Weloming December and the Holidays!

Last night I took the opportunity to create ... and work on the Jessica Sprague prompts from the Holidays in Hand course I took a few weeks ago. I'm already a little behind - but I'm not going to let that dampen my enthusiasm or my resolve to work on this project!

For yesterday's assignment I was to read this article by Cynthia Townley Ewer (Welcome Home, for the Holidays) and write my thoughts. Here they are:

"A holiday home is welcoming home. ... We seek a welcoming home, one that invites guests inside and surrounds them with warmth. A welcoming home, happy center or our families Christmas celebration. A welcoming home, that greets and enfold us with light and cheer and good smells at the end of each busy day. ... This is a house where life is, and never more happily than during the holidays. ... The welcoming home springs from a room in the heart not a room in the house. ... A welcoming home. To have one, we must refurnish our heart, not our house." -Cynthia Townley Ewer-

When I think about a welcome home, I think about PEACE. Which just happens to be my WORD of the year. A house full of peace is what I strive for (and often fail miserably at). A house full of laughter and fun and no strife. A place where people feel cherished and loved and welcome -- especially the people who live here (my husband and children and my self - and then extending to those who visit our home.) I really appreciate that she says this kind of home starts with the heart. The most interesting thing was that I was reading Proverbs this morning and that is just what is talked about:

My son, forget not my law or teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;For length of days and years of a life [worth living] and tranquility [inward and outward and continuing through old age till death], these shall they add to you. Let not mercy and kindness and truth forsake you; bind them about your neck, write them upon the tablet of your heart. Proverbs 3:1-3

So I'm endeavoring to fill my heart with God's words (that is my plan for refurbishing my heart) trusting him to fill it with His peace and believing that it will extend to my home ... and make it a more welcoming place!

Confirmation

Monday I had my last ultrasound of this pregnancy (or so I have been told) -- it is so exciting because the ultrasound has confirmed that the baby is head down! So thankful for your prayers and also to God for this miracle! I'm now 34 weeks pregnant -- two weeks more pregnant than I was with Joshua (who also turned - but he turned at the last second. My Pastor and I had prayed the day before and he turned!)

A new occupation

1. Cowboy
2. Outrider
3. Chuckwagon driver
4. Football player (Joel says "I'm Donald Driver" - we're big Packers fans here - and loves to line up and tackle his brother).
5. Hockey goalie - either for the Edmonton Oilers or the Red Deer Rebels.
6. Chef
and the latest occupation of my four year old:
7. Fireman

Matt went to talk to Joel and his playschool class on Monday about fire safety - he wore his fire gear and handed out hats and books, pencils and stickers. Joel came home so very excited! Ever since we have had a fireman saving the day at our house (well I guess 2 firemen if we include Matt). Joel picks only fireman books to read, and points out the smoke alarms on the roof, and tells me "I'm a fireman ... I know everything about fires because I'm a real fireman). This morning a sleepyeyed boy wearing a firehat was my first sight of him.

Grinning!

I had a doctor appointment this morning ... grinning from ear to ear because the baby has turned! YIPPPEEEE! The other happiness is that I am already a week more pregnant than I was with Joshua. So cool to have a Dr. that celebrates that fact!

I've been spending the afternoon working on the baby boy quilt. And yesterday I found this fabulous promise in the Bible:

Through skillful and godly Wisdom is a house (a life, a home, a family) built, and by understanding it is established (on a sound and good foundation). And by knowledge shall it's chambers (of every area) be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. Proverbs 24:3-4 So thankful that all we have to do is ask God and He will give us the wisdom we need. I ask often!

Ps. Inquiring minds wanted to know ... I have a Kenmore 14 sewing machine (I got it for Christmas probaly 15 years ago - thanks Mom and Dad ... I've used it off and on over the years but just this year I have been using it almost every single day -- thanks to being inspired by my MIL and SIL and sister Kara. Someday I hope to have a sewing machine with a button that tells the feed dogs to disappear. In the meantime I oil it when it starts to clunk and keep learning this quilting thing.)

Crossing another off my list ...

I have finished the baby girl quilt ... this week I'll work on the baby boy quilt (which is going to be the same design so I don't have to agonize over that - just not pink =). I ended up using a freemotion swirl pattern ... so much easier I find than stippling. I also took the feed dogs right out of my sewing machine and then my freemotion foot actually worked (still have to work out the kinks with tension and then with putting the dogs back in so they don't click -- thanks to Matt for fixing that!)

Last night Josh was up off and on from 2 until 7:30 -- which is when I finally gave up on sleeping and just got up with him. I think if Joel hadn't woken up from all the crying we could have had him back to sleep ... but alas . Needless to say, I wasn't able to go to church and I had a BIG nap this afternoon. I really really want my boys to be sleeping so that I get a few nights of sleep in before the baby arrives.

Getting ready

On my list was to wash and fold all the baby clothes and wash our bassinette bedding. My wonderful mother is here and is helping me with this. It is pretty exciting looking at all those cute little sleepers -- and sharing it with the boys who are so very excited. Joel kept saying "aw ... it's just so cute Mommy".

Today I am 32 weeks and 6 days pregnant (this is one day more pregnant than I was with Joshua.) I am so very thankful for my precious Joshua -- my sweet little 22 month old. I thank God for how perfect he is. I am also so very thankful for this pregnancy ... believing for a full term baby and an easy delivery. God is so very good to me.

Holidays in Hand

I'm taking the Jessica Sprague Holidays in hand class (I think today is the last day you can sign up ... it's free).

Today's assignment was to think about Holiday values: (and making a goal for how these will happen in this Christmas season)
1. A time to remember Jesus and to be thankful for what He did (and continues to do) for us.
2. Time to be with family
a) our immediate family
b) our extended family
c) the friends that have become family
3. Blessing the people we love.

Words that describe some of my values:
Peace, family, togetherness, friends, laughter, food, lights, gratitude, sparkle, fun, sharing, giving, connecting, joy, beauty, music

Goals are a little tougher ... and will require some thought. Need to plan some immediate family time (maybe a movie with the kids, maybe a date with Matt) I need to think about how to make value number one more prominent this year.

32

Today I am 32 weeks pregnant. WOO HOO! Every day that this baby continues to incubate is a blessing! Believing that he or she will stay in there the full 40 weeks!

I've been working hard on baby quilts ... I decided to make a pink one first. It's gone really quick - I had all the fabric cut on thursday morning and tonight I finished the quilt top. The process goes much more quickly because there is no longer any hesitation for me - in cutting the beautiful fabric, or sewing the beautiful fabric. I spent the most time trying to figure out what I wanted to do ... lots of thinking, some conferring with my wonderful MIL who is great with picking fabrics, and lots of Flickr surfing for inspiration (it's amazing to me how much inspiration is on Flickr for quilting).

A frosty morning ...

Having a wonderful morning with my boys ... and spending time working on my projects. Here is a sneak peak at my next quilt (working on a baby girl quilt).

Working on stuff ...

I got my December CK magazine and was inspired by Kayleigh's layout ... this is my lift. I haven't scrapbooked in ages and so tonight while I should have been sleeping I was scrapping ... so theraputic though.



Today I am 31 weeks pregnant. Planning on incubating this one for 9 more weeks (even though I feel ENORMOUS!) Thanks to Allison and Glen for the new sweater (I finally used my birthday gift certificate!)



This morning I washed all my fabric (I pink the edges first so that they don't fray) and went shopping with my MIL to the fabric store ... I had such a lovely time. I love you R!

So as you see, I need to work on some stuff before this baby is born (I need all nine weeks)!
Peace to you!