<sup>Believe it or not, I began writing this post over a month and a half ago... a few weeks after the New Year.

Funny, 'cause writing for the blog more consistently was actually one of my resolutions.

Looks like I already missed the mark there.

Honestly, I really am okay with that and I believe God has a sense of humor. Apparently NOW is the right time for THIS post. Enjoy.</sup>

*******

 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He *said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”

 

-Revelation 21:5

 

 

This time of year brings many new ways of thinking, living, and just plain ol' BEING for most of us. We feel revived and refreshed and ready to essentially take on the world in many areas of our lives. This time of year can also drum up all sorts of emotions.

 

We find new time to go to the gym. We change our diets. We make time for old friends.

 

I really find it quite interesting how just the idea of a new beginning, the first month of twelve, can foster desires in all of us to make things new.

As I was standing in the kitchen, washing dishes and looking out the window {picture it...I get some pretty deep revelations at that sink}, I began to think about the year to come.

Did I have any lofty goals? Anything I wanted to achieve personally, spiritually? Any new relationships or old ones that I wanted to dedicate time to? What about my kids? My husband? They could always use more time with me and more of my heart.

The longer I thought, the more I came up with nothing that seemed to compare to my overwhelming need to spend more time in His Word, with Him and just be about Kingdom business altogether. I realize that not only is that important for THIS year but for the rest of my life.

I just couldn't get away from that thought and frankly, I don't want to.

Thank you, Holy Spirit.

Now, I know, I know...we're moms, career women, crafters, DIYers, fitness enthusiasts, fill in the blank...and I know that we can  and need to make time to schedule those things that feed our soul.

But, for me and likely many of you out there,  it's really all about perspective.

Each and every moment, even in those soul filling times, is a moment to let God make all things new my life. In your life...

So, how are you doing so far? Have you met your mark or missed it?

May I offer you a bit of reprieve? A bit of encouragement to settle your soul?

If you haven't met your goals, checked that last thing off of your fitness list, or painted that piece of furniture that's been sitting in your garage for 6 months (eh hmm)...guess what?

It is NOT in your strength that you do anything but it is HE who works IN you and through you to accomplish His glory-filled purpose in YOUR life. It's an amazing symphony of harmonious motion when you allow Him to be who He is meant to be in your life.

I am reminded...

[Not in your own strength] for it is GOd who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight. (Amplified Bible)

 

-Philippians 2:13

My prayer for you today is that you sit back, feel His love, experience His presence, let His wind blow and...


...take. a. breather.

#aaaaahhhhh

 Learning how to breathe right along with you,



Happy Monday, guys! Hope you all have recovered from pounds of stuffing, cranberry sauce and turkey and had time to relax this weekend with family and friends. What? Was that just me who ate pounds of food that day? Oh, well!

Our family picked up our Christmas tree the other night and I've finally gotten around to the beginning of turning our home from drab to fab with holiday décor! Of course, I'll be sharing that with you all as the weeks pass on. It's always such a process for me as I change my mind about what I like and don't like. What needs to go where, etc.

I'd also like to take a moment to say thanks to you all for your kind feedback and comments on my last post. Makes me so happy and fulfilled to know that what God places on my heart to share, is such a blessing to so many of you. Really is amazing. Thank you.

Now, on to the dining room. If you'll remember this post, I was in quite a dilemma trying to figure out how to begin decorating the dining area in our home. I really had decorator's block, if you will, and could not think of which way to go in the space so I sent out an SOS to you all!

I decided to begin with what will be the "centerpiece" of the space-the dining table.

I follow Kelli over at Restore Interiors and have gotten to know her a bit {she's a Bama Girl BTW} and absolutely love her personality, her talent, style and her love and passion for design. She posted a tutorial a few weeks back about how to achieve a faux zinc look. I had to try it. At the time, I wasn't really sure what I would paint.

I remember a few years back I was literally salivating over a table in the Ballard Designs catalog. I think it was over $1,000 and I knew there was no way I was going to spend that much on a table for a home that wasn't our permanent home. And, if you're like me, I always take it as a challenge to duplicate the look and style of expensive pieces. {Not a bit competitive, not at all...}

So, once I'd decided that my next project would be our dining area, I remembered the tutorial from Kelli and set out to get it done! Or, at least start it! Here's a pic of how it turned out. I really like it and it was even kid approved by my daughter. She walked in as I was waxing it and said, "Wow, mom, it actually looks like metal!" Yes. Yes, it does. Thank you very much! Always feels good to get the thumbs up from your kiddos!



I love how the finish makes it look like real metal.

 

 

Now, do you remember what the table looked like before? I really should have taken some close-up before photos. It was pretty bad. Chipped. Original wood beginning to show through. We've had it for over 6 years. It was time for a change.

 

Looks way better in this pic than it did in real life.
 

 

And another pic of the after...

 

 

I call it my galvanized metal look. Mine didn't turn out much link zinc but I am still absolutely in love with it!

 

Thanks to some major computer issues, no watermark on this one or full images of the entire space or table today. So sorry but I promise that as I continue to pull the room together you'll get to see everything!

 

 

Moving right along...

 

Now, what about this amazing holiday party? Well, you can read more about it here.

 

 

I am hosting the Home for the Holidays Linky Party with some pretty awesome women. The party is will be a series for the rest of this month through December and the first day is today! Our first host is Lorraine from Miss Flibbertigibbet! Do any of you follow her? Heard of her? She is one talented woman and is sharing holiday recipes over at her place today. If you've got something to share...hop on over and link up! And don't forget to leave a comment or even follow to show Miss Flibb some love! You seriously won't regret it!

 

And, here's a button for you if you'd like to share it over on your blog, FB page, Instagram, Pinterest...did I miss anything? Ha!

 

 

Can't wait to see all the yummy goodness everyone links up!

 

 

 

Party on!

 

Are you ready to link up all of your milk paint and MORE today! I was so excited to see your amazing redos last week! Please be sure to link back from your blog post to the party here on the RHI blog!

Not going to make you wait any longer...here we go! 

Loved this minty redo from This, That & Life! 

And this tray turned, well, better tray! Love the color she chose. And do you spy that awesome paint technique UNDER the tray. Yum. Head over to Shades of Amber to see more! 

And this wonderful regal redo from Weathered Pieces. 

So, just in case you're wondering...here are the not so fun but oh so necessary rules:

1. You don't have to have a milk paint project to link up, pretty much any paint or DIY project will do but we DO love to see what you all can do with your milk paint. Feel free to link up any of your projects and tutorials but NO FOOD, please. 
2. Please LINK BACK to your actual post and not just your blog addy. Please be sure to include a link back to Milk Paint and More Mondays in your post.
3. LIKE Restoration House on Facebook and share the button below. 
4. Surf through other bloggers' entries and visit them on their respective blogs to spread the love. 
5. PLEASE,PLEASE, PLEASE remember to take the button below and post in your blog post or mention Milk Paint and More Mondays in your post! 

                                    

Well, at least ONE of them! For those of you waiting, I am still working on the dresser and a few other furniture projects around the house. 

I've also decided that I am done with our dining area and how absolutely boring it is so I want to start the process of putting the "RHI stamp" on it.

With so many things on my to do list, I have GOT to start prioritizing things around here so that I can actually get some projects around our own home completed. 

I want to keep my word with you all so I'm working hard to get the faux finish tutorial up for you. I promise it'll be worth the wait! But, in the meantime, I kinda need your help.

Most of you know after reading this, that we are in a rental home. It took almost an entire year for me to settle with that and decide to begin making this house of ours, no matter how temporary, a home.

The next couple of months or so I would like to focus my energy on this space...

That would be our cute little sweet pea doing her homework as I snapped away!

It's our dining area. And, well, it's a little sad. I want it to be "happy" and to really express who we are as a family. The challenge, of course, is that it's technically not our home. I've thought of so many amazing ideas to make this a better place for all of us none of which exclude moving a wall or knocking something out of the way.

I also have issues when it comes to decorating my own home. Seems I can never commit. Ask me to help someone else design or decorate a space, I'm on it. Ideas flow freely. My space? Cricket, cricket.

So, as you can see, it's pretty much a blank canvas and the wall colors are neutral which I feel is a good thing but I'd love to make that wall (that one right there) a focal wall and perhaps even do a decorative paint technique, stencil or just paint it a different color altogether.

Our living space, which is directly behind this area is quite neutral with brown, tans, hues of blues and grays. (I know, exciting) Honestly, I love that space. You can see it here. But, in our dining area I want it to be cohesive with the living space but I'd love to pull in a different color.

I love this print from fabric.com. I thought I could use this for new panels on the windows and start there. 

But, I also love this one...

But I know that this one blends in with the wall color way too much. 

Then, there's this one...

I kinda actually REALLY love this one. It's ALMOST perfect. 

Can you see my problem now? Commitment. I just can't seem to commit to any one idea for this space. Ultimately, within the next couple of weeks I will decide on a fabric for the panels, choose to paint or not and decide on what will go on that focal wall. 

All of those decisions would be easier if you could help me! Pretty, please? With a cherry on top? 

Which fabric choice do you think would look best in the space and what are your ideas for THAT wall? That big, blank wall. 

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts! 

Purpose. It's kind of a big deal. For many of us, purpose calls us to wake up each morning with  the expectancy of bigger and greater things to come. Purpose, for some, is realized through an affectionate and much needed hug, a few dollars to a stranger in need, or the simple gift of a smile to someone who just needed to know He. Still. Cares...

I mean, we know purpose is a big deal to God. He tells us so..."For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you, not to harm you. To give you a hope and a future." {Jeremiah 29:11}

God's word is full of PURPOSE. Jesus came for a PURPOSE. Moses led the Israelites for a PURPOSE. David slayed Goliath for a PURPOSE. Ruth saved her people for a PURPOSE. You get it...my point is, purpose can define a single moment in your life and THAT moment can REDEFINE, RE-PURPOSE, if you will...well...your purpose.  

You see, God wasn't surprised when David defeated his enemy nor was He caught off guard when Ruth stepped out. I am certain He was cheering each of them on as they walked into their "defining moments". Why? Because He created them with all of that in mind.


This week I was reminded, once again, of how completely refreshing and therapeutic it is to re-purpose furniture and breathe new life into things long forgotten. Just as I strip layers of old life away on each and every piece that I redo, God continues to peel layers away in my very own life.

As many of you know, our family has led a full life this past year. We moved from Hawaii to Seattle, left the comfy military life of the Air Force to live life as "civilians" and added yet another awesome little human to our family. Life is good, indeed. We are blessed and realize more and more each day how deep God's love is for us and how simple, yet amazingly extravagant, His purpose is for our lives. 

I've spent a lot of time the past few weeks thinking about my business (Restoration House) and how it will marry with what I know God has called our family to do-what I am to do. I used to think that I would have to let it go. I thought that, in order to fulfill my destiny, I would need to choose. Funny thing is, I don't have to. It's all part of my purpose. And I think that's pretty amazing.

So, in this world of DIY, junk and refurbishing, I have found that not only does my passion lie in seeing old things become new but also in seeing others ignite and revive those hopes and dreams squelched by the monotony of everyday life. I have an eye for design but a heart for life transformations. In my world, those two have collided into a great purpose. 

Cheering you on,

"I know how to be abased and how to abound: everywhere and in all things. I am instructed both to be full land to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need."
Phillipians 4:12


This is just one of my life scriptures and the one that God laid on my heart as I begin to write this post.

I am learning to be content and managing life hasn't been easy as we are transitioning from a family of FIVE to a family of SIX. 

It's actually been a little crazy. 

I remember those days before kids. Go back there with me, if you will...

Before soccer AND football AND karate and birthday parties and playdates.

Before the $90.00 fill ups at the gas station because my hubby vows we will never be a "mini-van family". We are too cool for that. (His words, not mine.I have absolutely nothing against them but I love our truck. Don't tell him though. Hee,hee!)

And this is our closet in the laundry room meant for bags, tablecloths and gift wrap/party items. Haven't gotten around to organizing it just yet. 

When there was time to organize the spice rack and pantry by height and color (yup, I did that.) When I was WAY more organized than I am now. WAY. MORE. ORGANIZED.

Yup, this is our pantry. For now. I can't believe I am sharing this with you but hopefully it will bless someone out there. We don't have a dedicated pantry in our rental. This is it. Baskets will come soon. Hopefully. 

Before...when life was a little bit slower. 

Stepping out of that fantasy...into reality. 

Here's the not so UGLY truth. 

In place of those awkwardly quiet moments, we now have laughing, yelling and screaming throughout the house. 

Instead of coffee and shopping dates with friends who are either single or don't have kids we spend our time coordinating play dates, organizing snacks for the next football practice and rushing to the store because we forgot that special gift for THE best friend's birthday party that just happens to be in an hour. 

That super organized, clean house is filled with forts made of bed sheets and small towns made out of cereal boxes and Matchbox cars. 

And that tank that holds $90.00 worth of fuel is spent caravaning those best friends, soccer, football and karate gear, books, and four wonderful kids who make the rides, well...fun.

We moved into a rental almost a year ago and because I felt the home was a temporary place for us until we found our dream home, I had NO inspiration to decorate. On top of that, it's an older home. Without much character. I now realize that we bring the character...all six of us! So, a few months ago, I decided to start organizing and decorating. Or, at least making a list for organizing priorities and the parts of the house I felt it important to decorate.

I do love some corners of our home...like this one. 

And this one...


So, there it is...my soul. Life is not perfect and neither is my home {yet}. Hee, hee.

But for now, I am content.

Thank you, Lord.

Learning right along with you,