Archives for May 2014

A Mom’s Heart

May 19, 2014 by Patti 2 Comments

I’m afraid my posts this next week won’t entail much in the way of DIY or making OldThingsNew, unless you count raising children as a DIY project!

This Mom’s Heart is overflowing with joy as my youngest daughter Bethany graduated from Dental School on Friday. What an amazing girl, this daughter of mine. Four years as a Huskey at The University of Washington and four more as a Trojan and The University of Southern California (she is sure to be conflicted now with the rivalry between these two great schools)!

What went into this road she traveled to becoming “Doctor B”? Long hours studying, poor nutrition, lack of sleep, letting loose with friends after exams, more study, evening hours in clinic, more exams, shoes wearing out, no money for a school annual but too sweet to ask us to buy her one (we did), naps between classes on the dental fraternity’s couch, learning to work on “live” people, breaks with Bro at Rosie’s Dog Beach, sharing the experience with a great boyfriend named Dave, hanging out with dental school BFFs, guts, determination, SISU!

And on our side as parents? MUCH prayer! We are so proud.

Here she is, Dr. B, robes quickly shed after the two-hour graduation ceremony on a nearly 100 degree day! We’re MELTING . . . !

This girl of mine is beautiful, inside and out. Many of her friends told me so this weekend as they spoke to me of her good heart. I loved hearing that. Though she has come far and has a bright future ahead of her it is that heart that will bring her true success in life.

So what now? We’re going to Disneyland!!!

Blessings,

I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!

Sunday:

UnderTheTableAndDreaming, TheDIYShowoff, TheTablescaper,LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, SuburbsMama,

ThreeMangoSeeds, NiftyThriftyThings,

SundaySoiree,

Monday:

IShouldBeMoppingTheFloor, ModVintageLife, TheDedicatedHouse, UncommonDesigns, WestFurnitureRevival, BoogieboardCottage, HuckleberryLove, GiveMeTheGoodsMonday, TwelveOEight,CarrieThisHome, Dwellings, AnExtraordinaryDay,

InspireMeMonday,

Tuesday:

HomeStoriesAtoZ, AStrollThruLife, Elizabeth&Co, CoastalCharm, CozyLittleHouse, NaptimeCreations, CedarHillFarmhouse, KatheWithAnE,NotJustAHousewife,
VMG206, TuesdaysAtOurHome,

TwirlAndTakeABow, TheWinthropChronicles, WeCallItJunkin’

Wednesday:

SavvySouthernStyle, The36thAvenue, IvyAndElephants, DIYByDesign, TheStyleSisters, AdornedFromAbove,Timewashed,

SomedayCrafts,GreenWillowPond, Fishtail Cottage, TheCityFarmhouse

Thursday:

NoMinimalistHere, ImpartingGrace,EmbracingChange, HaveADailyCupOfMrsOlson, BeyondThePicketFence, AllThingsWithPurpose, MyRepurposedLife, FromMyFrontPorchToYours, ADelightsomeLife, AKAWeekendRetreat

Friday:

MyRomanticHome, FrenchCountryCottage, MissMustardSeed, ThirtyHandmadeDays, CommonGround, TheShabbyNest, LizMarie, Redoux, JenniferRizzo, TheCharmOfHome, RootedInThyme, TickledPinkTimesTwo, TheDedicatedHouseAnythingBlueFriday,

IHeartNapTime, DIYVintageChic, FindingFabulous

Saturday:

FunkyJunkInteriors, SixSistersStuff, It’sOverflowing, BeDifferentActNormal, TooMuchTimeOnMyHands,

OneMoreTimeEvents, SayG’DaySaturday

Shades of Green and a New Thing!

May 13, 2014 by Patti 14 Comments

I have a story to tell and something new to reveal, so come with me on a walk through my neighborhood.

I begin my walk out the gravel drive of our lakeside home in search of Shades of Green.

As much as I thrill to the riotous color of spring and summer blooms I am soothed by the many shades of green found in nature.

Green signifies new life, new beginnings.

Have you ever heard of taking a prayer walk? I’ve been doing a lot of praying lately as I’ve been seeking God’s will in our lives.

There are many shades of green along our rutted gravel road, once lined with old fishing cottages . . .

. . . like this tiny log cabin with it’s “living” roof . . .

. . . or the verdant grass in the yard of this vacant summer cottage.

Golden greens glowing with sunshine.

Woodland greenery sprouting up from an old log.

The shiny leaves of an Oregon Grape.

Snowballs tumbling over an old fence.

Then off our “country” road into the paved suburban neighborhood that surrounds us, where my camera finds a beauty less wild.

As I walk I talk to God and thank Him for this place He has given me to call home.

I have loved living beside our peaceful lake. Our home is not large but it more than I could’ve ever hoped for.

If you’ve seen Our Story you’ll know that it is more than we ever deserved.

Now we’ve been called to a new place which I shared about in my post Life Interrupted.

OH, you just have to see the pictures!

We’ve been called to a place far, FAR away!

I finish my circle through the neighborhood and end up back at my house where I capture the view from the top of my driveway . . . ancient evergreen trees against the backdrop of a misty Mount Rainier.

My own grass so green (this time of year) as my camera peeks through the side path down to the lake.

The path to my front door is filled with shades of green, so fresh in morning’s light.

Haha! Even the fountain is beginning to turn a little green!

I’ve loved this old . . . OLD apple tree which has only once born fruit in the time we’ve been here,

but has been a haven for the birds that Mr. OTN loves to watch.

Green so beautiful after the rain.

Home again, at least for a few more months. Then the long trek across the country to Greenville, South Carolina.

Yes, I will be sad to leave this place I’ve called home. But something about the name of the city that will be our new hometown leads me to believe that my camera and I will be spending a lot of time together as we settle in.

Excitement mixed with sadness but no fear of what is in store for us.

“Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it?” - Isaiah 43:18-19

When the Lord asks, “Shall you not know it?” He is saying, “Do you want to open yourself to My new thing? Are you willing to embrace it?” (Link to full article HERE)

What about you? ARE YOU being called to a new thing? If so, I’m excited for you too!

Blessings to you,

I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!

Sunday:

UnderTheTableAndDreaming, TheDIYShowoff, TheTablescaper,LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, SuburbsMama,

ThreeMangoSeeds, NiftyThriftyThings,

SundaySoiree,

Monday:

IShouldBeMoppingTheFloor, ModVintageLife, TheDedicatedHouse, UncommonDesigns, WestFurnitureRevival, BoogieboardCottage, HuckleberryLove, GiveMeTheGoodsMonday, TwelveOEight, CarrieThisHome, Dwellings, AnExtraordinaryDay,

InspireMeMonday,

Tuesday:

HomeStoriesAtoZ, AStrollThruLife, Elizabeth&Co, CoastalCharm, CozyLittleHouse, NaptimeCreations, CedarHillFarmhouse, KatheWithAnE,NotJustAHousewife,
VMG206, TuesdaysAtOurHome,

TwirlAndTakeABow, TheWinthropChronicles, WeCallItJunkin’

Wednesday:

SavvySouthernStyle, The36thAvenue, IvyAndElephants, DIYByDesign, TheStyleSisters, AdornedFromAbove, Timewashed,

SomedayCrafts, GreenWillowPond, Fishtail Cottage, TheCityFarmhouse

Thursday:

NoMinimalistHere, ImpartingGrace, EmbracingChange, HaveADailyCupOfMrsOlson, BeyondThePicketFence, AllThingsWithPurpose, MyRepurposedLife, FromMyFrontPorchToYours, ADelightsomeLife, AKAWeekendRetreat

Friday:

IHeartNapTime, DIYVintageChic, FindingFabulous

Saturday:

FunkyJunkInteriors, SixSistersStuff, It’sOverflowing, BeDifferentActNormal, TooMuchTimeOnMyHands,

OneMoreTimeEvents, SayG’DaySaturday

Happy Mother’s Day - Sweet and Bittersweet

May 11, 2014 by Patti 2 Comments

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the beautiful, wonderful, and loving moms I’ve known throughout my life.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mom’s who’ve been less than perfect, who’ve made mistakes, who may even have regrets, but have never ceased to love their children ferociously.

Happy Mother’s Day to the sweet moms, the loud moms, the kind moms, the funny moms, the helpful moms, the irritable moms and the nurturing moms.

Happy Mother’s Day to the moms who sometimes become overwhelmed with all that life lays upon them . . .

. . . but still find the time to focus on the ones who need them most.

Happy Mother’s Day to the moms who are no longer with us . . .

. . . but have left their mark on our lives forever.

Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Proverbs 31:-28-30

Mother’s Day Blessings,

Life Interrupted

May 1, 2014 by Patti 13 Comments

Reedy River Falls at Greenville, SC

How long has it been since I wrote in a post that I couldn’t believe the life I was living,in a wonderful home, a great community, with the best of friends . . .

doing the things that I love to do creatively and sharing with Mr. OTN in a wonderful ministry opportunity in our church?

But life doesn’t always stay the same. Sometimes we find ourselves in the midst of a “Life Interruped.”

A week ago I was at home in Olympia, Washington, freshening up my laundry room with a new coat of paint.

The telephone rang and the news was received that the company Mr. OTN had applied to for a new job wanted to fly him out for an interview.

A View Down Main Street, Greenville, SC

Today I am in beautiful Greenville, S C. and wondering where life might be taking us next.

We flew out of SeaTac Monday night, arrived here early Tuesday morning, picked up a car, and headed to our hotel where we requested an early check in.

Minutes later, there was Mr. OTN, quickly freshening up while I pressed the suit bag creases out of his new white shirt and helped him decide whether it would be the blue tie or the red tie. Then off to an all day interview!

The Arch Waterfall at Greenville, S C

This is one gorgeous city!

Great shopping, fine dining and plenty of coffee shops. Do you know they even have a Coffee Street? VERY important to this Seattle girl.

Museums, theater, jazz and blues.

Some of the friendliest people on God’s green earth . . . even nice enough to humor me when I tried to get them to say they liked my Seahawks!

Downtown Greenville

The red “power tie” did it’s job, bringing forth the offer of the job.

And we’ve been “sleeping on it” for two nights.

One more day here to explore a bit more and then back home tomorrow.

We are having some very strong feelings about what we should do but the decision isn’t final yet.

Life interrupted for a week . . . or possibly for much, much longer . . .

Prayers appreciated today.