Painting Class - 01.14.12

My finished painting. I have a new favorite thing to paint... dead trees! I love the texture and the colors. Below is the short version of the class and the stages of the painting.

Day 22 of 365 Days of Thanks

Here is what I would have posted yesterday if I hadn't fallen asleep first :)

Wow! What a day! Today we celebrated some really awesome milestones. I am so thankful for how God works in our lives and the lives of our loved ones. We were able to take some time out of our busy schedule and celebrate. Remembering where we were "back then" and praising God for how far He's brought us.

Then we got a call that rocked our world and we spent the rest of the evening praying for God to give peace, comfort, provision and safety to those involved. Praising Him for providing exactly what was needed in their time of need. And knowing that it could have been a lot worse.

(sorry for being so vague, some details need to be kept private) thank you for understanding :)

The reason I wanted to post what I did, was to share that God is in the midst of it all. He is there celebrating with us, He is there holding our hands when we need comfort, and He is there watching over us when we have fallen asleep from exhaustion. I am thankful for a living and loving God. I may not always understand why He allows things to happen, but I am happy to know that He has a reason for everything.

Day 17 of 365 Days of Thanks

Today and everyday I am thankful for my parents. As I looked in the mirror this morning while getting ready, I had my red and black cowboy boots on, my comfy and soft black pants on, a shirt featuring the logo I did for a friends gun shop, and I finished off the outfit with my trusty dark red leather collar with spikes on it. So with that image you are probably asking by now, "what does this have to do with your parents?" Well I'll tell ya.

Growing up, I was always an "outside of the box" thinker. I had my own (creative) way of doing things. It wasn't always the prettiest or the most perfect way of doing things - especially in the eyes of people around me. Since my father was a pastor for a good majority of my growing up years, people had high expectations of me. What I should look like, how I should dress, how I should act, etc. My parents would always respond to inquiries and "concerns" with, "Jennifer is our daughter, her father's chosen profession is being a Pastor. They are not one in the same. We encourage her to be whoever she wants to be, follow her own dreams, be as creative as she wants to be" and so on. Now let me just interject here by saying, my "look" was not provocative, my actions weren't inappropriate, and I was pretty tame compared to "today's" definition on rebellious. I still had manners, I was not promiscuous, I didn't cuss like a sailor, etc. I just looked different then the image that others thought I should be (like when I shaved my head and had a mohawk last year to support my sister-in-law in her cancer journey.)

Some days I really
miss having a
Mohawk. :)

I am not only thankful for my parents but I feel truly blessed to have grown up in such a loving home. My mom is my Best Friend, I can tell her anything. My dad is my big defender - not only in size, but in the love that he shows me. (let me tell you, he is pretty proud of the fact that most guys I dated, we're extremely intimidated by him!) I love that they taught me that being creative is a good thing, and to always "be myself" because as they say "Jennifer, you are a beautiful woman, inside and out, don't worry what others say about you."

So looking in the mirror today, I feel "at home" with myself. I feel comfortable in my skin (well most of the time, I mean come on, I am a woman). I look back on the days of black lipstick and all black attire (ok, some days it comes back out), and I remember going shopping with my mom (and my dad) getting looks from people - because I didn't fit their image of "normal" and not once did my parents skip hanging out with me because they would be embarrassed to be seen with me.

Thanks mom and dad! I love you!

Day 10 of 365 Days of Thanks

Girlfriends...Best Friends...I know we all are incredibly thankful for them! Today I am thankful for mine! Bible study, girl time, laughter = awesome evening! Plus I felt so rejuvenated that I actually baked a cake (which I haven't even had the desire to do lately because I have been so tired from the rest of my schedule). Tried a new recipe and the first one I shared it with was my BFF. God Bless Girlfriends!

Day 9 of 365 Days of Thanks

Oh I can't believe I fell asleep before getting this one posted. I guess I was tired - lol.

I saw this comic and couldn't stop laughing! I am so glad my hubby doesn't feel this way :)

Today I am super thankful for how my hubby takes care of me and does things for me so I can rest. I try to do my dishes every day, but since my main 2 jobs are cleaning, I have to admit, they don't always get done right away. Which is frustrating to me, cause I don't want to cook or bake anything until they are done. (let me throw in here that we do not have a dishwasher, we haven't had one for years)

Today, after a long day of work and the evenings cleaning looming over me like a gray cloud, I knew I needed to do the dishes and clean the kitchen. I was just going to buck-up and get them done and then relax for a little while before moving on to my next job. Then I got home, bringing in the groceries, setting them on the clean counter... Wait ... What? Clean counters, trash taken out, floor swept, dishes washed and sitting in the strainer drying. I almost cried. Not because he never does stuff like this but because he DOES do stuff like this - when he knows that I am tired and I can't even function, he surprises me with his acts of love. I am so thankful for how he loves me.

Day 8 of 365 Days of Thanks

Every day I am thankful for my family! How they encourage me, love me, for the advice they give, their prayers, their smiles, their support, and the list goes on. There are so many of my friends that have problems with their in-laws, or even their own parents. I have truly been blessed to have wonderful parents and wonderful in-laws! Yes, there are times when we don't all get along, but it never changes the love that we have for each other. Life is hard, marriage is too, I don't know how other couples do it with out their families support, prayers and encouragment.

This last summer my hubby's mom and step-dad came to visit. We had so much fun cooking, bird watching, watching movies, and just hanging out. I even got to make granola with my mother-in-law.

My parents live a bit closer than my in-laws. So we get to see them more frequent. Me and my mom usually go out shopping and spend the day gabbing away. My hubby and my dad usually go see a movie or do "manly" stuff (like building things) :)

My hubby's dad and step-mom live in California. We have so much fun hanging out with them on their ranch. We ride horses, 4-wheelers, play with the dogs, and can't forget the most important thing of all...they take me to Trader Joes!!! Where I could spend hours if they'd let me :)

Then there is all of our extended family. Gosh, I could write a whole novel on all the things I love about each and every one of them. But instead, I will leave you with this quote that sums it all up...

“No matter what you've done for yourself or for humanity, if you can't look back on having given love and attention to your own family, what have you really accomplished?” Elbert Hubbard

Day 7 of 365 Days of Thanks

Ok, for today's thanks I am cheating just a little. I know some of you may think this is weird, but our pets are our kiddos. So here we go...

Fergie (the youngest member of our family) is thankful for having a warm shelter (our home) this year. Last year in November, she was born on our friends farm as a barn cat. During one of our really bad storms, she disappeared and and was gone for 2 weeks. When she came back from her "adventure" her ears were frost bitten and she was in the process of losing about half of each of her ears. So we asked our friends if we could take her to be a part of our home. We had just lost our oldest kitty (from cancer) a few months prior. So a new little kitten was exactly what our house needed to lift our spirits. Now Fergie is a year old, and I am looking at her cuddle up with Petey (our pitty) and our other cat Bear. Warm and cozy with a big smile on her face.

Day 6 of 365 Days of Thanks

Today I am thankful for a much needed day off - well from my full time job, that is. I spent the day getting all of the projects, that I haven't had much time to do, done or at least all most done. Plus I treated myself to an extra hour- and-a-half of sleep this morning - which I think helped me most of all!

Day 5 of 365 Days of Thanks

Tonight I am thankful for our church. This morning I was reading an article in a magazine that I like, and found that the common theme of the article was how to achieve optimum peace. There were several references to Buddha or looking inward. It kind of put me in a crabby mood until we left for church. When we arrived, we were about 5 minutes late, and they had already started the praise and worship part of the service. As we took our seats, I heard a familiar song, It was like music to my ears and to my soul. I exhaled and instantly felt that peace that they kept referring to in the article. But this was a peace that no Buddha could give, no matter how much chanting he wants you to do. It's the peace that only Christ can give.

Day 4 of 365 Days of Thanks

Oh what a day! Today, I am thankful for so much that it might be hard to pick just one for the day! So I am going to make a short list :) that's ok, right?

First of all, I am thankful for creativity! Not just what God equipped me with, but with what he equipped others with as well. I spent a good majority of the day redesigning my web design website, editing 200+ photos, downloading actions and presets to make editing go quicker, and so much more. So I guess I should really be thankful that I can still see straight with as much as I was looking at my monitor today - lol.

Today my friend came home from her hospital stay after a major surgery. I am thankful that she got home especially since it was snowing most of the day. I am sure her kiddos (the four legged kind) are thankful she is home as well. Now we are praying for a quick recovery.

And then I should throw in my warm-and-fuzzy thanks...I am thankful for my kitty, Fergie. She loves to cuddle. When I am stressed out, she always seems to know, and crawls into my lap and purrs. Which seems to make everything better!

Day 3 of 365 Days of Thanks

Today I am feeling a little overwhelmed with all that is on my plate. Too many things to do and definitely not enough time to get it all done. 'Tis the Season! But last night while my hubby and I were cleaning the office buildings at the grain elevator, God reminded me that last year at this time, I did not have a job, in fact i had just been let go unexpectedly, and even though I had my small business on the side, it was not a steady source of income and we were really struggling. The winter was harsh and inside our house was miserably cold, the propane heater was on the fritz, and the wind from outside was coming inside. But God provided! Our friends and family gave us some warmer jackets, blankets, and helped us by putting plastic on the outside of our windows so the drafts would stop coming into the house.

As I am reminded of last year and take a look at this year, I am thankful for my jobs. Yes that's right that is plural. Even though I am quite overwhelmed and somedays down-right exhausted, I can at least crash in my bedroom, at the end of the day, where we have warm blankets and a small room heater and I am warm. I work from 9:15 to 3:30 M-F as my friends caretaker (I fancied the title up a bit and now refer to my self as her personal assistant), then two nights a week my hubby and I clean the office buildings at the grain elevator, my web business has picked up a little, and my dog collar business is gearing up for the holidays. So yes, even though I am tired and overwhelmed at times, God reminds me to be thankful for the work he has provided me this year. For which we are able to pay down some bills, afford a little more heat for the house, and that we don't have to eat as much Top Ramen and beans :).

Day 2 of 365 Days of Thanks

Wow! What a beautiful and snowy morning it is here in Chappell, Nebraska! Currently it is 26 degrees with a wind chill that drops it down to 12 degrees. Brrrrrr! I am trying to be thankful for the weather - but I'm not going to lie, it is beyond cold and the wind is quite strong...but as I look outside, the snow that covers the ground is beautiful! So I will save being thankful for the "weather" for another day! lol

Today I am thankful for community! I love that we live in a town small enough for most of us to know each other, be there for each other, watch out for each other, and rally around one another in difficult periods of our lives. Just this morning God showed me how he uses me, my hubby, and also my neighbors daughter - and each one in separate instances - and it's only 9:30 in the morning! I can't wait for what God will bring during the rest of the day.

Day 1 of 365 Days of Thanks

I have been thinking about doing this for weeks now. Wondering if I could do this without missing a day. I feel like God is nudging me to get out of my rut, and sometimes negativity, and see all that I need to be thankful for in my life. I also want to encourage everyone around me to try it as well so we can remind each other and keep each other accountable. My prayer is that by the end of the 365 days that I will be closer to God and my eyes will be opened to the blessings He pours out in my life and the lives around me each and every day!

So here it goes...

Day 1 - I am thankful for my husband. For the little things he does to make my day special. The kisses he blows to me from across the room. The random texts he sends me throughout the day reminding me that he's thinking about me and that he loves me. And most of all that God has blessed me with a husband that I can share my faith with.

Quilt of Love

There is a gal that goes to our church and I have been enjoying getting to know her! She is an amazing woman with a huge heart and an incredible talent. I first met Jeannie while doing, what we call,  “Love in Action”. Her and her husband are disabled and are not able to do a lot of yard work. So a group of us from our church family spent the afternoon at their home in Lodgepole, Nebraska. Some of us pulled weeds, trimmed trees, others mowed the lawns and tidied up the grounds around the house. It was an awesome day – lots of work got done and by the time we were finished the front and back yard looked landscaped by professionals, and everyone had smiles on their faces.

A few months go by and I see Jeannie at our church Campout with her hubby, Ron, they had come for the day. We sat and talked for a while, at that time she told me that she was making me a quilt. I have to admit, at first I wasn’t sure why. So I asked her kindly, why I deserved such a treasure. In which she stated, “Because you came and helped fix up our yard.” She continued to tell me that she was in the process of making everyone that came, that day to help, there own quilt. At that point, I am pretty sure my jaw dropped. How?... Why?... oh my gosh. I was speechless. She started telling me about the ones that she had already finished, the one that she was currently working on and the ones that she still needed to start. I had so many questions at this point, but I was still speechless. I was in Awe of the kindness of this woman that I was still getting to know, who before that day had only met a couple of times before.

At the next church event, I sat down and talked with Jeannie. I already had a list going, in my head, of what I wanted to ask her. So I did. She started telling me about how God is providing everything that she needs to make these quilts. Her and her hubby are not wealthy in the monetary sense. But they are millionaires in the eyes of God! He has given her this amazing talent, and she uses it to bless others. There is a gal that is dedicated to making sure Jeannie has enough batting for the insides of the quilt. Many people give her fabric from their stashes. She says she can use any size piece, even as small as an inch-and-a-half square. Others have provided the thread. My mind is churning, thinking about all the fabric scraps that I have left over from making dog and cat collars, that I would normally toss or store, because I don’t know what to do with. She even says, with a huge smile on her face, “my husband helps too! He helps me stretch them out on the loom”.

Last Saturday Jeannie came to me at the Women’s Breakfast and gave me my quilt. I can’t even find the words that would do this quilt justice. The pieces of fabric she used on it – fit me to a T. Retro, Vintage, Lion King (which is one of my favorite cartoon movies), vibrant colors, and many more. How did she know me and my tastes so well after only visiting a handful of times. What a gift! My friends and pastor are already calling me Linus, because I feel like I take it every where with me so I can show it off.

If you have scraps of fabric that you can’t use and they’re collecting dust, send them to me and I will get them to her. If you have batting that you don’t know what to do with, send them to me and I will get it to her. Same with thread, she can use anything! Send it to Rural Housewife, PO Box 847, Chappell, NE 69129.

P.S. I am working on getting pictures of the quilts and their new owners and will post them here on the blog.

Quiet and Relaxing - Day 3

Day 3 started out with me kissing my hubby on his way out the door to go on a very long hike with his sister. Why didn't I go, you ask? Well here is why... He and his sister (workout feens) planned a hike up the Lawn Lake Trail in the Rocky Mountain National Park

Difficulty moderate
Distance 6.2 miles one-way
Starting Elevation 8540 feet
Ending Elevation 10987 feet
Elevation Change 2447 feet

Stats compliments of the Rocky Mountain National Park website

If those stats didn't convince you, then take a look at this graph...

I figured, why not let the fitness guru's tackle this together - I wouldn't want to slow them down. How long does 12 miles take? About 6-8 hours... did you catch that... 6 to 8 hours of hiking. And a good majority of that uphill!

So what did I do while they went on this fitness expedition? I slept, relaxed, watched some HGTV, and painted my toes. Plus I spent quite a bit of time praying that they would come back to the cabin in one piece. I mean there are Bears, Elk, Mountain Lions, Snakes, and more out there.

Thankfully they got home in one piece! It took them about 7 hours (with stops for pictures). I loved hearing their stories of what they saw and who they encountered on their hike. There was one guy that they stopped to talk to (pictured below), he was walking his horse up the trail... because his horse likes to go for walks! My hubby thought it was strange that you can't bring your dog out there for a walk, but you can bring your horse. Guess we better get a horse for next time! :)

Here are some of the pics from his hike. They made it to the top where there was a glacier lake. I love the photos he took, such Amazing Beauty!

10-Year Anniversary Trip - Day 2

After having such and AWESOME first day, I was anxious for what the second day had in store. My hubby and I spent most of the morning downtown, looking at all the fun stores - dreaming of what we could buy :). (There was more dreaming than buying) Then we headed back to the cabin so we could get ready for the family BBQ / picnic we were going to have in the Endovalley Picnic Area of Rocky Mountain National Park. When we got back, everything was already put together - so we got ready to head out. While I was upstairs changing, I heard our family downstairs calling to me to come quickly downstairs...and BRING THE CAMERA (yes that is what they shouted) :). Here is what we saw...

This guy was HUGE!! He was so close, but luckily
I had some trees between me an him in case
he wanted to meet in a very unhappy way.

So we all stood there and watched him eat. I know,
I don't like it when people watch me eat, but this is SO different :)

Every once in a while he would look at me
as if were saying "Are you still watching me EAT?"

I started giggling (I know, it's the little things that get me)
'cause he started scratching under his hind leg with his antlers.
I had NO idea they were that flexible... hee hee

Around the corner (on the lawn) were more Elk relaxing and enjoying their visit.

They BBQ'd SO much yummy food! On the right we have a large

Salmon filet, then hamburgers, corn & potatoes wrapped in foil, and italian sausage.
You would think we were cooking for an Army :)

Here is the Salmon once it finished cooking - the picture doesn't
do it justice. It was cooked with fresh Dill and Lemons - turned out
SO yummy!

Here's our fam and friends enjoying the feast! Thanks goes to those
who prepared, cooked, cleaned, and made this dinner amazing!

As we drove out of the park that night, we spotted a field FULL of Elk - there were atleast 200 Elk in this field. It was quite a site! I wish I could have gotten a picture to share with you, but it was way too dark to get a good one. So you will just have to believe me :)

10-Year Anniversary Trip - Day 1

This July my hubby and I will celebrate 10 years of marriage. Everyday is a new adventure and I find that I love him more and more with each experience. I will admit, it isn't always bliss or easy, but through the tough times, I feel, we have made our relationship stronger. We are learning new things everyday, applying them to how we interact and relate to each other. Knowing that trust is essential to genuine love.

This week my hubby's mom & step-dad took us to Estes Park, CO to celebrate our 10 years of marriage. We have had so much fun enjoying our time away together. Having lived in Colorado for 4 years, it has been such a treat to see again all the beauty that we once enjoyed everyday. Here are some of our pics from Day 1.

Me in front of the river that ran in front of our cabin.

We couldn't believe how fast the water was running,
but it made for some really pretty photos.

 

We were "window" shopping one evening when we saw this dog
come in and drink out of the water feature (for sale) in the store.
It was SO cute, and the store owner didn't mind at all (which I thought was so nice)

My in-laws treated us to a guided tour of Rocky Mountain National Park.
What a GREAT adventure! I highly recommend if you visit.

One of the falls the tour guide took us to. (I have been to RMNP
many times, and never saw this - tour was totally worth it)

Our tour guide, Art, was a great guide...but wasn't that great at
taking pictures. :)

20 feet of snow we were standing in front of.

We are at about 11,000 ft above sea level. The views were amazing!

My sister-in-law had this cute idea for a family photo - it reminds
me of Sound of Music :) By far one of my favorite photos! (except my
hubby isn't in it, cause he is taking the picture)

Storm started moving in as we were going back down Trail Ridge Road,
it was cold, about 59 degrees. But I LOVE the images I was able to get.