Birthday Winner & 1 Bedroom Is Complete!

Imagine my surprise when I was informed by Kari of Ask Kari and Kijsa that I was the winner of Kari’s birthday prize for the “best all around birthday wish that touches her heart”....out of 255 birthday wishes she received on Feb. 20!

I literally described for her what I did the morning of my 40th birthday…when I woke up I wasn’t sure how to feel! A myriad of emotions! I stole away from the house for a few moments to collect my thoughts:

“The day I turned 40 years old, I walked out to the sidewalk across the street and sat on the curb staring at my house. Where had life brought me, I wondered? Right here, right now to this address with these people- husband, daughters, son.

I looked at our windows, taking a peek into the bedrooms. People I love sleep there. I could see into my dining room where we have celebrated everything from birthdays to a hard earned C in Chemistry. I looked at the porch by my front door where I rocked babies watching the world go by. I could see a slice of my kitchen, the hub of our home, filled with homework papers on the refrigerator, tears at the table after a bad day at school, hugs on our kitchen couch. Lastly, looking over the fence, I could see in our yard where we planted a long ago Christmas tree that has taken root and flourished.

And that’s what I’ve done here. Taken a family, I hope, and helped them flourish. Planted three little seeds, tended to them, and have been watching them grow into fine young people.

When you’re 40, you evaluate. Where has life brought you? What has it brought you? It’s not about material goods, it’s not about money. It’s about the affect you have left on the world.

I got up, brushed the dirt off my pants, and walked right back into our home----- the happiest 40 year old in the world.”

That was 5 years ago when the kids were 14, 9 and 2. Now they are 19, 14, and 7. The last five years have been the best, and after 22 years of marriage, I think life will only get better!

My prize is a beautiful painting of a pear from their studio which I’ll hang right in my kitchen so I can see it as I toil away each day!

Thanks, sisters!

One Bedroom Complete

Remember I shared with you that we were renovating the chhildren’s rooms? Each child had a budget and was able to pick out his/her own bedding and paint.

Well, our 7 year old daughter was the first one to be done! She’s never had her own room so she was ambitious!

She chose a brown comforter with pink flowers online from Home Visions. I liked the price as it was a complete bed-in-a-bag set. She also chose this cute wiggle lamp. The "R"s we bought at The Christmas Tree Shop for less than $3.00! The "Thank Heaven for Little Girls" sign was a Marshall's find. The dollhouse looking cabinet I bought last summer at Costco.

We took the valance to the paint store with us for a match and she chose Benjamin Moore Hot Ladies Pink. As we left the store with this can of paint I was mentally beating myself up. What was I thinking letting a 7 yr old pick out a paint color? Could I live with this on the walls? But you know what? It looks great! I never would have picked this comforter set or this paint color and I don’t think it looks half bad! I’m pretty happy with the results! Seems my daughter knows better than her Mom!