Finished Projects

It's been a while since I've posted some of my finished projects. I've been creating off and on since the last time I posted pictures. I took a little break, but I'm eager to get back to some more productive sewing.


I think I posted one picture of my "just like Daddy" apron, but here it is up close. I think it would fit a 3-5 year old. It's a little big on Calvin.


Here's my first applique that involved curved lines. I love how it turned out. This is the best picture I have of Calvin wearing it. He carried this play strawberry around the whole afternoon. Whenever I would try to get a picture of him he'd pop it in his mouth. I finally gave up.

I'm so pumped about my new pool/beach bag. I fell in love with the print on this tea towel and I've finally got around to making my bag. I lined it in waterproof material, PUL, so it's a perfect summer bag. I have one more towel and plan on making another one this week. I think I'll add a couple of pockets on the inside next time around.

This is Marvin's Father's Day present. I've been wanting to do a sillouette of Calvin for a while. Father's Day was the pefect excuse, and of course the phrase is Uppercase Living!
Finally this is my wet bag for wet clothes & eventually cloth diapers. I'm waiting my diaper covers to be delivered. The ones I bought with the cloth diapers are the snap kind and I have an extremely busy guy who doesn't sit well for diaper changes, so I ordered some with velcro. I know they don't last as long but for our sanity they were necessary. These and these are what I ordered, I choose these because they are adjustable and can be used as your child grows. Now I can't wait till Marvin installs my diaper sprayer. I found this tutorial on how to make your own.

Let the cloth diaper wearing begin.

28 is Great

Friday was my birthday and I'm one year closer to 30. Now I really don't mind getting older and hope I handle getting gray hair well. Marvin and I have had this conversation plenty of times about dying my hair when I start to go gray. He's against it, but I told him that where we are going it's cultural so why not! I hope we don't have to cross that bridge for a while, but if I do I'll keep you posted.

I had a great birthday. Calvin and I did our usual Friday things but we stopped for lunch at Braum's. It's always a nice treat eating out for lunch. We've done it twice in the last month and I'm almost positive that those are the only 2 times we have done that this year.

Marvin took me to a nice restaurant downtown called Bel Ami for dinner, while Calvin got to hang with his buddy. It was nice sitting down in a relaxing restaurant without having to entertain Calvin. Our dinner was amazing I had a salmon dish and Marvin had a veal dish, both things we never buy or order. It was quite a treat for sure.

No presents this year, we're saving up for some big purchases in our near future. I have my eye on a 220 volt Kitchenaid mixer, (big sigh). The bad news is they are twice as expensive as the ones for America. So anyone want to buy any of my Etsy creations? I'm really going to start stepping up my sewing in hopes it can bring in some extra income to help with some of these purchases. So if you have always wanted something made just let me know I'd be glad to help. Of course I'm very reasonable in my pricing.

We ended the evening enjoying some soft cookies and watching Second Chance Harvey. It was very good and very tasteful in my opinion. It's so nice to watch a movie without having to fast forward through unnecessary scenes. It did have some language but no cover your eyes moments.

I'm so thankful for all the wonderful friends and family in my life. It's so fun to think back over the past 28 years and see the abundance of blessings He has brought in my life. You guys rock!

Update

We had a great time at our interviews, although I now think I need to lose 10 lb. instead of 5. (They fed us well, and who can turn down cheesecake? I guess I need to work on self control.) We were given another green light and it's not a matter if we will go overseas, it's a matter of when. Like everyone else they've had a loss of giving and right now they are trying to determine when we can go. We hope to know more in July.

Initially this news was hard to take, although it wasn't surprising. It's hard being in a holding place. But I was reminded today that it doesn't matter where we are at my purpose is the same. So whether we leave in October, November or next March I'm asking for peace that passes all understanding.

We are so thankful we are home and can sleep in our own beds. It was great to see Calvin again and I was pleased to see he was happy to see us too. He's been a little more clingy but I think I needed extra time holding him. Yesterday we had a great time loving up on Marvin. Biscuits and Gravy for breakfast (yes even though we got home at 2:15 a.m.), Papa Johns for lunch, naps in the afternoon and we ended the day with a round of mini golf. It required some effort playing with Calvin. He enjoyed the first two holes, but the next 16 holes it was a game of distraction and trying to keep him out of the water features. I'm so thankful that Calvin has such a great Daddy.

His favorite part of his first golfing experience.......splashing in the water.

Just Humor Us

We are having a great time meeting lots of great people this week. But I definately miss playing these games with a sweet little boy the Lord has entrusted to us.

We love you Sweet Boy

Calvin,
Have a good time with Aunt Angie and Uncle Allen this week. We miss you and love you.

See you Saturday!
Mama & Daddy

Just like Daddy

Calvin loves to put on Marvin's bike helmet he thinks it's pretty funny. Last week I picked up a bike seat at a garage sale and this week we found a helmet! I can't wait to get my bike from my mom and take Calvin out for a spin. He loves it when Marvin lets him sit on his bike. I think he's going to love going for a bike ride.


Calvin also insisted on modeling a necklace I got today. He's such a goof. I'm already about to cry at the thought of leaving him for a whole week, even though he is going to have so much fun.

All in a Days Work

Sometimes people ask me the question "What do you do all day?" Sometimes I feel a little at a loss for what do say. Sometimes I'm a bit offended by the question but I'll borrow a line from Pride and Prejudice, "It's such a pleasure running my own home Lizzie." I love my job and I have enjoyed loving my family by taking care of them. Yesterday was one of those days where I was focused on getting as much done as possible. Here's my day in review.

I started the day working on housework. It seems like weekends I'm not very motivated to stay tidy(not that I am very tidy during the week, I just work on it more). I guess I want to spend time together rather than boring housework. So I woke up to a sink full of dishes and a dishwasher full of clean dishes. It's been a few days since I've had an empty sink. Doesn't she look pretty? Since Calvin was being mesmerized by Dora I had time to sweep and mop the floor and boy did it need it.

Once I finished cleaning up the kitchen. I moved on to the recycling. I usually toss all of it in a giant bag and then sort it later, it was time to take the plastics and newspaper and i was happy to see the bins were back at Dillons. It's been taken in and out of the car so many times the past week because the bins weren't there and we needed the trunk space.

Next I put the laundry away. All of it, which left me with empty baskets. Always a beautiful site. Calvin enjoyed helping put his socks away and as soon as the baskets were empty he was off pushing them around the house.

I took a little break and played with Calvin on our bed. Am I bad mom if I let him jump? Hope not because he loves it.

We had lunch. Leftovers from Sunday. I love leftover lunches. We read books and I put Calvin down for nap and then it was time for me to get back to work.

I took the stack of clothes winter clothes I pulled from my drawers earlier and packed them away in a suitcase. Then added another basketful of clothes to the garage sale pile. I seriously don't have very many clothes, but it's amazing at how many of them I never wear. Most I've picked up at garage sales, but still I was amazed.

Next I organized my coupons. I hadn't done it in over a week, so I had two Sundays worth of coupons plus all the ones I've gotten in the mail. It feels much better when they are all in their places.

Next I finalized my grocery list and pulled needed coupons for my grocery run.

I piddled on the computer until Calvin woke up (which was probably only 20 minutes).

I gave Calvin a snack and we were off to do our Dillons, Walgreens & Aldi run. We came back put everything away. Calvin and I did a few puzzles before Marvin got home.

Then Marvin took Calvin out for a little jog and I finished dinner and piddled on the Internet.

We ate dinner, Calvin took a bath, read his Bible then put him to bed.

I ran to Target and picked up a couple of things we needed for our trip, and finished a few sewing projects that I had yet to finish. Which included: my latest preschool apron, a pouch for the diaper bag, a taggie crinkle baby toy, hemmed a few things, added a strap to Calvin's swimming hat and some Velcro to a padding thing that goes with his car seat.

I took a long shower. Snuggled up with my Bible, read a few chapters and then it was time for bed.

Now most days are not like this and I am very thankful, but it feels good to do this every now and then.

Eight is Great

I've been tagged. This was a lot of fun and spured some fun conversations with Marvin.

Eight Things I'm Looking Forward To:
1. Next week's interviews. I'm not looking forward to being away from Calvin all week, but looking forward to the time with others with the same heart and share what God has laid on our hearts for our future.
2. Going back home to Nineveh and introducing Calvin to some dear friends and hopefully going deeper in relationships.
3. Communicating in another language once again. We desperately need to get somewhere where we are surrounded by it again.
4. The arrival of our newest niece or nephew the end of this month.
5. Reunions this summer family & FOCUS!
6. 4th of July on the farm.
7. Taking Calvin swimming this summer.
8. Seeing what God is going to teach me during this time of preparation to go back overseas.



Eight Things I Did Yesterday:
1. Church
2. Made a blanket for a baby shower gift
3. Went to a Baby Shower
4. Had a cookout with our small group
5. Watched a great Kansas storm
6. Snuggled and read books with a cute little guy.
7. Took a long hot shower
8. Fell asleep in my hubby's arms



Eight Things I Wish I Could Do:
1. Play the guitar. I'm trying to learn, but it's been very slow.
2. Be Tidy. Regardless of how hard I try, thing tend to get messy in a hurry. Especially when I'm cooking.
4. Paint, as in art kind not rooms.
5. Put the laundry away as soon as it is finished.
6. Play the piano, I wished I stuck with it.
7. Wake up early
8. Be more disciplined in regards to journaling and scripture memorization



Eight Shows I Watch:
1. The Office
2. Amazing Race
3. Biggest Loser
4. The News, if I'm not asleep
5. So You Think You Can Dance
6. Dora, Calvin's favorite right now
7. ? (Seriously I haven't watched TV since our shows ended in May)
8 ?

Eight Favorite Fruits:
1. Strawberries
2. Watermelon
3. Blueberries
4. Pineapple
5. Peaches
6. Plums
7. Grapes
8. Kiwi


Eight Places I've Lived:
1. Emporia, KS
2. K-State Dorms
3. Various apartments in Manhattan, Kansas
4. Virgina
5. apartment in "Nineveh"
6. "The fortress" in a village outside of "Nineveh"
7. Istanbul
8. Wichita, KS



Eight Places to Visit:
1. Italy
2. Africa: Safari & Mt. Kilimanjaro
3. Hawaii
4. Upper NW (Washington, Oregon)
5. WWII sites in Europe
6. 7 Churches tour in Turkey
7. China again
8. India

So I'm going to tag the following:
Marie, Carrie, Jamie, Janae (I'm pretty sure you have a blog), Amanda, Kim

I can't wait to see your lists!

Unstoppable

Amazing. I saw this yesterday and it's made such an impression on me. It's such a neat picture of how a movement can begin. True some may think you are crazy at first, question what you are doing, but keep dancing. Keep doing what God has asked you to do and soon others can't help to but to join in. I also love that this guy didn't dance in his house, he took a risk, put himself out there. So what are you waiting for start dancing..........(metaphorically speaking of course, you can dance if you want.)

Workin on that last 5

I feel like I've hit a wall recently. I've really been trying to get to my pre-Calvin weight but I've plateaued. Why is it that 5 pounds is so hard to lose? I'm going to call this summer operation vanish 5, we will see if I'm successfull or not. I'm working on training for a 10K, but I think I need to bring some more strength training back into my work out routine.

Some days jogging goes well and other days I think there is no way I'm going to be ready to run a 10 K in July. Right now I am able to run about 2 1/2 miles pushing Calvin in the jogging stroller before I feel like I need to walk, so I think I'd be able to run around 3 miles right now. It looks like I'm half way there. Each week I'm slowly adding another 1/2 mile to my training, so we will see how it goes.

Now if only I could get out of bed and run before Calvin wakes up. Maybe the summer heat will be my motivation.

Sweet Family Time

Thanks for the input about my new style! I'm getting it cut on Saturday, the jury is still out but it's either going to be #1 or #3, we'll see what I decide on Saturday.

We had such a wonderful weekend. It was busy but we were so blessed be near family. Marvin's parents came down for a visit and we had a great time with them.

It has been fun being close to family this past year and it is neat to see Calvin adore both sets of grandparents. I grew up very close to both of my grandparents and it was something I have really struggled with in regards to moving half way around the world. It truly has been a sweet time for Calvin to get to know his extended family. I'm learning to cherish the times we have now because in a few short months we will be relearning how to do this from afar.

He was so excited to have guests this weekend that he didn't rest much. His nights were over early because he was ready to play with grandma and grandpa and even though he was exhausted nap times were shortened. He certainly doesn't want to miss out on anything.

The following are a few pictures of our weekend:

Here's my little helper. Anytime the flour comes out he thinks he needs to help. He helped make some pita bread. It was the first time Grandma and Grandpa had gyros, they thought they were yummy.

We found this Dora book at a garage sale on Thursday and Calvin has carried it around the house ever since. He's quite smitten with Dora too and begs to watch "Dorda". I think we've found a good routine, Dora in the morning after breakfast and getting dressed but he sure tries to watch more throughout the day. Thankfully we also found several other Dora things at garage sales that appease him. He went from not caring at all about TV to wanting to watch it all the time. Yikes.

Grandma got to be a part of Calvin's first swim/splash of the year. He treats his pool as a giant puddle, but I guess it's more puddlish than poolish. Now if I could only figure out how to lure this little boy back inside. Ummm, any suggestions, anything is better than kicking and screaming.

Marvin and Harry went to the state track meet on Saturday while Kathy and I hung out with Calvin all day. We had to get one picture before they headed home. Thanks for coming down to see us. Calvin had so much fun. He's a luck little boy to have so many people who love him.