From Trash to Treasure (well to something functional anyway)

Another Before and After project I have recently finished:

I brought two of these ugly speaker boxes home from church after there was a clean out - planning to dump them in the bins at home:

Before:

I was fiddling around with them and having seen Lauren's post a while ago with her georgeous toy boxes an idea snuck into my mind...

I gutted the boxes and tossed out all the wirey junk. Then I screwed the two boxes together lengthwise and wah - la they fit just where i wanted them too in the front entrance!

Then I gave them a coat of Prep-lock (love this stuff - paint that adheres to all sorts of surfaces and acts as an undercoat/primer before applying 'normal' paint) . Then a lick of white semi-gloss. I really need to give them another coat but was so eager to see it finished I haven't gone back to give it another coat:(

I had a friend cut a sheet of MDF to the right size for me, padded the top with layers of leftover carpet underlay followed by soft wadding. Then I used an piece of checkered blue/white blanket I picked up from fabric scrap bin at Salvos and staple-gunned it onto the lid. The lid is just sitting on top because I was a bit unsure of how to work out the hinges (hubby has since filled me in (another thing I haven't fixed due to my lazy pregnant state:(

Then with hubby's help and the right type of screws for chipboard - we screwed on wheels (I deliberately chose one set of wheels with locks on them end to avoid it being wheeled into walls:) though i wanted box to be able to move when I vacuumed and to have added height. (Incidentally if you want wheels we have found Super Cheap Auto a great place )

After

The purpose of the box -

• storage
• a seat for little ones to sit on while they put their shoes on/off

There - managed to save two ugly speaker boxes from joining the scrap heap (thanks for inspiration, Lauren) and have two happy campers...

Next job... to teach Rosa which shoe goes on which foot ...

Free Christmas Gift Tags

Click here for a great selection of free, printable Christmas gift tags. They could be mounted on Coloured card. Some very cute ones... and a cutting activity for older kids in the holidays!

Mirror mirror....

Before and After photos for those who are interested.

Perhaps you like the gold edged mirror better before? I picked it up at Salvos but decided to change it to match in the bathroom for our guest room.

So here it is in the regal gold colour...

I covered the front with paper, sliding the paper under the edges of the mirrors and using a little electric tape where there were gaps (ideally you could take the mirror out altogether - but i was a little afraid to do that with this one because of the complexity inside the frame...)

Then I whipped out a can of the 'can fix just about anything' bottle of white spray paint... and wa-la....

Unfortunately i can't seem to pick up on the detail once it is white.... might be time for some lessons on my camera:)

A few more Before and After photos to come - I am even having a go at entering a competition for Salvos... who is running a competition 'Furnish with a Conscience' with prizes for who can best renovate an old piece of furniture/junk. I know I should probably ignore it and get my pile of ironing done but I just love this sort of challenge.... :(

I enjoy the challenge/outlet for creativity as well as the idea of making a useful piece of furniture for the home.

Party Boy Owen!

Owen had a blast at his friend's Birthday party recently. I was encouraged to see many kids getting involved with those with special needs - was almost an argument over who was going to wheel one boy in a wheelchair during the race. Admittedly, many of the kids there had a brother or sister with special needs so are more familiar with what to do... however, some just caught on and involved them anyway. It was beautiful to see. Talking to the Mum of A. who is in a wheelchair, it occurred to me just what what a hero she is with all the lifting, taking loads of gear, helping him through daily tasks, etc. Mums in these situations don't often get a break and definitely need a hand every now and then. Help us, as Christians, Lord to see needs more often and take the initiative. What an opportunity to share the Love and compassion of our Master of Compassion...

And you should have heard the delightful squeals from A. as he was lifted into the water in his special chair. He was having a blast, too!

Introducing Bethany Grace

Here is my beautiful fresh (born on 27th!) niece. I had the chance to duck over and see her yesterday on my own (sickness amongst kids at moment:(

Introducing Bethany Grace!

Awwwhhh - aint' she something!

Reminds me that all the uncomfortableness of pregnancy is worth it in the end!

Congrats Woodies -

Look at what the Lord has done!

Bob

T'was Book Character Day today in Owen's class. Very conveniently, a friend of Grandma's dropped into her house on Wednesday with a few bags of toys (Grandmas can never have too many toys - only Mums can:) including a Bob the Builder belt full of tools. Would you believe we had already decided to send Owen to school dressed as Bob on Thursday (minus the supply of tools) , so the timing was impeccable! And thanks Aunty Jen for the loan of Bob book ! Not a cent spent and doesn't our builder look smashing (loads more tools behind too)!

We added a bit of grub to the cheeks ... there finished! - (under normal circumstances that 'grub' appearance needs no assistance - somehow just appears there naturally:)

And for the record ... there was a Slinky Malinky, Jack (from the house that Jack built), Snow White, a Fox (from Hattie and the Fox?) A Rabbit (?) a Cat in the Hat and Owen's teacher dressed up as Little Red Riding Hood.... Lots of fun and laughs!

'Bob' with his good friend 'Slinky Malinky'

The kids each had to parade before the parents - I even scored a very passionate kiss from Bob:)

Gems

I love finding treasures - and here are a couple I have used lately...

I bought this book on the Doulos when it was in town. It is a poem written about the verses of abiding in Christ from John 15 (the vine and branches). Josh and I are attempting to memorise it as it is such a picture of life in Christ, the process of pruning and abiding...

Here's a little snippet to whet de appetite:

..."For the branches grow quickyly in every direction;

The gardener is wise as He makes His selection.

He trims needless stems with His delicate touch,

For He knows it increases the fruit very much;

And in just the same way, Jesus helps us to choose.
There's the better to gain and the lesser to lose.

For your life will be busy, but here is the test:
Can you cut something out to make room for the best?

Can you find activities dearest to Him?
He will show you the best, and He'll help you to trim.
You can ask this of Jesus: "Which way should I go?"
And He'll guide each decision and help you to know.

...And another gem. My Big sister put me onto these some years ago and I love them. We have just ordered the larger version to use with children at church. The small version are playing card size (ordered from US) and large are approx. A4 size...

They are Bible Story Cards. Fifty Cards each for Old and New Testament Stories. The simple vestion of the story is written on the back of each card. They also have a few questions on the back for kids. I particularly like the fact they are number sequenced so that the order of events can be laid out for kids to see - like a timeline. Nice way of getting a good overview of events in the Scriptures. David and I also found them helpful as an overview with the youth group back when we were involved.

Just thought I'd share...

More Weddings!

Craig and Andy (relatives of inlaws) were finally able to have their wedding - or rather reception this month. They actually married at the PA hospital during Andy's recovery. A cluster of blood vessels in Andy's brain burst and caused a hemorage in Andy's brain (apparently a condition she had from birth but was totally unaware of it until some complications on the very day of her Briday shower).

It was really a special reception and such an answer to prayer! On ya Craig and Andy - we are amazed at so many answers to prayer in your newly joined lives!

...and Digging in! Food was very yummy!

I was personally encouraged by a conversation we had with Craig during the evening. He was sharing how they had recently sold the home he had spent so long building. Craig, having studied architecture had a home built - put a tonne of effort, time and detail into the specifics of tiles, flooring, kitchen details, etc. etc. etc. After Andy's surgery she found stairs difficult to climb (actually creates pressure in the brain) and so they decided to put the house on the market. They are now living in the home Andy had before she was married, a much smaller , low-set one. What encouraged me was the way Craig was delighting in the simple joys of married life - the less complicated life (owning a new home he felt everything had to be kept just so ...) and how free he felt in terms of debt, opportunities for ministry, serving his wife, etc. Owning less, being content with the simple and enjoying life itself ... wise choices and a challenge to keep my own life in check with eternal/spiritual goals rather than shallow earthly ones!

Artist in Residence

This is my little artist....

But I will spare you the most recent photos of her artistic expression... Sunday afternoon David and Joshua ducked out while I was having an afternoon snooze at the same time as the younger two. I didn't realise David was out then - thought he had gone and come home already- the young mischief makers having woken from their sleep decided to use a green whiteboard marker all over the place, pillows, table, table runner, dolly, etc. etc. Rosa then decided to change her own soiled nappy using a mountain of wet wipes and returning the soiled ones back into the same container and then they must have both agreed that they needed a bath and managed to hop into the bath (no water, thankfullly!) and dropped a bottle of shampoo all over the floor and then themselves... I think I began to arouse about the time they rubbed shampoo into their eyes and felt a little uncomfortable (if only it was their conscience that disturbed them earlier!)

Lessons learned (from both parties) and the realisation that maybe in my pregnant state I just simply sleep too much when given the opportunity!!

So with all artistic expression there is definitely a downside:)

On the upside:

don't you just love the way she drew her little fish and the face (a monkey, I think she said).

I wonder if Picasso's mother would've recommended Dulux Wash & Wear ?

Blessed be the name...

As fun as it is to see changes and things fixed up around the place, there is nothing like the feeling of having it all behind you!

We've had a chaotic few weeks but I have also had some real treats thrown in like a total surprise visit from my sister - and I mean I was totally surprised (my very wise husband decided it would be better that way) - poor lil' sis' came into the house to find me scrubbing paint off my feet and wearing my grubby paint clothes, with a trail of boxes stacked all around while we worked on the school room. It was such a treat to see her and have a chance to go out to coffee with my other sister too! Ah, we talked so long at the cafe that Ithink the waitress was giving us the hint to get us moving. What a little delicacy that was in my otherwise chaotic week!

We also enjoyed a couple of days with David's Aunt and Uncle from Vic. who stayed with us. Was fun to share our morning walk with them and have Great Uncle Peter (who is the absolute expert in nature studies!) give us a running commentary on what he saw as we walked. I was just amazed at his knowledge - and especially the way that he understands His Creator's awesome works in so much more detail!

I am utterly exhausted having just had a busy day with the kids at a friend's wedding while David ran around taking photos. The younger two seemed to have the wriggles, felt they hadn't been fed for months and couldn't wait a second longer and one of my lil' treasures decided to stand on the toes of the other just for fun (literally!) After the wedding I decided (somewhat foolishly) to make another excursion to pick up some storage boxes for our wardrobe so spent the time competing with my 6 yr old (who should know better) who thought it was fun to knock our stack of boxes over or constantly pull out the tape measure then 'snap' watch it disappear... in my frazzled state however I was amazed at the kindness of a gentleman who saw me struggling to carry all the boxes and watching my naughty children and offered to carry a pile of boxes to the van for me.

Isn't it like the Lord to season our way with little snippets of kindness, little reminders of his care, little pieces of His character evident in the lives of others? As I sit here I wonder how grateful my heart is - how well I see these little snippets. Sometimes I think I am so caught up in the frazzled feelings to really appreciate the Lord's hand...

Oh for eyes to see the hand of the Lord! Oh for a grateful heart when I am exhausted, when I am at the end of my patience and when I feel I could just curl up on the couch!

The Lord is kind and compassionate - Blessed be the name of the Lord!!