i've been in a blogging mood lately. life has become more home-centered this summer and i feel as if i have more time to process life going on around me.

i've also felt a resurgence of creativity. i had gone through such a dry spell for so long, but i now have a million ideas going through my head of things i want to make! i have a growing collection of blogs of oh-so-talented mamas who inspire me in this area. now to just make something happen!

awhile back i picked up a midcentury coffee table that a neighbor a few houses down had put out on the curb. it needed some wood glue and refinishing as it had been used as a porch table or something like that for a long time. otherwise it had good bones and lines. it has sat in our carport for weeks (months?) waiting for me to do something with it. i finally finished it yesterday. it looks great in our den! can't beat free. okay, i think i spent $1.79 on wood glue at HEB. but that's it.

 i'm the queen of salvaged junk! well, actually my friend Karen is, and i'm the duchess. i love to see what i can do with someone else's trash. LOL. i have two other projects still out in the carport, a very old, tiny high chair that i've already sanded down and repainted, and a futon that i need to make a new cover for. it will go in the "barn" once we get it all cleaned out and finished out. not sure if i've mentioned that, but one of our summer projects is to get our big (16x24 i believe) storage building that Brian has taken to calling "the barn" finished out with insulation and electricity (air, lights, fan) so that it can double as a game room, club house for the kids. we're moving all the playroom toys out there to make room for the crib and other baby paraphernalia. if it all comes together like we imagine, i think it will be a great thing. the "barn" already has three windows and has the appearance of a little house or workshop. i think the kids will enjoy have a place to go to getaway from it all.

Brian went and played basketball with some friends from work last night up in Pflugerville. it was one of those rare times when it was just me and the kids in the evening. i took them over to Central Market to listen to music and play.

we have a busy week ahead with Redeemer's VBS. we'll also be going to Schlitterbahn one of the days this week with my mom and and sister and the cousins. i hope Hazel can handle a bunch of tube rides again.

i talked to Gracie, Ricky's mom a few times this week. Ricky is the little boy from Maplewood who has many health problems including leukemia. he has been in the hospital in San Antonio this week on steroids to get his strength up. he's not been doing well lately and in a lot of pain. please pray for God to give him strength in his little body. our church was able to help the family out with some needed gas money for their drives to and from SA this week. i don't think that the Zamoras are in a church. i never hear mention of one so maybe they'll start coming to Redeemer.

speaking of Redeemer, i'm going to head out to get in my exercise before i need to get ready for church. i am so looking forward to church this morning!