Yeah! I'm back!

I've had trouble getting access to my blog and FINALLY think I've got all the wrinkles ironed out.  So many projects in a year.  You are in for a treat.  I'm going to start with one of my favorites.

 We found this table at Habitat for Humanity in Topeka, Kansas.  I had never been to one of these before, so found out it can be a great place to pick up something awesome.  It was marked $7.00.

 As you can see, the veneer was beyond repair, so DH scraped it off and started over.

 The table was structurally sound and just needed some elbow grease.

 The entire table got a coat of flat black paint.  My Grandma Alley wrote music and poems, and I wanted to capture some of her talent in the table top.  This was my first Mod Podge project ever, and yes - I am hooked.  I copied off Grandma's music, and had an old hymnal that was falling apart, so I used the pages from my favorite hymns to cover the top.

 My uncle wrote a poem to my husband and I for our wedding, and I copied it and put it in the middle of the top, as a reminder of a long line of love for us.

The table was given 3 coats of Poly after everything dried for a couple of days.  

The World Needs More Heroes

I think we, in general, use the term Hero, MUCH too loosely these days. The true definition of a hero is:

Hero [heer-oh] noun, plural -roes; for 5 also -ros.
1. a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.
2. a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal: He was a local hero when he saved the drowning child.
3. the principal male character in a story, play, film, etc.
4. Classical Mythology .
a. a being of godlike prowess and beneficence who often came to be honored as a divinity.
b. (in the Homeric period) a warrior-chieftain of special strength, courage, or ability.
c. (in later antiquity) an immortal being; demigod.
Origin: 1605–15; back formation from Middle English heroes (plural) < Latin hērōs (singular), hērōes (plural) < Greek hḗrōs, hḗrōes

The true meaning of a hero isn't met by actors, musicians, gang leaders, or the bully in school that needs your attention. The TRUE meaning of the word can be found, however, in many places in society. I feel as parents and grand parents, we owe it to the future by making sure our the children know who and what heroes are and what they stand for.

Our children had heroes in many places. There were heroes in church, family, and friends. They were surrounded by true hero's and probably didn't even realize it. I challenge you to instill respect in your children and grand children by pointing out true heroes when you see one. They are everywhere - you just have to look. I'm going to show you a couple of mine.

First is my husband. DH served in Vietnam in 1969 and 1970. He saw things that he shouldn't have, he didn't things that he didn't have. He didn't complain. He didn't even talk about it, until recently. He went about his days, living life to the fullest, and continues to do so today. He's a hero. Definitely distinguished ability,courage, bravery, and noble qualities.

Another Hero for me, is my BFF Yvonne. I could take a week and tell you all this woman has been through in her life, but that's not the point. She's my hero because of her unselfish giving heart. She is an RN in a large hospital emergency room- WOW. If that weren't enough, she also does on mission trips, several times a year, giving of her time and talents freely and unselfishly. Amazing, simply amazing. Definitely shows her special strength, courage, and abilities!

Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment! I love having visitors.

Edison is here!

Jacks 2 year pix