Tag Archives: life

Freedom and Flying

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I have been busy the past two weeks. I took quite a drive with our youngest and my Mom down to a family funeral. It was good to spend time with my Mom and out of my routine. it culminated in picking up the oldest DD from college and bringing her home for the summer.

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We are now in wedding count down. I am also teaching a child to drive…. or rather sitting in the front passenger seat trying NOT to say too much or too little. I know I get frustrated and that the learner driver is also frustrated. It appears to be a season of letting go, freedom and flying. IMG_2783

I struggle with this as God prepares my heart to let these kids he has allowed us to raise fly free. It is difficult to not get into the full on parenting mode that has been the practice for so many years. I find myself apologizing for my words as they tend to spill out before I can truly realize what I am saying. They are old enough to make these decisions. They have a good strong foundation. It is bittersweet. Bitter because it is time and sweet because for they are ready (for the most part!) The younger two have opted to spend time as a family rather than head off to camp right before the wedding. They are best friends, well, most of the time. They know it will never be quite the same again. There will never be just the four of them under our roof.

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We also know it will never be quite the same but we are looking forward with great excitement to the future as we wait to see what unfolds in their lives. It is going to be a beautiful wedding. We love our future daughter in law and know that she is a perfect match for our son without being perfect, because after all who really is perfect! Not me and definitely not anyone in this house.

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This is what I have been thinking lately and it has been hard to put into words. I have been crocheting like crazy and buying fabric for the shop. I have just not taken the time to get anything finished to show or sometimes even started. Weed pulling, gardening, flower pots and making apple sauce, apple jelly and apple pie filling have filled my time lately. I added in a few photos of the irises that bloom in the yard and the petunias that we added to the new flower pots this year.  We had a storm go thru last night and the flowers look a little battered but they are still blooming and that is the lesson to me.   We are not going to look at the yard that needs to be mowed or the porch that seems a little cluttered. There is always something that needs to be done and sometimes we just have to let it go.

talk to you later,

Karen

 

I wrote this last week and the house has been cleaned and the yard mowed!

 

Stuck in the Middle

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I wish I could just pouf myself to the beginning of September, but if I did I would miss many good times and blessings. So I don’t wish too hard for that. We just have so much work between now and then. You see, we are in the middle of the packing part of a move. It is so much work and things are so boxed up. It is a bit discouraging to look at all that is left to do. In my heart I know that we are about 75% complete. It is that the last 25% requires more thought as it is the kitchen, and odd shaped items.

So, I am not going to do that. I will instead tell you all the little things that are being finished. I have not packed all the hand crafting items that I take with me when I am waiting at the dentist, lessons or whatever is happening. At this point I have finished

  1. a candlewicking pillow cover for the den
  2. an embroidered pillow front for my daughter’s room or the Etsy shop
  3. 25 + felt Christmas ornaments
  4. I am working an an afghan and have another in the thought processes
  5. 30 + crocheted Christmas stars

That is quite a bit for this really unproductive time spent packing. I need take some photos but the camera is packed or in Tulsa. I am not sure which. I am feeling some pressure which is a natural part of packing and moving. I know that it will all work out for the best and that this new chapter in our lives will be laughable in September. Our house will be down to two children instead of four and I am not sure how I will handle it. I have some home school concerns about curriculum and classes for the Junior in our house. I hope that everything works out well on that front. I am switching back and forth between state requirements, again. I have a driver that needs driving instruction and time behind the wheel. I have a girl to pack up for college. So, I will do what I always do; which is forge ahead to the path chosen and pray all the while. Here are some pictures of candle wicking so that you know what it is.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/97581326/vintage-1983-unicorn-candlewick-lace

http://www.etsy.com/listing/103997773/country-cat-pillow-candlewicking

It is a tone on tone embroidery with pretty hefty thread. It works up really quickly. The pattern I chose was a more contemporary design of roses and leaves worked on a dark linen background. It is beautiful and will work well with our furniture. All the parts were in the kit so nothing is needed except a pillow form.

see you later,

Karen

 

 

 

 

 

Photo Friday! Where in the World Am I Today?

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http://www.etsy.com/listing/93704901/yellow-daffodil-photography-yellow

http://www.etsy.com/listing/68102232/fancy-english-lavender-bouquet-with-hand

http://www.etsy.com/listing/28352784/a-secret-garden-8×10-photo-11×14-mat

www.etsy.com/listing/93147315/vintage-ellgreave-england-teapot-32-oz

http://www.etsy.com/listing/95683195/vintage-english-breakfast-tea-tin-brass

Yes, I am in England (in my imagination) and I am ready for a nice cup of English tea, some chocolate digestives and chat with my Mom, with daffodils on the table. It reminds me of Spring and brings back the hope that Winter really is gone for the year. I think that it will return and I am worried because all of the trees are in bloom and it IS only March in Iowa not May. People tell me that there is a chance of snow all the way to  Mother’s Day. So we shall see, but I am pleased that today it is warm and the sun is out part way. It is Friday and we are all glad. It has been a busy week of school, cleaning (sometimes), Etsying, work and we are all ready for the weekend. We were extremely busy last weekend so this one will be a good chance to relax a bit and just do the regular weekend chores.  In addition to our other activities last week, the girls each got their own room. Since we live in a real world and have real messes, you know that it was just that, a mess that seemed to drag out all week! Finally, the youngest cleaned hers up yesterday for the final time and the oldest will do so soon. So progress has been made and they are both excited. I just have curtains to hang properly, a bed frame to put under the mattresses and a re-cleaning of the studio!  The joke is on me! After all of the cleaning of the studio two weeks ago, I now get to do it all over again. Such is life! Have a great Spring day, see you later,

Karen

 

ps. All of the photos come from Etsy shops, stop by and say hi!

 

Wishing things were different!?

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If you are human I imagine that you have wished at some point that some part of your life was different, better, improved, or non-existant. I have been dealing with this in a multitude of area’s in my life this month! I wish I could say week, but no, it has been a month of wishing. You see life is very different from what we read as children in fairy tales. Life has bumps, detours, and pitfalls. We are in one of those bumpy, detour times right now. It is stressful and irritating at the least of times and overwhelming most all of the time. I would list everything out but, why? Everyone goes through hard times why list them out. To WOW, my friends, enlist sympathy or play one-upmanship. None of that is going to help me or us overcome or at the very least get through the bumps. So I will on the other hand, list the blessings that we have experienced in this time.

  1. We have a roof over our heads.
  2. We are able to pay for the payments.
  3. We have had an emergency fund to tide us through financial hard times. Thank you Dave Ramsey and My DH who insisted that we take the class 18 months ago.
  4. We have 4 beautiful, energetic, loving, caring children that are in the process of finding their wings. Making mistakes is part of finding your wings!
  5. We have a great capacity for work.
  6. Our oldest has two jobs and is working hard to pay for his college and other expenses.
  7. Our garden is thriving! Yay, fresh tomatoes on their way.
  8. Our parents are enjoying good health and  life.
  9. We have an over abundance of stuff.
  10. God is providing everything we need and then a bunch more
  11. We are involved in a loving, growing, caring church family.
  12. Our youngest DD made the best eternal decision this past week!
  13. Due to some dietary changes we are losing some much needed weight, about 20 pounds in three weeks. Yahoooo! Boy and I relieved and pleased.

So, while we are in a challenging season of our lives, many things are going well. Many things are going great and wonderful! Just some of the little details that I would love to have resolved soon. Thankfully, it is not in my timing or I would never grow stronger in my faith or my walk. As my mother used to say, “We aren’t raising hothouse flowers”, meaning that in order to grow strong you have to deal with strife!

Talk to you later,

Hmmm, I am not so down about things now! Thanks for letting me vent in a small way.