grace like camellias

Grace is like my camellias...

when everything is dead and dying

defeated by frost and driving winds

it buds and blooms and bursts

baptizing with color a colorless world

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men." ~Titus 2: 11

My Jesus, you are such grace to me.

sugar baby

Sugar babies, ahhh honey, honeys.

You are my messy tots.

And you got me spinning too.

How many messes can one little troop make?  Well, today topped all former escapades by far!

I swear my twins woke up yesterday with this schedule in mind:

1.  Spill mommy's bag of powdered sugar all over the kitchen and let brother and sister lick it off your clothes.  (Check)

2.  Find every mud puddle in the yard and roll in it.  (Check)

3.  Take off dirty diaper and sit on mommy's couch.  (Check)

4.  Open a bottle of baby powder and scatter it all over.  (Check)

Mommy's new plan of action:  Don't go to the bathroom.  Ever.

bejeweled art in a frame

I think the new logo for my blog should be "Somebody help me!  I'm crafting and I just can't stop!"  Do they have intervention for this sort of thing?  Honestly, though, I'm loving every second of it.  I think subconsciously I've been rushing to do all the little projects I've been wanting to do for some time because I know I'll be slowing down really soon.  And that's a good thing.  I'll be drinking in the scent of sweet new baby skin and lavishing love and reassurance on all my little ones.  We'll adjust to sleepless nights and slower days, to mommy's arms a little fuller and a family made more complete.  In the meantime...I've got some crafting to do!

I've been wanting to make a jewelry frame for some time.  I don't wear jewelry very often.  But it's pretty and lovely to look at.  So why not put it to good use at making a room beautiful?  I still had one oval frame left from my hot Hobby Lobby find.  And I just happened to have cork board in my craft stash  (I know what you're thinking--who in the world keeps cork board?).  Throw in some vintage fabric found on a recent thrifting expedition and you have a jewelry organizer/art display in less than 10 minutes.  I used upholstery tacks to hang the jewelry, but another fabulous idea would be to use vintage knobs and pulls.  Can you tell I'm having fun?  

The End.  (for now)




**Linked to Blue Cricket Design's fabulous Show and Tell.

beautiful you

Three little words every woman longs to hear and most struggle painfully to believe.

I know my own heart has been at odds with this elusive phrase.

I've felt woefully insecure much more often than I've ever felt truly beautiful.  I tried to tell myself that maybe I really didn't need to be beautiful after all, maybe beauty wasn't really that important.  But I never could completely convince my heart of this.  And in all my conversations with my glorious Heavenly Father, I realized that beauty was important to Him as well.

Hovering as an artist over his easel, God composed a world of breathtaking and wondrous loveliness.

And the crowning glory of his creation?  Man and woman.

Men he spun from the clay of the earth; strong, virile, and dominant.

Women he fashioned from the rib of man; relational, life-giving, and beautiful.

Both are formed in His image, both reflect different aspects of the nature of God.

But the world since those perfect days of creation has attempted to re-write the beauty that God designed.  Somewhere along the way, the definition became exclusive.

And I didn't feel like I quite fit the bill.

I vividly remember a heart wrenching time in my life when I was bound by insecurities and I was desperate for God to help me see myself the way He saw me.  I'll never forget what He whispered to my soul.  His gentle plea was simply, "Let me love you."

I dared in that moment to ask him how.  How was I to let him love me?  I thought I was already.  His patient smile hinted that I had much to learn.   There was more, so much more to His love than I could even begin to imagine.  And He began to show me;  In glimpses,  in little gifts, in time-stopping moments when I felt bathed in a love too sweet for words.  Slowly, tenderly, steadily, He revealed to me my inability to love myself had been keeping me from receiving my husband's love as well as the love of my Heavenly Father.

God has done some major heart re-construction since that illuminating moment.  All my ugliness was laid out before him and He didn't flinch.  He didn't run away.  He didn't leave me in the hopeless mess of shattered pieces that I believed myself to be in.

No, He simply changed my looking glass.  

I had been peering into the wrong mirror.  A dirty old cracked mirror the world had hung up in my room years and years ago.  A mirror riddled with lies that I had too easily accepted.  He replaced it with His own--the mirror of His Word.

And this mirror says I'm beautiful.  In a million different ways, God is reminding me that I captivate His heart.

"The king is enthralled by your beauty.  Honor him for he is your lord."  ~Psalm 45: 11

God is not a man that he should lie.  He's crazy about us.  He delights in us.  The Bible tells us that "as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you." (Isaiah 62: 5)  

Wow.  The God of the universe is head over heels in love with us!

Now, when I catch my reflection in His mirror, I find a woman washed in the love of a Savior, purchased by His very own life, accepted as His daughter, rejoiced over as His bride.  

I'm learning to let Him love me.

To let Him write me love letters, send me flowers, bathe me in acceptance, sing songs of love over me.

And everyday His love is surprising me.

**Visit (In) Courage for more divine love stories...

no mustache yet

Seriously, kiddo, you make me so happy.

You are my sunshine.

Today you fell and chipped your tooth.

It hurts and you're sad.

When you're sad I'm sad too.

Maybe we'll wear these glasses to the dentist's office.

happy babies happy vintage room

Finally.  This mamma is breathing a long sigh of satisfaction.  One more thing to cross off my "baby-do-before-he's-due" list.  And it's not even womb baby's room.  We now have three cribs in our house.  Three.  Two of them were given to us  (isn't that wonderful?)  The twins are almost two years old but I couldn't bring myself to switch them to toddler beds just yet.  They sleep so well and are so nicely contained in their cribs.  I'll let them adjust to the new baby and then we'll try turning them loose.

I am so thankful that I didn't break the piggy bank for this room.  From start to finish, we've spent less than $100. The most expensive item was the fabric for the curtains I made.  The dresser was given to us and we painted it and the bookcase.  The walls were washed in a fresh new color.  All of the other little odds and ends that make this room unique I found at thrift stores or in my attic.  Scrapbook paper and vintage children's books from my childhood home were framed.  And the two little babies now sleeping in their beds-- are memories in the making.

*This post is linked to:  A Soft Place to Land

vintage scrap happy art

There's just something about God's creative energy alive within me-- spinning, weaving, dreaming and designing life into being.  It compels me to create.  It persuades me to dream.  And I am embracing this blissful distraction!  There's nothing I love more than a "blank slate" of a room and the challenge to make it beautiful from pennies in a bucket.

My freshly painted goodwill frames were begging to be filled.  My mother (bless her dear heart) sent me dozens of vintage children's books from the ranch.  The ones that had the most wear and tear became instant art work.

Scrapbook pages that I always intend to use but never find the time, were pulled out of storage.  I drew pictures, traced them onto the patterned paper, cut them out and then glued them to white cardstock.

So simple.
And yet it makes me feel like I've accomplished something to inspire my little tots.  Astair loves to reach out of her crib and name the framed animals  (ok, so maybe I'm the only one that could ever understand what she's saying, but I'm sure I heard her say "kitty").  Boston says "Oooohhh, pretty."  every time he walks in the room.  And Thaddeus, ever the encourager, told me I was the "yummiest mommy".
That makes it all more than worth it.


You are probably so over seeing pictures of this room, but I have more coming!  Tomorrow I'm posting the as-close-as-it-will-ever-be-to-completed room : )

**I'm linking this post to the wonderful It's So Very Cheri , Make Your Monday@ Twice Remembered, Just Something I Whipped Up Monday@The Girl Creative, and Making The World Cuter Mondays

stuffed with "luff"

With the love relationship fully restored between me and my borrowed sewing machine, I've gotten a little stitch happy.  I just had to make the twin's stuffie luffies that would look good with the decor in their new room.  It was a necessity.  And it didn't cost me a cent to make them because I used leftover fabric, buttons and polyester filling.  They are as easy to pie to make (or in my opinion--easier) and definitely addictive!  I've got plans to make another one for Thaddeus.  These are great projects for someone who is just learning to sew.  I've only been sewing off and on for a year now  (my elementary 4-H projects don't really count).  My first "break-in" project was a lined dress for Astair and it wasn't the easiest pattern to follow (read: it took weeks to make).  Stuffies like these, on the other hand, take less than thirty minutes. That's my kind of instant gratification.

The easy peasy joyeful way to make a stuffie luffie

{1}  Draw your own pattern on newspaper, leaving room for at least a 1/4" seam allowance

{2}  Pin pattern to a folded piece of fabric and cut--you should have two identical pieces of fabric

{3}  Cut out other shapes that you will want on the face of your stuffie  (ears and eyes, mouths or feet)

and pin them in place.  I used fabric on my elephant and felt on my penguin/platypus (who knows what it is!)

{4}  Sew them on making sure the feet and/or the wings are turned to the inside.

{6}  Place the right sides of your stuffie together and pin in place.
{7}  Sew around the edges at 1/4", leaving at least a 2 inch hole open (for stuffing).  Do this twice to ensure that it won't unravel and will withstand a lotta lovin'.
{8}  Optional:  Sew a zig zap pattern on the very edge of your fabric to further strengthen it.
{9}  Turn your stuffie inside out by pulling it through the 2 inch hole you left open.
{10}  Stuff with fiberfill or any other stuffing you might have on hand and sew the hole closed.

This is Perry.

He's not sure exactly what he is.  At first he believed he was a penguin, but his boy thought he looked like Perry the platypus on Phineas and Ferb.  Although his identity is a bit muddled, he is a favorite of tots and felines alike.  His best friend is Elouise the Elephant (first photo) and his favorite place to sleep is in the middle of the floor.

unplanning

This morning I planned a post on how to make the stuffies I revealed yesterday.  I planned to finish the twins' room and take pictures of that split second of uncluttered tranquility.   I planned to meet with my friend to organize our first MOPS get together.  I plan, I plan, and I plan.

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails."  Proverbs 19:21

My plans are definitely many.  I have a habit of overwhelming myself with "projects" (you haven't noticed?).  And you know what I forgot to do this morning?  I forgot to ask the Lord what His plans are.  I forgot that His purpose is the most important.  I forgot that my plans will come to nothing without His spirit breathing life into them.

So today, I may or may not accomplish all that I intended to do, but I know it's not too late to sit at the feet of my Jesus and let Him share His visions, His goals, His heart with me.  And I know His plans for me involve peace, rest, quiet, strength, imparted love, selfless acts, being an intentional wife and a diligent mother.

I feel a gentle tugging at my restless heart's strings; patient eyes imploring me to stop and be with him.  I need what He will give.  His purposes alone will prevail.  And I want His plans to become my own.

diy: chalkboard

My nesting instinct is in overdrive.  I can't even keep up with myself right now!  Laundry has piled to the ceiling, sorely neglected, while I have been happily distracted with project after project--sometimes beginning another before the first one is completed.  I'll get an inspiration and I'll just run with it.  As if sewing curtains with three preschoolers (see post below) wasn't ambitious enough, decorating ideas are running through my brain faster than I can keep up with them.  I bought a dozen frames from Goodwill and the damaged rack in Hobby Lobby and I've been up painting for the last three nights.

I really loved these oval frames I bought at a bargain because the glass had been broken.  I knew immediately that I wanted to make one of them a chalkboard for the twins' new room.  So I bought some chalkboard spray paint from Hobby Lobby (have I mentioned how much I love that store?) and got to work.

Paint is magic.

And just to give you a sneak peek into some of my other "projects" at the moment (posts will soon follow)...

Scrapbook paper and vintage children's books make instant art

Of course my kid's needed a handmade stuffie from mommie...of course

I am linking up with A Soft Place to Land, Reinvented, and Today's Creative Blog

pretty bird stitches

And they're up!

I've never sewn curtains before but when I saw this fabric my mind latched onto the little yellow finches and just. would. not. let. go.  When we got a tiny antique dresser and another crib for free, I could finally justify buying the fabric.

Ahhh, now to find the time to sew.

All week I would gaze wistfully at the sewing machine, fingers itching to stitch, but time refusing to be pinned down.  Finally, Thad and I came to an agreement.  While the babies slept, mamma sewed...with her Little Man pressing the "gas pedal".  It was an adventure.  And we both feel like we've accomplished something grand.  In fact, the whole family has contributed to this curtain endeavor.  Daddy made the cornice, Boston left the tiniest smudge of chocolate, and Astair wrinkled the bottom half.  We work well together as a family.

And we love well, too...most of the time!  I snapped this picture when all three of my kids were giving each other hugs and kisses.  It lasted for nearly two minutes.  Two whole minutes free of squabbles, quibbles, and sibling rivalry!

Way to go, gang, way to go!

Disclaimer: Don't look too closely at the second picture--Boston thought his freshly painted room needed some wall art.

And Side Note completely unrelated to this post:

KEEPING THE PEOPLE OF HAITI IN MY PRAYERS.  MY HEART FEELS STIRRED TO DO SOMETHING--ANYTHING-- TO BRING EVEN THE SMALLEST OF HOPE TO THESE DEVASTATED ONES.  

fragile: a theme?

FRAGILE.  

Yep.  There it was.  Pasted on my 1970's suitcase.  Revealing the truth even through a staged photograph.  

Might as well be pasted on my forehead.

I really don't like to be fragile.  Much less feel fragile.  I'd rather have it all together.  I'd rather be strong, accomplished, and resilient.

Anything but fragile.

But fragile is what I've been of late.

And I'm learning what I consider weakness just may be a prerequisite for a strength outside my own.

When I finally exhaust all my resources, when I'm empty of every "me" solution, God's Spirit floods my dry reservoirs.  Rushing, replenishing waves of living water anxiously stream unhindered through me.

Sitting precariously

on the Potter's wheel

spinning...spinning

life is a blur

a smudged painting

a dizzy "busy"ness

Gentle hands bending

these frail walls

from within

The lightest touch

transforming them

His vessel

a holy residence 

The strongest clay

it doesn't yield

it must be soft

to bend, to feel

the hands that shape

this empty urn

To fill this void

God-water churns 

For more poetry, see these posts. 

meet millicent

Do you remember Albert the Birdie?  Well, he has a friend named Millicent the Cat.  So far, Millicent has never attempted to eat dear Albert and so they have formed an alliance.  They are our booboo buddies.  And lately they've been on sick duty.  The crummy cold has visited our house and we have all been crabby and congested.  When fevers rage, Millicent and Albert agree to chill in the freezer and curl up with hot little bodies.  When congestion refuses to go away, they are only too happy to be warmed up in the microwave and release their chamomile and lavender aroma.

I really would love to share the instructions on how to make these dear little creatures with you and I'm working on a pdf file for them.  I will let you know that the outside of Albert and Millicent are removable and washable  (pretty nice for a house pet, wouldn't you agree?), while the inside is a bag filled with flaxseed, chamomile and lavender florets.

Now I have to go clean up spilled milk and a whole box of scattered cheerios...

letter to my little one

Dear Baby Mine,


I feel your flutters, your kicks, your persistent reminders that you are anxious to meet your family.  Little hands press against my belly and little kisses assure you that you will be received with much love and anticipation.

Eight more weeks and I'll hold you; a masterpiece still wet from The Painter's handiwork.  Straight from the arms of Heaven into my own.



There's just something so miraculous about holding one who has been so close to Jesus.  I'll kiss you, smell the lingering scent of heaven, and trace the fingerprints of God on your soft skin.  Know this, my little one, that God, the One who forms you, is with you.  He takes great delight in you, he quiets you with his love, he rejoices over you with singing. {Zeph. 3: 17}


You are not an accident.  Never doubt that it's  for God's pleasure you exist and were created.  {Rev. 4: 11}  He loves you with an "everlasting love" {Jeremiah 31: 3}.  God dreamed your life into being.  The plans He has for you are full of wonder, limitless, brimming with hope and good measure {Psalm 139: 13-18, Jeremiah 29:11}.


You are His.  
We will treasure the brief time on this earth God has seen fit to loan you to us.


With a heart full of love and arms restless to hold you,


Your mommy

nesting

I just realized our little womb baby will be here in eight weeks.  Eight weeks!  I've got some serious nesting to do!  Of course, I always wait until the last minute to do it.  I think I'm getting pretty close to that last minute...!

This week Joel is out of town for work again (sigh).  I am thankful he has work, though.  And I'm very thankful that before he left he helped me get the room upstairs prepped and painted for the twins.  I LOVE the color.

I'm thinking of painting this chair white and re-upholstering it in a fun print...what do you think?  Should I leave it the way it is?  I have a tendency to get in over my head with my "projects".

I'm ordering this fantastic fabric to make curtains for the room...

I can't wait to see what the finished product will look like!

**Note on the side that is completely unrelated to this post:

Tomorrow is our first informational meeting for Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS)!  I can't tell you how excited I am to see this ministry grow and for us moms to grow with it!  If you live in my area and are interested in getting involved and being strengthened and encouraged through the word of God and the friendship and mentorship of women seeking Him then please contact me!  We especially need women who are older moms that can be mentors and respond to the call of God in Titus 2--to teach and train us younger women!