SweetPea Castle

Feeling out of breath

I am feeling a little overwhelmed at the moment.  I'm sure that it's really mostly my own doing.  But, it doesn't feel good none-the-less.  There is a ladies meeting tomorrow afternoon at church that I really want to go to... but I really need to get this worktable cleared off.  So, unless I get some supernatural work done before 1pm tomorrow... I won't be going.  But, that's okay really.  I (the whole family) will be spending Sunday after church with the pastor's family.  And, I can hardly wait.

I have all but one of the embroideries done for Delwyn's order.  They really are beautiful.  I actually would have all of them done, but the last one has some color issues in the embriodery.  So, I'm restitching it tonight or tomorrow morning.  I want to get them all finished tomorrow so that I can ship them on Monday.  I have 4 more booster sets to cut from the HFT and all of the inners and toppers to cut.

Next, I have a custom embroidered cover to do for one of the Great Cloth Diaper Hunt winners.  And, then I have a medium superman AIO to do for a reversal miracles friend.  I've also go slots opening on Tuesday (I think?) for extra soaker/booster sets.  Lastly, I want to work on something for the first of the month MDF stocking.

All of this, while my three littlest ones are driving me NUTS!  Well, Tabitha really isn't the trouble... it's Noah and Eliana.  Between the two of them I feel like I'm a screaming referree... and I HATE IT!!!

But, right now I need to get out of here.  I have to go re-make the crib for Eliana and get everything ready for me and Tabitha to go to bowling tonight.  I can't wait to escape for a little bit.  Sheesh... that sounds so horrible and selfish.  It probably is.  Raven will be here in about 30 minutes and we (Jason, me and Tabi) need to split right away.

This has been a busy week and I am rejoicing over God's mercy and forgiveness.  Training a strong willed 2 year old is not my idea of fun.... necessary... but NOT fun.  ;-)

Reflections of Gratitude

I am grateful that the Lord has given me another day to spend with these beautiful blessings and my husband.  I am grateful for the fact that I have a beautiful house, two cars, and am able to pay my bills.  I am grateful for the love of my parents who live next to me and how much our relationship has grown and matured over the years.  I am overwhelmingly blessed to have a church that I can call family.  I praise God that he gave me a voice to sing for Him.

I praise the Lord for my husband... without whom I would be lost and heartbroken.  He means more to me than I could ever put into words or actions.  He is my rock.  He has put up with me when no one else would have.  He has supported me in all of my crazy ideas and steps of faith.  He is my lover and my best friend.

I praise the Lord for Timothy... my oldest son.  I am forever grateful that the Lord gave me a heart that never even considered other options when I found myself pregnant at 15.  I'm not sure he will ever understand how much I love him and believe in him.  He has grown into quite a young man.  I am praying now for his future... and his future wife and family.  May he never really stray from the calling that God has on his life.

I am truly blessed and thankful for Kyra... my oldest daughter.  She is amazingly beautiful and has the most gorgeous singing voice.  She has been gifted by the Lord in awesome ways.  My prayer right now is that she would allow the Lord to heal her heart and fill the void that she's so desperately trying to fill herself.  I am also praying for her future and her future husband and family.  I pray that she would wait on God for His perfect timing and perfect mate.

Noah was my first reversal miracle.  He is inquisitive, thoughtful and sneaky.  ;-)  He's a perfect 5 year old.  I love to work with him on his homeschool studies and learning about our Lord together.  He is an awesome big brother to Eliana and Tabitha and adores Tim and Kyra, too.  He may look like a mini-Tim... but he is the exact opposite in temperment and demeaner.

I am grateful that, although I do not understand why God allowed me to experience the three miscarriages next, I can better understand those who have also experienced losses and the heartache that goes with it.

Eliana was my next miracle.  We honestly weren't sure that God would give us any further children.  She is precious, spirited, beautiful, and precocious.  And, just like Noah... she may LOOK like Kyra... but she has the temperment and demeaner of Tim.  Boy are we in trouble!  :-)

Most recently, I am thankful beyond measure for Tabitha.  I was (and still am most days) not ready for this little one.  But, I absolutely cannot imagine life without her.  She is fiesty and yet mellow.  She is very content most of the time and just loves to snuggle and watch everything going on around her.  She nurses like a champ, squeals when tickled and cut her first tooth two nights ago.  She will be 6 months old on the 29th and is as precious as when she was born.

I am thankful for SO much more, but this is all I wanted to fit into one posting.  I pray that this coming week will be one of thanksgiving and rejoicing even more.

Friday Update

Today, I've got to get an order out the door and do as much to finish my next one (3 embroidered AIOs). Then, I've got another order of 6 all embroidered AIOs.  Finally, I've got an embroidered cover to do for one of the Great Cloth Diaper Hunt winners.  And, that's just what I actually have committed to... not what else I want to get done or in the works.

My mom is sick and has been all week.  So, my usual helper has really not be available.  They (mom and pappy) are also usually the ones that help with the littles and they've both been here less this week.  So, it means that I've gotten less done.  But, that's okay.  It's actually given me a reality check and time to evaluate what I'm working on/commiting to and how I should handle things coming up.

I am looking forward to getting stuff done today and going bowling tonight.  It will be good to get out of the house and have some fun with Jason.  Right now, I need to get back to trying to get some work done before I have to take a break and feed Noah and Eliana lunch.

God is so awesome... and I praise Him every day that He has allowed me to stay home full-time with these precious blessings.  Sometimes... I just forget to say it out loud.  ;-)

A little mishap

While my poor hubby was stuck in Texas on a business trip, last night I decided to go pick up some pizza for the children and a salad from Applebee's for me.  Pappy was upstairs working on moving around the girls rooms.  Kyra has moved out and we are putting Eliana and Tabitha in her old room.  And we'll be using Eliana's old room as a guest/storage room.  Tabitha was napping and my mom was watching Eliana and Noah for me.  I thought it would be a nice quick break and chance to get out of the house by myself for a few minutes of peace and quiet.

Uh... the best laid plans of mice and men... end up with a flat right front tire after putting the van in a ditch to avoid an oncoming car.  And, of course... said oncoming car... sped up and took off when I went into the ditch.  Gah!  Our country roads are too narrow and in desperate need of repair along the edges.  And, it's become a serious hazard with the cars using it as a detour and driving entirely too fast and carelessly.  If that other stupid car had been in their own lane...

Praise God that I was just down the street from the house.  I called Pappy and had him come get me and the food.  We called AAA from the house and grabbed a hot cup of coffee and headed back to wait.  The guy from the wrecker service was great and the van is back in the driveway with the full spare on it.  Now, I'll be spending Friday in Frederick seeing about a replacement.

Needless to say... I really didn't get much done on my "to-do" list last night and am behind this morning.  And Tabitha is out of sorts and not letting me get much done either.  So, I think that my order that is supposed to go out today... will likely go out tomorrow.  I'll have to see how today goes and email her later.

But, the good news... Jason is actually in the air on his way home right now.  The littles and I have missed him and can't wait for him to be home again.

Weekly To-Do's

I am starting something new this week... however, I am starting it late.  From now on, it is my goal to post a weekly 'to-do" list on Monday mornings.  Then, I can keep up with being motivated and getting things accomplished.  So, without further ado... here is this weeks list:

1. Ship Meghan's order
2. Complete Trisha's order and ship on Thursday    Shipped on Friday
3. Complete Britton's current order and ship on Friday?  I'm also waiting on the rest of her custom request and need to see if she'd prefer to have them all done and shipped together or seperately.    In process... this will ship next week
4. Complete all embroideries for Delwyn's order.  To be shipped on 1/24.
5. Start the paperwork for Amber's custom.  She won one of the first place customs in the Great Cloth Diaper Hunt
6. Check with Kim (myltlbunch) about her custom order.
7. Get my embroidery options updated on the website.
8. Update fabric options on the website.  In process
9. Work on my blog layout/design/options.
10. Move Eliana into Kyra's old room

Organization

It's that time again!  Time to organize our files and declutter our work (and rest) places.  Time to sort through things and prepare for a new year... and a new tax season!  Ugh!

Organization... an ideal place where we are diligent with our time and resources.  Where we are not lazy and messy.  Not a place that I'm really familiar with.  But, a place that I need to find.

So, this week (in between all the sewing and regular life events) I will be working more on organizing myself for this year.  I HAVE to get on top of this before I get any further behind.

Wish me luck!

Happy New Year!

Sometimes God points out things that just put your current situations into perspective.  Tonight was one of those nights.  I was posting some updates on Ovusoft and was drawn to Amy.  My heart aches for her and her children right now.  And to imagine that I was whining about such stupid things recently.  Shame on me!

I praise God for my husband.  I have NO doubt that I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful husband.  And, I wouldn't even want to begin to think of life without him.  Things could always be worse.

So, for the coming year... I am going to take the time to rejoice in the small blessings (and large ones) and be thankful for each new day and all that it brings.  So... thanks Mom for the Birks... and the large screen TV.  Thanks daddy for helping to get everything cleared out and moved in and put back together so said TV can be enjoyed. 

Thanks honey... for everything.  I love you with all that I am.