{Project 365} Day 32: Birthday

Because when it's your birthday, whether you're young or old (according to your six year old...36 is old) you have the priviledge of choosing whatever piece of cake you want, especially the coveted middle piece.  Grin!

 

 

{Project365}: capturing this life - one photo (or so) every day for one year

 

 

Big thanks to Mike and Sadie for baking my cake.  Big thanks to Elijah and Sadie for frosting it.  Big thanks to my family for celebrating me on this most ordinary of special days. 

 

Ordinary and super blessed, that is...

{Project 365} Day 31: Beautiful Blizzard

These are the times I love living where it snows...

 

...it was so beautiful on Saturday.

 

 

 

 

{Project365}: capturing this life - one photo (or so) every day for one year

{Project 365} Day 29: Aqua Scarf

I'm kinda digging scarves right now.  This one is a thrifted, square old lady scarf folded into a triangle with two ends tied together like a cowboy's handkerchief.  He, he!  It still had the paper label attached with its vintage print but no date.  Just goes to show that all things come back again...take a look at that aqua color.  Gorgeous!

 

 

{Project365}: capturing this life - one photo (or so) every day for one year

{Project 365} Day 28: The Sewing Bowl

I had grand plans for celebrating "The Sewing Bowl" this weekend.  How great does that sound - a whole bunch of time spent sewing instead of watching football?!

See all the supplies I had pulled out...pieces to finish a custom doll for a repeat customer, fabrics to cut out a few smaller dolls like the giveaway doll, material for infinity scarves, and fabric for extra custom dolls to be listed in my etsy shop in the future... 

 

A long list of projects... 

 

 

But now, I'm being forced to rename this event "The Sewing Hour" for that pretty much sums up the amount of time I actually spent sewing.

 

I knew the reality of clocking a lot of sewing time was going to be fairly impossible, however, I still had my hopes up.  There is a bit of a battle going on in my heart about choosing a good attitude. 

 

I'm sure I'll be over it soon.  Grin.

 

 

I did get this sweet infinity scarf finished.  It took about one minute to sew it.  Uh-ma-zing, I know!  It is actually a finished scarf I picked up at the thrift store for $1.48.  I simply took the short ends and sewed them together to make a circle.  Voila, infinity scarf!

 

Now it's 10pm and the dining room still covered with all my sewing stuff.  Maybe I'll find some time tomorrow...

{Project 365} Day 27: I'm Fine

Never has it felt so good to hear the words "...and I'm fine" after an 8:00am phone call that wakes your sleep followed by the words "I had an accident..." 

 

The kids and I managed our week fairly well while Mike was traveling.  We prayed for safety every day he was away.  Then today, the day he was finally back home, he had a car accident. 

 

We're praising God that Mike was unhurt, the car appears to only have a broken front bumper, and we were reminded to pray for safety even in the three miles it takes to travel to and from work.

 

 

This morning's chaos stirred up long held fears of mine about car accidents in rivers and my inability to rescue my children.  I've never been in a car accident but my mind always imagines the worst.  When I struggle with fears and this one in particular, I repeat...

 

"Jesus, captivate my thoughts..."  {"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."  2 Corinthians 10:5}

 

"Jesus, remove my fears..."  {"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears in not perfected in love."  1 John 4:18}

 

"Jesus, let me feel your presence..."  {"Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."  Deuteronomy 31:6}

 

"Jesus, give me peace..."  {"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."  Isaiah 26:3}

 

 

{Project365}: capturing this life - one photo (or so) every day for one year

  

Needless to say, once the kids and I returned home (after rescuing Mike with a warm car while waiting for the tow truck), I spent some time talking with the Lord trying to calm my jittery nerves.  It took my stubborn fearful heart a bit of convincing, but by early afternoon, I felt at peace again.

 

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of the God.  Set you mind on things above, not on earthly things."  Colossians 3:1-2

 

And I'm fine, too...as long as I maintain an upward focus.

{Project 365} Day 26: Fire-Roasted Chipotle

Mmm...so delicious!  At first crunch, you almost think you're eating a Dorito, but then you realize these chips don't have a fakey cheese flavor or coating and your fingers don't turn orange while snacking.  And, well, they just taste better than Doritos.  In fact, you realize that they actually don't taste like Doritos after all except for that first bite.

 

Imagine my distress when I went to my Wegmans and there were none on the shelf where I found them in the first place.  Oh, they had other flavors, but not this flavor. 

 

NONE. 

 

Crushed.

 

   Crumbled.   

 

 

Just like this...

 

 

{Project365}: capturing this life - one photo (or so) every day for one year

{Project365} Day 25: Classes and Clothing

 Our history studies are so much fun this year!  We're using Project Passport: The Middle Ages by Homeschool in the Woods.  I love the variety of activities and audio tours.  It's a little strange for me to read our "text" straight from the screen rather than having a printed copy even though printing is an option.  I'm trying to save a little paper, ink, and time by not printing more than necessary. 

 

Elijah and Luke cover some of the material in their history class at our weekly co-op.  The rest of the week, with Isaac joining in, I add on to what they've all ready completed in class - living books and the more time consuming projects.  Below are "puppets" depicting the different classes of people and the clothing they would have worn.

 

 

 

{Project365}: capturing this life - one photo (or so) every day for one year

{Project365} Day 24: Sunday Afternoon Relaxing

:: A warm cup of coffee.  Decaf, please.  Lots of French Vanilla Creamer.  In a large, lovely green mug.

 

:: Soft thrifted flannel.  I'm not normally a red clothing person, but my hubby has a flannel in a fairly identical red plaid and I thought we could wear matching shirts.  Let's face it, I'm a dork.  Or I'm madly in love.  Likely both. 

 

:: A rather hefty slice of cinnamon crumb cake.  I ate it before taking this picture.  Besides, I didn't want to make you drool.

 

 

{Project365}: capturing this life - one photo (or so) every day for one year

{Project 365} Day 23: Unglued

Every Wednesday from 1:00pm - 2:00pm, I sit in our van during piano lessons.  I read (yes, one can concentrate even with four loud children in such a small place), pass out snacks to keep my children quiet in said small place, write and make lists, call my mom or text friends for a quick "hello", and occasionally work on schoolwork if I'm feeling especially behind that day.

 

 

{Project365}: capturing this life - one photo (or so) every day for one year

 

I started reading Unglued before Christmas but had to put it down.  I knew it was going to hurt like Aslan's claws tearing into my flesh.  This book dives deep into an issue I've battled hard for about six years - one that I feel creeping up on me everyday recently as I allow pressures to mount while desperately trying to stuff them down. 

 

You see, I didn't know I was a "screamer" until our third son was born.  Frustration, inadequacies, tiredness, trying to control yet feeling completely out of control, things not going perfectly, stress, and a million other emotions welling up inside me to the boiling point.  And then I'd explode all over. 

 

Yuck. 

 

It was a mess. 

 

I was a mess. 

 

Than along came my Titus 2 mentor - not knowing the depth of my struggle - and she began speaking words straight to my heart.  Words of love, mercy, grace, and the need for repentance and reliance on the Lord. 

 

And my heart began to change.  The Lord was making me new. 

 

The Lord is making me new. 

 

Praise God.

 

I need reminders of this sort all the time.  Unglued will be my reminder for this present season.  I'm dying to read it and scared at seeing my sinful ugliness afresh.

 

"Progress.  Just make progress.  It's okay to have setbacks and the need for do-overs.  It's okay to draw a line in the sand and start over again - and again.  Just make sure you're moving the line forward.  Move forward.  Take baby steps, but at least take steps that keep you from being stuck.  Then change will come.  And it will be good."  (Unglued, pg. 14-15)

{Project 365} Day 22: Snuggling

 

{Project365}: capturing this life - one photo (or so) every day for one year

{Project 365} Day 21: On the Trail

 

 

{Project365}: capturing this life - one photo (or so) every day for one year

{Project 365} Day 20: Dedicated to the Lord

Today was a very special day in Silas' life.  Our family stood before our church body committing to raise Silas to know and love the Lord.  Such a huge responsibility!  We are so thankful for the support of family and friends that stand with us in our desire to honor God with our lives and the children entrusted to our care. 

 

 

{Project365}: capturing this life - one photo (or so) every day for one year

{Project 365} Day 19: Sleepy Sweetness

 

{Project365}: capturing this life - one photo (or so) every day for one year

{Project 365} Day 18: Lego Car Races

We spent all day at Strong National Museum of Play with our fabulous cousins.   We were able to see the new Lego exhibit that unexpectedly opened a day early!  Super fun for our Lego lovers!

 

I even made it into a picture with Silas.  Yay!

 

 

{Project365}: capturing this life - one photo (or so) every day for one year

{Project 365} Day 17: Canvas Art

We are so blessed to have two of our cousins (and their mama) visiting us for a few days.  We had tons of fun completing this art project together!

 

 

 

{Project365}: capturing this life - one photo (or so) every day for one year

{Project365} Day 16: Cardboard Castle

 

{Project365}: capturing this life - one photo (or so) every day for one year

{Project365} Day 15: Many Hands Make Light Work

Many hands make light work and that's a good thing...

 

 

...because many bodies make lots of laundry.

 

{Project365}: capturing this life - one photo (or so) every day for one year

{Project365} Day14: A Tale of Two Talking Cats

...a fairy tale of talking cats, spies, and intrigue for his writing class at homeschool co-op

 

 

 

{Project365}: capturing this life - one photo (or so) every day for one year

{Project 365} Day 13: The Makings of a Doll

 

{Project365}: capturing this life - one photo (or so) every day for one year

{Project365} Day 12: Eden Grace

 

Sadie chose this baby because she looks like our new baby cousin, Eden Grace.

 

(Baby Alive was 50% off at Target - $12 - great clearance items right now!)

 

 

Our real Eden Grace - she's so stinkin' cute!!!

 

 



{Project365}: capturing this life - one photo (or so) every day for one year