the little bean sprout

featured

2012-02-12T13:24:00.000-08:00

I was featured

YAY!!!!

How exciting.

over on Nifty Thrifty.

For my Wreath

go on over and take a look at the other cool blogs that were featured.

what direction will you go....

2012-02-09T05:27:00.000-08:00

I have had this lamp for maybe 15 years.

I bought it and rewired it and

made it good as new.

I love it.

It has traveled with me to all the places we have ever called home.

It needed a new shade...

so I ran down to Target bought a white one and

I thought it needed a little something.

Ahh, maps.

So I grabbed an Atlas and some Mod Podge

and started to rip and glue.

and I was happy.

Sorry for the dark photos it was night....

and have I ever shown you my little turtle...

Heather Bailey. I bought the kit about a year ago..

I didn't have any polyfill to stuff her with so I used rice.

Makes her good and heavy.

We have been experiencing a few bumps in the road as of late...

and Jen sent me this verse yesterday.

Which helped.

No not worry but instead pray & do it with Thanksgiving.

I need to put it in our Father's very capable hands.

I need to give it to HIM.

He can handle it when we can't.

We ( I ) need to do this with everything.

EVERYTHING.

So what direction will you go.

are you going to worry.....

or instead are you going to pray about everything and Thank Him

for everything he has done.

Everything trial every bump in the road...

Everything.

Feel free to copy this verse. That I have made

Print it out.... or send it to costco and have it made in poster size

Hang it on your wall so that you can be reminded to Give it to HIM.

and be Thankful.

mornings & rollie pollies

2012-02-06T13:08:00.000-08:00

Maddie and I sit in front of the fire in the morning for a while.

She usually eats some breakfast.

I drink my coffee and read some blogs...

And when I get up 2 make my second cup of coffee she always,

always, steals my ipad and plays

temple run.

She is a whiz on that thing.

seriously, I stink at it...

So , never blogged about the rollie pollies I made her.

I got the Pattern from MADE.

I made the large ones

they come together quickly.

they are awesome and all my kids use them daily.

they loved Maddie's so much I made another one.

this time I used a yellow corduroy

It has a very fine whale and is so so sooooo soft.

put a little nicey jane in the handle to give it that extra something.

I was seriously just trying to take a normal photo of my

child with the rollie pollie

but why on earth would that ever happen....

She likes to swim on the sofa.

Yes, she takes off all the pillows and swims.

I may or may not have bribed her (with a cookie) to sit on the

rollie pollie.

oh I forgot to mention that every morning after we take the girls to school

and we cuddle by the fire

we use these rice packs that I made to stay cozy until the fire warms the house.

these rice packs are the simplest most wonderful things ever.

YUP. toasty toes...

I throw them in the microwave for a bit

and cuddle under a blanket and we are all warm and toasty.

if you have never made a rice pack

you should.

just google it and you get about a billion and one tutorials for it.

I made them for Christmas gifts this year and people loved them.

You can use them for aches and pains or toasty toes...

you can even keep one in the freezer for a cold pack.

enjoy your day.

snuggle with someone...

New wreath

2012-02-05T12:43:00.000-08:00

honestly,

not sure why but I can't seem to come up with any creative post names lately...

Really! New wreath... I mean come on....

Oh well.

So if you are still reading...

I thought a new wreath for February was in order.

I didn't want to make a Valentines wreath...

So this is what I came up with.

Best part...

I didn't buy a thing.

Stuff that I found around the house.

SO I told my hubby that it was FREE...

He argued and said that it really wasn't free being that

at sometime I had bought the things....

OK, way to burst my bubble!

I had actually wrapped the yarn around the wreath about a month ago.

Just couldn't make up my mind which direction to go.

and so I made some felt flowers, paper flowers,

some buttons and a doily...

there you have it.

oh and I stamped a shipping tag and burned the edges.

I love it!

(better then the dead Christmas wreath that I had somehow overlooked... )

Maddie had to get in the action...

and her dollies too.

Have a happy day!

linking up here...

Sausage Bread

2012-02-04T14:11:00.000-08:00

Cooking.

I don't mind cooking.

I am not sure as I would say I am one who LOVES to cook.

but I certainly do love eating.

I can cook.

My Family is surviving.

My issue is always the same.

What to make.

What to make for dinner.

That is what I struggle with.

I have never tried meal planning, I think I should be doing that.

It usually goes like this.

I say " Honey, what do you want for supper?"

Honey says "I don't care"

okay, I walk into the grocery store...

hmmm... what to make, what to make....

Then it hits me.

anyway, My Mom gave me this recipe.
It is TO DIE FOR.

YUP, that is what it should be called.

So here is the recipe.
Please make this for your family.
They will thank you!

This recipe is easy... And it is very filling.
I get my pizza dough from the local pizzeria
Just ask for a ball of dough. 3 bucks...
I am sure you can make your own too but
I don't think it is ever as tasty.

To Die For Sausage Bread.

1 ball Pizza dough

Saute:

small onion, minced

1/2 red pepper, minced

2 cloves garlic - minced

1 t oregano

1/2 t basil

1 pound Italian sausage - out of casing - broken up as you fry

1 egg, separated

8 oz. mozzarella - shredded

2 - 3 T parmesan cheese

Salt & Pepper to taste

Saute onion, garlic, & pepper in olive oil, set aside. Saute sausage, breaking up as you go. Add Salt, pepper, onion, & garlic mixture. Mix in egg yolk. Salt & pepper to taste, also some parmesan at this point.

Roll out dough to 15 X 14 approximately Spread on meat mixture. Sprinkle with parmesan & shredded mozzarella. (I added some parsley too). Roll like a jelly roll.

Place on large cookie sheet, Bake in 350 oven about 45 minutes. Let rest about 1 hour.

ENJOY!

REDO

2012-02-02T14:13:00.000-08:00

Okay, I am drawing a blank trying to name this post..

So Redo it is.

My Dad brought me this UGLY lamp.

He got it for FREE! YAY Dad!

He moved a huge library and they were throwing it out.

He thought of me and snatched it up.

First thing first...

I ripped off the shade and

found a lovely skeleton.

I was debating about leaving her like this

and painting the brass lamp...

I had seen a long time ago somewhere on a blog...

(forgive me I can't recall where)

She took the shade ripped strips and covered it in that.

So I went to my stash and found these Heather Bailey fabric

that I have had for a while.

I thought that would be pretty.

and started at it.

Ripping and tying...

and Voila... when it was done...

I HATED it.

Looked horrible.

See....

that wasn't right.

so again this morning I thought oh... put the strips on

the other direction.

So I pulled the entire thing apart and started to

REDO

the shade.

and voila again...

I loved it.

I still may just paint that lamp... not sure yet.

I kinda liked the brass .

I will live with her a while and then decide.

not sure if I am going to leave it up on the mantel..

I kind of like it up there.

I need one more small globe to add to my collection.

The other night a jewelry commercial came on...

Kay jewelers I think... they were showing a husband giving his wife some

diamond heart necklace..

(something I would NEVER want)

I told Dom, instead of the necklace for Valentines day

he could just get me a small globe.

He laughed.

Trip home

2012-02-01T18:41:00.000-08:00

The day we left for home it started to snow at about 5 am.

Yes, the entire state shut down.

No roads were plowed not even highways.

I was a wreck the entire drive home.

So this was the day that we were going to drive around so that I could take pictures of all the beautiful homes.

That did not happen.

So I got a few as we were driving.

I had a feeling it was going to be a long long long drive home.

and it was. But we had out coffee, GOD and each other.

I cried (okay I balled my eyes out like a little baby)

on most of the ride home.

Seriously, thought we were going to die.

Thought we would not see our children again on this earth.

And I kept asking God to please protect us and get us home safely to

our babies.

HE DID!

This was the highway. A 3 lane highway.

Tractor trailers would come flying passed on the right...

OH MAn, did we see a lot of accidents.

not good for one who thinks she is about to die...

(my parents lived in New London when they were first married,

so I took this photo for them...)

I have to say that I have never felt a gripping fear like that before.

Satan surely had his hands upon my body and mind.

It was a terrible feeling.

My husband was so so patient with me.

(Bless him)

He normally doesn't have much tolerance for me balling like a little baby..... hehe

But he kept reassuring me telling me to breath and relax.

Over and over and over again.

I do have a terrible fear of bridges.

I usually do okay and can drive over them no issues...

but the snow covered HUGE bridges with the tractor trailers flying by next to us

was more then I could bear.....

What a ride.

AS soon as we crossed over the border into NY the roads were a little slushy but fine.

YAY! here come the plows. (this was in NY)

we made it home! Praise God!

The trip was an amazing time spent with my husband.

Much needed.

and long overdue.

The kids survived. They didn't kill each other or burn down the house. And we are going to make a habit of getting away for a few days alone every few months.

ps... someday if I ever get to have a house in Connecticut.. I would definitely choose one with a widow's watch and some amazing chimneys... and fabulous front doors!

Sweet girl

2012-02-01T06:29:00.000-08:00

My sweet little girl is sitting on the floor, playing doll house. One of her favorite things to do. I am sitting here listening to the sweet words coming out of her mouth. The Lord has filled our girl with song. She has been singing since she could talk. Yes, she really does put everything to music. Its like living in an operaetta. She is singing about how much Jesus loves us. How he is happy when we sing about Him. How he lives in her heart.
Last week, my wonderful friend, Jen's daughter asked Jesus to live in her heart. Which was a spark in Maddie. she asked me the night before last to help her pray to ask Jesus to live in heart.

As Jen's husband said, "what more could a parent ask for" amen.

I love to hear the pure thoughts and song just coming forth out of her innocent lips. What a blessing our sweet girl is to us. A blessing that we never thought we would have. She is a surprise gift from our heavenly father. She has blessed us in ways we never thought possible. I pray that she will be a blessing in the world. May she always keep that innocent and pure love for our Savior.

Mystic Aquarium

2012-02-01T05:05:00.000-08:00

Mystic Aqaurium,

We went and it was so fun.

What an amazing cool place to see God's creations.

this first shot I took kinda freaked me out. I thought it was a real snake. There

was no glass in between us and the "SNAKE"

Seriously, it did look real and my

husband allowed me to think it was real for a few minutes as

I rambled on about how I wasn't sure how safe that was...

I am a dork....

(I am sure I saw it breathing...)

These are piranhas and I am quite certain that I would never swim anywhere they

might be living. They kinda creep me out.

I have no idea why they had this chameleon there but he was really cool!

Did you know that sharks are nocturnal? I didn't know that.

most of them were sleeping on the bottom ...

Dom was sure they were dead.

hehe... they weren't.

Here is Nemo and his anemone.

Took this one for Maddie .

I always thought star fish were really really neat! and they are.

This fish was HUGE. It was a little bigger then a football.

funny looking thing...

and one of my favorites were the jellyfish.

Arn't they cool...

You know they have no brain, heart or lungs....

Crazy!

this seal lion was so curious.

Dom is holding a quarter and the sea lion would

actually follow it.

Wherever Dom moved it he would go.

And the Beluga Whales....

They are awesome!

It was mating season for them while we were visiting.

He was actually challenging Dom.

Dom would stand there and open his mouth and the whale would posture up to him open his mouth wider and make these funny noise.

Then he would come over by me and try to snuggle with me...

he would put his head on the glass and look at me...

(the whale that is) he liked me...

Dom would come near me and the whale would flap its fins and open his mouth at Dom...

we did this for at least 30 minutes..it was so funny.

It was wonderful to spend the day with my husband.

Just the two of us.

Just lovely.

mystic

2012-01-31T14:34:00.000-08:00

back to New England,

This is where we stayed.

It was called the Whaler's Inn.

It was one of the most lovely places i have ever stayed.

Our room was the 3rd floor corner room on the right.

It had a beautiful 4 poster bed, a fireplace and it was so quiet.

It was amazing.

We happened to be right on the Mystic River.

What a view.

On the other side of the river... (still Mystic was the charming town)

We walked over a Drawbridge to get there.

Anyone who knows me knows I have a

deathly fear of bridges. So this was a big deal for me to walk over ....

(dom was bouncing the entire way to shake the bridge..0

YUP, that's my man.

We happened to go into an army / navy store....

If I was 15 years younger I may have bought these...

I thought they were hysterical.

here is the famous Mystic pizza.

Which we did not go to but heard it was very good...

The entire place was filled with charming little stores.

We did go into a few antique stores but only one stole my heart.

It was called

MINE.

(Jen, you would have died and gone to heaven with me)

It was vintagy goodness at its best.

Eclectic and wonderful!

I could have spent hours in there....

Cool ironing board.

fabulous marbles

a lovely vintage globe that my sweet husband bought for me....

(he thinks I am so weird that this is what I picked out)

The colors are amazing in this globe!

loved these.. wish i had bought them

I think this was 4 bucks.. why didn't I get that too??

I was trying to convince Dom that I needed that globe to add to my existing globe so that

I could start a collection of vintage globes...

He had these hanging up catching the light.

So pretty.

What a fun trip we had

to be continued....

worlds away

2012-01-26T05:36:00.000-08:00

I got to work and watch an incredible artist on Tuesday.

I feel blessed that God has given me a view into other worlds.

far far away from my own.

I was definitely in a different culture then I had ever experienced.

His medium is spray paint. Concrete Walls are his canvas.

I have never watched Carm paint before.

but to put it simply it was like watching a ballet.

His hands were fluid. like the can was an extension of his arm.

He was so effortless about it.

It was incredibly beautiful experience.

I was taken to the cans...

some had a rusty goodness about them that I adore.

I am thankful.

I am going to work on being more thankful for the things God is allowing me to do in my life.

new england

2012-01-24T05:25:00.000-08:00

This was the view from our window.

I wish you could have heard the

amazing church bells

from this old church,

playing old hymns.

It was simply breathtaking.

ps... I am in LOVE with my wide angle lens.... spectacular!

lovely afternoon tea

2012-01-23T09:38:00.000-08:00

Is there anything more lovely

then your big sister getting dressed up in 3 tutu's

setting out the good china and silver

and having afternoon tea with you?

If you are 4, this is probably one of the most lovely and wonderful things in your world.

it makes my heart sing.

linking up with

thoughts...

2012-01-12T15:00:00.000-08:00

I don't know what it is about the new year...

but I have been cleaning and purging and trying...

to cut back.

I have yet to tackle the living room closet...

That is just overwhelming to me....

I wouldn't say I am messy.

What I mean by that is my house looks tidy

just do not open the closets.

I have spent the entire week tackling a different room.

I need to do this more often.

probably about once a month..

but twice a year is pretty good too.

I am enjoying my household duties.

Keeping a tidy home for my husband and kids,

cooking a nice hot meal to fill their bellies,

stoking the fire to keep our home warm.

Speaking of husbands...

My husband and I are in need of some alone time.

so I booked a little getaway for next week.

Thursday till Saturday.

At first I felt awful and guilty for leaving my kids...

But then Jen reminded me that

we need to make time with our husbands.

We need to.

So we are.

he doesn't even know where we are headed...

(kinda fun...)

We have NEVER done this before.

I am actually getting excited about it.

So here is to keeping a home for your family

Here is to just how hard us Mom's work in our homes.

and will you please forgive my lack of blogging.

xoxo Amy

love

2012-01-09T13:26:00.000-08:00

I was sitting looking through my pictures from the last year...

I forgot about these. We were at some museum.

last April.

I can't even remember where...

anyway, these made me laugh.

I love this man..

He makes me smile.

and he gives really good bear hugs!

This verse kept coming into my thoughts while I was

looking at these pictures.

I want to love like it tells us too in these verses.

I need to work on this...

a lot...

just keepin' it real here people.

1 Corinthians 13

The Excellence of Love
1If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. 4Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part; 10but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 11When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 13But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

christmas past

2012-01-01T20:06:00.000-08:00

So being I haven't blogged (or uploaded my camera in a week)

Here are shots from Christmas...

By the way,

does anyone else feel like they

rushed and rushed like a crazy person to try and get ready

for all the festivities... and now sadly its over?

goes to quickly. Next year I want to be done with everything in November...

so that I can enjoy all of December.

(one can dream)

Christmas morning.

I made Maddie the Rollie Pollie Chair...

the pattern is from MADE

I had been looking at it for a while

the Friday before Christmas.. (yup 2 days before)

I decided that Maddie needed to have that as a part of her Christmas.

I ran out and purchased everything on sale...

and it came together in a few hours.

It was a HUGE hit in our house...

everyone loves it.

I made the Large and would like to make another.

I used Amy Butler's Love in the Dec weight.

I will post on that more another day....

Emily may very well kill me for posting this picture but I don't care...

see how happy even 18 year old daughters can be on

Christmas morning....

brings a bit of a tear to my eye... that I have a feeling their won't be to

many more Christmas's like this... as kids get older... ya know...

Can't think about that...

and Santa was very good to me. Even though I am pretty sure I didn't not deserve this little box.

My Santa is so so good to me.

He brought me the lens that I have been drooling over for months... maybe even a year...

11-18 mm Zoom Super Wide Angle.

Ahhhhh.

thank you Santa.

and here is a shot with my new baby... and Sara shooting me back with her

little Sony Video Camera. Dom catching a nap and Maddie playing with her new

tracks for Thomas... She LOVES Thomas the train.

I gave my neices and nephews Monsters...

they all LOVED them.

In fact, they may have been their very favorite gifts of all...

(kidding)

This is a shot of the tree (and Sara) one week later.

Happy New Years Eve...

We were waiting for my sister and her family to arrive for a night of gaming.

I took the waiting as a chance to get some shots of my ornaments.

My Grandmother handmade these for me the very first year

Dom and I were married.

almost 20 years old...

They are some of my favorites.

She was amazing.

(thought of her a lot this Christmas)

These are some vintage glass balls that belonged to

my father in law.

They are so lovely and wonderful.

Emily has claimed them as her own...

so one day they will leave our tree and

go to hers.

I love this shot.. may be my favorite from the past week.

and every year I give the girls an ornament.

This year they were all handmade.

By a dear friend. They are all vintage bulbs.

so beautiful!

I have to tell you one last thing.

I did purchase a gift and put it under the tree for myself.

it was a pink cuckoo clock.

I thought this was quite humorous...

my husband did not see the

humor in it...

oh well...

Hope everyone enjoyed the Christmas week.

Today we are playing hooky and going on a family day trip.

I am excited to relax and spend time with my

family.

I love them.

Each and everyone.

thoughts...

2012-01-01T08:28:00.000-08:00

I was sitting here thinking of all the things that I should be doing..

ie: Laundry,

Cleaning,

Child Rearing....

Cooking,

and all the things I am sitting here doing instead...

ie: Pinterest,

Blog stalking...

When a thought hit me...

And then another thought came upon me...

why not be creative and turn it into a lovely picture.

(very artistic of me don't you think?)

and thus I

CREATED.

it's oh so very Ben Franklin of me ....

(don't you think??)

Have a Happy Day!

looking back

2011-12-31T12:38:00.000-08:00

2011

I had some good things happen

and some bad things....

I accomplished many new things and

got further then I thought I would.

I am going to strive to be better this year.

Better at my loving God first.

Better at loving my husband and my kids.

and I am going to try and not be so hard on myself.

Hope you have a very happy New Years!

Amy

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree....

2011-12-22T09:47:00.000-08:00

We have a Christmas Tradition that every year in December

we drive and drive and drive some more

to a beautiful tree farm in NJ.

It is a colonial farm...

I love me some history.

We picked such a lovely crisp day to go.

This year.

The Farm has rolling fields and many trees to pick from.

This was Sara's year to pick.

Lulu is always in her glory when we go to a

space with wide open fields where

she can run freely.

Good thing for big sister's when little legs get tired.

Maddie insisted on putting Lulu on her lead... Poor Lulu.

Our girls...

A rare photo of me with my girls...

Sara trying to cut down her tree....

It was harder then she thought.

Her Father Stepped in..

So we wouldn't be at the farm until New Years....

Merry Christmas! From our Family to yours.

one week

2011-12-18T06:47:00.000-08:00

So, i am sitting here roasting myself in front of a fire... Drinking my morning cup, madelyne is eating a bowl of mint chip ice cream for breakfast... (yup she's our third) lol and i am thinking. Thinking about how good it is to just sit. I have been going going going for the last few weeks. Trying to prepare for shows and Christmas and life....
When it hit me.... One week. One week till Christmas day. I told jen this week that i was stressed. Christmas was becoming a stress for me. She loveingly reminded me that it was a stress because, well, we aren't focused on what christmas really is about. Yup. Thanks Jen. That is for sure. then my mind went to Mary. ( or Marylou as maddie insits on calling her... )
How do you think she felt one week before she gave birth to our Saviour? Do you think she was complaing about riding on the donkey? How about how uncomfortable you are a week before you give birth, do you think she was saying to Joseph how she couldn't wait to give birth? How she couldn't see her feet anymore...swollen ankles... Heartburn....having to go to the bathroom every ten minutes...can't sleep...can't eat very much....? I had never before thought about these things. Now throw on top of all that riding on a donkey for days going to Bethlehem....
Yikes. By the way have you ever riden bareback? I have. its not so comfortable ...now throw nine months pregnant into the equation.... Well anyway, lets just say she endured alot. She did! She did it to bring us the Messiah!
I want to tell Mary, one day when i get to meet her, Thank you. Thank you for giving life to the King of Peace. Thank you for all the sacrifices that you made as his Mom, even before he was born.
Anyway, that's what i was sitting here thinking about. Have a wonderful Sunday. Enjoy this upcoming week. Try not to be stressed about finding the perfect gift....we already have it.
I hope you have it too. But incase you don't and you want to know why that precious baby was sent to save us... Email me and i will share it with you.

happiness

2011-12-10T06:05:00.000-08:00

I am happy.

Despite my life circumstances right now... I am trying to look

at all the wonderful things.

HERE GOES.....

1. Last night I got to go on a real date with my husband.

dinner and a movie.

2. Came home to a warm house. (Emily kept the fire going)

3. Came home to 3 kids in bed.

(Emily got everyone to bed and then put herself to bed)

4. Came home to a clean clean home.

(yup, Emily again.)

by the way.. I LOVE when she cleans up the kitchen.

it always seems better when she does it

5. Going to cut down our Christmas tree today.

It is Sara's year to pick... (this is a great honor...)

6. Despite the fact that I never get to pick the tree (I like a small tree the rest

LOVE the most ginormous tree you have ever seen)

I love this family tradition!

7. I love my family.

I am not sure how many more Christmas's I will have with all 3 of my girls

living at home, As Emily is 18.

(makes me so sad to think of a Christmas when

we are not all together) but I know that someday that

will come.

8. I have only bought one Christmas gift so far...

i am trying not to stress about this... but I am usually done by now.

but, I am going to trust that the LORD will

allow me to get it all done.

9. I have one more Christmas show this coming Sat.

YIPPIE!!!

so this week I will be sewing like a nut job again.

10. I am so thankful for everything I have.

God has blessed me with a wonderful husband,

3 amazing little girls.

and I am HIS. what more could I ask for.

Have a blessed Saturday.

Holiday Show

2011-12-06T18:23:00.000-08:00

I had a fabulous show this weekend.

The response was wonderful.

It made all my long hours of sewing and preparation worth it.

I was also invited to do another show on Dec 17th. This one is only a day.

PERFECT!

So, here are some photos from my set up.

I was pleased with how it worked.

I especially loved my monsters in my boxes in old wash tub!!!

I also had my dolls in a Coca Cola box that I found at the

hottest Flea Market Ever in Georgia!

(Remember Maddie's Melt down, Jen????... Good Times.)

my monsters sold like wild fire... and I came home and made 12 more Sat night.

It was great being with all these crafty ladies and making some

awesome connections.

Thanks for all the support and prayer.

Happy December 1st & a blessing

2011-12-01T05:50:00.000-08:00

First , happy December 1st! WOW. how can that be already?

Is this year flying by or is it just me?

Last year when we cut our tree this truck was sitting on someone's farm

OH HAPPY DAY!

I did get out and ask the wonderful owner if I could take a photo of it.

She said yes, and It is one of my favorite shots that I took last year.

And a blessing.

Dom and I have been looking for a wood stove for about a year.

We didn't have the money to buy a new one...

That's okay.

I started searching craiglist.

Looked and looked.

The problem is you see around this part of the country

People were putting rusty old stoves that had been stored outdoors...

and they wanted a small fourtune for them... Yep some of them wanted

over $1000.00 CRAZY.

So, I started searching farther west. and farther north.

Still were not finding anything.

Had the stove people come in to acess the chimney and they kinda

sold me on gettting a brand new one.

telling me I would never find anything.

(but they forgot I have someone who has my best interest on my side)

YUP, God.

(Guess I had kinda forgotten too..)

because the

The very next night after they had been here....

Craigslist in Buffalo NY.... the

exact stove we were looking for....

$250.00

no kidding.

So, began the week of emailing this very very patient woman.

the stove people told me this was to good to be true.

No one sells this stove for 250.

they told me we were crazy for even thinking of driving 3 and 1/2 hours to purchase it.

But I didn't care.

Dom didn't care.

We left the kids at home and started out on our long drive.

we drove

and drove it started to snow... and the sun was shinning all at the same time.

and we drove some more

and I kept thinking what a blessing it was that God was

meeting our needs.

To keep our family warm.

I also kept thinking that we only live 30 minutes from NYC and

were were driving was so completely wonderful and remote.

How incredibly beautiful the land is.

So when we arrived the nice man,

showed us into his garage where the stove was on a pallet and wrapped in shrink wrap.

They had clearly taken very good care of it.

He handed us the owners manuel and

I was soooo happy.

the stove was beautiful!

He knocked 25 off... and loaded all 550 pounds of her into the

back of our truck.

Dom strapped her down... and away we left.

We stopped and had a romantic lunch at McDonalds...

which was right next to a delicious TIM HORTON'S

Apple Fritter... yes please!

and we started our adventure back.

It was so nice to have about 8 hours alone... with my

husband. That rarely happens.

On out way home we figured out why the stove was so cheap out that way...

Everyone, Everyone out there has woodburning stoves to heat their homes.

We got home,

Dom lined the chimney... with my assistance..

it took 3 days...

we saved about 1000.00 dollars doing it our selves.

and we went out and purchased a limestone hearth from a local quarry.

and Voila!

It has just gotten cool enough to use!

Praise God! He is good. He meets all of our needs...

even little ones like

heating our homes.

don't you just love my little mouse... so cute.

thinking...

2011-11-30T11:11:00.000-08:00

Don't forget if you haven't entered the giveaway for one of

my littlest beansprouts... its the last day to enter at Imprintalish.

the Holiday Boutique that I am in is this weekend, starting Friday night.

So, my Etsy shop will be closing Friday morning until Monday.

I am a little nervous... Hard putting your creative self right out there on a ledge.

I have either made way to much or not nearly enough.

being that i Have never done this before I had no way to judge.

We will just pray for the best...

And I am feeling a bit overwhelmed by this entire process of getting ready.

Tags... Sewing... inventory list...

I have 63 dolls

4 small monsters

17 medium monsters

9 Large monsters

& I have several berets and boy caps.

Still have 4 more little beansprouts to finish sewing.

speaking of Etsy...

I got my first order and first custom order all on the same day.

YAY for me.

I have been waiting and waiting... and then it happened.

Someone ordered.

The hardest part about this is.... The person whom I would most

like to share all this nonsense with,

JEN.... missing her like crazy.

So I promised her I would take tons of pictures.. and phone pictures

so she feels like she is with me.

Wish me luck..

I will be back to regularly blog post when this event concludes!

missing you guys!

Generations

2011-11-26T06:12:00.000-08:00

I had the opportunity to photograph my sister's LOVELY children yesterday.

I had a good time...

they are a bunch of clowns. lol

They cooperated and I took way to many shots.

You can see more if you like on my other blog

HERE

anyway, I was looking thru and I was thinking...

I take an awful lot of walking away pictures.

I LOVE them.

wonder what that means about me?

anywhoo...

I love our family genealogy.

It is fascinating to me.

I guess it goes hand in hand with keeping and collecting photographs for

the family archives.

I started to see the family resemblances in the men in this family...

so for your viewing pleasure here goes....

my great great uncle

my grandfather

my Dad

my nephew

This picture is my Great Great Grandfather in front of his Home.

The home where I took these pictures.

I believe this is late 1800's

I took this picture yesterday.

Of his Great Great Great Grandsons, standing in front of his home.

wow, pretty amazing... if I do say so myself.

How cool is that?

How many people can say do that... I imagine not so many.

well, have a blessed day. I am going to go and sew...

linking up here

amy

thankful

2011-11-24T06:02:00.000-08:00

It has not been a great fall for us....

So I am thankful that it is almost over.

I am also thankful for my family.

I took this photo 2 years ago for my Mom and Dad.

It is all their Grandchildren.

this photo I took Monday. It will be their Christmas Gift.

(I am 99 % sure My Mom doesn't read my blog so... I hope that this will be a surprise.)

I am not thrilled with my work

but it was really hard to get the 3 families of kids together

with Rain, Sickness... what have you it took over a month to coordinate.

I then took about 350 photos... Monday.

Got home and started to edit... oh. had my setting's to 3200 ISO.

LOVELY.

I did get about 3 shots that are okay.. It was a bit darker so It worked in my favor.

I wanted to retake them but it is not going to work. So

this is what they will get.

they are a handsome bunch!

They range in age from 18... that would be our Emily, to

the youngest, 4 our Madelyne.

Emily liked this shot...

she is looking down at Madelyne and Maddie is looking up at her.

And my favorite shot...

(Dom calls it my signature shot)

Risked my life... for this one... laying on a road...

What a girl won't do for her art.

anyway, I am thankful that I was at least able to take these photographs.

I am thankful (as Jen pointed out) it wasn't a paying customer that I screwed up on...

((THANKS JEN))

and I am thankful for my family.

I would have to say that they are the most important thing in my life.

I am grateful that I have them.

That my kids have them.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Enjoy your family,

Eat to much and relax.

Be thankful for the little things.

Enjoy reading this Psalm

I am most thankful that I am a child of God.

Psalm 100
A Psalm of Thanksgiving.
¹ Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
² Serve the LORD with gladness;
         Come before His presence with singing.
³ Know that the LORD, He is God;
         It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;^[a]
         We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

⁴ Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
         And into His courts with praise.
         Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
⁵ For the LORD is good;
         His mercy is everlasting,
         And His truth endures to all generations.

giveaway and a fabulous store.

2011-11-23T06:44:00.000-08:00

My dolls, they are in a little store. It is a fabulous store...

It is called The Cherry Hat and it happens to be run my

my one of my best friends from High School's Mom.

(that was a mouthful)

She has an amazing eye, she is so creative , wonderful, kind and a generous lady.

She is very talented and has many items she makes in her store.

The bibs...

the stitchery...

attention to all the little details.

She had a Holiday Open House on Saturday.

It was beautiful.

She supports local, handmade.

It is like an etsy shop....

and my favorite part is that you feel like you are walking into her home.

She has one of those homes... you know the ones.

You walk in the front door and you feel like family.

Like you can kick your feet up on the coffee table and relax.

that is how her store feels.

It is small and charming.

my talented Mom, made these beautiful quilted ornaments.

I think that is called a cathedral window... very intricate and lovely.

and I love these... old christmas light ornaments. so clever.

and here is the cherry hat...

Mrs. Cupano, you have an amazing shop.

All the best.

and I am over at

IMPRINTALISH

today with a giveaway of one of my littlest beansprouts.

hope you come over and visit.

Happy Thanks Giving Everyone.

xoxo

amy

fleeting

2011-11-21T18:53:00.000-08:00

Life is fleeting.

I I had the news today that friends of ours daughter died in a tragic car accident on Saturday.

I haven't seen this family in years, they in fact moved out to Wyoming years ago.

But when Emily was little our girls and their older son, would spend lots and lots of time together.

Their twin girls were born in May and Em is July.

It hit me hard reading this news on Facebook that she, at 18 years old, was gone from this world.

What hit me even harder was the fact that I am sure they are not believers. Now, I am praying that I am

wrong. Perhaps in the years we haven't seen them they grew to know the Lord. I am praying for that.

I started to think about what I would do if that was us, our family, in that situation. How would I ever recover from that? Would my faith carry me through? Would I be able to live?

What would I do or how should I be behaving differently if every time I saw my girls it was the last time.

the last kiss,

the last snuggle,

the last hug?

The last harsh word? this last last... is what really got me thinking.... I need to live and love my girls like it is the last time everyday. Because life is far too short for arguing and fighting ... bickering...

Emily and I have a turmultiotus relationship. I need to "Cut it Out" as my husband would say. I need to love her (all my girls) for who they are. They are all special and wonderful. They are all gifts from God.

We don't know how long we are here for. But we can choose to use those days we have to be kind and loving.

and I am going to choose to snuggle just a little longer at bedtime with Maddie , read that extra book or sing that extra song without thinking... man will she just get to sleep...

I will listen to Sara, (she likes to talk and tell stories) I will hear her and laugh with her and love her.

I will choose to be kind and considerate, not judgmental of Emily. I will tell her she is lovely inside and out. I will not critic her makeup hair or clothes... I will just love her for who she is becoming.

like it was the last time.

Life is fleeting.

Poncho

2011-11-21T04:50:00.000-08:00

I needed to sew something different..

So I went and purchased some polar fleece

and a bit of ric rac and pom pom's.

And a poncho was born.I think it is just right... and she likes it too.

Emily helped me with the impromptu photo shoot.

linking up with

here

2011-11-18T16:29:00.000-08:00

I am still here

have you missed me at all?

I have been busy sewing sewing and sewing some more.

I only have one week of sewing left to do before the big show I am going to be doing....

just found out that I have been placed at the very front table... WOO HOO.

I will be back to regularly scheduled blogging in a few days.... have a good weekend.

happy day project day 2

2011-11-09T05:46:00.000-08:00

Day 2

Handwritten note.

Well, I was so touched by the story Wren and her family that I sent a note.

to them . You can read about it here.

It was a not an easy note to write. Actually I wrote it out twice.

Because what do you say to someone who has stage 4 cancer and is

in a battle for her life....

with 3 small babies?

I felt like such a complainer after I read her story...

YUP! Complainer!

I also, sent a little package to someone.

I hope it brings a smile to her face and some joy to her heart.

i also , took my kids out and shot some photos of them... yesterday.

being that Maddie was not at all cooperating and Emily was complaining

about the bugs and deer poop...

I was yelling , " How hard is it to cooperate for some photos"

(not my proudest Mom moment)

seriously, I always feel the best when I am photographing other people's families

when I let it just happen.

Like 3 year olds, not looking into the camera...

or teenagers complaining...

but when it is my kids...

well, I just want them to listen and do what I tell them.

I am a horrible mother... they are going to look back at all the

photo shoots I have put them thru and they will grimace at how awful their momma is....

hopefully, they will be in awe of the beautiful art she was creating

(just kidding, people)

anyway, I love my kids and I love that they are just being themselves.... in these photos.

(I came to this conclusion right now...)

this one is soooo my girls.

The next three may be my favorite from the whole lot of them.

I photographed them at the farm house in the town I live in

that my Great Great Grandfather built and owned.

They sold it in the late 1800's and built a home across the street. Part

of that property is where we live now.

Pretty cool.. I LOVE genealogy.

So these photos to me are pretty neat.

My kids are standing on the porch of their Great Great Grandparents home.

Peeking in the windows...

I love my kids. They make me happy. Even when I would like to wring their necks...

I need to pray for more patience.

Grateful

2011-11-08T08:52:00.000-08:00

I am

Grateful.

I can't even believe the outpouring of love and prayers from

bloggers.

I am so encouraged. My heart is light.

I am blessed through all your outpouring of prayers.

Hannah Singer from Happy Days shared with me Psalm 37 1-11 yesterday.

Psalm 37 1-11

Do not fret because of those who are evil

or be envious of those who do wrong;

² for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.

³ Trust in the LORD and do good;

dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.⁴ Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

⁵ Commit your way to the LORD;

trust in him and he will do this:⁶ He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.

⁷ Be still before the LORD

and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

⁸ Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;

do not fret—it leads only to evil.⁹ For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

¹⁰ A little while, and the wicked will be no more;

though you look for them, they will not be found.¹¹ But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.

That touched me in ways I was not expecting.

What a gift it is to listen when God is calling out to us.

Telling us He has it all under control!

I allowed my circumstances to lead to evil in my heart.

I allowed it because I wasn't thinking about

anything but me.

I was praying this morning about knowing God more intimately.

Knowing his instructions for my life and being in His word more and more.

When again, I went to Hannah's blog and read her post....

She wrote just what I had prayed about.

and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. John 8:32

well, if that wasn't God's answer to me... Clear as day!

Thank you Hannah, for allowing your heart and ears

to be open to what God is speaking to you.

Blogging, what a blessing.

Thank you gals!

linking up here

happy day project day 1

2011-11-07T17:25:00.000-08:00

well, yesterday was, treat your neighbor.

So I thought a nice pumpkin pie would do just fine.

Sara, brought it over to our neighbors before dinner.

I wish we would all just take more time out of our days to be

more selfless.

I think the world would be a happier place if we just did random acts of kindness.

real

2011-11-07T07:39:00.000-08:00

I am who I am...

My blog is an outlet for me.

a safe place to write, create, share.

I am dealing with a lot in my life right at this moment. This season of our lives is not exactly going smoothly. My Husband's leg although better is still having problems, Then last night I got a call from our oldest daughter while they were working the paint gun exploded and shot into his face. His eyes were covered. We are financially struggling as well and I know that it all will work out , but it sure is hard waiting. I know that God is there with us. I know He will make a way. He has always been so good to us. Even when I thought things were impossible He showed me that they are possible with HIM. But it is hard to watch people around me living very UnGodly lives and prospering, all around me.

I was really burdened by this last night.

I wrote this. It is not easy to read, but it was what I had bottled up inside me. Sometimes blogs aren't all pretty and cute. Sometimes they have to be real.

**********************************************************************************

My world feels like it is coming apart at the seams.

Ripping open.

Spilling forth to show a raw aching in my bones,

the very depth of my being is exposed.

Being pillaged by demons,

who are clawing at my soul.

Feeling hopeless and utter despair.

How much longer must i endure this gripping affliction?

How much longer?

My heart is seizing it no longer wants to beat.

It has to fight for the last compression of the muscle,

tighter and tighter it becomes.

My lungs gasp for air as the last breath escapes.

a heavy closing

it constricts.

i know it is over.

Silence

I am free.

High above the clouds.

Floating, flying. Free.

I gently glide as with a buoyancy I have never known.

Colors i have never seen nor can explain flash vividly before my eyes.

Colors more brilliant then any ruby or diamond, glittering, gleaming, almost glowing.

His peace fills me from my head to my toes

Freeing me from the worries, stress, aliments and afflictions of my lifetime on earth.

No worries or cares, i am safe. i am free.

I am,

home.

amy rehbein

Nov 6 2011

creative genes

2011-11-07T05:11:00.000-08:00

I have creative genes....

Yes, that's right.

My Mom gave them to me.

I passed them to my daughters.

They are lovely.

My Mom made this amazing quilt

for Maddie for her birthday.

(She let me pick out the fabric in the summer )

Get ready to be amazed.

Yup, told you amazing.

and now

look at what Sara, just whipped up in about 20 minutes for

Maddie on her birthday.

Seriously, how cute!!!!!! Maddie won't remove it from her head.

She went through my stuff...

" Mom, can I use this "

"Mom , can I use your sewing machine"

Amazing!!

and Maddie will not take this Repunzal dress off.

Jump she has been wearing it since Friday.

complete with Wand and Crown.

and she keeps telling me she is a Princess when she wears this...

( by the way.. this is the odd forced smile that she is doing now)

((what a goof))

linking up here.

Birthday Wishes

2011-11-06T07:38:00.000-08:00

The Happy Day Project

2011-11-06T07:32:00.000-08:00

I stumbled upon this about 6:30 this morning...

Yup forgot to set the clocks back and so I was up a whole lot

earlier then anyone in the house.

It was wonderful and quiet.

and I got to have coffee and read myself.

anyway,

I found this.

It is so amazing.

I can't wait.

hurry go check it out.

it starts Tomorrow.

4 years old

2011-11-03T17:13:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th Birthday, Madelyne Lily.

My how quickly time is flying by.

((warning this post has a few baby pictures...))

once I got started I couldn't stop.

Maddie at Birth

The first time her sister's got to hold her.

my goodness how they have changed so...

Our little family.

I can almost smell the sweet baby smell...

man I miss that.

Maddie wrapped in what she is now her favorite Blanket

a coming home gift from her Great Grandma.

as soon as she could speak she started calling it her Babbie.

It's not so pink anymore.

First Birthday

Oh those cheeks and those pudgy little hands.

Second Birthday

She loved to sit with her Great Grandma.

Third Birthday

and this summer....

((have no 4 year old picture to put up yet))

Happy Birthday Maddie,

You make us smile and laugh.

You are a Daddy's girl.

& that's just fine with me.

You remind us of Emily

when she was little.

You are very much like your Great Grandma.

and you have a blast with Sara all the time.

You have an amazing imagination and I

pray that you always will.

We love you.

You complete our family in

the most perfect way.

God definitely knew we needed you, even when we didn't.

Happy fourth birthday!

Dearest Facebook

2011-11-03T08:05:00.000-07:00

Dearest Facebook,

I am considering ending our relationship ....

I think I am about done with you.

I honestly am becoming aggravated by

it all.

but, at the same time...

You are a good networking tool

for me

oh facebook.... why do you taunt me so.

love,

pintrest ispiration

2011-11-02T07:57:00.000-07:00

I saw this idea on pintrest the other day.

I love it!

so I thought I can do that....

i love the quote.

just thought I'd share.

Sometimes...

2011-10-31T07:36:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, you just have to make a choice to be positive.

Okay, take for instance this incredibly crazy weather

we experienced this weekend in New Jersey.

Went out this morning and really took a good look around.

Some new landscaping for the backyard...

going for the forest look here.

Yes, in this next shot you can almost see the swing set.

oh there it is..

I will try and appreciate the new flow of sunlight gleaming brightly into our backyard.

And how the tree landed ever so gently on her swing set...

that it wasn't destroyed.

I am loving that we are going to have plenty of firewood to burn.

nice big logs to split.

and Maddie was so concerned and worried about her tire swing

the entire storm...

God spared it. seriously.

all the other branches around it broke and fell.

I am thankful that God protected my family in our home

during this storm.

I am thankful that no trees fell into our house.

I am thankful that we only lost our power from 8 pm to

3 pm the very next day.

and I am just thankful for God allowing me to make the choice to have a

lovely attitude about the whole thing.

linking up

Snow... really?

2011-10-29T09:28:00.000-07:00

Here in the North east we are experiencing...

Snow.

Yup, snow. I even had to turn the heat on today....

not happy about that.

and we forgot to reconnect the radiator in Sara's room...

When I say we I mean my better half...

Water was pouring out of the ceiling into the living room....

Good times people! Good Times.

Don't worry though... it is supposed to be in the Sixties by Thursday.

Good, I can turn the heat off.

Photo shoot

2011-10-28T19:28:00.000-07:00

I love taking some beautiful family portraiture.

& I love when it just happens and you get those shots...

you know the ones...

seriously the colors & Lighting couldn't have been more perfect.

and this was the last minute shoot

being that it was supposed to happen Saturday... but we are expecting a little snow in the north....

so I called and asked if they could do it today... it all worked out fabulously.

I am happy. I hope they are.

This next one might be on

"my Favorite Photographs I have ever taken" List

It just happened.

Perfect and simple.

a Daughters pure love for her Father.

amazing.

I love the way that they are both gazing down and she is holding his hand with both hers...

the way that he has that little smile on his face.

OH ... I'm tearing up here....

and the sun was wonderful

the time was about 4 in the afternoon.

(my new favorite time to shoot photos)

oh sweet sunflare... how beautiful you are...

You know I love shooting families.

I do.

I love to just let them be .. and capture the memories.

not to much direction... just lots of watching to see what is going to happen.

I think it works.

Thanks Burke Family.

It was a fun time.

TO see more photos from the day

Check my photography blog.

Amy Rehbein Photography

Fall

2011-10-28T06:47:00.000-07:00

Fall.

I was sitting on the sofa this morning... drinking my coffee

and I looked out the window.

WOW!

Fall is here in all its glorious splendor.

I Love Fall.

The crisp air,

the amazing colors,

the crinkly leaves underfoot.

The baking...

last nights apple pie...

& I get to pull out the things my kids have made for me.

Sara made this a few years ago.

Amazing. I love love love it.

It's clay and made from an actual leaf.

but the part I love most about it can't even be seen

I love that she signed it... and added a little heart.

it's the little things that make me smile.

linking up with the October Followers Fest over at Changing Lanes.

update......

2011-10-26T05:39:00.000-07:00

update on my husbands leg...

it was swelling and not going down yesterday so we took a little

trip to the Dr.

He wants to check for clots.

His appt. is today at 11:30.

Prayer would be greatly appreciated!

thanks.

lovely littlest beansprouts

2011-10-24T10:29:00.000-07:00

I thought my little dollies needed a dress.

So I got out my elastic thread... and Voila.

A little (mock) smocked dress.

I think she is pretty cute...

she needs some freckles...

I used the Moda Little Apples fabric.

Its so so cute.

Then

I had some request for a boy..

so I whipped some up...

well, not just whipped it up , I made one and

my husband told me i couldn't make the bodies the same as the girls..

The hips were to wide.

I believe he called said

"boys don't have birthing hips"

So I made them more narrow...

made a little pattern for a hat and some pants

and there you have it.

A boy.

man this is fun!

why I blog

2011-10-24T07:11:00.000-07:00

Why I blog.

When I started this blog it was an outlet for

a lot of emotions that I was dealing with.

My Grandmother had just passed away,

I felt like my identity had been taken along with her.

I wasn't sure how I was supposed to fit in.

This blog.

I felt like if I was part of this community.

{even if it was one other person reading my blog...}

people I shared common interest with.

Mom's who love the Lord,

Love their husband's

loved their families

Loved to create.

It has meant so much to me.

It has helped me find my creative self.

With Photography,

Sewing,

Crafting.

and finding some wonderful

kindred spirits.

{one in particular... Jen.}

I would have never become who I am at this minute without my Blog.

God used it in my life to be a creative source for me.

It is a wonderful thing to know that their are people out there,

that are praying for you.

or thinking about you.

or that you may have been an impact on someone's life.

Pretty Cool.

Thanks, all those bloggy friends.

I think that blogs are pretty lovely.

they have certainly had a part in making my life more lovely.

have a lovely Monday

2011-10-22T06:05:00.000-07:00

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY. It is our wedding anniversary. Today I will be celebrating it by seal coating a job with my husband. Thanks for all the prayers and sweet words from everyone on his behalf. He is still not great. We will keep praying for healing.

Pintrest love....

2011-10-21T07:48:00.000-07:00

I am loving all the typography.. prints... quotes...

these are all from my pinterest...

I love this one... I have 2 teenage girls.... (OH MY how on earth did that happen??)

This would be such a great poster.

Important to remember beauty isn't in the face..

It's what's inside.

and my Father always told me this...

{I never believed him, till I got older... and much wiser)

and I just love this alphabet... so stinkin' cute!

Pintrest is awesome...

I spend to much time looking and pinning...

If you need an invite let me know and I will send you one.

another day

2011-10-20T05:51:00.000-07:00

Another day... another day is flying right past me.

and I need to be reminded of what is important.

Somebody yesterday said to me...

" Are you a stay at home Mom? Wow you are so lucky."

She was a young single Mom.

I am lucky. {I think.} I have a husband who values a Mom being at home raising their children.

I am not lucky, I am blessed that I am able to do that. In the area that we live it is a rarity.

I ~~think~~ know a lot of woman that work outside their homes look down on Mom's that stay home.

I have done both. I have worked a 40 plus hour a week, and believe me it was the hardest thing I have ever done to leave my kids. I was blessed that my sister was able to be with my youngest {sara, who was only 2 at the time} but it I had no choice as I had become a single Mom.

So it hit me hard when the young single Mom said those words to me last night. "You are so lucky!"
Yes, I am. My Father has so graciously blessed me. He restored my marriage to my husband. Which didn't seem humanly possible... and he has gifted us another beautiful child, Madelyne. and he has allowed me to be at home with all three of our girls again.

Luke 1 : 37

For nothing is impossible with God.

thoughts...

2011-10-18T06:21:00.000-07:00

Someone said to me the other day,

"You are living a blessed life."

Why do we (I) choose to forget how God blesses us.

Even when it may not feel like we are blessed, we are.

Then yesterday, I sent an email to a women who I respect deeply.

I just wanted to let her know what was going on in my life right at this moment.

my husband has been laid up with cellulitis.

He has been in bed since Sunday's trip to the ER.

It is hard (so very hard) to watch a man who does not complain of pain

to actually be in such deep agonizing pain.

It is awful to feel helpless and not be able to take that pain from them.

He can barely walk.

I am thankful for the Dr.'s and nurses God put in place to take care of him.

He even put in place our wonderful friend Jen and Zach

to let me know to get him to the emergency room quickly.

The reply I got from my friend Robin was an amazing gift.

(she is very wise)

She said to me,

" I feel like you are one of the Negroes in the cotton fields singing those deep spiritual songs of desperation and sadness "

That was a beautiful metaphor, for my entire life.

I want to be in the fields. surrounded by cotton...

working the land. and I want to be filled with God's glory.

I want it to be pouring out of my being. from every orifice

just oozing out. I want to shout it from the rooftops, from the mountains,

that although my journey is not the one that I would have chosen,

I am glad that my Father lead me through all of it safely to be able to

share with others.

I want to be signing deep spiritual life changing songs to the world.

I am about to take Dom to the Dr in a few minutes.

I am praying that he will be okay.

And that God will be merciful and heal my husbands leg.

monster on my bed

2011-10-17T11:33:00.000-07:00

So these are the little creatures that I was working on when I fell and

Cracked my Coccyx bone..

anyway, If you are local they down at the Cherry Hat in Little Falls.

They are doing very well there.

Selling like Hot Cakes...

I had made a bunch for my girls and then everyone that saw them

fell in love with their ugliness....

they are really soft and squishy.

My Brother in Law came up with the

Monster on the Bed.

Which I ADORE!

{thanks Kirk}

right now I have them in 2 sizes

but I also made a little tiny one... and stuck it on my key ring...

I am actually loving the entire process of the creating and

getting to use some treasured vintage buttons from my stash.