Dear Friend, There is something I wish I would have told you......

I am a Christian, I don't think that comes as a surprise to most people who know me.  I am not one to talk about it a lot, but hope that in the way I live my life, that people can tell.

Remember a few months ago when that guy predicted the day that Christ would return to take his people back to Heaven?   I was also re-reading the 'Left Behind' book series when that was going on and it got me thinking.  It's one thing to know that I am going to Heaven, but to read about someones interpretation about how it will happen, and then to think about how that looks to the people who were left behind, puts a whole new spin on things. I mean imagine being on a plane, at 30,000 feet, and suddenly 1/3 of the passengers can't be found.  There are piles of clothes left in seats where these people used to be sitting. Don't just skim over this and speed read, like you're watching a movie, stop and picture it, feel it - what would you do if that really happened?  Would your clothes be sitting there?  Or would you be the one looking at the clothes trying to figure out where people went?  It makes me think.....have I done all I can to make sure my friends and family are not 'left behind'? 

I also just finished reading the book 'Heaven is for Real'.  Its about a young boy who had some serious health issues when he was young, but recovered.  Over the next few years he begins to reveal things to his parents about when he was at the hospital.  He talks about things he saw and experienced. He talks about going to Heaven, being with God and the atmosphere that he experienced there.  (I don't want to debate whether or not he really went to heaven and came back, that's not my focus here. It is just something that again, got me thinking.) He describes how great it was to see family and people he loved.  How everyone was joyous and what it was like to be with Jesus and experience it. I couldn't help but think, 'When I get to Heaven, it would be great to have all my family and friends there to enjoy it with me.'

When reading this, I flashed to my wedding day.  (thanks Mom and Dad on both sides for throwing that great party!!)  That day was filled with so much joy and happiness.   When again, will that many of my family and friends be together to celebrate, eat, dance, and enjoy each others company?  Did I make sure I invited everyone?

I have been thinking about this blog topic for a few months and kept putting it off. I'm pretty sure God wants me to post it -The last two sermons at two different churches have pretty much hit me upside the head saying...post it already! They have talked about doing our part to share Christs love and keep people out of Hell.   We need to tell them, show them, and help them get to Heaven.  Ive heard that it takes an average of 7 times for a non-believer to be asked/informed about accepting Christ for them to finally take the steps. If this is not your 7th time hearing this...please re read this blog 6 more times :)   

My hope is that I don't get to heaven, start looking around and think, Where is she?  Where is he?   I don't want to have that horrible sinking feeling and think....Dear friend - I WISH there was something I would have told you!  So...I am telling and inviting you now.  I'd like to have you there!  During the Sermon at church last weekend he said if you are only 99% sure you're going to heaven then eternity is a long time to spend wishing for that last 1%.   So make sure you're 100%.  I RSVP'd in 6th grade when Mrs. Walk , our bible study teacher, gave us a study book and the first chapter talked about how we needed to ask Jesus in to our heart. We must admit that we are sinners, acknowledge that the only way to heaven is through Jesus.  God sent his son Jesus to earth to die on the cross for our sins so that we could be forgiven and go to heaven. I had been going to church and considered myself  'a religious' person - heck - my dad worked at a church....but I had never actually acknowledge that I needed Jesus and asked him to be a part of my life. So...if you are in that same boat....I encourage you to take some time, think about it, heartfully ask Him to be a part of you life.

If you have questions....Please ask. If not me....find a church, find someone, and ask.  If you are on the fence and just don't know if you are up for this 'Christianity churchy stuff' ...I challenge you to say a prayer.  Ask God to show Himself to you, Let Him show you that He is real and wants to be a part of your life.  But know that it is your responsibility to be open and honest  in what you see and what He places in front of you. 

So...If you read all the way to the end of my post...thank you!   Also please know that if you are reading this, then you are one of the ones that I don't want to look around for when I get to Heaven and wonder where you are.  You may be a family member or one of my oldest friends from grade school. Please know that I mean you when I say  'Dear (insert your name here!)...Remember that thing I told you?  I really want you to be there...please RSVP.'

It's done

So..they finished my house while we were away on a vacation to chicagoland.
Here are pictures of the final details.  I think they came together great.....I was really worried about the kitchen and backsplash (thanks to those of you who let me talk it through with you!) - but in the end....I think I could live here for awhile : )  

why on earth did they hang this so low?  Bob hits his head on our light in the two story entryway....does anyone else think that is strange?

Austin lovin the carpet.

Master bath

I love the backsplash....turned out better than I thought.

Its hard to believe we went from this......

...... to this in less than 3 months.  

(Leisa....I know, I know..... if you look real close he did the wrong shutters:(...but I didnt raise a stink...I'll just blend in with the neighborhood...I hope you'll still come visit)

Gutters and sidewalks - very good things

Do you take some thing for granted?

For me it was gutters and sidewalks.   Growing up, they were just always there.  In the background, never really thought about it.  You could ride your bike down the driveway, turn left or right, and continue riding safely without fear of getting run over by a car.   Same things with Gutters. When it rained, you didn't have to worry about people getting drenched from the rain falling off your roof when they came to your house.  They would get drenched from the rain falling form the sky :)

I don't know if its a Georgia thing, or a new construction thing, but a lot of places no longer have sidewalks.  Or there will be half a block where there is sidewalk and it just stops in the middle of the block.  It makes me sad because now the 'where the sidewalk ends' poem wont really have the same meaning for younger kids....they see the end of sidewalks all the time, or no sidewalk at all.

Needless to say...our new home will have gutters - we upgraded for them - in fact they put them on yesterday.   My husband was apparently paying attention when I had HGTV on and he said - 'Holmes says you should have gutters no matter what.  Get the moisture away from the foundation of your home'.   So....when you come to visit us....you wont get wet running under our roof becuase we have gutters there to keep you dry.

Fun things to do in Columbus

We found a museum here in columbus that has a really neat area for hands on play for kids.  I have taken Austin there a few times and he really enjoys it.     We went this week to scope things out for November when LL comes to visit from Indiana.

Austins favorite is the boat.  He likes to climb in and out and in and out and in and......

There are bead tables and holes in the wall for him to crawl through

Not quite tall enough for the chalk board room yet

There is a room full of big legos and funny mirrors too!!

So....come visit us in Columbus and we'll take you there to look around.  There is also a HUGE alligator and a colorful glass boat sculpture that we like to look at.  Best of all.....its free!!!

Is it that time already?

I usually complain when I start seeing Christmas decorations appearing in stores during the  month of July.  It seams like the stores just keep bringing out the decoration items earlier and earlier.   Today at Walgreens, I had mixed emotions.  I saw a basket of orange and thought....Its August, 110 degrees outside....It's at least three more months until Fall and Thanksgiving.  What are they thinking bringing out Thanksgiving decorations already? 

Then I realized they were Brachs Pumpkins and Candy Corn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

And I said - bring on the holidays.  

 I love these things, and Bob is not home enough to ration me, so I can eat the whole bag!  

Yum yum

Floors on the inside and out

So we have been focusing on the floors (aka grass) on the outside of the house.  Here are the latest pictures of the finished sod and our sprinkler system at work.

Yes, Bob and Austin ran through the sprinklers while we were visiting last night.

You can't hear him, but Austin is saying..'Logan...I challenge you and your Dad to a game of wiffle ball.' 

Below is a picture of the fireplace that I am sure will cause us a trip to the ER sometime when Austin falls and bumps his head on the stone.

We also have our floors started on the inside.  Holy cow it's dusty in there.  

Our dishwasher, stove, and microwave have arrived.  They would be installed if it we weren't waiting on the counter top from new jersey.

Bob checking out the new blinds.

I am on the look out for another rockbottom deal on closet organizers....until then we'll just make due with the wire racks.

When you have one of these......

It means you have one of these.   Our air conditioning units were put in yesterday too.   Just in time for the 110 heat index we have going on this week.

Honey, the yard drove by as I was leaving the house.

What???   I never thought I would say something like that, but here is what Austin and I saw when leaving the new house.   

 I know it was the rest of our yard because he had just called our builder while we were there. 

We dove up today and saw plants....and lots of them!

I am standing on the back edge of the driveway looking into the backyard.

Here is the view from our master bedroom looking to the left side of our back yard.

And here is a view to the right.  If you look really close around that concrete circle you can see two posts...that will be the edge of the fence and that concrete circle will be behind it.

Here is the side/front yard from the window in our master closet.

And some of the plants in the front yard. (again looking down from the upstairs window)