My Etsy Store

The TeaBag Wisdom for today said, "Be proud of who you are." I interpret that to mean that I should not cower away behind my machine and sew in vain. Given the opportunity, I should share my little business with people so that they will, in turn, share it with others. That is, indeed, the basis of social networking, right? My children do not know a time without Facebook or Twitter. They even remember MySpace! The days before cell phones are as foreign to them as the days before landlines are to people of my generation. They believe that actually using a phone to talk is "old fashioned", and they can carry on hour-long conversations via a tiny touch-screen keyboard, but they have a hard time talking to us at the dinner table!

So, with a little inspiration from my morning Tea Bag, I have decided to blog just a little about my Etsy Store, ~ Jumpin' In Puddles~. You can visit my store, anytime, day or night. You can choose to purchase the items that are already in my store, or you can give me your ideas so that I can create something extra special just for you!

Every item in my store has a story. The portrait dresses were inspired by my love for all things Mela Wilson...circa 1985-present. The bloomers were inspired by my belief that every bottom is cuter with satin ribbons. The Maggie dress is named so because it was the first garment that my oldest daughter ever made, and she was 12 at the time! The Parker is a variation of a classic little boy's romper. The first one that I made was for my baby cousin, Parker. His mama and I are the exact same age, and we graduated from high school together. We share 4 of the most awesome ladies in the universe as our Grandmothers and Great Aunts, and the Great Grandmother that we shared was her other Great Grandmother's best friend.

Everytime that someone purchases from ~Jumpin' In Puddles~, I am humbled. First I was a teacher, and then I was a mom. I have NEVER worked in retail in my life, and I certainly have had a lot to learn about business. I guess I come by ownership honestly, though. My daddy was a business owner. My father inlaw is a business owner. My husband is a business owner. I had a lot of good examples to follow. Every item in my store tells the browser and the buyer that I am definitely proud of who I am.

Inspiration

Sometimes I will post more than one blog in a week. Other times, there will be weeks or maybe even months between entries. It's not because I am lazy or too busy, and it is definitely not because I don't care.

You see, I have loved writing all my life. I actually majored in Journalism for 3 of the 4 years of college. However, when I was approached by another student to write his research paper for him and discovered that he was a senior and couldn't even put together a suitable paragraph, I sprinted to the College of Education and begged them to let me into Secondary Ed. I had heard the calling to teach people to write. After some begging, pleading, and promising to take 26+ hours for the next 3 semesters, I left the fast paced world of Journalism/Editing. After calling the Wall Street Journal and declining my pending internship, I said a prayer asking for grace and MERCY on my life, and I began driving down the road to the classroom.

After a successful career path switcheroo, I graduated from The Capstone in my self-allotted 4 years, and I entered the 7th grade Literature Classroom. I loved to read, but my passion was still writing, and we did A LOT of it!! I served the 7th Graders of Bay Minette, Alabama for 2 years, and there was inspiration all around me. Besides the O.J. Trial, there were some tragedies that hit close to home. My track team and my sweet students also kept me on my toes. In the middle of it all, I became engaged. It was bittersweet, because while I loved my husband dearly, it meant moving to Birmingham. It meant leaving my students. Of course, they planned and celebrated with me, even on my Wedding Day. Now, 15 years later, most of them are married and have children of their own. Several of them still keep in contact with me. They are still my inspiration.

"Paint Me A Birmingham" is our song. We loved everything about it. We had arrived. I truly believed that it was the biggest city in the South. I met new friends. I went to Grad School. I taught at 2 schools....one Middle School, and one Elementary School.
I had 2 babies. The inspirations kept on coming, and so did the lesson plans, homework, diapers, and bottles!

Then, in June 1999, we moved to the biggest city in the South. We became residents of
Atlanta, GA. My home became my classroom.
Now, 12 years later, people ask me where we want to retire.
I simply respond, "Paint Me A Birmingham". It is still my inspiration.

Every morning, as I make breakfast for my family, I put the water in the kettle, flip the stove dial on "high", and anxiously wait for the whistle. Just a year ago, the kettle was solely for hot tea for the grown ups and cocoa for the girls. Now, as the kettle gurgles before it whistles, I prepare 4 cups. I gently place tea bags in 2 of them, hanging the tags over the cups' lips. The other 2 cups are for my girls' coffee...Starbucks Via. While this scenario alone lends great inspirations, I also get a little something extra from the grown ups tea bags each day.

One may have an "aha" statement.... PATIENCE GIVES THE POWER TO PRACTICE; PRACTICE GIVES THE POWER THAT LEADS TO PERFECTION.
One may have a "feel good" statement...EVEN CLOUDY DAYS CAN HAVE A SUNNY ENDING. Others my have a direct command...OBEY, SERVE, LOVE, EXCEL.

Now, don't misunderstand. These tea-bag inspirations don't take the place of my daily devotions with God. They just add to them. ...

PATIENCE

Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance.
Romans 5: 3

In order that you may not grow disinterested and become [spiritual] sluggards, but imitators, behaving as do those who through faith (by their leaning of the entire personality on God in Christ in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness) and by practice of patient endurance and waiting are [now] inheriting the promises.
Hebrews 6: 12

HAPPY ENDINGS

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
² He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
³ he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,^[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

OBEDIENCE

If anyone serves Me, he must continue to follow Me [to cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying] and wherever I am, there will My servant be also. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

John 12: 26

So.....I may or may not write everyday. I have to be inspired. While inspiration is all around me, I am often blind to it, whether I am caught up in my duties or simply caught up in my inner self. As we know from living 10 years after 9/11, challenges may be brick walls, but they are not un-scaleable! My challenge is to be more aware of the inspiration around me so that I can share them. My family feels strongly that I should write a book....how can I write a book if I don't get out of myself?

He Got SOME of Us....We Got ALL of HIM! September 11, 2011

As this day drew near, I was faced with questions from my girls that I have never had to face. You see, they were 2 and 3 on that beautiful September Tuesday when the Towers fell. Although there was no regular programming on t.v. for a week or more following the attacks, and although my husband..their father...didn't return to work in Mid-Town Atlanta until the city was deemed secure several days later, they don't remember that day at all. They don't remember not being able to go to story time at the library. They don't remember me calling my brother and sister inlaw, both in the Army, frantically trying to figure out what was happening. They don't remember their father....the "rock" of our little family....telling his employees to go home but not by MARTA and coming home literally shaking. They don't remember their Grandfathers calling us in tears to be sure that we were okay. The only thing Libba knew as she sat down to interview me for a class project was that 10 years later, our nation is still The UNITED States of AMERICA. Ten years later, as we memorialize the lives lost on the day, we celebrate knowing that we overcame one of the main organizers of the plot against us. Ten years later, even as our economy has slumped and jobs have been lost, we stand united under GOD. Libba asked me how I heard about the first crashed, and I told her that I saw Katie reporting on The Today Show. She asked me how I found out about the second crash, and I told her that I watched it happen...while feeding her breakfast. She asked me how I felt when I heard that the SEALS had captured and taken the life of Bin Laden, and I told her that I was overcome with pride and joy. However, I was not shocked.

We've heard many stories about that day and the time immediately following, but three stood out to me the most.

~September 11, 2011~ George W Bush was reading to a class of Elementary Schoolers in Sarasota, Florida when he was told via a whisper in his ear. Many, including myself, would have jumped up and stormed out of the room in a panic. I probably would have locked down the school in fear. W didn't. He sat, expressionless, as he mentally processed the information and the school's teacher was speaking. He didn't want to upset the children. He wasn't thinking of himself. He wasn't thinking of his family or career. He was thinking of the children. Right then and there, W became a hero of 9/11.

~~September 11, 2011~~One of the first NYPD Chaplains to arrive on the scene ran into the building that others were sprinting from and some were crawling from. We ran in so that he could help. Maybe he planned to physically rescue people. Maybe he planned to sit with people who were on their way to heaven. It's completely unclear. We do know that as The Mayor left him earlier that morning, he promised to pray for the Mayor, the city, and the nation. We know that as he entered that building, he was not only praying, but he was acting. When his body was found, the men carried him out, down to the church, up the aisle to the alter, and laid his body there at the foot of the cross. The great news was that his soul had already made it to the foot of the cross in Heaven. At the moment that he entered the Tower, the NYPD Chaplain became a hero of 9/11.

~~~September 13, 2011~~A group of firefighters/first responders made their way into the core of one of the fallen towers. There was bent steel and rubble everywhere. I am sure they also saw many gruesome things, as by then it was a recovery mission. One man made his way into a cavern that was created by the explosion and collapse of the buildings, near where the US Customs offices once were. It was twilight, and what was left of the day made it's way through the rubble and the carnage, and shone on none other but a CROSS. It was a cross of steel. It had a piece of metal draped over one of it's arms, "Like the drape we use at Easter", according to the man who found it. He brought others to see it. They were convicted to preserve it, and it now stands at Ground Zero as a permanent fixture. The placement of that cross among all the horror was not a coincidence. That cross was GOD's message to us that no matter what we experience in our life, HE is bigger. No matter what, if we wish to be healed, HE can heal us. At each moment the planes hit the buildings and at the moment that Todd Beamer declared, "Let's Roll", God became a hero of 9/11.

Of course, there are countless other heroes of that day. Each person who lost his or her life that day or in days since as a result of the attacks is a hero. Each spouse, parent, and child who lost a loved one is a hero. My daughter didn't ask me about the heroes, but if she had, I would have said that the "little ones" of 9/11, those who lost parents as well as all of the others in America, are heroes. They are heroes because they give us something to keep fighting for! They give us the faith to fall down at the cross and give it all to God. They give the SEALS and the other men and women of our Armed Forces the courage to risk their lives so that the US can remain the most powerful and secure country in the world. The difference between terrorists and American Soldiers is courage.

Osama got SOME of Us....We Got ALL of HIM!

God's Got ALL of US....We've Got ALL of HIM!!!

September 11, 2011

God Bless America!!!

BLOG HOP....FINDING NEW FRIENDS!

After a quite successful "Grand Opening" and entry into the blogosphere, I returned to the etsy teams that helped me "get out there", and I came across the Blog Hop. Until now, I have had to "walk softly and carry a big stick" as I trudged my way through cyberspace. No, I am not uneducated. I have a Master's Degree, in fact. My problem is that I obtained my Master's Degree well before the 21st century, thus I typed my papers on a Word Processor, and I took tests that were scored by Scantron machines. No, I am not uneducated, I am in the "over 40 crowd", mostly composed of people who rely on their children or younger relatives to interpret the workings of technology. You see, I was 27 when I bought my first cell phone (yes, it was in a bag), but my daughters were 12 and 13 when I gave them their first IPhone. At our house, the deal is that if you aren't responsible enough to have something, you don't get it. Well, they are not only responsible enough to use an IPhone, they know so much more about it that they had to teach me how to use mine...the one that I bought when I was 40!

Until now, felt very tiny amongst the millions of surfers of the worldwide web. However, now that I have found The Adventures of J-Man and Millerbug at http://myadventureinmommyhood.blogspot.com, I feel that I am actually floating on a surfboard that will not sink! Jeannette Fender is my Queen of the blogosphere. She has great ideas, she is very informative, and she is 100% approachable. Her blog shows photos of a really cute family. If I didn't know better, I would think that she is in her teens!! I have posted her Blog Hop below this passage, and I encourage everyone who reads my blog to spread the word, link up to the Hop, and we can all help each other out!! Thank you, Jeannette, for your dedication and expertise!! My readers can get to her page by clicking on her button on the upper left corner of this entry!

A New Beginning

www.etsy.com/shop/baby2bigkid www.facebook.com/jumpin.in.puddles

What does the phrase, "almost a year later" mean to you?

In September, 2010, I feared what the next year would bring.

sadness.
loneliness.
confusion.

In November, 2010, I met

happiness in The Word.
joy in my family.
bliss in the classroom.

Christmas brought

music.
memories.
support.
family.
SNOW.

Then, the snow stuck around

literally.
feet, not inches.
for what seemed like months.

Spring had sprung,

birthdays came
and
went.

Teenagers blossomed along with my Petunias.

They planned movie outings, shopping sprees, make-up, and
Camp Ridgecrest.

I left the classroom knowing that

God knows what's around my corners.
God has a better plan.
God wants me to work to glorify Him.
God's Plan A is often my Plan B.

For many, that is cliche. For Christians, that is Gospel.

The phrase, "Almost a year later" means

JUMPIN' IN PUDDLES!
~custom clothing for boys and girls~

"Almost a year later" means

Reconnection with old friends

MJ Kayser Ramo
Abby Hanlin Stimpson
Cammie Harper Singleton
Gina Postiglione Lee
Robin Long Brunson
Jill Puckett Aldridge
Megan Saxon Murphree
Sandy Burns
Cristen Taylor

Meeting New Friends

Leslie Yankie Guilian
~aka The Paperdoll~
Beth Owens
Susan Cowan of Betty Sue's Quilt Shop
Cristine Smiga
Jori Harman

A Renewed Family Bond

Nancy and Steve Walker
~aka Camp Nancy~
Devin & Christine Walker
Deanna Walker
Edna Rubley
Melissa Rubley Dixon
Clara Brennan

A new marriage on "the Myrick side"

Deanna Marie Walker to Evan Seaman

A new cousin on "the Sullivan side"

Teagan Christine Castelanetta

A new fiance on "the Muzi side"

Kyle Jacobs to Sara Muzi

A new home for Andrea

She's only 40 miles away, but we miss her sooooo.....

A new companion for my Mama.

Around the same time that the daffodils began to peek through the leftover snow, I was introduced to one of the most compelling books that I have ever read. It was a short read, but a hard one. It was definitely not the type of book that one reads with the hopes of curing insomnia. It was thought provoking. It was reminiscent of my own father's life as a part-time "lay missionary". It was convicting. It lived up to its name.

RADICAL

Ten months ago, "almost a year" was a frightening phrase. Now, "almost a year" is a phrase on my short term goal list.

In "almost a year", I want to

have to buy a new sewing machine because I have worn mine out.
use my proceeds and time in a mission project.
be able to "hire" my girls to sew for me.

In "almost a year", I will be able to help others BECAUSE of the trials and journeys that I have endured.

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might." Ecclesiastes 9:10

If God is For Us, Who Can Be Against Us?

Wednesday, February 9, 2011 brought news of yet another Winter Weather Advisory fast approaching the Metro Area. I am willing to bet that 99.9% of parents and over 80% of students within the boundaries of this Advisory were hoping that school would be OPEN today, if for no other reason than that we have all memorized every level of every Wii game known to man and that we have holes in our outerwear from the last week of sledding. We are Georgians. We like our SEASONS. We like that our SEASONS are mild. I like the mildness and general predictability because it helps me handle the OTHER seasons of my life with a little more composure. Contrary to the fact that we are home of the CNN Headquarters and a base for FOX News, we would rather make headlines because the Republicans gained back the Gold Dome or because our homeschool kids win spelling bees. We cherish the fact that we are NOT factors in nationwide weather statistics.

I guess God is showing us how powerful He really can be. He is reminding us that His will is the ONLY will that matters. With the turn of the new year, I leave sickness and death behind, and God brings Snowmaggedon 2011 to my back door--literally. 10 days of snow and ice, 4 days of no MAIL service, and a week or more of no extra-curricular activities (yeah, I have to admit that I kind of liked that part), yielded cranky husbands, whiny daughters, and lots of school work to be made up. Then, the sun shone, the temps climbed, and we eventually stopped talking about it, until Wednesday night, February 9, 2011. It was a month to the day of the onset of Snowmageddon 2011.
The snow that we woke to was beautiful, but the roads were not.
However, after checking all websites and seeing that there were only 11 school closures, I didn't even think twice about the roads. I was about half way to school with the girls, driving along my usual route, which carried the usual traffic load, when all of a sudden I drove onto a patch of "black ice", and my world started spinning...literally. We skidded and slid in multiple figure 8 formations across Hog Mountain Road until we came to a safe landing in a ditch off the OPPOSITE shoulder. I could have killed 20 + people, including my own daughters, but amazingly no one was injured and Bessie the Minivan survived without a scratch.God provided an off duty paramedic (whom I almost hit) and an off duty detective (3 cars back watching the my amazing stunts) right away. We were treated like queens, and Marc came to drive the van out of our landing spot...2 feet from a big hearty Georgia Pine! God is GOOD ALL the time!

Attempting To Launch

A couple of weeks ago, I finally "opened" my etsy store to sell children's clothing that I create. Of course, there is an over-abundance of information to muddle through, and I am still in the process of finding my niche, network, group, and circle. I am also still tweaking my adsense with coupon codes, buttons, and badges.
Am I the same person who told her mother that the main idea of the internet is to simplify life? I am thankful a million times over that my livelyhood does not depend on the profit of my little cyber shop, because though I have launched, I am still not at cruising altitude! So, I am asking for a little "social networking" from anyone who reads this blog...young and old! Please, share my blog with everyone you know...in the real world as well as in cyberspace. Tell them that they can find my shop at www.etsy.com/shop/baby2bigkid; on etsysaver; on Facebook: Jumpin In Puddles; and here on my blog www.mamaof2tweens.blogspot.com. The orange badge above is a link straight to my etsy store. Please feel free to "grab" it if you know how. I am still trying to figure all of the badges and buttons out.
Thankfully, trial by fire is Biblical.

This week brought many new adventures, for sure! Aside from burning the pavement going to and from many of the girls' extra curricular activities, I also launched my new virtual store on Etsy.com! I love to make the classic A-line dresses, which are very versatile and can be worn all year long. I also make pants and shorts to match, as well as pillowcase dresses, custom "heirloom" outfits, and little boys' shortalls and longalls. It has taken me some time to get the online store organized, and I finally created a banner and listed my first items!

Today's sermon was quite fitting. The last in the "What do you have to Lose" series, it talked about leaving your hurts, habits, and hangups at the alter and clinging to Philippians 4:13--"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Yes, once again, Larry was talking right to me! I need to leave my grief for God to bear. I need to leave my fear of failure in the children's clothing world at the cross. I need to follow the doors that God opens-and closes-as I seek full time employment "in the classroom" so that my girls can continue their studies in a Christian classroom. I have no problem leaving grief at the altar. Who wants that anyway, right? However, I feel like I leave my fears only to pick them up again. Ironically, fear is often like a security blanket for me. If I am not in fear or worrying about a particular situation, I feel like I am ignoring it. Today, I realized that giving it away and ignoring it are two different things. I give it to God, and he will give me avenues to take that will eliminate that fear. So really, what DO I have to lose?

Tomorrow won't come soon enough. It will be the 100th day of school!!! YIPPEE!!! We have 100 minutes of exploration planned for the afternoon. The students will rotate to 4 25 minute sessions. My session is EXERCISE! In this area, I know exactly what I have to lose. I will refrain from sharing just exactly how much....

Check out my etsy site...www.etsy.com/shop/baby2bigkid Tell all of your friends! I'm not scared!

The Day the Snow Came Down in Georgia

Up Close and Spiritual

Happy New Year! January, 2011 has come, and it is almost over! If you live anywhere in the U.S., you have probably been pretty cold this month! I guess the Global Warming advocates are pretty confused right now. As soon as my girls were settled back in school, a very strong and fast snowstorm covered the Metro Atlanta Area with 6 to 20 inches of snow and a few inches of ice. The Atlanta Mayor declared a state of emergency before the snow began to fall, and our new governor was inaugurated in the midst of the storm, after which he also declared that our great state needed help! As a result of the storm, our school was closed for an entire week! There were many complaints about cabin fever and boredom, but I was grateful for the time that we were given to spend with our sweet girls. An acquaintance mentioned that they actually studied at their house, citing Latin vocabulary and a novel study. I just shamefully giggled and said, "The only thing we learned how to do was kick booty on Wheel of Fortune for the the Wii!"

However, I did get some really cute outfits started for some friends, and I will post photos eventually. I am trying to get my Etsy site up and running, but my real life keeps getting in the way! I am now serving another interim in the 3rd grade at Hebron Christian Academy, and I am in Heaven on Earth. It is quite possibly the most amazing place to teach and learn. God has been so good to me!

God is so good. This is my theme for 2011. It is no secret that my life was turned upside down several times in 2010, and there were times when there was no place for me to look but UP. When I looked into my sweet Daddy's eyes each day between July 7 and September 3, I never knew if I was going to get another chance. On September 3, he hugged me and Marc with strength that he hadn't had all Summer. He then engaged Marc's attention and pointed to me and back to Marc. He then put his hand over his heart, winked at me, and smiled. We told him that we would see him soon, and we left his bedside to attend our dear friends' wedding at the beach. Less than 48 hours later, my Daddy was sitting at the right hand of our Father, and we were scurrying around trying to figure out how to enter into yet another "new normal". Though we are all so thrilled that my daddy is now living eternally in a perfectly healed state, it has been tough to get used to. I still half-way expected him to knock on my door with my mama on December 23. The van's air conditioner broke in my van, and I instinctively dialed his number. While I have the peace that passes all understanding that everyone prayed over us for, I am still having to learn to live without my daddy--my true first love. I have declared to the Lord that I am in a state of emergency. I have dedicated this year to my spiritual revival. I read scripture, and my favorite way to worship is through praise music. However, I want to truly live "in the word", trusting God in every area of my life. I want to live simply, not worrying about the fluff in life. I want to spend my time with my family and friends. I want to enjoy every minute for what it really is: precious time here on Earth with the people that Jesus has let me borrow from Him. I want Him to use me to impact those people for Him.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Sidewalk Prophets - The Words I Would Say

OUR NEW NORMAL

When I signed into my blog this morning, there was a notification in big black letters saying that my last entry was created on May 6, 2010. There is a reason for the 3 month gap in my blogging. Twelve days after my last blog was created, my father suffered a massive stroke. My mama left for work at 6:00am on Tuesday, May 18, 2010. My daddy fell out of bed at approximately 6:30am that very same day. After hitting his head on the bedside table and struggling to reach the telephone and the clock radio, he lied on the floor for 12 hours, until mother came home from work and found him semi-conscious. She called me and my brother, Jonathan, and we were flying the friendly skies on Delta Airlines within 2 hours of her call. We met her at the Mobile airport at 11:00pm. It was surreal. It was scary. We were hopeful, but not delusional. The situation was NOT GOOD. His stroke "killed" 60%-70% of the left side of his Cerebellum, leaving him paralyzed on his right side and unable to swallow.

This began our "New Normal". Daddy stayed in the Neuro ICU for several days, until he was ready to go to Rehab to try to reclaim the use of the right side of his body, including his right vision and hearing. They also planned to work on his swallow mechanisms. He began Rehab Treatment on May 28th, 2010.

After 4 weeks of vigorous exercises and lots of love and attention, daddy was "ready" to go home. We left the Rehab Hospital, and mother drove daddy and me home on June 25, 2010. He went to a new bedroom that had a hospital bed, and we worked 'round the clock setting up protocols and instructions for the home healthcare workers and his friends who had graciously volunteered to help him when mother could not be there. Then, on June 27, 2010, daddy's heart began to fail. He was transported back to the hospital where he stayed until July 2, 2010. On that afternoon, we brought him home once again. We all repeated the scurrying to get everything in order for him, and I was buying his prescriptions at 9:00 that night. He was tired, and we were terrified. The very next night, July 3, we knew that something was happening again...he was moaning and struggling to breathe. His home healthcare nurse advised us to call the ambulance that Sunday, July 4. After a couple of days in the hospital this time, it was evident that there isn't much more that can be done for daddy. We signed DNR orders, turned off his internal defibrillator, and called Hospice. He went home by ambulance on July 7, 2010. He wants to be in his home with his family. He doesn't want any life sustaining medications, and he is ready to join his parents and his Saviour in Heaven.

Now, I am here writing my first blog since May 6, 2010. At that time, my girls were beginning their last month as 5th and 6th grade students. Today, they are preparing to begin their 6th and 7th grade years. Time does fly, and no, it is not always because one is having fun. However, our summer has been eye-opening for everyone in my family and many who are involved with our situation. It has taught me patience. It has taught me that there is no such thing as too many "I love you's", and that I should cherish every opportunity that I have to be with my family.

I have set up a caring bridge page for my father, and I invite readers to visit it. A more in depth story is there. www.caringbridge.org/visit/petekyser
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Below is the entry that I posted on CB yesterday:

The beginning of August always brings changes to our household. Family vacations are over, and we hit the ground running to collect uniforms, shoes, and school supplies. We make the obligatory trip to the p​e​d​i​a​t​r​i​c​i​a​n​, the eye doctor, the o​r​t​h​o​d​o​n​t​i​s​t​, and the hair dresser. We clean, we organize, and we retrain our bodies to go to bed at a decent hour. These things happen every August in millions of households containing school-aged children all over our country. It also happens in the homes and lives of millions of teachers, school a​d​m​i​n​i​s​t​r​a​t​o​r​s​, pastors, and professors. For the past 31 Augusts, my mother's life has consisted of these events. On August 1, 2009, she was enamored by the children on her list. She lost sleep thinking about all of the wonderful things that they were going to learn together, and she and daddy went out to eat for their last "summer date" of the year. It was 11 days before their 42nd wedding anniversary, and if anyone asked her, she would have said that she loved her life...her husband, her family, her friends, her job...and that she was born to teach first and second graders. We have asked her to retire for several years, and she will not hear of it. She is a wife, a mother, a friend, an EDUCATOR.

On August 1, 2010, she seemed tired. When she talked about the impending week, she struggled between her longing to be there and her deep need to be with daddy. She knows that she has 110% support of her a​d​m​i​n​i​s​t​r​a​t​i​o​n and faculty, and she knows that the parents of her students will understand when she is not at school or has to take an abbreviated day. She also knows that daddy won't be able to come meet her for lunch, or bring her cell phone to her, or take her out for a Mexican dinner on Friday nights. She is torn. She is broken. She is tired. Her 43rd wedding anniversary is in 11 days.

The irony in all of this is that regardless of her situation, she will be one of the best teachers her 1st and 2nd graders will ever have. She will hug them, and love them, and pray for them. She WILL TEACH THEM everything they are meant to learn from her, and more. She will do this from the strength that she finds from the Lord and the love and support that she shares with daddy. She may be broken, but her faith will help her put herself back together, and her students will NEVER see the brokenness. They will ONLY see the love and the light that she shines when she walks into their room.

I have run ragged since we arrived home from our family vacation. I have lain awake at night wondering how I am going to get everything done for the girls before Thursday's orientation. I have questioned decisions that we have made as parents. I have braced myself for Libba's Middle School Softball Try-Outs. I have gone to bed every night beside a perfectly healthy husband. I haven't had to meet with hospice nurses, hire sitters, spend nights in a separate bedroom with my Aunt sleeping in the guest room. I also haven't been able to call my daddy and talk to him about the latest Broadway show that is coming to Atlanta or ask him a question about the "check engine" light that came on in the van. I cry when the sky is clear because it is a beautiful day for flying. I hang the phone up too quickly if I call his house and his voice picks up on the answering service. I want to fly home, but I don't. I am torn. I am broken. I am tired. I just hope that I have half the faith that my mama does. "My help comes from the Lord, the maker of Heaven and Earth."

National Day of Prayer, May 6, 2010

Often, our prayer life consists of requests and deals. When we are short on cash or need a vacation, we talk to God a little more than when we have money left after the bills are paid or when we book the $7,000.00 Disney Vacation. When we have a migraine or one of our children is sick, we tend to strike deals with more enthusiasm than a realtor in the years 2008-2010. Unfortunately, we often think of prayer as a way out rather than a way in. It is "human nature" to forget that God is there to talk to at any time of day in any circumstance. Fortunately, a quality of his mercy and grace is that he is quick to take us in, no matter how far we stray. I pray daily. Most of the time, I pray alone or with my children. I also pray with my husband, but I find that we pray together more when we "need" something than when "life is good". As a unit, we forget that "life is good" because of our Lord, and we should talk to him together to thank and praise him, but also to ask for guidance, wisdom, and strength. We may not "need" material things, but we certainly need the other things. We are raising two pre-adolescent daughters, and this alone calls for lots of guidance, wisdom, and strength!

So, today, I pray for wisdom, guidance, and strength to get through my days, but I also pray prayers of gratitude. I thank God for my family. I praise Him for walking with us through all of the "hard times" and for his promise to walk with us, no matter how hard times get in our futures. I thank God for my health and the good health of those whom I love dearly. I thank Him for dying on His cross so that when our health fails, we can live eternally with Him. I thank Him for my friend Gina, whom I spoke with today about everyday things AND about her daughter's first birthday. I praise Him for bringing Gina and Peyton through some very scary times in the months and weeks before Peyton was born. I thank Him for giving me friends like Gina...and Christie...and Paula...and Stacie...and Deann...and my husband, Marc, among so many others.

Today is our National Day of Prayer, and I find comfort in knowing that we live in a country that can actually acknowledge a day of prayer without extreme governmental oppression. However, it saddens me that this day may rank right up there with Christmas and Easter, as far as the spirituality of many in our country. I openly admit that I tend to save my prayers for the "hard times", but I also know that it is prayer that gets me through each day, whether a horrible Monday or a fabulous Friday.

I try to spend my daily "quiet time" in my glider rocker. I usually have my Bible and notebook in my lap rather than a baby, these days, but the rocker reminds me of the huge evidence of God's will, grace, and mercy in my life. I also pray prayers of thanks as I run or walk the 2.2 mile course at the park. It keeps me going as I look up to the sky, whether it is blue or cloudy, and it is there that I feel closer to God than anywhere.


It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to your name, O Most High;

—Psalm 92:1

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,and his courts with praise!Give thanks to him; bless his name!—Psalm 100:

"The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him" - Nahum 1:7

Blessings

"The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him" - Nahum 1:7
NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER THIS THURSDAY, MAY 6th!

The message above was emailed to me on Monday morning from my girls' principal. I have waited YEARS to be able to actually say that out loud and put it in writing, and now it is our reality. We are not wealthy, and we certainly have had struggles in many areas of our lives, but we are blessed to be able to send our girls to a school that is based on Christian principals and bathed in open prayer daily. Prayer is the cornerstone of our lives. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Phillipians 4:13).

More to come.....carpool calls........

No Words

It is so true that life changes in an instant. We relish the fun instant changes...marriage proposal, job offer, positive pregnancy test...but we try not to think about the scary and sad ones. I was going about my own business this weekend out on a quick errand with my feverish daughter who had irritably proclaimed that she just wanted to get out of the house (I didn't know our house was so uncomfortable), when I got a blank text from a good friend. She is always doing something hilarious just to make me smile, so I giggled to myself and shoved my phone back in my pocket as I continued to fight the unruly mob at the Joanne's Fabric Store's Daffodil Dash, aka: 99cent pattern sale. Suddenly, my phone beeped again, and the text read, "Karen's husband died". This time I didn't giggle, I gasped loud enough to cause people in the mob to turn to me quickly, some even dropping their cherished patterns. I was in shock. I was dismayed. I felt completely helpless. My 36 year old friend had sent her 40 year old husband out to mow the grass, and he never came back inside. They have 3 small children, daughters: ages 6,4,2. I stayed home from church this morning with my sick kiddoes, but she was there. She went to praise the Lord and soak up His word while surrounding herself with friends and well-wishers and taking her daughters to a safe place--Sunday School.

Jeremiah 29:11, "...For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to
prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Out of the Mouths of 21st Century Babes

Libba and I played hookey on Tuesday to go to the orthodontist, and we really enjoyed some quality mommy-daughter time. I was thrilled to have a chance to have some meaningful conversations with my youngest daughter, just me and her. Because of a radio commercial reminding listeners that our taxes were due in just a couple of days, our chit chat started going in that direction. Of course, I was thinking, "This is great, Libba is finally old enough to understand some of the technical details of "the American way". Very shortly, she let me know exactly how much she really understood. She asked, "What does the government do with the taxes that everyone pays in April?" When I quickly replied, "The money is used to keep all of the states running", she stated, "Oh, I thought the people who have jobs paid the government so that people who don't have jobs can get paid and support their families".

The Best

From the moment that we discover we are going to have a precious little baby, thoughts bombard us. We ponder the gender, we try to guess the hair color, we attempt to will the unborn child's baby blues to stay the color of a Spring morning sky. Of course, there are also deeper thoughts...Will I nurse? Will I insist that my husband help out with the late night crib parties? Will I stay home to raise the baby? Will I enlist help, and continue with my own career? Will I be able to give our baby THE BEST of everything? At first thought, "the best" brings to mind a large house, private schooling, an Ethan Allen bedroom suit, perhaps a Mercedes Mini Van; but when one looks deeper into "the best", words like nutrition, spirituality, protection are brought to the surface.

We base our boundaries and expectations on different things. We do some things the way that our parents did them, and we do some things the exact opposite way. We set expectations based on what was or was not expected of us as well as the way our own child learns and responds to us. We set boundaries for our children based on common sense and common knowledge of the great and not so great aspects of our communities While we grieve for parents who suffer unforeseen tragedies, we also learn from them so that we can hopefully prevent any further tragedies.

To an almost 12 year old who has been given an opportunity to join her fellow middle school students and the Senior class of her school in a community outreach program, "the best" is defined as being able to participate...on a Friday night....at the Mall...in groups of 2-3 students... with the Principal in the same building, but not necessarily WITH her...meeting at the food court for supper at a set time. The operative words in this scenario are "an almost 12 year old".
All she understands is that her friends are going, and the Seniors are "good responsible kids" (which 99.9% of them are)...that they are actually doing something to positively influence our community. What she DOESN'T understand is that on most Friday nights, the Mall is busting at the seams with shoppers, diners, and movie-goers. In some places, it is harder to maneuver through the crowd than it is to go through security at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport at 6am on a Monday morning. All she knows is that Mom and Dad are over-protective, not that Mom and Dad only want "the best" for her.

Like many girls, I have wanted to be a Mommy since I named my first babydoll Mindy. Like many girls, I made sure that my husband wanted children well before our 6th date. Like so many, I planned my graduate studies so that I would be finished by the time my 2nd child was scheduled to arrive. I can honestly say that I began planning for my adult life when I was almost 12. I was in the 6th grade. That was when nothing could hurt me, I could do anything, and my mother was a pain in my rear. I am sure that on at least two (hundred) occasions, I proclaimed, "Well, I will NEVER tell my daughter that she can't go". That was my definition of "the best". Twenty six (and 1/2) years later, I am telling my daughter that she can't go. This is my NEW definition of "the best". Why did I change my mind? 'because I'm her MOM.

Stepping Out on a Needle and a Stitch!

This is not actually my work, but I do have this pattern, as it is one of my all-time faves! It criss crosses in the back, and I love to trim the diaper cover with ruffles on the backside! This is an awesome spring/summer outfit!


I grew up in the Deep South, and if I didn't know better, I would believe that I was born wearing a smocked bishop dress. My mother learned to sew from my Great-Grandmother and my Grandmother, and I was their "dress up doll". I loved every minute of it, and I have always coveted their talents. My lack of sewing talent as a teen/young adult was not due to their lack of trying. Adolescence was mostly to blame. Anytime you you put 2 grown women in a sewing room with a left-handed 13 year-old, the apron is bound to turn out with a few abnormalities.

Anyway, several years ago, I needed some curtains. Marc looked at me endearingly and simply stated, "Well, you better call your mama and learn to sew". I didn't call mama, but I did call a friend to ask to borrow her machine. Several days and 3 broken sewing needles later, my girls had new curtains hanging in their bedrooms. Ask anyone who lives with me or who has stayed with me for an extended period of time, the machine is always threaded, I always have at least 2 projects going at once, and my girls have made me pinky promise that I will not smock them anymore dresses or make them anything else with a Peter Pan Collar.

Luckily for me, I am acquainted with several babies who don't seem to mind the collars, monograms, and smocking. Luckily for me, the greatest heirloom supply shop in the south is still in business in Mobile, and she has a WEBSITE!!! Luckily for me, I am not an adolescent anymore, and my mama's hints and tips really work! Luckily for me, I have figured out how to turn a "right handed" pattern upside down and backwards and produce adorable dresses, bubbles, etc.

Luckily for you......I am ready to actually sell my creations!! Luckily for you.....I will customize, right down to the buttons and snaps!

Check out the photos of two basic patterns. These usually take a week to make, shopping to delivery. Prices are: $20.00/garment, newborn -9 mos. $35.00/garment, sizes 12 mos.-2T. $45.00, 3T-6 years. $55.00 7-16 years.

I will post photos and details of all patterns available. This is a work in progress, so keep checking back!

***Keep in mind that the photos below are for reference only. ****







This is only a sample. It is NOT my work. I pulled it from the PBJKIDS scrapbook. I do have this pattern, and it can be made to your specifications.
This is NOT my work, but I do have the patten, and I can make this to your specifications.

I DID make this little suit. I am addicted to these for this Spring! They are so cute and versatile. They can be worn with a onsie or as shown. This bubble suit features a lined bodice, buttons on the shoulders and snaps in the crotch. It is accented with ruffles across the behind in a fuschia gingham and white piping on the leg openings. My pattern is 0-24 months.
I DID make these for my girls this Christmas. Notice there are no collars, ribbons, or smocking! This is the jumper view of a very versatile pattern, available in sizes 7-16. This view features a scalloped bodice, lined with coordinating gingham and attached to the skirt with ruffle trim. There are NO buttons, zippers, or snaps, and it slips easily over the head and hangs loose but not baggy. The pattern features approx. 10 variations, and some include sleeves, long or short. It can be "dressed up" for a special occasion or all the way "down" for a school picture! It can also be worn as a sundress. I can make it reversible, and it is monogrammable. "Fine accents", such as lace, inserts, entredeux, and ribbon, can always be added for extra charge.

THIS is ALSO MY WORK. This is the Bonnie Blue "Bailey" pattern. I purchased the pattern from PBJKIDS, and it ranges in size from infant thru 6, I believe. It features a hidden buttton placket in the back, which results in a nice pleat. This material was also purchased from PBJKIDS, and it is great to sew on!! However, any cotton material will work. As stated in the jumper description, this one can be dressed up or down. I will post a photo of the pattern and of the back of the dress asap.

The Definition of Family Time

Ordinarily, when people ask me if I spend a lot of time with my husband and daughters, I reply, "I spend every single waking moment with at least one of them. Marc often comes home after he drives carpool, and we spend an hour or so together, and we are always going to some event with our girls in the evenings." However, this past week, aka Spring Break, has shown me that the everyday activities are not always true time together, simply because they are "everyday", and the "everyday" junk is still there. Marc and I spend time together in the mornings, but he is still getting ready for work, taking out the garbage, teleworking from his Blackberry. I am still feeding, changing, and taking care of the twins while throwing something in the Crock-Pot and doing a load of laundry. We take Libba to Softball practices, games, and AWANA; and we take Maggie to the barn and to her friends' houses. Once in awhile, Maggie and I will run away to the mall to shop while Libba is at AWANA. Yes, I tuck them in and say prayers every night, and Marc always visits both of their rooms to kiss them on the foreheads before coming to bed for the night, but we are still making lunches, paying bills, walking the dog, mowing the grass...the "everyday" stuff of life.

Our adventure began as we all piled in the mini-van to drive half way to Naples to surprise Grandma Pat and Grandpa Chuck. It was 7:45 pm, and the downtown connector was still a parking lot, so we all let out the typical Atlanta sigh as we settled into our seats to make our way south. The radio was boring, and Marc can't telework and drive, so we actually talked! We guessed what the grandparents would do when they realized that they weren't really meeting Aunt Karen for the Good Friday Fish Supper. We talked about baseball, birthdays, and stuff. I reminded everyone that the Publix Greenbag Cooler must go everywhere with us, as the Easter Bunny said it would melt otherwise.

The weekend was wonderful. Grandma didn't have a heart attack when she saw us, but she thinks that is what we are trying to accomplish since we tend to surprise her at least once every couple of years. The girls played with their cousins, and we saw some good friends. Marc golfed, I shopped, and we spent lots of time together. There was no "everyday" associated with our time. We went swimming, sometimes twice per day. That would NEVER happen "everyday" at home. We went to Easter Mass with Grandpa and Andrea. That is definitely not "everyday" for our girls. They had lots of questions, but they enjoyed seeing how other Christians worship. Maggie played with baby Emma, and we couldn't stop talking about "our" twins. Libba pitched with Uncle Lou, who played baseball in college. Marc and I stayed up late together, and we didn't telework, take out our garbage, pay bills, or cook crock pot meals. I will admit that I had to do some laundry...it is my nemesis. The Easter Bunny's goodies made it to the Easter Baskets without melting.

After spending great time with our extended family, we loaded up the minivan once more, and we took off for some time with just the four of us. We froze the Publix Greenbag and a huge bottle of Smart Water, in hopes of getting the Easter Bunny's goodies safely back to Buford. Busch Gardens will never be the same! It was wonderful! We rode roller coasters over and over again. On several occasions, we allowed the girls to ride without us as we waited at the bottom, and I wasn't scared. I was sad that they were old enough to not be attached to us at all times. I was glad that they they weren't in the double stroller and that I didn't have to participate in the "mommy swap" ride program, but I mourned the fact that they really didn't need me. However, we spent all day and night together, laughing, joking, playing, and loving. Marc and I didn't see one fight between sisters, and Maggie didn't roll her eyes at me all day! The Easter Bunny's goodies survived after spending the entire day inside the Publix Greenbag Cooler
inside the hot minivan!

We arrived home from Florida on Wednesday. Marc went straight to the Braves vs Cubs game, and I went straight to the laundry room. The trip was worth the laundry, though.

Friday morning, we woke at 5:45 so that we could be on the road to Thomson by 7am. Our mission of the day was three-fold. First, we were going to visit my grandparents (Florence-88 years old; George--92 years old) at their home on our family farm. While I talk with them on the telephone weekly, we had not seen them in about a year, so the time was very special to all of us. Secondly, we were meeting with a photographer for a family photo shoot. As we had hoped, the sky was clear and blue, the pasture was cut, and the horses behaved. The Dogwoods, Wisteria, Azaleas, and Camelias were in bloom, and it was a perfect day. Far from "everyday", for sure. The final mission of the day was to have a portrait made of MawMaw and PawPaw with my family as a gift to my mother. They are the anchors of our family. They taught my Mother how to live everyday with what she has, not without what she wants. They raised her in the Word and in the Church, and MawMaw prayed for the man who would someday marry my Mother. When my Mother married, she and my father lived everyday with what they had, and they worked for what they wanted. My grandparents were their mentors and their friends. When they started their own family, my parents raised us as they were raised, and my grandmother was my mentor, my seamstress, my friend. My grandfather was my fishing buddy who taught me how to ride a bike, read to me from his Catholic Bible, let me light his pipe after dinner, but never let me see the fear and anguish that he felt inside from his years in the South Pacific during WWII. We went on long walks in the Spring Hill gulley, and he never showed favoritism between my brother and me. As a young adult, my grandparents were always "there" for Marc and me, and they love us unconditionally. Because of what they have taught us, verbally as well as through example, we raise our children to live everyday with what they have and work towards the things (they think) that they want. They have shown us the rewards of living simply and living for the Lord. They have shown us how to live "everyday" and how to make the most of the rare days that don't fit that definition. They have shown us how to be married for 67+ years.

We arrived at 9:30am, and we arrived home at 9:40pm. We enjoyed twelve hours of family time, and I didn't cook or wash anything. Libba didn't pitch one ball. Maggie didn't take one lesson. Marc watched The Masters with a master. I copied some recipes and told my grandmother how beautiful she is and that she is not old.

I was with my family for 9 days. I spent every waking moment with them. I didn't have to scold anyone. I didn't have to cook. I didn't drive to softball practice or riding lessons. I took as many photos as humanly possible. I gave lots of kisses and hugs. I spent my time loving them.

Reflections....

As I reflect on my life, there are many special moments that I remember, and there are many that I am looking forward to. As I have said, I firmly believe that experiences are much more valuable than possessions. Yes, I am rebuking the possession that I cannot live without...my minivan....along with my cat, my handbags and luggage, even my Mac! These things are the "fluff" in my life, not the hard core center that drives me to live each day to the fullest. The memory that comes to mind today, that forever altered my perception of family, birth, and all things sibling, is the arrival of my baby brother on April 1, 1976. Believe me when I say that he was NO April fools joke! He came into our world mid-morning, the day that he was due, and he tried his hardest to make his debut in the back of my mama's Maverick as my daddy sped down Spring Hill Avenue, often crushing the Azaleas as he had to cut traffic by driving down the median! I was 4 1/2 years old, STANDING UP in the front seat, wearing an orange and yellow flowered bubble suit, covering my ears and screaming to the top of my lungs. I think I received at least 2 pops on the legs during the 5 mile ride of my life! As soon as Jonathan was born and home with us, my life turned upside down. My daddy had a son. From that point on, I had to sit in the backseat of his Cessna when we took our routine Saturday morning flights around the southeastern coast of the United States. From that point on, I had a real person to play school with...and give lots of demerits to. From that point on, I was supposed to be the big sister, the mentor, the example. Over the years, we had fun, and we had fights. We loved each other, and we hated each other. Our father became gravely ill when we were young. Jonathan was 11 when the heart attack occurred high above Birmingham in the Cessna. He was the co-pilot, and I was at my friend's house (thank God). Dad coded, and Jonathan landed the plane. For the next three months, we didn't know whether dad was going to live or die. It was in those three months that we grew up FAST! After that summer, I was still the mentor and the example, but Jonathan was the one who helped me. He helped me cope, and he helped me get through Algebra 2. Our father was healed by the grace of God, but upon his healing our Paternal Grandmother was diagnosed with end stage Liver and Pancreatic Cancer. Again, Jonathan helped me cope, and he helped me get through Chemistry 2, along with my ACTs, SATs, and AP exams. Our grandmother passed away in September, 1989. I was a Senior, and he was in 8th grade. I was the "wise" one. He was the "smart" one. Over the next several years, I went to college, and he went to high school. We graduated on the same weekend, and I moved back home, but he moved to Boot Camp...then to Europe...He served our country in ways that many can never fathom. We both married and started our families, and our parents are still alive and well. They have taught us how to live for His Glory, and through example, they have shown us how to raise a family. My brother came into my life on a day of practical jokes and little white lies. We don't "celebrate" that part of April 1 in our family. We celebrate him. We celebrate the experiences that made us who we are.

"It's not about getting through the storm. It's about learning to dance in the rain."