Tis Better to Give....

A few years ago, a neighbor went to the hospital and I brought her young family a meal.  Well, that's not entirely true, I made my husband bring it over.  I like to give people things, but I always feel like it's so unusual that people make a fuss, and then I feel embarrassed or like I'm intruding.  My husband has been my ambassador on more than one occasion, but slowly, I'm trying to step out of my comfort zone and do it myself.

I love to give presents when there's an occasion where it's expected (hence the relief of any awkwardness on my part) and it's so fun to make a great, useful present.  I have had the excitement of a baby shower and a bridal shower for some dear friends in the last several weeks.  Here, some pictures from the presents.

Above:  The Anywhere Chair (ties around a chair to keep a toddler in place during a meal), a baby sling and a knit blanket all wrapped in a fleece blanket.

Above:  A towel cake - memory foam mat, 2 towels, 2 hand towels and 2 washcloths 

Right now I'm working on another knit blanket for my husband's friends new addition.  Please keep the little guy in your prayers, he was 3 months early and has to undergo heart surgery soon.

Picture Day: Part 1

I finally spent some time taking pictures of the girls.  I can't share SB's pics, c'est la vie - here are the other two girls.  I say Part 1 in the title because I really need to get more pictures of the girls for their age/milestones.

My husband bought me exactly what I wanted for Mother's Day/my birthday (they're only a couple weeks apart and I wanted a kind of big present).  I got a really nice new camera.  I'm happy with the quality, although I do wish it would take the pictures faster!  

I try to take pictures of the girls as much as I can and I've been meaning to take 2 month pics of SP for well, almost a month (shhh!)  I got them taken when she was about 2 1/2 months, so I think it still counts!

I also took a few sister pics....I'll have to revisit these on a day LB has off school, she wasn't thrilled with having a photo shoot after a full day of school :) (btw - school is going well.  LB enjoys it and my anxiety is manageable....I'd like her home still next year, but we're only on the third week, so we'll see).

I figured out my camera takes stills while you're shooting video...isn't she precious?!!!!

 I included quite a few of SP's shots because her facial expressions are hilarious :)

The first one....not so bad

And then someone sneezed...note the quality of the camera capturing the spit in flight

Back to a smile, but SP is shocked by what just happened

....and a little scared

Hope they gave you a smile/laugh.  Have a wonderful September.  I'm looking forward to getting some projects wrapped up at work, maybe starting a couple at home, finishing some more handmade gifts for friends (pics to follow after they've been given!), contemplating some minor kitchen reno and even a trip south to pack up my brother's family for the move back north close to us (YAY!).  September is going to be hopping!

Everyday Miracles

I think miracles happen more often than we realize.  I find that when I stop, take a breath and take a moment for those around me, I notice the miracles all around.

Last Sunday, LB, SP and I went on a daytrip to see my elderly Grandma in the nursing home.  She has dementia and has her good days and her bad days.  I am grateful for the fiesty grandma I remember.  Every now and then, I see a piece of the grandma from my childhood.

When we went on Sunday, I saw my grandma do something I have watched her do hundreds of times with my younger brother and sisters and the older great-grandchildren.  Sunday, I got to watch her make a little clicking noise to SP. It might not seem like much, but it took me straight to childhood and yet was a moment that went straight to my heart as a mother.  There is something about watching your parents or grandparents with your children that is miraculous in itself.  For just that moment, through the memory loss and deterioration of her body, I saw the soul still inside.  Sometimes our blessings come in rain drops, indeed.

L to R: LB, Great-Grandma, Godmother, SP, (one of my sisters hiding in the background) and my dad

Last Sunday, this is what a miracle looked like.