Karla's Korner

Happy New Year...

Usually about now I'm all about looking back over the past year...
and writing down goals for the new year ahead.

But this year is different... at least for now.
Because of the house remodel I'm all about living in the moment...
tending to the priorities... and today's priorities seems to be white!


 I closed 2010 with a paintbrush loaded with white... lots and lots of white.


I started with the trim in the living room...


and then this already built-in shelf unit which has already taken two coats...
with at least one more left to go!


This is what it looked like before... I like the white better, don't you?

 
Today I spent second... and third- coating everything in the living room...
while Michael put up the beadboard and trim in the breakfast nook...
 

and family room... isn't it looking gorgeous?

Tomorrow... and until it's finished... I'll be painting it all white.
But I LOVE white... so I'm glad to paint it.  Clean. Light. Bright. Pure WHITE.

What a great way to start the New Year too... thinking about the color white.
It makes me want to think of the holiness and purity of God.
It makes me delight in the fact, that in His eyes, we are white as snow.
And it makes me think of new beginnings...
like a clean white canvas ready to be painted on.
And I'm thinking that this year... in 2011...
the paint on my canvas is going to be quite fun and colorful...
as I allow God to have His way in me and through me.

How about you?  Are you looking forward to a colorful year ahead?
I hope so.

God's blessings for 2011 my friends...
Hugs... Karla

A Weekend of Discovery and Delight...

I hope you had a wonderful fourth of July weekend!  We usually have a family
gathering to celebrate the fourth and our granddaughter Jessica’s birthday
but this year the family went in all different directions so Michael and I
took the opportunity to go our own little adventure!

We left last Saturday with boat in tow and headed to Potholes Reservoir north
of Pasco, WA to enjoy our fourth of July weekend.  The sun was shining but
the winds never died so we gave up Monday morning and headed south...

and so glad we did as we found this place... Skootenay Reservoir... beautiful.
Michael caught a few perch and one walleye and I got to enjoy this view from
the lawn chair while he was out fishing!

Okay... are you ready for this? Well... we weren’t sure if we were or not...
but we took Abigail with us! Oh me oh my!  Since we're planning some longer
trips in the days ahead we needed to know how she how she would fair. Let's
just say she spent a lot of time "down under"... not in Australia but under the
seat, under the blankets, under anywhere she could find!  But at the end of
our days away... we're convinced she’ll make a fine traveling cat after all!

I checked off another one of my “58 Things” before we left Potholes Resevoir...
the sunsets there were absolutely stunning and filled my heart with such awe
of and appreciation for the God of the heavens and earth!

Isn't He the most incredible Painter of Color you've ever known!!
All the fireworks in the world could not compete with the brilliant iridescent
colors that lit up the sky for God’s personal fourth of July party...
and we were blessed to be invited!!

And of course... with camera in hand... I kept my eyes open to new and
delightful discoveries to share with you!  Aren't these seedpods incredible?

I loved seeing this black bird sitting in the very top of the tree... it was
as if he was posing for me... so much fun!

And I had never seen a pelican in real life before and you know how excited
I can get over new discoveries so can you imagine my glee at this moment?
Truly a little gift from the Lord!

Michael actually got to see one come down and swoop up a fish out of the
water... right near his boat... I probably would have been so excited I would
have fallen right out of the boat!

And then later in the day... two pelicans came to visit overhead and I was
astounded that I could get the camera to focus on them... thank You Lord! 
You cannot see the black on the underside of their wings unless they fly!

Jeremiah was a bullfrog... okay... not sure this was Jeremiah but isn't this
little guy cute?  Okay... he wasn't that little but since I had not seen one
before it was a treat... especially in this murky water.


Seagulls are always a delight...

and this was the view on the way home... exquisite!

Thank you so much again for allowing me to share our journey and the beauty
of the Lord wherever we are and wherever we go!

Tomorrow I'll share the artsy part of my trip... more fun and creativity!

WE GOT IT... #2 of 58 Things!!!

We finally found the home of our dreams... our camper home that is...
and I'm so excited about it!!

I thought I'd give you a quick tour... starting with our bedroom...
the doors to your right is the fridge... the door on your left is the bathroom.

the height of the ceiling in the bedroom is the reason we ended up buying a
newer 2001 model.  The older models... which we really wanted... do not
allow you the room to sit up in bed and if we're going to spend time in here...
we needed this space to serve as a separate room... and I can already see
myself sitting in the bedroom working on my laptop... sweet!!


This is our closet with mirror doors... good thing I'm not a clothes hog!

Our kitchen... with the showroom flowers!  I see simplify in my future!

Our dining room... with the showroom table setting.
I'm so excited about brightening up the place so  the next time you see it...
those brown cushions will be GONE... GONE... GONE!!!  I can hardly wait!!
I already have the fabric and you're going to LOVE the new look!!!


and last but definitely not least... the bathroom... small but SWEET!!!
No more going outside with the bugs in the rain in the middle of the night
to go potty... yippee... yay!!!  Thank You Jesus!
And believe me... I am thanking Jesus for the blessing of
finding this camper that just fit inside our alloted budget.

And even more... I'm so excited to see where all He's going
to take us... even though for now... with the house still not
sold they will have to be short trips close to home.

Our first one is planned... we are going with my sister and
brother-in-law to Lake Billy Chinook to celebrate Kerry's
birthday... I would say that's a good way to start our God
Adventures... with a celebration of life!!

Thanks for letting me share... I'm so excited...
but I know you can't tell!!

Bless you my friends... and keep your eyes open for whatever
adventure God has for you today... even in the ordinary
everyday moments of life!!

Baltimore Sunrise... #21 of 58 Things!

When I wrote #21... photograph a sunrise...
on my "58 Things" I want to do before I turn 59 list...
I imagined myself walking or camping in a beautiful outdoor setting...
not standing inside a crowded Baltimore airport!  But I'm not complaining...
I love how the window created this ethereal effect!







It was a beautiful blessing to end a wonderful weekend!
I had the privilege to be the guest speaker for an incredible group of women.
It was evident that God was there...
and I know lives were touched and hearts were changed in His Presence...
and some of the women went home different then when they arrived!


Thank You Lord for Your Word and Your love that transforms lives!
And thank You for all the wonderful women who showed me such love
and kindness while I was there... bless them Lord!! 
And bless all my blog readers who prayed for me and this event...
their love and prayers helped pave the way for You to move in my heart
and the hearts of the women there. Let them know they're loved..
by You and me too. Amen!

What I'm Reading...

Just had to tell you that I'm off to a good start on my "58 Things" List...
I've already begun on #6 with this little gem...

Have you read any of Robin's books?
I know this amazing woman personally and LOVE her
and so far... I LOVE this book!!
I know... it's been around for a LONG time... but this way I don't have
to wait for the next one in the series to come out... it's waiting for me!!
And just in case you haven't read it,
I've put a link on my sidebar so you can enjoy it with me.


Oh yes... I was gifted Max's book by my publisher so it will be next.

We all have fears so I'm sure I'll be encouraged by Max's insights
and scriptural exhortations.


And I've been savoring moments of inspiration in Blogging for Bliss.

This book is delightfully inspiring and just plain pretty!

So... have you read the SisterChicks series?
Do you think you'll read Fearless?
Have you been inspired by Blogging for Bliss?

I am so thankful that God has given us the ability to read
and learn and grow! And I love that He has given us each other
to learn from and be inspired by!

Above all may we always be learning more about and
growing in our love for Christ and for each other!
Be blessed my freinds...
xoxoxo
Karla