Jenna’s Wedding

On April 3, 2010, my lovely daughter was married to the Man of Her Dreams, Jon David George. All of her wedding plans came together so beautifully and this mother of the bride was awed by her daughter’s ability to create her wedding just as she wanted it to be. She had everything planned right down to the last detail! First of all, I need to tell you that she was the most beautiful bride I had ever seen. This picture captures her personality so beautifully.

The reception decor blew me away when it all came together…the little flower pots were filled with perennial flower seeds to be planted in honor of Jenna’s beloved Grandma Thompson, who underwent her second mastectomy last year due to breast cancer. The entire theme of the wedding was to honor her grandma and all women affected by breast cancer. Note the picture of her wedding cake with breast cancer ribbons adorning it.

Last, but certainly not least, is a picture of Jenna with her grandma….

An Uplifting Letter From My Sister

In response to my below post, my sister sent me the following email.  She wasn’t sure how to add it to my blog, so I told her I would add it here.  She has always known just what to say to make me feel better.  Indeed, the help she and my sister Trisha so lovingly provided to Jenna, along with their lovely daughters, added so much to the wedding and reception.  I will post more on the wedding as soon as we get the pictures back from the photographer.  Let me just say, it was everything that Jenna dreamed that it would be.

Dear "Mother-of-the-Bride,
I marvel as I watch Jenna prepare for her wedding.  She's a girl who does indeed know what she wants after all.  She has made her own decisions and is making this wedding a statement of the incredible young lady she has grown into. 
She didn't get there by herself, you know.  It was her mother who very carefully molded her into the beautiful soul that she is.  It was the delicate and devoted love and labor, the "lead by example", the ability to step back and be that "hidden" angel who has expected nothing in return for the million and one things you have done for her.  That was your part in this wedding, dear sister.  You did the hard part....now this is your chance to sit back and marvel at "a job  well done".  Enjoy the beauty of the moment and feel the pleasure of watching this precious young lady walk into a new life of love with the little package you have been preparing for the last 23 years, neatly tucked away in her heart. She will unfold that package each and every single day for the rest of her life...when it comes to decorating her house, her style may be different, but she will draw on her mother's ability to make a home "cozy".  When she entertains, she will draw upon her mother's warmth and hospitality, making each and every person that enters her home feel welcome.  When it comes to loving her husband, she will draw upon the same passion and devotion that she saw you give to Sonny through the years and she will know that when the "honeymoon" wears off and the real life begins and at times feels difficult, that its the stamina and ability to ride the storm that she so often watched her mother do, that will get her through the tough times.  She will know how to balance work and home with time management skills that only a loving mother can do, because there will be years when it would be impossible to "do it all" without that super power in the depth of a mother's soul that develops from shear love and devotion. 
Okay, I'm not sure if she will ever be able to fold laundry like you...who could?!  There are so many things about filling your shoes that will be difficult to attain.  I know.....believe me, as your younger sister, I have tried...always.  I have learned to take all the special qualities of you that I admired and make them my own.  You taught me so many things that I never could have been without your guidance...
Yes, Jenna is doing this wedding her way.  But you gave her the priceless gift of "independence" and because of that, she has the ability to plan a wedding and walk into a whole new life of happiness.  She's doing a "breast cancer" theme because you taught her that its not "all about her" and shared with her your incredible unselfishness and the ability to give to others in a unbelievable way.
My prayer for you is that you are able to sit back and ENJOY THE MOMENT and relish in A JOB WELL DONE and savor the beauty and wonder of this precious girl growing up.  This is not losing a daughter, but gaining the joy of watching her develop a new life of her own. 
And thereafter.... I pray that you welcome every new day as a fresh beginning in God's grace and allow your own world to be made new.
You and Jenna are so, so, dear to me!!!!  What a pleasure it is for me to share in this most special event.
Love you, SisterBrendy,
Jeannie      

JENNA’S WEDDING JUST FOUR DAYS AWAY!!!

Eight months ago, when Jenna got engaged in Myrtle Beach, it seemed like a very long time before the actual wedding would happen.  I envisioned lots of mother/daughter time being spent together as she would give me feedback on the great ideas I would come up with for the romantic fairy tale wedding/reception.  I am a lover of old lace, ruffles, candlelight, distressed, chippy white paint…you know…the stuff that oozes with romanticism?  To give you an idea of my style, let me show you a backpack that I would die for….this is made by artist, Robin, of Magnolia Pearl…..

Is that not the most gorgeous backpack you’ve ever seen?  Well, Jenna doesn’t agree with me.  Thus, the problem with my planning her wedding….

She did not like any of my fabulous ideas!  Can you imagine such a thing?

Me, her mother,  who has so lovingly planned her entire life, is suddenly expected to take a backseat and allow her to take the reins, and (gasp!) plan her own wedding!  In the way that she has envisioned it in her own mind?  She has chosen her wedding day theme around the Breast Cancer Ribbon, to honor a very special woman in her life…her soon to be 87 year old grandmother who is a breast cancer survivor and inspiration to all who knows her.  She had her first bout with breast cancer 25 years ago and underwent a mastectomy and not a peep from that dreaded disease until a year ago, when she underwent her second mastectomy at the age of 86.  She took one (no, that is not a typo) pain pill the first night she came home from the hospital and that was only because we encouraged her to do so.  She never complained once about pain, nor the fate of having to face two mastectomies 24 years apart.  I hope to be just like my Mama when I grow up.  But I am amazed that this child of mine chooses, not my frilly, lacy, ruffles for her wedding theme, but a breast cancer theme to honor not only her grandmother, but all women who has had to suffer from this cancer.  Is this my daughter, the one whose universe has always circled around her and her needs?  Although I am very touched, it also frightens me a little.  This is the girl, who the night before a school project was due, would come to me, pleading, “Mama, would you help me with this, you always have such wonderful ideas…..”  Now, suddenly, she doesn’t seem to need or want her Mama’s ideas.  What is this Mama to think?   Doesn’t she know that mothers’ plan weddings and daughters sit back demurely agreeing to everything we suggest, loving each and every idea that comes out of our motherly minds?  She even has the audacity to choose her own music!  No  Wedding March  for her, no sir ree!  The wedding party will come down the aisle to the beat of some song called Bubbly  (of all things!) by Colbie Collait.  And then when her Daddy walks her down the aisle, she is determined to make me cry by having the Tim McGraw song,  My Little Girl, ….now you tell me…who gets walked down the aisle to that tear jerker?  We did however, agree on one thing, and that is the fact that Jon David (her fiancée’ has two sisters who has voices like angels and they are going to sing the Shania Twain/Bryan Adams song,  From this Moment on…during the lighting of the unity candle.  The final song selection will be by Jason Mraz and Colbie Collait, called Lucky.  Don’t tell Jenna, but after the rehearsal, it all seemed fitting, somehow and “so Jenna.”  At the end of the day, this mother of the bride, has to admit, that

it Really is……

                     all about …..  the

                                                    Bride and Groom.

But, shhh!  Don’t tell Jenna that I admitted this, it’s a surprise that I want to share with her on her wedding day………

 

Basement Tour Continues

My basement is pretty much open, except for the furnace enclosure right smack in the middle of the basement.  There is also the fireplace that sort of makes a wall.  So if you can envision a large room with a wall in the middle (think of the open area as a racetrack), you can envision, for the most part, the layout.

Just past the sitting area is where I have my art area set up.  I found a nice old square table at a yardsale that I use for my worktable.

As you can see, this is not what one would really call a “finished basement”.  It is actually quite rough.  The ceilings sag, the paneling bows, doors don’t quite close, etc., but paint on the walls and floors made a big difference and it works for my needs.

Against this wall on the left, there is a door to a storage unit, and along the short wall, I have a little area set up where I design my purses.  As you can see, I have several in progress…a stage they have been for many weeks now.

What would we do without our inspiration boards?  Tomorrow I’ll share pictures of my furniture rehab areas.

Still Organizing My Basement!

I really should have taken pictures before and after my basement cleanup because you just cannot appreciate how much work I really accomplished down there this past month without the before pics.  oh well…let me share the “after” photos with you and you can guess on the “before”.  Just use your imagination and think CLUTTER!

  

tHE FIRST PICTURE ABOVE SHOWS THE AREA YOU COME UPON WHEN YOU FIRST COME DOWN THE BASEMENT STAIRS.  I DECIDED TO MAKE THIS MY SITTING AREA.  THERE ARE A COUPLE OF DIY PROJECTS HERE THAT I’LL MENTION BRIEFLY, AND IF YOU WANT MORE DETAILS, LET ME KNOW.

THE FIRST IS THE COFFEE TABLE.  THE TOP WAS PRETTY ROUGH WHEN I BOUGHT IT AT A YARDSALE.  I HAD TO DECIDE WHETHER TO DO SOME HEAVY DUTY REFINISHING ON IT, OR GO WITH THE DISTRESSED LOOK BY PAINTING IT.  I DIDN’T KNOW WHICH WHEN I STARTED.  I BEGAN BY USING A SHARP EDGED WOOD CHISEL TO TAKE THE TOP LAYER OF FINISH OFF.  THEN I SANDED THE ENTIRE SURFACE WITH A LOW GRIT SANDPAPER.  THERE WERE SOME DEEPER GOUGES IN THE WOOD THAT WOULD HAVE TAKEN A LOT OF WORK TO SAND DOWN, AND I REALLY LIKED THE CHARACTER THE MARKS LEFT IN THE SURFACE.  SO, I DECIDED TO TRY THE DISTRESSED LOOK ON THE TOP ONLY.  I APPLIED A COAT OF CREAMY OFF-WHITE PAINT, LET IT DRY, AND THEN SOFTLY SANDED IT AGAIN WITH THE LOW GRit SANDPAPER.  I APPLIED THE SECOND COAT AND AGAIN SANDED IT.  THIS REMOVES ANY BRUSH STROKES OR PAINT BUILDUP FROM TOO MUCH PAINT ON YOUR BRUSH.  aS YOU CAN SEE, I ALSO PAINTED THE SIDES OF THE TOP.  ONCE THE SECOND COAT WAS DRY, I TOOK THE SAND PAPER AND LIGHTLY WENT OVER THE CURVED CORNERS AND OTHER AREAS WHERE THE TOP AND SIDE MEET.  YOU CAN SEE THE WOOD UNDERNEATH WHERE I DID THAT.  I ALSO DID THAT IN A FEW PLACE ON THE TOP ITSELF.  IT’S KIND OF A TOUCHY FEELY PROCESS, BECAUSE YOU WANT IT TO LOOK WORN AND DISTRESSED BY USE RATHER THAN BY SANDPAPER.  IF YOU GO A LITTLE CRAZY WITH THE SANDPAPER, YOU CAN ALWAYS APPLY MORE PAINT AND THEN SAND AGAIN.  WHEN FINISHED, I WAS VERY PLEASED WITH THE END RESULT AND REALLY LIKE THE COMBINATION OF PAINT AND WOOD.

THE OTHER PROJECT WAS A QUICK FIX I DID TO COVER THE OTTOMAN.  MY DAUGHTER HAD A DOG THAT LIKED TO LIFT HIS LEG ON THE BOTTOM OF THE ORIGINAL OTTOMAN COVER….IF YOU GET MY DRIFT.  IT WAS ATTACHED TO THE OTTOMAN AND NO MATTER HOW I TRIED, I COULD NOT GET THE STAINS NOR THE SMELL OUT.  I DECIDED THE ONLY WAY TO GET RID OF IT WAS TO CUT IT OFF, WHICH I DID AND IT LOOKED AWFUL…SO I HAD TO COVER THE WHOLE THING SOMEHOW.  NOT SURE WHAT I WAS DOING, I GRABBED SOME FABRIC AND CUT OUT A PIECE FOR THE TOP OUT OF A HEAVIER, SOLID PINK MATERIAL.  I PINNED IT DOWN INTO THE SEAM AROUND THE EDGES.  I THEN TOOK A PIECE OF WHITE COTTON AND ANOTHER OF PINK COTTON AND DECIDED TO USE THEM TO GATHER AND PIN TO THE TOP OF THE FABRIC I PUT ON TOP.  ARE YOU FOLLOWING ME SO FAR?  MAYBE I SHOULD PUT A CLOSEUP PICTURE HERE.

AS YOU CAN SEE, I ALTERNATED MY FABRIC PINK, WHITE, PINK, WHITE.  I DID THIS BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH ON HAND OF THE PINK AND WHEN I WANT TO DO SOMETHING, I WANT TO DO IT RIGHT NOW, WITH WHAT I HAVE ON HAND.  AFTER CAREFULLY USING LONG UPHOLSTERY PINS TO PIN IN PLACE, I THEN TOOK A PIECE OF BRAIDED TRIM AND HOT GLUED IT TO THE FABRIC TO COVER UP THE PINS.  WHOO-LA!  INSTANT OTTOMAN COVER!  KEEP IN MIND, THIS WOULD NOT HOLD UP TO A LOT OF WEAR AND TEAR!  I CAN SIT ON IT WITHOUT DISLODGLING THE PINS, BUT I WOULD NOT TRUST IT IF I HAD SMALL CHILDREN ABOUT.  BUT IN A QUICK FIX SITUATION, THIS WORKS GREAT AND I HAD IT DONE IN ABOUT 1 1/2 HOURS.

NEXT IS A PICTURE OF THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THIS SITTING AREA, WHERE THE FIREPLACE IS.  THE FUTON ABOVE FACES THE FIREPLACE.

I SEE A FEW THINGS IN THIS AREA THAT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN, BUT I’LL SAVE THOSE FOR ANOTHER DAY.  TOMORROW I’LL TRY TO POST MORE PICTURES OF MY “CREATIVE SPACES” IN THE BASEMENT.  HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS LITTLE LOOK-SEE AND PROJECT BRIEFING.  I’M REALLY GOING TO TRY TO FOCUS MORE ON THIS TYPE OF POSTING IN THE FUTURE.  I’M STILL FINDING MY WAY ON THIS BLOGGING VENTURE….SisterBrendy