What Are You Wearing?

I have been reading Sinclair Ferguson's book By Grace Alone: How the Grace of God Amazes Me. This paragraph on Christ's righteousness is incredible. Have a tissue handy.

"The only righteousness with which I am righteous is Jesus Christ's righteousness. It is as if He has said to me: 'Here is my righteousness. Wear it; it is yours. It fits your needs perfectly and completely.' As I stand in God's presence and He looks at me, I hear Him say: 'Where have I seen that righteousness before? Come near. I recognize it now. That is My Son's righteousness you are wearing. Enter! You are welcome-and safe-here.' "

Out With the Old...in With the Refurbished



Faded Jeans Before



Dyed Jeans After

These plant stands were a dull ivory. Charles spray painted them a textured bronze for me. Aren't they awesome?



This is my Grandma's sewing stool. The top lifts off and there's a storage place underneath for thread and what not. Anyways, it was a dull brown, kind of beat up. My Dad stripped it and stained it this beautiful blue. Mom and I put a new cover on the seat. A fun family affair.

I have some more projects for the New Year that I'm sooo excited about. I'm just having a lot of fun with refurbishing old things that I have and still enjoy. I'm also creating a storyboard of colors and textures for the upstairs great room that is beginning to take some shape. My creative side has been dormant for some years and is now waking up. Yay!!

 



Advent Reading

   We have a number of Advent books in our family library and it's always a big debate as to which one we'll read from each year.  This year the reading is from this book:                   
                                                                         
Jotham is a 10 year old boy. One night he gets angry with his father and leaves their caravan. In the morning his family is looking for him and from various signs on the outskirts of their camp, they think he is dead from wild animals. They "bury" him and their caravan leaves as they have to get to Bethlehem, their birth home, and register for the census. The story follows all of Jotham's hair raising encounters as well as all the people and happenings surrounding Christ's birth. It's great reading for Advent. There is a reading for every day and a little lesson at the end of each day for pondering and/or discussing with your family. There are two sequels to this and they're just as good. The main characters from this book make appearances in the sequels as well. Something to think about for next year.

A New Addiction

I am HOOKED on John Flanagan's book series The Ranger's Apprentice. The crazy thing is that I'm not big on the whole fantasy genre but this series has grabbed me. These books are written and directed towards boys, grade 5 and up. So here I am, a 47 yr. old woman reading this series. How funny is that?I am just now finishing up book 3 and am going to the library tomorrow to pick up books 4 and 5. I believe there is a total of 10 books in this series.

The story line is Tolkienish but not quite up to the level of Tolkien.Will is the main character who is a Ranger Apprentice under Halt. The story is about Will, who is a ward of the Baron of Araluen because Will's parents are deceased. At the age of 16, he and the other wards of the land participate in choosing day. This is a day in which they can pick the type of "job" they want to apprentice under and it is theirs upon approval by the person over that "job". Will is accepted to be an apprentice to Halt, a Ranger. The Rangers are spies of the kingdom who are trained with weapons but also in a techinique of moving in shadows, trees, and such so that they're not seen. The stories follow Will's training, victories, captures, etc...they are fast paced and really hold my attention. I cannot put them down.

These are great books with themes of loyalty, integrity, honesty, bravery, and more. I highly recommend them.

The Year Round Nativity

This is a little (1 1/2" x 1 1/2") nativity scene that I have had forever:
                                                       
I do not remember when it was given to me, I do not remember never having it. When last Christmas was packed up I purposely left it out because  I wanted to see it through the year. I think it's a good thing to have a nativity out year round. Mine will not be packed up again but left out to see and think about Christ. (Forgive the blurriness not my forte)

Colorific

I was browsing through some magazine and noticed a make-up ad. I zeroed in on the model's lips because something was different. She had a darker shade on her top lip and a lighter shade on her lower lip. What a great idea!!! I LOVE lipstick! My selection is not as large as it once was but I do have shades that are not very complimentary to my skin tone but I can't bring myself to throw them away. (Sometimes I write or draw on my husband's side of the mirror with the unacceptables) Now, I'm using the less complimentary shades on my upper lip and lighter shades that are comlimentary on my lower lip and...wallah...a new look with colorific lips!!! Try it, it's fun!!