The Downtown Farmhouse

This is my cousin. The girl, not the boy.

She is more like a sister. I don’t have any of those. We don’t get to talk often or see each other very much, but you know when you have “that person” you just connect with. She’s that girl.

Before house renovation life began, we actually had family visit and we laughed and had fun. We went out to eat and played cards. That life……coming back baby.

Jamie lives in Ohio. She was visiting Florida and staying with us.

I was gardening, like a real vegetable garden, and I mentioned that I would one day like to have chickens. I had heard that chickens eat bugs that would normally eat your vegetables. That’s one reason I wanted a chicken. I also think they are cute. Her name would be Betty. She would have a plume of feathers that come out of her head like a hat.

Jamie thought it was a great idea.

Steve….not so much. No chickens Charma. Chickens are dirty. Chickens are not for people who live in town and so on and so on and so on. Those who know Steve can already see “the face.” His forehead wrinkles up and he tries to look stern. Whatever……

Jamie comes in one from shopping and hands me “The chicken.” Made me laugh. It’s not Betty but if I can’t have a real chicken it’ll do.

Now I can’t show you the chicken because there is way more to the story.

Jamie later found out that she had cancer. Cancer that you don’t survive from.

She had surgeries and treatments. She had relapses and she was so sick.

She had so much of her pancreas removed that I didn’t know you could survive with only a small percentage.

I will never forget one time when she came to visit after one of her surgeries. She was trying to figure out what she could eat and what she couldn’t. The ride home from the airport was scary. She asked if we could stop at a rest area. She went in and stayed. I did’t know what to do. Should I go in? Should I make sure she was ok? So I did.

I called to her. She was ok. Gosh I was scared.

What now? I wait. That’s what you do. I knew that she was worried about being so long. I started to pray. I prayed that she wouldn’t worry. I prayed that she would stop being sick. I prayed that she would pray.

Fast forward to 2016. Jamie is healed.

Jamie is married to a wonderful guy.

Jamie is a Christ follower.

So the chicken has special meaning to me. When I see the chicken I don’t just see a chicken statue or a dust collector. I see a miracle. I see the love of Jesus and his anointing on my cousin/sister. I see so much more than just a chicken.

The chicken does not have a place yet at the old house. When her place is chosen, you will see her.

Love,

the girl who is still “one” with the floors. One room to go!!!!

When we sold our house in 2015, we moved to my mom and dads house. It was supposed to be VERY short term. Maybe 6 weeks or so. I’m laughing so hard as I write because we were there 16 months. Thank you Mom and Dad for allowing our crew to invade your home. We had stuff absolutely everywhere.

Steve and I lived in a bedroom. It wasn’t large and it wasn’t small. When you live in one bedroom you must only have the bare easentials. So most of our stuff went into storage. The biggest storage unit available was rented. Because you know I have a chair sickness and all my lovelies needed to be stored.

Laat Saturday we were able to close out the storage unit. What a sweet monthly raise we received. Storage units are a blessing and a curse all at the same time!  It was like Christmas. I squealed as boxes were removed from the unit. They had my handwriting all over them. Charma’s shoes!!! Charma’s dresses! Charma’s hoodies! Yes I have a whole box of hoodies and bathing suits. I’m not ashamed.

“Steve where are your clothes boxes?”

“I only had a couple of boxes that went storage,  most of my clothes fit in the closet at mom and dads.”

“Whoa…….ok.”

Thank  you to our sweet friends and family who show up on a Saturday in sweltering July to help us move. For some it was the third time. You all deserve so much more than what I can physically give you. I’ll speak to Jesus when I get the heaven.

As the week has progressed it has been so exciting to open boxes and see our belongings. It’s going  to be so fun decorating this big house.

It seems as there there might be a problem. My clothes…..Steve might have had all of his at the house but mine have been showing up everywhere. Not only from our closet at mom and dads. But boxes and boxes and boxes. There are suitcases full. Every time we clean out another area “hey here’s another box/bag/suitcase/purse/backpack full of your clothes. I try not to smile because I know someone might be annoyed. Bring it on people. I’m wallowing in my new wardrobe.

The only problem would be the new house closet. Designing and putting in a new closet system has not been a priority. Ain’t nobody from the wedding going in my closet!!! So…….here is the current closet. You should see me trying to find clothes for work. Cause you know I am not wearing old stuff!!!

Love,

the girl who will be wearing a new /old dress to church tomorrow

There are so many things.

It is incredibly difficult not to get caught up in the amount of things that need to be done.

Our old house is the wedding venue.

We moved 5 days ago and the venue kind of looks like a hurricane blew through

We have  out of town guests coming to the wedding  however their are no doors on the bedrooms. Oh. And there aren’t any beds either.

The ceremony will take place on the front porch. Here currently is the front porch except this picture was night before last. As of last night. The entire floor is gone.

There are so many details that go into a wedding. Ours isn’t the first wedding for goodness sake so I know it will be ok. They will still be married when it’s over. My attention to detail is in hyper drive right now. It’s how I roll and did I tell you, August 20th I have declared Charma Day?  I’m checking out for the day. I can’t hardly wait. The wedding will be over and it will have been fabulous, Courtney and Justin will be on their honeymoon,  Steve’s surgery will be over (more on that later) and hopefully the house will be in some semblance of order cause we just had a wedding.

When I woke up this morning, immediately  “the list” comes to mind. What needs to be done today and why aren’t there more hours in the day?  I reach over and check on my sleeping husband because there is so much stress in his life I make sure he’s still breathing. I pray for him. This life, this roller coaster ride is about to change. It’s been fun and I would not have changed a thing, but it’s time to get off. I want to ride on the lazy river for a while. After I push the list from my brain, the day of  events is played over. Not my day but those in my life. I have a friend starting chemo today. So many new things in their life. Not fabulous, wonderful things but scary, terrifying things. Stop and pray for their day. People in my circle are looking for homes, selling homes, their marriages are not what they want it to be, there is sadness and heartache everywhere. Pray Charma. God’s got this. He knows the hairs on our heads, He loves us and has our stories already written. I know all this, without a doubt. However every day, sometimes every minute a reminder is needed.

I spoke to a friend this week and as her story unfolded she spoke of a transition with her son  and how she used this time as an example of faith with another mother going through the same thing. Our stories matter. We live through things to have a testimony of how God got us through. I’m always amazed at His faithfulness.

So as this day starts and the list has now returned I will remember yesterday when Justin and I spoke of his vows he recently written. I was blown away that he asked me to read what he had written. Me. His almost Mom was able to read a little into his heart. His words were beautiful.

Today I will keep into perspective the real reason for the hard work, time and worry that goes into this wedding day. Not because the guest list has grown and we don’t have enough tables or chairs, not because I’m freaking out over the menu, not because the porch currently doesn’t have a floor and that’s where the bride needs to stand but because God has blessed our family so incredibly much. We are gaining a new son.

And my list will begin with prayer for my sweet friend and her family that will journey into chemo today. You can pray too. It’s easy. Let’s pray together.

Father God today is a big day in the lives of my friends. Please calm their nerves and as that healing medicine runs through her body today, be very present. Allow her to feel as if you are sitting right next to her. Give her the peace to know that you’ve got this. You love her more than anyone else. Allow those around her to be used as vessels for you. Be very present in her husband and in her children.  Give them the strength they need in whatever situation that is. Bring people into their lives that can provide whatever it is they need. I ask all these things and so much more. I love you. Amen

well I gotta go and write down the list running through my head.

You all have a wonderful Thursday!

Love,

the girl listening to her husband and the dog snore.

The outside……finally the outside.

The exterior. The grass. The plants. OMG landscaping and flowers!

A few weeks ago, we were able to have sod laid in the back yard. Now those of you who have been around the blog, remember the backyard looked like Jumangi? Large scary vines with weird flower like heads. Half dead trees and weeds completely covering the backyard. Here is just a sampling of the atrocity we called our backyard.

Fast forward a few months. Many tress are gone, a crew of people with large machinery came through  and leveled it out, brought in 3, yes 3 dump trucks of dirt and finally glorious sod. The backyard now does not resemble a horror movie that in would be afraid to get lost in.  It’s now pretty much a football field  of grass. Luxurious and ready for a very large tent to be put up in 2 weeks and 5 days.

There are still flowers to plant around trees and mulch to be laid but can you say improvement?

The front yard has also come full circle. It still has a ways to go, but there is no comparison from before to after.

Notice on your right the greenery? Yeah that’s not flowers or even plants. Weeds people, weeds.

More weeds and other NON beauties. Can you see the blue porch ceiling? Makes me happy.

There is still sod to go in on either side but we now have roses, per my request, because what old farmhouse doesn’t have roses? The sidewalk going up to the porch is the wedding aisle.

We also have Red Crepe Myrtle trees.

We have azaleas and more roses. We have a hedge to cover the air conditioners and just look at that Magnolia Tree. One day soon as I look at the kitchen window, there will be Magnolia flowers to view. LOVE.

And now for the commercial. You all know how much we DIY EVERYTHING. However will the wedding so close we called our friends Jireh Custom Landscape to come and landscape the front and sides. They were A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. Anything landscape oriented, they are the people for you. They also specialize in hardscape items. Stay tuned for more information.

Wedding preparation is in full swing. Interested in watching the nuptials via live feed, let me know and I’ll give you the details.

Love,

C-Dawn who is still one with the floor

Our fireplaces are 113 years old. They are old and beautiful and kind of falling apart. We will be repairing them and one day they will be a show stopper. The chimneys were covered up on the top, to an extent. Steve went up, yes way up, and put some additional coverage on the top.

Fast forward a week. Noises were coming from the chimney. Sounded a little like birds.

Fast forward a couple of days. There was a bird. In the house. A black bird, not too big not too small. It seemed harmless. Steve grabbed it in a towel and took it outside and set it free. Done. The end.

Not so much.

The next day there was another bird

And the next day another bird.

Then one day, friends were over and I was showing them around. There was much noise coming from the fireplace in the family room. For good reason.

4 baby birds were hanging out in various places.

Thank goodness for friends who are not afraid of birds. They were scooped up gingerly in a towel and placed in a bucket outside. We hoped that Momma bird would find them and want to be their Momma again. However we had 4 baby bird funerals.

Fast forward a week. We only had 1 more bird in the house. Thank you Chris for being so bird brave and removing yet another bird from my house.

I am starting to think we are in a very bad movie and plans for moving in are in the near future. All I can think about is waking up with a bird in my room hovering over me while I sleep. Or turning a light on a bird welcoming me very unwelcomingly.

A couple of days goes by, no birds. I am hopeful that the bird invasion of 2016 is over.
Steve and I are working in our bedroom. We walk back and forth talking about this and that. Steve goes one way and I go the other.

I turn around to go back into our room and BOOM. A stinking bird is hanging onto  the doorframe. I might have had to add money to the swear jar.

Thankfully we have gone an entire week with no birds. Fireplace caps are currently being made.

Love,

The girl who will not be staring in a remake of ‘The Birds.”

For weeks now, my job has been floors.
All the floors had to be fine sanded, swept, mopped, swept, stained x 2, polyurethaned, sanded and polyurethaned again x 3. It’s a huge job what hasn’t been. I only want to do the floors ONE TIME. I want them to be beautiful for as long as we live there. Do it right the first time.

During my many hours of “floors” I have solved the world’s problems. I have decided on wedding table centerpieces, I have single handedly figured out the table set up for the tent. I have practiced my worship music religiously, surely driving others in the house at the same time to utter disgust of the songs that I sing over and over and over again. The week we sang It is Well by Bethel I think I played it 1000 times. Actually it’s not stopped even though it was 2 Sunday’s ago.

I however still do not know how to wear my hair for the wedding, when I am going to find time to buy shoes for my dress and wait for it………….stain or paint the front porch floor. If we divorce it will be because of a porch floor.

I am and will forever be a control freak. I am not justifying my behavior but sometimes my family, I am sure, just rolls with it. The floors have been that time.

“Hey is there something I can do on the floors while you are at work?”

“No thank you, I’ve got it.”

“Can I do the second coat of stain on the floors tomorrow?”

“No thank you, I’ve got it.”

Ok so you get the idea. I will be doing the floors. I might not be able to stand upright when I am finished because I sit on the floor hunched over, scooting around on the softest part of me. I have also ruined 2 pairs of my shorts with this maneuver.

As of today, I have completed our Master Bedroom, the Mudroom,Mom and Dad’s bedroom and the pantry. The parlor has one coat of polyurethane with 2 more to go. Today I stained the kitchen and the family room. Tomorrow I will complete staining the family room and hopefully by Monday, poly will be complete. That leaves me the dining room, Mom and Dad’s family room and kitchen.

This is the parlor. The floors are the original oak. They are not perfect, but they are perfect if you get what I mean. I love the imperfections. See my Yeti?  Not a good place for your cup when the floors are wet.

I have never said I was a neat stainer.

This is the family room with one coat of stain.

The view from the floor is looking pretty good.

thanks for reading,

Charma Dawn, the girl who took a bath in nail polish remover tonight.