So Long Teens, Hello Twenties!

I had a birthday last week.

And said goodbye to my teens and hello to my twenties! 

I decided that I wanted to re-do my bedroom for my birthday. 

I should also mention that my sister and I share a bedroom and that she was conveniently away at camp for two weeks when I made this decision.

Madeline was never crazy about the brown & pink theme even when we moved into this house 4 years ago, so I was sure she'd be OK with me painting over it without her permission. 

Mom and I found new quilts on clearance at Bed, Bath, and Beyond and decided to design the rest of the room around those. 

 I told Mom that I wanted to paint the walls an antique bluish green color. 

 After three trips to Lowes, we came home with these paint samples.

 On the wall, they all looked too much like a beach house or too green for our furniture. 

We finally decided to go with a light grey called Silver Threads (that just sounds romantic, right?) 

Saying goodbye to the brown & pink:

 the primer went up on Wednesday night

Michael Buble makes priming a whole lot better :) 

it was a bit of a mess with all the furniture shoved into the middle of the room

 

My grandparents had come down on Tuesday for my birthday, but ended up staying for the whole week. 

Nanny LOVES to paint, so on Thursday night she helped me put up the grey. 

Did I mention that this was at eight or nine that night after we'd been blueberry picking in the crazy Southern heat? 

 My grandma is awesome!

 This was taken around 11:30 and we were just a little bit loopy at this point ... 

Everything finally started coming together after a frantic trip to Bluffton for sheets, curtains, and throw pillows on Friday.

I haven't taken pictures of the finished room yet, so those will have to be for another post :) 

To be continued ... 

Beyond the Cross

Easter musical on Friday night +

last-minute shoe-shopping with Mom, Madeline, & Aunt Laurie in Savannah on Saturday +

enjoying a wonderful Easter sermon and fellowship with the saints on Sunday morning +

 a mini photoshoot with the girls in the afternoon +

a stroll down the waterfront with Mom =

A perfect Easter weekend!

... the twirly fairy ... 

~ the little girls~

~Jubilee~

~ElizaBirdie~

... I can't believe how grown up she's getting!! ...

~Madeline~

Happy Easter!!

Garlic Fever

 When I was putting NoraJane to bed the other night we had quite an interesting conversation! It went something like this ...

 NoraJane: Batoria!!!! I'm gonna have nightmares!

Me: No, you won't, Norey-girl. Just think about nice things! 

NoraJane: I'm gonna dream about fruit and lemonade and ...  and garlic bread! 

Me: Oooo, that sounds yummy! 

A few minutes later ... 

NoraJane: You have garlic fever!! 

Me: You mean scarlet fever? 

NoraJane: No, garlic fever!!


She still calls me Batoria even though she can say the "v" sound now! 
 

*These pictures are from a few years ago, but I found them the other day and couldn't believe how much she's grown! This nightgown now hits her mid-calf and her hair is all the way to her waist! 

In the everday moments of life ...

I am continually amazed at how God uses ordinary circumstances in my life to draw me closer to Him!
My mom had surgery last week and has been out of commission for a bit. And because of this I've been helping out around the house and with the girls a little more than usual. All I can say is that I've learned a whole lot about myself this week! Growing up, many times I heard women say that you never realize what a selfish being you are until you have kids. I never really understood what they meant by this statement. Well, now I do!

A few days ago I got into an argument with one of the girls and lost my temper - I was being prideful and selfish in my expectations. I had forgotten that I was dealing with a little girl and shouldn't expect so much from her. It wasn't until after this argument that I realized the way I react to my sisters and the habits I'm developing now are preparing me for the future and how I will raise my own children someday! It caused me to rethink my motives on so many things! In the back of my mind, I've found myself thinking "I really don't have to put that much effort into how I help train my sisters; one day when I become a mommy, I'll get my act together and do things the right way, but I don't have to deal with that now 'cause they're my mom's kids, not mine! " I never really thought that much about the impact this area of my life has upon my little sisters. I would try to do things right for a few days (more like hours) at least until things quit going my way and I got frustrated with my own inadequacies. In the last few days my perspective on being an older sister has changed and I find myself thinking twice before I react to their silliness or aggravating-ness. I discussed this with my mom and as we were talking the words of Colossians 3 came to mind. I've been memorizing this passage for the last few months with our Sunday School class and it really hit home for me this week. I realized just how much practical application is crammed in this passage ...

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him - a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, Barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

 My life is still not a perfect reflection of the truths and principles in this passage; far from it! But I do know that my Lord is sanctifying me a little more each day, even if it is through helping to potty-train a three-year old or teaching a phonics lesson to a squirming 2nd grader. He is always faithful to teach me something even when I'm struggling to find time for a quiet Quiet Time!

"Can we get some more wire cutters?"

Last night my sister, Madeline and I went with her two best friends to see the movie, War Horse. 

We got our tickets, bought our popcorn, sat down in the empty room, and thought "Oh yay, we just might get the whole theater to ourselves!" Wrong! 

According to the theater's website, the movie started at seven.

According to our tickets, the movie started at eight! 

 No wonder the cleaning lady looked at us like we were crazy! Since we had an entire hour to wait, we did what all teenage girls do and left our popcorn with the concession stand lady while we went to get milkshakes next store!!

Unfortunately, I have no proof that Ale' was there since some people think taking pictures is too tour-isty! :)