Days Like This

It is a BEAUTIFUL day! My goodness - it's simply gorgeous. The whole family went for a nice walk to start the day off right with a bit of sunshine, a dose of fresh air, and a slightly elevated heart rate. : ) Even Ruthie seemed eager to walk. Normally she zigzags from one side to the other and stops to smell EVERYTHING. Not this morning. She stuck close to Big Bug's side and trotted along with her head high and tongue flapping. It was a nice little romp.

When we got home we opened all the windows and invited the breeze to come in and stay a while. She politely accepted. It's days like today that make me happy to be alive. Growing up I remember my Mom saying that days like this make her want to be a part of the scenery. I know exactly what she means! But what part of the scenery would I be? A great oak with arms raised, a mocking bird singing His praise, or a sunflower blooming in the light of His face? Decisions. . . decisions. What part would you be?

Happy Accidents

As a crafter, I'm always looking for new project ideas or new artists with their own unique bend. Well, I had just a few minutes last night to roam around on Etsy, and I stumbled upon Gravel Alley Primitives: folk art & folly from the mind of pocomedio. Before I knew it my hubby popped his head in and asked "What are you grinning at?" I don't think he understood my excitement, so I thought I'd share this with you.

In case you don't already know, I have an affinity for the slightly off, somewhat rough, maybe even a little ugly, and positively unique! I always pull for the underdog and believe that there is no such thing as unlovable! So with that in mind, here are a few of Pocomedio's works:

Frankie

Cordelia

He Will Mess You Up.

Della. She's Mean and Menopausal.

Pocomedio is a self-described accidental artist. That only makes me love these guys more. You never know what you can do until you do it. Here's to Happy Accidents!

Coming Off A BIG Week

Last week was a BIG one! My husband and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary, our home appraised for $20K more than it did less than a year ago, our little bug got his first FULL haircut (I've trimmed areas several times), mastered the full roll-over and is now sleeping without a swaddle, I bought my first Blythe, and my dear, well-intentioned hubby outed my blog. Whew!

This week has been busy and I'm finding it hard to make time for blogging. But I'm committed to it. No matter how busy I get, it's important that I take just a few minutes to be me before I'm a wife, mother, employee, etc. We all need a few quiet minutes to think, reflect, remember, dream, wish, hope, you name it. So here's what I've been doing in my few quiet minutes this week:

I'm praying for:  Annie and Jade. If you read my post on 10.07.10 then I hope you have been praying too. This week should be Annie's 22nd week of pregnancy. If you read the full story at Annie's blog then you also read that viewing baby Ollie's heart by ultrasound would be best around this time. There is no update yet, but I'm believing for a good report.

I'm meditating on: "When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him?" Psalm 8:3-4

I'm singing: This isn't a new song but for some reason the fact that He is jealous for me is really speaking to my heart. Oh how He loves us!






Thanks for checking in with me! Be sure to take a few quiet minutes for yourself.  : )

Emotional Snapshot

It has not been an easy day my friends. A low-grade temperature and swollen gums can leave a little man very unhappy. My plans for the day were quickly tossed out and all I've been able to do is try to make it better for him. I've played musical chairs and bounced all around the house in an effort to appease him but everything only seemed to set him off. He cried on the floor, cried in the swing, cried in the glider, cried in my lap. He just cried. He cried when I changed his diaper, he cried when he saw his spoon - I guess solids are out of the question today. When I tried to give him his bottle, guess what? He cried. . . but then he reached for it. He drank it all then cried as I tried to burp him. But I persisted. Holding his little face in my left hand, I patted and patted and patted until I felt him let go. His shoulders slumped and his head leaned into my chest. Sleep had come. I lifted his little body and rested his head on my shoulder. I sat very still not wanting to disturb him and watched the tiny cars on his onesie rise and fall with every breath. Sweet sleep. In an instant I was overwhelmed. All the frustration and helplessness I'd felt all morning vanished and I suddenly felt the need to capture the moment, to breath it in, to take an emotional snapshot so that I would always remember how it felt - his round bottom in my hand, his right foot planted just below my ribcage, his soft hairs tickling my cheek, the weight of his little boy body. I wanted to "be" in the moment as long as I could, to hold him as long as I could knowing that he will not always be comforted by the arms of his mother.

To Blythe or Not To Blythe? That is the Question.

Ok, so I've been eyeing these wide eyed dolls ever since I saw an article in Haute Doll Magazine back in 2007. I was taken with them immediately and began scouring the internet for more information. Over the years I have looked through thousands of images on Flickr and watched hundreds of Ebay auctions, but I STILL have not purchased one of these lovelies. Maybe it's the money (they aren't cheap) or the fear that I'll have a bad overseas purchasing experience. Maybe I feel a little silly about buying a doll at my age, or I worry that buying one doll might lead to a very expensive doll habit. Or maybe it's because I've had difficulty determining which Blythe to buy. Black hair, red hair, side-part or bangs? Do I buy the one that's easy on the wallet or the one that completely melts my heart?

I could go into all the many ways I've over-thought this purchasing or NOT purchasing decision but it might scare you to see the way my brain works. I'll just say that once again I'm very close to sealing the deal. She's there; I can "Buy It Now" and she should arrive in time for my trip next month. So if anyone is out there, if any Blythe owners are reading, tell me: Do I Blythe or Not?

The Wizard of Oz

One of my favorite childhood memories is watching The Wizard of Oz each year at my Grandmother's house. My Aunt Jan made it special. I'll never forget running around with wild anticipation, fussing over pallets of blankets and pillows until they were just right, the smell of buttered pop-corn wafting through the air and snuggling up in front of the large cabinet TV and trying my best to stay awake for the whole show.

I believe my all-time favorite movie moment is when the black and white tornado stops, the house lands, Dorothy rises to make her way to the front door and then . . . she opens it! Do you remember that moment? The bright colors, the wonder, the munchkins and their wonderful flower hats. I loved it! I sang along to every song, repeated every line, snarled and kicked with the Lollipop Guild and danced with the Lullaby League. It was all like magic to me. Oh, to be a kid again! I would of course fall asleep usually around the time Dorothy falls asleep in the poppies, and I would normally wake to the "Oh, We, Oh, OHHH" chant outside the castle a little disappointed in myself. Then I would have to wait a whole year to see if I could do it the next time.

Well two years ago today, I lived out my movie moment. I left a black and white, dusty landscape and entered the most brilliantly colorful life when I walked down the aisle to take my husband's hand. Life has never been the same . . . and I have no doubts about staying awake for the whole show!

To top it off, this year we get to celebrate our anniversary with our very own little munckhin. : )

A Time To Love!

I'm new to blogging but not new to prayer! I saw this story on another blog (Little Chief Honeybee) and I wanted to post it in case anyone happens upon my little space. Annie and Jade need our prayers for the new life they've yet to meet. Tests show a high risk for Downs Syndrome and further testing has revealed a hole in the heart between the two ventricles. Please pray with your whole hearts that this tiny heart is perfected!

To get the full story and to share some much appreciated love and encouragement, go here.

Felted Friday

I saw this little lovely by PhillipaEngland today while searching for inspiration on Etsy. I think she's Bea-U-ti-Ful! Her name is Alice, and she wears a vintage velvet skirt, a lambswool pullover and handmade brown leather mary-janes. Isn't she super sweet?