i am beginning to like my mantle

i've always thought that whatever is on your mantle should be what you like the best. this is a place of honor to me. and no, even if i did have a big plasma hd tv, it would not be on the mantle. i know lots of people do that, and that's ok, but i just don't like it. there, i said it!

since i moved into my condo, i have not been satisfied with what i have had on my mantle. for over two years i had the willow tree nativity that my mom gave me out, and i do love that, it was just too much neutral going on up there, so it's packed away until december. this spring i decided to focus on finding some good pieces that i really like to put up there that would bring the color of my cabinets into this room (since the kitchen and living room really is just one big room). and it's beginning to take shape!

this is a mirror frame that is supposed to be attached to a dresser (the middle part tilts). i got it here during the buttercup festival in nolensville. it was pretty rough looking, and i debated on whether to stain it or paint it, but i put it up for a few days before i painted it and i just felt like the white would flow better. i like the way it turned out.

i got this vase here, a fun little shop in pigeon forge. i love the color. and i love forsythia branches. i am not completely happy with the yellow flowers/yellow wall thing, but i'm going with it for now. these were on sale at joann last week..yay!

these are southern living at home candlesticks i got just before i got my condo...i love them! i am looking for some better looking candles (probably taller, maybe a bright white) and thinking about making tassels to put on them...to bring the teal/blue color to this side. the d's i made a couple of years ago. the red looks really bright in the picture.

this was a print that i got two of at goodwill a couple of months ago. i painted the frame the same color as my cabinets and painted the inside with black satin paint (because i didn't have any chalkboard paint, and when i get going on something, i use what i have). i am thinking about rubbing stain on the frame so that it goes better with the vase. we'll see. "dwell" has become a slight obsession of mine lately...i am totally copying the nester, but i'm ok with that! maybe i should say i am inspired by her...that sounds better!! i love the verse it comes from...i also have it on a small canvas on my desk at work, and am thinking about other ways to remind myself to "dwell in the shelter of the Most High".

so that's the progress so far...i'm sure you will all be on the edge of your seats waiting to hear what else happens with my mantle!!

what's been going on

spring is always a busy time...end of the school year, birthdays, etc., so i just decided to do long post with a few pictures of what i've been up to:

in april, the acteens wrote scripture and various other things on the sidewalk in front of our church. we had a great time! this was an idea that i picked up in gatlinburg at connection (state acteens convention) in march...i went to a really great conference about some out of the box ideas to spread God's word!

toward the end of april i got to go to lexington and spend the weekend with melissa! we scrapbooked late into the night on friday and all day saturday...it was great!!

a couple of times a year my dad's side of the family has a birthday party for all of the folks who have birthdays in the spring or fall. a fun time to catch up and celebrate with each other...and always good food!!

melissa came to nashville for her birthday and we all went to the wolfgang puck restaurant in cool springs to celebrate...as usual we had a great time. i think this is the first time in about 4 years that all three of us have been together for all three of our birthdays (march, april, may).

of course the first weekend in may was the flood...thankfully my home was fine. the saturday that all the rain started, mom and i had gone to mema's to take her "to town" and it took me over 7 hours to get from mema's house back to mine. it was a long day, but an adventure none the less.
on may 15 i got to go see katie graduate...i was so glad to be a part of this special day. katie is the first one of my acteens that i have been with for the whole time she was in youth (7th-12th grade). congratulations, katie!!

one sunday, when kim was able to bring clinton home from st. jude i got to hang out with these cuties... this is jordan (now 17) rockin' out.

this is elizabeth (aka bitses), jordan, clinton and max's cousin.

mr. max...about to be 3...becoming so handsome!!

clinton...the wonderboy! those glasses, that smile...it's almost too much!!