Because it's been a month...

Sigh.

I have such good intentions about blogging. In fact, I constantly think to myself "I should blog about that!" or "that was so fun! I'll put pics up on the blog!" and just don't get around to it.

Sigh.

And then I get frustrated for getting frustrated for not putting something up on the blog! And then I remind myself that it's not a popularity contest and I'll simply blog when I get around to it. But I want to be more intentional about it, I really do. As I've shared before, blogging, for me, is kinda like therapy.

Life has been nothing short of.....um.....interesting? around here lately. Our house hunt continues, and to date I think we've been on about 16 showings and put offers on two homes. I loved both homes, but obviously they weren't meant to be. We have (er, are) considering pretty much everything from new to fixer-uppers and have an ongoing list of pros and cons, etc. Since this will be our second home purchase, it seems like we're a little wiser and more thorough in regards to our list of must-haves going into this one. It's fun but a little exhausting :)

Life got really interesting 3 weeks ago, when I went out and left stay-at-home mommyhood and chose to enter the workforce once again. This decision was not out of necessity (thankfully), but rather, it was an opportunity I felt led to explore. I'd been feeling the "nudge" for quite some time to prayerfully consider re-entering the workforce, but at the same time didn't want to give up the furniture/design biz (Feathered Nest) completely. I'd also been feeling like due to a bit of an over-saturated {furniture painting} market, I wanted to take a step back and just paint furniture and do design work for fun again. I'm still doing some custom projects, but on a very limited basis. (Which, by the way, I have some great projects in the works! Can't wait to share some pictures soon!)

So, I am now back in the social work saddle and am a case supervisor for a healthcare company. I truly love serving people and it has been a fairly easy transition. Oh, there have already been days where I've shaken my fist and cried out (in the car on the way home from work) "Lord! Why do You keep calling me back into this field?!" And then He gently reminds me that this work is really His work and I have seen SO MANY evidences of His fingerprints all over it that it's mind blowing. Really. And so for that, I'm really thankful. And humbled. More on this later...

Spencer gets to spend time with grandma on days that I work, and Jeff is always off at three days a week, so it has worked out well. Speaking of Spencer...he turned TWO on March 5!! So amazing! Oh my word, you guys. He is just.......amazing. My little man. Two years ago, we weren't sure he'd live to see his second birthday. All glory goes to God. He is doing so well and continues to thrive. He's energetic, is slowly being weaned off of his heart medication, and we'll head to Children's in May for more extensive testing. I could write multiple blog posts a day on the antics of my dear son. Oh how I love him. LOVE. HIM.

Here's a collage of the little dumplin' at his heart checkup last week:

We also had a new addition to the family this month. Here's my new ride! A 2014 Mazda CX-5. 

One of the most fun and memorable things Jeff and I did this month was attend the 6th Annual Gala and Auction for Jamie's Heart Foundation, a foundation that supports families affected by congenital heart defects & disease. It is a passion of ours to support families who are navigating through the journey we've navigated through ourselves. Jeff made it his mission to be the highest bid on a very large gourmet food and wine basket...and he succeeded! 

Here's to a great start to SPRING!!!!

Playing catch-up!

So I've been a little MIA on the blogging front lately....

Here's what we've been up to in a nutshell:

-December: sold our home in the Seattle area three weeks after it hit the market, moved "home" thanks to my husband's job transfer (yay!), survived three weeks of cold and flu right around Christmas and New Year's.
-January: Continued to get settled into our {tiny} rental home...started the search for our next home purchase, but we are in no hurry at this point.
-February: made it through yet another round of flu, started to get back to painting furniture and booked a rather large custom design project for the first two weeks in March...more on that later!

And yesterday, I threw my twin sister her first baby shower. I can't even begin to describe the joy that went into all the planning and details for her shower. My dear sister is having a girl, due April 5. If you're on Instagram, you've already seen some pictures of the shower, but I'll post some here too:

Thanks to a few great Etsy shops, I found some pretty fabulous decor. Words can't really describe how much I love Etsy. 

How cute are these little milk bottles with personalized labels?! 

A friend made some of the best cupcakes I've ever tasted...amazing! 

My sister, Lisa and I. Yes, we are *really* twins. You wouldn't believe how often I am asked that. And yes, I'm taller than my twin. No one ever said twins needed to be the same height :)  

In other news...I'm pretty excited about the next few months concerning the business side of things. I've booked a trip to Atlanta in August for the 2nd annual Haven Conference, and I'm in the process of working on the branding/cohesiveness of Feathered Nest Furniture and this here blog, so stay tuned for some changes in the next few months (again). I'm also really just enjoying working on custom furniture and design projects and considering being a vendor at my first junk/antique/flea-market coming up in April. It is just nice to be back "home" and closer to family and friends. The Lord was so gracious in answering that prayer of ours for many years! 

*Are you on Instagram? I'm finding that is the place I usually post most furniture, design and DIY projects, as well as glimpses into my life. Follow me at anna_earlybird!

*Also, are you a follower of Early Bird Blog yet? If you have a Gmail account or are on google+, I invite you to click on the "followers" tab to the right of this post. Would love to have you follow along! 

Have a wonderful week :) 

Gallery wall addition...

Picked up this lovely sign at an antique store recently. It's an old road mile-marker road sign. She's going to hang on my gallery wall in my living room. Since there are 3 members of my family, it's perfect. (well, not counting our cat, that is).

Are you a fan of gallery walls? I can't wait to show you how mine turns out! 

Here's a fun eclectic one I pulled off of Pinterest (yes, Spence is napping sooo...)

Source: iammommahearmeroar.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest

'Pin'sperations for the new year!

Here's a few favorite 'pin'sperations I pulled from Pinterest which showcase emerald green--the 2013 Pantone "color of the year!" What do you think? Will you be DIY-ing, decorating or wearing this fantastic color? I know I will!

Source: la-belle-vie.tumblr.com via Obie on Pinterest

Source: indigo-meets-violet.blogspot.com via Jess on Pinterest

Source: youpaidmorethanme.blogspot.com via Lacy on Pinterest

Source: morethanpaper.com via More Than Paper ... on Pinterest

Source: housebeautiful.com via Doty on Pinterest

Delight is launching soon!

This post is about one of those things that I wish I'd had as a teen/twenty-something. During that time in my life, I often felt like I was wandering through a maze: so many directions and paths in front of me, but which way should I choose?  My parents had decided to go plant themselves overseas when I was 20 years old. I was excited for their calling and journey, but to be completely honest, I felt alone SO. MUCH. By the grace of God, I think I turned out alright without my folks around, but I remember some very rough, rough days and nights where all I wanted to do was go to my own home and feel something familiar and safe. I am forever grateful for the community God placed around me during those years, and I'm especially thankful for my friends who became like family to me during that time; a time when I learned the value of community and true friendship.

One thing I'm really excited about and have had the pleasure of playing a {very small} part in, has been watching a sweet friend's dream and vision grow into something that I am absolutely convinced will change young women's lives. It is an online community of bloggers and professionals who have made the creative arts their life's work; whether that be in the form of photography, graphic design, interior design, dance, art, etc., this dream and vision is now coming to life to help young girls who desire to share their creative talents with others and grow as professionals and purposeful leaders. It is a place where we can all be real, raw and relevant as we seek to live out a God-centered life amidst the chaos of our current world. As a contributing writer for this new online community, I'm excited to announce the launch of....

The Delight blog will be launching in a few short days on January 1! But before it launches, can you do me a favor? Head on over and "like" the Delight Facebook page and share it with the young women in your life? There are girls out there who need a place where they can dream, showcase their talents, and be real and grow from the things that will be shared in this online community. The link can be found by clicking HERE. 

There will be some AMAZING and fantastic giveaways going on as part of the launch, you don't want to miss it! 

With the events of last Friday still fresh in many minds, including my own, I still am not up to blogging on the {much, much} less important suff--such as before and after pics of my front door makeover, or house tour photos. I know some bloggers are going silent for a week or for a day, which I respect greatly.

So--for an undetermined amount of time, possibly until after Christmas even, I've decided to just let the blog sit for a bit. I know that's probably not a good thing from a marketing, community building or PR standpoint, but for me, it's what I'm feeling led to do. Oh, I'm continuing to dream, paint furniture and have some very exciting things in the works for 2013, of which I will share here after Christmas. Some things will be shared via the Facebook page, but for now, I wanted to encourage all of you to look for ways to reach out, lend a helping hand and serve during this holiday season and beyond. No matter where you are, your abilities, your talents, you can help--you can pray, you can encourage, you can drop a few coins in the Salvation Army kettle. Plain and simple: do good. Bless others. Experience the joy found in giving and service to others.

This is a pic of our family Christmas card this year, (thanks Tiny Prints). I am feeling more grateful and humbled to be sending them out than ever before. I'm wishing all of you a Christmas not filled with material things, but with the love of family, friends and most importantly, the joy found only in our Savior, who came to heal, restore and comfort us all. 

Some thoughts...

I logged on this morning to post pictures, give an update on our recent move, (has it really been more than a month since my last post?!) and perhaps even include a brief tutorial.

But then the news broke of the tragic school shooting in Connecticut. I can't even comprehend what I'm seeing and hearing. As I type, there are reports of an entire classroom that has been unaccounted for. My heart aches to think of the families whose lives have been forever changed because of this evil act.

Please, please, if you read this post today, please pray. Take a quiet moment, pour out your confusion, grief and even anger, to God. Yes, I believe He hears. I believe He brings healing and comfort. I believe that despite this evil act with lives lost, God was there protecting his children. I do not believe God "caused" this. We will in a fallen world full of all kinds of evil. Sometimes, there are many questions and no simple answers. Readers, do not let this shake your faith. As gut-wrenching and horrific as this is, choose to believe that God is still on the throne. Choose to believe in His sovereignty. Choose to trust. Commit to prayer.

I am confused, deeply saddened and crying out to God today. My sister and brother-in-law are both elementary and middle-school teachers. My husband is a law-enforcement officer. So something on this scale hits rather close to home for me. It makes no sense. But I am clinging to hope because of Jesus. As Christmas nears, remember these families. Remember Jesus. Remember why He came to earth.