Coffee Table Handcrafted with Love

A few weeks ago I found two old pallets sitting outside the work shop that were just going to be thrown away...and anyone who knows me well knows that I see beauty in such a thing and liken it to a treasure! So as I was "destroying" one of them I pondered what to create out of it...this is what I came up with...a rustic 41"x26"x16" coffee table!  SUPER FUN!

No end to the beginning of Love!

The 15^th and 16^th of every June are two very happy-sad days.  Happy because my sister’s birthday is the 15^th (and she will always be older:), but sad because the following day the Craig Family and many friends lost a super special person…his name was Kip, Uncle Kip, or just plain ‘ol Uncle to some!  If there ever was an angel on this earth, it was surely he.  A warm soul sent from above, Uncle was always kind, gentle, and willing to lend a helping hand.  He never married or had children of his own, but for some reason kids gravitated towards him.  Must have been that sparkle in his eye we all miss so much!  He was one who when he smiled, he did so with his eyes and his heart.  There are countless memories I hold close of this dear man, like letting me drive in circles around the garage not caring that his lush green grass he took such great care of wore down to gravel.  Taking the tractor or the lawn mower for a “spin”, picking rocks out of the garden, and apples from The Apple Tree, Amy and I putting our little plastic barrettes in what little hair he had left!  Or perhaps one of the most precious memories, sitting in his lap as a little girl watching The Price is Right as he told me the story of “This Little Piggy” with my toes.  It is especially difficult this year being up on the farm as I am surrounded by visions of him at every turn.  Watching him tend his garden, or mow the lawn, sitting in his recliner napping with the newspaper on his chest, or even over his head J.  All such precious memories, those that I will treasure always!

I’ll never forget the numerous phone calls between Mum and I the couple of weeks leading up to him going home.  On Wednesday she called and said, “Joy, you need to come home, we don’t have much time and Uncle is asking “where’s April”?”  Needless to say I was on a plane the very next morning.  Still hoping, praying, crying and telling myself, he’ll be fine…he always bounces back!  But deep in my heart I knew this was it.  I arrived on the 12^th and he put his arms out for a hug…oh goodness what a change from the Uncle I always knew…the sparkle in his eye was getting dim.  We all took turns the next few days, watching out for him, sitting up with him at night.  I remember falling asleep one of those nights with my head on his arm, I just couldn’t leave him.  All the years he was there for me, it’s the least I could do.  Then that fateful Monday night.  A few days previous the hospice nurse reminded Mum to make sure she left a window cracked so the angels knew where to come when he was ready to go…so we did just that to the window by his bed.  Even the animals knew.  Zeke cuddled with him between his legs and Zoey by his side looking out of that cracked window, as if watching, waiting.  I, along with other family, sat with him, we all knew it wouldn’t be long.  I was encouraging him that we were okay, he could go, he didn’t need to hang on anymore.  At 11:16PM he slipped silently into Heaven.   The imprint he left on the people of those who met him was indeed life-long.  He is rejoicing now with his parents, brothers, sisters, other family and dear friends, and in that, we should remain comforted!  Don’t get me wrong, it still gets difficult and at times I think we all have our “days”, but knowing that he is in a place far better than this renders a peaceful feeling of joy.

Coffee Filter Poppy Flowers

 This is a super fun spring activity for kidlets as well as parents!  I found this idea on LearnCreateLove.com, they are Poppy flowers made out of coffee filters and it is super easy 

Supplies needed: 
2 coffee filters per flower
Paint or Food Coloring diluted with a little water
Buttons for the center
2 Pipe cleaners per flower for the stem

Directions:
Step 1: Paint the coffee filter in desired design with your choice of colors, let dry.
Step 2: Fold coffee filter in half, then fold in half again.  Cut outside corners to round the edges and when you open the filter you should have a clover-type design.
Step 3: Put two coffee filters together and mark where the holes are.  
Step 4: Weave one pipe cleaner through one button hole from back to front and then from front to back through the other button hole leaving an end on the back to securely twist it around the stem on the other side. 
Step 5: Take your second pipe cleaner and twist it around the stem that is already there to add more stability to the flower.

The Story of Max

Touched by some little angels!

I had to blog about this because it's such a precious thing to my heart.  I asked the kids daycare if maybe the kids in my son and daughters class could draw some pictures or express their feelings (the older ones) for the some deployed and very loved 3-10 MEDEVAC troops.  This was a few weeks ago and I had since forgotten about the request.  After a super rough day yesterday when I went to pick up my children, this is what was waiting for me to put in 3-10's next care package.  Yes, okay, I cried, but I couldn't help myself...this is the kind of stuff that makes us value what we, as military members, spouses, and veterans do for a living...serve this beautiful USA!  I never realized such beauty could be made from popsicle sticks, some paint, paper, and sweetest of all, little todd's handprints!  A very sweet day for this Momma for sure!

Inspiration!

A great way to get those inspirations and ideas of mine out there!  YAY!  This is gonna be fun!