by Stacey | Sep 16, 2013 | Home Makeover Projects
As we prepare to move to Brantford, Ontario via Chicago, Illinois (crazy eh?), I can’t help but look fondly upon some of my most favorite projects from around the house.
It turns out the things I like the best were not the most expensive, but the most creative. Here they are, in no particular order:
I love how our bedroom turned out! It was one of the last things to decorate and I really enjoyed the project. It is a blend of Kijiji finds, hotel sales, sewing projects, and Winners. The best part is the extreme close up pictures of the kids above the headboard.
I’ve recently fallen in love with this deep shade of purple in the shower curtain. I love any chance to work it into our home decor.
The alphabet letters resting on the trim were inspired by one of my favorite designers, Sarah Richardson. I love how the trim breaks up the change in wall color, and that the upper color continues over the ceiling.
I just love this painting. It was a clearance Winners find that thrilled me.
What more can I say about the fireplace? I think I have posted enough about fireplaces that you all know I love them. The old windows hanging above were found on Kijiji for a steal of a deal.
I love storage, and built-in storage that makes use of every space thrills me. Under the basement stairs is wasted space in many homes – but not ours!
The basement bathroom was one space we hired out. The work was a bit above our ability. We were thrilled with end result. Well worth the investment.
The downstairs family room is another favorite space in the house. A perfect place to curl up with a book, watch a family movie, or play with the kids.
The kitchen cabinet was such a simple project, but I love it -and Kevin for building it.
It will be sad to leave a home that we poured so much of our hearts into, but the upside is – I get to start over on another place!
by Stacey | Sep 12, 2013 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
It has been a wonderful blessing to be in Elgin at the Harvest Training Center. We’ve met other families like ours. Families stretched beyond comfort. Rattled by God’s invitation to move stubborn feet from a false feeling of control and into the safest place ever – the center of His will.
Here, different voices tell the same story. I suspect our stories are probably much like your stories. Different locations. Different details. Similar themes.
I love how one fellow student shared:
We thought God was writing our story. Then, when we showed up, we learned God was already 30 chapters in writing a story that was never really about us.
What a thought. We are not the main character in our own life story. We are not the hero. In some ways, we are hardly a footnote at the bottom of the page that is our life.
But somehow we fall into this self-centred pattern of thinking that believes life is all about ME. Somehow I buy into the foolish notion that when I finally surrender my life to God, He begins penning chapter one. Chapter one of a new book in the series of my life.
Consider that maybe it is not chapter one of a new book, but a new chapter in an old book. A very old book that God began writing long before I breathed my first breath.
How God must shake his head and chuckle at my puffed up self-importance. That anything can start and end with me. This is God’s story and He is WAY MORE than 30 chapters in. This story started before there was time. This story has no beginning and no end.
Somewhere along the line God wove a thread of humanity into His story. Way back when God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, entwined in an intimate dance I struggle to understand, breathed life into this place I call home. For reasons I’ll never understand, the Triune God wrote me in. And if you are alive—you’re in the book too. You have a role—and it matters—but it’s not about you.
It’s humbling to acknowledge my own insignificance. Yet it’s liberating to know life is not about me. Ministry is not about me. Nor is either dependant upon me. This story centres on Jesus. And trust me, you want Him, not me, penning the ending.
My small part in a larger, much larger story, is designed to bring glory to God our Father, the creator of Heaven and Earth.
So is yours.
by Stacey | Aug 29, 2013 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
My niece just moved in with our family. Here she is unpacking her life.
She had dedicated the next year to her studies. She is spending the next year learning. Learning her craft. Preparing for the future.
When was the last time that I spent a huge block of time solely dedicated to learning? Learning what’s important? Preparing myself for eternity?
What am I learning?
Right here, right now God is teaching me about grace. I am learning about forgiveness. I am learning that things are not always black and white.
I’m learning I don’t need all the answers, I just need to trust God has them and that He’s got my back. That leads to my next lesson. I’m learning about trust.
I’m learning that motherhood is both the most important and hardest role I’ll ever have. And that leads me back to grace.
Did I mention I am learning more about grace?
I’m learning I’m wrong far more than I like to admit. I’m learning that attitude counts for a lot. I’m learning more about the hugeness of my sin and the constant battle between my own sinful nature and the Holy Spirit.
I’m learning I have a lot to learn.
Just when I think I have a handle on it all, God peels back another layer and I see my smallness in contrast to His greatness with fresh eyes again.
I’m learning that I have barely scratched the surface of who God is and what His plan is for my life.
I’m learning even more about grace.
What are you learning?
by Stacey | Aug 22, 2013 | The Weekend Visitor
I’ve never counted, but I imagine the number of times I’ve been asked that question by Moms with one or two children is somewhere in the hundreds. I have five children, and judging by the look on the tired and weary faces that pose the question, that number seems simply impossible.How do you do it?
Those are five loaded words. I suppose because the “it” behind that question is different for everyone.
How do you care for five little people?
How do you operate on little sleep?
How do you keep them safe?
How do you find time to do the laundry?
How do you afford them?
How do you keep from losing your ever-loving mind?
Mommas of one and two children – I understand every one of these questions. And, I understand just where you’re coming from.There are some things I want you to know about me. About children. About this journey through motherhood that we’re both on.
If no one has ever told you…
Sarah lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with her husband, Jason, her four boys and her baby girl. She is really disorganized, she doesn’t make her bed, and she yells at her kids too much. She don’t garden, sew, craft, or read – so you’ll rarely find anything about those topics on her blog. She
doesn’t do so many things, so when you read her stories, look at her photos, and bookmark her recipes, she hopes you’ll see a girl who shares what she does well, but is hopelessly flawed in many other ways.
Despite all that, she is loved – forever loved – by a God so big and beautiful that He came down to earth just to know her. She lives for Jesus – and her heart belongs to Him.
by Stacey | Aug 8, 2013 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
When God asked Kevin and I to leave our comfortable and happy home in St Catharines and follow Him into the great unknown, I felt fear.
Not fear about the actual move, because God had spent the past year preparing me for this moment of obedience. But fear of lost friendships. Of being misunderstood. Of making a mess of what had been a beautiful place to worship and serve.
I had hoped that when we announced God’s plan to use us in a church plant in a new city, that our friends would do more than accept the change. I desired their support. I had hoped that our departure would feel less like us leaving, and more like them sending. Them sending us out with their blessing to further the work of God’s kingdom.
But was it naive to hope a congregation could send away their pastor and family with this sentiment?
Last Sunday we stood on the platform at our final service with our Orchard Park family. We were surrounded by friends. Some smiling. Some tearful. All supportive.
Then, one of our elders spoke words that brought instant tears to my eyes (tears that flowed steady for the next hour or so!). He referred to Orchard Park Bible Church as our sending church. He called for a committment from the people to pray for us now, and in the future months, for the adventure that awaits. He requested updates from us so they can pray specifically, and offered wonderful words of encouragement. He sent us with their support, their blessing, and their love.
He has no idea what his words meant. He has no idea that those exact words were words that I prayed to hear. Well, maybe he will if some of you reading this tell him 🙂
God is good. Oh, so good. We didn’t leave, we were sent. That little word makes all the difference in the world.
Sent with a blessing.
Sent with support.
Sent in love.
Thank you, Orchard Park, for letting God use you to answer my prayer as we obeyed His command to go.
I love how our bedroom turned out! It was one of the last things to decorate and I really enjoyed the project. It is a blend of Kijiji finds, hotel sales, sewing projects, and Winners. The best part is the extreme close up pictures of the kids above the headboard.
I’ve recently fallen in love with this deep shade of purple in the shower curtain. I love any chance to work it into our home decor.
The alphabet letters resting on the trim were inspired by one of my favorite designers, Sarah Richardson. I love how the trim breaks up the change in wall color, and that the upper color continues over the ceiling.
I just love this painting. It was a clearance Winners find that thrilled me.
What more can I say about the fireplace? I think I have posted enough about fireplaces that you all know I love them. The old windows hanging above were found on Kijiji for a steal of a deal.
I love storage, and built-in storage that makes use of every space thrills me. Under the basement stairs is wasted space in many homes – but not ours!
The basement bathroom was one space we hired out. The work was a bit above our ability. We were thrilled with end result. Well worth the investment.
The downstairs family room is another favorite space in the house. A perfect place to curl up with a book, watch a family movie, or play with the kids.
The kitchen cabinet was such a simple project, but I love it -and Kevin for building it.
