Easy Christmas Makeover

Somehow, decorating for Christmas always becomes more of an ordeal than I originally think it will be.

As soon as I hung my huge ornament star (that I redid this summer to get replace the gold frame with silver) over my fireplace, I knew the three circle prints on the wall next to it would have to go.

But new artwork wasn't exactly in the budget. What's a girl to do?

With a few sheets of mat-board, some fun pink card stock, chipboard letters, silver glitter, and hot glue, and after glitter was spread all over my counters, table, and floor....

I came up with this. Glittered chipboard letters mounted on pink card stock mounted on white mat-board, which I hot glued to the glass of the original pictures.

About $15 and an hour later, I have some fun, easy, reuseable Christmas decorations.

And just because this sweet little cat is providing me some much needed comfort and cuddlin' lately, I thought she deserved a spot on the blog. Love you Lucy.

Broken and Waiting

This is what life has been feeling like lately.

I'm trying desperately to hold on to the fact that my broken-ness is only a small part, and sometimes a necessary part, of a much bigger, much more beautiful picture. (If I'm honest, I'm more desperately trying to remind myself to hold on to that fact.)

We CAN pick up the pieces. We CAN move forward trusting that that one broken piece does not define the entirety of the story. We CAN trust that the bigger picture is good and true and beautiful. We WILL be able to understand. Eventually.

...

Waiting on peace, hoping for patience, and knowing it will all make sense sometime.

Christmas Tree Lights: 1. Katrina: 0.

It's 1:25. In the AM.

And I'm fighting the good fight.

Hopefully there'll be a well-lit tree for you to "ooh" and "ahh" at by the end of this weekend. Wish me luck.

Tears rush in.

Life was shaken up recently.

Not mine directly, but life of one of the people closest to me.

My brother Matt was in a car accident two and a half weeks ago, and, being the worrier of the family, it's hit me pretty hard. Not as hard as the car that hit him while he was on his bike. He's a blog reader, and I'm not sure how ok he is with me sharing much here (Matt - don't worry, the readership of this thing isn't huge), and I know this isn't his "method of coping" - something we discussed in some detail at an impromptu family meeting earlier tonight, but... for those of you out there who are on the same page as me, tonight I'm asking for prayer. For healing for him, for patience for all of us, for compassion, and really just a sense of peace that everything is going to work out.

I need this boy to be ok.

And I'm thankful that he understands that tears rolling down my face aren't all bad, and they don't scare him away.

Tonight, there may be more tears. Hopefully in the morning they'll stop for awhile.

Tonight, I'm thankful.

Tonight, I'm thankful for a quiet Thanksgiving Eve.

Tonight, I'm thankful that I don't have to worry about cooking a turkey just right for a houseful of guests.

Tonight, I'm thankful that I won't spend the night cleaning every last corner of the house worried that someone will find the dust I missed.

Tonight, I'm thankful that some Thanksgiving Eve in the future there will be a family of my own here with me. Who I'll have to clean up after and cook for.

Tonight, I'm thankful for a family right down the road, where I can go tomorrow to watch the Packer game, eat turkey, and not be asked if I'm sure that I don't want mashed potatoes, because they already know I can't stand them.

Tonight, I'm thankful that I really don't have much to worry about, but confessing the fact that I still do.

Tonight, I'm thankful for all the crazy good things I've been given, but confessing the fact that many days I still want more.

Tonight, I'm thankful for a God who loves me in an immeasurable way, enough that I don't have to change for Him, but so much that He makes me want to.

Tonight, I'm thankful.

Baby Reese

While I haven't okayed it with her parents, I'm calling myself an honorary Aunt to this sweet baby girl. I got to spend about an hour holding her a mere 6 hours after she was born - sweet smelling, soft baby skin. It was wonderful!

Welcome to the world Baby Reese - your mom and dad love you tons, and so does your "aunt"!

Blue Ribbon Coming Soon!

You saw it here first folks. The prize-winning, purple, painted pumpkin! This baby, it all it's bejeweled and glittered splendor, is going into competition tomorrow.

Wish her luck, and I'll let you know the results soon.


By the way, if you're thinking to yourself, "Gee, Katrina, that's a mighty small pumpkin." You're right. It's barely the size of a baseball. This is all I was given to work with people. I do what I can.

The Rock-ster

I made myself a fall to-do list, and one item was to actually carve a pumpkin this Halloween. It's been several years since I've done this, and decided I needed a little bit of the nostalgic, traditional October stuff this year. Don't get me wrong, my life right now is really too busy to devote a night to cutting up a pumpkin, but I'm working on this whole "hurry" thing, and gave myself a break tonight.

Check out the finished product.... if you've ever visited the L's house, you'll recognize this little face.