Please Pray for William

William was born with a broken heart. He is 10 months old and is going in for his second open heart surgery on April 6th.

I do not know William. I do not know William's family.

I do know he likes John Deere because his Mom bought a John Deere Tote for him from my on-line Etsy Shop. This was the FIRST item I made with the precious John Deere fabric, not knowing it would be for a special little boy.

When I re-listed the tote on my Etsy shop, I explained, my son had a broken heart when he saw me cutting into the John Deere fabric and he realized the tote was not for him. I had no idea the tote I was making was for a little boy named William, with a broken heart.

Until, William's Mom read the caption and sent me a note telling me about her son. Of course, this made me cry like a baby. It made me turn to my husband for a hug and give thanks for all that we do have.

I shared this story with our kids. They have included him in our dinner prayers every night since.

I am asking you to do the same. Please pray for William, for his family. Please pray the Dr's & nurses are guided by God's gentle hand while in surgery. Please pray for an inner peace for his Mom & Dad while he's in surgery.

Please Pray for William's Broken Heart

Lazy Day Sunday

Before having kids, I dreamt about "Lazy Day Sundays" both as a wife and as a Mother. Although these daydreams were a vivid part of my imagination, they were influenced by my surroundings. At the time, I was living in New England, on the 6th floor of a sky-rise apartment in the city. I enjoyed all the amenities of living in the city, as a single woman, just a few short miles from the office. Albeit, the weekends were MINE to do as I pleased, something was always missing.

Looking back now, I was probably the envy of my friends with young families. I recall a friend of mine telling me she and her husband set aside 'time' to talk since their lives were consumed with the activities of their children. I just couldn't imagine!

A dozen or so years later, I am living 800 miles away from the sky-rise apartment, no longer putting on a suit each day to go to the office, and no longer worrying 'how' I would spend my weekends.

Today, was was the epitome of a "Lazy Day Sunday"

We canceled our plans and commitments since both kids are feeling under the weather.

The kids hung out with me in the studio, for hours...and hours...and hours.

They read......

They slept.....

Daddy took care of Brunch for Lunch, with a smile!

By the end of the day, I was feeling refreshed, but, the kids were ready to crash. Little Man's fever spiked so we took out a favorite book.

Sick Day, by Patricia MacLachlan, Illustrations by Jane Dyer

This is a wonderful children's book. When we picked up this book at the UConn Book Fair many moons ago, I didn't realize the author was Patricia MacLachlan. This was her first book, originally published in 1979. She went on o write two of my favorites, Sarah Plain and Tall and Skylark.

The kids then enjoyed our "Sick Day" favorite supper - Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup.

While Mommy had a spinach salad with chicken & cranberries...

I confess, I had to keep the vase of flowers on the table so I wouldn't see Daddy's delicious open-faced chicken sandwich he prepared!

Now, the kids are fast asleep. Hubby is watching his beloved Celtics and I am getting ready to package my orders to ship tomorrow. This weekend, I made a dozen tote bags with crayon rolls and 3 wristlets for this weeks' orders. A few new fabric styles this week, kept it interesting!

But, the best part of it all was having my peeps hang out with me for hours of endless chatter.

Gotta LOVE Lazy Day Sundays!

Take Time to be Thankful

I have been in a wee bit of a funk for a week or so because this is the first time in our sweet family life that we are not having dinner together each night.

We savor this time. Although it appears to be an everyday occasion that occurs without much thought, oftentimes having breakfast for dinner, or a meal prepared by Lexi-girl, the results are so much more than that.

A time to pray. A time to reflect. A time to share our day. A time to dream a little, giggle a little, and most importantly, feel unconditionally loved.

With our new baseball and softball schedules incorporated into the piano & Girl Scout schedules, our dinner hour is no longer as we once knew it. Are we becoming the prototype of the American Family?

I recently read, "Life is really about Attitude."

Last night, was the first night I gave myself an attitude adjustment once Daddy & Lexi left for softball. Rather than return to the studio to work for an hour or so, Little Man and I,

"Get this party rocking" as he so energetically put it!

We took advantage of the paved path that weaves through our subdivision along the creek.

Although this path is literally at the foot of our hill in our backyard,

we felt as if we were worlds away.

We listened to the Canadian Geese returning home, the airplanes on a sunset tour,

the trickle of the creek.

We floated leaves down the stream.

We listened to the wind blow.

By the time the sun was setting and we started our journey home,

I felt my attitude completely change.

I gave thanks for the time I spent with my Little Man.

Gone So Soon

I have been walking around aimlessly since my sister went home. Sort of a numb state of mind. I have kept myself busy in the studio as not to have to think about the distance between us.

I have five wonderful siblings. We each have a unique relationship. Distance will do that to you. Although, we may not keep in touch on a daily basis, any time we are together, the world stops.

In the few short days Kat was here, we ate and ate and ate. And ate some more. For those of you in the Dayton area, we dined at Meadowlark. Had the best table in the house. Had the best waitress in the house.

On Saturday, we spent the day at Miami University. Alexandra was participating in Destination Imagination 2010. Her team ROCKED. They placed 2nd for their category. I was a proud Mama! We ate at the cafeteria on campus, not once but twice. UGH!

On Sunday, we went to Cincinnati to dine at Mitchell's Seafood. This is one of Papa's favorites, and mine too. Mitchell's, advertised in Cincinnati is actually in Covington Kentucky, with a view of the Cincinnati skyline along the Ohio River. On a sunny summer afternoon, you can hear the cheers from the Great American Ball Park, while dining outside at Mitchells - I just LOVE that!

I couldn't let her go home without going to Graeter's for ice cream.

I'm sure you are scrolling through this blog looking for a picture. After all, what is a post without a picture? What is a blog without pictures? What is a visit without pictures?

Needless to say, I took only a few pictures. Shame on me! She had only been here an hour or so. I had to deliver an apron to a local customer. Of course, I talked her into posing for me. I'm sure you will agree, she is photogenic. I HATE this about her.

Just look at that face. Here's the throw your head back and live in the moment.

I had my daughter take a picture of her Mama imitating this pose. I even did my hair and put on lipstick.

Just pathetic. It's always been this way....Kat's the beautiful one. Carefree. Comfortable in her own skin. And well, I'm just 'me'. Quirky me.

My daughter took numerous pictures of me with the digital camera before I whipped off the apron and begged her to pose for me.

We had a wonderful visit with Aunt Kathy. Christian woke up crying in the middle of the night after she left, asking me if I had a picture of Aunt Kathy for him to sleep with. My Lexi-girl shed enough tears to fill the bathtub while I put on my strong face holding back my own tears, counting the days until we make our annual trek home to New England.

Carl, Kd., Tommy, Mikey....it's your turn to come to Ohio! I miss you.

The Sky is Falling! The Sky is Falling!

I feel like I'm living the vintage 1969 classic, "Chicken Little The Sky is Falling."



You see, my sister is coming for a visit in a few days. We’ve lived in Ohio for almost five years now, and this will be her first visit.

So I have been SHOUTING this from the rooftops. I have told everyone I know, "MY SISTER IS COMING, MY SISTER IS COMING!"

I have told the Wal-mart greeters, the grocery store clerks, my eye Dr., my dental hygienist, my friends, my neighbors, my customers, anyone that will listen really, or not!



Of course, I now have to tell you all about my sister, my friend. I strongly suggest you either pull up a chair and stay awhile, or go about your business now.



My sisters motto for life is, “Happiness is a Choice, Choose Happiness.” She is, without a doubt, one of the happiest people I know. When you are with her, she makes you feel like you are the most important person in the world.



She's all that a sister should be. Sweet, kind, caring, compassionate, health nut, sincere, divine cook, devoted Mom, and a harley girl!



The Sky is Falling The Sky is Falling....My Sister is Coming My Sister is Coming!



I plan on staying up all night, giggling about the past, dreaming about our futures, and savoring every moment we have during this short visit. Please welcome my Sister to Ohio!