Joy Leanne

This post is dedicated to my amazing mother-in-law as she faces the last few weeks of her treatment. Hang in there! You are almost through it. And remember, what ever comes next, we are here! I was married on a Saturday in late July in the church that my dad started over 20 years ago now. For years we had met in various rental locations, until when I was 16 we finally had finished building our own building. Six years later I stood at the front of the building pledging to love one man, this man, my man, for the rest of my life, for better or worse.     That was three and a half years ago. I am still in love with my husband and enjoy my daily roll as wife and mother to our two daughters. Over the past three plus years we have spent together we have celebrated abundant "better" and struggled through our  share of "worse". Having two beautiful daughters in just under three years of marriage, buying a house, and watching God provide for us in new an unexpected ways are j...

I came into the room and found them like this. It melts my heart. It's hard to see but we were catching fire flies.  My kitchen window makes me happy. The first laundry out on the line at the new house. It's a horrible picture, but it's a post card from a dear friend out in Montana. Every year for the past three Summers she sends me post cards while she is at camp. It makes my summer.  These are the things making me happy these days. Summer is here and we are figuring out what that means around here this year. Finding that balance between staying busy and enjoying a slower pace. What's Summer look like over your way?

OOOOO SO excited Lovely Little Handmades is doing a give away. Go check it out over here.

So one of my favorites Bloggers EVER Emily over at Ravenhill is doing a give away. She is an amazing artist and a lovely person. I had been following her blog since before Christmas, then last February I bought the book Blogging for Bliss. She is featured in it and my interested was raised even more. Then she posted on my blog. It made my WEEK!  She has commented on my blog posts on and off and she always is encouraging and inspiring. Check out her give away.

It is Sunday afternoon and for the first time in what feels like weeks I actually have a few moments to rest and reflect. Josh has finally finished his six week, six-day-work-weeks. We are exhausted and drained and looking forward to going back to have a regular day off every week, other than Sundays. I've been thinking lately about this past year. It's been rather crazy. A year ago I was still six weeks from my due date for Goose. A year ago we were just finding out about my mother-in-laws cancer. A year ago we were still living in a tiny duplex. A year ago this blog was something I hardly ever visited. A year ago sewing was something I was still trying to figure out. A year ago having an etsy shop and selling my items was something I only dreamed about. Now Goose is almost a year old. She has been walking for almost two months and she and Bear are amazing to watch together. Now Ruth is almost done with her cancer treatment. It has been a long journey for her as well as those ...

The week started out crazy and hectic but has finally slowed down. A sliced toe on Bear has called for a lot of time on the sofa watching movies. I resurrected a long forgotten Christmas stocking and have been enjoying some hand work. Amazing how a few crazy days can make you appreciate that slower summer rhythm so much more.

OK so with ALL the sewing I did the past two days I didn't buy a single thing. I used only stuff I already had. Which means, my stash is now majorly depleted. So for fun I have been searching for giveaways. Here's a list of the best ones. Cluck Cluck Sew is giving away a whole set of fat quarters! There is also a cool charm square give away over here. Layer Cake  give away. Here is a jelly roll giveaway. HAVE FUN!

I have been sewing none stop for the past two days. I can't show a lot of it here yet becuase it's a surprise. So I won't post anything until it's safely to it's destination. (Hopefully by Friday!) However, since my 6 year old nephew doesn't know how to find my blog, I think it's safe to post his stuff. He turned six back in February, but due to packing up my house I kind of forgot his birthday. So to make it up I am sending him a bag of goodies for his Summer Festival this weekend.My apologies for the dark picture it was really cloudy all morning and I had to get it packed up. A drawstring back pack. I used pinking shears instead of turning in the seams. I used a different fabric for the front and the back. I use roughly a fat quarter for each side.   These are felt circle garlands. I got the idea over here. This is actually was inspired the entire project. The Lion loves decorating!! I didn't use wool felt becuase I was trying to de-stash and I had a ...

  Last Week: I finally seemed to pull out of my funk. A visit from Mom and a variety of activities seemed to help. Getting out the house with the girls during the day helped. Getting out of the house in the evening as a family, a couple, and just me also helped a lot. The fog has even lifted enough that I am looking forward to sewing again. Which is a good thing since.....   This Week: (I am looking forward to) * Sewing up a number of orders/gifts that need finishing. *Having coffee tonight with a friend from church. *Having coffee tomography night with my sister-in-law and another dear friend. *Having my old college house mate visit for the weekend and *Getting together with her and our other house mate (who lives here in town) on Saturday *And most likely hitting up the pool again because Summer isn't Summer with out the pool.

It hasn't been the easiest start to summer. Hubby's crazy work schedule, Goose's new found mobility, and Abi's crazy energy, and a overwhelming bought of loneliness have warped this season I once loved into one I am dreading. But a season it is. One that I will look back on wishing it hadn't passed by quite so quickly. So I pause, and breath, and remind myself that this is my adventure to live.