Never Thought A Parody Would Make Me Cry

This parody is me. It has been me since we were pregnant with number 5. For years I have tried to figure out a way to express how I feel. Let's do a little back story for those who don't know our family. When my husband and I first got together we knew we would have a big family. We always had 7 names on our list at minimum. We literally go down the checklist. We know who the next boy name will be and the next girl name. So really it should be no shocker to anyone that we were having a big family. When we got pregnant with our 5th blessing, it really came as a shock to me that people could be so hurtful. I'm not talking about random people on the street. I am talking about people who we were close to. People in our lives. People we saw at least once a week. I cried a lot that pregnancy. Towards the end of the pregnancy my husband was in and out of the ER, Dr. appointments, urgent care etc. my best friend was miscarrying her second baby after we had just seen the baby move at the ultrasound. I was crossing my legs trying to keep the baby in until my husband has undergone his first surgery. I literally gave birth the day after all the equipment was removed. After our baby was born he was admitted to the NICU for pneumonia. He ended up not having it but an x-ray was read wrong. Needless to say we were there for a while. Then we ended up with thrush really bad. I never knew thrush was painful until this time. So I was in and out of Dr. appointments etc. There was also some family drama going on in which I was accused of something I didn't have a part in (while in labor). I missed church for for 3 months due to all of this. We had one couple from the church that visited us and made sure we were ok through it all. They were our dear friends and loved us. To them  I am eternally grateful and will never forget their support. I was still getting the comments and after our sweet baby was born and after all the stuff that was going on. People were still rude. We did a meet n greet instead of a shower and one woman said she refused to come because "all I (me the mom) wanted was presents." Children are a miracle. Really with all of those who pass away in the womb and out of the womb. Children really are a miracle. I believe every baby should be celebrated. That doesn't mean I want presents. It means come and join in our rejoicing of this miracle. Anyway, it was such a hard time for us, a dark time for me emotionally with everything going on. Yet I was so happy to have our 5th blessing. It seemed that people ran. I found out who really loved us. I grew stronger in who I was and my faith. My love for my husband deepened. My mom of course was a rock and supported us through it all. She is one in a million. In all of this God was faithful. When my husband was weak, I was able to be there and when I was weak he was able to be there. God's timing was perfect in all of our medical stuff going on. Since then I have wanted to write about this. Our baby will be 4 in December. I just never did. A friend sent a parody to me and it really is me. We don't have babies for anyone else except to follow God's calling on our life, to glorify Him and because frankly we want to. Honestly, to those who are judgmental keep it to yourself. I'm passive in that I didn't say anything back. I try to obey the "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."
     Now we are pregnant with number 6. We told people ahead of time we were planning to get pregnant. Hoping to avoid the criticism. That one person who said most of the awful things and the comment about gifts has said some things but not nearly as bad. Just they typical "and you want more?" or "you wanted to get pregnant." Yep I sure did. Knowing full well I'd be sick, not feel well etc. Children are a blessing from the Lord.
Don't you see we love this life!!!!!
Here is the parody that made me cry. I am so glad they made this. It made me feel better and not alone!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbFzOzuQedY

I should mention that since we've had our 5 th blessing God has surrounded us with an amazing support group. New friends who are excited about this baby and love us...quirky big family and all.

I wanted to mention the couple I talked about that supported us. They are dear friends to us. We don't see them much anymore as they go to a different church. However, they have a special place in our lives. They are now supporting 2 people in their family that are pregnant and need them. They are a special couple and I am so fortunate that we had them during a time when we really needed them.

So often...

So often we sit comfortably while people passing by are hurting. They are in pain. Maybe they haven't told anyone about their pain. Maybe the world knows. How can we as a community reach out to the hurting people around us.
When we look at people as God would, we see them differently. We see them hurting and in pain. Their hearts are aching. Do we even smile at them? Do we say hello? Where I live we don't even look at strangers in the eye as we walk past them. We most certainly live out of fear.
So often, those people we ignore are the very ones that need a smile.
As I look around me lives are being lost by loved ones. Marriages are crumbling before our feet. Women are losing their babies. People are getting really sick and sometimes don't recover. Accidents happen that cost lives. Choices are made that impact lives for generations. This is just in my corner of the world. These are people that I know. This doesn't include your part of the world. The people you are in contact with everyday, your family and friends.
Is there any hope for people who are just hurting?  How can someone who is hurting so bad have hope in this fallen sinful world.
So often we do not encourage. You've heard it said the Bible is a love letter from our Creator.
In Isaiah 48:20 is says:

Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the LORD,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.

 In times of trouble let us as a community be there to uplift and encourage those around us who are hurting. Do you know someone who is hurting in your life? Can you go out of your way today to encourage them? When you do this please comment below. Let's show each other that we as a community still care about each other.

Late for a very important blog tour...

So I've been trying to get this post up since Saturday. It was one thing after another. Sometimes in the sewing realm things just don't go as planned. Well that was me this weekend. However, better late than never. This is the Delilah Pattern Golden Rippy. Here is the link to her shop and pattern to purchase it yourself and sew one up. You will love the ease of this pattern and the low maintenance sewing it requires.
http://goldenrippy.com/product/delilah/
Here is her facebook page https://www.facebook.com/goldenrippy
She is giving 2 winners 2 patterns - go and enter to win!!!!

Let's talk about the top. This was a crazy easy sew. The reason I wanted to join this blog tour was because of the bow. Yes I love bows. A shirt with a bow now that was worth it to me. This is a great beginner top to sew.

Yesterday I wore the shirt to a birthday party and rock climbed, scaled treacherous jumpy contraptions and chased kiddos. Then I wore it to my 2 hour dance class. I love this top. It is comfortable!!!

Switchfoot Bro Am 10th Anniversary

If you know me in person, which you may not... You know I'm a huge Switchfoot fan!!! I've been following them and watching them in concerts since late 90's... (first album release was '97). Anyway... I've seen them many many times. In November of 1999 they opened for Delirious in San Diego, Ca. A couple of friends and I attended this concert. As we were driving, we were lost. This is not unusual for me as I am super directionally challenged. I am that mom with 5 tired kids walking around the zoo parking lot, clicking my unlock button on my van key ring. Really... I am! I digress... Anyway, I prayed. I know it sounds silly. We were lost and just didnt know where we were. I prayed God would send someone with a Switchfoot or Delirious bumper sticker. A red SUV/Suburban pulls up next to us. We roll down our window and ask if they are attending the concert. He said yes! We asked if we could follow him and he said yes again. Let me remind you that this was way before GPS's were invented. We had to use a Tomas Brothers map, and well Thomas and his brothers and I just don't get along. We were so excited. God answered our prayers with a YES!!!! We were so blessed to be able to follow someone. So as we are following, he waves us through the private security parking and into the secure parking. As we get out we see him unloading a drum set and realize he is apart of the band. We giggled off as giddy as can be. We somehow knew he was the dad of one of the members of Switchfoot.
Let's fast forward... all these years I have always wanted to say Thank you. I think I sent an email at one point in time. Yesterday at Switchfoot's 10th Anniversary Bro Am it became a reality. I was coming out of the restroom and Jon Foreman talking to a couple. I waited. When he was finished I approached him and told him the story. (maybe took a picture too, lol) Since I knew the kind of car and color, he told me it was his dad that did that. He thanked me for telling him the story.
 The story gets better... 
At one point they announce that his dad was at the Bro Am. See I'm not a shy girl. I have no problem talking to anyone, even celebrities :). So I saw him at one point and went near him and waited for him to be available. I introduced myself and told him I have a story for you. After I told him the story, he equated it to the story in the Bible where 10 lepers were healed and one came back to say thank you. That just warms my heart. I'm sure we weren't the only ones he has helped in his day. (I may or may not have gotten a picture with him as well) See at that point in time I had a month previously rededicated my life to Jesus. It was such a divine appointment that I have never forgotten. God is real!!! I am blessed!!!! You never know when God will use you, even for the simplest of things, the smallest measures, to bless someone for years and years. Thank you Mark Foreman, from the bottom of my heart from this directionally challenged girl!!!!

Here's the other part to my day at the Bro Am 10th anniversary. I love to attend as many Switchfoot concerts as I can. However, I may be a loud girl. I can't even count the amount of dirty looks and people who have plugged their ears due to my amazing yelling voice. While I do sing along, I also like to scream (esp. when others aren't, lol). One of my close friends (I consider him one of my brothers) doesn't like me to attend concerts alone, for this very reason. Yesterday... I found my concert partner in crime. He loves the band (not as much as me lol, though he may differ on that opinion) and sings along with me. He goes early with me and waits after to meet the band. Yesterday was his first concert and we managed to get a picture of us with Jon. There aren't many people who get a picture of themselves with anyone from the band, at their first concert. I may be a little excited for him.We also got pre sale tickets to their next San Diego concert. We got them before it was announced!!!
Back to my concert partner in crime. Yesterday was no exception to the dirty looks. However, I knew that I was safe!!! I felt like I had a body guard lol. All day he was a gentleman. He didn't care or get embarrassed of my craziness. I truly enjoyed my time with him and my time watching the entire surf contest and the concert.
I have so many good memories at Switchfoot concerts. They are fantastic in concert!!! They are down to earth real life people. I took my oldest to see them as her first concert. I've gone with other friends. I was ushered in by Mark Foreman all those years ago. I took Nicholas to his first concert :) I will continue to support Switchfoot and yell my crazy head off at every concert I am blessed to attend!!!
Cheers Nicholas to our next concert adventure!!!!!

Jon Foreman and I

Mark Foreman and I

My concert partner and I, first thing int he morning. We were among the first to get there.

Surf footage

Concert footage

My phone uploaded the pictures and now I can't edit to add captions.. So after the concert footage is a picture of Jon Foreman, Nicholas and I. Then is a picture of our next Switchfoot adventure and a picture of Nicholas' first concert ticket purchase.

The Wave...a few more thoughts than my Facebook post

I posted on Sat. about my time at The Wave. I wanted to expand a bit  more. I wont say the child's name or his dads name just in case they wouldn't like me sharing that info to the web.
This past Sat. we went to The Wave with our Awana group. The kids earn a trip if they finish their book. We have to pay but they are allowed to go with the group at a discounted rate. My kids look forward to it every year and work hard for it. This year was no exception. Us adults really love the Flo Rider. We look forward to it every year as well as the kids. This year on this Sat. we could have attended a marriage conference our church was attending but we felt it was not acceptable to back out of our plans with the kids. So we chose to keep our word and take them to The Wave. We also could have attended a friends memorial. We were bummed they were at the same time as we really wanted to be there but our word to our kids is important. So we set off for the Wave. The Flo Rider was not resurfaced this year and therefore it cut our time on it shorter than normal because we were all bleeding.
So at one point one of my kiddos and his friend wanted to go in the lazy river so we went down the slide into the river. As we were hanging out a sweet boy came up and was hanging on my legs. I asked him if he wanted an inner tube. He did not respond but kept hanging on. I was more than happy to let him. It was like something my own kids would do. We floated around and his dad was walking around the edge keeping an eye on him. That was powerful to me. He had unconditional love. he just kept walking making sure his son was ok but ensuring he was having fun. They were celebrating his birthday. I made sure it was ok with his dad that he was hanging on my legs. His dad was so surprised that his son would do this. He said his son never does this to anyone. The boy has autism. I felt so honored that he chose to hang with me. He would go away and play and come back. He came back to me quite a few times. This sweet boy really blessed me. See I would have missed this amazing blessing had we not gone to the Wave. I talked to the dad at the end of the day and told him how much I was blessed by his son and that his son had made my day. I cant express to you the honor I feel. I have worked with and know that some autistic children do not like to be touched nevertheless by a stranger. However, he chose me. He chose me over and over again.
 His dad walked around time and time again with selfless love.
 Isn't that how God is? He chooses to love us unconditionally. He never leaves us or forsakes us no matter what. We love him because he first loved us the Bible says.
This sweet boy chose me. I don't know why and I never will. I could see an example of the dad walking around no matter the cost to himself. The boy trusting his dad, knowing his dad was there watching over him. Making sure he was safe. What an example!
This boy and his father will go on to touch other people's lives. They will be blessed to have met and see a glimpse into their lives. At one point the mom took him to go on slides and be with him. I really only talked to his dad.
While I have no doubt there are struggles for them everyday. This boy and his father will forever have touched my life. They will have forever made a difference in my life and made me want to be a better wife, mom, friend and daughter of the King.
I love when God makes divine appointments. Saturday God made a divine appointment and I'm glad I didn't miss it. 

The Lorelei by E-Beth all retro-ed up!!!

One look at this pattern and I was really hoping to be picked for this pattern test. It screamed at me... Make me into a retro dress. So I applied to be a tester. I had never made myself a dress before and was a tad nervous. The directions were fabulous and the end product was amazing. I wore it for Resurrection day this last year and received so many compliments. I need to make more because  I love love this dress. I made a muslin just to make sure I was making the right size and it fit me perfectly. This is my favorite outfit in my wardrobe!! I've worn it many times since that first day. This is a pattern you won't regret buying!!! So go ahead... What are you waiting for??? 

Resurrection day this year.

Love my family!!! 

Anything in the 1950's era and I'm excited!!!!

We can all use a little silly in our lives!!

Not many dresses allow you to limbo in them. Ahhh.... A beautiful dress that you can be real in!!!!

TA DA!!!!!!

Here is the pattern to purchase it and make an amazing dress for you or a loved one! Happy sewing!!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/187717040/lorelei-womens-dress-pdf-pattern?ref=sr_gallery_4&ga_search_query=E+Beth+designs&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=all

Swap meet find made new

I bought this lamp shade at the swap meet quite a while ago. I've always known what I wanted to do with it and never did it. I'm so happy to have finally given this lamp shade a make over. I love how it turned out!!! Don't you?

Before

After 

I think I will embellish it a bit later on. For now she is glittering in beauty as is.