The tree isn't the only thing GREEN in this house...

Hi.. hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!  We had a wonderful day of thanks (obviously)!  We were able to get the Christmas tree up and some decorations out {I'll post pictures soon}!  

Unfortunately, our Christmas tree is not the only thing looking green in our house lately.  Jude has been very sick the past couple of days with a stomach bug...  poor baby has been absolutely miserable.  Meanwhile, the blessings of pregnancy have caught up with me and I've been sick in the mornings.  

I thought that if I made it into my sixth week without getting sick, I would be home free.  Well, I'm almost seven weeks now and I'm feeling a little rough in the mornings.  I was VERY sick with Jude ALL day so I still have my fingers crossed for that little girl.

Back to Jude, after two days of vomiting and sleeping and some Zofran, Jude has decided to transform back into that wild redhead we love so much.  Hopefully he will still feel well tomorrow and we can go to therapy.  We haven't been able to get a successful therapy session in now for over a week!!

On some more Jude news...  we still have not completed the necessary meetings to transition him into the school system.  As you can imagine, this is beyond frustrating.  I am just so thankful I have him in private therapy so there has been no real lapse in services for him.  Hopefully we can complete the process this week or next depending on Jude's health.  So please pray that Jude gets well and stays well through Christmas.

Okay...  I just wanted to give a little details to last weeks "surprise" post:

1.  This pregnancy was a COMPLETE SURPRISE!!

2.  I have estimated my due date to be around July 21, 2011-- evidence that this wasn't exactly planned because I would never choose to be 40 weeks pregnant during the middle of a Louisiana summer.

3.  I see the doctor on the 13th and have an ultrasound on the 20th.  So I'll be asking for a lot of prayer before those two days.  

4.  We are SO EXCITED about this pregnancy!  However, that does not mean that we don't have moments of anxiety and worry over our little baby.. please pray for a peace and a confidence in the Lord for us because we want to enjoy this pregnancy.

I think that's it for now!  Hope everyone is getting in the Christmas spirit!

Hugs and Kisses,

Angel

Giving Thanks For All My Blessings

“... I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move.  Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Matthew 17:20-21

This Thanksgiving, our hearts are overwhelmed with blessings.  Three years ago, I thought that the struggles and hardships of our new life would drown out and suffocate any blessing we had to be thankful for.  

Praise God I was wrong!  

Praise God for His grace!  

Praise God for my multitude of blessings!

You see, when God gave us Jude, He gave us a very precious gift.  Because we have walked down this path, we have been given the vision to see how beautiful the small joys in life can be.  This gift of insight has also allowed us to focus on our blessings instead of dwelling in our shortcomings and disappointments.

Another precious gift we have been given through our walk with Jude is the ability to live in the moment.

“To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life--that is indeed a gift from God.  People who do this rarely look with sorrow on the past, for God has given them reasons for joy.”

Ecclesiastes 5:19-20

 I wasted so much time three years ago worrying over the future: the unseen, unknown, uncontrollable future.  I was missing beautiful moments in the present.  So I made a choice (yes, attitude is a choice) to live in the here and now.  Today is so good!  Why spoil it with worries over that uncontrollable future?  

And when that future day comes, God’s grace is there and his joy pours into that day as well as the days before.

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Jude is a huge blessing to Lane and me as well as our families and even to the people who know him.  We are so proud of Jude and so thankful for our precious son!

However, there is one area of my life that I have had to struggle with:  the prospect of future children.  It has always been a desire of my heart to fill my home with children.

After learning that Jude’s genetic diagnosis was inherited from me, I painfully tried to accept the fact that Jude may be our only child.  I prayed and prayed on direction and guidance on this delicate matter.  

Yet my fear of having another stressful pregnancy followed by an intense year of hardships and a lifetime of adversity kept me from stepping out in faith.  At one depressing point, about a year ago, I had even let this circumstance become bigger than God.  Thankfully, my focus was returned to the Lord; and my joy was returned as well.  

The Lord has rewarded our faithfulness with another gift...

It should be here some time in July!

Lane and I were not sure if we should tell people yet with our history and our high risk situation...  the fact that I am even expecting is still sinking in!  We are praying for and claiming a healthy pregnancy and baby.   We decided that the more people praying for this baby and our family, the better!  So please remember us in your quiet time!

**I LOVE LOVE LOVE all your comments-- they make me feel so loved and encouraged!!




Happy Thanksgiving,
Lane, Angel, Jude, and Baby

Projects of Procrastination - Silhouette Pillow

Okay!  Sooo, who here is guilty of chronic procrastination?  

Oooh! Oooh!  I am!  Me, right here!

I don’t think there has been a day in my life that I haven’t procrastinated on at least one task!  I consider this to be my biggest personality flaw!  It has caused me so much grief in my life: I lose sleep over last minute projects, have double the housework to do, and I am late for EVERYTHING because I procrastinate.  You would think I’d learn my lesson, but I still battle that weakness everyday.

Well back in October, Kellie at This Blessed Nest issued a craft challenge with her Silhouette Linky Party! I had two great ideas (only finished one), but a super busy scheduled coupled with some good old procrastination kept me from getting them done in time for the party.  But I still wanted to do them!

So last week, when we got home from vacation, I decided to finish my project!

I made a family silhouette throw pillow for our bed!

I just took this family picture and followed a tutorial from Loo-la-bee Simplicity to make it into a silhouette on Picnik.  

I also used picnik for the text.  I mirrored both the image and the text and printed it on some iron on transfer sheets from Hobby Lobby.

Then I ironed on my silhouette and 3 onto some pillows I made from unbleached broadcloth.  (I accidentally smudged the bottom of my silhouette with my iron so I might be redoing this pillow.)  Then I finished the pillow and viola..  

I love this scripture!  I think it went along perfectly with the family silhouette and “3” pillow.

And I think they looked kinda good on the bed (despite the smudge).

Thanks for letting me share!  

PS.  I know my walls are bare, but I will put something up as soon as I finish procrastinating ;-)

XOXO,

Angel

A Little Christmas Inspiration

Lane and I were blessed to be able to vacation with Jude and Lane’s parents a couple of weeks ago.  We went to a place I had never been before and one of the parents’ all time favorite destinations: Branson, Missouri

The trip up there was pretty long.. but my sweet hubby let me sleep most the way!  We rented a little cabin which was a first for Mr. Gary and Mrs. Lucy!  They actually really enjoyed it!!

The first day, we spent in Eureka Springs, Arkansas shopping.  It was a beautiful little town with lovely shops along the steep streets.  One of my favorite shops housed handmade quilts by the Amish people.  The baby quilts were beautiful, making me wish I had a reason to buy one!

The next two days we spent shopping and visiting Silver Dollar City.  Silver Dollar City was starting their Old Time Christmas Celebration.. and as you can see from the pictures it was beautiful!  There was Christmas music and Christmas trees everywhere, people were dressed in old fashion Christmas costumes, and the place glowed with over four million lights and a five story Christmas Tree!!

We tried to center the afternoon around Jude and he rode amusement rides for the first time!  He had a blast and that made my heart happy!

One of my favorite moments was seeing A Dickens’ Christmas Carol at Silver Dollar City.  The costumes, singing, and acting were amazing!  I racked with sobs as Tiny Tim sang “God Made Me Special”.  It was truly the highlight of the whole trip.

The last day we went shopping at the outlets, and did a wine tour and took in a show with Mrs. Lucy and Mr. Gary that evening.

Although the vacation was wonderful, I am glad to be home so I can start decorating for Christmas..  (Being around four million christmas lights will have that effect on you!)

I hope y’all are getting warm hearts and joyful spirits as we enter this happy Christmas season!

Xoxo,

Angel

I have fallin' in love

with SEWING!!!

I was asked by a sweet lady at church (who, I also just found out, is Lane's distant relative) to make two pillow case dresses for her adorable granddaughter.

She brought me some pretty fabric and ribbon.. 

And I used freezer paper to trace my pattern.. this lengthens the life of my pattern so I can just trace the size I need without cutting and pinning the actual pattern itself.  I can even use the traced pattern again a few times!


**Freezer paper for pattern tracing is by no means a new idea.  However, I have used both freezer paper and parchment patter for this purpose.  Although  the freezer paper was about the same price for much more quantity, the parchment paper was easier to trace on and overall easier to use.

And, of course I'm still using my mom's bar of soap as a pin cushion.  The needles slip in the fabric so much easier and quicker with it.  It also keeps my little sewing box smelling fresh.


I learned a great deal making these dresses.  They were lined and that was something totally new to me.  I knew lining the dress would make it seem prettier by hiding all the seams, but I was terrified of the process.  After facing my fears and some trial and error, I got the dresses finished.  I am so proud of them!

She chose contrasting materials which turned out beautiful.  I can't wait to go fabric shopping for more contrasting pieces now.

I have always LOVED being crafty and creating things, but sewing has given me an outlet I hadn't expected.  I receive such a great feeling of accomplishment and gratification when I finish my outfits.  The sad thing is that Jude is getting a little old (or so Lane says) to be wearing jonjons and longalls, so I need to have another one soon... preferably a little girl ;-)


Now everyone knows that I'm a stay-at-home mom.  It is hard for me to sit on the sidelines of the financial plays in the family, so I've been thinking about starting a little Etsy shop with some children's cloths, burp clothes, bows, accessories, chair cushions, dishtowels, aprons and such of the like  to help contribute.  Let me know what you think in a comment below because I could use all the ENCOURAGEMENT or REALITY CHECKS I can get.


For all my redhead fans:
I will have some updates on him along with some precious pictures from our recent vacation that will be up soon!


Have a great Friday!
XOXO
Angel

Happy Anniversary..

to Lane and I!!!  


Four years ago today, I married my sweetheart!  

Happy Anniversary, Lane!  I'm blessed to be your wife and Jude is blessed to call you "Papa"!  

Fall Festival

Hi!  Thanks for coming back to take a look at the pictures of my FAVORITE redhead at the Fall Festival at our church. I’m a little late posting this because we had a lot going on. 

WARNING!!! THIS IS MAINLY A POST OF PICTURES! SO PLEASE EXIT TO THE LEFT IF YOU ARE WITHOUT DESIRE TO VIEW PICTURES OF THE SWEETEST REDHEAD DRESSED AS THE CUTEST LION EVER!!

Okay.. like the warning clearly stated, this is mainly a picture post.  There were too many cute pictures to choose from and they tell enough story without my intervening!  However, I’ll give you a little summary..

We dressed Jude as a lion (tried to get him and his dad to wear Mario and Luigi costumes but Lane said no and I found the lion at Babies R Us on clearance from $29.99 to $7.50 and wasn’t going to pass up a sale like that)

We are a “participating” family.  We make sure that Jude’s uniqueness DOES NOT prevent him from any experience a three year old should have.  So Jude played carnival games and visited the petting zoo where he petted a baby alligator.. YES, I SAID ALLIGATOR!

We got to take some sweet pictures of Jude with three people we love very much! 

A Frog (Mrs. Kim), a Clown (Mrs. Nicole), and a Maw Maw!!

Oh.. and they are all out of order.. for some reason Blogger loaded them that way and it’s kind of hard to switch them around on my laptop.

Hope you enjoyed the Fall Festival pictures!