With Gratitude.

November is the month that we give thanks. Everytime this month hits, I especially have a lot to be thankful for. It was 3 years ago this night that my husband, my very small baby and me sat in a lonely hospital room. I think about how much pain that baby was in, how sad we were. That Thanksgiving I like to call the year that God taught me how to be thankful. There isn't a November that goes by that I don't thank the Lord that he has delivered us from the machines, the pain meds and the uncomfortable hospital cots. That he has given me not one, but three beautiful healthy children. That my family is whole and complete and that we are NOT sitting in a hospital room.

Today I give thanks and bare witness to the fact that the Lord delivered us from despair and pain and he turned our sorrow into joy. There was a time when I never thought I'd utter these words. I give thanks for my great God, and the amazing family he has seen fit to give me.

Nichole Nordeman "Gratitude"

We'll give thanks to You

With gratitude

For lessons learned in how to trust in You

That we are blessed beyond what we could ever dream

In abundance or in need

And if You never grant us peace
But Jesus, would You please . . .

Pinterest Challenge: Of Turkeys and Tutus

This month I had to make something for my 4-year-old neice's birthday. What do you get a girl who loves to twirl? Oh a tutu. But not just any tutu, I came acrossed this a few months ago and set it aside for a rainy-day project.

The tutorial was easy and straight forward and I used scraps of fabric that I had lying around in my art closet. I wanted to make her something she could wear her adorable pink cowboy boots with and something that she could pull almost any shirt out of her drawer and wear with it. I ended up with this:
What tutu would be complete without a cute headband that matches? I couldn't resist and I used a new flower tutorial this time.
I also wanted to do something crafty with the boys that would teach them about Thanksgiving's true meaning. I found this cute idea and thought I'd try it. Ofcourse as soon as I saw the ingredients for it I instantly knew I didn't have everything I needed. So I improvised.
I let THEM color all the feathers and paint the plate themselves, so it doesn't look as perfect as the picture but they LOVED it and enjoyed making it.
So this is my pinterest challenge for the month. What pinterest projects have YOU done?

My baby turned one

It happened. I blinked and then my last baby turned one. What a bittersweet event it was as we watched her dive into her cake. I am a little sad to put away all those tiny newborn clothes, to take out her rocker, and take out of her room all of the tiny baby things that have filled it. But I'm also so excited about the year to come. A year full of growing hair, tea parties, and adorable waddles.

My baby had a fabulous parisean celebration full of laughter and croissants. We enjoyed every minute of it, and were so thankful for the time we got to spend in appreciation of her little life. Sometimes, the pink still surprises me.