on rug tape

Meet my new friend, rug tape. I bought it at Lowes, in hopes of helping my new rug stick to the carpet...instead of using a rug pad...which I hear doesn't work so hot. 

Let me back up a tad. Remember I told you that I was returning my Urban Outfitters arrowhead rug because the ends were curling and the paint was feeling off? Well I did. Return the rug, that is.

I immediately began looking for a replacement rug.

I searched high and low.
1. I wanted something black and white.
2. With a fun pattern.
3. And a sturdy composition.

Well, turns out that trifecto of criteria did not exist in my neck of the woods. I'm sure it exists somewhere, but I couldn't easily find it in the size I wanted.

I did find a fun black and white-ish rug from Pattern Society though. It was more than I wanted to spend and less sturdy than I desired, but I was tired of looking. So I bought it with some hard earned money.

When I got the rug, I decided to plaster the snot out of it with rug tape, in attempts of making it STAY PUT. I have 4 little boys, people. THIS IS NOT AN EASY feat to accomplish.


 Yup, all those thick grey lines going up and down the rug are RUG TAPE.


I think I used 4 or 5 rolls of rug tape to make this "mock" padding underneath my rug.


Then I turned it over. Plop.


And it has stayed relatively PUT. If like 8 kids(ahem my sister and my kids) converge on it at once, it will rumple and blump a little...but so far I'm pleased.

I occasionally have to straighten it a little here and there(and it still blumps a little here and there), but overall, this set up is actually working MUCH better than the Urban rug, which didn't have rug tape.

So in a few weeks, I will let you know if I am still satisfied. Until then, carry on.

>>>>>>><<<<<<<
Oh and a little update on being rear-ended in my van...

All-in-all the recovery turned out more exhausting than expected. Finn, Calvin and I had headaches but thankfully those are passing.

Dr. Willis adjusted my back and it feels MUCH better.

But mentally? Ug. What a roller coaster. One minute I'm fine, and the next I'm all skittish.

I no longer like to drive and I now get road rage whenever someone tails me or cuts me off abruptly. Which happens A LOT.

And sleep is a joke. I haven't slept well AT ALL. One night I woke up screaming in terror and was CONVINCED I was about to fly to Jesus. My heart was pounding out of my chest, and I felt like blacking out.. and I urgently told John, "I am going to die!"

He patted my head and said "You are fine, go back to sleep honey".

"No, I am dying!", I insisted.

Well, I ended up getting checked out at the ER just in case. It was a thrilling night for sure: An EKG, tons of bloodwork and an xray. They said I was fine...just stress related from accident...massive panic attack and whatnot. Huh? OkeeDokee.

I think I probably had whiplash or maybe even a teeny tiny concussion(possibly) from how I felt all week. Just plain old MEH. But who knows. I've heard stress can mimic the effects of being poisoned.

The thing that has helped me most is my Jesus Calling devotional. It said something like, "Don't despise this weakness in yourself, since I am using it to draw you closer to me".

And from Precepts we are learning some treasures for God's children in I Peter 1.

"May grace and PEACE be yours in fullest measure" 

I Peter 1:2

Do you hear that? As God's kids we CAN have peace in fullest measure! So every time I start to feel myself get scared, I just start repeating and praying this verse to myself.

Also, another gem I've been praying on all week.

"You, who are protected by the power of God through faith"

I Peter 1:5

God's word is our main defense. He is in charge and we must rest in that. 

So today I felt tired and drained and the kids threw lots of fits...but after I put them to bed, I magically started feeling a LOT better. Imagine that?! KIDS!!!!

I hope you are all leaning on God through this crazy thing called life.