Music Therapy and Hope for a Life Remade

This summer with the windows down, the sun shining down, and my daughter singing in the backseat it is hard not to feel hopeful. I feel so fortunate to be home during the summer spending time with her. She is a little performer who loves to sing and dance. One of her favorite songs to sing is Diamonds by Rihanna. Although, my favorite is listening to her sing along when we listen to KLove. Everyone's life has ups and downs and I'm looking for life remade and a heart that is healed. These songs touched my heart and hopefully will touch yours too, especially if you are going though something difficult.

I've been reading the book You Matter More than You Think by Dr. Leslie Parrott and she quoted Phillip Yancey when she wrote that "pain is the gift that no one wants." She went on to write the following.
"The pain we carry in our hearts is the continual grinding of the sea against the sea glass. It takes the sharp edges of our personalities and slowly smooths them into a person who can be tender with another's wounds. A person who can empathize without judgement. A person who can accept their own and other's failures...and go on in love. Because of pain, you make a difference. Pain will give you permission to walk into places you've never dreamed you'd enter, and it can change your relationships like nothing else. Of course, none of us would ever seek pain, but once you have been loved by another who personally identifies with your hurt, you are able to reassess its value. And loving another by empathizing with their pain can make all the difference."

Thank you to those of you that have walked along side me during my pain and I hope that I can be there for people that enter my life going through their own journey of a life remade. These songs and lyrics that Elin and I sing together in the car remind me of hope and the possibilty of that "life remade." Here are some of our favorite lyrics from this summer!

Corner Cabinet Remade: From Country to Shabby Chic

With my new love of Annie Sloan chalk paint I feel like I am constantly looking around for old and unloved furniture that needs a new remade look. While hanging out at my mom's house I found just the piece. I'd been telling her that her corner cabinet in the dining room was just too country for her newly decorated space.




It didn't need to be sold at a garage sale or given away it just needed a touch of Annie Sloan and for someone to see its potential. I absolutely love every step of the process necessary to remake this piece. First of all, I love that there is no sanding or priming required! Yes, its true! With ASCP one can just start right in with painting. Our first coat was painted in Old White to provide a nice base to peek through when we distressed after painting. A second and third coat was painted in French Linen. The process took 3 coats of paint, clear wax, distressing, more clear wax, and for the finishing touch dark wax. It took several days, lots of labor, and plenty of drying and waiting time till the piece was complete.

I wish I could take a lesson for my life and just enjoy every step along the way instead of always looking ahead to the next destination I think should occur in my life. There was beauty and purpose in every step along the way. What I'm learning and trying to apply is that these qualities exist in all our lives even before the "finished product" is complete. The distressing of my furniture piece reflects that we all have a story and distressing or imperfections in our own lives. Those dents along the way ultimately make us into the beautiful, strong, and remade people that we have the chance to become! I hope you agree that this corner cabinet is even more beautiful now than before! Just as we all are!



"Love doesn't just sit there, like a stone; it has to be made, like bread, remade all the time, made new."
~Ursula K. Le Guin

Key Lime Parfait the Healthy Way "Remade"

Key Lime summer time! One more week until I can be a summer time stay at home mom and enjoy 2 ½ months with my 2 ½ year old daughter. I plan to fully embrace this time before its back to school time! Fun memories, pool time, playing at the park and healthy summer snacks are on my to do list. While I was browsing pinterest the other day I came across the blog, Food, Fashion and Flow and a yummy dessert that I just had to try. Since this is the year of “Lauren Remade” I wanted to find a healthy version that Elin and I could enjoy. Here is my Key Lime Parfait the Healthy Way recipe made for 2! Elin loved it!

4 Reduced Fat Honey Graham Crackers
2 Tablespoons Butter
2 Light Key Lime Yogurts
1 cup light cool whip
2 tsp. vanilla extract

Crush the graham crackers in a ziplock bag and add 2 Tablespoons of melted butter. Shake to mix together. In a small bowl mix together the cool whip and vanilla extract. In a small parfait dish alternate and layer graham cracker mixture, yogurt, cool whip at least 2 times. Enjoy! The healthy “remade” way!





Remade!

Even Furniture Deserves a Second Chance

Life is about second chances and new beginnings, right? Why shouldn’t this apply to our furniture as well? Furniture that is old, not in style, dented and scratched is given away, sold at a garage sale or put out on the curb. It is neglected and rejected. Have you ever felt like that as well? Over the last year I’ve been on a journey to discover “Lauren Remade” by fixing the dents and scratches my heart has experienced. Now when I look at these neglected pieces of furniture I see their potential and possibility, just like I see in my own heart! With a little TLC and a fresh coat of paint they are given new life. All it takes is someone to look past their flaws and believe in what they can become. Take a look at my current project: a weather damaged, cheap IKEA patio set that has seen better days. This summer my back patio needed some color and a spot to sit and drink coffee while I watch my daughter play in the back yard.


There are far better things ahead than what we leave behind. –C.S. Lewis