Christmastime

"The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other." 
~Burton Hillis

Christmas is here! Can you feel it!?!

Zippy Strippy Quilt

Waiting, it's one of the many things I'm learning to do these day. For anyone involved in an international adoption, you know that you wait...a lot. You wait for an email or a phone call or an important piece of mail. You wait to see the face of someone you already have fallen hopelessly in love with, to find out about her little life up to now. Waiting, waiting, waiting...especially for the day when you can fly across the ocean to whatever country you are adopting from and bring that special someone home. It's brutal and almost cruel, this thing called waiting.

I'm thankful for the waiting...it means we're moving from step to step. It may also mean that I'm learning some much needed patience, or at least trying to learn. God is teaching me lessons through this adoption that He knows I need to learn. Thank you God!

Keeping busy helps the time go by.

The other week I made a Zippy Strippy Quilt. I've made at least a dozen over the past few years. They are a quick project and always turn out beautiful.

This particular quilt was made for the one I'm waiting for. When I look at it, I see her safe and warm, snuggling up on our couch, knowing that she is loved and wanted!!

Picking out the fabric for one of these quilts is a fun process...it was even more fun for this particular project. You can't tell from the photo, but the blue corduroy has glitter all over it.

I love bright colors...and polka dots!

Little piles of fabric...they're waiting too.

Neat  "sandwiches" waiting to be sewed.

You only need to sew straight lines, which is a good thing because that's all I know how to sew.

Snip and wash is all that is left to do.

The finished project! It's warm, and snuggly...and waiting for her!

Lily wanted to check out the snuggle factor.

I think it passed the test...

Scavenger Hunt Sunday- 2nd attempt

Well to be honest I feel like I know less about my camera now than I did a week ago...I can't wait to get that aha moment.

1) Wild:

We had the privilege of going to Sydney and Cameron's cheering competition yesterday...I am absolutely Wild about these two gals.

2) Welcome:

This is the Welcome you'll see if you come knocking on my front door this time of year.

3) Adventure:

I have always been fascinated with the thought of fairies! So much that I've concocted a plan to hide a fairy door in our woods and create a story that I can tell my grandkids...someday. I can only imagine the Adventures that go on behind that door!

4) Vibrant:

I bought fabric to make a Zippy Strippy Quilt  for someone VERY special. I wanted it to be bright and Vibrant not to mention Comfy and Cozy!

5) Classic

Even though I'm not completely pleased with the results and will stick with my tried and true chocolate cake recipe in the future, I love a Classic chocolate cake with chocolate icing...and so do the men in my life. :)

I can't wait to get started with next weeks list!

My First Scavenger Hunt Sunday

Okay...I am going to attempt to join in on Scavenger Hunt Sunday. I need to let everyone know that I've been a point and shoot gal all my life. Back in February I finally got up the nerve to buy a Big Girl Camera but have been too afraid to go off the auto setting. I finally enrolled in a basic Photography class and have been to one session. I honestly have no idea what I am doing...but I'm excited to learn. It was fun playing with different setting, even if the results weren't the greatest.

Here goes...

1. Pattern(s)

This fence goes on and on...like a big zig-zag

2. Machine

I looked all week for something that I could "shoot" and came up empty...this was my feeble last minute attempt to complete the assignment. 

3. Signs or Logos

The Sheetz logo is an icon in my neck of the woods. I can be found carrying a Sheetz coffee cup on most days. 

4. Rocks or Stones

I actually have a photo of some rocks in my yard but I was moving these rock-like bags of applesauce to a different freezer and couldn't help but smile when I looked down into the box. My niece helped me make the applesauce and decorated the bags. She's a girl after my own heart! 

5. Sparkle

My favorite photo of the week...hands down! I wish it would have been a little clearer but the subject in the photo makes my heart go pitter patter. I love my Freddie and the "sparkle" in his eyes! 

Well that's it. My first attempt. I can honestly say that things can only get better the more I learn and practice. This was fun!

Time Out

I'm not at home this week. I'm up north with the men I love, I'm spending some quality time at our home away from home. It's been different from other trips. I usually spend my time running here or there, or I bring someone along with me and we make trips to Martha's Vineyard, Boston or any number of other places. Not this time, this time I am hiding out. My guys are working night shift (7pm-5am) and I am trying to keep their schedule. They leave for work and I head to my room, just me and the dogs and settle in. I wear the same ratty old black sweater and some really comfy striped pajama pants, I'm sipping sweet tea, pinning until my hearts content, making Christmas lists, (finally) learning how to crochet a granny square...I have a pile of them to prove it, watching Gilmore Girls and daydreaming about the day we get to travel to a faraway place to bring our little girl(s) home. It's a time out. A time to rethink things, reconnect with my family and spend some precious alone time with my God. It's been good. No, it's been great. I'll go back to the regular routine next week. I'll count down the weeks until my guys get to come home for the winter months and I'll obsessively check my email on an hourly basis...hoping to get word that it's time to move onto the next phase of this long adoption process. I can't help but think...life is good and God is great!!!

My {Soon to be} White Picket Fence Garden

This spring we realized a longtime dream of having a white picket fence garden. We planned and saved for what seemed like forever. I was so excited when the fence company showed up and started work. 

The progress was quick and my excitement was growing.

They left as quickly as they came and then it was our turn. This is where we stepped in. My son Jared drew up some plans and we made a trip to the lumber yard. After emptying our pockets of some more cash, we  headed home to build the raised beds.

We had a little help from our favorite Amish guy. Everything came together nicely.

A little (okay a lot) of dirt and and some work on the walkways and we're ready to plant.

Peek-A-Boo...Fred sees you!

 There's still a lot to do. We need to wait until spring to paint it white (although I have to admit I'm loving the natural color) and then we'll landscape around the outside of the fence...lots of galvanized buckets of herbs, raspberry bushes, some hydrangea, and a few other surprises.

I'm still pinching myself...I cannot believe I get to garden in this lovely little piece of paradise!

I'm thinking I'm back...and with news

Hello friend,

I'm thinking that I may give blogging another try. It's been over a year and I'm starting to get the blogging bug...if there is such a beast.

A few things have been going on since I last posted, but I'll hit the highlights and bring you up to speed.

• We finished our dream garden...well almost. The fence is up and the beds are built. We had a pretty successful first season. I'll share pics and info in another post. 
• I've been studying for an upcoming test for work. Blah, blah, blah. I'll be so glad when that's over. 
• We moved my mom to a new apartment. She lived with us for almost 10 years. Talk about an adjustment!
• What else...hmmm, let me see......................we're adopting!! We are so excited! It took months of paperwork and lots of prayer but we are officially registered for an international adoption! Yikes! I'll fill you in on those details soon too!