Because Sometimes You Don’t Have Time to DIY

Hi there friends!
You know those people you live with? They are pretty awesome, right? Let’s just have a moment of silence on their behalf right now to actually remember how blessed we are for those little people….

Easy for ME to say that! I do all my blog work while the kiddos are ASLEEP. So while I am typing this? Silence.

Moment of Silence

Some of you are reading this probably thinking, “Moment of silence?” This lady was beat on the head with the happy stick!” (I hear you! Our kids usually sound like wild banshees-nice wild banshees, but wild ones, nonetheless.)
It’s so much easier to remember to appreciate the people in our lives when our soul feels settled and quiet! (And, let’s be honest, it’s even easier when those people are asleep too. I’m an introvert. Quiet time by myself=bliss.)

I shared on the blog last week a new sign I made.

DIY Signs: Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop

(The first step is admitting you have a problem and I, my friends, have a sign “problem.” But I am just owning it. We all have our “issues,” right? Ha!) In owning it, I think I am going to take it one step further. Maybe I will make it a mission to have at least one DIY sign in every room of my house. Too much? If sign loving is wrong, I don’t want to be right! Hee hee! (The husband says I need to watch how many “Ha’s” I use in my blog posts. I am thinking interjecting “hee hee” now and then might give me some extras. Ha! …Blast! Just used another one…..)

Laura Ingalls Wilder Quote

The quote I used on the sign is by one of my favorite children’s authors: Laura Ingalls Wilder.
She is quoted as saying: “The real things haven’t changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have, to be happy with simple pleasures; and to have courage when things go wrong.

Remember me talking about those people we live with and how special they are? Well I want to enjoy them more. God gives goodness in all things and if I can believe that (and I do), then I should be able to see His goodness in every day (no matter how many time-outs there have been or how many bills arrive in the mailbox).

I love Laura’s words. (We’ve read all of her books, so that totally means we are on a first name basis, right?)
I want to remember those words and I want those characteristics to be exhibited in my children. Being happy with what you have makes for a happy life. If my kiddos grow up and love God, are honest, grateful, rejoice over little things, and have courage to face trials that come, I will be one happy mama. (That’s a lot to hope for, that’s why I “went big” and put this quote on an 18×24 inch canvas. You can read more about the sign here.)

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I’ve made a bunch of signs, but because of the size and the fact that there are over 140 letters (!), this sign took a couple hours to complete. That’s ok. At this season of life, my hourly wage is $0.00, so that whole “time is money” saying doesn’t really equate for this stay-at-home mom. I didn’t have $50 to pay for a custom sign, but I did take 3 hours one night to make one. (I think it’s hilarious that I am the one in the family that gets the most “pre-approved” credit card applications in the mail. Umm HELLO?! What exactly would I use to pay the bill for them? I’m not sure making them a sign would “float their boat” as a type of payment….Ok. Ramble over.)

Because of how long this one took, I thought it might be helpful if I made a printable. Because let’s face it, DIY just isn’t feasible all the time.

Laura Ingalls Wilder Printable Quote

I used one of the paintings I did for the $100 Room Challenge. It’s a little 8×10 on canvas with all sorts of yummy turquoise and blue shades and also some pops of white and gold because everyone needs a little “ka-chow” in their life. (Sorry. Son is in a Lightning McQueen phase right now….Send help. Disney is infiltrating my lame “jokes.”)

I love that you can still see the texture of the canvas in the printable. WIN!
And another, bigger, win? You can STILL have these meaningful words in your home (reminding you to be thankful for those little “pleasures” in your life) and the only time it will take is clicking the “print” button (or sending to your favorite print place if you want to get a bit fancier)!

Hang this free printable up and you are on your way to starting your OWN little collection of signs. (Sign lovers unite! We need some sort of secret handshake. I can’t think of anything good. All the hand gestures I am making seem like they may be interpreted as some sort of gang sign and not “I love signs! How about you, sister?” Ha!)

Signing off for now! (Before I scare anymore people off who were only skimming through this post and seeing words pop out at them like: “wild banshees,” “ka-chow,” and “gang sign.”) Thanks for sticking with me!

Sign up here to get access to the Free Printable Resource Library, where this printable “lives” on the blog (the password will be emailed to you) . And as another perk we get to be email buddies every Saturday!! If that doesn’t deserve a “Ka-Chow” I don’t know what does!

Kiddo is awake now, so I’m off to play Lightning McQueen and Mater…. (How did I do with the “ha’s,” Mr. Pear Tree Home?)

Want to see how to make your own DIY sign? Check out the post here.