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Monthly Archives: May 2010

Whatever the current politicians may do, there are always individuals who are willing to serve and sacrifice for this amazing country and my thanks go out to them! Pioneer Woman is doing a photographic tribute based on the theme "Coming Home" to focus on what Memorial day is all about.

Not another second apart
My husband happens to be one of those men and this is one of our homecoming pics that I am so honored that she featured.

Our time in the military has included struggles and long separations but we have been blessed with the joy of reuniting each time my husband comes home safely. I know that is not every family's experience. One of our friends experienced an early homecoming due to a serious injury that they still deal with on a daily basis. And sadly many never come home alive. My grandfather never returned from Vietnam and my Grandma has bravely lived an honorable and joyful life in his memory.

Good job dad
This is a photo I snapped of my son telling Dad "Good Job" after he returned from a deployment. I want to say Thank You for your Job Well Done to all who have served our country past and present! And for those whose loved ones have given the last full measure of devotion  - I don't know your loss, but I thank you and I pray that you will feel the appreciation of each one of us not just this weekend but every day. 

and one more thing, it isn't just the person who wears the uniform that desperately needs a thank you. The lonely wives, the scared little kids who miss their parent, the proud but anxious parents and grandparents. It means the world to hear a simple thank you. Lets make sure they do not feel forgotten either…

Here are some links for sending letters and care packages to service members overseas, supporting wounded veterans and also supporting families of service members.

Operation Gratitude

Wounded Warriors

Wounded Warrior Family Support

A Million Thanks

Soldier's Angels

Any Soldier

USO

Have a great Memorial Day weekend – I hope it is full of sunshine and beaches, cookouts and family!

Lovely bud quilt

This is the quilt I made to give away awhile back. Click here for my current give away. Finally here are some pics and the quilt's special story… 

I wrote here about the loss of my son six months ago. I found out two months after losing him that I was pregnant again. In order not to give in to fear I have committed myself to creating like never before. God has calmed my heart as I have busied my hands making things and it has been very healing to see beautiful things made in the aftermath of such loss and brokenness. I sketched ideas for my very first quilt and a drawing of a single flower, rising out of a vase to reach out a window came naturally. Realizing that this was an image of the hope I was longing for I began to make this quilt. Pictured above is the front and below is the back. Back lb quilt 

I ordered several fabrics for the quilt that ended up not being quite right so I was so excited when I found this Moda fabric that V and Co. was selling in her shop. My process was pretty simple. I sketched my design on big paper the size of the quilt. Then I traced over the flower and vase to make patterns for the appliques before I cut out the large shapes that I would make the quilt out of. I laid the paper and tracing paper patterns directly on the fabric and cut around them leaving a seam allowance. Then I pieced together the front and back of the quilt using basic sewing technique. 


Making quilt

Finally I appliqued the vase and flower on using fusible webbing and hand embroidery. I embroidered the stem and leaves on freehand. Fairy Mommy  then finished up by quilting the layers together and adding a cute binding made out of the scraps! 

Bud detailHere are some detail shots of the quilt. And for all you who may be good at drawing and designing but feel that your sewing skills are sketchy – YOU CAN make a quilt! You can draw out a design, make your own pattern and use basic sewing techniques that are explained in a myriad of fabulous blogs… and then you can send your quilt out to be quilted and bound (I am thankful that I have a wonderful teammate in my mom) I know, I know, learning to quilt it probably isn't that scary either…. But for those of us with a phobia of math, measuring and matching corners, this may just be our niche – freehand quilt pictures?!

Vase detail

Since all quilters are artists, their work must be signed! Here's to you lovely bud blog and all the creations you have inspired in your young life.

and while I hope for healthy babies and many years to watch them grow, my hope and my faith is in God because there is more to life than this world… and I am thankful for His love and the gift He has given us to follow in His creative nature

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

Words

Check out all the lovely quilts over at the Blogger's Quilt Festival - and you have until May 28th to enter your own quilt! You can also check out the other link ups where I share my projects here.

Daisy for mommy4

Nothing makes my heart happier than when my little boys pick flowers and bring them to me – they are always so proud of themselves! 

10 Things that Make me Happy

Jesus, pure and simple

my muddy, lizard catching, superhero cape wearing boys

my big strong man

making lovely things

dark dark dark chocolate

California

beautiful things that take my breath away

sweet words from friends

fish tacos after a day at the beach

pleasant surprises

Give away

One person will win all three of the handmade (by me!) items pictured

– gift bag decorated with a custom woodcut and fabric decoupage

– illustrated gift (or treasure) box 

– painted and embroidered Moleskine journal 

Just leave a comment to enter and check out all the other lovely give aways at Give Away Day!

A Simmering Pot and a Mom Blog

this is one of the few pictures I took of my third son, the one I lost… 

Joshua
i think we most truly know and are connected to something when we loose it 

i think we are forever captured in that moment, tied to what we lost. the pain holds us tight and teaches us our destiny

the movie "master and commander" tells the story of an english naval captain and his crew aboard their ship during the napoleonic wars. the crew is comprised of both hardened old seamen and fresh young boys that don't even seem old enough to leave home. one of those youths loses both his arm and his best friend at sea. as i re-watched it recently i realized those losses didn't drive him from the sea, rather they tied him inseparably to it. 

my deepest loss, my greatest pain came while creating, while mothering – i lost my third son during birth on his due date six months ago

and now i can't stop creating – if a day goes by without creating art, teaching my children, sewing, cooking or gardening i feel like i am dyeing 

and i am now united to motherhood in a way i was not before, 

i am forever bound to the act that caused me the greatest pain, defined by my life's deepest loss and i am so grateful

he never spoke a word but he taught me more than anyone 

i am grateful but i wish it had never happened. i only want to hold him alive but i trust God's plan. what craziness, but if you have experienced it you understand

so this is for the women with aching empty arms and holes in their hearts this mother's day. for the women who long to bear children, who have lost grown children, who have to grieve their baby's death instead of celebrating their birth  

you are a mother in such a special, intense way, committed to mothering even when it costs you all you have. your treasure is in heaven. your broken heart is beautiful, strong

and for those that hold perfect healthy children, the challenge is to not drift away unawares. to deeply know and love and cherish what we hold without the sting of losing these gifts

my baby's body rests in the sea – alone, but my son is in heaven with Jesus. i thought i admired both places before, but they are indescribably beautiful to me now

for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also – matthew 6:21

for beautiful photos and posts celebrating motherhood head over to iheartfaces