What started as a small project...

Have you ever started a project that turned out to be BIGGER than you thought it would? 

Last January, Andy and I went to a food storage class.  The presenter talked about her food storage room where she has everything organized.  Andy and I decided that we need to get our food storage, that was located in several different areas throughout the house and garage, organized into one room.  Since we are now "empty-nesters" we have the space to do it.  Andy drew up plans, got out his trusty tools, and with some great ideas in his head, set out to accomplish the task of organizing the food storage.

Let me show you what has been done.

One remodeled bathroom  

This needed to be done so the room on the other side of the bathroom could be better utilized since the original bathroom was oddly shaped. It's a good thing we did this.  As we were tearing out the shower, we discovered horrible, black mold! YUK! This house was built in 1972.  We've lived in it for 10 years. It's time to get things done! Andy completely gutted this room and rebuilt it. He even tiled the huge shower.  I hung up the towel and put the scale on the floor. 

Laundry room moved to the furnace room.  

This needed to be done because our new storage room is in the old laundry room. 

Andy put in a new window, sheet rocked and insulated the walls, made the folding table, covered the floor, etc.  I put the plants in the window and the fabric softener sheets on the dryer! :)

Office 

This is the room outside the bathroom.  Andy made the book shelves and the almost finished desk. He has done a beautiful job on every project he tackled.  I helped load the books in the book shelves.

You're probably wondering about the food storage room.  Well, we're working toward that.  Our food storage is still in several areas of the house and garage but it will be heavenly when "we" get it done!  Andy has discovered a new love...woodworking.  He has acquired a few new "tools" along the way that has made his projects go much more smoothly.

We'll eventually get to the reason we started this project but, until then, has anyone seen that #10 can of pinto beans?

Who helps write your story? Story@Home Giveaway (closed)

Everyone has a story to tell. What is your story?  Who knows your story?  How do you present your story?

My story began (or is it begins) many, many years ago.  These four women helped to shape it.

Our winner is Sandra Ricks!  Congratulations!

This is my Grandma Travis in the year, 1916, on the day she graduated from high school. I remember her as a hard-working, patient woman who loved her family.  I spent many days at her home, playing in the back yard with cousins, eating dill beans and other home-canned goods, and watching her sew beautiful quilts.

My Great-Grandma Olsen came to the United States from Switzerland when she was 7 years old. As an adult, she stood at 4'11", (obviously I didn't inherit her stature genes) and she would yodel at the family reunions, even when she was in her 90s! How I wish I could read her story and learn more about her conversion to a church that brought her and her family to America.

My Grandma Hansen, daughter to Grandma Olsen, was an elect lady who raised 10 children with dignity and grace.  She loved flowers and had two huge lilac trees and a garden full of irises in her back yard.  She baked some of the best breads, cakes, pies, and anything else that could come out of an oven.

My own dear Mother, Cleo, has been my biggest support and influence over the years.  She is an example of love, patience, understanding, encouragement, selflessness, wisdom and cooking skills. She has some great stories from her childhood days.  She will be celebrating her 90th birthday next month and I am so blessed to have her in my life.

I hope to be able to emulate these four wonderful women in my life.  I hope that my own children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren will know who I am and, through my story, gain an appreciation and understanding of themselves and their ancestors. 

You're probably wondering where I'm going with this...wonder no more.  I'm inviting you to one of the most amazing, fun, inspirational and informative conferences I've ever been to! Story@Home

I had the opportunity to attend this conference last year.  It was so fun!  I learned so much and was inspired to keep my journal and write my story.  Even though I stopped blogging shortly after the conference, (for reasons not associated with the conference :)), I have written my thoughts, activities and feelings almost daily. 

Story@Home will be held in conjunction with the RootsTech family history and technology conference in Salt Lake City, March 21-23, 2013.  If you're ready to become better at storytelling, or to learn how to do family history, this is an event you don't want to miss.  Tickets for the event are still available for just $79.00.

"No matter how you tell your stories – through your family history, at your child’s bedside, on your blog, or from a stage – your stories matter. Join us for Story@Home March 21-23, 2013, and experience a conference that will change the way you see your stories and the world, and help you connect in new ways with those you cherish most."

OK, are you ready for some exciting news?  I am able to give away one ticket to the full event. Just leave a comment below and your name will be entered in the drawing. 

Good luck!