In His Grip

Wedding Post #3 -- More Details

Ryan and Paula took so much time and effort in the details that I just cannot leave any out. It was these details that made this wedding special and so much their own. One of their artist friends took the chalkboard that Paula found on sale for 60% off (see I told you she fits right in with the Sturmans) and made this wonderful sign to greet the guests as they entered the church.  My favorite thing that Paula chose to do was the pictures down the center aisle instead of expected pew bows.  She purchased frames from the Dollar Store, spray painted them all gray, and placed black and white prints of their engagements pictures in each.  We had to get a bit creative to get them to hang straight on the pews, but nothing a little hot glue won't take care of.  Yes. . . the hot glue just peeled right off later no need to think we defaced the church.  The string globes were a last minute addition to the guest box/book table. I had made dozens of them for the rehearsal dinner tables so we just reused a couple of them to dress up that table as well.  If you are getting bored with my wedding posts, I think there will be only one more so stay tuned.

 

Wedding Post #2 -- The Fashion

On day two of the wedding post I will be highlighting the fashion that was part of the big day.  We have known for a long time that Paula would fit right into the family but when she said the colors for the wedding were pink and gray, confirmed it for us. I always say, when in doubt, pink is always the right choice.  As far as we are concerned the "right" choice has been made all around.  I helped Paula with the alterations for her dress, so it was at our house in Kansas City for a couple of weeks.  I came upon the idea to embroider the wedding date into the hem of her dress as a surprise. Needless, to say she loved the added special touch.  Paula's dress was beautiful and she was a stunner.  For the reception she added a pink satin sash with a fabric flower and antique broach in the middle.  I am so disappointed that I did not get a good picture of the sash, as it added a fun, yet sophisticated element to the dress for the party.  In looking through photos of Ryan for the slide show at the reception, I realized I had been posing him for pictures of his clothes since he was a little boy.  So why would that be any different on his wedding day.  All I had to say was, I need to take a piccture of your outfit and he struck "the" pose.  The entire bridal party wore Toms shoes, the gals wearing gray wedges and the guys black lace ups. What a great looking group the wedding party made.  More detail to come.  

 

Wedding Post #1 -- Crafts & Details

This is the first of several posts that will highlight the fabulous wedding that my son and his new wife (I love saying that) created for us all to celebrate. On August 19th our son married the one that stole his heart and we added another daughter to our family. I arrived on the Tuesday before the wedding to help with some last minute details.  Ryan, Paula, and I had a great time finishing up some of the crafty kinds of things that they wanted to make their wedding a one of a kind.

The two of them came up with the idea that instead of having a guest book, they had a guest box that they made. The guests were able to write a note of well wishes to the bride and groom and place it in the box behind the proper alphabetical heart.  

The large gray bucket had all of the bubbles for the bride and groom get away and the small pink damask buckets were for the flower girls to drop their petals from.  We spent a couple of late nights embellishing all of these items. The small buckets were Mod Podged with pink and white scrapbook paper and I love how they turned out.  

Ryan and Paula designed and put together the programs as well.  I cannot tell how long it took to punch all those holes and then run the ribbon through each one, but in the end, the additional effort was so worth it.  There are more details to come so check back real soon.

Little Country Church

The little country church on the edge of town in Cook, Minnesota, is one of the happening places when it comes to making God's kingdom grow.  We have been attending this little church on our vacations for over 25 years.  The transformation from a very traditional older, baptist church to one that is keeping up with the times and meeting the needs of their community has been fun to watch over the years.  This is the first church that my dad attended as an infant as his father was the pastor here when my dad was born.  I think of the this old song from the 1970's every time we attend here.  "Little Country Church" by Love song.  This song has to be written about First Baptist Church of Cook, Minnesota.

 

Prairiesta 2011 -- Small Town USA Celebration

Our family experienced our second Prairiesta. The last one we attended was in 1991, as this celebration only happens every 10 years, we missed the 2001 and from what we could tell we did not miss much.  We had a great time taking in all that a small town USA celebration has to offer.  In fact, this picture of Lindsey and Anna is actually taken on Main Street where they close it down for the entire weekend and put up a tent for a beer garden.  Seriously, people are walking around downtown with beers.  It was strange to us as in Kansas City you would be arrested for open container.  Needless to say, this was where the crowd was at.

The talk of the town was the 100 head of long horn cattle that open the parade.  Cowboys herd these fellows right down the middle of town, the potential for tragedy is great and I think that's what made the spectacle so exciting.  

Russell, KS is the hometown of Bob Dole and of course a celebration would not be complete without him leading the parade, that is right behind the 100 head of long horns.

Oh and looky, there is Grandma Sturman on a float with her classmates from 1959.  And what would a Prairiesta be without some German food. The class of '59 served us up some fabulous bierock for lunch after the parade.

Here is another opportunity for tragedy.  They did an anvil shoot.  What is more exciting than someone taking an 80 lb anvil and shooting it into the air with hundreds of people standing around watching.  The excitement is never ending at a small town USA celebration.

We had to go check out the long horns one more time at the high school's FFA corrals and barns.

Lindsey and Anna could not get enough of this rural celebration.  Seriously, we had so much fun, you cannot get this kind of entertainment just anywhere.

After talking with folks at the prairie life demonstrations, Anna is pretty sure she wants to participate in a wagon train to gain experience to teach her students one day.

We could not go to western Kansas without stopping at the Dorrance cemetery, where a number of Jeff's relatives are buried.

Oh wait, here are a couple that aren't buried yet.  How many people have a picture of themselves with their headstones and their grandchildren?  You gotta love those Sturman's, they are real planners. 

We are from the midwest and love having raised our family here although I am very thankful that we are in the Kansas City area and get to visit rural Kansas from time to time.  What a great weekend of family memories.

50 Years Of Commitment

This past Friday we celebrated Jeff's parent's 50th Wedding anniversary.  What a true testament to commitment. Jeff and I both feel so blessed that we both came from families that some how figured out how to stick it out through thick and thin.  Knowing that our folks made it to these kinds of milestones, just gives all of us an great example to look to when the rest of our culture does not always hold marriage up to be what real families are built on.  I love what their marriage says about commitment.  Thanks for being the parents to my guy and the grandparents to our children.  Congratulations, Jack and Karen.

New Loveliness

This past Sunday was our 29th wedding anniversary.  That just seems pretty crazy to me because I don't feel any older than I did at 19 the day we got married.  Although, we have lived a lot of life and seasons have changed, we are back to the way it was back then, in our home alone just the two of us.  Jeff is such a good guy, and he takes hints well.  I hinted back last Fall that I would really like a rose Swarovski crystal ring.  Okay, there was really no hinting about it, I straight up said that I would like this ring, I even took him into the store so that he could see it up close.  Not even thinking that he would remember such a request, I tend to say I want a lot of things, he surprised me by remembering that I wanted this ring.  I just love it!

 
I personally think that the ring screams my name and the color is so pretty.  The crystal goes all the way around the ring and it catches the light and sparkles when I move.  Its like I am getting a little wink all day from my guy. 

Mother's Day Recap

Mother's Day is one of those days that as time goes by it means something different to me than in did when my kids were young.  When all my kids were home, we celebrated with wonderful handmade creations that I still have and treasure to this day.  Now, its not the gifts that I receive but the time that we spend together.  Saturday the girls and I spent the morning at garage sales and then on to help Anna get settled in Lindsey's house for the summer.  Just the fact that the two of them want me to do these kinds of things with them is the biggest blessing of the weekend.  They also gave me this wonderful necklace from the Vintage Pearl.  When it comes to blessings, my nest is full even if it is only the one I wear around my neck.

 
Look at this great meal.  Jeff honored his mother and I on Saturday by cooking up this fabulous meal.  We topped it off with Strawberry Banana Cream Pie and with the wonderful weather were able to eat out on the back porch.

 
This is the new bird feeder that Jeff gave me.  Our last one was destroyed in the the hail storm that we had a couple of weeks ago.  The package says that it is squirrel proof, only time will tell if that is actually the case.  It was a great weekend, that seemed to have a it of a bird theme, nest necklace, barbacue chicken, and brid feeder, that's kind of random, but I loved it. 

20 Something Egg Hunt

What do you do when you have no little people in your family anymore on Easter? Well I will tell you what you do, you have an Easter egg hunt for 20 somethings.  Some of my kids' fondest memories of Easter are the egg hunts that we had for them when they were little.  Lindsey wanted to bring back the "good ole days" and have a real egg hunt.  Jeff had a good time hiding the eggs around the yard.  Just to make it more interesting three of the eggs had gift cards in them, Starbucks, Chipotle, and Chili's.  We had eight 20 somethings at our home for dinner and they had a great time being a part of an egg hunt again.

 
Needless to say, some of us were a little more competitive than others.  Lindsey happened to find the most eggs, but failed to get a gift card. Ha, ha, ha.

 
Sunday dinner was a lot of fun and I enjoyed having the girls actually make their own dish to share.  I love this new season of life as it brings its own kind of fun.

Lindsey's 1/2 Marathon Victory

This past Saturday was a day jam packed with all kinds of activity.  We started out at 7:00 am to see the start of the Olathe Marathon and 1/2 Marathon.  We had several friends running this year as well as Lindsey our oldest daughter.  The weather was in the 30's and in Kansas you can always count on a high wind.  Boy, the wind on Saturday was brutal.   When you are a spectator at one of these kinds of events the fun part is chasing your peeps around town and then waiting for them to pass before moving down the route to see them pass by again.  Having been crazy enough to run a 1/2 marathon myself, I know how important this kind of along the route support is.  We saw Lindsey at mile 3, 5, 7 and we missed her at 10 but caught up with her again at the finish.  She met her goal of under 2 hours, with a time of 1:59:38, finishing 112th of 516 female finishers.  Fantastic! 

Twenty-three years ago we had fear that she might not ever be able to walk normally.  Lindsey was born at 5lb. 2 oz. full-term.  Her little life started out with a few complications because of her low birth weight and not being able to put on weight like the doctors wanted her to.  But at three weeks, I took her in with a red, swollen leg.  It turned out she had a broken femur.  There was, and still is no explanation as to how this happen to my baby girl. 

 
My little girl who weighed less than 6 lbs at the time was in a full body cast for four weeks.  What a mess.  Trying to keep an infant clean and happy when you cannot even snuggle her like you want to was hard, not to mention the emotioal stuff that came along with this whole event.  We made it through that difficult time only to have her walk with a limp two years later.  After a couple of adjustments at a chiropractor, you would never know that she had ever had a broken leg.  The worries of yesterday, turned into the victory of today to see her achieve such a goal. We are so proud of you, Lindsey!

Not Too Close, Please

I have to say, there is a small group of people that really know me and I think that they would agree that I really know them.   Some are in my family and others are people that I have chosen to be a part of my "family".  When we allow people to be close enough to really get to know us, they can tell by our expressions and body language what we are thinking and feeling.  This can be a good thing when you are in a group, someone else is talking, and your spouse gives you a look and you know exactly what they are thinking about what is being said.  Or, you and friend can be walking in a crowd, you pass someone, you both look at each other and just crack up knowing exactly what they are thinking without saying a word.  I love having people in my life that I can do this with.  However, there are people that never allow others to get too close.  They have walls up for whatever reason and just don't know what they are missing out on.  In fact, they may feel they are not missing out at all and wonder what the big deal about "living in community" is all about.  I want others to experience a close circle of friends that they can depend on in good times and bad.  Although, I am not the kind of person to give up easily, I do respect, "not too close, please" when I see it.  How can I make a difference to that "not too close, please" person?  Something I have been thinking a lot about lately.

DIY ~ Cute Cast

During our snow storm last we week when we were stuck in the house, Lindsey and I were bored and needed to come up with something creative to do.  She had just had her cast replaced and it was just plain white.  Empty space means a place to be creative.  Grandma was working on a quilt and she had some scrapes of fabric hanging around.  So we had the idea of Mod Podging Lindsey's cast with the quilt scrapes.

 
We began by cutting out the flowers from the scrape fabric.

 
Then using the Mod Podge and a sponge brush we started to cover the cast with the flowers being careful to smoothe out the fabric and overlap as we went.  We coverd the whole cast leaving the inside of the palm clear. 

 

Lindsey then used a blow dryer to set the Mod Podge.  We then put a second coat on just to make sure that all of the edges of fabric were well secured.

 
And there you have it a DIY cute cast.

I am participating in the following link ups: The DIY Showoff, Its so Very Cheri, Skip to My Lou, Today's Creative Blog

Bird Watching + Star Gazing = Empty Nesters

Forever, Jeff has wanted a telescope.  So when a friend of ours offered to give him this refurbished telescope, he was over the moon, ha, ha.  Just so no one gets any weired ideas, this window does not face any houses, but into a field across the road from us,  so there is no peeping going on here.  Our kids are so making fun of us saying that we started out with just a bird feeder and watching the birds that gathered in the yard and now we are looking at the stars.  This is really an empty nester kind of thing.  Next thing they know, we will be booking our Fall foliage tour.  But looking at the stars is awesome.  Although we do live on the edge of town, there still is too much light pollution to see very much from our house.  But the other morning we were able to get a great look at the moon.  Soon we are going to pack up our new telescope and take it out to the country and do some real star gazing.  Maybe a little wine and cheese, sounds like a date to me, not an empty nester thing:o)

Breath of Heaven

One year ago today my Dad took his first breath of heaven.  I imagine it was a long, full, deep, breath like none he had for quite some time as he had interstitial lung disease.  This last year has been full of firsts without Dad there to offer loving encouragement, share is his wisdom, prepare the boats for fishing, and not the least of which was to tell me how beautiful I am ever time I saw him.  Together my Mom, sisters and I, as well as family and friends, have navigated these days and have made it through with the comfort in knowing that this is not all there is.  We too will one day take a breath of heaven and Dad will be there cheering us through those pearly gates.  The memory of that last evening together as Dad prayed and blessed each one of his children and grandchildren knowing that he would soon be taking that first wonderful breath of heaven is one that is sweet and I hold very dear.   Although I know that this will not be my last experience of loosing someone I love so dearly, I do know now that I have a God that is way bigger than death and all the sorrow that comes with it. 

New Christmas Traditions

We have started a new Christmas tradition this year.  We did a balloon launch in memory of my Dad on Christmas morning.  My sister, Lori, and her family were in the state of Washington so we got on thephone with them and they launched their balloons on the side of interstate 5 as they were traveling to the Christmas day destination.  We have decided that we will conintue this tradition in memory of those in our family that go to heaven before us and that way we are able to include them in our Christmas celebration.

 
We each wrote a message on our balloons.

 
 
We all went out into the backyard and released our balloons cheering and saying merry Christmas, as Lori and her family did same along interstate 5. 

 
We stood and watched as the balloons rose higher and higher into the sky until eventually they were no longer visable. 

 
Our Christmas memory of 2010 was made richer by adding this new tradtion.  Although we miss my Dad, we know that his first Christmas in heaven was more that we could ever imagine.

Annual Christmas Light Tour

Every year our family goes on a Christmas light tour here in Kansas City.  This tradition used to be part of Jeff's birthday celebration but when the kids started college this little outing has moved to later in the month.  Anna  is our guide as she is the one that does all the research and maps out our route for the evening.  She has even been known to preview her selections before presenting them to the family.  Always our first stop and one that we have been visiting for 25 years, is Mike Badick's, Falmouth display.  This is your epitome of cheesy 1950's christmas display.

 
You can't imagine Lindsey and Anna's surprise and excitement when an elf came out of the house and was willing to get his picture taken with them.  These 20 somethings are easily  thrilled when it comes to Christmas.  As we drove away,  Anna said that she feels like she has to defend this display every year as we all laugh and shake our heads.  What are people thinking?

 

Our next stop was the Dorr Family at 7909 Fontana Street in Prairie village.  Their display is put to music when you tune your radio into the right station.  The little children light up and introduce each music selection.  They accept donations with 100% of the proceeds going to the Children's Miracle Network.

 

If there is only one display you can make it to the Vince & Associates building at 103rd and Metcalf is one you do not want to miss.  This picture is from 2008 and the display is much bigger this year.  They too have you tune into a radio station and have a great playlist that makes the lights dance.

 

For a high tech Christmas display, you might want to make your way over to the Callegari place in the 6600 block of west 131st Street in Leawood.  They have a tree that is covered with LED lights and shows pictures of the songs that you hear as you tune in with your radio.   

 
One of our last stops last night was 8500 W. 129th Terrace in Overland Park.  There is a whole list of Christmas light displays on line,  the best list according to Anna can be found here.  Have a great time looking at the lights and just a suggestion, Laura Little's Candies has made our tour several years as a place to stop and get some great homemade chocolates to sweeten the tour.

My First Christmas In Heaven

 

My First Christmas in Heaven

 

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below

With tiny lights, like Heaven's stars reflecting on the snow.

The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away the tear

For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

 

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear

But the sounds of music can't compare with the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring,

For it is beyond description, to hear the angels sing.

 

I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart,

But I am not so far away, We really aren't apart.

So be happy for me dear ones, You know I hold you dear.

And be glad I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

 

I sent you each a special gift, from my heavenly home above.

I sent you each a memory of my undying love.

After all, love is a gift more precious than pure gold.

It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.

 

Please love and keep each other, as my Father said to do,

For I can't count the blessing or love He has for each of you.

So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear,

Remember, I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year!

 

This poem was sent to me from my friend, Donna.  Our family talks about what holidays must be like in heaven for Dad.  Seriously, Christmas with Jesus, angles, and streets of gold, how can our mere attempt at holiday decorations compare?

Why I Celebrate Christmas

I believe that in the business of the Christmas season I often forget what my celebration is really all about.  Even as a follower of Christ, I am  sucked into all of the activities of our Christmas holiday that our culture suggests.  Everywhere I look there is a reason to buy gifts, decorate my home, and go to parties.  As my blog and home are here to tell, I love the Christmas season with all of its glitter, sparkle and surprises.  But I have been reflecting today why it is I do all of these things and why the excitement builds as the month of December progresses.  For me, it starts with family and the memories that are involved with the celebration of Christmas.  There is not a Christmas for me that did not include the telling of the first Christmas in Bethlehem.  I began thinking today that even if you do not believe that Jesus is the son of God, you celebrate his birth everyday of the year.  Our calendar is based on the birth of Christ and there is no getting away from that.  Today my heart is happy that Jesus was born and brought with him the gift of grace and forgiveness. That is why I celebrate Christmas!!!!

Its a "Deer" Christmas Tour

Helping our daughter, Lindsey, decorate for Christmas for the first time in her own home was such a hoot.  Lindsey has always been that daughter who has made fun of all the Christmas decorations that I have.  Well, after our afternoon of decorating her home for the first time, she has no room to talk.  Seriously, what gal starts off with her first Christmas on her own, not only with a coordinated Christmas, but so much to decorate with? Boy, was she happy with all of the leftovers from my house that I have been saving for just such a time that she would need them in her own home.  Of course, she had to start with her "deer" friend and get her spruced up for the season. 

 
This is the Christmas tree that has been in Lindsey's room since she was a girl.  It has been in the window of her room at home, as well as adorned her dorm rooms at college as well.

 
Lindsey has been accumulating pink Christmas things since I brought the pink tree home to her years ago.

 
Nothing better than the glow of pink lights.

 
Her hearth looks so cozy. We painted the garland silver along with my painted Christmas trees. I love the way it turned out.  It looks so vintage.

 
Digging through my linens, Lindsey found a bunch of these quilt squares that I had picked up at an auction a long time ago.  She sewed the corners together and made a garland and added it to the painted garland.

 
Her vintage and pink deer collection sure came in handy to add to all of the Christmas things going on the mantel.

 

Again, digging through my old Christmas things, Lindsey found these very old Christmas light bulbs that were given to me by my Mom and they were given to her by her Dad.  My Grandpa had them hanging on their mobile home when I was a kid, so that dates them back to at least the 70's.  Now I am not sure why I still have them, as I am sure they no longer meet the safety standards of today, but don't they look great just sitting in this bowl.  Grandpa Nelson would be proud.

 
Now we get to the tree.  This was a tree I purchased about 20 years ago at Wal-Mart for $19.99.  It was the first "second" tree I ever had.  Not being satisfied with the green color, Lindsey took my lead and painted it a very nice ballet pink.  Didn't it turn out fabulous?

 
To wrap up our "deer" Christmas home tour is her peace wreath that she made out of Target dollar spot balls. Wow, what a great Christmas home for a young gal.

Linking up to the following Christmas Home Tour link ups:  Between Naps on the Porch, Centsational Girl, Home for the Holidays, Its Fun to Craft

Painted Christmas Trees

Last year was the first year that I had acquired enough pink Christmas things to make part of our home pink for Christmas, click here and here to see what I did last year.  It has been mostly contained to the dinning room, but with the front door once again a great shade of pink, the porch has become a very fun pink winter wonderland.  I wanted to change up the look and really wanted some sliver trees but could not justify buying anymore trees, let alone explaining that one to Jeff. 

 
So I figured, I have some silver spray paint in my studio, why not try a little on the small trees on the front porch.  I tested it first on a small piece of greenery to make sure the spray paint did not melt the plastic or do anything crazy.  And it worked, so I went to town with the painting.

 
Once I saw the transformation, I absolutely love it and knew that it would be the perfect change to the front porch and make those pink accents pop.

 
The end result truly looked like the vintage tinsel trees from back in the day.  I not only paint my two trees but a wreath as well.

 
Who knew that spray paint could change a Christmas tree?  Again, Jeff doubted the outcome of my shenanigans with spray paint, and once again he is shocked that it really did work.

 
Next year I just might be brave enough to tackle the giant wreath above the door.

I am linking to the following link up parties: Its So Very Cheri, The DIY Showoff, The Girl Creative, Cross My Hooks, Between Naps On the Porch, Keeping It Simple, Dittle Dattle, Skip to My Lou, Coastal Charm, Today's Creative Blog, Centsational Girl, Somewhat Simple, Blue Cricket Designs, All Things Heart & Home, Nikkis Nifty Knacks, Trendy Treeehouse, Sew Woodsy, Fine Craft Guild, Creations By Kara, The Thrifty Home, Fireflies and Jellybeans, Life as Lori, Tales from Bloggeritavile, Wildflowers and Whimsy, The Shabby Chic Cottage, Paisley Passions, The Shabby Nest, Truly Lovely