"I had the most interesting call today...."

Gosh!

Where do I start?

I never meant to be gone so long.

Truly.

Remember when I mentioned there would be changes coming?

There was more truth to that than

I even knew.

Have you ever been given a choice and the decision seemed pretty simple?

But deep down you weren't sure if your decision was the best choice?

So you give it to God and ask Him to make the choice for you,

knowing He knows what is best.

As a Navy wife, 

I am pretty used to unexpected change. 

I sense it coming.

 My husband usually comes home with a look on his face

and the words that come out of his mouth go something

like this...

"I had an interesting call today...."

Those words still send a pit to my stomach.

A feeling of anticipation AND uncertainty.

It was just a year ago that he used those words to let me know he would 

be deploying for 6 months last Summer.

In January, 

just one month after his homecoming, 

he was given the choice to change duty stations AGAIN.

Of the options we were given, we happily chose Hawaii!!

Warm breezes, sand between our toes, birds singing all year round.

As we waited for official orders, we stayed quiet about it

(OK, so it was really hard and I told more than I should have,

but it was HAWAII after all, duh!?)

The more I watched HGTV "Hawaii Life",

researched places to live, beaches, planned visits from friends & family...

the more I felt uneasy about being so FAR from my kids for 3 years.

Paradise or not...I tried to block out how sad that made me feel.

Especially with a very real possibility

we could become grandparents during that time.

We waited and waited for the official orders to come in.

We took a 2 week trip to Arkansas.

(I'll share about that soon)

We started to go through everything in our home,

deciding what to take, or not take, all the way to Paradise.

We made many trips to the thrift store & dump.

THEN, about 3 weeks ago, Jeff came home from work,

plopped down his backpack and said...

"I had the most interesting call today...."

I was kneeling on the counter top washing the kitchen windows.

I slumped onto the counter, put down the paper towels and quietly said

"We're NOT going to Hawaii, are we honey"?

***

It turned out that the orders were never written up for Hawaii,

the guy he was supposed to replace was extended and so that option became

obsolete. Without us knowing, the orders were written up for our next choice.

The choice my gut felt was the best choice all along.

The choice that put us within 2 hours of our daughter and husband.

The choice that God knew was for our best all along.

Washington D.C.

The night we found out about the change in plans I called our

daughter, Janelle.

She squealed and cried when I told her.

I felt peace.

*****

Now, that I've had more time to think about it I am kind of scared. 

Sounds silly, I suppose.

I have been in Washington STATE for 23 years.

My husband has lived alone in CA and on ships in order for his 

family to have a sense of stability and structure.

We have lived in 5 houses here,

but our kids grew up with the same friends most of their life.

I wanted that for them, I was a Air Force "brat" and changed schools a lot. 

I envied my husband. He knew the same kids his whole life.

I am not a city girl.

I like wide open spaces.

Water and meadows and space to breathe.

Tall buildings, crowded sidewalks and traffic give me anxiety.

But, I am excited too.

Excited to step out of my comfort zone.

To see and do things I've never done.

A new chapter.

*****

Today we listed our beloved Vintage Home for sale.

I realize that I've been very spoiled.

I don't think the place we will be renting will have crown molding,

hardwood floors, dormers and built ins.

But I'm totally fine with that.

Truly.

I can create a warm and pretty house.

But a HOME...

A home is so much more than the building we live in.

It's a state of mind. An attitude.

All the crown molding, bead board, and hardwood

in the world won't fill your heart the way

memories, hugs and a home cooked meal does.

Home is the sound of laughter, singing, and the warm fuzzy feeling you get when

your husband...children....friends.....family....walk in the door.

And its in the mess they leave behind.

It's the feeling of your puppy curled up at your feet.

It's the smell of hamburgers on the grill on a hot Summer evening.

Home.

xoxo

Jodi

Are you ready to go on an adventure with us?

The Master Bedroom & the Evening light...

The late afternoon light on the tree outside my dining room window took my breath away the other day . One of my favorite things about living here is the stunning sunsets.

I have not been able to fully capture its splendor, but it is a lovely way to end the day.

I also have been enjoying my cozy bedroom on these cool nights.

I can finally say that its what I envisioned it to be.

I painted the desk and bed in the same creamy color as my kitchen cabinets.

I used an enamel paint and love the results.

I decided to keep the inside of the desk the stained wood. I love the contrast and

the wood tones tie together with the chair and window blinds.  Keeping it

from looking overly feminine.

I found the duvet cover and shams at the local Goodwill for $24. They were

in perfect condition. After a good wash it added the warmth

and texture I was looking for.

The two decorative pillows, and the area rug were a steal from Ross.

I love Ross pillows because most are down filled with zippers.

The rug is not an expensive rug at all and the quality reflects that, BUT it

was perfect for the bedroom in both color and price. 

Only $59 for a 9x13!

I have carried this print for nearly 20 years! The father of a friend of mine made

the frame and I distressed it and repainted it about 4 times over the years.

I think its perfect now. This image is an honest reflection of

what I love. I feel so much peace looking into it. 

I have thought about repainting the wall color to a neutral. But this room doesn't get

much natural light and the color is cheerful, yet restful for a bedroom.

As much as I don't like the look of a TV in the bedroom, I will

be the first to say I like to watch me some HGTV at night.

It is what it is.

That sweet little chair was another simple reupholster job I tackled.

I decided to keep it in wood tones and the fabric coordinates perfectly.

Here's a peek of that process:

Looking out the master to the hallway. 

This used to be open to the kitchen before we remodeled the kitchen

a few years ago. The mirror and lamp keep it bright.

And... to keep it real...

This is my messy closet! 

The antique doors are leaning because we are trying to figure out

the best way to attach them. Either as sliding barn style or as french doors.

Its funny how you get used to the undone stuff over time!

Maybe I'll go tackle that closet today...

or not. 

*Cheers* to making a room comfy on a tight budget!!

xoxo

Jodi

It only took 15 years to recover!

I bet you are thinking it took

me 15 years to recover from the embarrassment of my 

previous post!

Maybe.

But this post isn't about mean kids, potty accidents, eating paste,

and chewing pencils to relieve anxiety!

Honest!

This is a story about a chair that had me at Hello

in 1998...or was it 1999...

anyhow, it was a long time ago!

This is the part where I tell you about living in the best neighborhood

EVER to raise children!

... and how there were 21 kids in a 12 house culdesac.

...and how MOST of the families got along amazing.

(Hey I said best, not perfect neighborhood)

Many of us are still very close friends today, and the kids are too!

One of those sweet friends was Uschi.

My lovely German neighbor in the house with the pink trim.

She made the best "Uschi noodle soup" according to Jordon.

Her husband was retired military and they were the oldest couple in our very young family neighborhood.

But they weren't old at all, more like my age now!

But with their children grown up, 

they enjoyed all the activity around them of little children on bikes, scooters

and the constant sounds of boys vs. girls.

Uschi had an adorable house filled with antiques and knick knacks

from Germany. But she loved yard sales and a good deal too!

So, to the point of the story...the chair!

One day we were out hitting the yard sales and I spotted an

Amazing french style chair. 

The upholstery was ratty and greasy at the headrest,

but the legs were curvy and it was a beautiful

feminine chair.

The price tag was $20.

That doesn't seem like much, does it?

But I was a stay home mom at the time, and after our mortgage

and other expenses, we had literally $50 between paychecks for emergencies

or eating out.  So, $20 was way out of my league.

I was soooo sad, but I didn't know the first thing about re upholstering it anyway,

so I had to walk away. 

Uschi loved the chair too, and she bought it.

I was so happy for her because the style would've looked nice in her home.

We lugged it into the truck and hauled it back to her place.

A few weeks, or maybe even months went by

and I still had that chair in the back of my mind, hoping one day to find

another one like it.

Then, one day, my sweet friend flags me down in the culdesac.

"Hey, do you want that chair?  I don't have a place for it."

"REALLY!?"

Yes, yes, and yes!!

She didn't want a dime for it.

I think she may have bought it for me all along.

Her heart is kind and giving, and she remembered what it's like to be financially strapped with a young family. 

I was so happy and grateful to have this ugly duckling beautiful chair!!!

Poor ugly duckling.

She got moved from one room to the next, covered in blankets to hide the fabric

but expose her gorgeous legs. And eventually she was shunned to the garage 

where she was piled with soccer gear, bike parts and sleeping bags.

Awkward...ok just ignore this crazy couple, and you can see her under the white blanket in our living room....

And at another time... you'll see (in the blur)  her tucked away in the corner of our bedroom.

My husband was tired of her.

She was a mess.

Just taking up space.

So, one day last Fall I decided I was going to rescue her 

before she'd be sent away to the thrift store.

I mean, she was part of the family!

15 years with us.

I called around and got estimates from the local upholstery shops.

$900 - $1200

*gasp*

I decided to try it myself, how hard could it be?

I brought her into the living room. 

Then, I stared at her worn out exterior for a few months while 

trying to get the nerve to start.

I used the estimates I'd received to determine the yardage, etc.

I finally purchased the least expensive upholstery grade fabric I could find that I liked.

And I used a 40% off coupon.

 $50 for the fabric. I could live with that.

 Not too expensive.... in case I royally messed her up with my upholstery work.

But God works in mysterious ways.  

As I was getting the fabric cut at the counter I met

a woman and we started to talk.

I do that a lot,

talk to people in lines.

My kids always told me I'm so embarrassing.

"They don't care about your life mom!"

Well, sometimes they do!

Because this lady told me about a class at a different fabric store near my house.

They had a chair re upholstery class for $98!

4 Saturdays for 3 hours...or was it 3 Saturdays for 4 hours?

Anyhow,

Just bring the chair in each week and a professional teaches you how its done!

SOLD! SIGN ME UP!

I forgot her name, the nice lady who saved the day.

I have many friends without names.

Sorry if you are a friend of mine without a name. 

I still love you.

I had the best time learning how to take the chair down to its frame,

tying springs and gluing foam.

Taking her apart, down to just the frame!

Old string on springs. I took this all apart and did it over!

This all came off and was replaced.

Putting her back together again...

I paid the store to make my buttons for the tufting, and I also paid an upholstery shop to make a new cushion & double piping.

I didn't have a heavy duty machine and wanted it to look good.

BUT

I did every.single.part of the rest...

including the tufting in the arms and the back...

All by myself!!

Before the cushion was made and the double piping was put on.

I AM SO PROUD OF THIS CHAIR

All in all, it still cost about $400 to finish.

 Did I mention I'm so proud of this chair?

I willed it to my kids.

Kind of, I mean I wrote on the foam seat with marker.

"Made by mom with Love, Easter 2013"

So that one day...

when she is once again old and ratty and in the garage

and needs a facelift...

My kids will take her apart

and see my message and smile.

I think if you look really close...

She is smiling back.

xoxo

Jodi

Summer Sweetness

 Thank you Izzy for sitting so pretty for mom.  I promise to let you chase the birds in just a minute...

Oh, that's a good girl! Isn't it a beautiful morning?

Oh, are you going to smile for me now?

You look so pretty with all that fluff.  Did I tell you that you are going to the groomer on Thursday?

Oh, don't run off. Let's go enjoy this happy Summer day!

What's that Izzy?  You are ready to go get a treat?

Ok, you were such a good model today!

xo