My Latest Craft Affair

I have learned about loom knitting.  Sounds crazy fun doesn't it?!?  I have avoided looms up to this point because for some odd reason, I thought they were a wait to cheat in the land of knitting.  Well, I am silly and it is not cheating, but just another form of knitting and a much faster form too.  My most recent love is making hats for babies.  My girlfriends are popping out babies left and right and thankfully, I have been able to share some hats with some of those new, sweet babies.

This particular hat is for a preemie.

Anyone else out there still feeling the sheer weight and lethargy from Thanksgiving?  I am!  It is Wednesday, I am still exhausted and my pants are uncomfortably snug already.  I guess it is that time of year again and it probably won't calm down until after the New Year.  Ugghhh...

So, does it have to be this way?  I figure that I do have options here.  The church we recently became members of is embracing "Christmas Different" this year.  Basically, don't spend all your time in the mall or swiping the credit card for money you don't actually have on gifts.  Rather spend that time with family and friends and try homemade gifts, potlucks, singing Christmas carols and loving on people.  Can it be done?  I definitely believe one can be successful at this if they want.  Will that include me?  I don't know but one can try.

In the realm of health, last night I walked long after the sun had set and finally the rainy drizzle had ceased.  Also, I was pretty excited that I was able to turn down the Peanut M&Ms offered to me with noticeable self-control.  I didn't even have to excuse myself from the room while my dad enjoyed the colorful sweets.  I love sweets!  If I eat one, before I know it I have eaten half the 5lb bag.  Will this continue?  Who am I kidding?  Probably not.

How about you?  What do the holidays feel like to you?  Do you dread them or do they awaken a part of you that leaps for joy during this season?  What traditions does your family take part in that my be outside the norm for our society?

Samuel's Story written by his Daddy

We are made stewards of precious things and never by choice.  It is given to us as God gave Adam stewardship over the plants and the animals.  The creator decides and we are left to accept.  One of these precious gifts is the stewardship of our selves.  We are given discretion and responsibility and make decisions on the life that has been given us.  We teach our children how to be good stewards of themselves and the world around them.  Sometimes, though, for whatever reason, another must take this role of stewardship.  Such is the case with our little Samuel.  It is up to me to be a good steward of my son.  His memory and impact on this earth are directly related to how I hold them up.  My own selfish desire to be angry or bitter does not honor my son and does not make me a good steward of his memory.  I refuse to tarnish his short precious life with a darkness of spirit.  We honor him by glorifying his life and the creator that knit him together so preciously.  We are all a steward to Samuel's life. This doesn't mean we can't mourn or be sad for the loss, but it means we sacrifice the desire to dwell in bitterness, anger, and faithlessness.  As he bravely fought, we must honor him by glorifying the one that gave him to us.

Hannah explained, "I have asked for him from the lord," as she named her new son Samuel.  The Lord answered her prayer and Hannah gave her son to Him.  We prayed for our Samuel and loved him before we knew his name.  The Lord answered our prayer, but I lived fearfully.  I had faith all would be fine, but my heart remembered Samuel's brother.  Fear keeps us from life.  Its desire is to discourage and bind.  I lived cautiously.

Weeks passed and Samuel grew miraculously.  Fingers and toes were fearfully and wonderfully made.  His little heartbeat, which we first heard at 6 weeks, was perfect and pure.  We saw the ultrasound and it was unmistakable we were having a boy.  We rejoiced and laughed and felt light.  A few minutes later we were told to go straight to the hospital.  My heart remembered.  It knew this feeling.  We had been here before.

All was stable for the first few days.  There was a plan in place and we were just to wait.  Then just as suddenly as we were there, Sarah's water broke.  Our stability was again broken and the memories rushed back.  There was no way we could do this again.  Everything was all too familiar. 

But nothing happened.  We continued in the hospital and lived in the frigid recycled air for 2 weeks.  Samuel was alive and his precious heartbeat was music to our ears.  The most perfect melody ever played.  We were shown grace and something inside changed.  This was not the time to live in fear, it was given time.  We are all on loan here on this earth, and there are times when we realize it.  Our son was still with us and we were going to enjoy him.  We read to him at night and prayed for him.  But we were not so much praying for him anymore as we were praying with him.  We were teaching him to be a good steward, as best we knew how. 

Those days were a gift.  It's sometimes hard to see it that way, but they were.  After two weeks we went in for another ultrasound and the melody had stopped.  Samuel's heart was no longer beating.  We unwillingly gave him to the Lord.

We take comfort in knowing that Samuel is with his brother, Ethan.  I long to see my boys and tell them face to face in the kingdom how much they are loved.  I am proud of them and thankful for them.  Our time was short, but it doesn't make it any less important.  I am deeply humbled and happy to see all of you and to know how much our boys are loved.  There are three things, the bible says, faith, hope, and love, but the greatest of these is love.  The love that our boys brought in to the world is real and tangible.  I could not ask anything more of their lives than that they fostered love.  That is the greatest legacy of all.


Mommy writing now...

Amazingly enough, Samuel's story is continuing today.  Stories have been shared how his life has affected others hearts even now.  God is using our little boy.  We are honored and proud as parents.  

Baby Memorial

 Samuel's candle is on the bottom row, second from the left.

We contributed two sunflowers.

Today we celebrated the lives of babies that have passed away over the last 6 months.  The room where the memorial took place was devastatingly full to capacity.  Matt and I walked in to the room with a different heart this year as we have done all this before.  Still, tears were shed.  An excerpt from a writing by Matthew that was read at Samuel's memorial service back in July was shared today, along with other families contributions of poems and short stories.  One was even presented in Spanish.  Big brothers and sisters mourned their sibling, parents came forth with empty arms having lost twins and even triplets.  We love our children and want to honor them the best we can.  We are parents.  

 

Our family has not taken a photo together, well-groomed anyway, since before the oldest grandchild was born.  That took place almost seven years ago!  So, the shots above are long overdue.  So much has changed.  Christi and Matt have been added to the pack through marriage and four grandbabies have been born.  It is hard to believe all that has taken place.  It leaves me at a loss of words, so I will end this by saying, "I am thankful."

(Too bad the top photo is tilted.) 

I Smile Every Time

It is true!  Every time I see a hot air balloon, I can't help but smile.  It isn't a regular smile but "I just stepped out of my world for 15 seconds, gazing upon something beautiful and felt a smile on my face from the peace I feel in the depths of my being" kind of smile...pretty intense.  I love it and fortunately I experience this at least once a week.  When we moved several years ago to the home we are currently in, I noticed these floating mood enhancers and became surprised at their frequent appearance.  Anyway, several days ago, my first look to the outside world before leaving for work is what I am sharing with you now.  The sun was still in its early ascent, the Fall leaves changing, starting to descend and the crisp morning air prickly on my face.  Just lovely!

This experience makes me feel loved actually.  Apparently, because of the physiological and emotional response, I really like hot air balloons.  Even better, I get to see them all the time.  With having such a rough past couple of years, I can't help but think that these cross my path on purpose.  They truly pull me out of myself and alter my attitude.  It's amazing though, if I lived Truth, I might have a different outlook on life all the time.  Imagine that!

Three Years of Dancing

My husband and I have been married for three wonderful years today!  I am so thankful for him.  I am thankful for his dedication to our marriage, to our children and honoring them, to our families and friends, his work and the community.  I am thankful that he is forever seeking growth within himself, encouraging the same for me and searching for growth as a union.  I am thankful that he hands all this over to God.

I love you Matthew!

(Photos courtesy of Visual Cadence)

Rosemary Chicken Rub

2 tsp salt and pepper

2 T parsley

2 T oregano

2 T basil

2 T rosemary

4 tsp butter

Combine all the dry ingredients, toss on the bird that is already in the crock pot, add tabs of butter to the top of the chicken and cook on High for 5 hours.  I did add some garlic to this recipe and thyme.  It is the first time I have used this recipe and overall I enjoyed it.  When I make it again, I will reduce the salt a little bit (don't tell my husband).  Also, after the chicken is cooked, removed from the crock pot and cooling, remove the meat from the bones.  Add the bones and skin back in to the crock pot along with 5 cups of water and let the broth cook on Low overnight.  Come morning, your house will smell amazing and you will have homemade chicken broth.  Yummm!

Strawberry Craziness

This beautiful work, Strawberry Whoopie-pie, was a sweet and a coma inducing treasure we enjoyed at The Brick Store in Decatur, GA.  When a friend and I ordered it to share, we thought we might get a conservative sized sweet.  Instead, we received this monster that took three separate meals to devour.  All this to say, I recommend you order one!

Today we did something that neither of us has ever done...apple picking!  In the last week or so, I had read other blogs or heard friends talk at work and on FB of their own experiences and it sounded too good for us to pass up. Also, we live close to Ellijay which is known for its apple orchards.  We had a great time and even came home with some freshly fried apple pies to go with our apples!  If you get the chance, go apple picking this Fall and if you happen to live close to northwest GA, visit Reece Orchards.  Also, this orchard and others in the area are near Burt's Pumpkin Farm.