DIY vintage sign.

I have been waiting on the state board of nursing to issue my license number.  I need that number before I can start working, so the delay has been quite a disappointing surprise.  I have been studying my class notes from this past year and being a house wife these days.  But, I still can enjoy a little free time while I have it!  So, in celebration of the free time, I thought I would do some crafting and write my first DIY post.

A vintage style sign.

You'll want to start with a piece of wood or a plaque.  I used a $0.50 thrift store find and just painted it black.  It isn't perfect, but it'll do the job.

Next, figure out what you want your sign to say.  Sooo many options here.  I am making the sign as a gift for a friend.  I want her to be reminded that she can "plant seeds" wherever she goes in life if she is connected to Christ.  Print out whatever you want your sign to say in the appropriate size.

Next, with a pencil, shade on the back side of the letters.

You'll then want to position your lettering onto the sign and tape it down.

Next, with a ball point pen, trace around the outline of your letters. You'll want to press pretty hard so it shows up.  Because of the pencil shading on the back side, it'll transfer the outline in pencil right onto your wood!

Next, I took a paint marker and filled in the lettering. If you want a clean solid look you'll need to do a couple coats of this. For my purposes, though, I was going to sand and distress it anyway, so it definitely did not have to be perfect.

Next, I let the letters dry really well and sanded it quite a bit to "distress" the lettering and make it look old.  I used 220 grade sandpaper.  I then took a wet paper towel and wiped up the dust to clean it up before the final step.

Finally, I gave it two generous coats of Mod Podge. This will seal it and give it a little shine, but you can do it in a matte finish as well. (Michaels is offering 50% coupons on their website.)  Either way, it'll give it a finished look.

Once dry, your sign is done!

So I'm sure there are better, easier ways to do this, especially if you have the right tools, but this cost less than $5 to make. I can't wait to make more as gifts!  Enjoy!

Welcoming Fall.

Fall has been my favorite season since I was young for many reasons. 

I love when the air changes from humid to crisp, prompting the use of sweatshirts and scarves.  When the leaves on the trees turn red, yellow, and orange, I can’t help but think about how beautiful it is (even if it is just a lack of photosynthesis and chlorophyll).  Also, hot apple cider and ANY baked pumpkin treat are especially tasty during these Fall months. 

We took some time to decorate our house to celebrate the change of season.  It is fun having time around the house to do projects like these!  

Pumpkins!

I carved a pumpkin to make a pot for our mum.

Pumpkin seeds from carving...Yum!

Fall wreath.  I made new felt flowers and added some berries.

Close up.

Pumpkin Apple Streusel Muffins...Oh my, so good!

Kidron.

Josh and I recently visited Ohio to spend time with his extended family.  His cousin, Emilie, had found a kitten along the road in a ditch the week before our visit.  She told a long, pitiful tale about the roadside rescue and her parents graciously offered to “find him a good home.”  I ate it up, mostly because this wide-eyed kitten seemed to be the best combination of playful and cuddly.  Long story short, he made his way from Kidron, Ohio to PA within one week.

Meet our new kitten, Kidron. 

All this time.

I can not stop listening to this song!!!  How encouraging it is to be reminded that God has been walking with me all this time.  He is for me and restoring.
I know God exists, because of the transformation that has occurred in my life.  And the transformation that occurs in the lives of those around me.

I hope you enjoy this song by Britt Nicole as much as I do!

Oldies but Goodies.

My mom has loved the elderly population for as long as I can remember.  At church, she would often talk to little old ladies about their grandchildren or high blood pressure with a big smile plastered on her face.  My mom would often say that children could connect in neat ways with the elderly.  So, she tried to pass this love along to me and my sisters when we were kids by forcing us into nursing homes.  During our nursing home visits, Alyssa and I listened to the same stories over and over again, learned to knit, and sang hymns or nursery rhymes. 

My mom was successful in sensitizing us.  Alyssa and I both dearly love old people.  Anyone over the age of 70, I want to treasure.  They have lived long and have gained much wisdom.

While working on my undergraduate degree, I worked at a local nursing home during summer breaks.  I used to love helping the residents with their activities of daily living and learning each resident’s little quirks.  For example, “Charlie” may eat only strawberry ice cream.  “Sandy” may want to meet weekly to practice our Spanish after being a Spanish teacher for 40+ years.  “Beth” may love to show me the wedding dress she was sewing for her granddaughter’s wedding.  I loved being a part of their daily lives.

I especially enjoyed those elderly couples at the nursing home who would walk to the dining room holding hands.  I loved to watch them physically supporting each other.  They often had sweet conversations and spoke about the Lord’s faithfulness throughout their long life together.  Some of these elderly folks had worked hard on their marriages over the years and have cultivated fruitful, loving relationships. 

So, I hope to be like my mom in this regard.  When I have kiddos, I will be forcing them into nursing homes, making them listen to stories and sing songs.  So, they can appreciate and learn some of the same lessons I did.  The elderly still need community, love, and attention just like anyone else.   

Graduation.

A Pinning Ceremony rather.

I had a friend encourage me to read 2 Chronicles 20 in light of my graduation.  The story is about King Jehoshaphat, who was king of Judah at that time.  He is given word that his country is about to be attacked by a powerful, invading army.  Jehoshaphat declares that no matter what happens - calamity, judgment, plague, famine - that "we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us." 

The Lord saw Jehoshaphat’s faith and spoke through one of the Levites, who declared, “Do not be afraid of discouraged because of this vast army.  For the battle is not yours, but God’s.”  God protects the people of Judah and the invading army ends up killing each other.

I know it may sound silly to compare this battle to nurse practitioner school, but there have been days when I felt like I was on the front lines against an invading army…

I have felt overwhelmed as I approach a diaphoretic, short of breath patient walking into the office.  As the patient is doubled-over in pain, he has proven to bring peace during critical times.

I have stood by patients who hear the new diagnosis of late stage cancer and have watched him give them hope.

I have driven home after a busy day at clinical to head home to a full evening of studying with a terrible attitude and have felt him transform my heart to one of gratitude.

God has been faithful.  He made it clear that the battle was his and I was to be obedient.  I stood firm and tried to trust him without fear.  I have done nothing in comparison to how he has worked.  I get to celebrate not just because of a program ending, but because God has been victorious!

Special thank you’s to:

Mom and Dad Raber, Mom and Dad Rohrer, Nan and Pap, Alyssa, Olyvia, and Janzen, who all drove to TN from PA for the weekend to be at the ceremony.  What a far trip!!!

Josh, “Thank you” is not enough.  He has done so much.

Honorary Degree.

Josh, my husband of one year, is an incredible man.  He’s the one who does twice as much cleaning, twice as much laundry, twice as much cooking, and twice as much of just about everything around the house.  I hope to catch up when I am no longer a full time student, but I appreciate his servant’s heart.

He has also edited many of my papers and has given me the space I need to study.  All of his small acts of service have encouraged me and supported me in big ways. His character is seemingly never shaken.  These are just some of the reasons why he is an incredible man.