Remembering when, with family

Sun sets on the horizon, and I settle my brain down in the home that I was raised, with my babes sleeping soundly in the next room.  It's a comforting feeling being back in the home that I spent so much time in and grew up in.  It fits like a well worn slipper, with all the grooves marked out inside for your individual toes.  The stairs creak in the same spots that they used to, and I instinctively avoid the areas that I know cause the most noise.  I could climb those stairs in my sleep.  Oh, the memories built around a simple set of plain oak wood stairs.  First days of high school, coming home from long work shifts, university, dates, weddings, pregnancy and carrying new born babes in arms...if those stairs could talk...They could tell a lot of stories. And, we make new ones everyday.

Ordinary & Extraordinary {Giveaway}

We enjoyed a family vacation shared with close friends last week.  While the drive up (and down) and life in a cottage with two other families, including three more children was at times exhausting, the memories that were made, were well worth the work.

Heigh-ho, Heigh-ho, It's back work I go.

Yes, the day has come, the dreaded time to head back to work.  I have to say, I was avoiding thinking about it as long as possible, but yes, the inevitable moment came, and until the sewing picks up a bit more, this is where we are at.  I'm back at Rachel A Clingen Wedding Design and Eventure Custom Environments.  It fits like an old comfortable shoe, because it was my position of ten years at one point.  I have the blessing of slipping back into a flexible position, working when Dale is off, and when we can co-ordinate childcare with my mom.  Because honestly, by the time you pay childcare for three kiddos, there is not much point in working.  I'm so thankful that I can lean on my mother in times like these, and it's also given Dale a great opportunity to bond with the babes.  When I know they are with their daddy or grandma it makes leaving them a little easier, knowing that they are in familiar hands.  I've also had to do the whole childcare thing, when I went back to work after Levi was born, so I understand that side of the coin too.  I'm taking a deep breath, heart a little heavy, a little torn, and stepping out in God's strength.  Cause Lord knows I can't do it on my own.  

What does that verse say?...

 " I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" 

Philippians 4:13.  

Right, all things.  Not some things, or certain things, all...period. 

Honestly, I'm still feeling quite scattered right now.  There are so many hats that you seem to wear as a mom, and now adding on the work hat, stretches things a little more. There are some days that I have enjoyed being back at work, having a break from the everyday, and others where for whatever reason I'm just longing to be home with my babes. Those are the days when I come home, and their cheeks seem a little fuller, their shoulders a little taller, feet a little bigger and fingers a little longer. The days when they seem to have grown a few months older, all in one day, and I feel like I've missed out on so much. There are also the days when they are not overly excited to see me when I get home, which is a good and a bad thing for me. Good because it means they've had such a great day that they haven't even noticed I was gone. Bad (for me) because they didn't need me. But, I suppose that is a whole other lesson in itself. So I'm taking in this stage, good and bad, working on trusting Him more, because He holds all these plans in His hands...and He does know best.  How to grow me, shape me, and change me.

Being back to work certainly does make me appreciate the days home with my babes.  Yesterday, we enjoyed some time at the beach with some friends.  Boy, it sure is work in itself, packing up for the beach, but the reward was just so sweet.  Time off with them, feels like more of a luxury now, a vacation in itself.

Later yesterday evening, I enjoyed a dinner out with a friend.  It was a night filled with great food, fun conversation capped off with a waterfront walk with ice creams in hand. What more could a girl want!?

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I'm excited to show you the most recent sewing table project, and ipad bag!  This was made up with some fabric that I picked up in the states. Check it out here for more details!

Busy Blessed Weekend

I mentioned on Friday, that I was heading out for a ladies retreat...and oh what a sweet retreat it was.  The parents of one of the ladies in our group graciously offered up their stunning home in the woods for us to enjoy for the night.  I got lost a few times on the way down, but I think it was mostly due to the distraction of the crazy loud music that I had blaring in the car.  To be honest, I didn't mind getting lost.  It didn't really matter where I was driving, I was a free momma for the night!  

Sweet Grace

You know those days, when the day seems to be slowly rolling by?

So slow in fact, that the clock seems to be your worst enemy because every time you look at it, only 33 seconds have passed by and the minute hand hasn't even moved at all. Could it possibly be going backwards?  So, you resolve not to look at the clock anymore, because it’s not changing anything anyways, and only making you frustrated.  Secretly you peek at it every now and then, thinking, surely it must be close to lunch time.  These are the days that I’ve been up since 5:30, and at 8:47 the thought of another coffee seems quite enticing.

Celebrations and Thanks

We celebrated a friends baby girls first birthday this weekend.  I just love birthdays, and not only because of the cake...

The first birthday is particularly special.  This means it's been a year since this woman entered into motherhood, welcomed the pain, endured labor knowing that a sweet reward laid around the corner. And how sweet she is.

Long Weekends

We always enjoy long weekends over here.  Although Dale works in retail, and the hustle and bustle of the store on the days leading into the holiday can be exhausting, we welcome the extra day off as reward.

When these bonus days roll around, I find myself wanting to maximize every moment.  We should do this, finish this project, spend family time, take a nap, try that new recipe and relax with a movie at night.  While we did accomplish a lot of that, we certainly weren't able to cram it into one day, it slowly unfolded over the course of the weekend.  Though in my mind it seemed like it could all have been completed in a day.  Best laid plans...when will I learn that life with three babes can always throw you for a loop, tossing curve balls coming from directions that you hadn't anticipated, and yet, there in lies the beauty. In the unexpected.

This weekend, though not as planned, was full of lots of excitement.

*Visits with family, oh how I love them. Dale's mom is my other mama, always has been since Dale and I began.  Soft smile and warm hugs, she just makes my heart happy.

* Time out with friends sans babies.  Thanks to the brave girls who watched, yes, all six children.

I was just a little excited.

* Morning snuggles.  Averie has taken to wrapping her finger around the top of her nose when sucking her thumb.  I call it the hook. So cute.

* Afternoon walks and pursuit of forest squirrels.  The simple amazement of a child in the everyday never ceases to stop me in my tracks, and make me smile.  It reminds me to appreciate the little things that much more, because when you really look, there is so much to seize and admire.

* Mini photo shoot.  Look at him workin with the camera, he's a natural.

* Play time with Grandma.  I love catching the sweet times between them.  A lot of times, I just love to watch.  Then she will catch me, flash a mama smile that says "I know, I love moments like these too".
Dale was working the late closing shift, so I rented a chick flic for the gals.  We snuggled those babes into bed and the comfy couches welcomed our tired bodies for a moment of rest.  It wasn't a sleepover night, but equally as enjoyable.

* Welcoming strong, warm sunshine through window panes.  I couldn't help but think of this verse:

..."his face was shining like the sun in full strength" Revelation 1:16

We spent Friday morning mourning Jesus' death. His sacrifice for our sins, for yours, for mine.  Ah, but the celebration that took place on sunday, of the victory that he had over the cross and death, that is where the true power is.  And I imagine his mighty face shining brightly as pictured below when he showed up to the disciples, triumphant over the cross, death and the grave.  This is truly what the weekend was all about.

* Warm home cooked meals.  Cause you know there aint nothin like mama's cookin.

* The thrill of the hunt.  Sharing this new tradition with the little man, was perhaps just as exciting for us as it was for him.

* Afternoon book reading and snuggles.  Father/son moments, they just melt my heart.

* Taking on a new project.  While I did have tonnes of other lofty crafty plans for the weekend, I did at least manage to complete one. Check out this new fabric cuff bracelet. I've been dreaming it up for a while and i'm sure there will be lots more styles to come.  I'd love to hear feedback about it!

Bloom recap and thank-you's

Wow.  Bloom was an overwhelming success!  It was a great turnout with about 75 people in attendance and approx $180 donated to our local pregnancy resource center with the funds collected from the draw for the gift basket.  Thank you to all those who donated towards this!  

I was so impressed by the wonderful displays that everyone put together for Bloom.  So impressed in fact, that while setting up Friday night, I realized that I had been putting so much thought into everything else for the event, that I gaped on what my display would look like.  I scoured my house when I got home, and put together what I could on Saturday morning.  We were blessed with a beautiful day.  Streaks of sunshine danced through the windows surrounding the DeSota's beautiful home. 

There was a lot to take in at Bloom.  Beautiful handmade jewelry hung on tree branches, stretched canvases painted with elegance and printed with fine photographs, knitted and crocheted garments and cowls, detailed handmade cards, pampering treatments, fabrics sewn into stunning scarves and more.

We could not have had such a successful day without the help of so many kind friends.

• Thank you to Jeremy and Carla DeSota for opening up their home and letting us over-run it for two days. Helping with set up and tear down all with a 11 month old in tow!
• Thank you to Emily Dugard and Tahlia Coros for welcoming each of our guest with your beautiful faces, and reminding us about the draws for door prizes.
• Thank you Amy Ninkovic for your love, support and design help.  For your great advice during set up, and help with the food station.( Hanna too!)  For printing the biographies for each vendors table.
• Thank you Diane Armstrong for help with set up, take down, food preparation.
• Thank you to all the vendors, your level of professionalism and incredible displays.
• Thank you Angie for all the collaboration and putting up with me.
• Thank you to everyone who attended an supported all of these wonderful artisans.
• Last but not least, Thank you Lord, for instilling such beautiful talents in all of these ladies.

There is much talk going on about a fall event...so please stay tuned for details on this!