Chalkboard sign....

A while back I was in a boutique and saw a cute chalkboard yard sign that you could use to write something to celebrate occasions, etc....I loved it, but didn't like the $25 price. So, I tucked away the idea in my head for future possible projects. Since making this post last Fall we now have a great place to put signs, decor etc...With our sons birthday coming up I decided I wanted a chalkboard sign to go out front, but instead of staking it into the ground, I decided to make a hanging sign that we could hang on our post to write different messages like "Happy Birthday" or "Please knock, babies are napping," etc...

The wheels began turning and this is what I came up with.....

1) I found a wooden plaque at Wal-mart for around $4 and sanded down the splintery(yes, my word, probably not real!) spots

2) I chose a green spray paint that we already had to paint the edges/top...I used about 3-4 coats

3) Sand down the the middle portion to remove any shiny parts(paint sticks better to porous surfaces)

4) I wanted the chalkboard to have "rough" edges around it so I took painters tape and tore it down the middle. I taped off the board with the rough edge facing the middle of the board where the chalk board will go. I then added another layer of painters tape in order to keep the chalk board paint from getting on the edges of the board.

5) I applied literally about 6 to 7 layers of chalkboard paint. You do not want to be able to see the wood grain underneath, this gives you a better surface to write on. Wait for the paint to dry(I waited overnight) and carefully peel off the tape (Mine came off really easily).

(I couldn't get rid of the glare!)

6) I needed to make something to hang the sign by. I decided to use jute twine. I took 3 pieces of the same length and braid them together. I then tied knots at both ends of the braid.

7) Using a staple gun I stapled the twine to the back of the sign. The knots will keep twine from slipping.

8) After securing the twine I decided I wanted to "jazz" it up a little so I took some different ribbon that I had and tied it to the twine. I LOVE this paisley ribbon :)

9) The finished product!

I love how it turned out! AND, of course, I love that it only cost me $4 since I already had most of the supplies :)

Welcome, Second born...

February 3, 2011 our youngest was born. I can't believe it has been a year already. It seriously went way too fast.

Pryce Hawkins, 7lb. 15 oz, 21 inches long

 It's crazy how we went from this...

 To this in what felt like a short year...

Happy Birthday to our energetic, lively, curious, and happy little guy.

A love like that...

Yesterday as I was hauling my "load" into the grocery store (my youngest, cart cover, snacks, toy, purse, etc....) I witnessed the *sweetest* thing. Try to picture, if you will, with me as I try to describe this....

There was an incredibly adorable couple, definitely in their 80's or so, walking out of the store--hand in hand--to their car parked in the handicapped space. The man walked his wife to the passenger side door, opened her door, and before letting her into the car he KISSED his sweet little wife. He didn't stop there...he continued to help her into the car before closing the door and walking to the driver's side.

Just about made me tear up and, me, being typically unafraid to speak to people, almost went over there to tell them how encouraging that was to see(as if, stopping dead in my tracks while smiling ear to ear to watch this moment didn't give any clue...). Luckily common sense kicked in to help me realize that that would probably be slightly inappropriate.

Now, I don't know them or their story, but what I saw was pure, committed, *sweet*, love. I saw a man who barely wanted to be apart from his wife. I saw a wife who adored her husband as much as he did her. I saw him go the extra mile to show her honor and care. And I saw her, let him.

This made me think, of course, of my relationship with my husband. Not negatives, mostly warm-fuzzies, but really more about how I can be one to "go the extra mile" for my spouse just like the elderly gentleman(because a gentleman is what he is) did. He didn't think only of himself, he thought of his spouse and put her needs first. I could tell he cherished her and her role in his life.

Most people when they are dating and getting to know each other usually pull out all the stops to show the other how much they care (I remember receiving the most amazing letters from my husband on a regular basis...). Then, in a lot of cases, after marriage, life, children...we tend to put our spouse on the back-burner (we make sure we have family time, but a date night will probably have to wait). Take them for granted in a way. It's way too easy to do.

My husband and I came to this realization this past year after having our youngest and having our time even more divided. We missed each other and we missed that spark. We were then determined to regain that giddiness(my word, not his) that we used to feel. That meant making choices and that meant being intentional. We decided that being "too busy" or being "too tired" at the end of the day or week isn't a good reason to let the relationship with the person who you will be with for the rest of your life slip. It's too important to us.

Bringing back that spark meant...

My husband chooses to leave me amazing notes every once and a while on napkins in the morning before he leaves for work...

We dance whenever, wherever, if we hear a good song on the radio(while our sons laugh at us)...

Thanks to some wonderful people in our lives who offer to take care of our children for us, we are trying to go out on DATES more...

We share hobbies(some of the best conversations happen while accomplishing something together)...

We, gulp, choose to keep negative or sarcastic comments to ourselves. Breaking each other down is a sure way to kill the spark...

We pray for each other.


Our relationship is not perfect, Lord knows we've had and still have our issues, but we are trying. Surprisingly it has been the hard times that have brought us closer.

We are not ignorant to the fact that things may happen in our life that may keep us apart for a time, or require us to put other people or situations first, and that is okay, but that just means that we have to get creative with how we can show each other that we love them and want them in our life.

I want to be that adoring couple I saw yesterday when we are old and gray.

I want to continue a love like that.