Where is Spring?!

How sweet was this little bunny! (Eri 2011)

Loving my little bunnies!

Can't get enough of them!

Gosh the week flew by!  The girls and I got sick with colds for half the week and we are just now getting better.  Poor little Josie bug had a hard time breathing with her stuffed up nose.  The first night there was very little sleep for her and I.  She laid beside me tossing and turning and waking up several times. So very glad for full nights of sleep again!  

We got a new shower installed this week too.  Of course it happened while we were all feeling our worst so we couldn't leave the house!  The shower has been leaking down to the apartment below us for awhile now so when you can actually get them to come fix something you don't postpone it!  The job never gets done on time nor gets done how it should either.  I guess knowing that we are here temporarily it doesn't bother me as much.  The job was supposed to only be a day and a half but ended up being closer to 3 days.  Oh well it's done and looks better than the old tiles that used to be up.  

Wednesday was supposed to be the first day of Spring but I am convinced mother nature is confused.  The temps have been only in the teens (barely the 20's) during the day and some nights it got below zero.  I love Spring but I'm feeling robbed this year.  It's no fun celebrating Easter when it's too cold to wear our pretty Easter Sunday dresses!  I'm not feeling very optimistic  about this week either.  I'm hearing it's only going to be in the upper 30's low 40's.  Sigh, sigh, sigh.  Hope you all have a lovely weekend and I hope to post more this week.  

xoxo,

Jill

Babies don't keep (part 1)

 There have been a lot of people crossing my path lately reminding me to enjoy these days with my girls while they are still little.  I have to admit there are times when I find myself grumbling and complaining about all the time and energy it takes to raise babies.  (especially while they are little when they need so much help with everything!)  I took this as a sign/gift God telling me to slow down and chill out and enjoy these moments with the children He blessed me with.   I can't tell you how grateful I am for the voice of the Lord whispering in my ear and reminding me of this.  So from now on I am going to muster up all the strength and joy I have in me and just live each day to it's fullest and truly have fun with my two favorite girls!!  

I want to share a little of my story as a stay at home mommy and what it's meant to me.  By no means is this a post boasting about me and how all my choices are the right ones.  I am not walking in your shoes nor do I know the different situations you are facing in your life.  

Before I ever had children I always knew I wanted to be a stay at home mom.  Three years ago when I had my first daughter my husband and I were still very much newly married.  I was working a full time job as an office manager and my husband was a full time student and full time employee.  I guess I felt like since we were still working on "us" that I decided after almost 3 months of maternity leave I would go back to work.  We managed to work it out that our daughter would only be at daycare for half days and not everyday.  I will admit I cried weeks before I went back to work just knowing that I was going to miss out on some of the smallest and biggest parts of her growing up.  After a little over 3 months of being back to work I was unexpectedly laid off.  At first I was devastated and thought how were we ever going to make it financially and I had better start looking for another job ASAP!  I remember those days after being unemployed while I was holding my daughter as she slept I heard God tell me that He took that job away from me because He wanted me to stay home and raise my daughter.  Because I tend to be stubborn, I argued with Him and questioned Him how we could make it work financially.  Finally I surrendered to God and sat down with my husband and shared with him what I felt God was telling me.  I am so blessed to have a husband who supports and WANTS me to be a stay at home mom.  He never seemed to question or worry how it will all work out.  (he doesn't have trust issues like me!)  When my oldest daughter was 9 months old we found out we were pregnant again.  I found myself freaking out again but eventually completely convinced that this was my season the Lord was giving me to raise my babies and there was absolutely no question that I would continue to stay home.  

Over the last 3 years the Lord has shown me His hand on our lives and how He has provided for our family.  I am not gonna lie.  There have been many, many tough days, weeks and months of questioning God and doubt.  I still have days that are hard (but seriously who doesn't right?).  I can tell you that there is perfect peace knowing that I"m doing what God called me to do right now during this season of my life.  And when I have a bad day I am quickly comforted and reminded of what I am doing is in His will.  

I need to get some cleaning done before my little bears get home from the Y.  (their daddy time)  I want to continue sharing more of this journey with you as the days go by.  I hope that my story is a blessing a help to even just one worn out/ burned out stay at home mommy.  I pray for a peace to come over you in knowing that the Lord is pleased with your choice to stay home with your children.  Have a blessed weekend and give your babies extra kisses!

xox,

Jill

Day light savings

Little girl with bunny ears.

Little girl with her bunny. 

I've never been a fan of the whole day light savings.  And now that I'm a parent of two toddlers I really dislike it even more.  I'm big on schedules and this whole hour change really messes with my routine and confuses the girls.  Maybe one day they will do away with it.......but by then my kids will be grown.  I heard on the news that heart attacks are on the increase by 30% after the time change.  Why do we keep doing this then?  There has got to be some kind of vote we the people can have to decide if we want to keep doing this.  I think it's crazy.  

Anyway.......enough of that.  Complaining about it won't change it.  I've been busy stitching up some cute little spring pictures.  The sun finally decided to come out today so I was able to take some pictures.  Having the sun shining makes all the difference in the day for me.  How about you?  I feel so much more happy and seem to get more done.  I've decided I'm a huge fan of the sun.  

This week and weekend seemed to fly by.  We finally got ourselves a printer.  I'm in heaven now that I'm able to print off patterns and coloring pages and not have to go to the library.  I'm even able to make colored copies!!  Yay!!  Oh the possibilities!  

I'm going to keep this post short and sweet tonight.  I've got a cute little polka dot bunny I'm working on and want to finish it before bed.  Good night!

xoxo,

Jill

Is it spring yet?

Felt bunnies

Vintage sheets

The weather here in SD sure has a way of playing with your mind/emotions.  Yesterday morning I woke up to snow falling and wind blowing.  By afternoon the sun was shining and snow was melting.  Now again this morning I woke up to the wind howling and snow flurries.  I can't take the torment any longer!  SPRING hurry and get here!!  

This weekend I went to a few local thrift shops and snagged up a few more pretty vintage sheets.  My collection seems to be growing!  I'm not ready to cut into them yet, so for now I will enjoy their beauty.  I'm thinking once I get my sewing machine up and running I will be ready to cut them up into some pretties.  

I've been working on some felties for the up coming Junkin Jubilee sale but got off on a bunny trial with some cute little bunnies for Easter.  I can't resist.  Here is just a sneak peak of them....they are in need of stitching and stuffing.  I'm waiting on my Pink Freckles fabric tags I ordered before I finish them.  I think they will be cheerful to look at for awhile until I have my Easter/Clearance sale next week.  

I've got to get busy with some house work so I will leave you with a little tidbit from last night's Bible Study.  "And He brought us out from there, that He might bring us in and give us the land that He swore to give to our fathers." (Deut. 6:23)  One of the main points we are learning is the unconditional love God our father has for us.  Even when we make a mistake and mess up He never stops loving us.  It's time to stop living in guilt over our pasts. People are not delivered out of their pit by being shamed.  People are changed because of LOVE.  

xox,

Jill

Yummy fabric colors!

My yummy fat quarter stash!  

I made this for myself for Valentines Day.  Pattern found at Wild Olive Blogspot.

I guess you could say I'm on a roll with this blogging. I really should be either stitching something or giving the girls a bath.  But I read from another very successful blogger that it's important to stick with writing even when you don't have very many followers.  (some day I will have more!!)  I do however like to look back at some of the pictures I have taken of projects and some of the things I wrote.

Anyway......yesterday our local fabric shop was having a sale on their fat quarters and of course I thought how nice it would be to have some new yummy fabric to work with for my next batch of felties for the Junkin Jubilee sale!!  I can't wait to get stitching in these beautiful colors!!  I also found some new ideas on pinterest the other night and can't wait to try those ideas out too!  Now I just need my two little bears to cooperate with me so I can get busy.  (good luck with that!)

Just wanted to show off my lovely fat quarters and remind you to delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.  When our focus is on Him our desires fade and we are satisfied with Him alone.  Happy weekend my dear friends!!

xoxo,

Jill

Hello March!

A wreath made out of some old vintage sheets.

This is actually hanging inside of a large shabby frame.

A sweett little bunny ornament I stitched up. 

Hello March!  Goodbye February!  I'm always happy to see March arrive.  The days are longer and the sun seems to shine brighter.  I'm always anxious for spring.  A time when we can start shedding some of our winter layers.  I enjoy dressing up the girls in pretty Easter dresses and making up sweet Easter crafts.  It just seem like a happy time of year for me.  I've already been busy with a few little Easter crafts.  I don't really plan on spending much time on them this year with the Junkin Jubilee in mind. 

Today I was reflecting on the different areas of my life where God has used things to test my faith.  I was brought back to remembrance some times in my life where it seemed so dark and hopeless.  I remember reaching for His hand in the darkness even when I didn't see a small ray of hope.  Because even after all He's brought me through I will TRUST.  I won't give up now.  I believe this is a season of encouragement and restoration of joy.  A time to claim the promises of God and to live out our destiny's.  

So be encouraged- you will come out of this womb of tempering pressure drawing a breath of strength. Have a lovely weekend! 

xoxo,

Jill

Winter Blues

Every year it seems the months of January and February are the longest.  The winters here can last longer than I like.  I've been stitching up some new cute felties for a 1st Birthday order.  I just love how adorable they turned out.  They were so much fun to make.  I enjoyed working with all the fun colors.  Now I can't wait to stitch some up in pinks!  

I also have decided to be in a Junkin Jubilee this summer the last part of June.  I'm both excited and nervous.  I plan to share the booth with my mom.  My sister is going to have a little food booth also.  I guess we are all going to busy little bees!  I plan to make up a basket full of felties and some stitchery pictures.  With this being my very first sale I have a lot of thoughts running through my mind.  The goal is to block out the negative and just do what I love and believe in the talent God has given me.  

I've started a new Bible study series with the ladies at the church again.  We are doing another Beth Moore study called The Law of Love.  The series major goal is to regain our vision and and believing this is the year of release.  Getting out of the rut we are in and focusing on the vision God has called us to do.  

Habakkuk 2:2-3

And then God answered:  Write this.  Write what you see.  Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run.  This vision-message is a witness pointing to what's coming.  It aches for the coming- it can hardly wait!  And it doesn't lie.  If it seems slow in coming, wait.  It's on it's way.  It will come right on time.  

Keeping the Faith,

Jill