Ladybug, Ladybug fly away home

Last year we had an infestation of ladybugs in our bathroom. As cute as they are (the first time), they are the most nasty, sneaky, conniving, little creepers you’ve ever seen.  Exterminators do not like to try and get rid of them because once they get in your house… you’re kind of done for.  You can kill them by squishing, but they leave a little orange blob behind and the stink is just terrible. If you choose to vacuum them up, the vacuum magnifies the stink and just reminds you how creepy they really are. (totally just had a real shiver)

Last year, the worst experience I had was when there was a bug in my jammie pants and I ended up doing a dance around my bathroom trying to get the pants off and the bug out!! I’m sure I looked crazy.

Yesterday… we saw our first three ladybugs! Since there is a stink bug problem in East TN, we thought we wouldn’t have a ladybug problem… but no such luck on Bishops Bridge Rd, at least not for us.

So I made my phone calls today to local exterminators and scheduled an appointment. The lady seem optimistic that they could get rid of them since we only had seen a few. If not, they will treat for the rest of the season for free!! Hopefully (in an odd way) we DO NOT get our moneys worth on that front. I’d be ok for them to be gone in the first treatment.

Woodlands

We just arrived back yesterday from an awesome trip to Woodlands Camp in Cleveland, GA with the middle and high school students at the church! What an amazing time again this year learning from God, fellowshipping together with the students and leaders and having a blast all around.

Our study this year was on H.E.R.O.s. It was great to learn that God takes you wherever you are (Here I am), to “man up” like Ezra had to do and dig deep into God’s word and fight against sin, to Run light, long and looking to God, and to be a person Outside the Camp (different from the rest of the world; loud and bold for Jesus). There were some amazing challenges to leaders and students alike.

Some of the activities we were involved in: ultimate Frisbee, tissue box emptying contests, dodge ball tourney, zip line, Redneck Red Carpet event, and more. Here are a few pictures to document the weekend. If you want to see more, you can go to The Hub site on Facebook.

and a huge thanks to Zane and Jessica for watching Avi this weekend! She' was completely pooped last night when she came home.

“finished” project

So I know I’ve been a bit behind, but here is the “finished product” of our bedroom. Yes we’d like a few things here and there: new sheets (burnt orange and cream), artwork on the walls, etc. but for now we have a finished product.

 

 

finally after two coats of primer (that’s what happens when you switch from brown to misty yellow)

ahh the first yellow on the walls! Funny story about the color. I had picked two colors of yellow in the sample cans and tried them and didn’t like either, then got two more colors of yellow and chose the better of the two (still not sure). Then we went to the store to buy the paint and I picked a completely separate yellow color and bought two gallons without trying it first! go figure! It turned out just fine!

and here’s the final product. Its a soft creamy yellow (which I tried to make clear). and the pillows we got to coordinate, I love them!! While the painting was completed weekend before last, we finished the last of the pillow purchases this weekend. The room is so much brighter and happier and comfortable and looks huge, and it even flows well into our burnt orange bathroom (which was there when we moved in)!

 

and I’m so glad its over!

welcome to the beginning of fall

So after reading a friend’s blog recently, I started to take note of the changes going on all around. Fall is fast on its way coming to Knoxville, TN as well as all over the northern hemisphere. As much as I LOVE the summer (with all the heat and lake time, etc) and as much as I love the spring time (with new life and a fresh start) I really truly enjoy fall.

I love the cool evenings and the warm days. I love the finishing out the last of the harvest from the garden. I love enjoying fires in the fireplace (with ice cream! it’s the perfect balance).

But mostly I love the time of change and reflection. Recently there was an article in our local newspaper about how the experts determine each year how good the autumn display of colors will be. This year they are expecting an above average show of colors due to the above-average temperatures and slightly less than average rainfall. These two facts directly tie into the formation of lots of yellows, oranges and reds in the trees because it put them under stress and stress makes for the most beautiful colors.

(most of you know that I’m not one for literary analysis and imagery) but I love how true that is in life. If life presents us with an insanely hot summer temperature and no rainfall… the colors are not as pretty. When we face troubles that are far beyond anything we could ever seem to bear and there seems to be no end in sight… while God does produce beautiful colors at the “end” of the journey, we take a while to recover. If life presents us with just normal temperatures and lots of rainfall… the colors aren’t are pretty.  When we are faced with no troubles, no times of desire for more “water” and seem to have all we need… we also do not present with great colors. We become lazy in knowing that we have all we need and we don’t crave more.

But when we have just the right amount of stress… tough situations, long journeys, above-average times of trials… that’s when we produce the most color in our lives. That’s when the Lord shows us the beautiful display of what he is doing in our lives. Without his continuing to nurture us through the hard times of less than average rain and hot weather, we would not grow deeper in our relationship with him. It takes times of trials to truly understand our need for God and his guidance and tenderlovingcare along our journey. (Just one reason why we need all the seasons: spring-new life; summer-times of trial; fall-times of reflection; winter-times of waiting)

I pray that in our lives, as we walk through times of trial, that we lean on the one and only God that has walked with us through the droughts before (this isn’t his first rodeo!) and as we face times of intense heat, we trust that in the long run we will see a beautiful display of colors, and that others will see the change and growth too.

Thank you for your patience

Thank you for your patience as we have been slowing (but surely) working on completing the bedroom painting project. The finished product pictures should be coming soon as we are set to finish the last coat of paint tomorrow after work! At this point we’re not sure if we’re more excited for the final product or just to be finished with the upheaval and put the house back together.

You’ll be hearing from us soon =)