From T-Shirt To Dress

Last week, my mother brought over the family t-shirts for our big Family Fest which is at the end of December. Since we've grown quite large (8 kids, 7 in-laws, and 22 grand-kids), Mother got t-shirts with different colored for all the families. We got to choose our own color - a big plus of being married. :)

Anyway, when I pulled out F's t-shirt it seemed ginormous compared to her tiny body. So, I asked Mother if I could make it into a dress (why I thought I could really do this well is beyond me; I have very minimal experience sewing). She gave the okay, and so yesterday I got on Pinterest to find a dress that I liked and that looked fairly easy to make. Of course, there were lots of choices. Here's the one I chose.

Pretty simple looking, right? Mine turned out decent, but not as good as that lady's (I've been trying to give myself a little slack. It is, after all, the first dress I've ever made :). I learned from this experience that if I ever have a sewing question, I'll go to this blog. It's perfect. She shows so many techniques with pictures. I love pictures. I can't do anything without them. And, since I am so visually minded, I thought I'd share my whole process with you in pictures...

Last night I started by cutting out the dress and sewing a new hem along the sides of the t-shirt

This was the "before" shot:

Another intent in making this into a dress is so that F can use it this coming summer. So, I picked a dress that is a bit too big on her to use as an outline. 

I kept the original hem at the bottom because I wanted a sturdy and neat looking hem. After looking at it on F I've decided that, when summer comes and it's still a bit long on her, I might just make a new hem that makes the dress shorter...

Cutting the shirt, initially, was the scariest part of the whole process? I mean what if it was a complete flop?! F would always be remembered as the family member who didn't have a shirt on in the big family photo. :( 

                                      

Z thought he'd try it on for size when I was done with the side hems...

This morning I took to the sewing machine to make hems around the arm holes, which probably took the longest for me...unless you count having to undo the stitches when I sewed up the sleeves last night...not my brightest moment. :) 

 Then, I made the neckline out of one of Z's white t-shirts that we got at the county fair this past summer. :) I have always wanted to learn how to do a 5 strand braid, and it turns out it was much easier than I thought; although, I'm not sure I could ever do it with someone's hair.

I don't know why or how, but my braid ended up much more bulky than the other lady's. Her's was so perfectly petite. I think maybe next time I'll try less wide strips of clothe.

 And, this is the finished project. Not quite like the tutorial, but I'm learning. Maybe next time it'll be a little bit better. :)

Oh, and sorry about the photos being cockeyed. Z's the computer-talented one in this family...

This is the winterized version... 

This is the summer version...

F is stoked for this family fest!

With F moving around more and more it's fairly common for her to wander off on her own with me checking up on her once in a while. She seems to enjoy playing by herself or with her baby doll and stuffed animals. This afternoon I was in the kitchen and realized how quiet things had become, so I went to find her standing erect over all her animals and blankets that were sprawled all across her bedroom floor. It wasn't too long ago she would never have been able to create such a "mess." And, watching her wave her arms, stoop down, and pick up her stuffed animals while "talking" made me sense how special it is for me to be able to watch her grow up and miss very few things in her childhood, especially all those "firsts." Then, I started thinking of all the things that sometimes frustrate, annoy, or exhaust me from being a stay-at-home-mother (even though I have it pretty easy with only one child), but in the end, it's all worth it. And, I'm very thankful that I get to do them.

Being able to be home with F is worth...

Messy rooms.

Finding she's gotten into the cupboard and cluttered the kitchen floor with what use to be clean dishes.

 Trying to cleaning those icky hands and face after each meal while she tries to peel herself away from me.

Wiping that runny nose on a body that wants to run away.

Doing more laundry.

Fighting those knee stains she gets from crawling around.

(Will they ever come out?)

Smelling and changing all those dirty diapers.

Stretch marks that will probably never go away. 

Being enervated some days.

All those comments that people make about how much we're missing in life by having children so soon.

A slightly lacking social life.

 (I'll have to remember this if we have more kids and it goes from slight to drastic.:)

Being home alone - and sometimes craving that adult communication during the day.

Often interrupted or short ended conversations with others.

Having to decide if going to the grocery store is worth the effort. 

(Silly, I know, but I still think through the issue of hassle versus productivity and enjoy-ability. Again, I'll have to keep this in mind when (hopefully) more children populate this family).

Being a penny-pincher. 

Spending more time shopping for little people clothes rather than women's or men's.

The constant interruptions from getting other things done.

The labor in prayer.

Two weeks ago I heard this sermon - and have pored over it since then. An excellent sermon on the fullness of Christ that I would highly recommend. If you are hungry for God, this will feed your soul. During the sermon, though, Mr. Y. spoke about the deity of Christ and quoted Gregory of Nazianzus. I found the original, full-length version (I think) and found myself pondering on it, so I thought I'd share it with you.

He was baptized as man, but He remitted sins as God.

He was tempted as a man, but He conquered as God.

He hungered, but He fed thousands.

He thirsted, but He is the source of living water which quenches any who thirst of it.

He was wearied, but He is the rest of them that are weary and heavy laden.

He slept, but He awakened the dead.

He prayed, but He hears prayer.

He wept, but He gives joy unspeakable.

He asks where Lazarus was laid, for He was man, but He raises Lazarus for He is God.

He was sold for thirty pieces of silver, but He redeems the world, and that at great price, for the price was His blood.

As a sheep He was led to the slaughter, but He is the Great Shepherd of Israel, and of the world.

As a Lamb He is silent, yet He is the Word eternal.

He is bruised and wounded, but He heals every disease and every infirmity.

He dies, but gives Life, and by His death, He destroys death.

Family Photos

While the sun was setting one evening last week we decided to go to the park and take some photos.
We've been wanting to get F's one-year-old photo taken; but, I also want to learn to do it ourselves. Why not start practicing now? :) Someday I'll tinker with editing the pictures (Z's much much more patient with computers than me); but, for now, I'm working on just learning about lighting and camera settings. Here are a few (or more than a few :) of the photos we took...

 This one ^ is my personal favorite. :)

Happy Birthday, F!

Today our beautiful little girl is one. :)

In some ways, it's hard to believe a whole year has past; it does seem like just a little while ago when we were taking that dark early Saturday morning drive to the hospital. And yet, a lot has happened; F has changed boatloads, and those days that seemed (and still seem) to linger on are too fresh in my mind to say that it went by "so fast." Whatever the time lapse has felt like, I find that I love her more and more each day. I love to watch her grow, learn new things, form attachments, have likes and dislikes, and do things on her own. I love how she loves going on walks, reading books every morning, playing with the mail, swinging, sliding down slides, singing, listening to music, animals, and people - especially little people like herself. I love how (almost) every morning she wakes up and I can hear her talking for a while by herself (one morning I opened the door and found her holding her cow facing her and was talking to it. melt.my.heart :). Then, when I go in she smiles, squeals and laughs, and holds up her arms for me to pick her up. I love it when she hugs me and rests her head on my shoulder or when she calls me ma-ma. :)

When I really sit down and think about the process of development she's gone through in the past year I am in awe. How does she grow so attached to me as a mother or Z as a father? What makes her trust or distrust people? What is going through her little brain that, at one point, didn't have a vocabulary? How do her bones and muscles grow so rapidly? Why does she get so excited when she sees dogs or ducks or leaves that crumble and crunch? And, how can a simple walk around the block be so intensely captivating?

I often think about these questions while I watch F play or when she gets really excited about something that to me is mundane. And, then I wonder, what has caused me to become bored with something that God so beautifully and amazingly designed and created? Have I become so acclimated or so callus to the my surroundings to the point where I no longer see the awesome things that God has made? Do I have the eyes of a child, being amazed at even the smallest details like the veins of a leaf or the feather or a bird?

I am so thankful to God for giving us such a precious gift, not only because she's adorable and an image bearer of God Himself, but because God uses her to point me to Him. She points me to Him because I am reminded how dependent on God I am to raise her. I can't do anything on my own for F, physically or spiritually. I must entrust her to the One who formed her, taking her (and my) needs to the throne of grace each and every day. I'm also reminded, by raising this child, to have that child-like excitement and wonder about what Christ has made and done and will do...even in the small things. My prayer for her is that she will grow up to confess Jesus Christ as her Savior and Lord, that God will use her to point many others to Himself, and that she will never lose that child-like excitement that leads to learning more about Jesus Christ and the world He has so marvelously made!

Happy Birthday, F! Mommy loves you and praises God for you!

41 Years

Proverbs 17:6: "Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers."

Z and I were driving home the other day and saw someone pulled over to the side of the road. We questioned whether or not we should stop and see if they needed help; but, Z made the comment that they didn't have any hazard lights on or have their hood popped. It looked like they were probably pulling over for their kids. That got me thinking how I kind of wish I didn't have some memories - like pulling over on the side of the road and my dad holding me up to go to the bathroom when I was 5 or 6. How embarrassing. But, it does make me smile. And, it makes me think of other memories I have from childhood. Like, every Sunday morning my dad helping me put on my shoes, or my mother teaching me how to read (I thought I was oh-so sneaky when I'd flip to the next page when she wasn't looking and memorize the first 3-5 words. Then when she'd come back to listen to me read I'd struggle through, as usual, the page we were on, turn the page, and read ever so perfectly that first line. My mom would smile down at me and say she was so impressed. Thanks, Mom, I thought so. :).

Later in life, they guided me through the more difficult channels of puberty, college, marriage, and having children. They've prayed for me, talked with me, helped me, warned me, and encouraged me. And, more than potty training me, teaching me to read, or guiding me through college and relationships, my parents taught me about grace. God used them to show me my sin, my need for Jesus Christ, and that my only hope for salvation is through Him. And, they're still teaching me these things in my adult life. Even after all of their children have left home, they continue to be faithful to God who has so graciously been faithful to them. And, they truly are the glory of their children, like Proverbs 17:6 says.

Today marks my parents' 41st anniversary. Happy Anniversary, Mother and Daddy! I love you.

Living Life

Whew. Life has been busy. But, I like to say that it's better to be busy then bored (someone probably said that before me...but, I don't know who :). We've been busy with church activities, school, and chasing Felicity around the house. Here are just a few things that have kept us running...

Last weekend was the church workday and Fall Ministry Project. My sister, Anna, and her husband, Dan, brought up a FMP team of 4 boys and 4 girls. I was stoked to find that my sister was coming here with a group. I had high hopes that she and Dan could stay at our house (we had previously agreed to host some folks), but we ended up with the boys. But, that was cool. We actually ended up having the whole team for dinner and games Saturday evening which was a lot of fun for us. I absolutely LOVE it when people come to our house. Makes. My. Day. :) Monday morning when I went downstairs where the boys were all staying, I was so surprised to find everything in it's place. They so kindly stripped their beds, put the bedding away, and folded up all the blankets. I guess having guys instead of girls isn't too bad after all. :)

Sunday we went to the Life Chain following fellowship lunch. And, after leaving there went down to SecondRP for evening worship. One thing I learned about this church: they have an amazing sound system for their nursery. You could hear every word. And, it was really great see so many friends and family. The car ride also gave Z and me some time to talk and pray since we hadn't gotten much of the that the last couple of days.

This past week we went door to door to (mostly) neighbors we've met before to invite them to an investigative Bible study that we're hosting at our house as part of one of our church's small groups. And, I must say, I was surprised with how many neighbors invited us to sit and talk or show us their house. Two of these houses I walk by nearly every day and wonder what the inside is like, and we got to enter them. Score. :) And, while only one person came, it was quite nice to get to know our neighbors. We spent two to three hours talking with 8 of our neighbors. It was great! I told Z we should just go door-to-door every night. :) We are hopeful and praying (please pray with us!) that more people (especially non-believers) will come to the Bible study in the coming weeks, but we're also thankful the opportunity we had to get to know our neighbors better.

F is getting into more and more stuff. We can't complain. We're glad she's growing. She's not quite walking, but she is gingerly making her way around furniture. She doesn't seem to quite have enough courage to move more quickly along furniture, even though I think she could. I'm hoping she doesn't start walking until after her first birthday because Z and I made a "bet." He thinks she will and I think she won't. Whoever gets it right gets to pick where our date night will be in November. :) Despite not walking, she definitely gets to wherever she wants. She's also into opening cabinet doors and taking out all the contents. The other day when I was in the other room folding laundry she was in the kitchen spilling oats all over the floor. She's also fascinated with the toilet handle. We try to keep the door closed, but if it's ever left open, you'll know where to find her. In other news, I calculated last week how many calories she's been getting every day: 800, give or take a few. This week she seems to be eating even more, though. I think it helps that she now has 6 teeth to chew her food! We're so glad to be done with teething...at least for the moment. Those last four sure were character building for mommy and F. :) 

And, tonight we're enjoying homemade white hot chocolate (definitely another Pinterest win. yum! :) while Z grades and I work on laundry and think about school for next week...oh, and write this. So, I better go get back to work.  :)