March Blessings!!

First off, March marks one year of being homeowners for the two of us!! Our humble abode has served us well this past year, and we pray that continues. Nate and I have learned more about houses in the last year than ever before. Some of the credit may be due to our obsession with HGTV shows. 



We have realized several advantages to owning our own home. Advantages such as the freedom to paint the walls whatever color we want, or the privilege to take down walls at our leisure. Doubt we would have been too popular with our land lord had we tackled a wall in our rental home. It is also beneficial to be making an investment instead of putting money toward a rent check every month. A few disadvantages that I never thought much about were home insurance, property taxes, ect. No doubt that the positives outweigh the negatives.

I put together a house tour for anybody interested in seeing the changes that we have made in the last year. Click here or click "House Tour" in the header above to be directed to that page.

Next topic....
We have been blessed to have some amazing company to our home lately. Doug and Brooke came from Toledo to hang out with us one day. That evening we had a neighbor and her four boys, which who Doug and Brooke are good friends, over for supper. There was much energy in our house, but we enjoyed it.



Two weekends ago, Arika got baptized. Being the fun-loving girl that she is, several girls came out to support her on her special weekend. I have personally been blessed by her friendship and find myself always smiling when we are together.

She told me yesterday that I was not allowed to put a picture of herself on my blog. I broke the rules 
though. Yikes!!



I had four lovely girls stay with me that weekend.



If you do not know these girls personally, you probably think that I cannot count. I am aware that there are five of them in the picture above, but Shelby (coral cardigan) lives down the way and came for breakfast.

We had some lovely chats and I would welcome these girls back to Ohio any time. I am so proud of each of these girls and I am excited to see how God will continue to use them.



This past weekend, four of us Latty couples hosted a mini invite-a-friend. Randy, Jenae, Katie, and Matthew were able to come as our guests. We really enjoyed being with these couples, along with all of the couples.

We did a progressive dinner, and it kept us all moving throughout the evening. Appetizers started at our house, next we headed to another location for soup and salad, next was the dessert stop, and lastly we hit the snack station. Eating over the span of two hours really fills a person up.



It was a blessing to be with so many couples in the same stage of life as us. These weekends are always so uplifting. Thankful for friends who are willing to travel!!



So thankful for the punishment that Christ endured in order for us to have peace and ultimately the hope of salvation. Have a blessed Easter!

Project Almost Complete

Some people blog about their children, others might tell a funny childhood story. Since I do not have any children of which to write about, nor do any childhood stories come to mind, you get to hear and see more about our house. 

If you recall, from my last post, we were in the process of tearing a wall down.

Taking the wall down was the easy part. It was the patching, drywalling, electrical, and painting that took the most time, and we still are not quite to the finish line.

I was able to paint a couple weeks ago. I tested several Sherwin Williams colors. I wanted a neutral color that was a mixture of gray and beige. According to my research there are colors such as "greige." That was news to me.

After testing a few, I chose a color called "accessible beige." I have been happy with it. For anybody wanting to attempt with a greige color, I have four samples of Sherwin Williams paint for you to try.

Here is a picture prior to painting. I was so anxious to say goodbye to those red walls. I do not see many more red walls in my current or future home(s). I like red in the homes of others, but I did not know how to handle it or tie it in with my style of decorating.

Painting this room was so much fun, and not only because I enjoy painting. The paint I used was a dream to work with. One gallon of Sherwin Williams Interior Super Paint was all I needed, and that included two coats.

Don't mind my frog culottes. I went through a major "frog" stage prior to one of my mission trips to Mexico, which I mad the culottes for. If you ask my husband, he may say that I am still stuck in the frog zone. Let me tell you, frog fabric made sewing much more fun back in the day. At least I got rid of the frog pajamas and slippers. Anyways, back to the topic at hand.

Here is the finished product. Some lighting makes the walls look gray, other lighting shows more of a beige color coming through. I guess I got my "greige."

Starting this project, I knew that I did not want to spend much money on decorations. My only splurge was the rustic looking clock, which I feel I got at a reasonable price. Inspired by my love for the TV show Fixer Upper, I had this exact clock in mind for the space. When I found it at Hobby Lobby, I wasted no time carrying it up to the register. Not only was I excited to have found it, but I did not want any other items to tempt me. I had come for the clock, and I would leave with the clock, and only the clock.

We still have a few finishing touches we need to make on this project, but we are getting closer to the ending point. I am excited to make use of the openness of this room.

Here are a few pictures from our February.

Once again another month has flown by. We started February off by an entertaining evening to the rodeo, at the Hat Creek Arena in Van Wert. 

My brother's family has been to this rodeo multiple times. We met them for supper ahead of time and enjoyed the rodeo together.

Bonnie came along as well. What a fun, likeable gal she is. Briggs enjoyed hanging out with her too.

I was impressed by the show. There were some intense moments, but all was well. I can't think of a worse way to go than by being trampled by a bull. Thankfully the riders have much quicker reflexes than myself. Crazy to think that people do this for a living, or for fun.

I had some cute visitors on Valentine's Day. My sister's family came out Sunday for church, and then back to our house for supper.

My good friend Kendra was telling me, the week before, how she had made heart-shaped meat balls when she had company the previous year around Valentine's Day. I had been planning to have meatloaf, and decided to try it. They turned out pretty well, and they even looked like hearts after they were baked.

I made little treat bags for the kids. I will do whatever it takes to lure them back to our house in the future.

Here is the pie that my sister made. Pretty cute if you ask me.

Oh, and here is my Valentine. It was technically our third Valentine's Day together. We were engaged during the first one. They just keep getting better with this amazing man. I am blessed beyond measure to spend each and every day with him.

That is all for now. May your March be filled with much joy from above.