DIY Projects...The Beginning

I have several thousand ideas for projects to spruce up our home, but only have a handful in mind to actually complete (and the funds to do so).  My husband asked me the other day why I don't do things like scrapbook or sew or work on DIY projects when he's gone at work.  My response was I'm either doing household chores, working,or couponing/planning meals/grocery shopping...  In reality though, I spend a good amount of time online too.  I don't watch a lot of tv when he's gone, but I do search around on Pinterest for recipe ideas, project ideas, etc.  Therefore, I am going to set a goal of actually completing one of these found ideas, as well as one project that I've already started in the next 2 weeks.  (Small steps right?)  

Anyway, I need to use my time a little bit more productively when he's gone because I was so excited to be able to have so much time to scrapbook since I'd only be working part time and my husband would be working 48 on/48 off and every other weekend.  How many pages have I completed since we've been here with all that extra time?  NONE!  Absolutely ZERO pages.  I've made 2 cards, but I need to get some creative juices flowing again in that area if I want to stay caught up to life in scrapbooking (which I know is practically impossible, but I would enjoy if it were so).

So here's to the beginnings of do-it-yourself creativeness in our household.  

Project #1 (that is 3/4 finished): sand/prime/paint wooden lighthouse for our back porch.  It's been sanded and primed and painted blue.  Now all that's left is to paint the white parts, find some rope/small chain for the top and a new battery for the light and it will be complete.

Project #2 DIY Dry erase calendar and/or To Do List/Menu planner.  I have plenty of scrapbook paper for this, I just need to find a good 12x12 frame to finish this project.

Another goal of mine is to Finish Steve's CG graduation pages before Christmas, as well as OBX pictures and stones/shells.  I found a neat way to scrapbook the shells, and they need to get out of the plastic container in the guest bedroom.

Hopefully taking time to create will put me more at ease in this struggle to become acclimated to a new state with only a handful of friends.  I know come winter I will have a ton of time on my hands, so these DIY projects are only the beginning.  Maybe by then I'll have another job too, I'm probably going to need something just to get me out of the house during those long winter months.  Not going to think about that though...it's 80 and sunny now.  I'll choose live in the moment today.

*I apologize there are no pictures.  I planned to post some , but then I realized that I have not put any of my before pictures on my computer yet...oops!

An Eye-Opener

I'm ashamed to admit this, but I've lost all desire to work-out.  I have no idea what happened, but ever since I graduated from college and was forced to do any kind of athletic activity on my own, I chose to do pretty much nothing.  Yeah, I occasionally worked out with Steve; we ran and roller-bladed, even signed up at AnyTime Fitness.  I walked with my neighbor/friend too until she moved away, and did the occasional Pilates tape.  But that's pretty much it.  Nothing consistent.  And for one who's been involved in sports since she can remember, it makes me sad.  Really, honest-to-goodness want to break down in tears because I cannot for the life of me motivate myself to get to the gym.  Or to put in the tape, or for heaven's sake hook Sherman's leash up and go for a walk.  (Though I have gone on several walks with him and Steve the past few weeks, one of which was fairly strenuous because of the terrain).

The only thing I can think of that has me in this rut is: I'VE ACTUALLY LOST WEIGHT (though the stress of 2 months away from one's husband is not an ideal way to lose weight AT ALL!)?!  How in the world is that even possible.  Unless I have inherited an absurdly high metabolism much like my uncle's who is 6'3" and probably doesn't even come close to my 5'7" husband's weight.  Which is the conclusion I've made.  I think I was also so exhausted from dealing with 10-20 energetic kids for 8 hours a day that working out seemed like a chore and not something I enjoyed like I used to. 

BUT I don't want to rely solely on metabolism to maintain my weight.  I want to be active.  Some day I want to have a baby (not anytime soon though!) and I need to be more active than I am at the moment. 

Now that we've moved and are all settled in I want to start running, working out, biking, hiking, swimming, etc.  I've been keeping track of the food I've been eating the past 2 days on AnyTime health.  And it hasn't been pretty.  Mainly because I haven't been doing any kind of exercise/activity (besides household chores).  I've had my eyes opened majorly, and it's time for a change.

I fully believe that I need to keep my body healthy, not just for my own sake, but for the sake of future children as well as my husband and even friends.  I want to be a good example.  Not a bad one, but one that honors the Lord as well.  Maybe the verse from 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 is a bit out of context in this particular instance (I am fully aware it is referring to sexual immorality), but my body is a temple.  "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body" I want to honor the Lord by keeping it healthy and fit. 

The Proverbs 31 woman has also been on my mind.  I read it a few weeks ago, I don't even remember where, but the qualities of the "wife of noble character" have been going over and over in my head.  The Message version is an especially challenging version to read.  I don't normally like The Message over the NIV or ESV.  In this case though, I've found myself challenged to become like her mostly because the words are more to present day than any other version.  I can relate, and I know what I need to change to be more like that woman.  

So for the next week or so, I want to study this.  Proverbs 31:10-31.  (After all, this is a blog about our walk by faith right?)  I hope to break it down, meditate, listen for the Lord, and then get some goals on paper.  Both long and short-term.  Goals for our marriage, our family, physical fitness, finances, career/education etc.  The Lord has provided an eye-opener...I think it's due time for a change.