years ago today...
23 day of October 1993 was the day my journey as a Mrs. began...


As i awoke today, 16 years later I began my morning with laughter...
It was a morning full of chaos....



rushing, packing lunches, quizzing my first grader with spelling words and reviewing for her religion quiz, looking for a lost sock and library book, signing papers, everyone talking at once, and my husband grabbing a yogurt from the fridge to dash off to work... he just arrived home from a few days of travel to our normal routine of morning chaos !



We looked at each other amongst the noise, smiled at each other and mouthed "happy anniversary thank you for my delicious breakfast," {this is our inside joke to each other because we dream about having a gourmet breakfast with mimosas and fresh squeezed orange juice served on the veranda...} that has never happened in 16 years... we pretend one day it will, so in the mean time we pretend a breakfast bar and a yogurt is our romantic breakfast for 2!







As I went about the motions of getting everyone loaded in the car for the morning drive to school i was lost in thought about that day....



the day of my wedding...



and what memories came to mind as I drove.



the first one being the toast the best man gave. He referenced the book, "Harold and the Purple Crayon" and he told the small audience of invited guests that my husband now has his purple crayon.... if you are not familiar with the book, Harold can do anything, create what he needs with his purple crayon.



All things are possible for Harold with his crayon in his hand....



That day I may have been refereed to as a crayon,



but 16 years later we are each others purple crayon....






it's even more true today than ever...


this year has brought us great changes...


his new command is more demanding than ever before...


and I chose this time,of all times, to leap for my dream,
but I thought why not, hold on tight to my crayon and just go for it.

We've built our foundation of 16 years on love, understanding, bumps in the road, fertility struggles, losses, 4 births that have been our biggest miracle, moves, happiness, change, lots of laughter, and respect for each other...


because on that day we knew we were making the commitment to "draw" our journey of life together!

that has left me thinking about life....

Unexpected things have been happening ever since I stood in the pouring freezing rain...
{completely unexpected things!}

It all began with a "chance encounter" in the pouring rain on Saturday at the flea market.
It was mid-morning the rain was slowly taking over my little booth and a petite lady in a bright pink rain coat came dashing over to seek shelter from the rain in my booth.

She said to me, "I was told that you may have a triple dresser"?

I just so happened to have finished painting one a few days ago, but due to the weather I didn't bring it!

I gave her my phone number with words of her calling me and off she dashed into the rain.

I thought of her, but really wasn't sure if she would call me...

On Monday afternoon the phone rang and it was this sweet lady inquiring about my dresser and if she could stop by that afternoon at 4:00 PM for a look.



She arrived and this is the dresser that greeted her...

she took one look at it and said, "It's perfect, I'll take it!"

and now I'm sitting her thinking about how life works, how a chance encounter has now linked 2 people...
one person in search for a triple dresser and one person in the midst of building a dream...

one week ago we didn't know each other, today she is a friend!

I went....
in 36 degree temperature and pouring rain....
it never stopped pouring, not once, for 2 days it rained....
that I needed an arch!
but I had an amazing time because I am doing what I love.
Following your dream gets you through the not best of circumstances,
it thaws the cold that has seeped into your bones,
it makes you laugh when your feet goosh into mud, and when your canopy starts to leak,
who would stand out in weather conditions that would keep any normal person in bed or in front of a roaring fire with a hot mug of goodness in your hands...
Me, that's who and my sweet friend who I have mentioned is not a junk loving girl, who does not have a passion for flea markets, but will stand in the rain with me because she believes in my dream and is always telling me you can do this, it's what you were meant to do....
that's who!
Who would get out of bed at 4:30 AM so his wife could sleep longer and haul her goods to the market and set up her booth...
who would bring me flattened cardboard boxes to stand on in attempt to keep the mud off my pieces...
who would come rescue me to help pack up my booth...
my husband!

I could not do this without his love and support, he is my strength, my one and only! I can dream this dream because he has always encouraged me to follow this dream!
If you had told me one year ago I would be attempting to build my little vintage shop I would have laughed and thought you were nuts,
Just because I love vintage treasures, and to paint who would love my finds but me.....
who would shop my little dream but me....

by beautiful October!

It may have taken a few days...
I was a tad bit preoccupied...
a little busy trying to launch my little dream...
juggling the children and my husband's schedule has been a tad tricky,

but with great understanding, a whole lot of patients from the whole "co", major multitasking skills, and three full days of rest I've finally been wrapped in a gentle embrace by Fall

How sweet it feels and smells too....
apples and cinnamon sticks have been simmering on my stove....

the rain is falling on my freshly seeded lawn {preparing the yard for Spring starts in the Fall... bring on the gentle rain}

I have a day planned all around painting a coffee table for my next sale...
which by the way I will be having a spot at a local Flea Market this weekend...
bundling up a few pieces from home and heading to the market!

the forecast is calling for rain....cold temperature's, this is a rain or shine event. I can't back out now so going with a good attitude, canopy and tarps...

it'll be a crazy adventure, but I'm game! My little dream needs to grow...
So, if you feel like stopping by on this cozy fall day I'd love the company. We can grab a bowl of soup and chat til it's time to pick up all the kids from school!

see you soon and be sure to wear your wellies ,

Autumn has officially arrived...


the temperature has dropped...


The air smells of fall, the leaves are a changing,


jackets came out of the closets,


socks have been restocked.


I've wanted to snuggle in bed longer and longer in the early morning hours to avoid getting up...


then I make a mad dash from the warm bed to a "hot" shower...


then run for the kitchen in search of some warm goodness.


Now that the caffeine has stirred me into action I have to focus on a certain holiday that is fast approaching....


I'm not one to decorate for all the holiday's. Somehow they seem to arrive faster and faster... How can this be?


I stick to outdoor flowers, corn stocks, and pumpkins for the front of the house...


and call it done.


I already feel behind because I do not have any costumes for the kiddos { I tried desperately, last night, to talk them into wearing gently used costumes we have stored away..... what do you think there answer was?


Oh Mom! that's not as fun....


what can I say to that?












I'm on a mission today....


to get caught up and take some time to enjoy the season before it's too late....

every story has a beginning...





the chickadees were not painted in the process,


they were fed,


I remembered to breathe,


I laughed,



I called for "help" when I needed it most {how do I thank my two dear friends who came to my rescue and helped a girl clean out her garage for her sale... my heart overflows with gratitude for them and there help}





I fell into bed each night, exhausted and exhilarated all at the same time for the amount of work it's taking to write this chapter of my story...

I worried and prayed...

I found strength to move forward from all of you.... you inspire me daily,

I painted each piece thinking of whose home it would fit into perfectly...

I hunted for treasures.

for the last 5 days I would cradle the phone to my ear and hear my husbands voice 3,000 miles away. He is busy writing his own chapter. Here we are, two people, sharing their lives together writing different "chapters" but still woven together, forever linked and made better because of our love for each other and our chickadees.

I stood in the garage with my "vintage friend" sweaty and exhausted from a day of labor to see my husband drive up in the dark.... with gifts of roses and pizza from my favorite Italian restaurant to be here for my first home sale... what a sight he was, better than any vintage treasure!

I've titled this chapter of my story "stepping stones"... a couple walking hand in hand with our children weaving our own story walking together through life one step at a time, one chapter at a time!

wishing you all a wonderful Sunday, see you tomorrow bright and early with my latte in hand. Until til then,

{image from Angel at photobucket}