geek Squad, see if they can fix it for cheaper. The guy says, "Okay let's see exactly what it's doing, press the power button for me?"

VOILA! the thing comes on. That was three days ago, it works. I even took video of Jazz with it (posted on Jazz' blog). That was three days ago. After 15 months of not working, it is now working great!

Of course the Geek Squad guy says that that model has this problem and if it happens again it would be better to just buy a new camera. But anyway, for now, it is working...YAY Geek Squad!!

Mailbox!!

I have a mailbox!! I know to most people this is no big deal, but this is my very first mailbox. That is, its the first mailbox at the very first house that I ever owned!

The very best part about it, the very first mail that I got in my very first mailbox at my very first house (okay, I'll stop it) was my kids' school pictures. That was just the coolest thing I could have gotten.

In another house update, we get to start painting tomorrow. This is an exciting point for me, for many reasons. For one, Vaughn gets to rest. He has been busting his butt, I mean totally working his hiney off to get this house done. Second, I love to paint. Finally, and probably most important, it means we may very well be in there before the kids come. All we need is to find a fridge, stove and bed and we will be ready to move in.

If you don't know how important this is to me, let me try it this way. I MISS MY KIDS! I try not to talk about it much. I try to remember that God has things the way they are for a reason. But I must admit, going to church on Mother's day, seeing all the women with their kids, seeing all the ladies having the most wonderful Mother's Day ever, well honestly it bores a giant hole deep in my heart. I smile, I do everything I can to make it a wonderful day for those around me, but inside, my heart is positively crushed.

When my babies call and tell me "Happy Mother's Day!" oh, that, that is the highlight of my Mother's Day. That is the second that I wait for all day long. I am thankful for Angie, caring enough to make sure that the children let me know how much they love me on that day. It helps to know how much she cares for them.

The day is over now, but my heart to see my kids is all the more anxious. So I pour my heart into our house. I anxiously prepare and pray that all will be ready for their summer visit.

Austin and Bethanie, MOMMY LOVES YOU for always in all ways, to the moon and back, para siempre!

Thanks for letting me whine. If I can pray for you, let me know!

Update and Prayer Request

Both of the families in this post are close to my heart, so please understand if I cry a bit as I post.

Esther Joy Travis has gone to be with the Lord. Here is the email I received from Adam & Jennifer:

Esther entered into
the Joy of her Lord, from death unto life eternal at 4:25pm Saturday, May 9, 2009.

Touches of grace : (things Esther said over this last week)

1. 4-30-09 Thursday morning she woke up and wanted to eat Adam remembers that prayer, She was so grateful to eat! Daddy asked her if she had seen Jesus. Esther said YES and Adam asked when. Esther said,"While I was praying for my food I saw Him in my heart". Adam went on to ask if He said anything and she said, "He said I will be with you." Anxious that she was going to go Adam asked "Is he with you now?" She replied,"He is always in my heart Daddy! He said I WILL be with you." Adam is still laughing about how silly his question was. =)

2. 4-30-09 We were watching a movie but she wasn't really watching so I asked her what she was thinking about she replied" I was thinking about how special Jesus is". I said, Yes, He is special, what special thing where you thinking about? She said" How strong He is".

3. 5-3-09 Sunday Adam walked the kids over to Sunday school and came back to help me with Esther. When she realized he was back she said, "Daddy you can go". He explained he was staying to help me with her and I ask, do you want Daddy to go? Esther nodded and said "Yes, I want you to go teach the Indians about Jesus".

4. 5-3-09 That night we had taken her into the hospital for platelets and two red cell transfusions. She sat up with a smile and wanted to hug me I will always remember those little boney arms with her pick line brace squeezing my neck as she spoke the words I love you mommy for the last time.
I was headed to get her meds a little later and she muttered "Don't worry about me mommy, Jesus will be with me."

5. 5-8-09 For fun when Daddy wiped an eyelash off her cheek he asked what she wished for. Esther said (what we would later know was her real last conversation) "I wish to go to heaven".

6. 5-9-09 After a hard night and morning we were able at 2:30 to get her pain finally to subside. We fell asleep stretched out by her. The Lord sent a total stranger to wake us up (a man from Southwood Baptist Church, who said they had taken up a collection for us and had been praying for us) as Adam started to visit with him I realized Esther was taking her last few breathes. I called Adam he excused himself and we along with her two older siblings Jonathan and Deborah were able to be with her as she took her last. The Lord answered our prayer to both be with her as she passed on.

Viewing will be Monday at Freeman & Harris - (918) 749-3333, 3333 E. 41st, Tulsa, OK 74135.

The Funeral on Tuesday morning 10:00am at Southeast Baptist Church - (918) 836-6617, 1402 S. Memorial Dr. , Tulsa, OK. 74112

Please pray for this family. They have the strength of the Lord on their side, but please pray that he give them peace during this time.



Also, please pray for my friend, Lee Price. He is the brother of my boss and the Pastor that we went to visit in Colorado. He runs the homeless mission that we went to work at there in Newcastle and Glenwood Springs. Lee has not been well for some time now. He may have contracted a virus in Thailand a while back. All his lab work comes back normal, but he has fought and fought to get well, only to get worse. This morning, along with his wife and parents, he is traveling to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Please lift this family and the doctors up in your prayers.

Thank you so much. If I can pray for you, please let me know.

Kitchen Colors

Okay, here's the plan. My kitchen is entirely designed around a birdhouse that my son made for me when he was in Kindergarten. The little birdhoue reminds me of Luke 12:24 "Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?"

So, last year I found this kitchen towel set at Wal-Mart (which they no longre carry) that I just loved because it has birdhouses and daisies (my favorite flower):

So I am using these colors:


The plan was all set, then it changed. Since Aaron and Vaughn are building the cabinets, the stipulation is that they do not get painted. So I am having to re-vamp my paint plan for my kitchen some. The plan was white walls, black trim and red accents (the inner panels of the cabinet doors, etc.). My backsplash will be reddish brick with black tones in it. So I was thinking of making the walls red (I say red but its really more of a wine color) with black trim and white accents. The countertop is black Faux marble, the appliances are black. Maybe I should make the trim white with black accents?

What do you think?


UPDATE: I've decided to go with white trim since the windows and door is white.

House, Gardens, Updates

It's been a minute since I've posted, so I thought I would post an update. God is just doing some amazing things in our lives. It is just raining blessings. I can't begin to express how very blessed we feel.

The gardens at Mom's house have become quite beautiful. My sister-in-law is bringing over some more flowers this evening. I look forward to spending some time with her planting them. We don't spend much time together and she really is a beautiful person and I just am so excited for this time. I took some before pictures and I'll will post some afters very soon.

Our house. Well, its coming along quite nicely. All the windows are in, all the sheetrock is in except for in my closet, which may happen today, Mike S. is going to Amarillo today to get the final necessities for the plumbing to be finished and Vaughn is about ready to start mudding today! This is such an exciting point to be at. I realize that there are a few big projects left after mud, but really they are not all that time consuming. The ladies at the church have offered to help paint (YAY!), The floors I don't think will be difficult to sand and finish, Aaron is going to help Vaughn build the kitchen cabinets (thank you Aaron!) and we have already found most of the furniture we needed. We DO still need a black gas stove, black refrigerator, and a queen or king sized bedroom set. We are looking for used items and my sister keeps checking the Habitat for Humanity Restores, but black appliances are dang hard to find. So if you come across one in good condition (and you live in the Panhandle area) please holler at me?

Jazz, my new Conure, he's a precious boy. He chats alot, just chatter that no one can understand, but he does say, "Pretty boy", "no bite" and he loves to laugh, not just any laugh, mind you, MY laugh. Its pretty darn funny.

Thanks for hangin out with me a minute. If I can pray for you, please let me know.