The Downtown Farmhouse

I am a high school girls small group leader at Church of Hope. I was hesitant to step into this role. Shouldn’t these girls have a 20 something to lead them? To speak to them about today’s relevant topics? It’s been many years since I was a teenager and even my kids are way past the teenage years. However I stepped into the role with hesitance saying that if at any point I feel like I am not reaching these girls or someone else more suited comes forward, I will quietly step aside. 

I have known Madisons family for as long as we have lived in Ocala. Not only are they family friends, but Mr. is my “boss” and Madison is in my 1440 small group. 

A few days ago, Madison’s mom was in the office and I overhead a conversation. Maddie was bored to death at home during this Christmas vacation. Well……what in the world will we do about that? Thursday’s are my day off and I’m spending the day at home working on projects. Painting something of course!

Me: hey Maddie do you want to come hang with me on Thursday? Bring a project with you, wear old clothes and I’ll show you how to paint.

Madison: yes! I would love too!

Why does it seem so hard that a teenager would want to come spend the day with me? Why would I think a teenager would want to learn how to paint something? Just because it’s what I love to do, doesn’t mean someone else would want to. Because its not about the paint. It’s about the time. It’s about building relationships with people. 

I preach to parents about their children having  a safe place besides them. Kids need someone in their lives beside the parent. Someone they can go to to vent, to get advise, to cry, whatever. And you know what? The parents need it to. My kids both had a “person.” A person I knew would be a safe place. I knew they would give good advise and would love them even when they were stupid. We are all stupid sometimes. So I am living my preaching. I want to be that safe place. If it’s for Maddie, great. If it’s for another high school girl, great. I’m not sure who but I am in this position for a reason and I trust God’s placement. For now or however long.

Now back to Maddie’s paint day!

My favorite things are free. Madison’s mom found this beauty in the neighbors trash. The middle circle was a mirror and it had broken. Come on people, think outside the box. 

Maddie wanted a chalkboard for her room. She cleaned it up, painted the entire thing with primer, painted the metal outside edge with white gloss and then the center was painted with chalkboard paint

It was a day filed with much more than paint lessons. We laughed a lot, we talked and figured out the worlds problems. It was a great day and she finished her new chalkboard. I think they are both beautiful.
Love,

The girl who has a painting partner for next week!

Do you have those evenings when you know sleep is not going to come easily? That’s tonight. 

I’m not a night owl. Not even remotely close. I’m the PJ’s at 7:00 kind of girl. When 10:00 rolls around, most likely I’m heading towards sleepy town USA. But sometimes sleep doesn’t come. 

Why? Not sure. 

Maybe it’s this ridiculous heartburn. 

Maybe it’s almost 2017 and I haven’t picked my word yet. The word for the year is important. It sets the tone. I’m not really into New Years resolutions, but a word for the year for me to resinate on helps me with goals to work on. Ways to better myself. I have a couple of words I’ve been praying over. It will come.

My sleeplessness could be due to the many projects I am currently juggling. Maybe it’s the curtains I’m sewing tomorrow. 

Maybe it’s the cabinet I am putting the second coat of paint on tomorrow. I can’t wait to share this one with you. 

Maybe it’s the floor I am working on Friday morning. Another big reveal is coming. 

Maybe I’m excited about the New Years Eve Eve party we are attending Friday night and maybe it’s the houseguest staying all night. 

Maybe it’s because Steve is home this week. Sometimes staycations are just right. Some people get along better with time away from one another.!Not us. 

Maybe it’s because I can’t wait to put all the Christmas decorations away. No, that is definitely not it.

Maybe it’s the nursery I am designing. The dresser I can’t wait to paint and make into a changing table. The wall treatment, the sign I found an old piece of wood for, the rug I found. 

Maybe it’s none of these things.

Maybe I just need to relax and let things happen without being anxious about them. 

Maybe I will try and sleep now. 

Maybe. 

Last week I was privileged to see baby blueberry on the sonogram. It never never never gets old seeing a brand new life. I remember how excited it was so long ago seeing my babies for the first time and this time was no different.

We had planned a gender reveal celebration with the family that night, so fingers crossed BB would allow us to know his/her gender. The radiology technician was not promising.

BB did not disappoint.

Blueberry is a BOY!!!!

We are over the moon excited and firetrucks and Dallas Cowboy costumes are already on the agenda.

And the nursery design is in full swing. Just a sneak peak at the color scheme.

Merry Christmas friends. You are a blessing

CD

We have a small stairway right off the kitchen. It leads to a small room with it’s own bathroom. It will by far be the best room in the house. It’s quiet. All by itself and it will absolutely be the cutest.

The very first day we visited the old house. Before we ever thought about buying or renovating, we saw naked girls room. Why is it called Naked girls room? thought you’d never ask. This room is located where apartment 1 used to be. The very first visit we were greeted (I say greeted very mildly) by a grumpy woman sitting in the front room. It was very clear that she was not happy with us being there. As we walked towards the rear of her apartment, she very loudly shouted “DO NOT GO UPSTAIRS! MY DAUGHTER IS SLEEPING.”  Yes we heard you……however we are looking at ALL areas of the house since we were potential buyers. We get closer to the stairs and she bellows again “DO NOT GO UPSTAIRS! MY DAUGHTER IS SLEEPING.” Again, we hear but start up the stairs. Well…….Wendy goes up the stairs. I am scared of the mean lady. Wendy gets to the top of the stairs, opens the door and looks inside. I am still trembling at the bottom hoping that mean lady doesn’t come barrelling through the apartment with her knife I know she has and chops me into pieces. Wendy looks down at me and I say “Well, what do you see?” She replies “I see an ass.”

Quietly we retreat from the hidden staircase, finish the tour and head out. Later we discuss the “ass” and determine it was a girl, naked, on a mattress, on the floor. Forever we will refer to this room as “Naked girls room.” Steve has begged that we find another name. We have discussed and tried…..it just doesn’t work. So if you need a place to stay, please know Naked girls room will be your place.

Now lets get to the good stuff.

Naked girls room is now more of a loft area, however because the stairs are hidden, no one will ever see into the room. Instead of a wall and a door, there is a banister with spindles.

I only have a few before pictures and none actually of the room. Those of you who have followed along, there are no surprises. Dirty, stinky, gross and everything had to go.

This pictures shows when The room was open for the world to see. Looking upwards. The kitchen is straight ahead.

Here are the stairs. They now have new treads and a pretty new banister.

Here is where yesterday’s post starts.

Naked Girls room had a little alcove that I knew from the very start I wanted to be a bed.

The room is not huge so putting the bed into a space that did not have any other purpose was the best choice. It was not wide enough for a regular full or queen bed  Two twins would not have fit either. So a platform bed was the solution.

My brilliant husband decided that the bed should have extra storage under the platform so he bought drawer slides and there will now be 2 large drawers under the bed.

Now you can see where the kneeling platforms are.

They were cut down to create a headboard and a sideboard for the bed

I mixed up some paint and gave it a one coater. The head and side board still need to be attached and the end pieces put on. The plywood is already on and it’s getting ready to get a mattress.

More to come in the next few days.

Merry Christmas friends.