Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Pinterest Project #1 - Filing Cabinet Makeover

Can you actually believe that I finally have the spare time, energy to do my own Pinterest project?  I can hardly believe it.  It seems like forever since I was able to start and complete a fun project!

After unpacking everything we own, I realized how desperately I needed a filing cabinet.  After looking at all the cute upcycle ideas on Pinterest I figured this could be a fun yet totally practical project.

Here's my first project from start to finish.  I am also happy to say that this was all completed in just one day, for a grand total of $47, including buying the filing cabinet!

STEP #1: PURCHASE & PICKUP FILING CABINET

I found a 4 drawer filing cabinet on Craigslist for $20 and the kids and I went to pick it up this morning.

Filing cabinet in original condition

STEP #2: PREPARE CABINET FOR PAINTING

I removed all the drawers, sanded the entire cabinet, drawers too, and then wiped it all down with a damp soft cloth so I'd have a clean surface to work with.  For the sanding I used a fine grit sponge sanding block {shown below}.


STEP #3:  SPRAY FILING CABINET AND DRAWERS WITH PRIMER

I read several other blogs and people have done this both ways, with primer and without.  I figured to go with the primer.  I didn't want to regret it afterwards.  It only took an extra 10 minutes.


I also primed the grey plastic pull handles since they couldn't be removed.  
The neutral primer color will match the fabric better than the original grey color.

STEP #4: APPLY LIGHT COAT OF PAINT TO CABINET EXTERIOR

You can learn from my mistake here.  There was a little, white plastic piece on my spray paint nozzle when I removed the lid.  I made the mistake of pulling this piece off instead of pushing it in.  I didn't realize it was the actual nozzle!! {I have not used spray paint in a LONG time!}  It's a LOT smaller than the older version, so I didn't recognize it as the nozzle.  So here is my botched first coat of paint.  I also wasted TONS of paint because of this mistake.  I could of probably or very nearly finished this cabinet with one can of paint instead of two.




STEP #5:  BE PATIENT & APPLY MORE COATS PAINT

Even though the first coat looked HORRIBLE, I knew it would even out if I was patient and waited before applying a second and even third coat.  This paint dries so quickly, we even had time to take a break and go to the park!!  Give yourself lots of time to do 2-3 coats of paint and it will be worth it!



See?!  Nice and even :)

STEP #5.5 - MOD PODGE FABRIC {OR SCRAPBOOK PAPER} TO DRAWER FRONTS

I chose to use fabric for a couple different reasons.  I liked the idea of the texture and the flexibility of the fabric.  It just seems more forgiving and even maybe more durable than scrapbook paper, and since I found five co-ordinating pieces for $4.47 how could I go wrong?

I started working on the drawers between coats of spray painting the cabinet.  I used a wide, flat brush to smear a thin layer of mod podge over the entire surface of the drawer.  I even smeared it under the handle so I could put the fabric all the way under the handle.  I cut a slit in each corner so it would fold nicely.  I used tons of extra mod podge on the edges and corners so that I wouldn't have any lift down the road.  We'll see how that plan turned out...





STEP #6:  WAIT FOR EVERYTHING TO BE THOROUGHLY DRY

I gave the cabinet and drawers plenty of time to dry, so that there wouldn't be any smudges etc.

STEP #7:  PLACE DRAWERS BACK IN THE CABINET

After making sure everything is dry, carefully place the drawers back in the cabinet.  Voila!! Filing cabinet makeover complete!!




So what do you think?  Do you like the color selections?  What would you have done differently?
Thanks for sharing in my first Pinterest project!

Jenn

Monday, September 17, 2012

Relocation


Many of you have figured out that The Burnett Family are no longer residents of Abilene, Texas. This is such a bitter-sweet situation for all of us. It all happened so quickly that we only had the opportunity to say goodbye to our dear friends, The Crumpton's on September 7th. We literally had 7 days to decide where we were going to live, to find a new house, and to move before Mike had to return to work. It makes me so sad that I didn't have the opportunity to personally say goodbye to many of you. I do hope that we can keep up with each other through Skype, text, email, and Facebook!

What happened to India?

The wind farm project in Karad, India will still be happening and Mike will still be going overseas, but we decided that with all the delays that it was best if the kids and I stayed home this time around, since we still don't have a concrete date of when Mike will be headed over there. His employer is saying mid-October now, but that is just a best guess. Our understanding is that the monsoon season has been extra long this year which has severely delayed the beginning of construction. That partnered with the high demand in the USA has kept Mike state-side for now. He is currently working near Wichita, Kansas.

Where do you live now?

With Mike having to be gone so far away, and for such long periods at a time I really wanted to live closer to my family for support. On September 6th we loaded up a Budget truck and headed north to Whitefish, Montana. My family is 3 hours away from here, just on the other side of the Canadian border. I am so happy to be able to just hop in the car and go and visit them! Grandma & Grandpa are so excited they have planned their first visit for this coming weekend!

We have been incredibly blessed to find an amazing home to lease. Our closest neighbors even have two girls that are 4 and 2, just like Harrison & Heidi, so it's been really fun getting to know them. Our other neighbor is from Ireland and brought us some fresh veggies out of her garden as a welcoming gift. So sweet!

Whitefish is absolutely stunning! From the quaint downtown area to the majestic Rocky Mountains to the deer on my front lawn everything about it screams “HOME” to me. The only thing missing is Mike, but hopefully {and prayerfully} that can change in the not too distant future. We believe that this is our last major relocation. Yay!!!








What now?

For now I am focused on:
  • getting Harrison and Heidi into pre-K programs
  • enjoying the fabulous fall weather and all the outdoor activities Whitefish has to offer
  • unpacking & organizing our lovely home
  • recreating a priority for exercise and health in my personal life
  • learning how to use my new SLR
  • getting involved in a new church community

If you haven't received an address update from us please text, call or email and I will make sure you have all our up-to-date contact information.  Check back soon for a virtual tour of our new home!! 

Much love,

The Burnett Bunch

Monday, June 18, 2012

BurnettBunch Update June 2012


BurnettBunch Update June 2012

For those of you that have known us for any length of time, it will not come as much of a surprise to hear that there are big changes in the near future for our family – yet again!

The biggest change for us recently has been finding a new church home. We have felt God leading us to find a different church for some time but did not quite have the big answers yet... the where or the when. When Mike & I took some time to really press into the heart of our Daddy God we heard Him saying “You need to find a church that is more missions minded”, which was something that absolutely lined up with our hearts and what God has been doing in our lives over the last year or so. It was very difficult for us because it was not like we were physically moving and leaving Abilene, but it was God leading us so we stepped out on faith, that He had a good plan for this move. Well we had NO IDEA what God was about to unleash in our lives!!

The very next week after we told our leadership that we would be leaving God rocked our world (and our man-made plans)! Mike received an offer for promotion at work – he would get to be the installation manager for a new project. Wow! This was a great thing in and of itself, but there was more. The offer was for a position overseas, in either Brazil, India or Australia. Mike said he would talk to his family about it and let them know.

I have to interject a little side story here: Three times, not once, but three times earlier this year Mike had plans to change industries to the oil field so that perhaps sometime in the next 5 years he would qualify for overseas work so that (1) he could make more money and (2) so that we could do business as missions... work while we evangelize. We wrote this dream down approximately 8 months ago as a 5 year goal that seemed very complicated, expensive ,and far off. But we still dared to dream. And we watched God close the doors we thought it would happen through. Not all that encouraging really.
But God..!!

He always has better plans... more that we can seek, ask or imagine! After we accepted the offer, Mike as offered the opportunity to manage a new wind farm installation in... INDIA!! We are so excited for so many reasons. This is a positional promotion for Mike within his same industry. He loves what he does and he is exceptionally good at it. The reason he was selected was for his impeccable reputation! I couldn't be more proud of him! There is also a financial blessing it all of this for us. Not only the pay raise that comes with the positional promotion but a 30% increase for working overseas. This is huge! Most people hope to keep up with inflation and God is handing him a 30% increase. Thank you Jesus!

It is so like God to offer a promotion that satisfies the desires of everyone involved! Since returning from Thailand in March I have known that this is what I was created for. I remember one of my favorite things to do while spending time at my Grandmother's house was to spin her globe and put my finger on it to see where it would stop. I had never felt more alive in my entire life than when I was delivering the message of heaven in Thailand.

All the details that have fallen into place for this to happen are amazing. Our lease for our house had just ended the week that the job offer came. My first week at our new church (First United Methodist Church/FUMC) I walked blindly into a Sunday school class {since I was late}, and there was a missionary from India, speaking about the children's orphanage that the church supports. There are so many more of these instances I could tell you!

It is all happening so suddenly, which is another way God has moved in our marriage since the very beginning. Mike is scheduled to begin in India August 5th. We have been very blessed to have our dear friend Chloe join us as an au pair (mother's helper) & missions partner. Mike will go ahead of us, and to make traveling easier on the kids Chloe and I will take a more scenic route to India via London & Paris, taking 5 days to enjoy each city, take in the 2012 Olympics and to adjust to the time changes. A 15 hour direct flight from Newark does not sound reasonable for a 2 and 4 year old!




We will be using our blog at http://burnettbunchlife.blogspot.com/ to keep in touch with everyone through posts and video logs. We should be in Gadag, India somewhere around 5 months, but we will have to see how the project goes once it gets going. It will certainly not be the same as a project done stateside! We are so excited about this adventure for our family!

In the meantime, the kids and I are traveling to Alberta, Canada to visit with my family for the month of July. We leave June 27th and will return around July 29th and a week later we'll be on our way overseas. We are so excited to meet the beautiful Ms. Molly, my brother's sweet baby girl and to celebrate my dad's 65th birthday and retirement. Harrison & Heidi are looking forward to time at Grandpa's farm and camping with Grammy in the “big bus”/motorhome. Again, I'm so grateful for God's great timing – that we get to see everyone before we go. What an amazing, detailed God we serve!

I am also excited to share that whenever we are done in India we will be spending some time in Pattaya, Thailand, where I went in March on the missions trip. I am thrilled to go back to serve the amazing Ricketts missionary family! I can't wait to see them all again!

Please keep in touch with us and please be praying for our family through all this change and transition. God has given us a supernatural grace to handle changes that would potentially ruin most people. Please pray for our health, for our safety and for our family to be in alignment with God's vision for this amazing adventure.

In love with the King,

Michael, Jennifer, Harrison & Heidi Burnett

Thank You!!


Thank you!!
It is very hard to believe that it has been almost 3 months since I returned from Thailand! There is so much to tell & share of God's goodness!

Since my return I have finished all my coursework and graduated from my first year of TSSM (Transformation School of Supernatural Ministry). This was a really important step for me – I even remarked to Mike that it feels like I worked harder during this year of ministry training than I did during 4 years of university; and not only that, but it means more to me than my degree. Thank you so much for partnering with me! You have each been an integral part of God changing my life. Yay God!!

Our trip was nothing short of amazing! Thailand is a beautiful country, but my absolute favorite part was the people. They are so gentle and sweet. I absolutely loved being out in the culture. It was in Thailand that my heart was awakened to the fact that I could definitely be a permanent missionary. On some level I have always known this, but it was during this trip that I knew that I knew. God is always so faithful! I built a really great relationship with the missionaries there, Jason & Sarah Ricketts and their family. It was so difficult for me to leave and return to the US, although I was happy to see Mike & the kids!

During our time in Pattaya we taught at-risk children about Jesus, we ministered to prostitutes working on the streets and we even had some opportunities to minister to the broken and hurting “johns” {men that are living/visiting Thailand with the sole purpose of exploiting the sex trade}. Holy Spirit moved and poured out His unconditional love on EVERYONE, regardless if they were Buddhist, atheist, happy, sad, angry, men, women, children, believers or not. The true gospel.

One of my most unforgettable experiences though was at the local prison. Unfortunately we could not take and photos inside the prison, but I will do my very best to capture the experience with my words. This prison has men, women & children. It is an initial “holding” place until the authorities figure out what they are going to do with the people. The entire cell portion of the prison is no bigger than
50' x 50'. Women & children are on the right hand side side of the room and are separated into cells of Thai and “foreigner” which is mostly Cambodian, but could be anyone, like you or I. Cells are about 6' deep x 10' wide with cinderblock walls between cells. The men's side was similar except slightly bigger cells, because there are way more men. The day we visited there were 3 women, no children (thank you Jesus!) and 27 men. There is one potty in the cell for everyone to use in the wide open. The stench was horrendous. I was gagging as soon as the door opened for us to enter the
5' wide walkway between the cells. We brought sandwiches, bottled water and apples to distribute. They were so thankful to see us because lots of them had been locked up since the week before and hadn't had anything to eat or drink for 4 days. The corruption is bad in Thailand. Most of the men there were from Cambodia and had come to Thailand to work illegally on construction projects, likely for the Russian mafia {who own most of the new real estate development}. What happens is that they hire illegals because it costs less. They house them, hide them & feed them but they do not pay them until the project is complete. You can probably see where this is going... so the end of the project is nearing and instead of paying their workers, they call the police to raid the jobsite. They pay off the police instead and the workers are hauled to prison and deported. Then likely they do it all over again.

While we were there I had the interpreter ask if anyone needed a physical healing in their body. One Cambodian gentleman limped forward from the back of the cell. He could not walk, only hop because one leg was in excruciating pain. I could feel the anointing of Holy Spirit all over me and as I held his hand and prayed {in English, without interpretation} he started to stretch his sore leg and move it around. I prayed more and very intensely because of what God was doing and God reached down and healed my friend!!! As I cried and we held hands to praise Jesus, our fingers side by side, he had on a plastic yellow ring that said LOVE and I had a silver metal ring that was stamped LOVE. Love wins, every time!! He walked easily back to his place in the cell, no longer in any pain. Yay Jesus!!

God moved powerfully through myself and our entire team while we were in Pattaya. During one night of our VBS we were teaching the kids to “soak”, which is simply to sit or lay still, let music play and listen. We didn't even tell them we were going to listen for God. We said it was ok to close your eyes, relax, and just listen. Afterwards we went around the room and asked the street & slum children {ages 3-15} if they saw or heard anything. Their responses and experiences truly blew me away: I saw a white, glowing man smiling at me; I saw gold & clouds; I heard pretty music; I feel really loved; I saw God. Wow!!!

A very powerful moment I will always remember for the rest of my life took place on Beach Road, where men and women meet to negotiate sexual contracts of various natures. We were walking there purposefully with the intent of blessing people. God “highlighted” a woman to me, who was standing around, waiting to be approached for work. I could not take my eyes off of her, so I knew God wanted to do something. But what? I asked Him. I did not get an answer, so I approached her anyway. With my interpreter I asked about her night, was she busy, could we talk? She told me about herself, where she's from. She came to Pattaya to make money to send home to her mother in a northern farming village. This was her first night in Pattaya. I knew then that God had sent me to her. She started talking about trying to meet a husband, a good one though, one that would take care of her and truly love her. I started talking about a man I know, and how He already loves her, He's always loved her and will never quit pursuing her – that He's passionate about her!! I said much more but I can't remember the exact details because most of it was straight from the heart of the Father. I was on my knees, proposal style, in the dirt, surrounded by other prostitutes and johns and I asked her if she wanted to know that man, that His name is Jesus. I will forever remember how hard her finger nails dug into my hands when she said YES! We prayed right there that Jesus would come into her heart and that she would give her life to Him. We then connected her with a ministry that would give her job training so she never has to get involved with working on the streets. She then told the interpreter that she could hear voices singing and I believe it was the angels in heaven rejoicing for a Buddhist prostitute, turned Daughter of the King!! My new sister, Pong!

I could write so much more, it would probably fill a small book. Maybe I will do that. But what I want to do more so is thank you for investing in me, in the children and people of Thailand, in my family, and in the Kingdom. Your heart to sow generously has been blessed and I pray it be multiplied back to you 100-fold. Each prayer and financial partner was critical to this work of God, and I thank you each from the depths of my heart. I know that a life of missions has been birthed in my heart. I do not know exactly what that looks like, but it will be a God-led and Spirit-filled adventure!

Now for some exciting news! Mike has been offered a promotion at work; He has been asked to manage the construction of a wind farm overseas, in India! We will be able to go as a family, be together and to preach the gospel as we go. This is such an incredible God setup for us, we couldn't be happier. We will leave August 6th and will be there for approximately 5 months. Afterwards we will have the chance to go to Thailand to visit the Rickets, possibly for a month or so. God is so good! Myself & the kids have to pay our own airfare to get there so if you would consider whether you are to support us in any way, that would be greatly appreciated, especially since we have such a short time frame. We just found out 2 weeks ago :) God is so good!

I love you each dearly as Brothers & Sisters in the Kingdom. May joy, love and peace fill every day you have. May you continue to sow extravagantly into the works of our Lord Jesus Christ!

In total devotion,




Jenn Burnett

Monday, January 16, 2012

52 Days and Counting

Oh how the days are flying by!  Somedays I feel it would be so much easier to have a video blog where I could just sit and talk about everything that happens everyday.  Maybe one day I'll get that sophisticated! Until then, you'll have to read about it.

Our 2011 ended on a really strong note.  We were blessed to have Daddy come home for 10 glorious days!  Christmas was the first "holiday celebration" Mike has been able to be home for all year. So we made the most of it! We fed 115 homeless and people in need on Christmas morning, had Christmas at home just the 4 of us, which was marvellous, then we celebrated Heidi Jo's birthday on the 30th with friends, and New Year's Eve with friends, too.  Having this longer stretch of time together (compared to 5-6 days) made us realize that we only spent about 60 days together as a family last year. Definitely not enough!

Praise God that is all changing.  In April Mike will be attending Redland Community College in El Reno, Oklahoma to complete a 5 week course in Drilling Fluid Technology.  The employment rate out of this class is currently 94%.  The good news is that Mike would work 2 weeks away then be home for 2 weeks! He would earn more income and be home more. Yay God!

Our mission trip to Thailand is quickly approaching.  We will be leaving March 9th, only 52 days away!  We have a tentative schedule of our daily outreaches, and the anticipation is growing in my heart. I cannot wait to see what God is going to do!  If you have plans to partner with me please consider having any support submitted to myself or First United Methodist Church by mid-February so that we can pay all the deposits we need to.  Very great thanks to those who have already sent in their support because I was able to purchase my airline ticket last week!!

For those of you partnering with me financially and in prayer I want to provide you with our tentative itinerary so you can pray for our specific outreach each day:

March 9th
arrive in pm

March 10th
Orientation at The Bridge Children's Center
prayer walking the city

March 11th
Serve @ True Friends Church
host party for disabled children

March 12th
Team outing day / street ministry

March 13th
hospital outreach
treasure hunting pm

March 14th
Parent teaching
Beach time with Bridge Kids

March 15th
free time
worship with Pattaya House of Prayer

March 16th
prep time
royal sleepover with True Friends church (older girls)
teaching about purity, identity, etc

March 17th
royal sleepover (younger girls)

March 18th
help True Friends church
kick off Supernatural VBS

**The VBS is so exciting for the children because they don't have children's church, no crafts, lessons etc for kids. This is anticipated to be the highlight of the trip for the children we will encounter!
Children from the Pattaya Slums Ministry will be joining us as well!

March 19th
VBS

March 20th
VBS

March 21st
VBS ending

March 22nd
processing and goodbye dinner
then 24 hours of travel to get home to Abilene

I will have the opportunity to teach, preach, minister deliverance and just love on so many people.  I am so excited and grateful for everyone who has come along side to partner with me! My heart cries thank you!!  The Kingdom of heaven is at hand!

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Big, Huge Announcement!

It is nice and refreshing to have a new month starting even though it is the second last month of the year already!!  Where has all the time gone?

I have a very exciting announcement to make! If you are really observant you may have noticed a couple new gadgets added to to the sidebar menu on my blog.  One is "Partner with Me" and the other is a ticker tracking "Thailand Missions Trip Fundraising!!"  That's right, I'm going to Thailand!

I am SO excited about the opportunity that the Lord has presented to me through my school TSSM.  A small group of students and instructors will be going to Thailand for 2 weeks in March 2012 to minister to women and children affected by the horrendous sex trafficking that occurs there.

As you read the next paragraph really truly allow your heart to FEEL something.  Don't shut down and pretend it doesn't exist.  Just take in the scenario...

What would you do if a 10 minute walk from your house put you in the middle of cheap hotels where babies, toddlers, children, teens and adults were available for sexual purposes? What would you do if you had to walk by these places and know there was no way to help them? What would you do if you passed by children sleeping on the streets during the day because they were up all night on the beach selling gum and themselves to tourists? What would you do if you saw an old man pay for taking pornographic photos of children? What would you do if you saw a 10 year old boy following an old man into a rent for an hour hotel room? Would you stop? Would you turn your head? Or would you ask God what He wanted to do about this?


On the mission trip we will be directly partnering with an ministry that is established in the middle of the red light district, in Pattaya, Thailand.  The Bridge Children's Center:

*Provides a place full of the lighthope and love in the midst of darkness.

*It is a daytime Early Learning Center for children of ex-bar girls who are studying and working towards a better future for their children.

*It is a nighttime Child Care Center for children whose parents are working in the walking street area and for tourists on the streets to have a safe fun place for their kids. 

*It is a place of mentoring, a place for parental help and training and  a place of encouragement for parents and children.

*It is a place of safety and refuge.


Over the next week or so you will be receiving a personal letter from me.  I would love to explain more about the mission trip and more details on how you can partner with this very important Kingdom work.  Together we can all make a difference.  Would it be worth it to save one child?  Jesus says yes! Stop for the one.

If you are as excited about this opportunity as I am and cannot wait to receive my partnership letter please go ahead and locate the DONATE button in the top left margin.  Donate once, or donate often!  All major credit cards, cash, checks, and money orders will be accepted.  

I look forward to you and I joining our hearts to Jesus' and making a difference!

Sunday, October 30, 2011

ESTABLISHED

It's finally official.  The Burnett family has been ESTABLISHED in Abilene, TX!  Since Mike and I have been married we have always had part of our possessions divided - in another country, another city or another house.  After 4 years we finally have all we own under one roof. More importantly it is in a house in the city that God has called us to.  I will admit that it will be very, VERY nice to have a full arsenal of kitchen devices at my disposal, but this last move was FAR more significant than that.

I believe that finally having all parts of our lives in unity that we are unlocking an important spiritual key for our lives.  We shall see as things are revealed in the new season!

Now for sorting, selling and re-packing!!

Te amo mucho gusto,
J

Yes, slightly overwhelming

stuff galore!

boxes anyone?

way taller than my little people!

So grateful to have a path to the door!