adventures when ruckels renovate: His glory in our story

if you haven't heard the news, we are renovating a foreclosure. you can see how crazy we truly are by checking out the before pics here.

i know i keep joking about how crazy you all must think we are for this undertaking, but can i just say, what is one man's crazy is another man's call. here's the deal, i want to share how awesome God has been in this process & also want to encourage you today. this is by no means an outlet to brag about what The Lord has chosen us responsible for, but what i want is to show you how His faithfulness spans time...His time,

when it comes to where our family will live, it's always been in God's hands. what i mean by that is, that's the nice way of saying that we've trusted & waited...and waited & trusted. every house we've lived in has had a story of God's crazy miraculous timing & plan. we've had houses pulled off the market for us, we've had offers rejected, we've had shortened timelines, extended timelines & favor.  if you want details on those adventures, check out these stories.

the purchasing of this house seemed quick to some, but honestly it is a dream that has been brewing in our hearts since we got to Florida 3 years ago. there were so many small details that had to line up for us to even find this house, let alone buy it. like the fact that my parents came to live with us just last year & before then we would never have needed a house this large. or the fact that it is a fixer-upper. now i love HGTV as much as the next girl, but i know those houses don't find that kind of beauty during a commercial break. over time, the desire to have a home to make my own has grown {and so have my children}. still, when reality started to set in about the amount of work on this house, my doubts began to grow bigger.

then The Lord reminded me that He had set this house apart FOR US by opening my eyes to some things in the natural...

like how it resembled our sweet little house in VA...the single dormer & the right side extends

 

the molding in the living room being the same as the built-ins in  house VA...the one on the top.

and this green color that showed up under all the wallpaper & trim, that was the same color that was in our first home  & then we painted our old living room the same.

and here's the kicker...the roof got replaced {thats the new roof in the top pic} & the septic tank is getting fixed...and we aren't paying for either.!! those were 2 high cost items that The Lord took off of our plate and eased my anxious heart of the amount of work. now if you asked my dear husband who is caring the burden of doing the majority of labor {after he is done with his workday}, he may answer you differently.

as a woman it's hard to not know where to make your "nest". trust me, the nesting instinct is real! in the time you may be feeling in limbo & yearning for the next step or place, refocus that yearning towards the One who is ALWAYS faithful. seek Him & what He has for you where you are, not a pinterest perfect house. i have learned to not only live with what i've got, but to enjoy & be thankful for it.

nothing that i have is mine.

it's all been a gift given to me & i will steward what i have, for as long as i have it. you give honor where honor is due, and that is how we honor The Lord. that is how you find favor in His eyes.

inspired adventures

as you can probably tell from my post earlier this week, i've found some creative juices...and i'm trying to keep them flowing. it's harder to do than i'd expected. there are 4 little interruptions of life & normal daily tasks that break that flow regularly. and once said interruptions are down for the night...i struggle to regroup, even to just veg & watch tv.

alas, earlier this week while {matt} was out of town, i rallied & sat down to intentionally be creative. upon picking up some of the toys & mess of the day, i came across our copy of The Giving Tree by shel silverstein. this book sits on our living room shelf instead of the bookshelf in the boys room. why? because it was my wedding gift to {matt}. just before our wedding we had talked about childhood memories and what we wanted our family to look like...and this book came up. therefore, i wanted to have a tangible reminder in our house. that we are to love other & put them before ourselves.







i was reminded of one of my favorite quotes from this book

and she loved a little boy very, very much-even more than she loved herself.

but as i was trying to recall it exactly, i found it wasn't in this edition of the book...it must have just been from my childhood. so i scoured google to see if what i was recalling was correct. indeed it was...or it had been. i have yet to nail down when the wording changed in the books, but there are plenty of pictures of the page in question these older editions. even found a few tattoos of it, so i think it's safe to say, my memory really is serving me right.

so i decided to make my own version of the quote. 

because simply loving just one boy is outta the question!

the frame i already had. it was up on the wall already with a picture in it. i wasn't really lovin' how it looked on the wall, so i decided to put something new in it. low & behold, i was able to make this print in photoshop the exact size needed. perfect!

and i must say...i love the way it turned out! definitely a true portrait of what i think motherhood is.

and it has definitely kept the fire of creativity ignited & burning. still working on some rooms in the house so that is definitely needed!

what's got you inspired?!

livin' with less::settling into our new digs

in an attempt to add some more 'me' to our little home i asked for some scripture prints from this fabulous etsy shop for christmas. it is time to replace some of our wedding pics & stuff we used to stage the houses with some new stuff. i mean it's been 6 1/2 years of marriage, almost 5 years with kids & we have no pictures of our kids framed or hung. i'd like to think it's because we were de-personalizing the house getting it ready to sell, but really it's cause i'm horrible at committing to decisions & getting stuff printed.

it may also be the fact that i like to just put things off. i'm used to having friends that would come over  & kick my butt into gear. sadly, those friends all 1000 miles away now. and as much i wish they were here...to help, to visit, to settle me into this new casa...i'm regaining my independence from the tight grasp of my babies-who are no longer teeny tiny babes. i can actually accomplish some tasks during the day. the {twins} are old enough now to be distracted by the tv or toys or brothers which means i can do some work. and while there are dishes piling up in my sink, i really need to do something fun. something creative. plus, i'm helping work on one of my goals for this year. score!

don't mind the scattering of toys...its totally normal.

so there was this big, long, empty wall in the middle of our living room just begging for some attention. we had tried a couple different furniture pieces in this space, but it is the major thoroughfare in our house so it ended up being more in the way than anything else. so stuff on the walls was the only way to go. i wanted it to be a collection of us...our little family of 6.



but there's this little...catch...there isn't a lot of money to work with. ya know, especially with the move & all.

• i took old pictures out of frames i wanted to re-use.
• i grabbed a can of black spray paint which we had in the garage to make sure all the frames were the same color. it helps visually to unify the mismatched frames. see you didn't even notice they weren't all the same style!
• i also found a pack of photo paper and figured it was time that i committed to getting some stuff printed.
• the only money i spent was on a few new frames that were required in specific quantity & size.
• and i dug through boxes of stuff to find the non-picture items to hang up. they all had previous lives somewhere else & i think they represent us pretty well. i love to use things that hold special meaning to us, gives it an even more cozy/ homey feeling i think. 

and i present to you...my finished work-in-progress product

here's what i used:

mirror: came from {matt}s childhood bedroom

pictures: i chose recent shots from the past 6 months or so & plan to add some of our classic shots later

scripture prints: from here or here

the antlers: shot by {matt}s grandfather

the R: from my dad who works for a company that makes letters for signs

ukele: well, my husband is a musician after all. you could say it was just laying around.

pewter cross: we got it on a trip to mexico

clock: no real story there. every home needs a good clock right?!

it feels good to decorate...get my creative juices flowing.

it makes a house, whether you own or rent, feel more like a home.

and it totally does feel so much cozier in here. 

i'll try to get some pictures of the other finished rooms up soon. 

and eventually a whole house tour for those of you who have asked. keep your pants on!

Twas an adventure on the night before Christmas

this Christmas we have been in the middle or the end rather of a state-to-state move. The logistics of such monumental under takings are borderline nightmarish. But we've had a few distractions and potential train wrecks these last few weeks. Read this for details. But in the end, we all made it. Safe & sound. Which is a Christmas miracle in itself! But because of our move we knew that this would be a modest Christmas. Which lets be honest, took a huge stress & pressure off because that meant no shopping for gifts for everyone. But I also discovered that without experiencing the hustle & bustle of the shopping frenzy, it also didn't feel like Christmas.

1st night in our new house. sleepover by the christmas tree.

I did my little bit of shopping online with presents delivered & some even gift wrapped. I loved the ease & peace of it. Plus the excitement of it arriving at our door made ME feel like a kid. Mostly I bought small things to occupy the boys for the 15 hour car ride. yes 15hrs & they all did great! I knew we would be opening literally buckets of toys that had been in storage for months now, plus the excitement of the new house...who needs presents to open on Christmas morning?! Nobody here...at least that's what I thought. As night fell on Christmas eve, I found myself getting sad at the thought that my boys wouldn't have gobs of presents & wrapping to become swallowed in the next morning. I longed for more. More time to prepare. More money to spend. More presents to open.

christmas jammies & watching "the very first christmas" in bed

The next morning came in a flash & with a bang. Literally the boys door hit the wall as they left their room. The boys opened their gifts and would not put them down! I bought both the big boys a mobigo & game cartridge. I soon came to realize that they would've just played with that one toy the whole day whether they had other presents to open or not. my longing ceased. And my heart was humbled.

playing with toys christmas morning

I had been walking through this season of advent with my boys and teaching them that it wasn't about Santa & gifts, but about Christ humbly coming as a baby for each of us. And here I find myself doing exactly what I was trying to teach my boys NOT to do. While it is so very fun to find the most perfect gift & getting it at a great price, I realized that now as a mom I need to learn to be content with what I have or else my boys won't get it. They were content with what they had been given. and in the end, I was content with the modest Christmas morning we had. The boys got a few more gifts to open from family later that day which I admit, helped me feel a little better. Next year I'm hoping Christmas won't be as overshadowed as these past 2 years. As parents, we've realized that for things to be successful & feel like Christmas, it's up to us.

So we're devising a plan to help everyone, myself included, feel like its more like Christmas next year. And the best way to start that off is by NOT moving days before Christmas. it definitely set the attitude of my heart & mind on the things & areas of life i want to make important for 2012.
 and more stuff isn't one!

 - Posted from my iPhone

adventures in our christmas card

i don't think i've ever gotten a christmas card out this early...ever! i'm impressed with myself. and maybe the reason why it's out so early is because it's more than just a christmas card this year. the time has finally come to spill the beans on where we are moving after we leave the condo in just 2 weeks time...


so please, by all means...
read our christmas card!

let the advent adventure of 2011 begin!

ok, first off, i'd like to make a confession...we aren't doing the advent wreath & candles in our house. if you need to know why, then please re-read my blog title...that says it all right?! phew, feel better. thanks! so we'll be counting down the days & building anticipation until Christmas with our {ruckel} family...and our moving day.

i'm not a prepared person. ok, well mostly, i'm not...i try & succeed on occasion. but for stuff like this, i'm definitely not. i didn't buy any supplies, print out pages or look up the correct scripture reference until yesterday...hence, why this post is going up today instead of yesterday. thanks for the grace!

let's start with the calendar itself.
there are all sorts of fabulous & different ideas for advent calendars out there. pick one that works best for you & your family. i chose this one from naptime diaries etsy shop. 2 versions available...printed or printable...i chose printable because this year, i need to not worry about extra things to pack. let alone to pack nicely back in the christmas bin...which is who knows where in the storage shed?!

time to fill it. 
first i took a look at our calendar for the month of december. like most families, ours is full! so there are things that were already planned and those will serve as our activities for those days. then i filled in the days with the things we want to do as traditions with our family. that was easy! with both of those things, we already filled up half the calendar. you can fill the remaining days with festive little things...not too much effort or preparation.

since i'm wanting to keep our advent season not just about traditions, but really making an effort at focusing on the spiritual aspect of the season, i'm incorporating some scripture into each day...or several of the days at least.

our festivities:

1. decorate the house for christmas!

2. make paper chains
date night for mom & dad & sleepover with {auntie kate} for the boys

3. dinner & holiday parade with friends

4. get hot cocoa on the way to church

5. make paper snowflakes

a diy garland via bumpsmitten 

6. make & send some christmas cards & gifts

7. visit santa// read a christmas book before bed

8. visit the train exhibit downtown

9. watch "a charlie brown christmas"

10. lights at the beach or garden of lights

Add caption

11. christmas music dance party

12. color christmas pictures & activity sheets

13. make a card for {ben}s preschool teacher

14. play "where's baby jesus?" with the nativity

great little people nativity for kids

15. birthday celebration for {auntie kate}

16. preschool christmas party//dinner with friends

17. christmas movie night & milkshakes

18. donuts before church

19. wrap gifts

20. open small gifts for car ride/ leave for florida

21. watch christmas movies in the car// do something nice for someone while on the road

22. have a sleepover in the living room

another diy:: tent tutorial via mycakies

23. hang out at {nanny}s house

24.  church//have birthday party for Jesus// open 1 gift (jammies & book)

printables for a birthday party for Jesus

25. biscuits & chocolate gravy for breakfast!

curious?! get a recipe here

and a few resources.
i'm using this book to help with the scripture/ spiritual aspect. but it's a great pre-packaged advent calendar. definitely worth checking into if you have little ones. 
here's a great selection of christmas books to add to your library.
and there are a million different holiday printables out there. i'm using this preschool nativity set.
and pinterest is full of ideas!! check it out.

need some other ideas? try these...

• ice skating age appropriate of course
• a trip to the post office is inventible this time of year
• a family trip to the movies there's always a new family type movie out this time of year. anyone going to see the muppets?!
• go see a christmas play...like the nutcracker or a christmas carol. 
• collect some christmas books or grab some from the library. unwrap a 'new' one every night before bed. over the years the kids will love getting to read those stories.
• drink apple cider
• go caroling
• bake & deliver cookies for those who work on christmas eve/ day
• have kids put on a christmas story play for mom & dad
• shop for & wrap gifts for others less fortunate. theres lots of opportunities to do this, not just churches.
• help a food bank by serving or donating food.
• have a cookie exchange
• write letters to santa
• write a letter to a solider

adventures in learning to live with less :: holiday decorating

over the last few months I've learned how to live with less space & stuff. 

and not just learned but enjoying living with less space & stuff.

Less toys to pick up.
Fewer dishes to wash.
Not as much stuff to organize.
Less on the walls & shelves collecting dust.
Not as many things for the babies to get into.
Fewer things distracting me from time with my boys.
Although I wish I could say the same went for the laundry.

But now that means I have 2 storage units full of stuff I feel like I don't need. i haven't used most of what i own in months! months people. but there are important things like birth certificates, tax stuff & other such papers to hold on to.

I mean I'm even keeping my fridge & pantry less cluttered. Because there just isn't room to keep the non-essentials. I buy what we'll use right away and I'm learning to meal plan a little better. freedom i tell ya!

fall is a season of preparation...preparing for the long, cold winter that lies ahead. we pull out the blankets & coats, turn up the heat and stock the pantry & fridge with our fall harvest until they are overflowing. it's about making your house feel warm & cozy & inviting to be in so you don't have to leave it. and one way we do that is by filling them with holiday decorations. and in that, I find myself wanting again...

Not sure if that's just me caving to the advertising, holiday displays & simply just wanting or if there's more to it. i mean they do a great job of putting new & cute things out there every year.

super cute pillow.

  but it wouldn't last a month in my house.

via crate and barrel

nothing says snuggly more than a plaid fleece blanket!

via target

Or even this cute monogram. although i'd use a pre-light garland & hang it outside.

via pinterest

and then it dawned on me that it's more that greed & wanting. It's about creating a safe space. A retreat to grab a blanket & curl up in on cold & rainy winter days. a place full of memories & nostalgia. a place that you not only want to be, but stay in for a while.

***

***

So while we unfortunately will not be decorating for the holidays this year because the closing date on the condo is for mid-December. Getting more stuff out just to re-pack doesn't sound appealing to me at all. BUT I am figuring out how we can do little things still to celebrate the holiday season and maybe even decorate a bit.

I love advent calendars and both the big boys are old enough now to participate this year. I think it's a great compromise to our situation. And ive been searching for a calendar that I love for a couple years now & been unsuccessful. i don't like the idea of just handing out candy that's what halloween is for so we'll be doing lots of crafts & activities. the things we will do for advent will help decorate this place but still be disposable. We'll learn more about Jesus & the true Christmas story, but also introduce and explain who Santa, the elves & Rudolph are. I don't want my kids to be the ones who burst the bubble of those that belied in Santa.

I'm finding myself pretty excited actually. Decorating for the holidays, making my home cozy & warm...but with less. perfect!

And once I nail down what each day of the advent calendar holds I'll post it. For now enjoy the awesome advent calendar I just bought from NaptimeDiaries. go check it out!

and today i'm thankful for:

• Just the right advent calendar!
• That I have stuff if I want it...but in a storage into & not cluttering my house.
• The chance to create traditions & memories for my boys.