snowmen are the winter's sandcastle & other blizzard blessings

My little family and I live in upstate NY.  So "Nor'easter Nemo" paid us a lovely visit.

We ended up with around 16 inches of snow.

It started flurry-ing Thursday night.  And really picked up late Friday morning.  It fell fast.

While it was still snowing, we decided to take advantage of all the fun we could have before it got too deep to move.  So we bundled the kids up {which takes longer than the actual time you spend outside...but it's really so worth it} and headed into the big white world.

We had fun throwing snowballs and building a snowman {Annaleigh & JD's first!}.  Laughing.  Sweating and getting cold, at the same time.  JD constantly face planting into the drifts of snow....then crying...followed by giddy giggles.  Teaching Annaleigh the joy of eating fresh snow.  Being. a. family.  Being happy.  Feeling blessed.

It was wonderful.

To see a bunch of breathtaking pictures...

...head on over here.

a few things on Friday 2.8.13

1. On Super bowl Sunday, I was getting Annaleigh ready for bed & carrying her to the bathroom {I can't get enough of that girl's cuddles and squeezes...even on the way to the potty...}.  I then slipped on a toy that was hiding on the stairs.  We both fell.  Her head slammed into the wooden molding at the base of the cornered part of the wall.  It caused a severe laceration.  And a lot of blood.  We took her to the ER where they gave her liquid stitches.  The next day a very large bump and bruise appeared.  And now, just yesterday, black eyes started to form.  But she's ok!  She's so brave.  A real trooper.  She didn't even cry in the hospital as the doctors and nurses cared for her.  And she went right back to her sweet, normal self once she got patched up {and I'm sure it had nothing to with the orange popsicle we gave her when we got home at 3am...mom of the year...right here}.  All the while telling her upset Mama, "I'm OK Mama.  I love you."  Bless. her. heart.

2. John David said his first word!!  Yes, he's 18 months old.  And no, he doesn't talk yet. {He knows some basic sign language...so that helps with communicating with him.} And much to my husbands disappointment,  his first word wasn't "Syracuse" or "Orange" or "Otto".  It was the word, "Pinkies".  haha!  True story.  But that's because we do "pinkie swears" with our kiddos all the time...not for the sake of a promise...but because it's fun to do. And we yell the word, "PINKIES!" each time we do it.  What's even funnier, is that pinkie-swears aren't an ole-time-tradition in this house.  It just started about a week ago.  Apparently, it's a fun enough game to be worthy of a word!  I'll take it!

3. Mike has started sending resumes out.  Literally, ALL OVER.  We are just praying someone likes his resume enough to give us a call back.  We are excited to see how the Lord directs  us in all this!  It's such an adventure!!

4. I am currently interested in typography {aka. handlettering}.  It's so much fun.  I've always liked to draw.  And I've always tried to write in different fonts my whole life {just because I wanted seriously-cool handwriting that people would envy...I know...weird.} It's a lot harder than I thought!  There's a method and a science behind it.  Just like with anything, really.  So I'm attempting to teach myself.  I'm doing tons of research and TONS of practice...practice...and more practice...

5. And most days, I get discouraged with the news and with the politics of this country.  I'm always thinking to myself, is there any hope left for our nation? Most days I'd say no...there isn't.  But then someone gives a speech LIKE THIS in the immediate & direct presence of the President of the United States.  And I'm reminded that #1) God is still in control, and #2) there are still people in this world doing lots of good things.  So chin up.  All is not lost.

Happy Friday!!

Dance partying with Abby over here:

writing *almost* everyday

I didn't write a post yesterday! ACK!

Wednesdays are INCREDIBLY difficult for me to find time...for anything.

It's my busiest day of the week.

I attend a local Community Bible Study in the morning...so we have to leave the house at 9am.  The kids and I get home and eat lunch.  I then put them both down for a nap.  I clean like a crazy woman to prepare for the sitter that's coming. They wake up.  I make a quick dinner (as they claw at my legs for attention). I hop in the car to pick up the sitter.  Mike and I speed off to our community group.  We get home at 9:30pm.  I drive the sitter home.  Mike puts JD to bed.  I return.  I read books to Annaleigh and put her to bed.  By the time the whirlwind of a day is over...it's 10:30pm.  And I am NOT a night-person.  I hit the couch and CRASH.

There's barely a moment to think!  Let alone put coherent thoughts to paper...err...to screen.

I knew this was coming too.  Maybe it was self-fulfilling prophecy?  Next week...I'll try and prepare a post in advance.

How do you handle your busy days?  Do you practice "planned neglect"? Or do you do major preparation when you know the "crazy" is coming? Or do you do like me...and deal with the messy after-math of failed responsibilities?

Here's to writing 27 days in February!!

money raised. money given. lives changed.

Do you remember this post I wrote prior to Christmas?

Well here is the result.  I'd say God used the people of Northridge to reclaim Christmas for the city of Rochester and beyond.  Don't you?

Advent Conspiracy Giveaway from Northridge Media on Vimeo.

All the praise. All the glory.  All the honor.  Belongs to God.

I am grateful to be a part of this body of believers.  Even if only for one year.  #unbelievable #OnlyGod

This is where the rubber meets the road.  This is REAL Biblical and God-honoring Christianity put into action!  The people of God working TOGETHER to make a POSITIVE difference in our communities and around the world.

This internship has been AMAZING....to say the very least.

my crafty christmas {a promise kept}

I had written this Facebook status on December 21st:

When I bought that remnant of fabric for $8.95, I winced. (It's a bit pricey for a remnant.) But I'm glad I did! I have been able to sew FIVE Christmas gifts from that bad boy!!! That's $1.79/gift!!! (And there's NO WAY the things I made would cost $1.79 in the stores.) Can I get a "like" from all the fellow-crafters and DIYers out there??!! woot! woot!

Many of my friends and family were curious as to what I made.  They begged me to post pictures.  And I really wanted to tell them all.  But...they were Christmas gifts for my family.  And my family follows me on FB.  So that means they would have seen all their gifts BEFORE Christmas.  That just wouldn't be cool.  Ya know?

So I promised them all that I would post pictures of my crafty sewing creations AFTER Christmas was over.  So here they are -with the titles as links to the tutorials I used!

The following pictures are the gifts from the remnant AND some other gifts I crafted from material I already owned.  That means I only spent $8.95 on my family this Christmas.  But if you ask me...they don't look that cheap!

Phone Charging Pocket {Betula Loo Blog}

This was part of that remnant material I mentioned in my FB status (which was a blue canvas). 

I made 3 of these.

Roll-Up Tool Organizer {CraftSylish Blog}

I made 2 of these.

These were also made from that blue canvas remnant.

Fabric Scrap Basket {The Sometimes Crafter Blog}

I added handles to the baskets.

I also made them three different sizes so they would be "nesting" baskets.

Open Wide Zipper Pouch {Noodlehead Blog}

 Classic Apron for Kids {Making It Fun Blog}

Crochet Hook Clutch {Little Birdie Secrets Blog}

Happy Crafting!
Happy Monday!
And here's to keeping promises!

dear john david

Your Mama hasn't written to you much on this here blog. But it's for good reason. Since the day you were born, I've spent most of my days hugging and kissing on you.  You are my sweet distraction. I also have an obsession with baby cheeks.  While I was pregnant, I prayed you'd have a perfect set of them.  And my prayers were answered. And distract me all the more.

But that doesn't mean all the wonderful things you do pass by me without notice.  No sir.  I keep a journal for you.  And I quickly write down all the snippets of your life so I can be sure the special baby you are is recorded for all time.  

My love for you runs deep, my boy.

I was always been told that there is a special and mysterious bond between a son and his mother.  I have found it to be true.  

The moment you were born, a tender spot was created and nuzzled inside just for you. 

You are my "bubba"; my "monster man".  You are a boy through and through.  The sweetest terror on two feet. You love sports.  You love footballs, baseballs, basketballs, hockey pucks, and golf clubs.  And anything has the potential to become an airborne torpedo. You eat food as if it would no longer exist tomorrow.  Except pancakes and scrambled eggs.  Those food items you could always do without.

You are a goofball.  Always teasing.  Always laughing.  Always finding trouble. Terrorizing your sister...and blaming it on her.   Hoping someone will tackle you to the ground and wrestle. 

Your first teeth came in late.  Exactly one week prior to your first birthday. And now you have 10! 

And you still haven't uttered a single word.  {Although I firmly believe you say "aaa-ma" for "Mama".}  You prefer to point and grunt.  I mean, why change?  Everyone around you understands exactly what you mean.

Although I would consider you a "classic" boy, you are extremely tender.  Your feelings get hurt easy and you can't stand it when you don't accomplish things after your first try.  You rip at your shirt hulk-style when you get mad. And nearly faint from forgetting to breathe.

But it's easy to get you to laugh smile and forget what the fuss was all about.

You are loyal to those you love.  And worship your sissy.  You copy your sissy.  And you hate to be without her. She is your rock-star.

You never sit still.  And cuddle-time is rare.  So forgive me when I rejoice in the times your are sick.  It's really the only time you want to snuggle.  Most days, when I try to create snuggling-opportunities, you see it as a chance to turn me into your personal human jungle-gym.

You bring me immeasurable joy.  Joy I didn't even know I needed in my life.  And I need you in my life, sweet boy.   Whenever I'm sad and forget what this life is all about, I simply gaze into those brown eyes of yours and my heart skips a beat.  I become warm all over.  And I'm instantly mesmerized by your love.  

You are so special. You belong here with us. I love you.  More than you will ever know.

And I'm so glad you are mine.