Update

Two snow days in a row has made this chicka one happy girl.    Laundry is clean, folded, and get this...Put Up.  Christmas treats are baked and lying on the counter.  Presents are wrapped and under the tree. I even feel like a take a minute to catch up on some long over-due blogging.   Life has been busy in the Jones' Home but I wouldn't have it any other way.  

I guess I'll start this update back at Thanksgiving. Since the driving distance between our families is long, this year we stayed at the Jones' all day.  We had a good day and Michael took some pictures.  

Now we are full force in preparing for the Christmas season.  I love the business but was feeling a little stressed.  I was relieved to have a couple snow days to get caught up at the house.  I hope to post a few pictures from around the house and at the Christmas Banquet during the next few days.  Until then....

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

                               Matthew 1:21

Before and Afters of Our Home Sweet Home

I've been waiting until the house was "finished" to show updated pictures....Since that is looking like that is years away, I thought I'd post an update as to where we are now.

Outside:  Before 

Outside: After

Not much has changed on the outside.  Michael changed the front (and side) light.  We had it pressured washed.  And a nice new ADT sign since we had the system reactivated. We probably won't do any landscaping until Spring.

Kitchen 1: Before

Kitchen 1: After

We didn't have to do much in the kitchen except paint the walls and trim.

Kitchen 2: Before

Kitchen 2:  After

Living Room 1:  Before

Living Room 1: After

In the living room we painted the ceiling, walls, and trim, installed hardwood flooring, got rid of the out dated ceiling fan, and bought new furniture.  We will probably change out the light again.  It doesn't give off enough light. 

Dining Room 1:  Before

Dining Room 1: After

We painted the walls, and trim.  Added vertical blinds to the sliding glass door.  Added hardwood floors. And replaced the ceiling fan with a chandler.  I have some ideas for black accessories in here.  And a new dining room table (can't blame me for dreaming big).  We still have a few electrical outlets to replace in here. 

Dining Room 2: Before

Dining Room 2:  After

Living Room 2: Before

Living Room 2: After

Spare Room 1: Before

Spare Room 1: After

This room hasn't got much attention.  We painted and added carpet.  I have two chairs in here that belonged to my nanny.  I plan on getting them recovered and using at least one of them in the living room.  We also have a second spare room.  We are using it for storage so I'm not posting pictures of it yet. 

Bathroom 1:  Before

Bathroom 1:  After

Our bathrooms are small.  We painted them both yellow.  We hope to do mini-redos in the future...replacing the flooring and vanities. 

Master Bedroom 1:  Before

Master Bedroom 1: After

Master Bedroom 2:  Before

Master Bedroom 2: After

We still need to replace the closet doors....just keeping it real for you blogger friends!

Master Bath 1: Before

Master Bath 1: After

Back of the wash room 1: Before

Back of the Washroom 1: Currently



This is Michael's current project. He is building me a pantry!  I'm so excited about it.  He has it framed in and is working on filling sheet rock. 
And there you have it.  Our little Casa.



Thirty Before Thirty

I am a list kind of girl. It's how I get anything done at school. I start every work day by making a new list of things to get done that day. Occasionally if I do something that's not on my list, I go back and write it in just to have the joy of marking it off. My daily list keeps me on track and busy. And at the end of the day I feel like I've really accomplished something.


I have less than three years before I hit the big THREE-OH. Yikes! I've seen on several blogs lists of thirty things to accomplish before that person turns thirty. Sounds right up my alley....here we go:




1. Decorate every room in my house

2. Dye my hair

3. Become more disciplined in my devotional life

4. Find and keep a family doctor

5. Learn to use my camera on manual

6. Volunteer for some worthy organization

7. Stop drinking soft drinks

8. Lose 30 pounds

9. Get in the best shape of my life

10. Organize my recipes in one place

11. Take an amazing Vacation

12. Have a baby/or adopt :)

13. Organize my birthday list and start sending cards

14. Can and freeze vegetable from our garden

15. Go Hunting with Michael

16. Take a road trip

17. Organize my hard drive

18. Order a custom painting for our house

19. Write a children's book

20. Submit a picture to I heart faces

21. Clean out my car trunk

22. Make Little Girl Hair bows

23. Buy and Learn to use photo shop

24. Photograph a Waterfall

25. Have a girls night out with friends--any takers?

26. Join a book club

27. Visit Biltmore

28. really get dedicated with couponing

29. Set a budget and live on it
30. re-design my blog






I'm pretty satisfied with my list.

The Voice Mail

It went something like this:




Hey Charlie. This is John Moore. We've played together before. I'm kin to Harmon and Vickie. you know me. The reason I'm calling is because we are playing tonight at Music road and our banjo player can't make it. We were hoping you could fill in. We are suppose to be there at seven and on stage at eight. If you can make it, give me a holler back at --------------. Talk at you later.

2 Things:

Number one: I should really redo my voice mail message and emphasis the "This is Stephanie" part.

Number two: Michael ruined my last chance at stardom. He called ole John back. I could have been great.

Early Thanksgiving at Our House

 

Returning to Reality

      Being a teacher comes with some great benefits.  One of which being Fall Break!   Michael took off last week with me.  We had the best week!  We spent a few days in Townsend, took a day trip to Gatlinburg, enjoyed a day or two at home, and he even worked in a little hunting trip.  It was probably the best break I've had from school.  We spent so much time together and enjoyed every minute!  I was feeling refreshed.  And now it's back to real life with the daily grind.   

 Townsend

because mom loves close ups as much as I do....

 

 Deer at Cades Cove

I loved this picture of Papaw

 

Tag, I'm it!

About a month ago Ms. Tammy tagged me to answer these eight questions...I'm a little slow getting around to it but I figure better late than never. 

1 . How old were you when you became a christian?

    I was eight almost nine when I asked the Lord to save me.  My life revolves around being a Christian.  I'm so grateful the Lord saw fit to show me my need and save me. 

2. What did you want to be when you grew up?
     A teacher...Guess I have arrived?  J/K

3. What is your favorite beverage?
     Hands down, with out a doubt, 100 percent....sweet tea from Sonic.    However, I have kicked my caffeine addiction!
     My name is Stephanie and I am a caffeine-aholic.  I have been clean for three weeks. 


4. If you could take a trip anywhere, where would you go? Why?
     I have several perfect vacations planned out in my head...they include:

1.        Maine
2. New york and a Broadway Play
3. The Grand Canyon
4. Alaska
5. Hawaii
6. Pennsylvania 

5. Do you have any special memories with your grandparents? Share one.
    I have been blessed with great grandparents.  I can't help but share a memory of each.

1. Granny Kring....Probably the one I relate the most with.   My Grandfather had had open heart surgery and while he was recovering she broke her hip.  I stayed with her for several weeks.  I remember walking into the room and finding her praying for all her kids and grand kids.  What a heritage! I stayed with her a lot growing up.  She always gave me a dollar for Sunday School and polished my shoes with vegetable oil.  She was also very proud of me for going to college.  When I started student teaching she was on the phone calling everyone to tell them where I was working at.  I was heartbroken that she passed away before I graduated. 
2. Pappaw Kring--I spent the most time with him during his last few months on earth, I spent nights with him to help care for him.   We had some really hard nights where he said and did things that he didn't mean.  His last words to me before I left for work on his last day was that he was praying God would bless me.  When I came back from wok he was unresponsive and died that evening.   
3.   Nanny Pat--M greatest memories with her was when we would spend the night and she'd read Brer Rabbit in the Briar Patch to us.
4. Pappaw Tom--My greatest memories with him are recently.  I'm glad we've been able to spend more time together. 
5. The ruppes--Although they are my step grandparents, the have always treated me as their own.  To know them is to like them.

  6. Who is your favorite author? ( this of course, does not include the Bible ) :)    
I don't have one favorite author.  I love reading a wide variety of materials. 

7. Is there a special hobby that you and your husband enjoy doing together?
     We spend a ton of time together doing a variety of things.  Not one thing is standing out to me. 

8. What is your favorite dessert?
    Anything with cream cheese!