today, I rewired a lamp

One day I found a cute lamp sitting in a trash pile at work. Brandon said it didn't work...time to go. I beg to differ!! How could you throw away such a treasure? I gladly confiscated it, accepting any opportunity to take on a new project. His doubting look gave me all the more reason to prove a man wrong.

Then one day at home, I accidentally pulled a lamp off the coffee table and broke the glass (on my brand new hardwoods...yikes! have no fear, they are perfectly fine).

So, you see...

this reconstruction was meant to be.

No more "out with the old, in with the new"

I'm bringing "old" back, and so can you!

You'll need these simple, everyday tools:

Then about halfway through you'll realize you need this:

And here's how you begin to look like a nonchalant pro when it's chit chat time at the water cooler:

1. You'll need one lamp that works and one that doesn't. Ha! I'm realizing now this task is useless unless you've recently broken a lamp. If this applies to you, keep reading... Grab a wrench, unscrew each section of both lamps and pull out the cords. This is fun because you get to take apart EVERYTHING!

2. Turn off the power in your house. Guess that should've been step one, ha. Just kidding...we're talking lamps here people. No for real...make sure it's not plugged in.

3. (this gets pretty technical, so pay attention) When you're at the top where the switch is, just remember how it was connected and that's the exact same way you'll screw it in on the new lamp. :)

4. Thread in the working wires into the new lampstand (this is where the needle-nose comes in handy). Attach wire ends back to screws. The key in this step is to thread the wires through every part of the new lamp if it's in pieces. Don't forget and only do the top part like I did. Boo.

5. Screw everything back together, attach light and cute shade. Wallah!

Happy Birthday Trey!

Today, my husband has lived 26 years.

The last 365 days leading up to this have been pretty eventful.

His insurance went down.

He married me.

He vacationed to Mexico.

He bought a house.

He took his soccer team to the playoffs for the 1st time in 6 years (3 of which he has coached).

As you can see, there are so many things to be thankful for!

Here are 26 reasons I'm thankful for Robert Samuel Taylor, III:

He loves...

1. Jesus

2. me

3. food, just as much as I do

4. molding his eager players into young men of integrity

5. to "freestyle" by bouncing a small bouncy ball off of every wall in our house

He enjoys...

6. the country in "Country Living At Its Best"

7. playing golf with me

8. a simple tall glass of water

9. talking with his grandmother

10. a good action movie

He values...

11. family

12. a lesson learned

13. time spent coaching

14. God's direction in his life

15. healthy living

He appreciates...

16. a good pair of cleats

17. his hometown

18. silence

19. insight from a good book

20. my cooking

He laughs...

21. at himself

22. when performing a silly dance that no one but me will probably ever see

23. at the difference in our sizes

24. when reciting "'He's bonafied, what are you?' ...'I'm the pater familias!'" from Oh Brother Where Art Thou

25. when I'm trying to be funny

...and I'm very thankful that

26. He is in my life

I LOVE YOU TREY! hAPpY BiRtHDaY

sweet boy

This past weekend, we celebrated with my nephew Cole as he participated in Believer's Baptism. It was such an exciting day and we were so blessed to experience it with him. Just wanted to share a sweet story that allows us to see through a child's eyes, just as Christ calls us to believe:

MiMi: PaPa and I have a little something for you on this special day.

COLE: Cool! (He continues to open a small gift bag filled with various items with Bible verses inscribed on it. One item is a handsome silver cross lapel pin.) I want to put this one on.

MiMi: Oh, good. Do you need any help? (...to which he responds he can handle it :)...and continues to try and place in the middle of his shirt)

MiMi & Aunt Ge: Cole, why don't you move it up a little bit? Those pins are usually worn up higher or on your collar.

COLE: No, I've got it.

Aunt Ge: Here Coley, right here. (I point up higher on his chest. He continues to move it down...mom and I were somewhat laughing thinking 'what in the world?' why won't he just move it up?!) Cole, why do you keep moving it down?

COLE: I just want it to be on my heart.

Oh my goodness. Mom, dad and I looked at each other and thought, well of course we can't argue with that. We had no response but a heartfelt smile. Praise God for Christian parents who teach their children to live by the Word of God and place it on their hearts.

Thank you God for your blessings on my family!

cute new layout!

Thanks are in order for Kelly at Fabulous K for my cute new layout!

I absolutely love it.

A good question was posed about my blog title...

Feel free to review my 1st post here.

When I first started blogging I wanted it to merely be about laughter

and how God uses that to teach me in my life.

I didn't really want it to be just about me and the random things in my mind.

However, you see it has somewhat turned into that...

but who can resist talking about a new house?

(and I'm sure other things to come as life progresses)

So, basically my initial thought was that I definitely wanted it to say something about

LAUGHTER

I couldn't get "A is for Apple", "B is for Boy", etc. out of my head

and so it goes on..."L is for Laughter"...at least to me anyways!!!

Now...if I ever have a child someday, I guess I'll have to name her Elle :).