And your 2014 prom royalty...

A month ago our local high school had their annual junior prom. Numerous movies have been created about the coveted crowns awarded by peers to those who are considered most attractive or popular. At this school, the tradition of a promenade floor show performed by the junior class continues. Accommodations are made to allow students with special needs to participate and the "typical" student body has always been supportive of this. But beyond allowing the students who aren't "typical" to have a regular high school experience this student body has exhibited a knowledge that many adults have yet to acquire. The truth about what makes a person attractive. The boys who were honored may not have been the most physically pleasing in attendance. This school has previously honored students who were born with special needs and for continuing this model I offer my praise.

However, they went a step further this year. The ladies that were crowned were not students with special needs. They were not honored because they had the most expressive dress. I suspect that their looks had little to do with this honor either, although they are very pretty. Their peers had seen the extra time and care these lovely young ladies had taken to help their male counterparts enjoy the evening. The girls who had CHOSEN to work with the boys now wore crowns beside them. The extra work to help their partners be able to participate in this rite of passage hadn't gone unnoticed or recognized.

As an adult I can affirm that beauty is only skin deep and what you choose to do is much more important than how you happen to look. You can not usually control how you look or with what abilities or limitations you are born. But, only you can choose how you will treat others. Only you can choose how you will spend the time you have been given.

 So, kudos to the Manti High School class of 2015. I am proud and humbled by your selfless choices.

 

Back to the virtual tour next week. Today I gave my bedroom the deep clean and organization that is desperately needed. I still have my prom dress. Would anyone like to see me try it on?

Virtual home tour starting at the top!

Here we go!! I finally feel like my house is truly coming together. Thanks to spring break I have completed some of my tasks.

The storage room had become a dump stuff location. I'd started putting things away so many times and even had several things on the shelves until I'd decide that I didn't like where they were. Then I remembered one of the biggest problems is leaving space to add new items and more moving things around. But I think I can say now that it's done.

BEFORE: Painting shelves

AFTER: Installed shelves

An even more fun project... My bonus room! I'm very excited to say that it is complete. There will be upkeep but the initial organization in the biggest step. The built in bookshelves are AMAZING. My books get to be stored in a organized and well cared for fashion. A shout out to my sweet husband for cutting and placing each of the shelves. Our cars again sat in the weather while I painted in the garage. It took longer than anticipated, doesn't it usually? Now that it is done, it's so worth it!!

 

What do you think? Would you hang out up here?

Stay tuned next week for a special prom posting!

Off the face of the Earth

Sorry, it may appear that I've fallen off the face of the Earth. I have to admit, there are days that even I feel that way.


The good news: We moved into the new house on Dec. 19th.
The other news: I still have WAY too much to do to really enjoy it. Who would have thought the little things like, touch-up, caulking, handles, shelving, door knobs, mirrors, curtains, and I'm sure there are other things I've forgotten, would take so much time. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE IT but I'll love it more when I've settled.
Add the work on the old house to get it ready for renters and I have insanity. A few people are coming to look this week, hopefully one of them will want it and at least one thing will be done.
But to add a special experience to my story...Yesterday afternoon my doorbell rang. I answer to find my neighbor. "I've come to see the house." I'd teased him about coming by since he watched it be built almost better than we did. So here he was. After a quick tour we sat to visit. Another ring of my doorbell reveals that he had brought a gift. A gorgeous coffee table that goes with our living room like we'd picked it out. I nearly cried, aside from thinking it was too much. My husband is very happy since he's wanted a coffee table for a while. So a LARGE THANK YOU to everyone who has helped us in any way, from little to grand everyone has been so supportive. I plan to do a virtual tour featuring a room each post until we've been trough the entire house. I'll end with my stairs (Mostly because I haven't finished them yet.)

THE END!!

Did I make you think we'd moved in already? Well, unfortunately not but I have finished painting. There will be final touch up and I do have to touch up the kids bathroom one more time but other than that painting is finished. It was a big job but I'm can't say I wouldn't do it again. We're over budget and over time. I can't do much about the time but what money I can save, without compromising quality, I will save.
 
 


In other progress. Trim is almost completely in and the trim painter will start tomorrow.
Countertops and sinks have been installed and window seals have been put in so they can be painted. The garage door was put in Saturday so now I can clean the garage and it will stay clean for a little bit. I guess I have one more painting project, stairs. I think I'll wait a week to start painting that.




This week: Paint Trim and doors, railings on stairs, install crown molding in kitchen, build window seat, install deck railing, clean up. Who knows what will actually happen this week but those things are on the list.

In other exciting news: My Christmas books are here and I'm really hoping to donate as much money as possible to Autism Speaks in honor of the holidays, so if you'd like to donate books are $12 a piece or $10 for 5 or more. Just let me know and I'll make arrangements to get them it/them to you. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Trimming more than the Christmas tree

My excitement for Christmas this year has come early. Maybe it's because I've been writing the story for next year's anthology or because we'll have moved into our new house by then. My husband and I have argued about where to put the tree this year. That has never happened before since there was only one real option.

The trim has started going up, and I'm not talking about the tree here. Some of the doors are completely installed others just part so a day a two for that then the painter can get started.

Trim around entry door

As far as my painting...I'm sad to admit...I didn't finish...BUT THE GOOD NEWS. Following an impromptu trip midweek we have shelving for our storage room. That took up an entire evening and some time cleaning it yesterday so I still have a second coat with the edger in the hall and bedrooms upstairs and the bonus room. Barring any unforeseen events, I will be all finished this week. Do you have any idea how happy that makes me? I can't wait to move on to the next project. I don't see an end to those until we've moved in.

All the flooring has been finished the gray of my entry way is gorgeous! Tile has started and I'm eager to see how that will all look as it is finished. All the lights and most of the outlets have been installed. There are only a few left to go and some have to wait until granite, which should be here this week as well. I hope now that it's going it will go strong. Let's see how this week goes.

As far as my Christmas anthology, it should be here this next week so if you'd like to donate to Autism Speaks and get a truly original story, let me know.

My entryway

Let there be light

"Let there be light." Gen. 1:3
I'm not just quoting scripture because it's Sunday and well, most of us could use a little more spiritual guidance. But this week...we have lights on a switch, no extension cord needed. YAY!! To be honest, there are only 2 of them right now but by the end of the week. I'm hoping the finish work for both electrical and HVAC will be finished. The granite may be in this week as well. I'm very excited to see it all come together. There has been a lot of finish work going on in the kitchen with the skins on the cabinets and the range hood installed. I've finished much of the painting and with a little extra time will have finished all but touch up this week.

In other exciting news I've ordered my Christmas book. All proceeds from sales go to Autism Speaks. I'm very excited about the story included in this book. It is Entitled "Where are you Christmas" It's a companion story to last year's but if you didn't read that story this one does stand alone. I haven't ordered any additional copies of last year's but it can be purchased online at: https://www.createspace.com/3988322 (proceeds go to National Down Syndrome Society)

This year's can be purchased here: https://www.createspace.com/4102014

Or, even better. Let me know you want a copy (or more for gifts) and I'll set them aside for you as soon as they arrive. It is an advent anthology with my story on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I'm going to pretend that it's a prestigious place in the book because my story is so inspirational and awesome and (insert here any adjective that makes you want to read it). Tune in next week to see how this week went.

Look...stairs

Riley stands looking over a room full of more treasure than anyone in this lifetime has ever seen. Gold glitters around him, not to mention the untold stores of knowledge held in the ancient writings. He looks up, moisture pools in his eyes. "Look, stairs." With all the majesty before him the stairs are what he most appreciates.

Can you name that movie?

Look, I have stairs. I may not be as excited as Riley was but I am still excited. I now have stairs, doors, cabinets, and a driveway.
Finish work should start this week. I'll let you know how it goes.