A Special Delivery

 I have been working my little fingers to the bone crocheting, knitting, and now even sewing lil animals for my friend to take to Africa in June. You can see my previous post on this here.
Imagine my suprise to read on her Facebook that the trip was postponned. The price of airfare has skyrocketed...I mean to a rediculous amount. The cost of gas and other things have driven the cost up, so the decision was made to postponne the trip.....
So I freak out
and I was bummed....
and I called my friend cos I was bummed and freaking out......

These sweet little animals wouldn't have a home, and there was no way in heck I could keep up making two a day until the new date we are leaving, which is in September.

Yes, I said WE. I have finally gotten my opportunity to go. I have been craving a mission trip to help people for many years. I always find out to late, or talk myself out of it......But not this time. Those of you that know me are probably scratching your heads and not believing your eyes, but yes, this is something I have been just dying to do. I suppose I didn't talk about it much cos I was trying to talk myself out of it.

I am absolutly delighted to get to not only provide for physical needs of people, and spiritual needs of the people....but I get to hand deliver every one of my lil animals, stitched in love and prayers.  I got all the info and got in touch with the XMA(extreme missionary adventures) group leader and set up everything, got all the info and then now ........... I need money to go.
  
 I am going to offer all of you some opportunities. I am going to sell a few of the many"Animals for Africa" that I have made. Each one is special, and slightly different, and since I want to bring along a bunch, will be very limited edition. They are safe for kids (obviously) and would make a great baby gift, or just a little something for that little someone. I will be making a listing on my Facebook where you can see them. (send me a message on there if we arent already friends)
     The other thing is only if you live locally. I am going to offer manicures. Now these aren't just ANY manicures....( I was professionally trained to do manicures, and do hair too) but these include custom printed designs on your nails. This will also be listed so you can see and I will begin to take appointments in June.

 I have a  page which tells a little more about what it is we will be doing in Africa. You can click on it HERE .  Forward it to your friends, you can choose to donate on there too, if that is what you want. Or just wait for one of the many opportunities I will offer in the comming months.
  I hope you will all pray for us and help to support us on this awesome adventure....we even have room for more..........

The "in-crowd"



So a friend of mine is going to Africa on a mission trip. I have had a feeling for a long time about this..... like I would LOVE to do something like that, but then my mind goes crazy with a million "what if" and "how would that work out" scenarios. I believe I will do it, just not yet. Nevertheless, I WANT TO HELP in some tangible way. If I can't be there physically physically, then I want some part of me going in some way. I did come up with something she could take of me with her....my crochet. I also decided to challenge myself and really try to make an impact.

     So here it is....she leaves in approximately 30 days. I am going to complete 2 miniature animals a day for her to take along with her for the children she encounters on her journey. After all, I have a ton of yarn just sitting around in my stash that needs to be used up.



my favorite by far!

 Here is a post of her's from facebook recently........."Most children in America fear the monster under their bed.......most children in Uganda, Africa fear the rebels who will take them from their homes at night to become child soldiers, and teach them to kill brutally. If they are found crying......they are killed. And we complain about gas prices and not having enough money....."

I hope these little animals will give these sweet babies something to comfort them. They are loaded with love and prayers. I can't help but be moved when I hear of things like this. Be on the look out for a pattern in the next couple of days.

 If you want to help, just shoot me an email and I will tell you where to send your completed project. Here are a few I've completed:      





Have you ever gotten an "ahhh-ha" moment?

Or hear something that you think..."I wish someone would have told me that when I was young."....I get a lot of those from time to time. I take them as more of a God thing....... Him trying to show me something or to even tell me something. Sometimes it's even encouraging. On the way home from a trip to Hobby Lobby for some plastic safety eyes for my animals, I hear one particular part of a song (I have no idea what it is called or who sings it..). I wasn't even really listening to the song until it says:

"You don't have to be part of the in-crowd.

 Everyone knows who you are because your life screams Jesus."
   
 I thought right away of times where I've purposely tried to fit in somewhere. We've all done it at some point in our lives...heck we STILL do it. Now, you can't go getting the big head ........... but on those days where you feel invisible, it is rather comforting to know you aren't. Besides, we aren't here to be part of any person created group, we are here to be a part of His group, and He never snubs someone off.
                   I love my Jesus! 

Sweet Little Sweater

Maybe you know me, maybe you don't, but I just adore a newborn. Their sweet tiny hands and feet, their adorable little cries, and of coarse I don't know of one person who doesn't just swoon at the smell of a freshly bathed newborn. I can remember fighting with my mother overwho got to sniff Elaina after her bath (she's 9 now).... I also enjoy crafting for newborns as well. I love the speedy satisfaction I get from it since it's so small, and I really enjoy feeling the yummy fibers baby yarn has flowing through my fingers as I work.

I have been noticing that EVERYONE who is pregnant, that I know at least, is having/just had a baby BOY. There is absolutely nothing like a handmade gift for a new little darling. I can't help myself from devising ideas for a friend, or sometimes someone I don't even know who has a baby. Which brings me to this....... I have been just DYING to show you my latest project. I have been working on it for about a month, and just sewed the last button on it this afternoon.

Isn't it just delicious?? My favorite thing is the little buttoned sleeve cuffs, and the stockinette edging......

It was such a joy to make, and I can't wait to send it off to NY!

Are you a knitter? click here for the pattern....ITs FREE

Panic, and Cooking.....

SO. things have been a little squirlley in our house as of late. I finally decided to do something about all of my Anxiety I have been dealing with for as long as I can remember. I guess it is something heriditary, since my dad is 10X worse than I am about things. Excessive worry about literally Everything is not Okay. I want to be a better wife, mother, and person. I feel like somewhere in all this, I've lost who I really am. I havent'seen  that gal in a very long time....too long.

      In that conquest of my illness, I have tried several medications to make it better. The most recent one, which didn't help me in the least......in the process of doing that, I had a lovely reaction to the old stuff leaving my system.

 I thought I was having a Heart Attack...... I had all the symptoms of one, and it was NOT fun. So off to the doctor, who takes one look at me and sends me to the ER, where I spent the next two days getting poked, tested, and fed icky hospital food. The short of the long, is that I was having Panic Attacks....I had NO idea what the heck those were like....until now. I will be glad to say BYE-BYE to those, hopefully in about two weeks, when the new medicine begins to work. They were also able to fix my blood pressure medicine to work more effictively as well. That more than anything has helped me feel better. No more racing  heart rate, and a completely normal BP!

  Anyhow, on to nicer topics. In leiu of all of the food I had to consume to stay alive, I decided to try another new recipe from one of my newest cookbooks! When I say I am IN LOVE with my Deep COvered Baker....I MEAN IT.

My DCB

I am soooo looking forward to dipping my fork into this one. It was BY FAR the easiest Chicken Pot Pie I have ever made. I know I know...its totally corny, cos that is what the recipe is entitled. But if you know anything about Pampered Chef...they are all about EASY. I still do love to spend hours in my kitchen on occasion, but since I've gotten into all this, I don't have to anymore. The WOW factor is always there with any PC recipe. My only disappointment is this: They are being awful stingy with the recipes from this book on their website. But, you know who to ask to order you one!

Wow, it's been busy

So I am bored this morning and decide I needed to give my blog a little pampering. Hope you like it! Guess it is more veg time since this week and last have been such a blur due to a death in the family, and now it is appearing we may lose another dear family memeber. Prayers from everyone appreciated.

My goal is to try to keep up with this thing, maybe a post a day, just of my thoughts and for therapy, and when I have the inkling, pics of my latest projects.

Let's see...lately I've been cooking a whole bunch. I have been wanting to crochet and do some other things, but they are so time consuming, and that is a commodity I've been short on. Cooking has been an attainable satisfaction for me in the last few weeks. Since the Pampered Chef makes it super easy for me, I've been testing out some new recipes I got when I ordered the new Spring Line of products. All of which I love. My new favorite is the BBQ Bacon Meatloaf  from the new Dinner in Your Deep Covered Baker cookbook. I absolutely love my DCB, and it comes in so handy for when I don't have time to make an extravagant meal but would like one. Unfortunately, they don't have the recipe online yet for it, I have no idea if it will make it to their site, but it should!! However, you can get one from me, your Pampered Chef Consultant!

Well, I've been sitting here a while now, so off I go to I think knit for a while. Will post pics of the project once I get rolling on it!

Hello, Friend

So it's been a while since I have even thought about my blog...oh well, not much I can do about that, besides starting over...Doesn't help that my computer is dead for now, so I am using Kevin's laptop for work. I am really hoping that all of my photos arent gone on the old hard drive. Pax kept turing the comp off and on and it crashed about three weeks ago. My iPhone has been filling the void of being disconnected from everything, and now when he decides to bring it with him, I have Kevin's laptop.

I've been in a discouraged funk lately, and I am trying super hard to shake it off..nothing feels right, things seem to not be going my way, and I am just frusterated and done with it all. Guess I just need to re-focus on things, and stop trying to "try" so hard. I think maybe I am just not cut out for the things I am trying to do. So I have decided that I am just going to let it all go, and do what I want to do. So there...that feels better all ready.

The kids are doing really well, My two older babies are excited about starting school. I went school shopping a couple weeks ago, that was rather expensive. The teachers seem to get really picky. Elaina's stuff was the worst as far as the picky-ness...I was supposed to find a package of only pink, red, and white construction paper. I was like "forget this" and I picked up a large package of regular mulit-colored paper. Her teacher can just pick out whatever colors they need. Sheesh!

Pax is so big now..he's such a little man now. He is really asserting his independence, and is talking up a storm. Cant quite understand what he is saying just yet, but you can make out a few words and phrases.

We are gearing up for our vacation this year. We are going to the beach!!! I am so excited for the kids to get to expierence the ocean, sand, and sea shells. My parents are going to be coming along too, so it will be wonderful time for Kevin and I to go off on our own, and let mom and dad have some time with the kids. YAH! I've been wanting to go to the beach since last year. I am so glad it will finally come to pass!

Take Care All,

Why do they have to grow??

So I decided to get off my lazy fanny and quit making excuses and get outside to take some nice pics of my kiddos.....Don't know why it took me so long to finally do, or why I haven't done it a million times already, cos it is something I have fun doing! This post won't include Elaina, she was at school during the time I was taking these, but I will do some of her in the next couple days and post them.

It was really fun shooting Pax...he was all over the place outside, and I ended up with a million and one shots of his head or little booty or back, and barely any of his face...he was constantly looking at his shadow the whole time trying to catch it. thankfully I was on my game the moment he decided to look at me, and got a few really nice shots of him.

Mimi was a whole different thing..she was squinting in almost every pic, and when I was trying to be stealthy and get a candid shot, she would stop and pose! LOL. I ended up taking her to the back yard after Pax went down for a nap. There I got some wonderful pics of her...she is sooo photogenic and cute!

Looking at them after I finished, I could not believe how much they both have grown...it strains my memory to really remember EXACTLY what they were like as babies....it makes me sad that they have to grow up, but proud to see what great kids they have become/are becomming. So enjoy the pics!!!