Springy Bedroom Makeover (and a garden update)

I can't believe I am calling this makeover "springy" since Oklahoma apparently skipped over spring and went straight to summer. dang, it's hot! well, I guess after our two bursts of snow, winter was sort of spring-like, so it makes sense that spring feels like summer. did I mention that it's hot here? my pennsylvania people have been asking me, "so what exactly is HOT to you?" my answer is, "how about 98 degrees during the day and 92 degrees at 9:00 at night?" yeah, it's hot.

One last thing before I show you our "new" bedroom, I wanted to show you our little garden. Here is a picture right after we planted the tomatoes & peppers. date: March 26, 2010.





































Here is what it looked like about a month ago:





































And today!


















kind of jungle-y looking, isn't it?! we have been having the hardest time keeping everything staked and tied. just when we think everything is secure, the plants have another growth spurt.


















aren't those cute little tomatoes?

I was going to show you a picture of our first harvested item, a luscious jalapeno, but someone (not me) ate it already.

Ok, enough outside stuff. Moving indoors, where the a/c runs constantly these days.

You may think that getting a bedroom makeover is frivolous since we just moved in less than a year ago, but let me explain. First, the comforter set we have been using is the one we got for our wedding, seven years ago. We love it still (thankfully) but it is multi-color plaid and sort of dark. And while that is great for winter/fall, and cats, that room really needed a pick-me-up for these sunny (oh, so sunny) days. I searched high and low, and the one I really loved was at walmart. thank you, walmart! It is just what I was looking for, white background, with greens (my new obsession) and some red, so I could keep using our curtains we've had for 7 years. No, those haven't been made-over yet. (they will be going to the dry cleaners later this week) And finally, the makeover ends with the blinds. The ones that came with the house were the standard metal mini blinds and they were broken. In order to put them up, I had to tie hair bands around the bottom. and to tilt them open & closed, was a chore, so it never happened. They made the room dreary. So thanks to my parents giving us a Lowe's gift card, I got custom-sized 2" faux wood plantation blinds to match the rest of the house.

I have no before picture, but here is the after:


















hooray for bright & cheery! The colors are off just a bit in this photo, but I think you still get the idea. like it? Now for the room to be complete, we just need to finish painting the trim white, get new baseboards, replace the ceiling fan/light, buy two new lamps, hang some things on the walls, and new carpeting. That's all.

And because I don't think I have ever post a picture of the guest room before, here is what it looks like:
























At any given moment, there could be 6 or 12 pillows on that bed. I like to change it up all the time. Also, I usually have a green blanket folded at the foot of the bed, but I think our last house guest put it under the comforter. And yes, those blinds do cover the entire window, but they are in a perpetual state of partially open because the kitties like to look out. Normally this is Bunny's room, but we switched things up a bit when my mom came, and put Bunny (in her cage) in the office for awhile. So now the cats have taken over this room. They love it. (I think we need a 4 bedroom house...) And finally, no guest room of ours would be complete without this guy watching you sleep.

More Promises. And a Prostitute!

After a week off, we resumed our Joshua study with Lesson 2 this morning, which coincidentally focused on Chapter 2. Joshua 2 tells of the account of Rahab and the spies. At the end of chapter 1, Joshua receives his charge, and in chapter 2, he begins to "take charge." (that clever sentence was stolen from the ESV study bible notes.) His first action is to send two spies into Jericho to do some recognizance in the land of which they are about to take possession. And where do these spies go first? To the house of a prostitute. huh? To us, the readers, this seems strange, but clearly this was quite a strategic move. According to scholars, Rahab's house must have been located in a logical place to gather information, and most likely because of her profession, she was "in the know." She knew the area & the people of Jericho, and in turn, she was well known because the king even knew her.

Being a fairly new student of covenant theology, this story amazes me. This was not random (a word I love, but use a little too much) encounter, the spies didn't just happen to stumble upon Rahab's house and think, "hey, let's stay at the prostitute's house. that'll be fun." They went because it is part of the bigger picture. The BIG picture, in fact. The chapter continues and Rahab tells the spies that she knows why they are there, she knows what God has done, and that the land she is living in is the land he has promised to the Israelites. So she knows that God is powerful and vengeful, and the inhabitants of her land are melting away and will all soon die. But she also knows that God is merciful, so she asks the spies that if she helps them, will they help her. She risks her life to help the spies because she believes in the Lord. In return, her life is spared when Jericho falls.

She was an unbelieving prostitute in an unbelieving land, but was given a heart of faith in the one true God.

But wait, there's more!

In the New Testament, she is listed as one of the ancestors of Christ (Matthew 1:5) and for her good works (James 2:25). A prostitute! Clearly, God is gracious and will save all who come to a genuine faith.

Another neat observation that you may or may not have ever noticed is that the symbol she put in her window to alert the soldiers to preserve her household was a scarlet cord (2:18). This is very similar to the procedure in the first Passover (Exodus 12:22). Interesting, isn't it?

At the end of each lesson, the last day is usually self-reflecting. This week we were asked to write down ways in which God's steadfast love and mercy extend to you (much like how in Rahab's story, we see God extending his mercy to the nations, even as he promised) using the following verses:

Ephesians 2:1-10

Titus 3:3-7

1 Peter 2:9-10

I encourage you to click on each of those verses, read them, and prayerfully consider how God's promises reach all the way down to us.

what a weekend!

This Memorial Day weekend was the most event-filled one we have had since the one when we moved from St Louis to Pennsylvania. That was a busy weekend. This one was a little more relaxing. But what isn't relaxing compared to driving 624 miles in a U-Haul? My mom arrived in OKC Thursday morning and our first stop was the gigantic walmart on the southside. I was so overwhelmed the first time I went there; I had no idea stores could be that large. I mean it is BIG, even for a walmart. Then we came home to start getting things ready for our small group cookout that evening. One thing that has to be mentioned is the weather, because it was hot. The entire time my mom was here, it was h-o-t, and s-u-n-n-y. I was a little concerned because I had planned on the cookout being outdoors, since we were going to be grilling "outdoors," and we were excited to really use our backyard for the first time. but the heat! so I gave my guests the option of going out or staying in, and most chose the combination. it was perfect.

The inside crew: (bobby, collin, catherine, & ryan)



















The outside gang: (chris, meghan, rachel, & ed)



















I think their picture looks a little smokey because of the tiki torches.

The wii players: (luke, nathan, & allie)



















My mom (poor lady has no friends!)



















and of course, our little friend, drue!



















In case you're trying to figure it all out, meghan, collin, & drue all belong together, luke & nathan go with ryan & catherine, rachel & ed are a pair, and I claim bobby & my mom. there were a few other people in attendance, but they left before I got my camera out.

Friday, my mom and I decided to brave the hotness and do a little shopping on campus corner. it was good because the stores were very chilled, it was not crowded because school is out, and there was a passionberri there! :) it is my new summer obsession. I love it. That evening we ate dinner at pepe delgados, and went to the sam noble museum of natural history because it was a free admission night and they opened their chocolate exhibit. AND gave away some free chocolate. win win win!

a pic of the museum goers:


















and a wall of chocolate!



















I cant remember what we did Saturday other than eat pancakes, swim a little at the norman pool, do a little shopping, and watch paisley climb a couple trees.





































Sunday morning, we got to hear bobby preach & lead worship at church. always a blessing. then we went to a wedding! I love weddings and this was a fun one. Two youngins' tying the knot. so precious. I have no pictures of the bride & groom, or anyone involved with the wedding, but I do have a picture of bobby and I. and his red pants.
























That night I asked my mom where she wanted to go to get some ice cream/fro yo, and she chose passionberri. yay!



















And then Monday... we had the pleasure of participating in the celebration of little drue's first birthday party. She was such a charmer and really knew how to work the crowd. She had on the most beautiful red dress with a giant bow & headband, but unfortunately I didn't take any pictures until the end of the party when she was in her real birthday suit. We both look a little rough in this pic because I was getting pretty hot (and not in a good way!) and she had a stained face from the punch I gave her. :) but she was still adorable and the party was so much fun!



















we did a little more shopping that afternoon and then chilled for the rest of my mom's visit.

in fact, I am still chillin' and she is flying all over the country, going on standby, changing flights, and getting vouchers for free tickets. way to go, mom!