The love of all things vintage

A few months ago, a friend of mine posted a picture of a high school girl wearing a shirt that said “86” on it. My friend asked the girl what it meant and she replied that it was “vintage– you know, from 1986”. My friend had graduated from high school in 1986 and just about choked when she heard that she was “vintage”.

I love vintage things. Not 1986 vintage, but truly vintage. The stories that vintage items hold can only be imagined or, better yet, dreamed up in our minds.

I came by my love of vintage items quite naturally. My mom has some very cool items that have been passed down from her parents and grandparents. My favorite is an old steamer trunk that my papa brought with him from Ireland. I asked my moms about restoring about 20 years ago. I don’t think she believes I will ever do it. Someday I will show her. Truth is, I am a little intimidated by it. I mean, with its history so personal to me, I would not want to mess it up.

In the meantime, I picked up this beauty on which to “practice”.

The hinges worked fine. A previous owner had painted the inside, and in the process, slipped paint on the outside, which I sanded off. The clasp doesn’t work, but is intact. The straps are missing from the sides (I’ve almost never seen a trunk with the handles still attached).

I began by washing her with Murphy’s Oil soap (mostly because I was using that on another project, which I’ll show later.

She looks better already. Some trunks come with that musty, vintage smell, but this one really doesn’t. I did clean the inside really well.

Next, I began to work on the outside. I didn’t want to have a “freshly painted” look since, after all, she is an antique, so I chose an ultra flat chalky black paint for the metal parts. On the textured parts, I used a copper metallic paint which I carefully dry-brushed and wiped, just to give an “antique” appearance.

I painted the hasps and buckled gold

I stained the wooden straps with minwax fruitwood.

For the inside, I selected a wonderfully vintage fabric to Modge Podge I started with the lid.and applied a thin coat of modge lodge to the lid before laying the fabric down. I flattened out the wribkles and applied more Modge Podge on top. I let the lid dry completely before moving on to sides and bottom.

The sides and bottom were done in a similar fashion.

On Sunday, I posted the trunk for sale on the Facebook Marketplace and was almost immediately contacted by multiple people who were interested. I made arrangements to meet the first person and let the others know that i’d contact them if the pick-up fell through. Just as I was pulling in to the parking lot to meet the person, they texted and said they changed their mind. “Really?” I said, more than a little agitated. However, I went to the next in line, and he was available to meet and came right away. I am hoping that he loves the trunk – it truly is a beautiful piece. In all honesty, I’m a little sad to see it go. I believe I have the confidence to work on Papa’s trunk.

The bigger the prayer…

The Bible tells us that if we have faith of a mustard seed, we can move more mountains. Literally move mountains. Sometimes we fail God because we don’t pray big enough.

Here’s the cool thing about prayer, though. The bigger and more unrealistic the prayer, the bigger the answer, and the bigger stories that can be shared with others.

My dear readers, I’d like to ask you all to PRAY BIG with me. And for me. I can’t share the details yet, but I want you all to know that I am praying for something HUGE. And I believe He has already answered my prayer. I can’t wait to share the stories!!!

Blessings

The Journey—day 7

There are times when I simply cannot wrap my brain around what God does. Today is one of those days, and today’s scriptures are one of those scripture. I mean, how could a loving God actually be pleased to sacrifice his son? As a parent, I cannot get my mind past the sacrifice of a son. What exactly does it mean that God was pleased by that? Is He some sado-masochistic God who takes pleasure in watching His Son die? Even more difficult to understand since we know the Son is also the Father.

I know the point made in this scripture is about God’s pleasure in providing a way for us to be with Him for eternity. When I consider the enormous cost of His sacrifice, I am humbled that He loves me enough, in spite of my enormous flaws, to make the sacrifice.

Lord, please help me to understand Your word and Your ways, and help me not to take for granted Your Gift of Salvation.

Blessings,

The Journey — Day 6

With all of the emotion surrounding the latest school schooling in Florida, it seems everyone has an opinion regarding gun control and mental health help. Some of the insults that have been hurled toward others with opposing views have been so rude that it is difficult to keep my mouth shut. As I look at social media posts, there are words I’d like to say, and find it difficult to simply scroll on, knowing that my words will not likely change someone else’s position on a matter.

It is difficult to remain silent.

To remain silent when being falsely accused is even more incredible, yet that is precisely what Jesus did.

In fact, He responded in love, saying, “forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do.”

If it is difficult to remain silent when those around you are hurling insults, it is even more difficult to respond in love. In fact, I cannot do this on my own, but only though God working in me.

Lord, fill me with Your peace, that my responses would bring glory to Your name. Help me to love those who are hateful and hurtful.

In Your Holy Name,

Amen

Blessings,

The Journey – day 5

My own sin. Heavy on my shoulders, weighing me down. It’s so much easier to see the seen in others, but to reflect that it is MY sin that nailed Jesus to a cross is humbling. Yet He loves me enormously despite my sin, enough to have died just for me. I can hardly fathom a love like that.

Please help me to be ever mindful that I am a sinner and in desperate need of your grace, which you so graciously gave through your Son, Jesus.

Blessings,

The Journey — Day 4

In an interesting dichotomy, the journal entry below contrasts our view of our own wounds with the way in which we view Jesus’ wounds. Our own wounds carry sorry and sadness. But Jesus’ wounds carry victory. We know the victory in His death now, but that day in the cross was a different story. To those who witnessed his sourcing, his wounds brought immense pain and suffering, first for Him, but also for those who witnessed. Unimaginable pain, his physical suffering was honestly more than most of us have ever known. When I pause to think about the excruciating pain He endured, I am ever humbled that God loves me enough to make that kind of sacrifice just for me. I pray that I would never take for granted the suffering Christ endured for my eternity.

blessings,

It’s Not OK

Our school was cancelled today because a high school student posted pictures late yesterday of his assault rifles laid out on the floor with the caption, “it’s almost time”. Though there was no direct threat to students or staff, on the heels of the Florida school shooting this week, our administration thought it wise to cancel school. (Frankly, I agree and applaud their decision). The suspect has since been apprehended, and is being admitted to the hospital for a complete psychological exam.

Immediately, people all over the place began posting opinions about needing tighter gun control, better mental health help, and more anti-bullying programs. One Facebook acquaintance posted this:

For all the love of Pete, I’d like to know exactly what policy ought to be changed to rid people of the hate in their hearts.

The reality is there is no way to legislate heart issues. As I posted on my own Facebook page on Wednesday, it’s a heart issue.

“If you have hate in your heart, you will find a way to kill”

Four years ago, a sophomore brought two kitchen knives to our school and stabbed 20 students and a security guard. He had planned the incident for a year, and wanted to coincide with the anniversary of the Columbine shootings, but April 20 was on a weekend that year and school would not be in session. Instead, because he idolized Eric Harris, he planned and carried out the attack on April 9, Eric’s birthday.

My oldest daughter was in his class since kindergarten, and my son, a year behind, was in the hallway when it happened. Many of the victims were friends of theirs, and their lives were changed forever.

I won’t pretend to know what is in the heart of that boy, or the boy who killed seventeen innocent people in Florida this week, or Adam Lanza. But honestly, I’m angry. I’m angry that these people, whatever their motivation, think it’s OK to take human lives because of some perceived injustice they’ve suffered. When are we, as a society, going to stand up and say, “IT IS NOT OK!”

It is not ok to put people down to raise yourself up.

It is not ok to judge those whose shoes you do not wear.

It is not ok to bully people, and destroy their self esteem.

It is not ok to deny mental health help to those who need and want it.

However, it is equally NOT ok to:

Take another life because you feel you’ve been wronged.

It is not ok to blame others for your actions.

It is not ok to act out your anger on others who may or may not have had anything to do with it.

It is not ok.

It is not ok for us to become desensitized to horrific events because of the increased frequency with which they occur.

It is not ok for us to stand idly by while evil takes over our communities, schools, homes, hearts.

It is not ok for us to wonder where God is when we have driven Him away.

It is not ok.

We are dumbfounded at the events that have occurred, wondering why, but we have removed God from our schools. He is no longer welcomed at our commencement ceremonies, and our sporting events, and morning silence, and yet wonder where He is when trouble comes.

There IS coming a day of accountability, where we will ALL be judged, but not by ourselves. We will stand before God Almighty to give account of our lives. He, and He alone, will judge us. We will not be able to blame our actions on our upbringing, or the mean things other students said to us or did to us. We will not be able to pretend we are not responsible for our actions. We will stand before the Creator Himself to give a full account of our own actions.

In the meantime, we have all been given free will to invite Him into our hearts, lives, homes, schools, communities. We can choose to ignore His calling. We can turn our backs and wonder where He is. But in doing so, we must realize there are consequences of our choices. To make that choice and then blame God or others for our failures is not ok.

Journey to the Cross — Day 3

My journal starts with these words today: “Jesus didn’t just heal the illnesses of the body. He also soothed the infirmities of the soul.”

My soul is heart-sick this week after yet another shooting in our schools, a place where students should feel safe. In a world where acts of violence are increasingly common, I pause to grieve with those who are grieving, and my heat is heavy.

One of the toughest realizations I have, though, is that Jesus came to bear not only the grief of the victims families and loved ones, He came to bear the infirmities of the soul and mind of the person who committed this terrible act. It’s hard to have compassion for someone who committed such heinous act, and hard to believe God sent His Son to die for him as well, but it’s true.

I wonder, if we took God seriously enough to love others as Christ loved, and were able to reach more people with the love of Jesus, would we be able to make a difference in the lives of troubled people–to help them realize that their infirmities of the soul can be cast on a living Jesus, who can save them from themselves and from their sin… and I dare say, from committing future acts of violence.

I don’t pretend to have all (or even any) of the answers in how to stop the violence. But I know that Jesus is near to the broken hearted and the troubled.

Grieve with our country this week. Be angered by recent events, stirred enough to make a difference in someone’s life today. We don’t know what sickness affects their souls, but we know a loving God who does.

Please keep the families of the victims of the Florida shooting in your deepest prayers this week as they struggle to understand the enormity of their loss. They have a very long road of emotional recovery ahead of them. I pray that Jesus will begin to heal their infirmities.

Blessings,

The Journey to the Cross. Day 2

The sting of rejection.

(Sorry, posting late)

Day two of my journal contains a scripture reference to Isaiah 53:3, “He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows with grief. And like one from whom men hide their face, He was despised, and we did not esteem him”

Many years ago, in another place and time, I experienced rejection so deep it cut me to the core. I wondered how I would be able to go on, yet here I am all these years later. To be honest, it still hurts, but I have managed to move past with Gods help.

During the deepest, darkest pain of that rejection, I thought about Jesus, and wondered if he every felt the way I was feeling at that moment. Then I realized that He was, and still is, rejected. He absolutely understands the sting of rejection and how we feel because He felt it too. One of his close friends sold Him out for 30 pieces of silver. The crowd hurled insults at him as He hung on the cross for our sake.

We need not fear the sting of rejection because we know we belong to a Heavenly Father who loves us so much that He sent His only Son to die and make a way for us to spend eternity with Him. We are never rejected by Him.

If you are feeling rejected today, please know that God loves you and will never, ever leave you. He is with you in the face of your rejection.

Blessings,

The Journey

A new journey begins today; the annual spiritual pilgrimage to the cross. For Christians around the world, today marks the beginning of the Lenten season, the 40 days leading up to Christs’ crucifixion.

Many people will celebrate this season by giving something up for Lent, a symbolic representation of a sacrifice made in their own lives to acknowledge the sacrifice Christ made for us. While a humbling and copacetic recognition of His sacrifice, I challenge you all to go deeper this Lent.

As I was cleaning files in my home office a few weeks ago, I came across a Lenten Devotional journal I had received long ago from Insight for Living ministries. This journal will be the basis for my journey this Lent, and I invite you all to come along!

My journey for Lent begins with a funeral; a funeral for a lovely Christian woman who fought a hard battle with cancer and went home to be with Jesus last Saturday. We will miss her greatly, but are so very thankful that we know where she’s gone and we will see her later in Heaven. It is because of His sacrifice that we have the promise of eternal life

I hope you’ll join me in reflecting on the words in today’s devotion. Sin is serious business, and the price that He paid so we wouldn’t have to is enormous. At the very least, let our hearts be humbled today as we begin our spiritual journey.

Blessings,