iNeed a New MacBook

It pains me that I haven't blogged in so long.  This whole not-having-a-computer thing stinks.  Big time.

I have come to the sad - but necessary - conclusion that the chunk of change I had saved for my camera needs to go toward a new computer.  It hit me the other night when I snagged Jim's computer after dinner and worked on it until bedtime, that not one thing I was doing was wasteful.  I wasn't surfing the internet or watching YouTube... I was responding to emails that had been sitting in my inbox for five days, I was doing research for Women's Ministry stuff for church, and I was setting up a meal calendar for a friend who had a baby.  Even though a great camera would be a wonderful investment and an awesome creative outlet, a computer is a necessary tool for me.  At this current point in my life, I can't use a camera to serve God the way I can use a computer.  God has blessed me with the gift of administration, and I haven't been able to use it!

So, I need to keep saving to get a new laptop that will allow me to fulfill my Etsy orders, store my whole photo library, and basically pick up where I left off.  I have explored my options, and I know now what I need.  I am just hopeful that I can get something before Jim's classes really take off this fall and I am left high and dry.  I wouldn't say I'm striking a deal with God (because that doesn't seem so biblical!), but I certainly am asking Him to honor my decision.  As of right now, any extra money is going toward medical bills, so it would definitely take some divine intervention for this to happen.  I certainly don't know God's plan, but I'm not counting against that possibility.

Finishing Cora's Room

A few weeks ago I finally got around to tackling a house project.  It felt SO good to be back in the game!

One of my house goals was to paint a few pieces of furniture this year, but I had to wait until sweet baby boy was out of my tummy.  Here is furniture piece number one, Cora's nightstand, before I got my hands paintbrush on it.:

And here it is after:

I chose a shade of white that matched the existing furniture (which is not true white or ivory), and I bought a pink drawer pull at Hobby Lobby.  I'd love to tell you this was super cheap, but the project cost a little more than I had hoped because I had to buy special primer, some new rollers, and a few other things.  At least now I will have those things to tackle my next two paint projects.

Before Seth was born, I managed to paint a piece of artwork for Cora's room.  It isn't totally done because I want to go back and clean up the stripes at the bottom of the painting, but in case that never happens, I should probably go ahead and post some pictures of it in its current state:

Here are a few other views of the room:

Other than touching up the canvas, this room is done!  At some point I'd love to add seating under the window that connects the two bookshelves (and shorten the curtains to the necessary height), but I have other things in the house I need to do more.  I also know the bookshelves will fill up on their own as Cora grows, so I'm not in a huge hurry to accessorize them.

It's a beautiful day... I think I may have to get the paintbrush out again in another room!!  :-)

Kicking Off the Summer

The last few weeks have been a flurry of activity.  In my last post, I complained about some of the difficult things we've been dealing with, but we have had some really great moments, as well.

Two weeks ago, Brennan finished kindergarten.  I can't believe my little boy is done with his first year of school.

Brennan's school did a super cute program for the end of the year.  It was honestly so well done.  I've been in lots of schools over the years, and I have never seen such a darling, appropriate, and well-executed end-of-year program.  And to pull it off with over 100 kindergarteners was no small feat.

Even though Brennan missed the last two full days of school, he was able to go back for the last half day to get his report card and say goodbye to his teacher and friends.  He made this adorable letter for his teacher:

When Brennan got home from school on his last day, I had a banner for him hanging in the doorway.  After he had his picture taken with it, I made him break through it to get into the house.  :-)

Nana was inside waiting for him so she could take him to the zoo.

Another thing that came to an end for Brennan was soccer season.  His team finished the year strong, and even though every child got the same trophy, Brennan was very proud.

This past Monday we all went with my mom to the newly-reopened Rainforest Cafe at Opry Mills Mall.  The kids haven't been in a few years (it has been closed since the flood two years ago), and Brennan didn't remember anything about it except the hippo that used to scare him.  (He thinks it is pretty cool now.)

We had a gift card that was given to my mom for her work with the A Cappella Choir back in our home town, and it was just such an awesome present!  Brennan and Cora were in awe the whole time watching the animals move and waiting for the next "thunderstorm."  

Besides all of these special moments, we have enjoyed simply being outside in the sunshine playing on the slip and slide and eating meals on the picnic table.  

My mom leaves to go back to New York in the morning, and we will officially be on our own as a family of five.  We have ten weeks of summer ahead of us, and I'd be lying if I didn't say I'm scared.  But we will just take one day at a time and count our blessings...

...like s'mores and campfires.  Life is good.