Shutter Makeover

I've been wanting to repaint the shutters on our home since we moved in. They have been this maroon/red color that has been chipping and makes our home look a blueish tint. Instead of waiting until it gets too hot, I decided yesterday to try out the color that I bought. I literally spray painted them because they are plastic. I never knew that shutters could be plastic until I pulled two off the of siding. Hah! Pictured here is the first window done with the black/bronzed paint. It makes things look totally different compared to the red. I knew I would have to sweet talk Alex into helping me pull down the other shutters the next day.

 Along with the shutters, I also wanted to paint the house numbers. The numbers were gold before and were not visible from the street. Now, the numbers are bold and really make a statement. The black against the gray siding doesn't make our house look blue anymore either.

 Here is the finished product. I'm so happy with it. For a small amount of money, it makes the house look completely different. As you can see from the picture, I also bought a few shrubs that we will be adding to the landscaping as soon as we are ready to.

Don't worry, more projects to come soon!

Leaving a Legacy

Leaving a legacy. At times, it seems silly to think that I need to start planning for this, but at the same time it's so important to. I just finished (finally) the book "The Resolution for Women". This book has given me a great deal of understanding what I can do as a woman, wife, mother, daughter, and teacher to give HIM the glory. The last chapters discuss leaving a legacy. The author throws in how in the Bible, Jesus was leaving his legacy with this disciples all along. Our communion is how we remember him and glorify him. In our lives, death will come. We don't know when and we may not know how, but it will come. Our blood-line families as well as our spiritual families need to be creating these memories and keeping them somehow. 

I know of a few women who scrapbook, keep a journal, take photos, etc. The author advises that it doesn't matter HOW you create your legacy, but it's important that you do. Keeping tabs on priorities, family values, and slowing down the pace of life are the things that matter most. 

Here are a few ways that I'm creating a legacy by:

*Photographs: Shutterfly books/Dropbox/blog/phone pics

*Blogging of course

*Journal of Everett's milestones and moments

*Scrapbook of Alex and I while we were dating (includes cards we gave eachother)

*Family Bible (we highlight verses that we constantly pray on, we also keep sermons that helped us move through seasons of life)

*Furniture that has been kept in the family. This also includes Everett's toy box that Papa Charlie handmade for his first birthday.

Here below is Nana Betty. This is Alex's maternal grandmother. She is heaven sent. Talk about a women leaving a legacy! She has done JUST THAT. With 4 children, 11 grandchildren, and 1 great-grandchild, she has many ways (simply and complex) that she's leaving a legacy. Just to name a few: Her basement still has paintings of hand prints from every grandchild when she babysat them growing up; their measurements of growth are still marked on the walls as well. Every Christmas, the family sits together and sings Christmas hymns before opening gifts together. She is living in the home that her parents had and the same home that she grew up in. What a blessed woman. She is truly a woman of legacy.

 

 Next is Nana Carrie. This is Alex's paternal grandmother. She is originally from Peurto Rico. She also has 4 children, 7 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren. This woman is a woman of legacy. She's always speaking Spanish (which is a wonderful way to keep legacy); cooking rice and beans (family favorite) at Thanksgiving and Christmas; and sharing stories about her childhood. We love it when she sings to Everett in Spanish too. :)

Nana Carrie is truly a woman of legacy.

 This is my paternal grandmother, Delma J Loftis. She is also a woman of legacy. Being originally from Oklahoma, she and my grandfather brought their family here for teaching jobs. She loves trying new things and sharing stories about growing up. I'm so thankful that she's spent so many years working on the Loftis family tree. It dates back to the 1400s I believe. With 3 children, 6 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren; this is a woman of legacy. A wonderful way that she's created a legacy is through quilting. Every grandchild has received a quilt made by Grandma Delma. I am blessed to have two. She made one out of many of my childhood clothes and a quilt as a wedding gift to Alex and I. This legacy has carried on to my step-mom, Robin. She has made two quilts for me. This is a skill that I would someday like to learn. Another legacy that my grandmother has left for me are many recipes from family members.

 This is my Great Aunt Joann. She is my maternal Grandmother's sister. She's been like a grandmother to me since Mi-mi passed in 1993. The Colyer legacy is being left through her. With her love and passion of singing and telling stories of growing up, we've always laughed together and joked around. A legacy that she has is not only through her singing but through her prized jewelry. I've always known her to wear huge rings and bold necklaces. Growing up, she would have tea parties with me and made my childhood memorable. She's also not afraid to say anything. She believes in standing up for what's right.

 The picture below is the last picture of the Loftis grandchildren and great-grandchildren with Grandpa Gene Loftis. Ryan Zimmerman is not pictured. He was so happy that day and it was a day to remember that family is everything. :)

 As for our family legacy, I just had to add a few pictures of how Alex and I are creating a legacy for our family. Everett's first Cardinal game is pictured below. Alex and I each have pictures of our first Cardinal game as well.

 Here is Nana Betty and Everett. Everett is sitting on a wooden car that Papa Dennis handmade. This was the first car that Papa Dennis made as a model for the other cars that he made for all of his grandsons.

This is where our legacy begins. Everett Dale Skelton will have many memories in this family and many stories to tell. His duckie is his favorite animal to sleep with given by Aunt Allison. You can see his binky is also a prized possession. :) His teddy bear was given to him for his first birthday by the Waltons (neighbor); and his lamb was given to him before he was born by Great Aunt Bep. Finally his yellow blanket was the first thing we bought Everett before he was born. Blessings upon blessings pour out in our family having him around.

Teacher Appreciation Week

For those of you who don't know, it's teacher appreciation week. I remember growing up and always getting my teacher something special like a card or a teacher candle, etc. Now that im the teacher, I laugh because sometimes I don't even remember the stuff kids will give me.

Tonight, Alex, Everett and I were invited to dinner at the home of a student in my class. The Moran family is a family of 7. They have two boys and three girls. The second boy, Ty, is in my class this year. It's funny because he was also in my class that I student taught. He was in first grade then.
We came over for spaghetti and dessert. It was so delicious! Winni did a fantastic meal and we were very grateful to them for opening their home to us.
More than that, Winni and Ty wrote a special note to me and gave me a daisy plant (my favorite).
I am so blessed beyond measure to have this family in my midst. They are a wonderful example of a loving and supportive family.

Moments

 Since Everett's turned one, it seems like life is moving just a little bit faster. A few of these pictures are our FIRST family pictures taken on purpose. I love them dearly. These moments I will always cherish. Family is everything and God is constantly guiding us on our journey.

 The morning of Everett's first birthday.

 Goofing off with POP!

 Everett has such a curious spirit. I love watching him observe things outside. He is a thinker.

 This is a tear jerker for me. He is at the point in his life that he is taking steps. This is a much bigger event than I realized. He's not just taking steps, he's growing up. There will come a point in time when he won't need his mama like he did when he was just a baby.

 I love this picture of us kissing him. You can just tell he's taking it in.

 This is also one of my favorites of the three of us. So happy.

 This was the FIRST time he stood on his own for a long period of time.

 My baby boy. Look at those gorgeous brown eyes.

 YES, that is my husband on the left side of the screen at the Blues game. Hahaha!

 Don't worry, I will be getting this in a huge print for our house.

 One of my favs of Alex and Everett. My two guys are teddy bears.

 Adventure and hope in those eyes.

 They hold my heart in the palms of their hands.

 This is a fantastic MOMENT captured. Laughter and joy.

Again, curiosity and wonder. Everett is such a joy in our lives. Our family is growing in Christ with love everyday.