Saint Patty's Day Mantle

Thought I'd *CHEER* you up with some fun, colorful Mantle decor! :)








Be Blessed! 
The DIY Wifey,
 

God & Good Christian Sex...

Life is a miraculous journey of discovering more of who God is and who we are in God’s eyes.   Our class’ definition of ‘spirituality’ is: that spirituality is our response to a deep and mysterious yearning for self-transcendence and surrender.  We deeply yearn for God as we were created to do.  

There is a similar cycle in our physical life that corresponds to and symbolically represents our spiritual life in our belief of eternal life through Jesus Christ. In our physical life’s journey, we are born from man and woman and we cleave to our parents for life’s nutrition, safety and security out of our infancy and dependance.  Then there comes a time when we are compelled to leave our parent’s side, become self-aware, find our sense of identity and cling to a mate, becoming one flesh through the holy covenant of marriage.  In marriage, the desire to become one flesh is an all-encompassing and compelling magnetic pull to the ultimate bond of this physical life.   It is not simply a one-time desire, it is a desire that never goes away, that is always present and ever powerful.  Intimacy never loses its glimmer in the eyes of the beloved, and the lover.   There is an irrefutable desire, passion and untied love leading up to a climax of a consistent, healthy, marital union.  There comes a point in each intimate relation in which both the female and the male have to fully give up themselves, give into their body’s desire, and surrender completely to the experience of becoming one flesh with their lover --or their beloved.  The male fills the female, physically and emotionally, as he is completely fulfilled as well.  Such a beautiful image of love, a beautiful intertwining design of self transcendence and erotic passion.  

This cycle of leaving, cleaving, and becoming one flesh is God’s masterpiece in helping his creations have a relatable experience to his design for His son, and for us--His children.  God desires to be our lover, to fill us completely and for us to be completely self transcendent and satisfied in Him.  In the same way, God created his son Jesus Christ out of love, then allowed Jesus to leave His sight and become fully human, dying on the cross.  Once resurrected, Jesus clung to God again, and they are forevermore fully united and satisfied.  This bond is completely beyond our comprehension, with the exception of our limited understanding of the parallels between this cycle and our own flesh’s cycle of leaving, clinging and becoming one flesh in a marital bond.  Spiritually, God designs us to leave the physical world after fulfilling His purpose for us and return to cleave to our creator and become one flesh in complete satisfaction and purity.   In worship, prayer, and through using our spiritual gifts we desire to be completely care free and focused on God, our love for Him, His love for us, and His majesty.  Much like in erotic passion, where we give ourselves--physically, mentally, emotionally--for the sake of erotic pleasure of our mate and ourselves, we go through the same process in our practice of worshiping God.  Again, there is a strong parallel between the most passionate experience we can have in the physical life and our spiritual act of worship.   Romans 12:1-3 says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”  God desires complete transparency  and vulnerability, as do our lovers, so that He can more show us Himself and His will.  This is giving ourselves completely for His cause, His love and being self transcendent in the experience with our creator. 

How beautiful His plan was, is, and always will be, from the beginning of time through eternity.


I don't own this image it's found on this site.


Is this new to you? Or did you already know this? 


Be Blessed! 
The DIY Wifey,
 

Mantle makeover

well...Here's what I've done with them so far!



Eventually, they'll be for a nursery. but for now, they're something I just want to look at! :) so the living room it is!


UPDATE: here's my valentine's day decor...it only took a few minutes, and it's simply precious! I used our wedding vows for the chain, and vintage photographs in two of the frames. then I just taped hearts on branches to make what my husband calls "a love tree" :) ...I know you won't enjoy this nearly as much as I do, but here it is anyway :)







Be Blessed! 
The DIY Wifey,
 

Old Record Player turned DVD storage unit

This is a record player I got at the goodwill. Do you remember it from this post? Well, It doesn't work because of a few reasons. long story. But what a great opportunity to up-cycle it!

 


DEMOLITION! ...we decided to gut it so that we could make it a DVD storage unit :)



...peek-a-boo!


Here it is just about all gutted out!



 I got smart this time: $6.00 spray paint handle from LOWES=totalllly worth every penny. 
The spray paint I  used was from Lowes, It was just a simple Satin Finish... "Valspar Interior white spray paint"











It didn't need much sanding at all... I had to stop myself. :)
Having too much fun!

The Lamp was a project I made as well...you can see how I did it by  CLICKING THIS POST HERE. :)

...and inside?!?!?! My favorite part is being so organized! (that never happens with us creative gals.)


wah-lah!...

I had debated finishing off the hole...but then all that space would have gone to waste since the front "doors" were fake (they didn't open)...

& wah-lah again!


Be Blessed!
 The DIY Wifey,

 

My buttons





If you've been featured, go ahead and grab one of these buttons!
 
 










Hidden Treasure

Look at the goodies I found this week...
 You wouldn't believe what I paid for them. Let me give you a hint. 
My total for all of it, (at separate shops, came to under $15.00.
 yup. it's ok to hate me temporarily. :) I would!
WHAT should I DO with this Treasure?! Your ideas?




 Wallpaper...

 I snatched 10 antique stains/glazes and wood stains!



Can't wait to read what you come up with!?!?!?

Be Blessed! 
The DIY Wifey,
 

Award Time...{&curtsy}

How thrilling is it to be spotlighted for your very own blog glory?

...um...I’d say pretty thrilling!

I was just awarded with the “I love this blog” award from [My Strand of Pearls]! I am so humbled, what shall I even say? :) Thank you for awarding me with this blogger-like golden globe. You all are my inspiration not only in my home but in my heart as well. Life is good, guys. Life is good.


I would have never entered the blogging world if it hadn’t been for our infertility.

Infertility INSPIRES!

It inspired me to dig deep and find my true love: DIY hobbies! ...and that inspired me to make a blog about DISTRESSING & DE-STRESSING...through DIY projects!


Situations---such as our journey battling infertility--are not fair, but God is still God, and God is still GOOD! :)


So, here’s how this award works:

1. thank and link back to the person who gave you the award.
2. share 7 things about yourself.
3. award some recently discovered bloggers that are deserving.
4. contact those bloggers and let them know about the award.

My 7 things about myself:

  1. My favorite color: Royal Purple!
  2. My favorite tool: paint brush
  3. My favorite movie: Father of the Bride II {That nursery is gorge!}
  4. My favorite thing about Trying to Conceive: It’s. only. Temporary.
  5. My favorite thing to do to pass the time: Go Antique Store hopping...but of course!
  6. My favorite Instrument: the VIOLIN! I’ve been playing violin since I was 5.
  7. What I love most about blogging: Making friends :) (((blog hug!)))


What a fun way to feel special! Thank you ladies! I am officially awarding these bloggers the “I love this blog” award! Congrats ladies!!!

  1. Jennifer , The Classic Crafter I love her clean, simplistic view on blogging! So refreshing! Way to go Jen!
  2. Blue Eyed Yonder How crafty is she?! Hello...can you say "BOOKMARKED?!" :) AWESOME work!
  3. Michelle & Lisa, at Urban Farmhouse I featured her in this post, but see for yourself why they're pretty cool chicks! Nice job ladies!

Be Blessed!
The DIY Wifey,

Featuring a Fab Designer & new friend :)

I’m out of town, like a fish outta water, when her beautiful self made me feel welcomed at her own DIY Design store in Salinas, California.


I felt instantly at home :)

We got to talking--and I learned we have a lot in common!

What is it with us --compulsive DIYer’s--we FIND each other!

And, she simply made my day.

We talked about almost everything DIY from good Paint stores we’ve found to handy tricks of the trade. I officially am in love with her style, and think she’s just a doll! She mentioned that she’s just starting out in the blog world so I gave her the go-to-blog names that we all know and love: Funky Junk Interiors, {show&tell}, Life in the Fun Lane, ...and we even found blogs that we both love, such as: Dreamy Whites...*sigh* :)Go check them out too!

So, I asked her if I could act like paparazzi and shoot a few photos of her darling chic shoppe, and feature her on my blog...she was game! So here we are ladies...


...get ready for some eye candy because this gal knows design!!






{below: she told me her secret to making the top shine a bit: "PLEDGE,"can you believe it!?}





Be Blessed!
The DIY Wifey,