Miniman's New Blanket

As with many of my projects this one also started with a sketch. It's a rough draft and things have already been added in my head that aren't on the paper, but for the most part. This is the beginning of another blanket. Miniman has grown out of his baby blanket and although he still uses it nightly when he goes to sleep. I thought it was about time for him to have a new one. This time he chose the fabric and I am just piecing it all together. This blanket isn't really going to be a quilt. Quilting is the process of sewing three layers of fabric together. This blanket will only be two layers as I would like him to be able to use it in the summer as well as the winter. It is a rather fun blanket, and although my eyes are still adjusting to some of the fabric choices, it is enjoyable.




These are the fabrics. Miniman chose them. Race cars are every where and I noticed last night as I was piecing them together that the colors are almost the same as the flags for a NASCAR race. In racing you have different flags that mean different things. The green means go, red means stop, black means consult the officials and of course the checkered flag signals the end of the race. The orange in the background will be the backing of the pieced blanket. So there is much work still to be done. However if I am left to my sewing for about three hours I can get about 5 rows done and that is about 1/4 of the pieced top.





Here is what three hours of sewing will do for me. I was able to just sit and sew and with the ability to do that I can finish a blanket in no time. There is a good amount of tedious work that goes into piecing a blanket. Measuring, cutting, sewing, ironing, trimming, more sewing. It is not a fly by night project and the less free time I have the more labor intensive my hobbies seem to become. I will be the first to tell you that you can accomplish all that you want in one day, you just have to prioritize and learn time management. So here is the work in progress, I would like to have it completed by the time Miniman's new bed gets here this coming weekend. I will post again soon! Be Blessed dear readers!

Happenings, Happenstance and Rules...

Hubby and I are not adverse to helping others. We have allowed some to move into our home, this however doesn't seem to work for us. Maybe we are too nice?? When we have an extended house guest I have only four rules I request for them to follow. These are the same rules I give to my nephews and nieces; I cannot bend on them what so ever. Here they are: 1. Be Truthful and Transparent (to live in my house I need to trust you) 2. I like to meet your friends 3. I need to know where you are so I know you are safe 4. No drugs. These are not complicated in any way and not hard to follow, I would imagine. We did recently took someone in and they broke all but one of my rules. The only one they kept was they let me meet their friends. This saddens me and hurts as you can imagine, the position said house guest put my big little family in was not one we ever want to be in. Luckily God was watching out for us and I caught them in a lie, before discovering the rest. The relationship I thought I had with this person is now broken, I don't believe it is my doing either. It was solely theirs. I set rules to protect my family and they blatantly broke them. Is there a way to reconcile, yes, but I would like an apology first.
Anyway, on to other things! My sister C give birth this past week to a wonderful baby boy. I have yet to see him in person, but I was able to see him via Skype. Just to see his sweet little face gave me the baby fever again. My sanity did take hold and three is more then enough for me! Although I can't wait to see and hold that sweet baby!! C did a wonderful job and I am sure most women would like to have her kind of 2 1/2 hour labors!
Goosie is once again gearing up for school. I can hardly believe my big little girl is going to first grade. Part of me thinks this will be more emotional then when she went to Preschool or Kindergarten, those were only half days. Miniman will be in four year old Preschool. I think he has the same teacher Goosie did, but I lost the sheet and can't remember. Bubbles will also be going to school. There is a Tiny Two's program at the Preschool and since I don't have anymore babies I can spend one on one time with her. Bubbles is potty training. She has been for sometime. Hubby and I aren't pushing it. When she wants to go in the potty she does, if not we change her diaper. I just don't want to push her, but once I find her coinage it's on!!
Hubby and I are doing well. We have been able to get in more one on one time since we changed the kids schedules a bit. It is nice to have a few hours in the evenings when it is just the two of us. It's important to grow together as a couple through the years, you can still be individuals, but if you aren't growing together, you may just be growing apart.
Work is going well. I am working weekend nights so two nights a week isn't bad, and besides the heat, it's quite fun. The group of people I work with are interesting and funny. After seven years as a stay at home mom I had almost forgotten how diverse people can be. It is a good reminder.
No deep thoughts today dear readers, just a little mindless rambling. Something is stirring in the back of my brain though. I am not sure when it will all spill out, but when I do.. you will! Be blessed!

Recovery

Hubby has been off the med's for about two weeks. We are still in recovery mode. Doctors say it can take up to six months for the process to be complete. But if we are going to be honest; when you are in recovery it is for a life time, not a few months. Things wont be easy; for Hubby or for us. Hubby has told me more then a few times that there have been moments when he wants to give up, if the medication were accessible, he would take it. It breaks my heart, but I know it also strengthens his reserve. One thing that could be a concern is isolation of the kids. They don't understand what Daddy is going through or why he is going through it. The most comfort I can offer is that their long term memory has not yet formed. Goosie's is still in the beginning stages, so there is still much that she can forget.
To those who think that after detox, there is not much left to go through. I must tell you that you are wrong, on all counts. When someone comes home from detox, it is only the beginning. There is still much work to do and a lot of emotions and other things to work through. Sure there is anxiety, jitters, and the general upset stomach. But there is much else that is not mentioned. There is the disquiet of the mind that wrestles with it's self to overcome the cravings it has been trained to seek out.
I cannot begin to tell you how proud I am of Hubby. It takes much for someone to admit they have a problem, seek out and accept help, and even still decide within themselves everyday, every moment, that they will not give in, give up or go back.
Other then that things have been going well. I have a part time evening job, at the local drive-in theater. Yes they are still around. It is fun and the hours I work don't interfere with the daily activities I have with the house and the kids. Summer is in full swing and I am still trying to catch up with all the things going on. Miniman got a bike for his birthday and was steadily riding it by the next day. Bubbles should have the nickname of scar head, as twice this summer already in the same spot her little forehead has busted open. Goosie wants to learn about bodies and how they work, I have caught her with my medical dictionary a few times, thankfully she had not gotten to any of the grotesque pictures. All is well in the Big little family house. Things are quiet at night, and busy during the day, but hey.. that is summer. Until next time dear readers.. be blessed!

Our Renewal..

I created this slide show to help encompass the last seven and a half years of our marriage together..

Hubby also surprised me with this poem..

Marriage is a commitment to life,

the best that two people can find and bring out in each other.
It offers opportunities for sharing and growth that no other relationship can equal.
It is physical and an emotional joining that is promised for a lifetime.
Within the circle of it's love, marriage encompasses
all of life's most important relationships.
A wife and a husband are each others best friend,
confidant,lover,teacher, listener, and critic.
And there may come times when one partner is heartbroken or ailing,
and the love of the other may resemble the
tender caring of a parent or child.
Marriage deepens and enriches every facet of life.
Happiness is fuller, memories are fresher,
commitment is stronger, even anger is felt more strongly,
and passes away more quickly.
Marriage understands and forgives,
the mistakes in life are unable to avoid.
It encourages and nurtures new life, new experiences,
new ways of expressing a love that is deeper then life.
When two people pledge their love and care for each other in marriage,
they create a spirit unto themselves which binds
them closed then any spoken or written words.
Marriage is a promise,
a potential made in the hearts of two people
who love each other and takes a lifetime to fulfill.

~Edmund O'Neill



And in case you are wondering.. yes, we also got the ceremony on video.. so here is that also ...



So there it all is, as together as I can get it all.. enjoy!