Finishing Touches (Bathroom Remodel)

This post is a little late, but I suppose it's about time I let you all know that I finished remodeling my bathroom.  I should have put this post together way back in the summer but better late than never, right?

After Painting the bathroom and staining the cabinets, all that was left was to add decorations.  I decided to make most of the decorations.  For the wall I took apart a pallet to make a wood sign.  

I painted mason jars to match the bathroom and used them to hold cotton balls and q-tips.  I also found plenty of seashells to use for decorations.

Now that the bathroom is done, and has been done for a while, I guess it's time to find another project to share with you all. 

I feel like I say this in all my post, but I really hope to post more often.  I really want to be active and update you all weekly.  It seems I'm always running low on inspiration.  I'm usually very active on Instagram.  If you have an Instagram please check out my account: @uniquelyhis4ever 

I promise, there will be more posts coming in the near future ;)

God Is In Control

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,

the people whom He has chosen as His heritage" - Psalm 33:12

Today is big day for our nation. Today we get a new president. Looking back over the past year and all the drama that took place with the two candidates, I'm relieved that it's over.

I can't say I'm thrilled about our new president, but I know one thing, and this one thing has been my only comfort throughout the election - God is in control. My hope is not in this country, or in the leaders, my hope is in God.

"Many are the plans in the mind of a man,

but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand." - Proverbs 19:21

Here I am, Lord, Send Me

"And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send and who will go for Us?' Then I said, 'Here I am, send me.' " - Isaiah 6:8 

Hello!  I'm back.  It's a new year! I wish I could say that it's going to be a better year for my blog and that I will be posting more regularly.  I promise, I will try. But one thing I'm learning is that I have no control over each day.  I make plans, but it is God's plans that ultimately succeed.  It's already halfway through January and this week is the first week in a long time that actually feels normal.

I am beyond blessed in so may ways this new year.  This morning I had a wonderful quiet time with God as I read Isaiah 6.  Lately, I have been struggling with my morning devotions.  But God was very near to me this morning as I studied His word. Isaiah isn't the easiest book to understand but with the help of a commentary God revealed to me so many little nuggets of truth from His word. I just have to share.

It was with a humble heart Isaiah willingly cried out to God, 'Here I am, send me.' He was ready and willing to do whatever God would ask of him. But it was only after Isaiah realized how unworthy he was and after God cleansed him that he was ready to serve God in this way.

Just like Isaiah, we need to be humbled before we can be used by God.  God isn't looking for mighty men and women who are capable of everything and never fail.  God wants the willing, the humble, the weak.  He wants sinners saved by His amazing grace.  Each day I am in awe at how amazing God is and disgusted at how unworthy I am.  But God loves me even though I fail Him everyday.  And God loves you no matter how far you think you have fallen.

God doesn't look for those who are equipped.  I love the saying,  'God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called.'  God is looking for volunteers, not robots.  When we humbly cry out to God with a willing heart God hears and God answers.  God wants to use you.  He wants to use me. But we need to be willing to go wherever it is that God will take us.

 Oh, may that be my cry also, "God teach me to be humble. Thank you for saving me even though I don't deserve Your love. Fill me Lord with a willing spirit that longs to do Your will. May I cry out to you each day, here I am, Lord, send me."

Finding the Perfect Tree

For as long as I can remember my family has always done fake Christmas trees.  We've never had a real tree.  Yes, fake is easy, and it is probably cheaper, but I think there is something special about going to a Christmas tree farm with the family and picking out a real fir tree.

I guess all my persistence in the past has paid off because this year I was finally able to convince my family that we should do a real tree. It's crazy to think that we live less than twenty minutes away from dozens of family-owned tree farms and we've always done a fake tree.

On Friday we all loaded up in our car and headed out on the search to find our tree.

Since this was our first time picking out a real tree none of us really knew what to expect.

There were so many trees to pick from, it was almost overwhelming.  Trees of all kinds, different shapes and sizes.

After about an hour and a half of looking we finally found our tree! And our tree ended up being over ten feet tall!

Our outing was a wonderful success.  We found our tree and even though it took longer than we expected, we all had a wonderful time together as a family.  Lots of memories were made.

Now I can finally say that it feels like Christmas at our house. Hopefully picking out a real tree each year will become a new family tradition. 

What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions?  Which is better, a real tree or a fake better tree? Why?

DIY - Hand Lettered Ornaments

Even though I'm excited that Christmas season is finally here again, I'm sad to say that I'm little bit late in getting our Christmas decorations up this year.  Usually my family sets up everything for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving.  Well, I think Thanksgiving must have come early this year because it can't be Christmas season already?  

To be honest, it's really hard to get into the Christmas spirit when you don't have a tree yet. This weekend we are planning to find the perfect tree for our house but in the meantime, our house is lacking the Christmas feel.  

Well, anyway, each year I set up a small white tree in my room.  As I was setting up the tree the other day I realized that I wasn't happy anymore with the same decorations we use every year.  The tree needed something new this year. Grabbing all my lettering supplies I went to work on fixing this problem by creating my own homemade ornaments.

I decided to make these ornaments very simple.  Mainly because I didn't really want to spend all day making them. First, I simply cut out small squares and circles in thick card stock paper.

After I cut out the shapes I used my watercolor markers and wrote quotes from my  favorite Christmas songs on each cut out.  You can use any markers.  I enjoy using markers that have a brush tip so you can make your lettering look like calligraphy.  

I had fun thinking of creative ways to write out each one.  Once I finished I punched a small hole in the top and strung some cord through.

After I hung these ornaments on the tree I knew that these amazingly simple and fun ornaments were just what my tree was missing.  

Now to finish the rest of the Christmas decorating. Before long Christmas will be here and I'm already feeling overwhelmed at how fast time is flying by.  But I hope you have a blessed Christmas season, and I wish you joy as you tackle all the decorating. 

Welcome Winter

The first snow of the season has turned our yard into a small winter wonderland.  It may only be four inches, but it's enough to fill me with excitement at the sight of the huge snowflakes falling from the sky.

As I survey our yard I'm amazed at how quickly the world is covered in this cold white blanket of snow.  It's truly a beautiful sight.

"Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow" Isaiah 1:18

What a wonderful reminder the snow is; that we can be made white as snow because of what God has done for us.  

With the Christmas season now fast approaching let us never forget the reason for the season; Jesus coming into the world to save sinners.  May the snow always be a beautiful reminder to you of Gods great love.

A Simple Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!  The pumpkin pies are out of the oven and ready for tonight.  I'm doing my best at creating a gluten free apple pie crust. The house is beginning to smell like turkey and slowly but surely our Thanksgiving dinner is coming together.

This year's Thanksgiving for my family is simple.  No huge family reunion, it's just my family this year for Thanksgiving.  But I believe it's the simple things in life that are the most beautiful.

It's when we have little that we are able to look around and be thankful for much.  God has blessed me in so many ways this year and I can't wait to see how he will bless me even more in the year to come.

I hope this Thanksgiving you remember take the time to count your many blessings. There is always something to be thankful for each and every day.

"Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is good his steadfast Love endures forever."  1 Chronicles 16:34