Malachi 3:6 "For I am the LORD, I do not change..."

Yesterday I was sitting in my new gift from Brandon, a reclining, overstuffed arm chair for our bedroom and it really struck me about a theme in my life. I have always loved to have a chair in my room to sit and read and have quiet times in.  I have had a chair in my room since I was at least 13.  My first chair was this hideous, old golden mustard yellow chair that had belonged to my great great aunt.  It was worn out when I got it and it only got worse.  When we redecorated my bedroom in high school all I wanted was a new chair, a papasan, to be exact.  We bought it and I loved it.  I studied, read, slept, watched tv, etc all in that chair.  At CBU Sarah and I decided we needed chairs as well.  We bought INFLATABLE neon pink and green chairs that I think lasted about a week.  I laugh every time I think of those chairs.  When Brandon and I moved to Turkey I got a chair/ottoman from IKEA and spent many many days praying and reading God's word in that spot.

So, yesterday as I sat in my chair reading my Bible I was nearly overcome with astonishment that though I have changed and my locations have changed, both dramatically, God hasn't changed one bit. He is the steady Rock, my sure foundation, the faithful God of old.  What a peace that gives me!  I imagine one day I'll be sitting in a recliner in a nursing home and as I approach the throne of grace, He will be the same God of my childhood, youth, and adulthood, the One I have clung to all my life.

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." Hebrews 13:8


"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." James 1:17

Wow Wednesday

I saw this project on Pinterist and it's been a big hit: Rainbow Rice

Clean out fridge to find some jars...

Big bag of rice from aldi: $4.99, white vinegar (from laundry/cleaning supplies), jars, and tablespoon  and food coloring, not pictured

add 1 TBsp vinegar and food coloring (however much you think to get it dark enough) to rice and shake up in a jar really really well
Repeat with each color

Pour out rice on cookie sheet to bake (to dry) bake at about 250 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until all the rice is dry

The finished product... and I should've made a lot more! (I made about 2 cups of each color)

This has become an outdoor activity because of the spills. I'd hate to hinder the fun...

Construction Zone

We seem to constantly have some project going on around our house, but the current one is BY FAR the biggest yet.  We heard about a great deal at Costco last weekend on some wood laminate flooring and seeing as our downstairs carpet was awful, we decided to go ahead and replace it with something nicer.  We'd obviously rather the flooring be a selling point not a turn off when you immediately enter the house.  So, Brandon borrowed most of the big tools and bought a few of the small, found a friend to help him start, and then got my Dad and brother's help after that.  The floors are nearly done now (day 4 of the project) so all that is left is the threshold molding and "toe-molding".  The house is a mess, which if you know me then you know I hate it, but I know it will be worth it very soon.  Charli, Claire, and I actually stayed with my parents 2 nights so Brandon could work past their bedtime (it's a loud job!)  Pics to come... here's a teaser...

A first

Finally set up the wagon for Charli and Claire (a Christmas gift from Emmy and Pop) now that Claire is big enough to ride in it.

They rode the wagon to the pool, swam, then had a snack.

Charli and Bran sweating at the park during my concert.

Having a picnic dinner before the fireworks.

Char had a lot of fun with her flag and enjoyed when the band played her favorite, "You're a Grand Ole Flag"!

Charli enjoyed her first fireworks, though sometimes it was necessary to cover her ears ;)