BEFORE & AFTER & during {Fireplace photos}

I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE the way it turned out!!!!  Still a few more things to do!  That corner will change too!  It's still a work in progress, but I'm happy with the stage it's at now! Our living room felt huge before, well it feels even bigger now!  

It's been a while

The title used over and over by many at-home mom bloggers. I've been busy (exuse #1). As I'm sure I mentioned, I started child care for a 5 yr old boy. That's going fine. I am sure I also mentioned that I was looking for one more. Well I got one more & then another & also oodles, well probably not oodles, but a few more inquiries. I could probably start a lucrative business. If I wanted. But I don't, yet. My kids come first, always have, over work outside (inside) the home. 

So far he's been a good addition!  Fits right in! And the babies are loved 

Busy, but loved. 

Thanksgiving & Christmas have come & gone. We even celebrated my oldests 16th birthday 2 days ago!  Hard to believe I'm old enough to have a 16 year old, I know. But once you realize I was 12 when I had her, you'll see how I can really not be old enough to have a 16 yr old. Haha. And if you believe that, then you don't know me.  But seriously, she's a precious gift from God & we are very thankful He gave her to us to raise here on this earth. What an amazing responsibility.  But God doesn't give you more than you can handle right? 

As I sit here in the quiet after having a week off of responsibilities, and at the start of a new year I am realizing all there is to be thankful for!  Yes, I've had bad days, and angry days and sad days. But have so much to be thankful for.  Our health is the first one. We are all healthy & one thing I am thankful for, is the knowing how to eat healthy too!  We may stumble & fall a few times, but I feel thankful knowing that it happens & we can not make it a habit. I struggle on a daily basis with food. I felt so good last year when I was eating much healthier, not drinking coffee, doing green smoothies. I want to get back there. I know I can, it's just a matter of flipping a switch right? I wish it was that easy. 

I always have so much going on in my head, I had to write a list to get it all out. I'm sure I didn't get it all, but most of what consumes my thoughts, besides the usual, what should I make for supper today thoughts.  Do you have the same problems? Things consuming your mind daily that 'worry' you or 'stress' you?  How do you deal with it? 

We've had some fun, expensive things happen in our livingroom. 

We had installed a natural gas fireplace into the old wood burning hole. It has been quite the project from start to finish, one that we never had one single hand in (except the destruction of the faux brick facade, which was fun by the way, and very helpful in relieving the pent up aggression I had after losing my dad so suddenly). It's turning out so fabulously, much nicer & a lot faster than if hubby & I took on the reno!  We plan on putting the tv up there & creating more space in our livingroom!  I'm so excited, and trying to be patient waiting on people to come & finish up the little things that need to be done before we can install the tv mount & then the tv.  I'll post a before & after when it is all finally finished! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR ONE & ALL!  

Do something new this year, learn to Love more, and God Bless You!  

Summer

Is over. Insert very sad, long face here. I really enjoyed it this year, the weather, the time off from school books, the vacation. It's been grand!  

Some big things happened as well this summer, changes in the Keffer home. I quit doing the paper route, and have taken in a 5 year old boy. He's a great fit for our family. And I'm considering taking in one more. I want hubby to not have to do the paper route anymore. It crazy how much life changes from littles to bigs. How much more food they eat, different things they are doing. And we don't do anything compared to some of our friends who have way more on their plate. 

Anyways enought about that. We re did our sons room.

Before;

After;

I love the way it turned out!  We purchased him new furniture & flooring. He wanted to change the paint, but I didn't. (Cause that's a lot of work!!) So I won!

Hubby and I celebrated 18 years if marriage on August 18th. 

Oh, I was 18 when I was married. Lots of eighteens!  We went out for supper, but didn't do too much else. To be honest, I was a little disappointed, as I hyped it up so much it being our special anniversary (18yrs on the 18th). Whatev. I'm hoping we can make a fly trip somewhere this fall, or not. 

So anyways. Ya. Peace out. 

I miss him.

I just had a moment,a realization, that my dad isn't here anymore. (which I've had many of).  That van ahead of us on the highway isn't him driving to a job. The phone ringing isn't him calling to talk.  The text early in the morning while doing papers is not him saying good morning paper momma. 

A friend tells me her dad is in his eighties, my heart breaks. I hear of another friend whose dad takes the grandchildren on a road trip & my heart rips apart. Our kids have no grandpas, on either side. 

My mom is moving from the house he built. I want to take everything he made, which would be the whole house, cause he built it all. The song by Miranda Lambert, The House That Built Me & How Dare You get me every time & I try to avoid any song that will make me cry. 

 

Amused?

Me, not so much. That is in regards to amusement park rides. Ya, I don't do so well with them. I tried, to be brave, and even convinced my 10 yr old to ride with us all. You know, cause it would be fun. I thought I was going to die!!  I closed my eyes for about 90% of the ride. I wish I could have taken a picture of the picture they took of me. I felt sick for the rest of the day. Wanna see what part of it looked like: 

This was an insane incline & drop!!!!!  

Just a little bit of the ride. This part wasn't so bad. The part I opened my eyes. We all went in this one. 

Three of the kids & daddy went on this ride first!  It was crazy fast!!  

Then we saw…

more corn!  Surprise surprise!  

And were bored driving!  

And saw that!!  

Ended up here

The Canadian Mint & saw how money was made.

And here 

Spent too much money here!

 

But really, 

This is where we belong!!  

SONSHINE

We conquered Sonshine Festival and the heat & humidity that was had the week we were there.  We had a BLAST!!!  This is coming from the person who doesn't like heat, outdoors & much music (not the tv channel for those children of the 80's & 90's).  We are considering a subsequent trip in the future.  You should join us, that'd be fun!  But I have to say, I do love live music, so that helps! 

This was Building 4:29, who got their band name from Ephesians 4:29, go read, it's a great verse. 

You can't tell, but this was Skillet.  Great show!!  Wow!  I'm not a huge fan of heavy metal music, but my family is, and this band is growing on me. Shhh, don't tell my family, but this was one of my favorite performances for me of the week. 

The charging station, lots & lots of plugs & chargers! 

My beautiful children! They had an amazing time. 

Good times! Think about it next year, July 16th-19th. We are....thinking about it!