his labor of love: a Thanksgiving offering

at first glance our kitchen looked like any other kitchen the morning of Thanksgiving
ingredients being measured
batters being mixed
ovens pre-heating
refrigerators being packed to the brim
fingers licking delicious remains in shiny bowls

all in preparation for a family gathering this afternoon
so then why was I brought to tears of absolute gratitude this morning over such a typical scene?

this morning my list of blessings ran through my mind
small and important

vibrant colors
my children playing and laughing together
living next door to my mom
Spotify music accompanying me wherever i go
friends who rally around me and lift me up
family who have stood shoulder to shoulder with me these past difficult months
5th grade math answer keys
Mrs. Meyer's orange clove scented dish soap
children who tenderly hug me when I cry
a father who left a legacy of service
a mother who lives each day full of strength and grace
my testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ
my knowledge that Heavenly Father does care about my daily life
my knowledge that I will see my Daddy again

all of which, and so many more, bring my varying levels of happiness to which I am immensely grateful this Thanksgiving Day

which brings me to this morning
if you would have looked more closely at the scene that unfolded as Thanksgiving dishes were being prepared,
you would have seen a man, my dear husband,
grasping onto the counter for support as he mixed the cranberry mousse
limping as he brought ingredients to and from the refrigerator
wincing in pain as he stood to knead the bread
all the while loudly singing out gospel music because he said that it helps him forget the pain

i ache
i cry
my spirits fading, i'm buried alive

i fail
i fell
just when i fear i'm losing it all
i reached the edge of what i know
He reaches out and i let go

He is my light
He is my strength
He is the anchor of the hope that i can truly change
He magnifies what i can give
with every step and every breath
i worship Him
He is the only way and I know He lives

{april meservy, i know He lives} 

hearing his testimony of his faith in the Savior Jesus Christ sung out so loudly and with certain declaration
moved me to tears
tears of gratitude
for this absolutely incredible man that i am married to
a man of unwavering faith and eternal perspective
a man who gets up each and every day after a sleepless night due to incomprehensible pain, puts a smile on his face, pleasant words in his mouth, puts one foot in front of the other as he gingerly descends down the stairs, and then gets to work... all for us
tears of ache
as i watch him struggle so desperately to be able to perform something he takes such pleasure in
he had for years taken great pride and satisfaction in the heavenly delectable meals he had happily labored in preparing for others
tears of longing
that he would feel fulfilled in his grand desire to be able to contribute in a meaningful way

this bread that he made this morning though stunningly beautiful, aromatically delightful and mouth-wateringly delicious
means so much more to me than a delight to my taste buds
with each bite i will think of his offering, this labor of love
his declaration that Jesus will magnify what he can give
and that with every strained step he worships Him

i am thankful
most humbly thankful for him, my awe inspiring husband this blessed day


{to read more about our journey with Multiple Sclerosis click here or on the label in the right column}

a daddy's girl

today i cried in Target as i spied this simple pair of angel wings in the ...can't believe its getting close to...Christmas section
i recognized that it may be a very difficult holiday season
i had previously walked down an aisle and saw some golf items and immediately thought,
Daddy is so hard to shop for, I wonder if he'd like any of these
my heart sank as i caught my own thoughts.
i miss him sooo much,
it aches how much i miss him

as i am sure you know, as you probably have been unable to avoid knowing,
that i am hosting my Craft Explosion event in a few days
my goal was to have the garage cleaned out before then
much to the delight of my hubby
i haven't given up yet, but there may be some last minute shoving into the corners of the house

i am forcing myself to sort through boxes that have remained sealed from human eyes for the past decade or more
college notebooks and papers kept on the off chance i would need them...if i needed to use my teaching degree perhaps

in one such notebook i came across two versions of the same paper for my English 311 class in May of 1999
its funny because in reading the remarks from the professor, she says, 'how can you avoid the sentimentality of your subject matter?'
well, i guess that is just nearly impossible for me to do
my writing is rather sentimental
it comes from sentiment
that is what drives me to sit and write

this portion is from my rough draft
written by a 21 year old me

**

The zesty tang of a peanut sauce, the nose tingly aroma of an unrecognizable substance, and the consistent slurp of long noodles.  This combination of newly found savors kept my mouth exhilarated and found my fork greeting my parted lips again and again.  A typical fish aquarium was at my right.  This was definitely one of the best dates I had ever been on.  Being only fourteen I had not been on very many, but daddy always made time for each of us.  It was my turn, one on one daddy-daugher time, enjoying Daddy's favorite food-the kind that awakens your taste buds from a long sleep: Thai.

Although Daddy was busy fulfilling his various church callings and working, I always knew his family came first.  During volleyball season in high school I would look out into the sea of faces and spot a black three-piece suit carrying a cellular phone there to support me.  And when pumpkin time arrived, our twinkle toes gracefully stumbled across the daddy-daugher dance floor.

I think I have always been a daddy's girl, maybe not any more than a mommy's girl, but definitely a daddy's girl.  At the age of twenty-one by lips still form the word "daddy" instead of "father", "Dad" or even "Russell" and I have to be reminded that I am a little too big to sit on Daddy's lap.  My mommy told me that when I was a baby, the embrace of my father's arms was the only thing that could put me to sleep.  As each year continues to pass, some adding voices to the chorus, feet run, arms reach out, and voices cry "Daddy's home".

**

at the age of 34 my lips still form the word "daddy" and my feet can not wait to run into his arms again,
for Daddy is truly home

The Pretty Sock Exchange

i love meeting new people,
its one of my favorite hobbies:)

i also have been known to love 'house socks', Mike calls them
you know, those cozy patterned socks that you love,
that usually remain at home, but occasionally make it out in public hiding in boots or under pants
but really socks that pretty shouldn't be censored
and need a chance to shine

so put those two loves together {new friends + pretty socks} and you have

i have been honored to meet Amanda of Oh My Little Dears through my fabulous, well-loved friend Leslie of My Happily Ever After.  {i am hoping that if stars align, Leslie and i will be meeting her in person this February in a snow-coverd Minneapolis}

Amanda is hosting The Pretty Sock Exchange

here are the pretty little details in her own pretty little words:

Details: This pretty sock exchange is a fun way to meet other bloggers and to brighten up each others sock drawer. You will be paired with 1 swap partner. Find a pretty pair of socks and exchange!! And don't forget about the package itself!! It's always fun getting pretty mail!!! 

Dates: Sign ups will close on Nov. 9th or the FIRST 50 signups!!!  Swap partners will be issued by November 9th and please have your package sent by November 17th to avoid the craziness of  Thanksgiving and the upcoming holidays!!!

so if you'd like to help brighten up someone else's sock drawer and yours in the process,

and make a new pen pal {such a lost art},

then leap on over to Amanda's blog and enter her exchange

your feet will thank you

***

read about Amanda's heart warming birthday event here and you'll fall for her instantly

Craft Explosion Registration Giveaway

head on over to my sewing class blog Learn 2 Love 2 Sew for a chance to win

a darling set of arrow salad servers 

from the folks at the Curiosity Shoppe

it was love at first sight the moment i laid my eyes on this whimsical kitchen eye candy

its just a fun little giveaway to give you that extra push you need to register for Craft Explosion

because i know you all want to come but you just keep saying, 

'oh...i just can't decide which classes to do ... i'll register later'

'oh...just let me finish gluing on these last feathers to this Halloween costume...and then i'll sign up'

you have up to 5 ways to enter!!

head on over here for your chance to win

**giveaway has been extended til Wednesday, Nov 7th at the last stroke of midnight**

the lucky winner will be posted Thursday, November 8th over there on the blog

Craft Explosion Registration is OPEN!!

REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

How do I sign up for Craft Explosion you ask?!

Easy as 1 - 2 - 3

1. Browse through our fabulous lineup of projects listed below and make the difficult decision of which ones you will be doing.  {Make note of the options you get to choose such as paint or bead color}

2. Register online by clicking here or visiting my sewing class blog Learn 2 Love 2 Sew.  No money is immediately required to register.  Just fill out the form.

3. Pay the instructors for the projects by the date listed in the class post and through the method they accept- Cash, Check, or Paypal/Credit Card

That's it!!!

Easy peasy lemon squeezey.

Craft Explosion Class Schedule

Wednesday November 14

6:30 - 9:30 Growth Chart 

Session 1 6:30 - 7:30

Painted Utensils 

Chevron Necklace

Washi Tape Moleskine Notebook

Session 2 7:30 - 9:30

Mercury Class *ON HOLD*

Enamel Painted Glass

Fabric Pom Poms

Thursday November 15

Session 1 6:30 - 7:30

Velvet Ribbon Comb

Leather Bow Cuff

Spray Painted Shoes

Session 2 7:30 - 9:30

Needle Felting Elbow Patches

Stamped Necklace

Glass Jar Chalkboard Labels

project run-through

i am in full Craft Explosion mode

over on my sewing class blog Learn 2 Love 2 Sew

i am showing bits and pieces of our

Project Run-Through

the trial and error portion of hammering out the kinks of the classes

all in hope of creating a smooth ride for the real show

these bits and pieces reveal the classes:

enamel painted glass

stamped jewelry

growth chart

head on over this week for more sneak peeks

2012 Craft Explosion Lineup

head on over to my sewing class blog Learn2Love2Sew for the
2012 Craft Explosion lineup

13 Classes to choose from
insanity i tell you
pure welcomed insanity
can't you feel the crafting energy already

2 nights {Nov 14 & 15}, each 3 hours long and divided into 2 sessions
class times and fees will be posted shortly
and online registration will begin!

to see what Craft Explosion was all about last year click here
here's a little preview for this year

http://www.dismountcreative.com/diy-chevron-necklace

http://www.littlebitfunky.com/2012/03/painting-wooden-spoons.html

http://blog.silhouetteamerica.com/2012/03/diy-growth-chartwall-art.html

head over here for the complete lineup

slowing down and drinking it in

something refreshing and different happened yesterday
it was almost as if i was watching myself and my interactions with my children from afar
time slowed down just a bit today
allowing me to recognize the moments in which i was feeling content in doing the little things of motherhood

gazing down at my faintly freckled faced ten year old boy.  as i watching him talk to me after school, i was only half listening as i peered onto his changing face.  Owen has grown up so much this summer. a smile came across my face and i gave him a soft kiss on the cheek interrupting him mid sentence.

sitting next to my little E on his bed, as he has been feeling a bit under the weather the past few days.  he kindly requested that i clip his fingernails.  you would be jealous of the speed at which they grow, of course quite less desirable for a seven year old boy.  we laughed as i tried to contain them as they shot in every which direction, one bounced off my nose.

calming a crying Tate on my bed with a little facial massage, he experiencing some pain behind his eye and an earache.  his sweet little face finally relaxing, with his eyes closing putting his long eyelashes to rest.  i did little circles on his temples, forehead, cheek bones, and across his jawbone.  this child responses instantly to touch.

attempting to brush Felicity's teeth through tightly sealed lips.  laughing and acquiescing to the fact that she has to do everything herself.  i was thoroughly entertained with the intensity in which she scrubbed her teeth and then the gentleness she then used to softly wash the toothpaste off her face when she was finished.

how i love looking upon these faces

i found myself being okay with and thankfully even drinking in this different phase of life,
being consumed in motherhood
not having many spare moments to craft, decorate, blog, or even to finish those 'must do's
another major change has occurred in our family
i have decided to homeschool Owen part-time this year
a subject i would like to explore more with you at a later time
it has brought about some serious introspection on what i am willing to do for my children's happiness and what role their development plays in my own
sometimes time i give up to do those little things like administer medicine, trim fingernails, or patiently allow my child to do something on their own that i know would take me a fraction of the time,
becomes ground for bitterness, thinking about the more desirable things that i would rather be doing.
i am so grateful for those simple moments i caught myself doing yesterday
when i could almost see myself interacting with each individual child as if on a home movie
i felt so much satisfaction in motherhood
that was truly a tender mercy from my Heavenly Father during this time of fast paced transitions

just daddy and me

i am missing my daddy

today is the first time i have seen these photos
these incredible photos that are causing me to hold my breath
wishing i could just go back to that day
when i could hold him
feel his soft hair
hear his laugh
and just be next to him

i love all the subtleties in these
my gaze
his gaze
the lean of my forehead onto him
soft kiss
soft smiles
silly grins
each capturing varying emotions and aspects of my relationship with him
admiration
pride
safety
comfort
appreciation
love
silliness
joy

i just wanted to feel near him today
so i asked our dear friend cheryl who had the foresight to take these
if i could finally see the ones of him and i
i had seen the ones with each individual grandchild
and the one of us as an entire family
but not the ones of just Daddy and I
oh how i adore him
and ache to have him here

really having these photos are an absolute miracle and mercy of a loving Heavenly Father
this was the last day that i can remember Daddy really being Daddy
laughing at ease
happy to be near us
even later on that night at my cousin's picturesque wedding, dancing the only way Daddy could
he had us rolling

daddy is not a 'photo' person
its a definite 'man' trait in our family
but he was so gracious, so easy going that day
he just enjoyed each and every one of us and our individual, unique relationship with him
he always made each of us feel special

of course he enjoyed the dynamic of our whole family together
that's always eventful
such as when the sofa that we hiked out to the middle of the field, the sofa that has been in our family since we were kids, sunk into the ground when we all sat and leaned on it
and when sudden gusts of wind blew hair and clothes and surrounding debris every which direction just at the moment we were all finally situated, causing continual laughter and mayhem
its never a dull moment

so even though it is difficult to see these
i will treasure these each and every day until i will see him again

Ka-Pow, Craft Explosion is on

{photo by alibubba}

once upon a season i made time for superfluous, yet awfully lovely things like hobbies

it wasn't that long ago really

i have a sewing class that at one point in time was taught every month at my home

filled with the humming of machines and the chatter of budding seamstresses

our best attended and showpiece event last year was 

CRAFT EXPLOSION  

two nights full to the brim of cutting, gluing, painting, stapling, beading, staining,

and of course eating and talking

well its finally happening

CRAFT EXPLOSION  that is

after all that has been happening in my life
i almost let it pass by, just not sure i had it in me,
but i decided to i must do it for several important reasons:
* i would be so sad if i didn't do it, i had a blast last year, can you believe its been a whole year?
* i miss you ladies, i need your energy and craftiness
* i desperately need a creative rush, and there are so many amazing projects just calling our names
* my daddy was such a supporter of my classes, and i know he would want me to carry on

so it is decided
CRAFT EXPLOSION will happen on
NOVEMBER 14 and 15
dependent on one very important condition

YOU

won't you be my teacher
won't you please
please won't you be
my teacher

oh its so much fun,
you know you want to
just ask them how much fun it was

look for possible class choices for you to choose to teach over here on my sewing class blog
or just come and craft away for two fantabulous nights
{sorry, no sleepover}
and all the fun details
coming very soon

****UPDATED POST with details on the 2012 CRAFT ExPLoSioN LINEUP HERE****