No Need To Explain

Lately I've been feeling a lot of need to justify myself, what I do, how I allocate resources, and what activities I am involved in. Mind you, this justification doesn't usually take place in actual conversation with others as much as in my own head. I was tipped off to this pattern I have when I was getting my hair cut at the cheap hair salon chain down the road last week. Although I didn't actually say anything to the stylist to this effect, I was building my defense in my head. I somehow felt judged as not good enough there because it has been more than a couple months since I've been in for a cut and I don't go for anything too trendy or fun. Just cut the hair, ma'am. It happened again last week when I questioned whether it was enough "just" to be a mom, wife and homemaker without adding anything to the family's financial bottom line. And again today when I stood at our front door and explained to the salesman lots of reasons why I didn't want to purchase the baseball ticket package he was selling.

Why do I always feel the need to explain or justify the life I am living? Is it just that I am overly insecure? Maybe. But it is more likely that I am not resting in the grace of Christ, that He alone makes me acceptable and worthy. He has already been my justification so I don't need to seek acceptance in the opinions of others or trying to fit in to a culture that in many ways has gone crazy. When I am resting in His grace alone, I am both confident and humbled. In this position, I can work out the life He has called me to without being distracted by feeling the need to explain myself to gain acceptance or validation. He is more than enough to make me acceptable. And in that fact, I find freedom.

Happy Birthday, Little Boy!

More than a week ago we celebrated Smiley's first birthday but I haven't had the time to post any pictures from that until now. The week following his birthday has been eventful to say the least. One of these events was him falling down a full flight of stairs in our home. We thank God for His protection over our little boy during that fall. He only suffered a scrape on the nose and was otherwise totally fine. In fact, within 15 minutes he was acting as if nothing had happened and was hamming it up with his siblings and full of laughs.

Smiley's birthday party was at a local park outside of the city with little friends and their mommies. On his actual birthday we enjoyed a quiet celebration at home. He was excited to touch his cake, but not eat it. He's still all about baby food and cheerios. We look forward to the day when he takes to table food.

Smiley has been such a great baby and his disposition is so sweet. He is charming, easy-going, fun, content, not to mention so cute! Of course I'm biased, but I'm supposed to be. We surely do love this little boy and can hardly recall life without him in our family.

Bed for a Princess

More than a year ago I found this bed for our little girl at a garage sale for $15. I bought it so quickly that I didn't notice the burn mark on one of the spindles. My intention was to paint it anyway for Sister's room so I wasn't too disappointed when I discovered that flaw once I got it home. So the bed has been sitting in the basement waiting for the day when I would magically know the right process for refinishing such a piece of furniture. That day never came, but I got tired of having that unfinished project hanging over my head so we headed to the local home improvement store and I picked up a quart of Zinsser 1-2-3 primer and a gallon of the cheapest white semi-gloss they had. I cleaned it and sanded it just a bit, then applied a coat of primer. It was then that I noticed the stamps on the back of the headboard that said "Solid Maple" and "Ethan Allen". I almost felt guilty for painting over a quality piece of furniture like this, but then realized I bought it with painting in mind and the burn mark needed attention in one form or another. Three coats of paint later and here is the finished product. I had been aiming for a bed with this look at a fraction of the price.

Now Sister is finally able to use the comforter I finished making for her more than a year ago, too.
Cost: under $35 for everything, with paint and primer to spare for other projects.
Seeing my girl's excitement in having a big-girl bed that isn't sitting on the floor: Priceless.