What Love Really Means

A special lady, Mattie, that I have "met" through the internet after the loss of Jamie has an awesome blog called Beauty Will Rise.  I wish my blog was as AWESOME as hers! She is an amazing person!  I will never forget when we exchanged gifts for Christmas 2009 with some moms that had lost their November babies.  She sent me some very special gifts, all which were perfect.  I wish I had thought to take pictures!

  My heart was very raw at the time, and her gifts helped put a healing ointment on that wound.  I will never forget her baby girl...Shyla Joy.  Without the loss of our precious girls, both due in the month of November that year, we would never have crossed paths.

I was so thrilled when I heard the news that she was carrying her rainbow baby.  I was terrified when she told us the news that little Jakin's heart was not working as well as it should be.  I literally sobbed when I heard the news that his little heart had stopped.  I even posted here that day about her loss and how it impacted my outlook on Baby Button.  I had thought that I could distance myself from pain again.  The loss of Jakin proved to me that it was impossible.  I could love again, and have my heart broken again......

To my point!!! Mattie contacted a few of us momma's to blog about What Love Really Means for the month of February.  If you follow her blog, you will see me on a certain day...*wink, wink*...hmmm....maybe, say Feb 6th?

I am so excited!  I hope I live up to all of these other amazing bloggers out there!!!!

What to do...what to do.....

with all of these bundle sets! 

 Yes, this basket is FILLED to the brim with strip bundles and fat quarter bundles. 

I confess, I am quite addicted to collecting them.  I can honestly say that I do use them, but it is very painful for me to break up a bundle. 

Sometimes, I won't even touch them because they are so adorable. 

But the madness needs to stop!!!  But how?

Incredibly, I was shopping for something else.  Story sound familiar?  I was in JoAnn's and they are clearing out our local store to move to a bigger location and become a "Mega JoAnn's"  (I am completely making up the name..so please don't quote!).  I think because the merchandise is dwindling because they are not re-stocking, I was able to spy this (on sale!):

The answer to my prayers!!

  I know that I realistically will not get to any of these right away...but it is nice to know I will have these books around when I do!!

Tomorrow, I will be officially 37 weeks pregnant.  I am starting to feel like it!!!  I can't reach my computer, sewing machine, or frankly, anything else.  I was exhausted trying to string beads on another project that I have been working on for weeks.  I think someone is telling me to slow down.  You think?

I'm A Mess!!!

Don't remember where I found this photo....but it looks like I feel!!!

If you have ever been to my house....the picture above is a VERY RARE sight. 

And even though I feel like my house is a mess, it still isn't that bad. 

I am 36 weeks and 3 days pregnant today.  I am really not that uncomfortable.  I really can't complain.  However, my brain is quite cluttered like the picture above.

So here's to decluttering that said brain today.  At least I hope.  Mind you, I am saying this at noon.  Yup, I have been lounging/snoozing all morning.

  I have less than 3 weeks to get my act together!!!

Yikes!

3 Albums in 3 Days

I have returned feeling slightly successful from my scrapbook retreat.  It is hard to leave the family, but it is the only way I can realistically get 75-100 scrapbook pages done in an efficient manner.  I used to do all-nighters on my retreats and get close to 150 pages done, but found that the lack of sleep was not worth it by Monday and Tuesday.

I was able to finish my Family album for 2010 and 2009.  Now I only have 11 more years out of the 14 we have as a family....not to mention all the "other" ones I have in the works.

I also updated my Family and Friends album.  It is the album that I put all of the announcements, pictures, letters, and Christmas cards/letters we receive throughout the years.  I am happy to say that I have about 18 years worth of it done. 

 Why do I "waste" my time as my fellow scrappers ask?  Because, otherwise, I clutter up our immediate family album or all these items clutter up baskets and bins throughout the house. 

Now it is time to refocus on sewing for a bit..........HOPING to at least get some scrapbooking done between now and the next retreat in April................

Scrapbook retreat....here I come!!!!!

See that empty spot?  Just enough room for my clothes, toiletries, and snacks!

re·treat

n.

1.

a. The act or process of withdrawing, especially from something hazardous, formidable, or unpleasant.

b. The process of going backward or receding from a position or condition gained.

2. A place affording peace, quiet, privacy, or security. See Synonyms at shelter.

3.

a. A period of seclusion, retirement, or solitude.

I am off to spend the weekend scrapbooking!! 

 I have been doing this regularly for at least 5 years now.  It is something I look forward to, even though people don't understand. 

How could I leave my amazing studio? 

I can because the no matter how long I try to lock myself in my room....they will find me!!  That includes the dogs!!!

So, here is concrete evidence that I might actually accomplish some of my hopes!!!!

Thank you family and friends!

PRAYER FOR RESPECT OF LIFE

Heavenly Father, the beauty and dignity of human life was the crowning of your creation. You further ennobled that life when your Son became one with us in his incarnation.

Help us to realize the sacredness of human life and to respect it from the moment of conception until the last moment at death. Give us courage to speak with truth and love and with conviction in defense of life.

 Help us to extend the gentle hand of mercy and forgiveness to those who do not reverence your gift of life.

To all, grant pardon for the times we have failed to be grateful for your precious gift of life or to respect it in others.

I had a totally different intention for today's blog....but after reading the news yesterday and today....I really needed to say that I am so thankful for the support and care I recieved when I decided to carry Jamie.  I am extremely disgusted with the so-called abortion doctor in Pennsylvania that didn't consider those babies as human beings. 

I have never used Jamie Lynn as a platform for the respect life movement, and I probably never will. 

She is mine and I don't share very well (ask my husband...he will concur).

However, at this moment, I am feeling so blessed to carry that darling baby and I am thankful that my husband, family, and friends supported my decision.  I am also grateful for the love and care she was given by my doctor and nurses when she arrived and then shortly left us. 

So thank you to all those who are always there for me.

As for the cross....when I am not so upset....I will definitely share how I made it! 

 So simple!!!!!

Bucket Hat

For Button if we have a boy! 

A bit frustrating to make for my first go...would much rather make a toddler/child/adult size.  I had a pattern from another blog, but didn't like how things were turning out.  I ended up winging it!  The brim can be flipped up. 

And if Button is a girl?  I will just add a bow or flower!!!

 I think I wore this tool out!  I call it my best friend.  Have no idea of it's technical term. I cannot remember where I bought it.  And I can't find a replacement if I wanted to.  I love it so much that I spent 30 minutes hunting for it the other day on the internet!  I am going to have to take really good care of it!

Hubby said that if he was ever reincarnated, he would come back as a sewing tool so he could see me more.  I think this one would be his best bet!

And I apologize for the lousy pictures.  This girl has to work when the sun is up...and I was too excited to share!