June Projects

June has been quite the busy month!  (hence...brief hiatus from blogging :))

Here are some of the projects that've been going on around our house that will explain my recent retreat from blog-world.

#1. Hand painted signs to raise money for the AMBER Adoption Fund at Grace Church, Memphis, TN
I was amazed at just how many people have been so supportive in this and ordering signs as gifts or for that special place in their homes.  You choose the style, colors, size, and distressing.  85% of first round goes to the fund to support church members in their adoptions.  The Lord sent us a wonderful babysitter who comes once a week from 9-2 so that this mama can work on them without neglecting my first responsibilities as wife/mother.

Traditional example - calligraphy script

Example board with color and distressing options

Contemporary example - variety of fonts in a Hatch Show Print sorta style

Our basement floor 

 #2. Backyard Bible Clubs with Covenant Baptist Church 
I got to do crafts!  For two weeks in June we went to different neighborhoods and set up shop inviting the kids over for 2 hours of Bible lesson, songs, memory verse and prizes, crafts, snack, and games.  It was awesome meeting these kids and spending time with them hearing God's Word.  These pictures are from the first week.  Hubs took a hit for the team eating fast food a lot, but then he got to bond with William keeping him for me while I could go.  Ministry is a great thing, but we have to remind ourselves it's not going to be super easy!

Making cakes and party hats out of felt because God throws a CELEBRATION over sinners who repent #prodigalson

My good friend Rhonda from church

and my new friend Elyse was there with her adorable kids Faith and Simon

Our living room floor Thursday night.  Like I always told my students... ya gotta be willing to make a mess to make a masterpiece.

This craft was for the parable of the wheat thinking about how God will "sort out" those for His kingdom who have been given a new heart.  Kids created a Go Fish game and tried to catch the fish with the good heart and the week's memory verse.

#3. Jack's watercolor
My best friend Steph had her little boy this month, and this was the artwork he got for his room.  It was pretty hilarious brainstorming "boy" images with my husband, who kept saying weapons should be in there.  I did not think those would go well for baby boy's finished piece (lucky for Steph).  Steph actually came up with this adorable concept of the boy doodles in a Shel Silverstein kinda style, which was so fun to work with.

#4. Baking
We have been blessed with lots of family and friends visiting us this month as well.  So some baking was in order.  The fun part is making it pretty.  And licking the icing bowl until you go into sugar coma.

These were made using a large round decorators tip in an icing bag... but you could just take your regular icing, put it into a gallon ziploc, snip the corner of bag with scissors, twist end and squeeze.

Trisha Yearwood's Key Lime Cake.  I subbed 1.5 c applesauce for the oil and it was still delicious.  Cream cheese icing.

most. moist. cake. ever.  Try it!

#5. Yardwork
Our front yard has been needing some love for some time now.  And with summer fast-approaching, we needed to get to it or wait until the fall.  So we borrowed a couple of pick axes and started the road with no return...

We were SO sore the next day...

HEEV...HO!! 

His royal adorableness enjoying the scenery and relaxing with his milk after a snack.

Doing hard work is just more fun when you can work with others (aka bribe them with food to help you!!!) :)  Our good friends the Lixeys came over to help shovel out tons of lava rock from the beds.

Eating dinner on the deck

Nicki (due with baby no. 2 next month!) Sawyer and Brian

Sawyer loved to play in daddy's truck while watching the "men" shovel rocks

This took a while

Daddy son shot

Finished product...not too rewarding is it?

We girls stayed inside baking cookies

Yum.