Aging with Grace

Last week was a whirlwind. Steven had completed his Eagle Scout Project in May. The paperwork was written in Aug. The Board of Review was in Oct. Finally, last Saturday, we had the Court of Honor. It was nice to have two of his friends earning theirs too. It was especially nice to have my parents here. I wasn't sure they were coming, but then they were, and we loved it. We were in charge of refreshments so I got two cakes from Costco decorated with white icing and an American flag on top. One was white cake with strawberry mousse and the other was chocolate cake with vanilla mousse. A scoop of vanilla ice cream to go with it, and it was simple and delish! Simple and tasteful, that's truly my style.

Steven is growing again, meaning last year's khakis are now too short! We were supposed to have him in official Scout pants, so it worked out to get him some new ones. I wonder when he'll finish this growth spurt. I think he must be about 6'3" now. I always feel a little bad for him when he goes to kiss me goodnight and I'm sitting down. . . it's a long ways down for him. He really is such a wonderful son. He truly exemplifies the values that are part of the Scouting program. It was good to be able to honor him.

I have lived in my home for over eleven years. It is a twenty-two year old home. Trying to help it age gracefully sometimes takes more effort than I've been willing to give. Well, last week I had it in my mind that I needed to do some updating. I started by going to several local stores. At first I wasn't really sure what I wanted, and I knew I didn't want to pay a lot for it either. Then I'd come home, and start looking around. With my mom's encouragement and support, this is what transpired. Mom and I (and sometimes Dad) had a great time shopping together. Fortunately, Mike likes it all too. It feels like it represents us.


This is one of the trunks I already had. The larger one is still under my front entry table. We filled it with plants I already had and found these two statues at Home Goods - one is a fleur de lis, the other is an artichoke. The fleur de lis is French, and Mike served in the Paris, France mission. It is also the Scouting symbol so it just seemed right since we now have 2 Eagle Scouts in this house. The artichoke I thought was going to go home with my mom, but she left it for me, and it looks lovely, contrasting with my vanilla colored walls behind it. She is too good to me!

This is my new perpetual calendar. The magnetic iron frames for month, day, and date, just hooked me. The metallic, iron look is a big part of my style - new French country something. . . not really sure how to define it exactly, but wrought iron, black, swirling flourishes, and aged slightly are all part of the mix.

This dish holder was actually the first piece I acquired, only it was cream colored, and against my creamy vanilla walls, it didn't work. However, a can of hammered metalic spray paint gave it just the aging it needed, and my Walmart $1 burgundy dinner plates looked perfect.
Among our many shopping trips we visited Pier 1. I loved this store when I was fresh out of college, and purchased clothing and candles and decorative things there. Over the years, however, it just lost its appeal to me, but let me tell you, things have changed! We went there three days in a row. Okay, the 12 cent Ghirardelli chocolates were just too good to ignore, but really it was these dishes that drew me back the most. The small plates are part of one of their current lines and I LOVED it. The edging, the dots on the edges.. . the cute flowers!!! Click on this photo to get a better look. Truly it was love at first sight. I have always loved dark reds and burgundy so this was a match made in heaven, and the swirls around the flowers just sealed the deal! When I realized how much I liked this against my solid plates I had to get two more because now my kitchen has new dishes! How quickly one thing leads to another!!! Actually I was down to five matching dinner plates, so it was time for some new ones, though these weren't a dollar like my last ones, but close enough!

This is my entry way. It was my original intent to replace the large floral centerpiece my friend in Las Vegas had made for me in 1995. Afer fifteen years, I needed some updating!! That's what started this whole shopping frenzy. I never found the right piece, but instead I moved the small quilt over from the wall across from it, (I moved my Washington D.C. temple photo in its place) and added a plant below the table, which I already had. My mom got me this fabulous bird towel holder, (Pier 1) that held all kinds of creative possibilites, and away things went from there. The only other new item is the white jar. It matches my new dinner plates. (all Home Goods)The darling red swirly floral ones are just the salad plates, and they all match my white $1 soup bowls from Walmart. . . such a combination! Everything else there has been around here a while, being moved from here to there. Finally, everthing feels like it has arrived home!

Here's a close up of the Ikea (another favorite place!) ornaments I got in November last time my parents were here and never found the right place for. LOVE them here! I've been thinking about what I'll put up the rest of the year. I have Christmas covered, and my mom gave me a great idea to try for in between. . . we'll see if I actually pull it off!
These are the same heart that matches my front welcome mat. What's not to love, right?


The first space to actually get done was my mantle. I have had no idea my whole life how I actually wanted this to look. Its been way more miss than hit, but I did love these heart wrought iron candlesticks so they were the beginning. I got them several years ago at Walmart for under $10. (Are we seeing a decorating tip here? When buying shampoo, walk by their home dec aisle ;-)
Anyhow, I decided a mirror would open up this small family room. I loved the nailhead edging of this one next to the glass. I had the "family" wooden blocks for a couple of years. Sadly, they are from my favorite store in Kaysville, Utah, which closed this year. The plant was a bargain at Michael's. I saw one in a furniture gallery for more than three times what I paid for it, so it felt like a good deal. One more new candlestick, also from Michael's, and it was done. Love the little detail of jute around the plant vase, and the black that all works together without being too overpowering, since I haven't gotten brave enough to paint any real color except in my dining room. My kitchen chairs are black, right off this family room, so it all works.

The last project I just finished on Monday were these prints. They were the find of the week. $9.99 for 4 stickers, each on 11" x 11". They are peelable vinyl. I bought 12 x 12 canvas at Joann's on their big sale for 50% off, and then using a sponge brush, dabbed around the edges of the stickers with acrylic paint (CHOCOLATE brown- another underlying theme of the week??) that were super easy to put on the canvas, and voila! The paint makes them look like they're ceramic of some kind or maybe even wooden, but not white canvas. I put those three in my bedroom because they match it perfectly and the one that says faith is on my living room wall above the wall of cellos. It is going to be the inspiration piece for my living room whenever I get around to it. Somehow, furniture isn't quite as cheap as my budget allows right now, but at least my home reflects me better and feels more organized and unified. Maybe its possible for it to age gracefully after all. . . .

My Little Man

My baby continues to grow up. He's now five feet tall. Here is a glimpse of his last few days, looking backwards. He's only ten, but sometimes he just blends right in with everyone older. Here he is at the skating rink, on Saturday, tagging along with big brother and his friends. He loves to skate and was having fun going forwards and backwards and getting his feet used to skates again after almost a year on hiatus. He's also good about stopping and posing for all my photos whenever I ask - trained young, he was! :-)

Friday he and his dad were invited to a father/son night at his school. I wasn't invited so these are pics from New Year's karaoke - they both have great voices but you may never hear them - too shy to sing in public, but truly they sing wonderfully!!!
Over Christmas break they had fun working on robotics projects just the two of them in the den. In many ways their minds are alike.

On Thursday night he bridged from Cub Scouting to Boy Scouting. After the Pinewood Derby he'll be eleven, and moving on up. Can't say I'm going to miss Pack meeting too much, but its a big transition, and in some ways I'm just sad that its happening already. My friend, that night, noted, that in just a few months I'll be down to half my children at home. Sad as that day is, at least this guy will be with me still. We had a great time playing games last night and taking time to share our thoughts and feelings. This morning we signed him up for Little League for another Spring season. I'm glad he'll be around for a few more years still. I enjoy him so!

Wednesday night was his postponed Winter Concert. He's first chair on the viola. Its really not fair, he seldom practices at home at all, but music is in his blood. He thought about giving it up this year because each 5th grader can only choose two extra curricular groups to be involved in, and he had said all last year he wanted to be on safety patrol and student council. He is a natural leader so I understood that, though sad he couldn't play his viola too, so was starting to look for private teachers. Instead, however, he chose at the last minute to be a technology helper and play viola again in the orchestra. I think his music teacher would have truly been crushed if he hadn't come back this year, and his love for her, and her for him, won him over. She was a great teacher for Steven too. I am grateful for good-hearted teachers who influence my children for good.

Happy 2nd Day of the New Year!

Vacation is finally coming to an end. It seems like ever since Shaena got here, all we've done is sleep in, stay up late, make messes, clean them up way after we should have, make food, eat food, play games, play wii, play foosball, watch TV, watch movies, sing karaoke, shop a little here or there, eat out and laugh. . . a true break from reality! Getting back is going to be hard, trust me!

I thought I'd scrapbook at least a little, but not at all. The closest I came was putting together calendars for my family before Christmas and ordering pics to be developed.


Now, the new year is already upon us. Some people contemplate their goals, give a lot of time to thinking about how they want to improve, but that's just not where I'm at. Until now I haven't given it much thought. Of course things will change. They always do. I could never have predicted last January 2 how differently things would be for me this Jan. 2. I think I have just naturally taken the approach to live each day in the present and do what I can do when I can do it. Its not too complicated. Life is busy. Every day somebody needs my time and attention. Mental illness is part of my every day life. Every day there are challenges. Every day there is something new I can improve on and learn to do better. If I can just stick with the basics, and do what I can to the best I can with each moment that I have, then that's all I can do. No new resolutions, no new approach or plan. Help point others to Christ, come to Him more fully and offer up my will more for His, love others more with His love, replenish my well with the basics and repent daily - that's the plan, nothing new, just a sincere gratitude that I'm alive and get to try again this year to do it better - whatever comes my way. . . and that's the creativity of life - we just never know what's ahead, do we? But whatever we make out of it, is the way we create our lives - for the opportunity to do it again another year, for that I'm truly thankful!