front page news

so it's not exactly front page of something earth shattering...

but i was happy none the less!

my chevron stripe clutches made it on the front page:)  so humbling.

are you surprised that i'm not sick of sewing these yet?  (me too!)

i tend to only make things a few times and then move on.  this little bag has kept my favor for a longer spell though.

what i found this morning

every morning (at some point)  i check my email and etsy shops.

many days, i find that my work has been featured in someone's lovely treasury collection on etsy.

this is great for two reasons:

first, it's soo humbling to know that someone likes what you make! and that they like it enough to put it in a list of their 16 favorite items??  feels like a warm hug:)

second, these treasury lists are carefully curated groups of fabulous finds all put together for us to appreciate!  no searching or digging required!

here are a couple of wonderful finds that i was greeted with this morning:

amazing fondant icing chevron brownie toppers!  yes please:) by TwoSugarBabies




this is an awesome custom print that made me laugh:

custom print by NaptimeDiaries

by the way, Jessi from naptime diaries is a lovely, lovely girl with a lovely, lovely blog!  check her out!



lastly, this is an amazing book that i am reading every morning right now:

it was given to me by a dear sweet friend, who is the most beautiful person!  and this book is kicking my butt!  every morning.
if you haven't seen it or read it yet...go get one!  and i am going to buy one for a friend (or two) and pass along this treasure that was passed along to me.

blessings!

one sweet love giveaway/fundraiser

i have the joy of being a part of raising money to help a dear family make a dream of adoption a reality.

you have no idea how much awesome loot you have a chance to win here!

GO and help! donate and win!

be richly blessed by being able to bless others.

i am firmly in support of adoption.  i cry like a baby over sweet babies without a family.

our family hasn't been called to adopt.  but we have all been called to do something about the orphans.

true and pure religion is found in helping the needy, poor, weak, widowed, and orphaned.

homeschool

so, did y'all know that i homeschool my two oldest boys?

well, now you know:)

there is so much i could tell you about this...

but, for now, i will simply say that it's the time of year when most people start asking our kids "where do you go to school?"

their answer?..."nowhere".  that's right.  and it's at this point that alarmed/startled faces dart to my alarmed/startled face to ask questions.

and here's what inquiring minds want to know:

1. how long are you going to homeschool them?

we just pray about it each year, and do what we feel we are supposed to do for that child for that year.  we are in the unique situation of having a son who needs surgery every 9 months, and homeschooling is definitely the best option for him.  we need time off around his surgery dates, so we homeschool through the summer and take off other times during the year when he needs them.

2. what are you going to do about their, ya know, socialization?

well, i went to school with kids who were well adjusted, and some who weren't.  in fact, some of the most socially warped kids i ever knew went through 13 years of school with me.  i don't really think school is the key to being socially well adjusted.

by the way, when i was in school, all i ever heard was:

"this isn't social hour, no talking!"
"you can talk to your friends after school"
"you're here to learn...not socialize!"
"you're going to get your name on the board (detention) for talking/passing notes"

and we had assigned seats so you couldn't sit next to your friends
and on my report cards from kindergarten on up: 'talks too much'

i can't speak for all homeschool families, but i know that in our area there is way more available to homeschool groups than there ever used to be...or was available to me in the school system.  we are so blessed and thankful!

3. how do you teach your own children?  i could never do that!  i would lose my temper.  i would never be able to teach my own kids!

um, really?? are you sure about that one?

did you send them away to learn to speak?

for potty training?

for the 100 million things that you will teach your child before he/she is school age?

yeah, i thought not!

god gives grace for teaching and wisdom to those who ask!

side note: all parents "homeschool" if they sit down and help their kids with their homework!  seriously, people, that's all it is!

4. what 's homeschooling like?

it's like parenting!  some days are mountain tops, and some days are valleys.  my kids have days when things aren't clicking for them and it's frustrating for all.  that's when i say "let's just close this book and pick up another day!  who wants to go play outside?!"

there is nothing that can describe seeing the "light bulb" come on and watching your childs face glow!  i love being able to celebrate their little triumphs and successes of learning, that would otherwise go unnoticed in a classroom setting.

i love being able to tailor their education to fit them perfectly.  if it takes us 2 weeks (or months) to conquer a new concept...who cares?  the point is that it is all coming at them as they are ready for it.  we don't move on and leave them behind.

we also get to skip ahead!  i have been blessed with very advanced readers, and i get to choose reading material and work that is well above their grade level (thus keeping their interest and keeping them engaged!) otherwise, my boys would be bored with school.

4. what if they want to go to school one day?

we'll cross that bridge if it ever comes:)  right now, my boys know that when their work is done, they can rock the play time all they want to!  it usually takes them about 2 hours to complete a full day's school, so that leaves them all afternoon to do as they wish!  so, to them, sitting in school all day seems like jail.

their cousins and neighborhood friends are jealous.

i know that homeschooling isn't for all families, and it might not even be for us forever...so i try to be flexible and pray with my husband about what is best for our kids for right now.

if there are any lingering questions in your head, ask me!

what is that our teachers used to say?  "there are no dumb questions." :)

my brand of busy

we are all ridiculously busy.  stupid busy.  whether it's self inflicted busy, or legitimate can't do a thing about it busy, doesn't much matter.

i can't remember the last time that i asked someone "how have you been?" and the answer was anything other than 'busy'.  (i remember when the automatic response was still the generic and non descript "okay")

anyway, i am no exception.  here is my current brand of busy:

it is wedding season y'all, and i am very...you guessed it...busy sewing wedding clutches!  this years fav? chevron and oblong in every color of the rainbow:

we have just completed a week-long vacation bible school:

my husband and i just got back from a weekend away.  he was in charge of the camera, and did not photograph anything except me!!! seriously? come one...

this is me un make-uped and forcing a smile because he said "smile" and i complied only because i didn't know he would go on to take like 30 pictures of me that weekend.  seems he forgot what i look like without 150 lbs. of children dripping off of me.

and while the weekend was fantastic and i loved each moment away, i did come home to a messy home and lots and lots of laundry?? how? it was all done before i left.  it's like the kids wore 3 outfits everyday i was gone!



and of course i will help plan the women's retreat...

and the kids are taking art classes every tues...

and i am throwing my big sister's bridal shower on sat...

and my oldest son is taking his hunter's safety course this week...

and one child has a summer head cold...

and, and, and...

then i read:

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him..."
Psalm 37:7

and

"Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom"
Psalm 90:12

oh how i need to be still and wait.  patiently of course.  and how i desperately need that heart of wisdom.

i am busy with good things. my family and all that goes along with having one.  my little side business gets my leftovers.

i am deliberate about having real time for my husband and each one of my children.  i read to them every day. (the kids, not my hubby:)  we do stuff together and don't watch tv.  but am i being deliberate enough about having time to be still and wait patiently?

what do you do to be deliberate about being still and waiting patiently?

gifts guys give...

are you blessed with boys?

do you just love the gifts that they give you for special events?

i love letting my boys think of things for me on their own.  without any hints, suggestions, or help from daddy.

i have gotten the best things from them...MEMORIES!

here are a few examples:

a snow globe with a train inside for my birthday (which is in aug.)  he said it was the prettiest thing he could find and wanted me to have it! it is now one of my very most cherished possessions.

a handsoap dispenser with strawberries on it for christmas. because mommy washes her hands alot. of course!

the very best surprise was the year that my 2 boys bought me not one, not two, but four nutcrackers of various shapes and sizes and themes for christmas!  i could not stop laughing.  we had been out christmas shopping and the boys were begging for nutcracker soldiers, and my husband and i said no, and then promptly bought the nutcrackers for them for christmas.  so the boys wanted me to have the very thing that they wanted most of all! let's just say i have trouble when decorating for christmas...where to put all of the nutcrackers???

anyway, last week was my birthday, and my boys decided to make me gifts...

my oldest son thought that it would be awesome to make mommy a drinking hat!

here he is modeling it for me:

and here i am trying it on:

(and trying not to laugh hysterically!)

please note that he is dutifully trying to adjust it for his poor old mother who has not grasped the technology of this brilliant contraption.  um...i could have lost an eye! good thing i was wearing my glasses:)

not to be outdone, my littlest guy made me the cutest thing that i have ever seen!

unfortunately, i am at a loss as to what to call it him...

i came home from the lovely birthday weekend away with my husband, and find HIM hanging above my back sliding doors:

my son proudly announced that he made this little fella just for me for my birthday!

seriously, can you get better gifts?  the answer is a resounding YES!!  each one of my children are precious gifts from the Lord above.  it truly doesn't get better than this.

for all of you with little boys in the toddler stages...just wait!  it is amazingly wonderful to enjoy talking with your boys (young men) about all sorts of things.  introducing them to the world and the way things work.  they will want to know how everything works...so better brush up on how a car runs now.  it is moving to recieve pipe cleaner whos-its and whats-its for your birthday, and an army of nutcrackers for christmas!  their love is precious and genuine.

who wants new sunglasses? perfume? jewelry? not me!!!  it can't compare to a gift given with imagination and LOVE.



new stuff & turning 30!

hiya!

i know i've been silent for so long...
whew! have we been busy!
and here are some pics:)

my oldest dragging my girly around on a giant floppy dog:)

all my babies on a golf cart we rented when camping:)

boys love to play with fire...and moms just have to make peace with it!

my oldest son having some campfire coffee with his momma!!

this would be the worlds smallest travel trailer!  seriously, folks.  it is a whopping 8 ft. long and pure vintage!  a dear lady that we love like a momma gave it to us 12 years ago when we were newly married.  it's a Shasta Compact from 1968.  it totally rocks.  in case you are wondering...just the girls sleep in here:)

my hubby! (thinking 'why is she taking a picture of me?')

in other news...

I'm turning 30 on Saturday!!!

i can't explain, but i am really excited!  not the least bit self conscious about it:)

also, my awesome husband has arranged everything for a weekend away (just the two of us) to celebrate.  he picked out where to stay, made dinner reservations, bought tickets to Busch Gardens ( i love me some big roller coasters!!)

we are going to stay at an awesome b&b in colonial williamsburg, VA.  i love colonial williamsburg!  we honeymooned there almost 12 years ago:)

just praying that i'll get over the mommy guilt of leaving (and worrying about the kids too) and just ENJOY the gift my husband is giving me!