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!

Wow! I received this award from Daisyeyes yesterday which was a very fun surprise! Thanks so much Aimee for your kind words!!!

Here are the details:

Characteristics for the Smile Award:

1. Must display a cheerful attitude. (not necessarily at all times–we are all human)
2. Must love one another
3. Must make mistakes
4. Must learn from others
5. Must be a positive contributor to blog world
6. Must love life
7. Must love kids
These are the rules:

1. The recipient must link back to the award’s creator.

2. You must post these rules if you receive the award.

3. You must chose 5 people to receive the award after receiving it yourself

4. You must fit the characteristics of the recipient of the award, as posted by Mere.

5. You must post the characteristics of a recipient.

6. You must create a post sharing your win with others.

7. You must thank your giver.

I am passing this award onto…

Jennifer of Lemons and Lemonade loves well and is very real! Her blog is always a treat as she shares things exactly as they are. I love that!

Mushroom Meadows a very positive contributor to the blog world who is always sharing incredible creations! She also has another blog Broken Thoughts From A Broken Heart which I love as it reminds me of the greatest love!

Becca at Refrigerator Art as she loves very intensely and is a super blogger as she shares her adventures in crafting and life!

Adrienne of Some of a Kind I love her contributions to the blog world! She is always sewing something and hanging out with her boys! Plus she isn’t afraid to use her seam ripper which I highly admire!!!

Last but not least Kay from Unmasking the Masker as she is constantly loving, learning and sharing life.

Whew, it was really hard just to pick 5! It is odd how you get to know others through their blogs when sometimes you have never even met face to face. Amazing really! Well, thanks again Aimee for the award!

Many a baby will be celebrated during showers this late summer and into the fall as it seems there is something in the water here again! I am gearing up for shower season with some sewing as well as some paper crafting of invitations. This first shower is for a second time mom who has decided to go with cloth diapers this time around as she is becoming more and more organic and natural. She is the one who has helped out our family a lot with information on going more organic. It seemed fitting for her to have a “green” sweet pea themed shower. My SIL has a great stamp collection and had the perfect stamp for the invites and everything just fell into place from there. The invites headed out in the mail this week so now it is time to get a move on the sewing end of things. The fabric behind the invite is a hint of what her gifts will be made from!

I have been missing in action for a good bit but I am still here! We have been trying to soak in as much of summer as possible while learning a lot about how to love each other well (there is something about having a three year old that thrust you into that) and I am also discovering that the world of siblings is amazingly wonderful and hard! There is so much for me to learn as I am an only child (which has its positives) but I want to parent our kiddos well as they are siblings to each other. So much to learn and put into practice as well as enjoy! That is a good glimpse of our summer thus far!
I had to post though and show two finds from JoAnn’s this morning. I was really surprised to stumble upon a whole bolt of (on sale mind you) Alexander Henry’s Bird Seed as well as Turtle Bay Rock! I snatched them up pretty quickly so much so that Sister even commented on my glee! You might want to check out your local JoAnn’s just in case!