Chairs, Craigslist & Coffee

Decorating my home has really been weighing on my mind this last month or so. I feel like we're so close to tying everything together in a cohesive sort of way...and then I feel like we have such a ways to go. This weekend/yesterday we got that much closer. I found these amazing chairs at goodwill on Saturday.

I usually shop the front of the store first, making my way to the back. But for some reason, I immedietly went to the back where the furniture was (probably because I'm so ready to find a tall dresser for the boys room, and get rid of our extra wide one that only takes up way too much space). These chairs were meant for us. We've been wanting new chairs for the past year (ever since Peter made me this AMAZING table):

March 2012

We've looked at chairs a few times but never found the right ones...and I wasn't interested in paying an exuberant amount of money per chair. So we waited. And waited, and waited. As soon as I saw these chairs at goodwill I knew they were going home with us. Even before I looked at the price tag. I was hoping they weren't too expensive. And they weren't. $9.99 per chair (10% off for loading them up ourselves). That's right, $9 per chair, $36 for the set. They go SO well in our dining room. The dark wood complements the woodwork in the room as well as the table. And get this, they're comfortable. Not even kidding. They also boast an extra wide seat. Holla! So now two of my favorite goodwill finds are together in one room. Now I just have to figure out the artwork for the dining room, finish sewing the runner for the table and maybe make matching placemats....and the dining room will be finished!  Riiiight.

 

...

Yesterday we sold a table that we had upstairs on Craigslist. Peter bought the table 8 years ago when he first got our apartment (we were still dating I think). It was a wonderful table, with a beautiful dark finish. I loved it, but it was too big for our small house. So I posted it on Craigslist on Monday. By Monday night, I received an email, and set up a time for the following night for couple to come and pick it up. They arrived last night, gave Peter the money and packed it up into their truck. After they left Peter gave me the money and I realized they had overpaid us. I quickly called them before they got too far away and told them of their error. She thanked me for my honesty and said they would turn around and come back. 15 seconds later, my phone rang and the husband was on the phone. He said that he was a pastor and knew what it was like to be a young couple with little kids. He said that we could keep the money. I hung up in shock. I felt so very blessed by their kindness and generosity.

I'm grateful today for my chairs (which I'm certain the Lord kept for us) and for the kindness of strangers. And for the mocha I'm sipping on.

Via World Market

Is it February yet?

Oh look, it's still January. Maybe if I go back to bed, it'll be February. Or not.
I'm cooped up here at home for the millionth day. I hate being responsible and keeping us sickies at home - spreading germs is so tempting right now. Buuuut, I wouldn't wish Strep Throat on anyone, so I'm staying put.

I'm trying to stay busy and not daydream of being outside in warm weather with the sun shining down on me... There's a lot to do around here.  Being sick for 3 weeks (over Christmas AND New Years) really made a mess out of our home. Just picking one of those things would make our house messy....add being sick and preparing and living through the holidays...yeah. CRAZY.

To help me stay busy, I decided to tackle one room a day and DEEP CLEAN. I'm also working through the 21-day Organization Challenge. I love a good challenge that seems doable. So far, one day down, 20 to go.

The other thing I'm tacking this month (and hopefully for the rest of the year) is setting aside quite time for ME and the Lord. I'll be honest. I failed miserably in my quiet time in 2012. I couldn't seem to find anything that worked for me. I always fail at reading plans and reading random parts of the bible just doesn't work for me for long periods of time. I need more structure...but a manageable plan. I'm a finicky person.   

This is a picture of what my morning looks like:

1. Coffee. I have to have my coffee in the morning to calm and sooth my crankiness away. I'm not a morning person. I love my ombre tumbler from my sweet SIL. I can't drink my coffee out of a normal coffee cup anymore...at least during the winter months. It gets cold way too fast. In my tumbler it stays warm for hours. Love.

2.  My phone. While my littlest one takes his bottle, I check my email, facebook, instagram....  I also, use my phone for my first set of devotions. She Reads Truth has become a favorite mini-devotional for me. I can access it from my phone, read the short (and deep) devotional and look up scripture all from one app (or you can access it from the She Reads Truth website or YouVersion's website. I like SRT's devotionals because they're not overwelming and it usually gives me something to chew on during the day. And it gets me in the Word.

3. My bible. Most of the time I'll just use my phone to look up scripture, but sometimes when I'm doing my other devotional (more on that later), I like to use a real bible. There's just something sweet about opening up my well-loved bible and seeing highlighted spots...and notes with dates on them. It's almost like reading a journal.

4. Q&A journal. I love this book. It's pleasing on the eyes and fun too! Here's today's question:

 

5. Jesus Calling. I received this book as a Christmas gift. It was on my wish list as I had only heard good things about this devotional. I'm 10 days in a love it. Just like She Reads Truth, it's a short devotional with scriptures to look up and meditate on. So far I've been challenged to be thankful and to work on trusting. Two things that I have realized I'm not very good at doing in my walk with Jesus. I can already tell these two things (among many) will be my theme for 2013. 

6. Finally my planner. I love this planner (I bought it at 70% off a couple of weeks before the New Year). It's not exactly my style - but I love the format of it. Lots of space to write down to-do lists for the day and even a place to journal about the month. When I'm done with my devotionals, I open this book up and write down my list for the day. Yesterday was my first day feeling well enough to actually accomplish tasks. Today seems to be a good day too. On my list for the day:

- Day 2 of The 21 Day Organizing Challenge (Coat Closet)

- Hem the boy's bedroom curtains with my *new* sewing machine!

- Deep-clean Front Hall/Steps

- Figure out dinner. Again.

It may not look like much, but it'll keep me busy.