shoes and the importance of wearing them

I often wear shoes while I go about my day...even when I am in my house.
I have many reasons for this: I can easily go outside if I have to bring garbage out, my feet are warmer (especially in these cold winter months) and the most important reason: my socks don't get wet when I am doing dishes or mopping up spills or anything (because, let's face it---what's worse than wet socks when you are house cleaning?)

Today----I have a new reason. You see, I had jumped up from my chair to go into the kitchen and turn my husband's phone alarm off. On my way, I stubbed my toes (yes, toeS) on a chair leg. Terribly badly. The middle toe has it the worst, even now I think I may have done more damage to it than I care to think about.

And, so good people, I give this advice:


WEAR YOUR SHOES


After all, you never know when a ruthless and sneaky chair leg is going to jump out and bang you in the toes. And trust me on this one: the chair leg will win.

Multitude Monday

this is a beautiful project by a woman I do not know personally, but much admire. I have blogged about her blog before.
And now, I am joining in with this idea of jotting down the things we are grateful for....and pursuing the goal of recording 1000 gifts....and more! I am going to try to list at least 10 different things I am grateful for each week.
So, I begin....I am grateful...

1) for the gift of technology and the internet, which allows me to delve into the lives of people I would otherwise never meet, but who touch my heart in incredible ways.
2) for the laughter of my children
3) for the gift of close proximity with my family and seeing my boys with their grandparents
4) for good books that become almost like really good friends.
5) for the pleasure of reading aloud to my children---and the voice to do it with
6) for forts and caves made of blankets and chairs
7) for the feeling of accomplishment in having a clean kitchen and floors and laundry!
8) for a God who loves me despite my daily failings
9) for friends near and far, old and new
10) for God's grace, provision and strength, especially in hard times.

***see Ann's post, and many others at todays Multitude Mondays!***

Caves, books, drawing and Army

We have had a very fun week, filled with the normal week things but also some extras. Have a look:

Liam wrote a letter to his uncle Joe, aunt Nicole and cousin Pierce. The drawing is a "horse-zebra"

David has been loving books lately, so I set him on the couch with the bag of board books, and he went to town looking at them!

Liam just got the camo pants from a friend, which go so nicely with his army stuff he got for Christmas! He was thrilled to have a whole ensemble! 

and we have been building "caves" around the house alot lately. This is the first cave Jon built for the boys out of all sorts of things....a cooler, old computer, old printer, bucket, pillows and the boys mini couch!

and this is the one I build this morning out of chairs, the pillar-fan and lots of blankets! The boys sure love having a cave and it keeps them quite busy, which I love!

books

this week's "YaYa Photo Project" theme was "books you are reading right now". Well, I usually have a whole pile of books that I am reading one way or another, this week the stack is pretty small....
1) Bible...I try very hard to read the Bible daily.....often times only manage a Psalm or so.
2) Wild Things....this is a book about raising boys, and quite good so far.
3) Prince Caspian....I am reading this aloud to Liam and we are both loving it!
4) James Herriot's "All Things Bright And Beautiful" is my current bathroom book.

You should definitely check out the main page for this project. The ladies took very unique photos to represent the books they are reading!

Tea Party Fun

Here we all are at our tea party this last week! It was very fun and we all want to do it again soon!

We had:
*scones with honey
*sliced applies
*Tangerines
*White Chocolate Macadamia Cookies
*Turkey sanwhiches (crusts cut off)
* Parfaits (chocolate pudding, sliced banana, whipped cream and walnuts in layers)
*Rose Black Tea

I am so glad to be able to host a tea party!

"A"

my mother and her YaYa's have begun a photo project this year that has weekly themes. My mother graciously let me in on the list when I got really excited about it. I have yet to find last weeks photo (the theme was "Door or Doorway").
It doesn't have to be a physical photo of a door, but the photographers interpretation of the theme. So darn cool.
They even made a blogspot just for it. Are you ready for this? It's called:
Just Point And Shoot Already. Isn't that fabulous?!? I think so.

Soooooo, anyway, I gave my mom my first idea for the theme of "A", and had to come up with another... here it is:

Aces = a great hand!



PS I just figured out my Door/Doorway photo!!

...this is my sliding door the day the workers came and took it out, added a metal plate under it and put it back....all in about 4 hours!

Fabric Friday---newest project

Jonny mentioned the other day that we really needed to have some placemats for our table, so it would not get so thrashed by food getting spilled and what-have-you.
So, I dreamed up a simple pattern and went through my stash. Here's what I found:

I couldn't get the colors right in either picture. In this first one, the browny looking ones are actually purples. So weird how in this next one, they look blue...at least you can see the actual color of the greens a little better:

The pattern is simple strips---3 1/2 inch strips. They are probaly about 20-25 inches long. I will add a backing fabric and probably do a little quilting and then bind them and be done. Very easy and it's going fast. I already have all the strips sewed together, and I am making 4. If I get time tomorrow, I want to try to finish them, as I want to use them on Sunday....I am having a "Butcher Girls Tea" at my house.
Here are the strips all sewed together (the 4 are stacked on top of each other):

You can see the colors much better in this one!

*I will be sure to post again with pictures when I am all done!*

such a fun idea

Oh, Oh, Oh! This is so way cool, I love love love it!

Nie and You

She tells you if you read far enough, but it's inspired by this:

3191~a year of mornings

which lead to this:

3191~a year of evenings
and is now this:
3191 miles apart

This is like the 365 days of pictures project I've been working on, but on a higher scale, and with a friend. How cool. Did I mention I love this?

National Resting Month

I think dear Brin has it right. We really should make January National Resting Month.

Resting is a good thing, in more ways then one. Resting rejuvenates the body, the soul and the mind.

It allows the cares of the day and life to settle, and energy to renew.

It allows the Holy Spirit room to speak, room to work.

Resting is God's gift to us, something He Himself did (Genesis 2:2), something He commanded us to do (Exodus 20:8-11), something He knew was so necessary, so vital.

"In repentance and rest you shall be saved. In quietness and trust is your strength" Isaiah 30:15 (italics mine)

So, lets take this month with all it's resolutions and busy-ness and lets remember that it is also a month of renewal and renewal starts with being rested.

Be rested, and be renewed.

Fabric Friday---the fun of cutting

One of the things I love about fabric is cutting it out. You have your pattern in mind, and your scissors or rotary cutter at the ready....you pin on your pattern or set your rulers and then snip-snip it's cut and you move onto the next piece and the next and the next until each piece is ready and waiting and you are ready for the next part of your project!

Me at my moms, cutting pieces of my block for Shelby's YaYa quilt:

Jessie, cutting the squares for the quilt she's making:

Enjoy more Fabric Friday at Daisy Days!

Crocheted Cowboy Boots

I was wandering around my local library, with the idea of looking for books with patterns to make Christmas presents for people, and I found a booked called "Too Cute Crochet for Babies and Toddlers". Just from the cover, I knew I would be borrowing it and what I was going to make Pierce and David for Christmas:
Crocheted Cowboy Boots!!! They were SO cute. I even had red yarn!

Take a look at the process, it was fun and easy once I got the hang of reading all the abbreviated directions!

I hope to someday own the book, as there are SO many more fun and darling patterns to make boots, and hats for babies. With so many babies already in my life and more on their way, it would make perfect gifts!!!

I love this blog

Holy Experience

You have to check it out. It is Beautiful. Poignant. Simple. Real.

I never feel judged or less of a person by her blog, but it does pull at my heart strings.

"Come."

"Taste."

"See"

Savor life and all that it holds.

Thank you, Ann. For being real. And for sharing.

2009's Christmas Letter

I sent this out to friends and family via Real Mail and E-mail, but I know there are some of you who I probably missed with those two mediums, so I thought I would post the letter here too. And, maybe even on facebook eventually...
Anyway, here it goes:

 December 2009

Dear friends and family                                   

The year is drawing to a close and once again it is time to write to you all and say hello, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

We have had a varied and full year. There have been job changes, and new beginnings. We hope you enjoy this simple update!

Last January, Jonathan began working at his dad’s office, an accounting firm, to learn the family business. He also continued doing the landscaping part time. At the end of the summer, due to some financial hardships the landscaping company was going through, Jonathan quit and thankfully quickly found employment at a coffee roasting and packing plant, which was great because fall/early winter is the slow time for the accounting firm as well.

Last Christmas, Jennifer had quit working for Starbucks, and has never regretted that decision, although money has been tight. She continues to work in childcare at our church though, and that is a fun thing for both her and the boys.

This fall Liam started home schooling! This was a very exciting step to take, and we are enjoying it very much! He loves learning and is constantly asking for more! We are using the Sonlight curriculum and we love it.

David is growing in leaps and bounds and is starting to talk! He keeps us on our toes, as he is a quick little guy who loves to climb!

As a family, we enjoyed several wonderful weddings this summer. Jennifer’s brother got married and had a simple and beautiful wedding outdoors at a park. And a friend of ours got married and had Liam be his ring bearer!

We are looking hopefully into the future, without having any idea of what it looks like. Perhaps schooling, perhaps a little traveling (we would love to return to Mexico in September for YWAM’s 50^th birthday celebration that will be taking place there), perhaps even moving if the Lord provides a place. We would dearly love to not live in an apartment anymore! And of course, perhaps more of the same! All we know is, it will be a journey for sure!

God bless you and keep you. May He shine His face upon you and give you peace. May the year to come be a wonderful and pleasant one!

With much love,

Jonathan, Jennifer, Liam and David 

Fabric Friday

My mom has started a new day blog over on her site called "Fabric Friday". I thought I would join along with her when I can. She has much more fabric than I do, but I am sure I can figure out some fun and unique blogs to go along with this theme.
For my first, the choice was easy. My parents gave me a stack or coordinating fabrics for Christmas and they simply MUST be shown off. They are whimsical, beautiful and fun. I can't wait to find the perfect quilt (I already have decided to make myself a lap quilt with it!) and begin. Here they are:

There is frogs and turtles and dragon flies and other lovelies all over the fabrics. And then the fun polka dots. Such fun colors and prints, I am so so so happy to have these fabrics!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hello 2010!