This past week all but one of us has endured the stomach bug! Fun times huh! I am sure that brother hopes he has escaped the bug and the rest of us are thankful that it is over! I did not get to go to this shower over the weekend which was super sad but I am sure everyone was thankful not to bring home a little something extra from the shower in the form of the stomach bug. This coming weekend if all stay well we do get to celebrate a little girl who will be here after the first of the year. I felt that this new little one needed a little dress with matching shoes for her big arrival! Her mommy is not so girly so choosing fabric was tough on this one but I am excited with the way it turned out (good ole’ Joel Dewberry to the rescue). I am looking forward to celebrating this new little one.

We went on a little getaway to Atlanta with some dear friends for the weekend to see Wicked the Musical! Of course we ate, shopped and went sight seeing as well but mainly we went to see Wicked! We had all seen it once except for my friends husband who was a little skeptical but I have to say that I saw him laughing and smiling during the show. It is a really cute musical and definitely a must see if you are a fan of the movie!

Today was Owl Day at preschool and I decided that sister definitely needed an owl dress because I had some cute owl fabric in the stash. Sister found the fabric a few weeks ago at Joann’s and decided it was a must have! The picture isn’t that great (the print is tiny owls and leaves) as it is hard to get a preschooler to hold still!!! The best part to sister about the dress is that the back (it was hard enough to get a front view picture of the dress so I have no pictures of the back) button has an owl on it. She really likes owls! Stay tuned because later in the week they are having farmer day and you never know what the sewing machine will turn out!

So, here it is! What do you think? Nice huh! Wish you had one for your front yard huh! Come on, it is hours of entertainment for the kiddos! I can send it over when we are done with it here! Yes, well, it is not exactly what I wanted parked in the front yard for the next few days but I am trying to be thankful for it all the same. Turns out that the water guys got some new video gadget camera to stick in the pipes to check them out and while checking out the pipes they found that we have almost no pipe because of some drastic deterioration or something along those lines. I have to admit that I did not really hear much of what they said past the, “we need to dig up your front yard!” I am thankful that they found it (if left alone it could lead to some really nasty problems), I am super thankful that they are paying for it and I am glad that the kiddos can have some excitement as it is cheaper than buying a playground! It is just kind of wild to have that parked out in the front yard!

I did finish those invitations that I was working on finally! It was a little time consuming with making all the little diapers but in the end I think that it was worth it as I am excited with the way they turned out. Now on to the next ones!

Mondays are grocery store day at our house. I am not sure why I do that to myself on Monday morning but alas it just works. Sister was singing and dancing her way through the store today as normal. I was not paying a lot of attention to what she was singing just trying to keep her moving and away from stacking things as she loves to do with the yogurt, butter, etc. while also trying to keep brother entertained (poor guy always stuck shopping with the women). We finally finished and payed and I came out of survival mode to listen in to the words that sister was actually singing. She was singing over and over again, “I am constant and I am HOLY!” She has my problem of remembering words to songs and their order in the song but I knew exactly what she was singing. I played a song during my workshop on Sabbath a few weeks ago which embodies a great picture of Sabbath REST to me and while I was away Brad played this song for her in the midst of her asking repetitively where I was that weekend and it stuck. Here are the words. . .

I Am by Jill Phillips

Oh gently lay your head
Upon my chest
And I will comfort you
Like a mother while you rest
The tide can change so fast,
But I will stay
The same through the past,
The same in future, same today

CHORUS:
I am constant; I am near
I am peace that shatters all your secret fears
I am holy; I am wise
I’m the only one who knows your heart’s desires
Your heart’s desires

Oh weary, tired and worn,
Let out your sighs
And drop that heavy load you hold
Cause Mine is light

I know you through and through;
There’s no need to hide
I want to show you love
That is deep and high and wide

CHORUS(2x)

Oh gently lay your head
Upon my chest
And I will comfort you
Like a mother while you rest

I do feel that this is at the heart of Sabbath REST. I feel that God sings this over us! Come rest! Come let out your sighs! He is constant, near, peace, HOLY, wise and He knows our hearts! He knows what we long for even better than we know. When we rest in His presence, when we rest in His word He meets us!

So back to the story. . . Sister is singing this song and it just hits me that I am SO focused on survival (of the grocery store even) that I am missing “ordinary moments of God’s GRACE all around me-moments that He would like to use to replenish and refuel me” (taken from GRACE an invitation to a way of life by Ortberg, Penderson and Pling). I am not being present! I am not hearing the song of praise that my little one is lifting up. I am missing smiles that brother is giving strangers. I am missing the warmth of the sun as I walk into the store. I am missing the smiles of strangers to my children. Why am I missing all these things. . .because I am so intent on getting in and out and moving on. I don’t want to miss God’s grace in the midst of my day. I want to be present and breath it in deeply. There is a HOLY God who is constant in my every moment! I don’t want to miss that!!!

We are still walking through this intense baby boom with our group of friends. We have 3 showers behind us (2 adorable baby girls whom we have welcomed and we are still waiting on the very stubborn 3rd baby) and two showers left for this year. So much FUN!!! I am working on the invites for the next shower it is another cloth diaper shower. I will show pics when they are finished but I keep procrastinating so it could be a little bit.

So, I am super sad because I forgot to take my camera last night to get actual pictures of the bride (again) in the dress. The renewal ceremony was truly a sweet sweet time. It was wonderful to be able to have a time of worship and thanksgiving to God for all that He has brought them through and all that He continues to do in their lives and their marriage. Hopefully when they return from their second honeymoon I will be able to snag some pictures that are much much better than these but for now here is what I have.

This is a close up of the front of the dress. The sleeves ended up being one of my favorite parts of the dress even though I had never made sleeves before.

The dress is very Emma-esque! The overlay on the back hangs down a little farther than the front and it also gathers.

We ventured off to the zoo early this morning to spend some time with our cuzzy (cousin) and Gma (grandmother). It was a beautiful day, just one of those days that makes you want to be outside! Most of the animals were out in full force enjoying the temperature change! The kiddos loved running around the zoo like wild animals although brother was pretty beat (he was falling asleep in the stroller, which he never does) by the time we made it back to the car. Here are a few pictures from our day! Enjoy!!!

This baby Chimp was probably the highlight for me today! He is just two months old!!!

The Zebras were hanging out right up against the fence having their breakfast.

This Gorilla was resting his side up against the viewing area glass. Sister was pretty fascinated with him.

There is always something calming about walking through the butterfly gardens!

This turtle has his neck stuck out all the way! It was almost creepy looking but I am trusting that he can get his long neck back into his shell if need be!

We had a great day at the zoo but we are all pretty worn out! I am looking forward to some relaxing sewing time tonight!!! Woo Hooo!!!!

Preschool open house is tomorrow!!! I do feel as though I am in a daze as we all anticipate what school will look like for us. Will she make it to the door of her room without melting or for that matter will I make it without melting! A new adventure is waiting to begin. I am excited for the open house and time to meet sister’s teacher with her. It will definitely be a big change to our routine. The first day is next Tuesday so in preparation I had to make her a little dress as I felt the need to cover her in love as I send her off.

Somehow I lost the armhole pattern piece and ended up buying a new pattern only to discover that I could not find the left over material (no, I don’t need to clean the craft area, really, it is organized). I substituted bias tape which turned out pretty well although when that was finished of course the material turned up, alas! Also, can you tell that ironing is not something that happens around here often!

The button on the back is really sister’s favorite part about the dress!