Bits and Pieces of Life

Biking the Dyke in Delta. 

Peter had a hard time but he persevered!! 

Ummmm...I wonder what Nadia is getting into?

Madilyn is playing with the coasters.  Never mind toys when you have coasters.  

I hope to sew this up into a table topper.  

Can you guess what all these squibbles and scribbles are for?  

Finally...to make you smile - "Mom!!  Madilyn just put her sock in the aquarium!!"  

Yes, never a dull moment around here. 

What a blessing!! 

Nadia's Summer Dress that Wasn't (it's too big!!)

I think I'll call this Nadia's $200 dress.  That's how long it took me to put it together.  

Let me start at the beginning.  Nadia needs a spring/summer dress so me being the frugal Mom I am decided to use fabric on hand and a pattern borrowed from my Mom in Law to sew her one.  

I have NEVER sewn a little girl's dress.  I sewed up a dress for myself in Grade Nine in Home Ec class and that's the last time I've attempted anything like that.  See, this is why I quilt - it's mostly straight lines and no pattern to follow!!! 

So I spent a morning cutting out the fabric and that went pretty well.  I decided to cut a size 6 for Nadia as she is growing like a weed right now and lots of her clothes are that size.  For this dress it's just too big on her in the bodice.  In hindsight -  I should have measured her.  I also cut fabric for a dress for Madilyn but I think I need to recover from this one first before I attempt that.  Don't you love the foxes - they are so cute!!  They have been waiting in my cupboard for awhile begging to be used. 

So, here's the front...

and here's the back.  Notice anything unusual about it?  That was a cutting mistake I made but I didn't have any fabric left to fix it - when it comes to sewing I am not a perfectionist.  

When I opened up the instructions and started reading them - this is what it looked like to me 

gkaghkljagkjgkljklgjlksjgkjgahsouiouiojkljakljg.  You can imagine my befuddlement. 

I decided right away to figure it out on my own and make things up as I went. 

That's me and sewing.  I took an old eyelet fabric vest I had and cut that into the cap sleeve.  I had to modify that because I didn't have enought eyelet so I made the sleeve smaller.  I used a finishing stitch on my new fandangled sewing machine for a rolled hem on the outer trim.  I love how it turned out!!  It's really pretty.  I don't have enough for Madilyn so I'm not sure what to do about that.   

The ribbon is from Aleana - it somehow ended up in my sewing box and when she saw it said "That's where my pink ribbon went!"  I don't think she minds that it's been put to good use :).  

The button holes were a challenge, thanks to Will for helping me with that!! I have only done button holes once before.  They are not perfect but will suffice.  Overall, I am very pleased with the result but sad that I have to wait a year to see her use it.  

Answer to skill testing question:  The foxes are upside down.  It adds intrigue!!! 

A List to Lift Spirits

Today I feel like writing when I could possibly being doing something far more productive...like sewing or folding laundry or reading to the girls.

Who says writing isn't productive? Heh~ It certainly can be in many different ways. I am not thinking it's productive right now because it's an escape for me and my blah mood.

So let's make this a productive exercise shall we?

Let's start with listing 10 positive things about having your husband at home with you.  

1) Your 100% work load has now been reduced to 75% and some days even less as he just lends a hand where he can with meal prep and child care.  Wow!!  This one has thrown me for a loop.  Life is SSSSLLLLLOOOOOWWWWWWEEEEEEERRRRRR.  I don't know if I can cope!!!

2) Not only am I seeing Will more, but he looks different to me. He's more attractive and handsome than ever before.  I guess that's what happens when... you have the most time you've had together since - well since last time he was laid off in 1998. Back then, as new parents to baby Aleana it was hard to have him go back to work, but it had to be done .

3) My hubbie is not just reconnecting with me but with the kids.  ALL of them.  That is a blessing that I wasn't really expecting, especially when some of them need it more than others.  

4) My In-laws have needed help around the house for a LONG time and now we have time to give to that.  I hope he has a few more weeks at home (not too many!!) so that he can get some projects finished.

5) When your husband is at home and he is in his forties it's a good time for him to re-evaluate his life, goals and priorities.  For Will, this has been a time of reflection and assessment and it is a gift to be able, willing, and ready to look at yourself like this.

6) So because Will decided to have a mid-life crisis, I decided with some of the free time I had to have one too - after all I just turned 40 too.  What do I do with my EXTRA time?  Do I just enjoy it and rest for a few weeks?  That's what I've been trying to do but it's hard when everything is unknown and up in the air.  And I'm not one to sit still for long. Time to have a plan, some goals, be challenged and get on with it!!

7) My other half is available for more picking up and dropping off trips, and being with the girls while I do the groceries.  I like being with my children, but all the lifting in the van, out the van, in the buggie, out the buggie, back in the van and out is physically taxing in every way. I'll do it and I'll make the best of it but if I don't have to - I'd rather not.

8) We are doing alot more walking and biking, and keeping fit more than ever before!!

9) We pray more together because we see each other more. We finish breakfast together after the kids go to school and then we have lunch together with devotions as well.

10) I didn't think I'd get to 10 - WOW!!!  The biggest blessing is that the LORD uses a time of hardship to draw you closer to Him.  He shows you in so many ways how much He loves you and He takes the worry away when it get's to be too much.  I can not begin to tell how many times in the past 6 weeks He has comforted us/me with words from others, songs on the radio, Bible stories you are reading to the kids, scriptures you are studying, and circumstances that fall into place. He is good - all the time.  All the time - God is Good.

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After reading this you may think that these are GOOD times for us.  Yes, they are GOOD times from our gracious Father.  Yet, they are uncertain times.  The struggle is still there.  Guiding others through the mire when you yourself are weary is no small thing, my stomach is gurgling all the time.
Regardless of which way things go (face it, this could go on a LONG time), I pray that my head knowledge could connect it to my body that it's time to calm down.  We need endurance!!!      

Thank you to all of you for your support and prayers - we are most grateful!!!

"We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our payers.  We continually remember before our God and Father your work porduced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our LORD Jesus Christ."  1 Thessalonians 1: 2-3