CRAZY NEW PROJECT

I have decided since I want to learn to make my own furniture so that I can have what I want and the quality I want I am starting with Jackson's bed.  Yes, I know it sounds like a lot of work but I don't think it will be.  I am excited to see it finished.  A Big thank you to Ana White for her inspiration and project design I am going to make it happen. 

Here it is in all of its wonderful glory.

I even got bedding from Target that has the plaid but brighter blues and reds.

I think Jackson will love it and I hope he can one day say, "my mom made that for me".  Look for more post coming soon.  You can find the design on Ana White's site here

WOW...TIME TRULY FLIES

Here I sit in amazement that a month has gone by and I have not posted a blog.  I look back and a few words come to mind, thankful, busy and optimistic.  

Lets do THANKFUL first....
Thankful for my husband's new job, for the unexpected bonus for each of us, for the paying down our debt so we are closer to buying our house, for a beautiful Christmas (and Christmas tree), for family, for the success of my Etsy store and most for each other. It has been a long year and alot has changed.  Just this morning as I was dropping my son off at my Mother n Law's she said that God's word to her for the New Year was "change".  I think that really applies.  I feel good about 2013 but then again I feel good about every new start of the year so I can't say that is truly different.  BUT.. I do feel this is the year to finally shed those unwanted pounds and to accomplish alot of goals financially that we have been setting out to do for awhile.  So I think that might cover THANKFUL and OPTIMISTIC.  haha.

BUSY.....
I think this is the word most used in my blog.  It was my first December having an Etsy shop and to my surprise I was Busy.  But I also have a full time job which is something most blog and Etsy owners do not have.  It is hard balancing my life and to be honest my husband gets the shaft most of the time. Poor Guy.  I hope to spend more alone time with him in 2013, ESPECIALLY since we will be married for 5 years!!!  It may seem like a little number to some, but it is a long road for us.  Alot has happened good and bad and we are still here.  I want to be very happy and proud about that. 

So CHRISTMAS 2012 rundown....
Jackson to my surprise enjoyed the unwrapping present fiasco.  With each tiny rip to uncover tools, trucks and trains it was followed up with the words..."open".  He was adorable.  This year we made Jackson a tent for his room or reading nook.  Depends on what Jackson decides to do with it. ha!  And we are in the process of changing his room from Nursery to little boy room.  Sad face.  BUT I think he will be happy with the change and the new bed I AM GOING TO MAKE HIM!! WHAT?!?!?! Crazy..haha
I do have pictures and video to share, but our new computer is coming Thursday, YAY!!! so they will have to be posted in a separate/special blog.  :) 

So I am excited about a book I got for Christmas.  Ana Whites's book.  I call her the DIY Queen.  The husband thinks that is funny.  She has really inspired me to live my dream of building furniture and things for my home. So I started out slow, built some shelves this weekend.  Yeah they are awesome.  Pictures?  Why yes, yes I do.  They will also be in that special post AFTER the new FANCY computer arrives. 

All in all, we are happy.  May not be happy physically but we are very happy about what is to come.  I pray for whomever reads this blog that you know that we don't claim to do this on our own, God brought us to this point.  Why although we don't claim to be perfect or right with everything we do, we ultimately thank God for everything we have and will do.  Be encouraged that everything is in his time and plan even if it is heartbreak and hard times. 

~Steph

SLEEP IS OVERATED?.....WE WILL SEE

So I thought about my blog last night and said to myself, I think its been awhile since my last post.  One of my goals for a year is making sure I continue to write stuff on here so that Jackson can look back on it and know me when I still had a working brain. HA! 

Thanksgiving came and went and I still have not decorated for Christmas.  I have so many ideas for my shop and just not enough time to complete them and so far it is taking all of my available thinking brain space.  I reorganized my shop this past weekend to make it more user friendly so that hopefully I can create some stock so that most items will be ready for shipment as soon as ordered.   
We will see...

Jackson has figured out how to escape his crib so its time for a toddler bed. Is it ok that I am not ready for selfish reasons?  Like the early 7:30 am wake up call on the weekends saying "hi mom".  Yeah, I am not ready.

Oh I also cleaned off a spot for my newly/used acquired elliptical that is hopefully going to finally allow me to shed these unwanted pounds. We will see....

I wish had some sort of pictures to post of the boy or even the shop, but sadly I do not because that would require some more time on my part.  HA!  But I do have some from last month of my house before the "tornado" named Us went through.  And as always visit me at my Etsy store

Enjoy....

A YEAR OF THANKSGIVING AND ANSWERED PRAYER

Do you know that feeling when you know that God has answered your prayer? Or when you work toward a goal for so long to finally see the accomplishment?  Well put those together and you will know how I feel today. 

God has been very faithful to us that I had to share.  It all started 3 years ago, before Jackson was a thought (to us).   I believed that God spoke very clearly to me that Will was supposed to be in Law enforcement.  So while he was working at Wal-Mart and very unhappy I went to him one night and said “we NEED to make this happen, that is where God wants you.”  So we began looking into sponsorship because it would have been too expensive otherwise.  Will’s first pick has ALWAYS been St Lucie County.  I mean every since I knew him he has had a blank application for St Lucie and never filled it out!  BUT we were told they were not sponsoring any new officers, actually we were told NO ONE was sponsoring, but we were only looking for Corrections sponsoring at this point which is basically his foot in the door.  So we told ourselves, NO, this is where God wants us and who is anyone to say what we can or can’t do! 

This was September of 2009.  In April of 2010 just shortly after we announced we were pregnant with Jackson, we got a random tip that the State prison here in Indian River County was hiring AND get this, sponsoring new correction officers!!!  Will went that next day to pick up an application and meet the recruiter.  The recruiter took one look at him and said, “You have to apply, we want you here”.  He even then went on to say that he should have the application turned in that week because he was transferring out and would want to see his application and try and push it through.  WHAT?!  Crazy right?  Well it happened.  While we waited over the next couple of months and to be given a hire date, Will struggled with Wal-Mart.  While not wanting to be there and having calls from the state, saying it would be a few more weeks, it was hard to stay positive.

Then, July 2009 while at a very bad day at Wal-Mart and right before his boss was coming in to give him a d-day (close to termination in Wal-Mart terms) He got the call from the state, “your hired”.  He gave his 2 weeks and said his goodbyes.  Sometimes our God is a last minute God. 

So the story doesn’t end there. 

While starting the new job and me being pregnant and on bed rest, then the hospital bed rest, Will started the academy October 2010.  Some people might say, “Didn’t you have Jackson Oct 2010” and yes, you would be correct.  All I remember from that time is being REALLY tired.  As Will was not able to even take one day off and only had the weekends, times were hard.  But you know what? We made it, and Jackson could not be any more perfect.  So Will passed the academy with flying colors.  Of course and he got his certification in March 2011. 

Things were going really well and Will was fulfilling his two year commitment that the State puts on giving you your certification.  Then in January 2012 we got the news that The State Prison of Indian River County was one of 7 in the State of Florida that was closing their doors due to cut backs.  We along with the other families we had gotten to know took this as a huge hit. There was talk about far away transfers and NO transfers at all.  With not know what to expect I told Will that this like other things comes as no surprise to God. 

He would not bring you somewhere and drop you off only to forget or not be aware of what was going to happen.  We could only do our part by applying with other agencies and praying that God could open a door. 

In June 2012, Will was transferred to Okeechobee.  We were in a bit of luck in the sense that other officers that lived close by were able to carpool and share in the cost of gas.  Because at almost $4 a gallon and a 2hr drive everyday it would have killed us!  It was a rough road for awhile and sometimes we were going without things just to pay for gas, but you know what?  We made it. 

Here is the really awesome part.  In July of 2012 we got the call that Will had an appointment with the oral board for St Lucie County.  What is that?  Is like an interview but with 4 people, consisting of human resources, a captain and others.  That may not be exact but you get the idea. They are all there to ask one person a bunch of have to be honest kind of questions.  So the appointment was scheduled for a Friday in July and Will got dressed up including jacket and tie and made the drive.  Only to find out that the lady in the human resources gave him the wrong day and it was actually Thursday, as in the day before.  Ugh….. Will was so hurt, feeling as though he missed his chance to be where he wanted to be, to not be driving 2 hours every day for work.  It was rough.  But guess what? We made it!  I told Will again, this comes as NO surprise to God.  He is faithful and this DEFINITLY happened for a reason.  But it was hard. 

THEN…..September 2012, we got the call for our oral board for St Lucie County and Will nailed it!!  They continued the LONG process of background checks, neighbor interviews and psych tests.  And while that was happening, Indian River County called for an Oral board appointment!!! That’s right, he nailed that one too!!  They were continuing the process as well.  The week of Jackson’s 2^nd birthday, the week he took off to spend with Jackson was filled with Psych interviews, polygraph tests and health tests for both agencies.  When Will and I discussed which one he wanted, he was unsure at that point.  But I knew in my heart where he really wanted to be but told him that this time, it was his decision and his alone to make, not mine, or Jacksons.  So he told me that the first person to call and give him a hire date was the one he was going with.  Then on October 31^st, he got the call. 

WELCOME TO ST LUCIE COUNTY!!  November 19^th!!  Finally 3 years in the making as I ironed my husband’s green polyester sheriff’s uniform I cried to myself tears of joy. And as I watched him get dressed this morning and after he put that star on his uniform, I prayed, a prayer of thankfulness and safety.  I thanked my God for being so thankful to us and to my husband and seeing his heart’s desire.

QUICK POST

What a busy weekend!!

We had 3 Birthday parties!!! Happy Birthday to John Alex, Madison and our best bud Quinn!! I will be posting more pics later but wanted to share this gold gem I came across while editing photos.  Its 3:30 now and I am still working and still even though my little guy is 2 I can’t help but count down the minutes to when I can leave work and pick him up.  He truly is the coolest kid I know and I am so lucky to be his “mom”.  Love you baby boy!!

THE ULTIMATE TRAIN PARTY

 It came and went.  I loved that I did a train party for the little guy and he loved it, but I don't think I will do it again.  Me along with hubby and some friends have decided on Sea World for next year for the little guy and his best bud.  I will let some picture do the talking, but I wanted to mention for a later date me if I read this, yes, you did cook a double batch of beans and COMPLETELY forget to put them out. Well played.

 

He ended the day with some alone play time with his best bud Quinn.  Jackson's favorite thing by far was the trackless train.  As one kid put it, "i love Jackson's birthday party!".  That in its self makes it ALL worth it.

ITS BEEN GOOD BUSY

SO BUSY!  We are busy preparing for Jackson's 2nd birthday party this week.  AND on top of that the husband has had two really good job offers to bring him closer to home instead of driving 1 hour each way.  AND my shop on Etsy, Rustic Homemade, has had a sudden surge of customers.  Thank you so much Etsy buyers, you have no idea how much I love and thank you for not only giving me business but allowing me to do what I love.  So I think the statement when it "rains it pours" could apply here, but in a positive way.  

I also wanted to make sure I make a note about Jackson's birthday day yesterday because..well...I want him to read about it one day JUST in case I forget everything!

I started by taking the day off from work.  Woke up, made him blueberry pancakes...Ummm..yum.  I used Bisquick mix and jiffy blueberry muffin mix, added some egg beaters and water and once again...YUM! 

Then Hubby had to work on his gift from Nana and Pap and I am happy to report it is completed. After probably a million pieces and an manual that resembles a large novel. 

 

 The Cabin

The Hubby actually finished it with the assistance of Pap while we went and got haircuts and saw the Doctor for Jackson's 2 year follow up.  And when we came home he was quick to check it out. 

HI MOM!

Then we went to the mall for a late lunch early dinner.

THEN...A trip to the Arcade because Jackson saw the motorcycle.  

Dad was MORE than willing.

We also decided to buy Jackson a fish as his Birthday present to be our pet, since I do not have time for a dog and a cat is completely out of the question.  We didn't name him/her yet but for now we call it "Fish".

Then the rest is just boring and consist of me working on Etsy orders.  No, there are no pictures of me in my work clothes people, I know, its heart breaking.  There will be more posts next week as we are also dealing with a Category 2 hurricane named "Sandy" that is going to brush along our coast and the last time that happened we had some Tornado's touch down.  YIKES!