30 on the 30th

This year was it.

My golden birthday.

Grace cried last year when she learned that she would have to wait until she was 29 for her golden birthday.

It was a glorious day filled with an adventure that made me feel like I was 18 again.

Carl took me canoeing down the Sauk and Mississippi rivers. (We haven't done this in over 10 years.) It was picture perfect blue puffy clouds with a slight breeze, 70 degrees...not too hot nor too cold along with the perfect company it was amazing.

Time stood still for those couple of hours.

It was a wonderful blessing that will stay etched in my mind forever.

Happy Birthday Grace!

She is 6 years old today. Wow - I have a 6 year old. She was so happy with her cake(for which I am extremely thankful.) It only took us 2 cans of frosting, 8 small baggies, a couple of toothpicks and lots of napkins. Note: We have zero professional cake decorating tools. Maybe we should put that on our wish list. We are going to have a lot of birthday's around here in the next 20 years.

You are growing up so fast my little one. I am proud of you and who you are becoming. My the Lord richly bless your life to His glory. We love you and will love forever ... no matter what!

Very interesting...

Thanks Matthew for finding this.

Homeschool, needlework, and Adie

We have started homeschooling early this year so that we can take time off once the boys come in November. As you can see, things can get out of hand...even when they have all disappeared. I think they are playing on the floor around the corner. The winner of this week's favorite toy is a box full of poker chips. (I think they are one of my brothers, but they never claimed them at my mom's so I took them to be counting chips.) They love to sort, stack, make patterns, and build with them...I would have never thought there were so many uses!


This was a first lesson in needle art. Flour sacks, needle, and string equals loads of fun while Adie took her nap.

They were so proud of themselves saying things such as, "Mom, I bet Laura Ingalls Wilder did the same thing as us."

Adie had a great day and I can't believe how easy it is to get things done when I have a cooperative 2 year old who doesn't throw tantrums or get into anything. (Yesterday it was Elmer's glue on the carpet). She played so nicely this morning that I didn't know whose child I had. She loved those poker chips that I was talking about earlier. I am praying for another good day tomorrow!

On the go Monday

We are on the go today. We finished school this morning and now are off to Great Grandma's farm to pick our own sweet corn. I wonder how much we will pick? Depends on how long the little munchkins last. Then we will be canning...can you say yum?

Yesterday we were at Great Grandpa and Grandma's 50th Wedding Anniversary. People came out of the woodwork to celebrate with them! From my estimates there were over 300 people there. (that was bigger than our wedding) It made me think of how excited I am to spend 50 years with Carl. What stories will have been written and where in the world is God going to take us? It is an adventure that I am looking forward to!

What are you really thinking when...

When we tell people that we are adopting two little boys and have three little girls already, then they look at me wide eyed and eyebrows raised and say, "Boy, you are going to be really busy!"

Now I would like to translate what they are thinking in that split nanosecond...

"Oh my goodness...she is crazy...she is never going to sleep....how in the world is she going to handle all that crying, fusing, fighting, food preparing, laundry, llama drama, shuttling, and shoe tying...oh I am so glad I am not doing that."

To which I reply, "I know that already, but God says I don't need to worry about tomorrow, I just need to enjoy all the hugs, kisses, snuggles, smiles and laughter of today."

New Fabric @ Wings

I finally did it - I posted all my new fabric for nursing shawls and headscarves. Go and check it out at AdoptionWings.


I am going to do a big push of my sales before the boys come in November. My life might get a little busier and sewing probably won't be a high priority with 5 little ones running around. So - it is never too early to think about Christmas or those great little gifts for teachers or stocking stuffers for little girls.

Also, I would love ideas of colors and patterns you would like me to look for while shopping. Picking out fabric raises my blood pressure and not many other things do. I don't know why it totally stresses me out ....I feel like I am marrying this fabric and I better make the right choice when in all reality it is just a piece of cloth that my kids could play dress up with if it turn out to be a dud! This is where I can annoy myself - too much of a type A.

Looking forward to your orders!