My children are still in school. For just a few more days, but still. It feels like y’all in other parts of the country are enjoying your summer and we’re still dodging raindrops and making school lunches here in the Pacific Northwest.
We’re ushering in summer {and hoping for the sun to follow} with an ice cream party.
I’m kind of excited about it. I used these invitations, ordered these bowls and will have fun setting out lots of toppings for the kiddos to make their own sundaes. And celebrate the end of school. And hopefully the start of summer.
I posted a photo of our new washer & dryer on Instagram. A few of you had questions about why we chose a top loader instead of front loader.
Even though front loaders are trendier and offer the counter-over-the-top option, they also have issues with mildew. I know myself well enough to know regularly wiping out my washer is beyond my scope of daily tasks and surely we would be the ones with a rotten washing machine. So we went with the new top-loading technology which takes care of the mold problem. We bought this washer and this dryer. I love them so far.
I had a fashion realization the other day … I dress quite boring. Jeans + solid color shirt or sometimes one with a pattern {stripes!} pretty much every day. But what I do like is a little fun in the form of shoes.
Color, flowers, ruffles, metallic. It helps bring an otherwise boring outfit together. Or at least I’d like to think so.
{from left to right: franco sarto, old navy, joyfolie, joyfolie & target}
A chunky necklace also helps.
acai rope necklace from Noonday
Some shop updates:
we have the Greatest Is Love prints in stock {yippee!}
Name prints are a perfect baby shower gift
Do you like playing with fonts?
Check out my handwriting font and fancy fake calligraphy font.
When you sign up for our mailing list {it’s free}, you get a discount code for 15% off everything in the shop. You can sign up below:
A few things coming up on the blog:
1. Ruffle Week. Five days of ruffled projects. So fun.
2. a Q & A day. Ask me anything.
3. My sister’s most darling boy nursery {think grey, yellow, houndstooth and chevron}.
4. Printable iphone covers.
5. A new summer schedule for me and the blog. I just have to figure it out first.
I bought a lamp at the thrift store and decided to spray it glossy white for my rearranged office {I know, again.}. You’d think it would be easy, but not so much. It keeps crackling.
At this rate, I should have just bought a finished lamp. Any spray paint pointers?
Father’s day is this weekend. It’s one of those days that is wonderful {my kids get to celebrate their amazing daddy!}, but also hard.
My parents were divorced when I was in college and to say it was the low point of my life is an understatement. My sisters and I were raised in a happy, Christian, family-oriented family, so when things fell apart, it was completely unexpected and heart-breaking. Poor choices were made, strongholds and addictions were recognized and we all had to wrap our minds around a new reality for our family. One that no longer included our dad.
But even with the division a divorce brings, the happy memories and love between a father and a daughter remain, even if unspoken.
Redemption is part of our story, I have no doubt. But it is slow-going and hard.
I am thankful for the other dads in my life; my thoughtful father-in-law {hi, Bob!} and mom’s new husband {you’re the best, Sugar Daddy!}.
But I also think about my real dad and miss him. What could have been. What should have been.
Perhaps you relate?
Fathers are so important. And they are not perfect. Which makes things hard.
I woke yesterday with this song in my head and ironically, it is perfect for Father’s Day. An oldie, but goodie.
I have a Maker
He formed my heart
Before even time began
My life was in his hands
I have a Father
He calls me His own
He’ll never leave me
No matter where I go
He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
And He hears me when I call
And a video for your viewing pleasure {keep in mind the song was recorded in 1998. It’s a little dated}.
This Sunday is a good day to celebrate dads. But for those of us with some sadness associated with the word father, I hope this song comforts you as it does me.
Sorry to be all downer about Father’s Day. Goodness.
I’m off on a field trip with a bunch of 2nd graders today. Wish me luck.
See you on Monday!
I’m so glad you posted about the spray paint issue…I’ve been running into the same problem as I’ve been painting tea pots for my sister’s Mad Hatter Tea Party Bridal Shower. I think I’m going to try the chalk board paint.
You aren’t a downer one bit. Being honest and vulnerable is refreshing. Many of your readers will relate. I know my parents divorce when I was fifteen shook me to the core. It changes everything. That is a beautiful song and reminder.
I guess I’m in the minority on the washing machine issue. :)
My ten year old top-loader died about 6 months ago. I did NOT want a front-loading machine. Consumer Reports convinced me, though. These machines clean a lot better than top-loaders. Also, the top- loaders can’t take larger items (ie: comforters) the way a front-loader does. My machine has been a dream. Since the mildew question was big for me, I found out that they now put fans in many of the machines, which circulate if a load is left in the washer for a while. Also, I just leave the door to my washer open overnight to air out, and no problems. You can absolutely “pause” the machine to add more laundry, and you do not have to wait for it to drain before you do so. The machine is VERY quiet, and I am absolutely in love with it. The only bummer was the price. :(
Amy
I’ve had the crackly paint before, like the first post said, taking off the paint, sand and clean the surface. spray paint it again and it worked perfect. sorry! such a pain.
Good call on the top loader. Mine is always stinky…Really I should wash my washing machine. Blah.
This is so poignant for me BUT I am that divorced mother….I feel like a failure when Father’s Day rolls around and my children are father-less…..My daughter even said that the last fathers day they spent with their dad was when we were a family – that was heartbreaking to hear. So Father’s day is also for all those single mother’s…to be celebrated and cheered on – to share a kind word with!!
I absolutely hate these Hallmark holidays. I have had such a tumultuous relationship with both of my parents over the years, and every May and June have to go through what kind of a card to get. I would sometimes break down crying at the store, just reading all the cards and wishing I had parents to match to them.
On top of that, my husband’s dad died several years ago, so Father’s Day is a reminder he’s no longer around.
Besides, I always think of all the people trying desperately to have children…all the people who lost children…and all the people who have either lost their parents or have no relationship with their parents. Why do we have to have this commercialized day to rub salt in all our wounds? In our family, we celebrate everyone at Christmas and then Mom and Dad get some extra ‘me’ time for their birthday, extra attention, etc. To me, it’s enough. I don’t need Mother’s Day to know my children love me.
I’m sorry about your dad and I totally understand where you are coming from. Life is poopy sometimes.
I really appreciate your personal post on Father’s Day. I grew up in a ‘perfect, large, sit in the front row of church every Sunday, Irish Catholic family’. Only that was a picture of our outside family. At home there was emotional and psychological abuse, fighting, tears, sadness and loneliness. Though I know his heart was elsewhere for years, my father finally left when I was 22. My mother was devastated, not because she loved him but because of the thought of being Catholic and divorced. Tragically she passed away a few years later of cancer.
I long for the family I never had and for peace in my thoughts. I haven’t spoken to my father since shortly after he left. I asked my uncle (a priest and my father’s brother) once how I could reconcile being Christian but not have a relationship with my father. He said, ‘being Christian does not mean being a doormat, you can reconcile your feelings in your heart and still not have a face to face relationship’. I recall and appreciate those words 20 year later. Emily, thank you again for posting. I forget there are other imperfect families out there too.
Embrace the crackle on the lamp. I think it looks neat. And anyway, it’ll be a good reminder of the imperfections of people and circumstances that God allows in our lives for His glory, even when we don’t understand it all. Hugs.
Thanks for your thouhts about Father’s Day. I am like you in that it is a bittersweet time. Fathers are so special to their girls. Time brings forgiveness. The music was a perfect touch. Linda
Emily,
I can very much relate to your post. Father’s day has always been hard for me…never can seem to find the right card either…so frustrating. I do believe though that God works all things together for good…even if we don’t always see the good. So thankful for a heavenly Father whom we can rest secure in. Thanks for keeping it real by sharing some of your story, and thanks for sharing this song…songs have always ministered to me so much. — Chelsea
hey emily!
im a new reader and i just love your blog. thank you for being open and honest about how tough fathers day is for you. i am sure there are more people than you can imagine who relate to how you feel.
and we recently bought a washer/dryer set as well, and went with the top loaders. i looked into it a good bit, and decided that the front loaders are simply the trendy thing, and there is no benefit to them… also, in order for them to be tall enough you had to buy the drawers underneath for an extra $250 each?! i think thats ridiculous! we bought maytags that look similar to yours and i LOVE them.
P.S. send some of your rain to Illinois! We’re about to loose our corn and soy bean crops because of a terrible drought.
Emily, thanks for your poignant comments about Father’s Day. My parents divorced when I was 6 and I never saw or talked to my father since I was 7. Even though I never got to see him again in this life, God did reconcile us in the most amazing way ( too much to get into here). Nothing is impossible to our loving Heavenly Father!
I love your blog so much Emily! (I can’t wait for the new tutorials ^^)
On your thoughts about Father’s Day, I can’t even imagine the pain that you experienced, but I was reminded of a post I read on a differant blog, Lies Young Women Believe. The writers on that blog have been dealing with the same topic these last few days. I know what you aren’t a teenager anymore, but maybe some of the posts will encourage your heart. Here is a link to the one that I thought of as soon as I read your story.
http://www.liesyoungwomenbelieve.com/index.php?id=1808
Anyway, thank you so much for sharing your life with us on this blog! You are really a blessing!
Julia B. :)
What a great reminder that, although our earthly fathers are flawed, we have a perfect heavenly father that loves us with a perfect love.
Just wanted to say, I feel your pain about your Dad. But for me, it was my Mum. We all have our hurdles, but it’s how we persevere.
Hey Emily,
First, I just want to say how neat I think it is that you share some of your family’s past with your readers – the stuff about your dad isn’t a flowery memory, but you are real. What I love about the words you share is that, in this life, you have NO IDEA just how far your words will affect someone – whether now or down the road – possibly affecting how they live their life – possibly affecting future generations. And that is awesome – that one of the ways you are using your blog is a way to encourage and minister to others. Thanks!
Re: the spray painted lamp, I’ve done these before and, if done right, they look fantastic. I’d recommend using a light grit sandpaper to sand smooth the crackled areas, wipe it clean with a damp cloth, let dry, then give a couple of light coats until all covered. You will feel so clever [and green!] when you see it all done!
Also, my wardrobe looks much like yours; solid shirts & jeans. Yes, chunky necklaces & scarves redeem an otherwise plain outfit!
Have a great summer-kickoff!
Kimberly
I love your new slate “greatest is love” print, especially with the gold. And I cannot agree with you more on top loading washers and dryers…we’ll be going back to that the next time we need new ones. Love that song too. What a wonderful post – thank you for sharing!
Cannot tell you how many times I have said to myself…it’s ok, because you have a heavenly father that does love, and does care. I get it.
Emily,
Thank you for being open about how hard fathers day is for you. I’m in the same boat. I grew up in a strong Christian family, my parents had fidelity struggles early on in their marriage but recovered from them and went on to counsel others. Then last year everything fell apart and my dad left my mom.
I pray daily for his repentance and that our relationship might someday be restored, but for now it is broken and that’s hard. I love my dad, and I know that even this is a part of God’s perfect plan for our family.
This is the first father’s day I won’t talk to my dad. I’ve decided that rather than be upset about that, I need to pour my heart out in love toward my husband, and show him how incredibly grateful I am for the amazing dad that he is to our children, and the amazing husband he is to me.
Emily – I so appreciate you sharing your feeling surrounding Father’s Day as I am also a child of divorce. No matter the form or age of loss, the absence of an earthly father, physically or emotionally, makes for a tough father’s day for many of us. Thank you for sharing and creating a feeling of camaraderie surrounding a topic that is often overlooked, and for the reminder that our Heavenly Father is sufficient.
I just bought a new top loader washing machine at Lowe’s. The gentleman that helped us out said the top loaders are selling 10 to 1 over the front loaders. I guess the front loaders are not so trendy anymore. I love my top loader, it is so quiet that when I first got it, I was checking on it all the time.
I wasn’t blessed with a good father either so I feel your pain. Mine hasn’t spoken to me in 7 years but I am in good company with 3 of my siblings. 8 living children and sadly he only talks to 4. Makes it less stressful for me though.
Love your blog, keep doing what you are doing. :)
Good for you for getting the top-load washer. I am NOT a fan of my front-loader. It gets stinky and is SO much louder than any machine I’ve ever had. I’m just glad that, even though they cost an arm and a leg, they’ll be staying with our house when we move for the renters!
Also, I’m sorry about your situation with your father. But you speak of it so profoundly and I hope you have a happy ending. My dad has been fighting cancer for the past year and I worry that this is our last Father’s Day together. But, I’m trying to look at the bright side. We are together! And I live almost 1500 miles away. God grants us blessings in the midst of sadness and I hope you and I can both be thankful for that when we think of Dad this year.
That song reminds me of APU days! And how much time has passed since it was actually a new song! Wow! But what a healing song it is! I’ve sung it to my babies since they were still inside of me – a reminder of no matter what happens in life or what they believe about themselves, that God has such a deep, purposeful love for them… and a reminder to me that no matter what happens in my babies lives, God is an intentional maker and father who loves them even more than I could possibly dream!
Seriously, thanks for sharing and helping me reflect on this today!
My dad is a dead beat, and I have not spoken to him in over 5 years. Before that, it had been over 10. I take great comfort in the fact that my son and daughter have a wonderful father. Thanks for sharing. I wish more men would realize the impact the role of a father has on their children.
Wow Emily! Your blog is the only one I follow so far. I’ve been tagging along for about a year now and absolutely love every part of it. You certainly are gifted with finding just the right words for every situation, even the tricky ones. Time is sacred. Thank you for taking the time to share and uplift all of us! I am a kindergarten teacher and sympathize with the slow arrival of summer break. I am a pk (preachers kid) and have a loving father who now tends my precious mother who has dealt with Parkisons for 14 years. They are both in their mid 70s and are no longer able to help me carry some of my burdens like they once did. I live next door to them and am a single mom of an adopted sweetie pie who is actively ten. When I realize I can’t share with my dad I go to the same Father you go to. As I am now writing with tears in my eyes I realize how much I love my dad and how truly I am blessed! But I know that we are loved even more by our Father! Thanks again for what you do! Happy Fathers Day! Karin
I can so relate to your sadness about Father’s day! My dad is not a part of my life – his choice and not necessary for the same reasons as you. My parents also divorced when I was older – it was hard but also the best for my mom.
Now, unfortunately, I am heading that way in my marriage. My kids are 14 and 12 and its hard! I had to make some tough decisions and its so hard! My kids are not completely without their dad in their life but its not the same and it cant be for a while – he has alot to figure out and take care of. I started a blog not long after and its really helping me to write out some of my feelings – I am being careful though not to compromise the relationhip or his privacy. Anyway, all this to say, I understand how you might be feeling – so thank you for sharing this part of your hear today – it helped me not feel so alone!
xoTiffany
Wow Emily! Your blog is the only one I follow so far. I’ve been tagging along for about a year now and absolutely love every part of it. You certainly are gifted with finding just the right words for every situation, even the tricky ones. Time is sacred. Thank you for taking the time to share and uplift all of us! I am a kindergarten teacher and sympathize with the slow arrival of summer break. I am a pk (preachers kid) and have a loving father who now tends my precious mother who has dealt with Parkisons for 14 years. They are both in their mid 70s and are no longer able to help me carry some of my burdens like they once did. I live next door to them and am a single mom of an adopted sweetie pie who is actively ten. When I realize I can’t share with my dad I go to the same Father you go to. As I am now writing with tears in my eyes I realize how much I love my dad and how truly I am blessed! But I know that we are loved even more by our Father! Thanks again for what you do! Happy Fathers Day! Karin
I’d love to hear more about how you’ve dealt with your parent’s divorce, if you ever feel let to. I don’t know if you’d feel it’s appropriate or if it’s too painful. I think when your parent’s divorce when you’re an adult, it’s way harder than as a child, when you’re more oblivious.
My parents separated when I was in my first years of marriage. They’ve been separated for about 6 years (not divorced, but no move towards anything good). I actually just had an article published on the subject just in time for Father’s Day. I’d love to know how other’s in similar situations have dealt with it. The article’s called “Lost and Found Family.” http://ungrind.org/2012/lost-and-found-family/
i have the same feelings about father’s day. i had my dad through out my life but he was not a nice man and when the end came i prayed that he would repent and be different but he was not. i am sad for him because i feel he missed out on some really good times with all of his children. on the other hand my husband also feels a little down on father’s day – due to circumstances around his divorce over 20 years ago he did not get the opportunity to have a good strong relationship with his sons. now they are again in contact and trying to mend that relationship but it still falls short and he feels some guilt because he enjoys the day with my daughter (his step-daughter) so much and is very close to her (he became her dad when she was only 5 yrs old and she is now 16). father’s day is sad for not only the children but sometimes even the fathers. love the music video! thank you so much for sharing your deepest thoughts and feelings.
gosh emily. so much encouragement my friend!
one of my girlfriends ( in her mid 30’s) is dealing with the same thing you did. the heartbreak, rejection, disappointment, all that goes along with divorce.
dan & i were just talking about “getting over, through” the pain of it all, just today.
beauitful post
enjoy your special sweet man with those precious babies this weekend!
( & thank you for the plug! looks great on YOU!)
I once had the same “crackling’ issue. I decided to crackle the entire thing and then antique it. Turned out cool!
–Katie
I am so looking forward to my husband and son’s very first Father’s Day. I hope that it is the first of many, many, many. Thank you for your posts and the vulnerability that you offer to show us that life is not always perfect, but the Lord is there for us.
I am getting a top loader next! I really can’t wait to get rid of my front loader. I dislike the issue with mildew and I hear the top loaders are more quiet on the second floor because they are working with gravity instead of against it. I would totally do top loader if I could do it all over! As for the spray paint I am doing lots of spray painting myself and I am feeling your pain!! I bought a vintage white trophy base lamp and was going to paint it a gloss white too (to make it new again). I have not done this yet because of the issues I have had with other things I am spray painting which resemble your lamp base! I sanded everything down and this time spray painted Kilz primer (waited the recommended 1+ hours drying) then I put a VERY light coat of my spray paint (set timer for 10 min drying) then another thin coat (10 min drying) then I did around 3-4 coats which took 40 min to do. You are supposed to have all your coats on before an hour. I guess they put the directions on the can for a reason (lol!) Being in a hurry to finish and too cold of temp. and no primer are what do this. The new Krylon dual paint primer is good but found I still have to prime sometimes with it!
Don’t you fret a bit about being a bit of a downer. I, too, get melancholy on this day. When I was 12 years old, my father was killed in a car/train accident. I grew up without my daddy. I lost him – I think – when I really needed him the most. My mother and I weren’t very close and yet we were forcefully thrown together because of this situation. It could of brought us closer but just the opposite happened. She felt trapped raising a child without the love of her life by her side. So…my children never knew him…my grandchildren never knew him. And, he really didn’t get to know me either – not the ME I am today. So, though I am very happy to have a wonderful husband who is a great step-dad to my kids and a great G-pop to my grandbabies, I do long for my real father. I posted your video on my facebook page, hope you don’t mind. It just really spoke to me and I know it will speak to many of my friends who, like me, are fatherless for one reason or the other. God bless you, sweet lady. You really sometimes post things that touch deep in my soul. :)
Similar situation with my dad. Parents divorced and then remarried in my early teens, held it together and raised us in church, but then divorced again before I married. It’s a mess and miss what might have been. But yes, still believing in redemption.
I do love that song. :) Brings me to tears every time.
Good post. enjoyed it and appreciate your honesty in sharing your heart. I love that song. I am sure you blessed many with sharing your life and that song. Our heavenly Father is perfect and heals our hurts.
Love what you said about Fathers. I have a very close relationship with my own father yet I have also found a deep Father/daughter relationship with my Father-in-law (also Bob). What a blessing it is to be able to have more than one father figure in life.
Regarding your lamp…crackling often occurs if you do a second coat in that nasty little window of time that the spray paint can gives for drying. You need to re-coat usually within 1-2 hours of the first coat or after 24. I know, because I got impatient while spray painting my Kitchen-aid and had some crackling. If you followed the rules on the can then I’m not sure what is happening. Good luck with it!
I love that you are so honest. Father’s Day is finally hitting a turning point for me. I too grew up in a “perfect looking” christian home, but no one knew the abuses going on in our home. My father is no longer a part of my life, and Father’s Day has previously been a source of pain for me. While it’s still not my favorite day, I’m excited to spend the day celebrating my husband. Thank you for looking for redemption on the day, even if it feels slow coming. As I’m sure you will hear from many other comments, you aren’t alone.
My friend has your same top loader washer and she loves it. I’m hanging onto my old 18 yr old one until it breaks down, but then I think I’ll go with one of the new top loader ones as well. I’m just not a fan of the front loader ones because once you start the load you can’t open the door again to put in that forgotten sock or pair of undies you find under the kids’ beds and I’m forever doing that. (Or, you CAN, but the washer has to stop and drain the water or something… where’s the water savings in that? No thanks! And wiping out my washer? Not gonna happen. An appliance is supposed to SAVE me labor!
Thank you so much for sharing. I think of my “father” merely as a sperm donor. For me, it helps to laugh about it and celebrate the true father figures in my life; I am blessed to have so many.
You’re right — the greatest comfort is knowing that THE Father will never fail us.
Emily, Thanks for your honesty about your thoughts on Father’s Day. I lost my Dad when I was 20 and It’s a day to reflect on the wonderful person I called my Pop, but am sad that he never knew how my life turned out. I try very hard to ignore the day.
hey, emily! i don’t usually comment, but wanted you to know that i totally relate to the heartache of what should have been with your dad. my dad left my mom when i was 32 and it ripped our family apart. we had been raised in a christian home and he was a great daddy to us. addictions and strongholds that we were unaware of took their toll and he couldn’t live a double life anymore. the man i knew and loved “died” that year that he left my mom. over the past ten years we have barely spoken and he became very ill and died this spring. i feel like i made peace with him before he passed, but it still hurts. i wish my children could have known him and experienced the love and fun he brought to my siblings and me when we were little. god is sovereign and someday i hope to see dad in heaven and understand all the brokenness that makes zero sense now! enjoy the other dads in your life this sunday!
Thanks for sharing your mixed feelings on father’s day. It is actually easier for me to read this year than a happy, happy my husband and dad are perfect post. My husband is going through what he calls an “identity crisis.” Without knowing the details, I can guess that you and your family went through the same kind of pain and confusion when your family fractured. This father’s day I am looking at a husband who’s not a great dad right now, facing the possibility of divorce, and praying that my children will learn to love God in spite of what we are facing right now. I truly appreciate your willingness to share and pray for redemption for your family.
I’m sorry you’re having to go through that, but just wanted to say that your positive outlook on it is incredibly encouraging. My dad left my mom just before Thanksgiving last year and her steadfast love for Christ through it all has been an incredible testimony to me and my siblings. Show your children that you can remain faithful to Christ through it and they will cling to Him, too.
So many similar thoughts on Father’s Day. I lost my father when I was young and for me it’s a day to reflect on the wonderful person I knew and wished he had known what I had become.
I hope you and your family have a wonderful fathers day. I will be praying for redemption in the future for your relationship with your own dad, I know that much be such a struggle for you and your sisters, but we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him. Romans 8:28
Emily,
I’m really glad you shared this.
Its weird because everything you just wrote is exactly what happened to me. Christian family, close, parents divorced in college because of addictions that were exposed, I no longer have a good relationship with my Dad, my mom just remarried.
But I was on the phone with my sister last night telling her that, no matter what he has done, he is still my father and the affection I have for him- the memories I have of us- don’t go away.
“But even with the division a divorce brings, the happy memories and love between a father and a daughter remain, even if unspoken.”
You are more right than anyone else I’ve talked to. It feels comforting to know that someone else understands.
Thanks for sharing. I really needed it.
Happy Friday! I’ve been doing quite a bit of refinishing furniture pieces this summer. I’ve found that my spray paint bubbles when I tried to painting a plain old kitchen chair black. The original chair was sealed with an industrial strength gloss. Apparently, I did not sand the piece enough and the primer did not do the trick. After researching a bit I found another blogger speaking about the same issue. She wanted to spray paint a lamp (like you!) and couldn’t get the paint to stick (like you, again!!!). She purchased chalk spray paint (thicker than primer) and then sprayed her lamp in her favorite color. It worked! I hope you have the same success!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for posting that song. I love it but had forgotten. I’ll be singing my son to sleep tonight with that one. Truth never gets old!
Emily,
Thanks for your honesty about your thoughts on Father’s Day. It was a great description that I could really relate to as I struggle with my own disappointments in my loving, but flawed, dad. It’s always good to know that I’m not the only one who doesn’t have the picture-perfect family.
Hi Emily
Great post. Father’s Day is a very emotional time for me. My dad died when I was 18 mths old so I didn’t get to know him. I am told that he was a really nice man and very musically talented. I often think about what should have been but I am blessed with a lovely husband who just happens to be a wonderful dad to our 4 kids so I always secretly think that maybe my dad has ‘helped’ make that happen and that he is still being a dad and living through our family as it is now. I do miss having him around though.
I had the same spray paint problem! According to what I found on the google (yay google!) it can be caused by residue on the piece or something that lands on the paint while it’s still wet. Unfortunately it took me a lot of sanding and wiping to remedy my piece…. good luck!