Decorating Help...

We are currently in escrow for a sweet little house in Peoria and hoping to close Nov. 20th. The Lord has been so kind to us. It is rather humbling to be owning a home again.

As the inevitable good-byes have already started happening, I am taking great joy and excitement in letting my mind dream of color in this little house. However, I am stuck on 2 major points of contention... we have decided to not paint any of the trim or the kitchen cabinets...

With the right paint color... these cabinets have actually started to grow on me. I think the dark wood has great potential to match and look good... but what color?

This is a picture of the hallway gives a great perspective on the color of the doors and trim... a nice honey oak color. Its tripping me up... not quite sure what colors to put with it?

the living room... the pink carpet and 80's style dining light in the background are going to go bye-bye! :)

I started out thinking some sort of neutral, darker brown color in the living room and hallway, but now am not sure if that will go with the trim? That would then allow me to put an olive green color in the kitchen. However, if I can't find a brown that looks good with the trim, then I thought I would go with an olive green color with the trim in the living room and in the kitchen some sort of shade of red in the kitchen... choices, choices.

The house has a wonderful finished basement that is full of oak colored trim and matching carpet... while it isn't my fav I'm excited about cozing up next to the wood burner stove.

I'm open to help and opinions!

Are we ready?...

Many of our friends continue to ask us if we are ready to brave the cold IL winter after being Southern Cal residents?

Now, I must admit... before moving here I hated the cold. I really wasn't into all the gear; mittens, hats, boots, ect., sitting by a cozy fireplace or even hot drinks. However, after 3 summers of temperatures consistently being over 100 degrees and only small expensive window units, and winter temps of a low 70 degrees, I am starting to dig the cute mittens, hats and snow boots and can't wait to enjoy cuddling with my hubby again!

My children on the other hand are SoCal through and through... I have been rather dismayed and Andrew's reaction to long sleeves and socks. He hates them and throws a rather incessant fit to get them off.

This morning, well, I'm still processing... Abby had an ice skating field trip with her preschool class. I showed up at the ice skating rink in flip flops and a jacket!! Thankfully, at the last minute I had grabbed Abby's winter hat and my gloves. Seriously...

So, I am now wondering really how ready I am for this season of winter... better invest in some snow boots, pants, mittens, hats and scarves!

The Scala Santca...

I have a new appreciation for celebrating Halloween or Hallowformation Day as we call it at our house.

Weird for a conservative, Christian mom... I know! However, as Kev and I continue to form our Sauder family traditions... I love the opportunity each holiday brings for the Gospel of my Lord Jesus!

Last night we had a wonderful time with our kiddo's preparing our candy bowl with "little story books" (tracts) to tell the trick-0r-treaters about Jesus. We had a wonderful time carving our pumpkin and explaining the history of Halloween.

But my most favorite part of all, was hearing my husband tell the story of Martin Luther and the church of the Scala Santca or the church of the holy stairs. Today is Reformation Day, the celebration of the Reformation.

The church of the Scala Santca is a church in Rome that supposedly has the stairs that Christ descended after Pilate sentenced Him to death, that were transported there by the angels? According to Catholic tradition, if a dedicated person climbs these stairs on their knees, they merit an indulgence in heaven of 15 years. It was here the Lord opened Martin Luther's eyes to the truth. While climbing these stairs Luther stood up and called out, "Justification by faith alone..." It was here where Luther found salvation... thus beginning the Protestant Reformation.

While I don't believe all that Luther espoused, I am thankful for his amazing courage for the Gospel of Jesus Christ...

"He is the way, the truth, the life... no one comes to the Father but through Him." John 14:6

Master's Kids...

Abby had to privilege of being the flag leader at Master's Kids, her preschool class! She did wonderful... overcame her fear and held the flag! This was a big accomplishment for her.

Lavish Grace...

Psalms 40:5 "Many O Lord my God are the wonders which You have done, and Your thoughts toward us; There is none to compare with You. If I would declare and speak of them, They would be too numerous to count."

This is my new life verse! As Kev and I wrap up this chapter in the book of our lives I have been continuously struck by God's faithfulness!!! I mean, I am seriously taken by this. God's lavish grace has been abundantly poured out!

I have a Saviour, who died a cruel death, for an undeserving sinner who is most of the time completely self consumed. He did this so that he can lavishly pour out His grace on us and bring glory to His Father!

"To preach the Gospel of the unconditional grace of God in that unconditional way is to set before people [me] the astonishingly good news of what God has provided for us in the vicarious humanity of Jesus Christ. To repent and believe in Jesus Christ and commit myself to him on that basis means that I do not need to look over my shoulder all the time to see whether I have really given myself personally to Him...I rely solely upon what Jesus Christ has done for me, on my behalf, in my place as he stands in for me before the face of the Father... [because of this] I am free for spontaneous joyful response and worship and service as I could not otherwise be."
T.F Torrance