Gallery Wall

Three stories with two staircases means that I have two landings that need a little love.

The first one now has a chalkboard living on it.  And it's fantastic.  (Sure, it fell down three times before I finally got enough Command Strips on there.  So far, six is the magic number and we're still holding strong.)

The second landing is larger and leads to the master bedroom.  (Yes, our master bedroom takes up an entire floor of my house.  It's a little ridiculous.  And a whole lot of awesome.)  It needs more than just one frame.  In fact, it's been begging me for a gallery wall.

Since having J, most of the photos in our house are family photos, or photos of J.

But we have all of these beautiful wedding pictures that need to be displayed!

My MIL got me a pack of frames from Amazon.

And I found this on Pinterest and fell in love!

I would add a link to credit this photo, but the photo links back to nothing.  So, if you know who I can credit, I would appreciate it if you would let me know!

It struck me to create a gallery wall at the top of our stairs to display our wedding photos!

The view from our bedroom door

The view from the stairs

I love how it turned out!  And I love walking by these photos several times a day and remembering that wonderful day, seeing the happy faces of those that were there to celebrate with us, and feeling giddy and in love all over again.

Chalkboard

Ok, can I just say something crazy?

(I love crazy! *cue music* All my life has been a series of doors in my face...

Oh, sorry.  Kind of.)

I hate chalk.  

The feel, the sound, it makes me cringe.

And, by extension, really dislike chalkboards.

But, I sometimes I really like the look of chalkboard.

My SIL has a huge one in her home and she changes it for the season and various occasions and I love it!

I have this large wall at the top of our first staircase (we have 3 floors, so two staircases) and it has just been begging me to do something with it.

And then it dawned one me: chalkboard.

I, however, am not dripping with money and didn't want to spend a large amount at an antique store or something for a vintage or shabby chic looking chalkboard.  Besides, neither of those things are really my jam.  I'm a clean lines kinda gal.

My MIL gave me this empty frame that was perfect for a chalkboard.

Totally not my style for anything else, but completely perfect for a chalkboard.

Turns out, Home Depot sells 2' x 4' sheets of chalkboard 3/16" thick!

Home Depot cut it down to size for me (18" x 24" in case you were wondering).

D glued it into place.

SIL wrote one of my favorite sayings on it (from Camilla Kimball).

And now, the wall at the stop of the stairs is so happy!

Spreading Sunshine

D and I have been incredibly blessed. 

We have a perfect son, a beautiful home, great friends, loving family, good jobs, enough to eat, working cars, plenty of clothes to wear - we are so fortunate!

And, in addition to all of this, we have been blessed by friends and complete strangers alike who have given generously to us time and time again.  

Rather than just sit here and feel thankful, I decided I want to do something with my gratitude.

I've adopted this as my new life mantra.

Target had the cutest packs of cards in their dollar section, so I picked up a bunch!

I've started sending out little love notes to friends.  It's been a blast!
(And as someone who thrives on kind words, I get an extra thrill.)

Because I've been having so much fun, I decided to up the ante.

I started putting together Buckets of Sunshine to share!

I went to the dollar store (with J - he sang Frozen songs the whole time we were there, no joke) and simply picked up orange and yellow items.

(Gold glitter star glasses, yellow silly string, bubbles, yellow candy, sudoku and word search books, yellow boxed candy, cups, drinks, gum, sunflowers and daisies, etc.)

So far, I've delivered five buckets and it makes me giddy and excited to imagine the recipient's faces when they open their buckets.

I want gratitude to be an active attribute in my life. 
I want people to remember me as someone who invites light and joy.
And while my sphere of influence may be small, I want to do the most I can with what I have been given.  I want to love with all I have!

Praying It's Soon

J has hit "terrible twos" with all the force he can muster.

And he's not quite 2 yet (he will be in less than a month).

But the tantrums, screaming, hitting, yelling "NO!" and the general mood-swings are in full affect around here.

He struggles with communication, too.  He talks with his mouth closed.  It's the strangest thing.  He'll open his mouth for about half of his words.  But the other half?  It's just one long guessing game (with a lot of "NOOOOO"'s from J when I guess wrong).

Don't get me wrong - he is still the sweetest, happiest, most adorable little boy I have ever met in my life.  We really do spend the majority of our time giggling, playing and exploring together.  

He just also happens to drive me bonkers some of the time.  

And yet, while I'm struggling with J (nap time took no less than 4 attempts spread out over 3 hours today), my heart aches for another child.

How much sense does that make?

None, actually.

Here I am with my hands full with a busy almost-two-year-old, teaching piano/voice 20 hours a week, and general mom/wife stuff (you know, things like Target trips).  

Life is wonderful, but it's not easy.

And I want to add to the wonderful, messy, chaotic, joyful-ness that is our lives.

I am so ready for the next placement call to come!

I hate the waiting part of being a foster mom.  I hate not knowing when the call will come for a placement.  I hate the unknown, not being able to plan or prepare (maybe it's the control freak in me).  

 I am praying that the next call will be the right fit for our family.  Maybe even a forever fit (fingers crossed!).  That our hearts and lives will be open to shower this child with love and embrace them into our craziness.

I'm praying it's soon.

Because even with the ups and downs, I wouldn't trade J for anything.  I wouldn't trade D.  I wouldn't trade my life.  And I can't wait to share all the love in this life with another little one.