My mom gave me an amaryllis for Christmas, and man is that thing doing some cool stuff this week! One day there’s a bud, then BOOM, the next day there’s an open blossom!
It’s sitting on a little, old hamper in our sunroom right now and I love the way it makes me feel when I walk in there every day! (Thanks again, Mom!)
Speaking of our sunroom, we’ve been in this house three months now, but I’ve only just started to unpack the moving boxes I mentally labeled “stuff we don’t need right away“. I pulled out some dishes yesterday, and I’m looking forward to hanging a bunch of them up on the wall right above that little hamper this weekend.
I re-discovered another “thing we didn’t need right away” in another one of the boxes I unpacked yesterday, and after a quick scan of the room, I decided to mount it to the side of the secretary. It’s a wire magazine rack, and I got it at a flea market last year:
Those linens draped over the back of my desk chair are actually an old seed sack we got on a roadtrip a few years ago, and a dish towel from Ikea.
A friend of a friend is making me a 12″x16″ lumbar pillow cover out of them (and some hemp trim) and I’m super excited to see how it turns out. I *think* it’ll be ready tomorrow, so I’ll be back to share some more pics of some more sunroom progress soon!
Are you doing anything home decorate-y/crafty this weekend? I’d love to hear about what you’ve got in the works, too!
PS- The winner of the Mended book giveaway is:
Congrats, Ashley! I’ll be in touch with you shortly via email!
paige
so beautiful layla!!
i love watching ( if even from afar) as your hope & love collide…can’t wait to see the precious face that the Lord will give to ya’ll!!
ox
Layla
Thank you so much, Paige! I can’t wait to see that precious face, too! 😀
Rene'
We are hanging my Pottery Barn hack drum chandy this weekend. http://thedomesticlady.com/2013/01/18/retail-therapy-for-friday-two-fun-goodwill-finds-and-an-easy-diy-decorative-coral/
Donna Lohr
How lucky this little one is….the one God is planning for you!
Kathleen @Home Wasn't Built In A Day
What a pretty flower! I love indoor flowering plants! This weekend I am going to keep working on our laundry room, hopefully getting the new door cut to size, painted, and installed 🙂 We’ll see!
Tonya
WOW…Beautiful song, (sniff..sniff) I can’t wait to see this precious little angel!! May God Bless you 3 with lots of happiness and memories for a life time!! You will be wonderful parents!!!!
DebZorn
Such a beautiful, beautiful song.I’ll pray for you as you continue your adoption journey. Thank you for sharing.
Rachel Joyce @ Architecture of a Mom
Layla,
I have some old college friends that are going through the adoption process, too. They had their home visit the same week as ya’ll I think. It’s kind of funny how your story and theirs kinda ran parallel on my reading! I just shared this song with them.
I love your blog, and your story. Have a wonderful weekend.
Ruby
What is that amazing blue color on the dresser?? I am seeking a perfect blue for my living room walls in our new to us cottage.
Layla
Hi Ruby! It’s Shutter Gray milk paint by Miss Mustard Seed. 🙂
Ruby
Wow! Would not have guessed it to be a gray tone! Well might not be right paint on the walls, but for a piece of furniture for sure! Thanks!
Nicola Blake
Love, Love the plant. I kill everything though!!!
Laurie
“Love Collides” is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard! I would purchase a download of this in a heartbeat!
Praying for your adoption process to go by quickly and that you have a precious child in your care in 2013!
Hugs From Laurie
Layla
Thank you, Laurie! It’s available over on our adoption fundraiser page if you would like to download it! 🙂
Dinelle H
A beautiful song – Hopefully soon your “hope & love” will collide and you will have a little one in your arms.
Mary Anne Taylor
What a beautiful song. The creativity pouring out of the two of you is astounding! Not to mention the overflow of the heart 😉 BTW what was the decision on the praise team audition..I think I missed that 🙁
Layla
Thank you, Mary Anne! Kev started playing with the worship band in December and it has been so fun! 😀
Lauren
I love decorating with dishes! This weekend, I’m planning to make several more of these: https://www.etsy.com/listing/116065355/leather-and-linen-tote-extra-large
I’m also hoping to do some closet reorganization, but that’s not very exciting 😉
Jen Lewis
absolutely a beautiful, beautiful song.
jen
Susan
Wow! What an absolutely beautiful song and how talented your husband is! This song will be so special to your child someday!! 🙂
Sam @ The Junk House
First off, the song is amazing…so sweet!
I’m finally hanging some artwork in the dining room this weekend. Actually, I hung them last night, but I still need to paint the frames white. It’s only taken me cough*twoyears*cough to find/hang something on that wall!
Audrey
We had a major flood before Thanksgiving because of a broken pipe. We’re still cleaning up the mess. My husband just finished installing brand new maple hardwood floor. I love, love, love it!
http://houseofpool.wordpress.com/2013/01/13/maple-flooring/
danielle
That song was so beautiful! I loved it.
Ruth
I have a very similar secretary ghat is needing to be painted. I love yours and I can’t wait to start mine. The magazine basket is fabulous, too. Your plate wall will be beautiful.
Ruth
Cory S.
Very touching song! One day when your child is all grown up he/she will always have this song as their legacy of the love you have for them! Not many children can say that.
Love your amaryllis. They always make me think of the musical Music Man. The little girl that has a crush on little Ron Howard in the movie is called Amaryillis. 🙂
I will be shampooing carpets and working on re-decorating our “recently flown the nest” daughter’s room this weekend. It will be our guest bedroom now. I’m liking the colors of your sunroom. I may use this as my insperation.
Carole
That is a beautiful song (I’d buy it too).
Some of us are lucky enough to find our true soul mate in life. That one person who knows us inside and out, and who we’ll spend our whole lives with no matter what, through the struggles, sharing the joys, living the day to day.
In the short time that I’ve been reading your blog and following along on your every day adventures, I have no doubt that you are two of those people. Two of the lucky ones. 🙂
I wish that we were doing something decorate-y/crafty this weekend. I’d love to get back to focusing on a house that’s been in “remodeling” mode for far too long. What I’d really like to do at this point is to hire the crew of This Old House to finish it up. I’m tired. lol
Unfortunately plumbing issues call. A fairly major leak underneath the garage foundation, and as we discovered recently (after quite a bit of money shelled out), old iron pipes that are slowly disintegrating (as old pipes will do). So plumbing work is on our agenda (in 30 degree weather!). The trench is dug, but the pipe still needs to be connected and laid. Fun times. lol
I recently saw a really cool way to hang decorative plates, so with only two in my possession I’ve been searching the thrifts for others that catch my eye.
I love that blue on the chest too, and the rack on the side for magazines. What a great idea!
Have a wonderful weekend.
Holly
Hi! How do you hang plates without using the old fashion wire plate holders? I have about 8 that I would love to hang but think they look grandmaish (is this a word;). Realize now I need to hang them with other mix match plates but am still unsure how to hang so they look like the are just floating on the wall. Thanks for any suggestions/help!
HRT
Pamela Gordon
Beautiful, beautiful song!
Barbara
Beautiful song, Kevin!! My best thoughts and wishes for you both through this process of finding the little soul meant for you.
Lisa W.
The song is AMAZING…very very special. That Sweet P is one lucky little angel. Can’t wait for you to meet him/her then for us to get to meet him/her:) LOVE your new stuff you put out from your “do not need right now”. I know that must of been so fun, I know I LOVE it when I find something new that I already had and forgot about…Happy Weekend. I am going scrapbooking all day saturday, so I hope to create some yummy memories!!!
Cristi
Layla & Kevin, I have followed your blog for a long time but never commented before but I just want to say…what an absolute beautiful song!!! I will definitely be buying it and am so happy to support your adoption fundraising. We have 3 girls adopted from China and I just recently did a little video slideshow to a Third Day song about our adoption process that’s on our blog. I absolutely know all you are experiencing and was so moved by Kevin’s song – brought back so many memories. What a blessing you will be to a child and what a blessing a child will be to you! God’s blessing on you through this process!
Laura @ The Turquoise Home
I love the little updates! I’m doing some of those myself right now … hanging a mirror that’s been in my garage for 6 months, hanging an old chandy in the dining room that’s been in my closet for over a year, and the real fun one: replacing a toilet seat that’s been broken for ever!!
Debbie Nolan
Such a beautiful song, I always look for what new project you are working on. It is so nice and refreshing to see such a happy in love couple. I am looking forward to seeing all the new adventures you go on in life. Funny I love you two and I really don’t even know you,but it is just such a happy story to follow. Best of luck! Love the song!
Bethanie
Layla, Kevin’s song is just beautiful!! Those words, “when hope and love collide” just gave me the chills. What a beautiful voice, and song to share with your sweet baby one day SOON! You all are going to be the most amazing parents ever and I cannot wait to follow you on this journey!!!
Beckie
Oh Layla and Kevin ! What a beautiful song! Somewhere out there in this big world of ours is your precious one just waiting to come home. I am sending prayers your way that it all goes well for you both. Soon , very soon you will be mom and dad 🙂
Jeannine @ The Concrete Cottage
I’ve had some of my Wooden Name Blocks commissioned by a new mommy for her little one, so I’ll be sanding, gluing and painting my way through the weekend. Oh, and glitter. There WILL BE GLITTER!
It’s the BEST part!
Can’t wait to see you plates!!
Pam
That’s a beautiful song. A year ago we got our daughter from Ethiopia. I know the pains that come with adoption – paperwork, the money, the waiting. It comes and it seems like a wonderful miracle because you knew God knew the right child for you. 🙂
baileywife
oh dear….we are working (and blogging) about our bathroom reno. What I pictured taking one weekend is spilling over several. But I guess I would rather love everything in it by choosing carefully other than express decorating!
And having trouble getting your song…..but I will keep trying!
~Kim
baileywife.blogspot.com
Layla
Hey Kim!
Good luck with that bathroom reno! Tiny spaces are my favorite- can’t wait to see what y’all do!
Are you trying to download the song on our adoption fundraiser page? Please feel free to drop Kev a line at KevinPalmer41 (at) gmail (dot) com if you need help troubleshooting! 🙂
Joanne
Goosebumps listening to Kevin’s song. WOW!
It took my husband and I years and a walk thru fire to have our first child. Such a wonderful description of the emotions you feel for your child.
Kristin S
Layla, I’m listening to my friend Sarah’s words right now about her family’s walk through infertility and adoption.
Thought of you. Prayed for you two.
God knows.
Here are her words if you want to watch/listen. http://www.eversfam.com/2013/01/restoration.html
Jody Lonergan
Wow, Kevin is so talented, its such a beautiful song, I played it to my 10 year old daughter and she was so moved by it and your story (we both were), Good luck with your journey of adoption, now to see if I can figure out how to purchase the song. PS we love your new house its beautiful
Kelle McCarthy
Loved everything about your song! Can’t wait to see when your hope and love collide!!!!
Jeff Barganier
Beautiful song, Kevin. I love it!
Joyce Smittkamp
Amazing song!! I could hear his love coming straight from his heart. Thank you for sharing!!
Lisa
Congrats on getting closer to creating your “new” family! My husband will be at a swim meet most of the weekend with my oldest son. I am hoping to get some projects done. Repainting and stenciling some old pots top the list. I went Barn Sale-ing today and picked up some items to use in organizing my office. Hoping to get that room under control soon! Have a great weekend!
jessica@fourgenerationsoneroof
Wow, that was a beautiful song! Nicely done Kevin, great to hear your singing voice 🙂 Congratulations to you guys getting one step closer to finding your sweet P. Have a great weekend! PS. love the linens
Darlene of Our Creative Life
Hope & Love Collide is an amazing song!! So tender & touching! Love being able to witness God’s faithfulness in your’s & Kevin’s life!! God Bless You Both!
Mary | lemongroveblog
So excited to see those plates up – they are all so beautiful! We moved into our home about 3-months ago as well, and I like that I am still finding old art work and other stuff I forgot about lodged in boxes. It’s like shopping – for free! 😉
vickiatthelake
So we are remodeling a bathroom this weekend. I scored an awesome piece of marble and sink on craigslist this week. We will be tiling our shower with subway tile and glass tile accents. Should be beachy and gorgeous. All sand and white colors with the blue/green glass tiles. Now just to decide on a wall paint color…… Have fun!
Christina English
This song is so beautiful & powerful. I’m moved to tears & speechless. I pray God will be with you every step of the way.
Layla
Thank you so much for leaving us such a kind comment to find here, Christina! We truly appreciate your love and prayers, and are so glad you enjoyed the song! It’s intimidating to put things out for the world to read/hear, but you (and the others you have said sweet things) have been such Lights in our lives this week! XO
Ter'e Crow Lindsay
I love your floor planning! I love the act of sitting things around and just looking at them for a bit, before actually hanging them. I have to laugh here…….at my house…..my pups would have a field day with plates sitting on the floor. LOL. Holy Broken Plates,
I keep wondering…….are you real structured and you just plan one room at a time? I tend to rush the process and think I need to slow down and enjoy the moment more.
Am dying to see your room transform!
Layla
I love the act of sitting things around too, Ter’e! I’m a big sitter-arounder.
Wait.
That came out wrong.
Okay, maybe it didn’t. Maybe I do like sitting around a lot too.
😉
gina
On a serious note- Kevin, your lyrics conveyed all the love you have for your yet unknown child in much the same way God loved each of us before we were even born. Good reminder for me!
On a not so serious note- when I heard you sing for the first time I thought,
wow, he could be my Daddy! ha ha
rachel
Yay! I was hoping you’d do a decorating post soon. After a few months all we’d seen is the great secretary and paint. Can’t wait to see more. I love your country, cottage, coastal..chic? style!
Layla
Thanks, Rachel! I love sharing decorating posts too. 🙂 I like to think of my blog as my playground, and I like to let passion push my swing as far as posts go, ya know what I mean? I just blog about whatever tickles my FUNcy on any given day so that someday our senior-selves will have all these memories saved in one e-place! 😀 That being said, I can’t wait to show you the pillow I talked about in this post- I JUST picked it up and I want to EAT IT!! 😀 #Yummy #Scrumpdillyicious
Norma Neeson
funny how all adoptive parents exude love….boy,girl.light ,dark….nothing matters and all we know is that we love them and yet we don’ t even know them……it is magical and mysterious. and a true miracle……and we dream and we wait and we pour out our love in the hope that wherever they are they will know we are getting closer to them and feel safe in that cloak of
pure emotion………and when you meet……..awwwww……..there are no words or not enough to say what is in your heart
Layla
Beautiful, beautiful words, Norma. Thank you so much for sharing them here!! SO true. 🙂
Lorraine
Oh that song – brought tears to my eyes – it was so beautiful and tender!! Your sunroom is coming together so nicely!!! Love it!!!
Karen
Oh the beautiful song! One day your child will hear that song and will feel so loved and so special! I cried when I heard it!