A Blank Canvas

Being creative in a room is, to put it quite simply, fun. You just have to look at the room as a blank canvas and....GO!!. 

After talking to the room's occupant that is. It is their room after all. 

Years ago, the first bedroom I did was Adrienne's. She was all about the ocean and lighthouses. We had a mix of blues up top and a sand colored bottom half of the wall, separated by a border of lighthouses. We used fish nets for curtain valences and hand-stenciled verses about the ocean all around the top perimeter of the room. Since Adrienne moved out, this has become a stopping place for Amy, who is also semi-out-of-the-house and she's added some of her own flavor to the room and it's now an artsy retreat at the beach. And it's storage for my adult kiddos moving out and on. 

Excuse me while I sigh deeply, happy and sad and nostalgic. 

If you were wondering why Amy isn't in her own room that we did in a variety of teal blue, brown, green, coral and white, then wonder no more. When she left for college and then Thailand, I may have gravitated my sewing, scrapbooking world into that room.....it's still a work in progress. 

Heather's room, I did blog about once upon a time. Purple, Purple, Purple (Say that 3x fast), 

Organizing the organization, So white....then add color!, Color Me Bold, and Pictures from Heather's Room Redo . Enough said. 

I always had good intentions to do a room for Aaron. I really did. We envisioned a Lord of The Rings feel, with Lothlorien trees painted on the walls with a corner reserved for a hint of Mordor. (His idea, not mine. Not a fan of Mordor where I want to be sleeping.) I blinked, I barely blinked and he was moving out and as my artistic ability for trees is somewhat lacking and it would've taken me as long as it took Frodo to vanquish the Dark Lord, it just never materialized into reality.  He and Lisa-Anna have a new (old and awesome!) house now with lots of blank walls as canvas.....

I still can't draw trees though. 

After Aaron moved, Ryan claimed that room as his own. And it's been about 1 1/2 years and I did his room in an adventure, outer space, kind-of-theme. We papier-mached planets and hung them up, I started a compass rose around his light fixture, using my cell phone to accurately depict N-S-E-W. And he picked the colors and definitely wanted chalkboard paint, which we used as his border and on the old chimney that runs through his room. (I still haven't quite figured out the chimney bit.) I just never blogged about his room because it wasn't quite Pinterest worthy enough yet. 

Yesterday though, we tackled his room with a vengeance, purging the mounds of paper, sorting his clothing, and getting ready for school. It still isn't "Pinterest-perfect", but it is Ryan's and it is his version of perfect. I love that my almost-teenager still has his favorite animals and a few toys about. He's not quite ready to send them to the attic (and neither am I). He was happy to find his old hand-held video game and I was glad he didn't find it until after our 8 hour ride in the car for vacation. The beeping, oh the beeping. He is in his almost-man-cave, and cave's weren't meant for Better Homes & Gardens. 





















Here's after we'd started. It was worse, much worse. Boys. Gotta love them. 

He never liked putting clothes away. He probably never will. I'm apologizing to his future wife now.
But, he does do better with open baskets and as long as they are somewhat put away, I'm happy. And yes, those are his "Ida Maust Monkeys" sitting there on the drawer-made shelf.

Ryan really did help. This was at the end of the day when we were finished and I was trying to inspire him to take a few minutes every day and keep it "this way". I'm sure he is paying close attention and his distracted gaze at his hand-held game is all a ruse.

I'll just keep telling myself that.

Here's to all the blank canvases in the world!

Love, Dianne

O Christmas Tree Named Noel

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How lovely are thy branches!
Not only green when summer's here
But in the coldest time of year.
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
How lovely are thy branches!

The other day (Actually, it's been days. Well, more like almost a week.), Ryan and I got permission from the other kids to pick out our tree this year. After school, I met him at the bus and we went to the Nursery at the end of the driveway. The tree lineup awaited us.

Tree #1. Too many branches pushed up at odd angles.

Tree #2. Too short.

Tree #3. Too skinny. 

Tree #4. Wrong shade of green.

Tree #5. Lopsided.

Tree #6. Hmmm. Let's see. I think this one has possibility. 

Time to roll up the old sleeves. Why?
Someone walked up the lane. Someone didn't bring the truck. Someone wanted to get the tree right now! No, that someone was not Ryan. It may have been Leo me.

I think we are ready. Right, Ryan?
He even flexed his muscles for me and cracked his knuckles before we started.
My little he-man.

3/10ths of a mile. That's our driveway. That's how long we had to go to carry our tree. We walked. We talked. We laughed like crazy. We named our tree. 

Her name is Noel. 

We made it to the house and got her inside where she is still awaiting, 5 days later, to be properly adorned and festooned with all matter of garland and light. 

In doing all this, the song "O Christmas Tree" or "O Tannenbaum" was in my head and I couldn't help it, I had to look it up. Did you know there are a few different versions? The verse at the top of this page is the one I always sing, the only one I can really remember. After I looked it up though, I found another verse that I like even better. This is the verse I want to sing when I think about our Christmas tree. 

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,

How sturdy God hath made thee!

Thou bidds't us all place faithfully

Our trust in God, unchangingly!

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,

How sturdy God hath made thee!

Love, 

Dianne

Words From Ryan

Me: How was your day today?
Ryan: Good.
Me: Just good?
Ryan: Ummm, Mrs Edwards didn't get mad at us.
Me: Does she usually?
Ryan: Sometimes, but not usually. Like when we don't turn in our homework.
Me: Oooo-kay. Anything else about today?
Ryan: I was impatient to get home so I could enjoy the trampoline.
Me: …which still isn't together by the way. You just got it yesterday. Speaking of yesterday, what was special about it?
Ryan: Ummm, being my birthday?
Me: Yes. And how old are you now? 
Ryan: 10. You should know that!
Me: I do. What do you remember about being a baby?
Ryan: I got fed and I cried.
Me: Isn't it usually "I cried and then I got fed?"
Ryan: no words; just looking at me like I am weird.
Me: What do you think being 10 years old will be like? How will it be different than 8 or 9?
Ryan: You get in a higher grade.

Me: What's your favorite color, now that you are 10?
Ryan: Lime
Me: You are a boy of few words, aren't you.
Ryan: I guess.
Me: What are you doing this evening?
Ryan: Making a trampoline! And hitting a volleyball against the wall…
Me: You mean where you already broke a basement window out? 
Ryan: Uh-huh, that's right.
Me: Why don't you hit the ball out by the barn? 
Ryan: Because the rooster is there.
Me: You are just like Grandma. 
Me: I don't like the rooster up close either. 
Me: Any other words of wisdom?
Ryan: Nope.
Me: I love you.
Ryan: Okay. I love you back.

Ryan and Ryan

Ryan and Ryan; 2 buddies spending an unexpected day together today.  Ryan Bender needed a place to hang out while his family was at Bible Quizzing events today and my Ryan was more than happy to have a friend to spend the afternoon with.

They are alike in ways other than their name. They both meticulously picked the vegetables out of their strombolis at lunchtime, and they both like bananas, scrambled eggs and pancakes. They both like playing games on the computer, they both like to play pretend under the cover of a tent made with Ryan's bed.

I believe they were spies. And dogs, but not at the same time.

I think this is seriously the best age to have a friend over to play for the day. The imagination of 7 and 8 year old boys is boundless. I don't know why I don't do this more often.

Well, I do kinda know. I think it is just a little out of that comfortable area for me. Like, what if they hate what I cook, or they are bored out of their minds because we don't own a Playstation or a Wii? What if they hurt themselves and need first aid?

I know I am a nurse, but I really don't do well with blood and other yucky stuff.
Quick, get the smelling salts! No, not for the bleeding person, it's for the nurse!"


But today was nice. No injuries, no boredom, and nobody starved. And Ryan and Ryan had a day to remember. I even got a Sunday nap in.

I hope they weren't spying on me while I snored.

Here's to good buddies!

Love,

Dianne

The Tale of a Kite

I know it's still January; at least for a couple more days. But this morning, the colors and the light outside felt like Spring. The air had just the smallest hint of March in it.

And I liked it. So did Ryan.

Maybe it was that tiny hint of March, but after lunch, he found the kite. He determined that he was going to fly it. So off he went outside into the wind. He looked a little bit like Christopher Robin and I was expecting Piglet and Pooh Bear to show up.

Try as he might to get the kite into the air, it just spun in circles, lots of circles. Apparently, the tail of the kite is important, so we tied more onto it to make it a proper tail. He tried again. And again.

Finally, the kite was airborne! I yelled a congratulations out the window and then decided to take some pictures. Just as I get outside and get the camera ready to capture the rainbow kite against the blue sky, it twisted and twirled like a tipsy ballerina and caught in the branches of a tree.

It was like it did it on purpose!

Ryan got the kite free and no sooner did he get it aloft, it again went into the tree. Not only did it catch in the branches, but it began it's crazy spinning again. This time is was really tangled in the branches. I thought for just a brief moment that I would have to climb up into the tree and execute a rescue of sorts. Then I began winding in the string and the branch began to bend towards me.

I stretched.
I stood on tippy-toes.
I jumped.
I caught the tip of the branch and unwound the kite.
We did it!!
But now the kite refused to get back up in the air. Even after we gently untangled the long lengths of tail from the string, it still refused.

By now, I have more than realized that it is still January and I am freezing. My fingers were feeling numb and even though it looked kinda warm outside, it most definitely was not.

The two of us, looking a little now like Kanga and Roo, went into the warm house. Maybe we'll try again in February. Maybe March, on another "blustery day".

Love,
 Dianne

Donny & Marie Barbies!!!

I think the Christmas that stands out to me the most from my childhood, was...

The Year of The Donny and Marie Osmond Barbie dolls

Not only did I get a set, so did each of my sisters. It didn't matter that they were all exactly the same. Somehow, Donny and Marie became whatever and whoever we wanted them to be. And they were never brother and sister. Because we didn't have a lot of Barbies, especially man Barbies, poor Donny had to be the love interest of whatever Barbie was being played with at the time.

We spent endless hours playing with these dolls! Mom made each of us our own set of Barbie clothes (which I still have!) and also helped us make houses out of large cardboard boxes. She made a platform for each box, so that the house had 2 floors in it. We girls cut out pictures from the Sears catalog to decorate the walls and make them light fixtures. We used scrap fabric to make curtains and bedspreads. I hoped we would never outgrow playing with them.

I love looking back and remembering. I even looked up some clips on youtube of the Donny & Marie Show. Kinda cheesy and scripted, but sweet and fun. I don't think I realized, that when the show started, he was 18 and she was 16 years old. 

Nowadays, in the world of technology which is the "normal", I have to admit that I enjoy when I see my children playing or doing something un-technology related. Ryan loves the CARS movies and has been collecting all the little CARS models. He spends hours with them and I find them everywhere (not fun to step on in the dark!). I hope he can look back in 20 years and remember with fondness, the fun he had with a treasured toy. 

The Torture Photo Session

2011

This morning, 9am.
Be at the tree. 
Look Festive. 
It's Christmas Photo by the Tree time!
No, I don't care what you wear.
Yes, you need to look somewhat presentable.
No, this is not for Christmas cards.
Yes, it will most likely show up on my blog.
No, you can't sit like that for the picture!
Yes, please look like you are enjoying this.

Hang on guys, I can't get the lighting right...

Okay, still trying to figure out the lighting...

Okay, last one. Make it goofy (like they really had to try hard for that!)

And after about 20 pictures, we got 1 or 2 that everyone was looking the right direction, and looking normal...Thank you Adrienne, Aaron, Amy, Heather and Ryan!!!!! I love you bunches and bunches!!!

Home is Where The Heart Is

The gifts are wrapped, the lights are up and for the most part, the cards are either delivered or in the mail. There are just a few that I am trying to find the current address for. You don't realize how much of a mobile society we are until you try to find addresses. (Phone numbers are a whole other ballgame!)

In the 23 years we've been married, we have lived 5 different places.

Our first home was in an apartment over Lura Folk's garage in Springs PA. We were there 3 sweet years. Our marriage started there and we brought our first baby, Adrienne, home to that apartment. I don't have a single photo of the outside of our apartment, but here is just a sample...

Leo and Adrienne...awwwww...reading farming magazines together

That's my man!

The second place we lived was in a trailer down by Leonard's parents. Small home, but large with memories.  Aaron was born while we lived here and so in our little trailer, the 4 of us lived and learned about life with toddlers. We were here for 3 years.

Dec 1992 Snowstorm! I am pregnant with Aaron.

Wootsie and Leonard

Adrienne and Aaron eating PB&J in the kitchen

Leonard and Adrienne heading to Paps to do the chores. A favorite of mine.

Then, we felt led to the mission field and while that didn't take us to a far-off country, it did take us to Louisville, KY for 2 years. Of course, coming from the country, living in a city felt a bit like a foreign country to us. So much was learned there and neither of us would ever trade the time we spend there. There is certainly a part of us that still calls Louisville "home". And, while we were there, Amy joined our family!
I have my KY album all put together so I didn't pull pictures out for here. Guess you'll just have to come visit if you want to see more. :)

2217 Bonnycastle Ave

Aaron and Adrienne; another favorite pic of mine.

In January 1997, we moved back to the area we had been away from. For 3 months, we lived at my grandparents farmhouse in Accident MD while they were still in Florida. That was an interesting time of living out of boxes and suitcases with a 5yr old, a 3yr old, and a 1 month old. It was an adjustment going from being shepherded by a mission organization, to figuring out what we were going to do now to make a life for ourselves.

MD Bearcreek Farm

The kids with my Dad 

Amy and Adrienne with Grandpa. He and Gordon would come in for breakfast after morning chores. The kids always enjoyed that time.

Another picture from our short stay at Grandpa Bender's farm.
Aaron, Amy, and Adrienne with Leonard

April 1 1997 was moving day! We ended up on the farm where we currently are living. The past 14 years have been a roller coaster of farming, nursing school, kids starting Kindergarten and graduating high school, and of course, adding Heather and Ryan to our family unit.

Home Sweet Farm

Carrot Harvest
Heather and Amy

Adrienne, me and Amy

And then there were 5....

We have been blessed in so many ways by each of the places we have lived and by people that we have met along the way. I am thankful for the ways in which God has provided!

"By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures." Proverbs 24: 3-4


"As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15