progress

progress is being made over here. it's exciting. i got a giant box of pillow forms, and they are slowing being covered, completed and shoved back into the box.





these cases i've worked on and stashed away for awhile now look so much better as actual pillows! life has been breathed into them.

i'm still working on headbands. trying to get these just right. i took a picture of myself in one, but... well... yeah.



i think i really will try to do a quick tutorial one of these days on these. they are so easy and fun. I made one yesterday that i thought was way too cute. so i kept it for myself. okay i made two.

but i still have some scatterings of fabric everywhere.



trying to make little piles and trying to organize into new projects. but my supply of beautiful fabric is running a low. and i'm at a bit of a stand still in figuring out how to work it into new pieces of beauty. but i think this is also the fun part. creating under constraints can really be such a fun puzzle.

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my heart has been heavy this weekend as we've had friends dealing with a beautiful new baby who is now in the NICU with breathing problems. we've been praying and praying some more for sweet baby ruby. and for her parents. that the peace of God would rule their hearts and minds. and as i stood briefly alongside this new mommy i was reminded of how awesome our God is. He is holy. beyond my concept of holy. and He wants us to come to Him with all that we have. our anger, sorrow and grief as well as our joy and gratitude. so thankful that we have a High Priest Who sympathizes with us. Praying for this young little family.



blessings on your days, friends. may each of us run to His throne with whatever we've got. Knowing He receives us there with grace, love and patience.

birthdays and such

we had a wonderful birthday. he was so excited to be 4. i'd forgotten that childhood feeling of accomplishment, "i'm older today. i made it." we sang and he blew out his little candle. he requested vanilla cake with lemon frosting. what a miniature adult i have.



we had some friends over and tromped in our tiny little spring.









when jason got home we went to a park and my little boy discovered the joy of climbing on rocks. he's not the bravest of the bunch, but he's getting more and more willing to take the risk. it was so fun to climb rocks with him.





and then we found the sand volley ball court. oh the danger.





bath time when we got home. and samuel got to open his presents. he'd asked for three things: bird feeder, bird bath and bird food. so we hung up the bird bath in the last light of the day. he was so happy and content.

sweet boy.

time passing

today is my first born's fourth birthday. he awoke this morning, immediately stating, "I'm four." and then standing on his bed to show us how much he'd grown overnight.

and i will soon post pictures of all the joy and fun that was had today-- what a sweet celebration. but tonight i'm sitting with my mint tea, remembering the voluntary hugs i got this morning. and i can't believe it. 4.

the passage of time is hitting me hard tonight. and i tend toward the dramatic- turning everything into an excuse for cosmic reaching, eternal scope... tears. and i have been seeing my son as a high school graduate all day. the grooves in his heart & character i'm trying to create now will then be as good as they will ever get. and he'll leave. off to do what God has willed for his life. and my contributions will slow and cease. and the time will continue till He brings me to Himself. (i told you. dramatic.)

and i sit contemplative. grateful. that He has numbered my days and will grant me the peace i require to face them all. each one. and He is the only place, then, left to run when my drama overwhelms and i see the brief brief time i get with these precious remarkable souls.

i will run.

some flashback photos. a little 2 year old.

some completion

well i've been getting a few things done over here. actually done. been able to check off some items on, what seems like, an ever growing list. and i'm feeling good. feeling ready. and i am really excited to find that after so many days of spending every spare minute in front of either the ironing board or the sewing machine, i still look forward to those spare minutes. i still enjoy the time spent on these endeavors. i can be so fickle. so glad to still find joy at this table.

coasters.

thank you for your help and input everyone. i decided to make some of both styles. couldn't decide. you all helped me dial down the panic. and you were right. it turned out okay. and i'm done! i had a goal of 10 sets of 6. and i've arrived.

and the log cabin square table runner was completed last night as well. i love it. i want to keep it.

the squares were more time consuming than i thought, but totally worth it and so much fun. really-- an easy project for any small-time seamstress (like me) to tackle.

i did put backing on it and finish the edges, but didn't get pictures of it while it was still light enough to do so. wish i would have.

i know that crafting is a small, sometimes trivial, thing. but God has been faithful to meet me in these times. He cares enough about me and and my small yellow craft space to calm my spirit when it needs it, send little laughter my way to make me join in, and remind me of His beauty in creating. He's so good to us.

away

oh yes. we went away this weekend. just for one night. but it was so nice. to be... away. from the responsibility, the questions, the dirt.

we sat at a local hotel with earth fare treats and talked.

we read, did nothing, watched stupid tv, went to sonic for ice cream at 11pm because we could. we woke up leisurely and spent time in the word.

we read some more. laughed at silly things. we just played. it was so so nice. and we were able to look at one another and see what the Lord has done. He has done so much good between us this year. miles of good. and our marriage continues to be His and He will continue to strengthen, grow and stretch.

what a relief to just be goofy together.

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then we came home. and i got my feet rained on alongside my little rain lover:

and then back to, what feels like, my permanent chair these days. and in the rain that fell yesterday, i did not complain. what a joy.

what a blessed weekend. so thankful for His many gifts in my life.

oh and i finished those log cabin squares. i'll show them soon.

fear and stillness

Have been thinking of several friends who, along with me, are dealing with some situation in their lives and/or hearts that feels out of control- and it scares us. the fear... the fears that permeate and awaken with us in the morning. and each of our stories are different, but most are full of emotion. those emotions you can't quite find, but you see the evidence everywhere. we are brimming with emotion. and the source of the spring can't always be seen.

and so we commiserate, support, and we pray. and pray some more. pray for the casting out of fear, the quieting of our spirits...

and that's where i have to stop. because my spirit is so seldom quiet. As Psalm 131 states-- i am not nearly smart enough to handle all of the things i try to tackle. i can't see into my child's heart (i can't see into my own heart), i can't know the future or understand the actions of others. i can't always see His hand working in my life and i can so easily despair. and i fear my lack of understanding. i fear so many things.

but if i would sit. be still. be quiet. sit in His huge comforting lap. and hope in Him. oh the picture is so altered. peace arrives.

s'mores

samuel had his first s'more today. i know. a crime. the kid's almost 4. but, you other moms out there can understand. and you can also understand that as i type this i'm thinking: 'i think it's his first one... i can't remember him having one before... hmm...'

anyway- had to share this delicious lunch treat with you:










oh yeah. he's all in. and then we had this little cutie with paint on her face at the other end of the table.









hope you and yours get into some happy messes today.