A Bit of Organizing

Hello friends! :) 

It has been a busy day here today...and I am quite ready for bed. We have another busy day tomorrow though so I wanted to get this post up tonight. We have been having such mild temperatures here in Western PA lately! In the 50's! It has been dreary though...and the mud....oh the mud! But...I am *not* trying to complain. I wore flip-flops the past couple of days! Yes, you read that right! It was glorious! The bad thing, though, is that the skunks seem to think it is time to wake up from their hibernation...then they try to cross the road. They aren't very successful. I hope they realize they need to go back to bed! 

Since it is late and I am *quite* ready for bed...I just wanted to share a quick bit of organizing I have done lately. I rearranged some bookshelves and organized the children's schoolwork...

The "mail sorter" system I had used to sit here (below). It worked *wonderfully* and I loved how it kept things neat and *in their place*. However, the slotted shelves I had purchased were made of thick cardboard and with some of the weight of the children's schoolbooks, over time, it started sinking and sagging in places. I was disappointed! So...I put on my thinking cap!

I used this ugly old book shelf/cupboard from the front "official" school room (but we don't do our school in there. We did at one time but now it is easier to do at the table or somewhere comfortable) and brought it into my office/library area (aka: the old living room beside the dining room)...

I found an inexpensive *smaller* slotted shelf for the boys' books...

Madelyn keeps most of her books in her room. But the top shelf of the cupboard is hers to keep books or notebooks...

The bottom shelf keeps some finished workbooks and workbooks yet to be used...

The very bottom (with the doors) is where I keep my sticker paper for my shop.

The bookshelf/cupboard is not pretty at all..but it serves us well right now! I love when something functions in a way that works best for my family!

So there you have it! :) A little organization! I hope you enjoyed and maybe found something that may benefit you and your family as well. In my next post, I plan to share with you all a couple fantastic books I have finished. They aren't long and oh my ~ they are *full* of wisdom! So definitely come back soon to see that post! You'll be glad you did!

Thank you for visiting!!
Cheerfully,
Katy

Link to my latest Plan With Me video in an Erin Condren Life Planner: HERE (to see bullet journal PWMs see my sidebar or check out my youtube channel!)

This post linked up to: Strangers & Pilgrims and The Modest Mom

"The desire to be hospitable...

...should come out of the overflow of a humble heart changed by the work of Christ and a desire to show the world the greatness of Jesus Christ. We don't minister to gain glory for ourselves. We minister to gain glory for our Christ.....It's about giving people Jesus when they step through your front door."

~Courtney Reissig, The Accidental Feminist

"The purpose of the home is about 'feeding souls, providing a refuge for the weary, and living generously.' The home is a place of work. It's a place where life happens. It's a place where the family works together to accomplish God's purposes."

~Courtney Reissig, The Accidental Feminist

"The purpose of the home is to be a place of refuge, grace, and productivity -- not a platform for me to prove what a great homemaker I am. God is to get the glory in our homes."

~ Courtney Reissig, The Accidental Feminist

As I am sure you can guess from the quotes above, I have been reading The Accidental Feminist: Restoring Our Delight in God's Good Design! It is a great book! Not only does it touch on exalting Christ (in all things, including our homemaking) but it touches on modesty, submission, true beauty and more. As I have said before, I like to *own* and not borrow books because I underline them and refer back to them. This book has been highly underlined/highlighted! :)

"Obsession with image, no matter how detrimental it is to your health or well-being, is a form of pride and self-worship ... if beauty is truth, then all things, to be truly beautiful, must point to the ultimate truth -- God, Himself."

"Don't believe the culture's lie that says you are the most important being in your universe. Christ came to serve, not to be served (Matt. 20:28). We do likewise...submission is a lifelong process of daily dying to myself and my wants for the good of another."

~Courtney Reissig, The Accidental Feminist

Those are just some small snippets of goodness abounding in the pages of this book! I could go on and on with more wonderful quotes but it's best if you just read the book for yourself! This is not a sponsored book review...just something I wanted to share with other sisters in Christ who seek to grow in holiness and sanctification! :)

In other news...my house smells like fall. I know summer isn't officially over yet...and I am not trying to wish time away...but oh how I *love* autumn!! The smells, the air...I wish it lasted for a lot longer than it does! :) I have fall candles burning and the temperature outside is comfy! Windows are open and clothes are drying out on the line! :)

Friends of ours with young children needed a date night so we are excited to watch all their little girlies this evening for a couple hours while they go out for ice cream...just the two of them! I hope they can hold hands, talk and just enjoy each other during that time. Children are *such* a blessing but keeping your marriage strong and close is so important! To neglect your marriage because you are so consumed with your children is a terrible mistake....and not biblical. Not only will our friends enjoy some time together...but we'll have fun playing with the kids. One is an infant that I am completely looking forward to snuggling (she is a happy little thing), two of the girls are three and under and full of energy. They'll love swinging outside and visiting the chickens! :) Then the last girl is a little older and loves to spend time with Madelyn! :) I'm thinking the children will play badmitton or catch with the football! :)

See....candles are burning away...

Piano playing...

Lego playing...

Corn eating...

I know this post has been a bit long...*but* quickly, I wanted to share what my aunt gave me for my birthday! I have always just carried my camera places by hand...I never even realized I should get a camera case. My aunt borrowed my camera one day and I think she realized how good a case would be for me! This is the one she got...

Isn't it great!? I just love the colors and the carrying strap! It fit my camera perfectly (she did research to find just the right bag for me! Isn't that so thoughtful of her!?)...

The other side of the bag opens up and is a place to store batteries, camera cards etc! It's just perfect and such a blessing to me since it will keep my camera well protected (as cameras aren't cheap!)...

OK...so that's about it! Whew! Didn't think this post was ever gonna end, did ya? ;) The children are working on their schoolwork and I have been tidying the house, filling sticker orders and doing some organizing! :) Now to continue on! Thanks for dropping by! Have a great weekend friends!

Warmly,
Katy

*An affiliate link was used in this post...if you click on it and purchase through it, I will receive a small commission. 

Although so far, I have never actually earned enough through affiliate links to receive anything monetary...but it doesn't hurt to try, right? 

However, this post is not sponsored. All just my ramblings! :)

Linked up at:

A Wise Woman Builds Her Home

 &

Auction Finds & *She's 15!*

My brother-in-law and his father are auctioneers. :) Often, one or more of my children and Chris will work at the auctions (as they are typically on Saturdays). Occasionally, they will have sales on other days of the week. There was one yesterday and both Xavier and Jaxson worked at it. Madelyn and I decided to go to it, although we got there halfway through. I have been to many auctions but never officially bought something on my own (Chris has purchased a few things over the years). Well, I found a few things at good prices!

Here are a few of the things I got...

I'm a cast iron junkie! These were all sold together (most of them look brand new). I *love* the square one!

 I got this side table for $6 or $7 and it works perfectly where I pictured it! I have a picture without the flash (as this is what it looks like in real life....but is a little blurry). The picture below it shows it with the flash. I put a crock pie plate on it to hold keys when we come into the house!

(Notice I haven't yet painted the door...nor put on the door knob yet!)

I got this neat printers/stamp box. It has small printing strips in the drawers...it's missing a couple drawers ~ but that's totally okay with me! I put it in the living room and it works perfectly for holding this lamp!

 I got this rolling pin *which I love*...

I also got an elliptical (that works well!) for $5! I plan on putting it to good use! :) I love when I find some great, useful items at great prices! Don't you?

I walked into the pantry yesterday and found Stella curled up, all content and purring, in this basket on the dry sink! I realized it was definitely a perfect *picture* moment...so I hurried off to grab my camera...

My Madelyn turned 15 yesterday. I can hardly believe it! You never realize how fast time flies until you have your own children. You blink and they are grown! My mom always told me how fast time went but I never truly realized how right she was until my children were born! I am so, so thankful for the 15 years the Lord has given me with my daughter and I look forward to many more, Lord willing. 

Madelyn enjoyed some time swimming with some of her girl friends from church yesterday (they had a lot of fun!) and after the auction that afternoon/evening, we (Chris, the children and I) went and got ice cream together. :) She enjoyed her day. 

Tuesday, my sister and her girls (as well as my aunt and my mom) came over for lunch to celebrate Madelyn. Eloise, Dinah and Audra brought her these balloons...

Aunt Nen (my sister) made these healthy cupcakes and brought them! The girls loved bringing the candle to Madelyn and singing to her!

This girl steals her Aunt TiTi's heart...

Her first time playing Legos...

So, this week has been busy and much enjoyed already! Today is cloudy and dreary...so I'll focus on cleaning inside, reorganizing things and hopefully have time for a nap at some point! X has an appointment this afternoon and then he and Madelyn get to go bowling with friends from church this evening. Since Jaxson is too young to go, Chris plans on taking him fishing (if it doesn't rain). I am sure they will have fun!

Grace and Peace to you, friends. Thank you for visiting me today!
Joyfully,
Katy

 ...make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

~ 2 Peter 1:5-8

Home: Furniture, Dishes, Books and More!

Whew! Such a busy summer it has been. Trying to reorganize, deep clean, and keep up with *normal* chores can keep a wife on her toes! I need to finish cleaning windows (as I started earlier this morning but stopped to fill a few sticker orders and get them in the mail) and then get outside to mow some before it gets too hot. Quickly, though, I wanted to share some of our home improvements and fun things! :)

Pictured above and below is a fantastic bench I found made of old barn wood beams! It is a beautiful piece and fits perfectly in our mudroom! Chris wanted something to sit on when he puts on his work boots and I was thrilled to find this sturdy bench!

This guy. He helps his uncle at auctions, rakes hay on the tractor and helps put it into the barn, works at my dad's garage and more! Sometimes, he just poops out! Getting him to work as hard at his chores as he does doing "man" work is not easy to do...especially when he comes home exhausted! But it's the summer and he is working so the other children and I just work together to get everything done around here!

A book I have been reading bits and pieces of from time to time...

There's me in all my busy wife and mama glory...hair back, red faced and probably sweaty too! hehe...

An intense Monopoly game...(as Madelyn reads between her turns....good grief!)...

My aunt gave me this great glass piece. She had it in her home but she moved to a smaller house and didn't have the room for it....so I got it! Yay! Now, we just need to find a place to hang it! :)

Four books in my "To Read Soon" pile (to go along with the hundred other ones I have waiting for me...*shaking my head*)...

Although I *love* candles mostly in the fall and winter, I enjoy them year-round too! Never a bad day to have a candle glowing...

My famous peach-pie maker extraordinaire! Madelyn gets rave reviews on her peach pies and so she makes them whenever we have a get-together than includes *food*.

She uses peaches I had canned a few years back! :)

I am so, so excited to share this with you as well. My aunt (the one I mentioned above) had these fantastic Currier and Ives dishes set. It was from my great grandmother. She wasn't using them (hadn't for years....they just sat all boxed up) and knowing how much I wanted them, offered them to me! Eek! The excitement!! Aren't they beautiful?

*swoon*

AND...in other news (are you still here? I know this has gotten dreadfully long! Sorry!)...Chris got my washer and dryer moved to the new laundry room and all hooked up! YAY!

Above the washer and dryer, Chris is going to build me a shelf to hold laundry soap etc! (Notice around the windows...we still need to finish the trim).

Chris's brother, knowing we wanted a utility sink for in the new laundry room gave us one he had and didn't need...brand new!!! *Such* a blessing! (That little dress bag holds my clothespins!)...

The *old* laundry room (whose walls are still in need of dire paining and such) has now turned into a bit of a pantry. I have our dry sink in there with goods stored in it...

As well as this *wonderful* shelf (another gift from my aunt)...

So we have been busy moving, rearranging and cleaning! :) I am so grateful for how the Lord provides for us. We don't live fancy...but we do live well. Others who have more money or affluence may not see our abundance...but it's there...not necessarily in a monetary way ~ but the Lord always takes care of us...we have never known true hunger or need. He watches over us...and it makes me praise Him all the more when I stop and think of how I deserve none of it. Nothing in and of myself deserves His provisions. He is so good.

Well, there are clothes to hang out and a lawn to mow...oh yeah, and those windows to finish washing! I'm sure you have things you need to do too! So, thanks for stopping by! I hope your week is productive and joy-filled all to His glory!

Warmly,
Katy

Linked up at: Strangers & Pilgrims and The Whole Hearted Home and Linda's Lunacy: Making a Home