8/4/13 8/4/13

I'm baaaaack!

World War II plane. Best flying experience I have ever had. There is just something about not having to go through an airport, or airport security, the plane being full of people you know, and the pilot standing in the cockpit and praying with you before take off....that just takes all of the fear and anxiety away. Did I mention that you can only fly these planes at 11,000 ft due to the cabins not being pressurized, all of our luggage was hanging in cargo nets to the right of us, and the pilot had his window open and arm hanging out while he flew the plane.....no joke! Hah! This kickin bus was our method of transport for the week....and yes....she broke down a couple times....but most of the time she was a champ! The first place we stopped on the way back from the airport called Glass Window Bridge......the Pacific blue waters on the right, and the jade green waters of the Caribbean on the left. Nothing but beautiful everywhere we looked. JB and I were assigned to helping run day camps for the Bahamian and Haitian children, and we cried like babies when camp was over and we had to say goodbye to these precious little ones. They said things like "please don't go", "come back!", "I love you", and "I wish you were my daddy".......things that tore at our heart strings and made us sad.....but we will go back...and I hope to see these little ones again. Typical home life in the neighborhoods and streets of Eleuthera. ...And then there were places like this

and this....

this.....

and then...

This trip was such a great experience, and I am so thankful for every lesson I learned, for new and deeper friendships, and for a new sense of appreciation for life.

I hope you all enjoyed these few glimpses into our trip.....if you would like to see more....and keep up with me on Instagram please go here.

xo,

Barb

7/25/13 7/25/13

"Bermuda, Bahama......come on pretty mama"

Well my friends.....as you read this, I am already off on my Bahamian adventure. JB and I, along with 11 other couples from our church, are headed to Eleuthera for a few days of teaching/training, service projects {I've heard we may get to build bookshelves for a school in need of them! That would be cool.}, and definitely some time taking in the beauty of the Bahamas.While this may sound wonderful to some of you...... for me there are all sorts of emotions balled into one big tangled mess. I am excited about being somewhere I have never been, about being there with some really crazy fun + genuine people, and about learning new things about myself and others. However, I struggle with fear when it comes to getting on an airplane....any airplane.....and to make matters worse {or better?}.....the airplane we are being chartered on for this trip is a vintage World War II plane! This plane is so amazing and cool....on the outside.....and one that I will take many pictures of.....but getting inside and actually flying in it....is absolutely terrifying for me. There are not many things I am afraid of....but I am afraid of this....{ being eaten by a shark might be my #2 }.....and will be facing my fear head on in just a few short hours. I do not react on the outside....I will sit quietly in my seat, and close my eyes like I am sleeping {yeah right!!}......all the while my insides will be churning, my heart will be racing, hands and pits sweaty, and I will be squeezing the ever living daylights out of JB's hand until we land. I will relax for a couple days before I start fretting about the trip back home. I know....it's pathetic, and many friends have told me to just "take a little something to take the edge off"....but I am too proud and stubborn for that.You see....this fear of mine is a huge predicament.... because I absolutely LOVE to travel and see new places. I love experiencing new scenery and cultures...and feel it is essential to understand and comprehend how others around the world live. I just don't like the method of transport to get to some of these places......and don't you all even try to tell me "you are much safer in a plane than in a car"....heard it a million times.....does not compute in my little brain. I would rather drive to Africa {if that was possible} in a month than get on a plane and be there in several hours. UGH!Ultimately though, in the middle of all of this fear and angst......there is truth. The truth is.....my life is in the hands of a Creator who is far more capable than I am, everything will be fine even if things don't go as I would wish, and the alternative would be to sit around and never experience anything wonderful because my fear cripples my actions.I just can't let that happen.....but that doesn't mean this will be easy.xo,Barb

7/25/13 7/25/13

Roadside wooden bowls

The other week as I was out for a morning run, I passed a house that had a pile of wooden forms and bowls out by the curb. In my neighborhood...this is what we do with things we no longer want...and people {like me or the trash pick up} drive through and enjoy the spoils.I for one, did not want to finish my run and then go back for the bowls....instead, I took a short cut, hopped in the truck and went back and loaded up! I did return to my run afterwards....but first things first!The bowls are random shapes....one looks like a fish, one like a peanut, but the rest are just this really organic pod shape. I am really looking forward to transforming them and am hoping to be able to make them food safe.. {because I want to keep one as a salad bowl!}...but if not food safe.......then they will just be really wonderful wooden bowls with a great story of transformation and redemption!xo,Barb

7/24/13 7/24/13

Gut instincts.....

via pinterest

My gut isn't the only thing I trust in......but nonetheless, it is good to listen to your instincts. This is a proven fact.......and your gut performance rate is normally very high.

xo,

Barb

7/22/13 7/22/13

A little sunshine + good times + stop motion

You guys! I have been waiting {very impatiently I might add!} for over two months to be able to share this video with you all! We filmed this promo video for the book on May 4th, the day after the big launch party, and it was a very full and long day. I am so appreciative of the vision that Carlton and Julia Riffle had for the direction of the video, and truly enjoyed every minute of working together to make this video a fun and happy representation of what I am privileged to be able do every day! I smile every time I watch it, knowing what all went into the planning of it...and what was going on both behind the scenes, and in the scenes!I hope you find yourself snapping your fingers, doing a jig, and definitely smiling by the end of it....Good times.....xo,Barb

7/22/13 7/22/13

A coffee table that just needed a little wash..... named Mcnarias

My client "Miss M" brought me her coffee table a few weeks ago......and when she dropped it off, we discussed plans. "Miss M" really loved the coffee table as it is { I agreed....the wood and structure are gorgeous!} but it just needed a little something in order to fit into the design plan of the new house. One of the desires for the final outcome was that the original wood grain would still shine through. There were talks of greens and blues as well........BUT.....I mulled this over in my mind for quite sometime...and the tiny part of me {miniscule...teeny....tiny...itsy bitsy} that is a wood purist just really wanted to preserve the original beauty of the wood. I ran my thoughts by "Miss M" and she told me to go for it. {She is awesome like that!}I created a "gray wash" for this finish by mixing one part paint to two parts water. I applied the wash with a brush, and then while it was still wet.... I started dabbing and wiping with a shop towel. The wash settled nicely into all of the cracks and grooves, and I really started to like what was happening. I repeated this process two more times, and then after the final application was dry...I went back in with a sanding sponge and gently removed any heavy places. I finished this piece off with an oil based polyurethane called Arm - R - Seal by General Finishes { I talk about this product in the book!} and....Wham Bam thank YOU maa'm......she is a beaut!xo,Barb