So, my birthday was Tuesday. I am now 40. Which I understand is the new 30. Whatever that means.


In addition to the fun of having a good friend from Florida in town Tuesday and Wednesday, I also got to go out on the town with James Tuesday night. My out of town friend hung out with my kids. She also did laundry, cleaned the kitchen and pruned my flowers. Coming to visit me is always a good time! Kim took this picture of the family as James and I were heading out the door for dinner.

Over dinner James gave me a card from some of my good friends. In it was a sweet note, with a confession. They have been in cahoots with James for some time now, planning a long get-a-way weekend for me. Instigated by James, who is well aware that I am always on the brink of loosing my sanity. Once the reality that they had planned this sunk in, so many things started to make sense. Like why, a month ago, when my friends were loosely discussing my 40th with me and I said I didn't even know what day it was on my friend Marjorie shot out, "It's on a Tuesday." When I looked at her quizzically she gave me some lame reason she knew that.

They included an itinerary in my card so I would know how to pack. They have lovingly included all the things that I enjoy, namely lots of time to hang out and antique shopping.

And I plan to wear these as often as I can.

Lucchese Cowgirl Boots. A gift from my parents. LOVE. THEM.

The boys wanted to send me off thinking of them so this morning they did what they do best:

broke something. It's my prized glass pineapple. I was momentarily sad. Then I went upstairs to pack.

If you like this beauty, go here. Edie gives step by step instructions on accomplishing this look.

So, I am close to nailing down all my colors and will start collecting supplies for my first project. Stay tuned.

I had a professor in seminary, an old guy who actually knew Albert Einstein (no, really), who used to always say, "I love my wife, but. . . " The 'but' was normally followed by something like, ". . . boy, sometimes she drives me crazy." He always said it with a big smile on his face and we, his students, knew that he adored the woman more than he could express.

In this psychotherapeutically driven culture we live in we are told we should not use 'but' because it just cancels out what precedes the 'but' and what's left is how you really feel. We should use 'and' instead. "I love my kids and they drive me crazy sometimes!"

I get it. I really do. BUT sometimes you just gotta use the 'but.' And it's my blog so I can use 'but' if I want to, 'but' if I want to. . .

My life right now is pretty centered around the troublesome trio. It's how I want it. It's how James and I want it. Me home with them, rather than working, while they are young. But, man, it's draining. Really draining. Each of them in different ways suck the life right out of me. That's what happens when an extreme introvert is called to parent extroverts - two of which are off the charts!

I love my time home with the boys, but as of late I am craving something more. I also am happy with the choices and sacrifices we have made for me to be able to stay home, but my creative juices feel a bit stifled as a result. And by 'creative' I do not mean 'crafty.' Nope, I am not crafty. Not even a little bit. But I do like to play around with my home decor. That's where any creativity I have comes out. However, when on a tight budget it's harder to hit the antique stores the way I would like. And while I know it would be super fun to go antiquing with three small boys I just don't have it in me.

Maybe it's the dog days of summer that has me feeling like I need to add something to the mix. Or maybe it's turning 40. Turning 40 with small children.

So, I have been looking for ways to spice things up a bit without killing our budget or taking me away from home too often. Tomorrow I have a meeting with the Director of Daybreak Crisis Pregnancy Center. They are looking for volunteers to spend time with their clients. Women, often very young women, who are pregnant and scared and looking for some hope. I am excited about giving some of my time to a cause that is important to me. And I am super excited about tapping into the thinking part of my brain. Woohoo! And James is happy to work his schedule out so that I can do this. He thinks he can get some work done at home while I am out. I will just let him go on thinking that, he'll find out the truth soon enough.

As far as the other stuff. Filling my need to change, update, mix-up my home decor. . . I am finding some outlets for that, too. Paint! I'm pretty much going to paint anything I can get my hands on. And nobody's gonna stop me. Pics to come soon.

and this

and this

and as much of this

as possible!