Uncategorized – Page 5 – All the things

Camper Living, Family, My Story, Uncategorized

If you give a mouse popcorn

September 26, 2016December 29, 2016 Jessica

Everyday seems like a new adventure in the camper. I discover something daily. Now, not all of the things I discover are monumental or worth documenting, but a few are. Lets see, at times, there is the realization that the camper is really small. When you are trying to get ready for church and all the little people want to play and run, but there is really only a small space to do that, and you can’t send them outside or their Sunday best will be a mess. So in the end, mom looses her mind and yells at everyone because she can’t seem to get ready when little people keep running her over while she tries to curl her hair.

Or maybe the lesson of “if you give a mouse popcorn….” is one I should share….. Have you ever been in a camper? If you have, you will know that the sleeping quarters are close to the kitchen because everything is close! In our case, the stove sits on the wall to our bedroom. From my bed to the stove is literally 2 steps away. A few nights ago I woke up to a strange sound. I couldn’t identify it right away. I sat up and listened and thought one of my kids was out of bed for sure. I used my handy iPhone flashlight to shine into the living room and no one was up. By then the sound was gone so I laid back down. As I settled back into bed I hear the noise again and I suddenly realize that sound is likely a critter. My heart starts racing a little bit because I am scared of critters. I slowly slide out of bed and creep around the corner with my flashlight on. I see that there is a bag of Stirred popcorn (it is covered in sugar) that was upright against the wall when I went to bed, is now laying on its side and moved over. I knew then that there was for sure a critter. I jumped back in bed fast and debated what to do. Where is my brave husband? If you have read this blog before you know where he is- at the fire station! After what felt like an eternity of listening to that MOUSE eat through the bag of popcorn, I finally caved and called Joel.

What was he going to do? I don’t have a clue but I needed another adult to talk me off the ledge. “what are you afraid of?” UMMMM Hello? There is a mouse, a few feet away from me, eating a bag of popcorn. “I know but what do you think is going to happen?” All I am picturing is Ratatouille, you know that cute rat cartoon, and I am picturing that mouse calling all his friends to come eat the popcorn with him. I don’t know what i think might happen but I just want the mouse to go away. My sweet husband suggests I go get the bag of popcorn and throw it out. No way is that happening. I just can’t.

So, apparently camper living comes with friends. Friends I don’t care for. Friends I would like to leave. And if you give a mouse popcorn, he will probably stick around to see what else you have, in case you are wondering.

Look, I live in a camper with 7 people and at least one mouse. Life is a mess most days. Please don’t be offended if I invite myself over or show up unannounced at your house. I know it is rude, but I am just asking for grace in advance. If you feel so inclined, just invite us over before I show up at your doorstep without warning. I am normally all about bringing gifts of homemade bread and desserts as thank you for having us, but since my camper oven over cooks in one 1/2 and undercooks on the other, I don’t know if you will want to eat anything I bring, so I will spare you that.

So here I am, 5 weeks into camper living, thinking to myself, When is this house going to be done?

Today at church, I had the sweetest lady tell me “well you just have it all together!” In case it appears that way, I will first say I absolutely do not! The other day I took this picture of myself (yes, a selfie) and I thought Wow, I actually look pretty good right now! Then about 5 minutes later I found BBQ sauce in my hair. Moral of the story, not everything looks as it appears. Ok friends, don’t forget to high five your mommy friends you see out in public with their kids. It really is work to get there! Happy Monday!

Camper Living, Encouragement, Family, My Story, Uncategorized

Camper Fever

September 19, 2016December 29, 2016 Jessica

fullsizerender

Camper Fever- just like cabin fever, you know, but for a camper.

It started with a stomach bug. Some how this bug managed to strike me when the husband is at the fire department. (actually, everything bad happens when he is at the fire station, I bet any fire fighters wife will agree!) So I am sick something awful, trying to nurse the baby and keep up but I have no strength left in me. I guess the good news is the camper is small so the bathroom is close! After a few days of being in the camper because the stomach bug was being passed around, it rained. Maybe some people are excited for rain. Me, not so much! Rain means the kids are inside. the tiny camper. ALL.DAY.LONG

By the time Joel is home for the day, I am in a unique mood. I remember sitting on the couch in a daze staring off into no where land as I hear the baby crying, a 2 year old jumping on my back, a 4 year old dramatically telling me why she should change clothes, and 2 preteens impatiently waiting to get to where they were going. It was my first glimpse of camper reality. All 7 of us, in this tiny space, all fighting for what they need. In that moment I thought no way this will ever get better. I will have to live this way forever! The inner drama I was creating was close the the 4 year old’s drama- unrealistic and ridiculous, but none the less, I just sat there in my moment.

*Just for fun, when the dramatic 4 year old was complaining about her inability to change outfits, I decided to sing a little song “you can’t always get what you want….. but if you try sometimes, you might find, you get what you need” With arms crossed, head turned slightly sideways, she replies in a very sarcastic tone “thanks for that, mom” If you need me, I will be trying to figure out how to parent a 4 year old teenager.

In the mix of my camper reality there is camper cooking. I am not sure if we got a reject oven or if maybe camper oven’s are just wonky. I can’t figure ours out. Sometimes it takes forever for stuff to cook. Like the time says 10 minutes but it takes 25 minutes. But this particular day, 8 minutes into the 29 minute cook time, I smell burning. I open the oven to see that 3 of the 7 personal pizza’s in the oven have a burning crust. How do I reconfigure that? Trying to save the pizza’s by quickly pulling them from the oven, one falls between the grates making a melty cheesy mess that quickly turned into a burning cheesy mess. I have about given up on the camper oven. Not to mention I have to get half way in the oven to light the pilot every time I need to use it. Sounds like next time we want pizza, its Dominos!

Everyday someone asks me at least one of two questions. “How is life in the camper?” or “How is life with 5 kids?” Not sure if people are cheering me on or secretly hoping I have some really good story to tell. Maybe both! You want the truth? I have no clue which aspect of my life makes it feel overwhelming right now, but life is overwhelming. If you ask how life in the camper is, it really isn’t that bad! There have been very few moments I that the camper, by itself, makes me wonder what on earth we are doing. If you ask me how life with 5 kids is I will tell you good for the most part. Adding #5 hasn’t really shaken things up too terribly much. BUT when we add, less sleep + nursing baby + 2 teen/preteens who are busy and need to be taken everywhere + building a house + 2 & 4 year olds + the rest of life I am not listing, I am overwhelmed some. So if you see me out with all the kids doing all the things, my hair is fixed and I am smiling, just high five me and know that even then, I am probably feeling like a hot mess. If you see me out in the same situation but my hair is a mess, I have spit up on my shirt, and I look frazzled, high five me any way because I am showing you my hot mess!

Family, home sweet home, My Story, Uncategorized

Home Sweet Home: part 1

September 13, 2016September 13, 2016 Jessica

We have just gotten started with our house and we already get lots of questions! If you haven’t ever built a house the details are probably pretty foreign. I have decided to blog the process in sections so those curious minds can see and understand a little more and so I can look back at our timeline!

Building a house is something that we have been dreaming about for a long time. We have been looking for land and trying to find that perfect place to call home. In May we made an offer on what is now our beautiful land.

The first week of July we closed on that land!

The first thing that had to be done was pick a building site and start clearing and getting the pad ready. This was happening around the end of July and first of August. After this the footings were dug and poured. Joel did all of this with help from friends and family. fullsizerender

Then we had to take a small break to have a baby! We welcomed baby #5 on August 9, 2016

Block work was done on August 19th and since we had just had a new baby Joel decided to contract out the block work so this was the first part in the building process that Joel didn’t do himself. fullsizerender-1

Next there is subfloor and again Joel did this himself with the help of some amazing friends! This was happening at the end of August.

First week of September the decking was put on. Once again, friends and family helped Joel knock this out!

Here comes everyones favorite part! The framing! It goes up fast, (1 week) and so everyone suddenly sees the shape of a house and it feels like things are going to be happening quick. Good news is, it is another step done, bad news is, you won’t see a ton of changes in the next few steps! This first picture is day 1 of framing.

I can’t remember if this is day 2 or 3

Day 4

Day 6 framing is done! We did contract out the framing and if you need a framer let us know and we will send a great one your way! This gets us current in construction because this happened today!

Joel up in the rafters!

Joel and I in the window that will be in the dinning room.

Harvey in his room. He gets so excited to go in there and tells anyone who will listen that it is his room!

The girls in their room. All 3 girls will share a room at the request of Jade. Don’t worry, they have a massive closet!

Kamden reluctantly posing in his window. He has helped with every step of this house so far. I am so proud of the work he has put into it!

That is it so far! We have really just gotten started and have a long way to go but we are excited to have the bones of the house! Joel works so hard everyday doing something, even if it isn’t noticeable. There is always something to be done at a construction site and when you are building yourself you have to be willing to do all the little things (that can become big things) like clean up! This house is being built with love labor for sure!

Camper Living, Family, My Story, Uncategorized

Just jumping in

September 5, 2016September 5, 2016 Jessica

With our first 2 weeks down in the camper, there are few things I have to note. Let me start by saying I went into this somewhat blindly. I had never stayed in a camper until the first night here. I really had no idea what to expect. If you are reading this and you frequently stay in a camper you may roll your eyes at some of my findings, but for this newbie, there were a few things I wasn’t ready for.

It is bedtime and we are all nestled in our little bed, when all of the sudden the entire camper is shaking and I am sitting up in bed asking if someone is breaking in. Joel informs me one of our kids rolled over in their bed. oh. all that shaking for a shift in position? well, ok then!
The toilet room is extremely small. I mean, I know you aren’t suppose to be doing a lot of moving around but goodness. Also, it kind of feels like a port-a-potty, which doesn’t feel fabulous. I am getting use to it now but will be extra happy to have normal toilets in the new house!
When your water is ran from a hose to the camper, when you take a shower it really makes you feel like you are showering from the garden hose. Essentially, you are, but just inside. You know how water smells coming out of the hose outside? Or is that just me and my overly sensitive nose? Any way, it is a thing, at least for me!
Speaking of shower, when you have 7 people who need to be bathed, and your husband says “oh by the way, you will have to wait at least 20 minutes between each shower because the hot water tank isn’t very big” you realize that showers will now have to be scheduled and no one is allowed to get dirty unless their scheduled shower is next.
While blow drying my hair in the middle of the day, all electricity goes off. I realize I have thrown a breaker. After I threw the breaker 3 more times I realized I wasn’t going to get to blow dry my hair. Apparently when it is 98 degrees outside the camper is working really hard to stay cool and can’t handle my blow dryer. My shower is now scheduled first thing before it gets hot.

It is funny how we get use to certain things and even though there really isn’t anything to complain about living here (we have a roof over our head, electricity, running water, indoor potty), but it still takes some getting use to. I am so thankful for this opportunity and right now I am welcoming the challenges the camper brings. (ask me again in a month or two!) Now if I could just get excited the challenges that the 2 & 4 year old are currently bringing…….

We have had so many people ask us how it is going living in the camper and I must say that so far, it really hasn’t been bad. It has only been 2 weeks of staying here and we have a long ways to go still. I am happy to have less to clean and I am enjoying the simplicity living in the camper has brought.

Here’s to another week of camper living, coffee, & Jesus!

Camper Living, Family, Uncategorized

Adventure Awaits!

August 29, 2016 Jessica

It has been a very long time since I sat down to write. I miss it because it is so therapeutic to me! A lot has happened since I blogged last. We have started a new adventure and I thought this was a great time for me to get back to the blog.

Entrepreneurs, parents to 5 kids, homeschooling, hobby farmers (this is on the back burner but will be happening again), we are dreamers for sure. For the last year we have been searching for land and finally found the perfect piece! In July we closed on the land and started the process of building our new house! Our lives seem to be ever changing as we create new chapters and sometimes that seems overwhelming and chaotic.

But just when you thought we couldn’t get any crazier…… We decided it would be best for our family to move while we build the house. So with our 2 week old brand new baby and other 4 kiddo’s in tow, we moved…. into a camper! Yep, you read that right! We moved our family of 7 into a camper on our land.

We have been asked “Are you crazy? Why would you do that?” When we made the offer of the land, we had not planned to move into a camper. But as time went on and we were getting closer to starting the house, I begain thinking about all the time that Joel would be here working on the house and we would be 25 minutes away at our house. I would be trying to drive back and forth to take dinner to Joel and make sure he didn’t need anything. I knew I would be trying to keep up with our big house with 5 kids (one of which would be a newborn) and I knew we would feel torn between the two properties. When I came to Joel and suggested the camper idea he was shocked and excited because he thought it was a great idea but couldn’t believe I would be willing to do it!

In the end we knew that building a house ourselves would present plenty of obstacles and that either way, staying in our house or moving to a camper, we would be challenged. We just decided that having us all in one location was the challenge that would work best for us!

So if you are up for some funny stories, keep reading because I plan to try to blog this adventure regularly. Life inside a camper with 7 people living in it is guaranteed to never be dull!

Here is our Home Sweet Home, for now!

Cleft Lip, Uncategorized

Harvey 18 monts later

February 3, 2016 Jessica

**This post is a duplicate of one I posted over on my An Everyday Love Project, But as his 2nd birthday is approaching, I decided I really wanted it to be here too so I could see it along with all my other Harvey posts! So here is Harvey at 18 months, just posting a few months late!

Dear Harvey,

18 months ago you were born. The months leading up to that day had been filled with uncertainty because we knew you would be born with a cleft lip. We were told all of the possibilities and knew that we would have to wait until the day you were born to know the extent of this thing that they call a defect. We don’t see your cleft as a defect though, but instead we see it as an opportunity for you to one day, tell the world what you overcame. When picking your name, I looked up the meaning before settling on it. It means “ready for battle” and we know you came into this world ready to be fighter!

We love your curious personality and love for an adventure. You keep us on our toes with your “go, go, go” speed. If mommy had to pick her top 3 things right now, it would be your snuggles, kisses, & your giggles! You put a smile on all of our faces and you are so adored! Your big sisters & brother are your biggest fans and I know they always will be!

I realize when you look back at your pictures, you may wonder why you are always in pajamas. Well, as a homeschooling family, we end up staying in our PJ’s until lunch…. a lot! You don’t say a lot of things that we understand but one of our favorites is “where’d it go?” When someone leaves the room or plays hide-n-seek, you will put your little hands out and ask “where’d it go?”

You love to play with firetrucks, of course- just like daddy (and grandpa & uncle!). When you wake up you have to bring your night-night with you. You are very attached! Getting tickles from mommy is routine because those giggles are contagious! (photo on the right- credit to big sister Jade!)

Often times, you have a shadow, following you around and making sure you do exactly what the shadow thinks you should do. You two jump together, play together, and then at times, you decides that the shadow has made you mad! I try to explain that big sisters are a treasure and she will always have your back, but even though there will be times you don’t love that overbearing shadow, you have to remember how much she loves you!

Exploring outside is one of your favorite things to do! You love to dig in the dirt, find rocks, sticks, ride the tractor or even just ride in daddy’s truck.

I love watching you play and seeing your imagination come alive! You are very observant and learn quickly how to do things.

The front porch is where we spend most of our mornings. You love to blow bubbles, swing, attempt to ride the tricycle, and of course, climb everything you can. You always have a few bumps and bruises to show how brave but uncoordinated you are!

Sweet boy, I love to watch grow and learn, but pray you will always be my little boy!

Love,

Mommy

Family, My Story, Uncategorized

Just Celebrate!

June 4, 2015February 3, 2016 Jessica

Tomorrow I turn 30. I hear lots of comments on aging all the time. Most of them are of dread. I know lots of people who have turned 30 and more who see that birthday fast approaching. “Don’t remind me!” they say. But I don’t get it. Yes, I am getting older, but isn’t that much better then the alternative? If you aren’t getting older, you are dead to put it bluntly.

In my opinion, old and young are relevant terms that serve a purpose at times, but aren’t necessary or accurate in categorizing yourself on a whole. Age is just a record keeping number. Now, with age comes things that people dislike, such as wrinkles, slower metabolisms, and aching bodies, and I do understand a dislike for those things, but the number of years you have been alive should be a celebration every.single.year!

Getting older is a BIG deal, and YOU should celebrate it! Each birthday, no matter what number is attached to it, is a blessing! I am excited to be 30 and to GET to celebrate it. My life is full of so many blessings I can’t even begin to list them. Sure, there are things in it and about it I do not love, but I am choosing to celebrate today!

{I have to take a minute and brag on these gorgeous pictures we had done a few weeks ago. Samantha Daniels Photography did them for us. I told her I wanted her to capture our relationships and she did just that!}

So here’s to another year, and I hope many many more! I hope the next time you have a birthday you will do the same, and just simply celebrate your life!

Encouragement, My Story, Uncategorized

Dear Mom, you do not need to…

April 14, 2015February 3, 2016 Jessica

…..go to Africa, start a non-profit, rescue women from sex trafficking, adopt orphans in China……

Yes, those are all good things and there is nothing wrong with doing them, unless it is not the season for it or the calling God has given you. Lately I have heard multiple people from different places talk about their passions and ministries. These are BIG things that are changing lives and allowing God to show off big time. I sit in awe of these women and how they have allowed their passion to drive them to doing great things. I often feel guilty that I am not doing something note worthy. I don’t have a mission trip to any where planned (unless you count the grocery store- hey anywhere can be a mission field!). I am not starting a non-profit or rescuing women. I am not in the process of adopting an orphan.

In fact, I am smack dab in the middle of motherhood. I have 4 kids that God has entrusted me with. I happen to stay home with them, but you may be a working mom. Either way, if you are a mother, God has given you and me a big responsibility in that role. I hear this statement and I have said it myself so many times, “I am just a mom”. It doesn’t seem very glamorous or big. It doesn’t have the wow factor I feel like it needs.

Guess what? God planted you where you are for a reason. He purposed you, right where you are. You don’t have to do anything more then love your kids. Be the mother they need. Be the wife your husband needs. We can make an incredible mark on this world by accepting the calling that is in our own homes. We have the power to affect generations through our children. The way we parent our kids today will reflect our children’s children, and their children and so on. When you look at the big picture, you see that our jobs as mothers really are BIG. They matter. They mean something.

Today, your job as a mother might seem small. It might seem as though no one notices or cares. It might seem thankless. It really might take 18 years for all your hard work to pay off, but one day, you are going to see the fruit of your labor of love and you will be able to step back and bask in it.

I think God wants us all to be obedient to the calling He places on our hearts. He wants us to be willing and ready to take on whatever he asks of us but also to lay down things he hasn’t asked us to carry. This one is difficult for me. I have been on the search for a meaningful calling for so long and have neglected the fact that being a mom is a meaningful calling. I feel strongly that God is saying “you are enough, who you are matters, lay down your search for meaning, and I will show it to you”.

I decided to share my thoughts on this for several reasons, but the main one is, I hear so many other moms who struggle with thinking they aren’t doing enough. We compare our journeys instead of seeking God to see where He wants us. We place our desire to be seen and accepted in front of the desires God has laid out for us. We wrestle with the desire to feel significant and search for that BIG thing God is going to do through us. For me, I have found that right now, that big thing is right in front of me. Actually, it is at my feet, hanging on my leg, begging for another piece of candy. Ahhhhh Motherhood, right now, it is my BIG calling.

If you find yourself struggling with this season of life, please join me as I pray for other moms just like myself. As I pray for other women who are serving their callings in Africa, in orphanages, starting schools, or rescuing others. There is no woman who has a greater or better calling, just different. We all need to band together and support and love one another. My prayer is that we can become a big community of women who love one another deeply.

If you enjoyed this post please feel free to share it, and also check out this post on seasons. {so glad I reread that and reminded myself of my own words!}

Encouragement, My Story, Uncategorized

The Social Media Snare

March 2, 2015March 2, 2015 Jessica

I open up my Instagram app and start scrolling. I see some cute kiddo’s, some clothes I would love to buy, then I try to quickly pass up this gorgeous photo of a perfect house. It is clean and decorated so well. I stare for a minute and suddenly I feel less happy with my house. There are toys everywhere. I just mopped 2 hours ago but some how there is mud or sticky juice all over it. I fluffed the couch pillows and straightened the blankets but one of my kids came in and decided it looked more like a trampoline. I had actually given up on my house looking together during the day….. until I saw that post on IG.

I was content with my life until I saw that person I follow on IG has started a new campaign to do something awesome! Now suddenly my life feels like it needs more of something. I thought I was a good mom yesterday, but today I find myself feeling like we don’t do enough fun stuff. My husband brought me a magazine home and I thought it was the sweetest thing, but then I saw that someone else’s husband surprised them with a weekend getaway full of planned surprises and gifts. I read my devotional and wanted to share some inspiration, but now after reading someone elses post, mine doesn’t seem worthy any more.

Suddenly I am wondering why everyone else’s pictures look so much better then mine and I have decided that it is probably because they have more natural light in every room of their house. I start plotting a way to take all the sheetrock out and replace it with windows so I can always have pretty light. I decide more windows is what I need and I will just carry my big girl camera around my neck all day. Baby on the hip, camera around my neck, more windows. This MUST be what they do. Then I see that they are hosting a workshop to tell me all their photography tips and secrets to perfect pictures every time. I am a photographer for goodness sake, but suddenly I am feeling like I don’t know anything about the subject, or certainly not enough.

The truth is, there is always someone I can compare myself to on social media (and in real life for that matter). There is always going to be something I see that makes me feel like I should do something different. I see what others are doing or not doing and I start second guessing myself (I should not be eating gluten, sugar, or any of the other junk I slip up and eat!). Don’t get me wrong, I think we can easily let others inspire us to do better, but we have to be careful not to let what others are doing dictate what we choose to do.

“I have compared myself to you and felt like I could never measure up” “you really are super mom, really” In the last few weeks I have been told those things. It honestly didn’t feel great. I try really hard to be honest with my life and be upfront about my shortcomings and struggles. I want to be honest because I feel like it is the only way to cultivate true relationships. Pretending or sugarcoating our lives for social media only complicates things. BUT, after reflecting on how others view me, I decided to really take a look at my posts.

I love to share and so I share moments or cute pictures that make me happy. I get all of my IG feed printed in books so I like to make sure my favorites make it into the book. I post things to encourage others and myself. I try to post trials and struggles, but I see that I only post the hard things when I am finally at a point to get to the other side of it. This is hard for me to admit but I have found myself wanting to post just because I think the picture will probably be well liked….. Why do I do that? Compliments feel good and everyone wants people to like their posts.

I’m not perfect or a supermom. I am real. I mess up all the time. I get in ruts and can’t seem to get out. I don’t post all the yuck. I don’t want to paint a picture of perfection for everyone to see. I allow my own insecurities to run my life most days. This has become very obvious to me when I look at social media. I don’t want to post things that make others feel inadequate but I also don’t want to stop sharing my life. I am trying to find a balance and figure out how to share appropriately for myself.

I have decided to try hard (I’m not perfect so don’t expect this to be either) to post intentionally. I want to make sure that the heart of the post is good. That I am not seeking attention through my post. That I am not fabricating things to make them look better then they are. I know that I am not responsible for the way others perceive me, but I can be intentional about what and how I post things. So what if my house is a complete mess in a photo, you may see it any way! I want to find that balance of being honest and open without being negative and whiney. I want to post things that bring me joy and at the same time make sure they are real.

I want to encourage you to step away from social media for a minute and evaluate how it makes you feel. What are your true motives when you post and how do you allow what you are viewing to affect you? Maybe you are like me and need to take a minute to remember that those who are posting are not perfect, even if they appear to be. Most of all, to remember no one else is walking in my shoes and no ones journey looks just like mine- so I shouldn’t expect mine to look like theirs either. I need to be able to focus on being thankful for what I have and where I am currently, and not so focused on what I am not.

Much love sweet friends!

Uncategorized

It’s Finally Fall!

October 30, 2014 Jessica

I have always loved fall! There is something about the colors, the temperature, the food, boots and sweaters! I woke up yesterday and it smelled like fall. It felt like fall. The crisp air made me smile big! I hate being cold, but there is something about the need for a sweater and a hot cup of something yummy (apple cider is one of my favorites this time of year) that just makes me happy! I love sitting around the fire pit talking and enjoying family and friends. I love eating soup on a cool day or a pumpkin muffin for breakfast. Fall is a time people stop and reflect their blessings. We recall what we are thankful for and look forward to the holidays that are approaching.

Another one of my favorite things about fall is the decorations! This year I decided to just decorate our small porch. We come in and out through the side porch so I decided to just focus on that area this year. We are in the middle of renovations everywhere but I really wanted a little fall happiness when you came in!

I started by walking out in the fields here and gathering up weeds, berries, dead grass, and who knows what else I got. I am just making it up the “what” because I just picked up things that looked pretty and “fallish”. I already had these two planters on my porch so I filled them up with small pumpkins and my field finds. I have this wagon that was red at one point. I painted it aqua and let it naturally weather (meaning we forgot to put it up it was just left outside and the rain and elements aged it up nicely) over the years. I thought it would be the perfect pumpkin holder and it is! I used an old crate, more of the stuff I gathered from the field that I bunched up and tied with twine, of course more pumpkins and this wood sign I made. My husband build the sign really quick using scrap lumber and then I stained it dark brown. I wanted to paint the words “grateful, thankful, blessed” on it. I am no artist though! I found a font I liked and then tried to copy it the best I could. I couldn’t see the pencil marks because of the dark wood so I used chalk! When I was ready to paint, I took a damp cloth and blotted the chalk so it was very faint and no extra chalk was on the wood. Once it dried I went back with the wet cloth and got any left over chalk off. This porch is so small it is hard to get a good “big picture” of it, but you can get the idea of all the elements together. We recently got new screen doors and stained them dark. I love them! Nothing like letting that fall air in the house all day! The pumpkin “welcome” sign is from Cross My Art, they do the most amazing work!
So happy with the way the porch turned out!