Thankful

It might sound crazy that after these last couple years for me to sit here and type that I couldn't be more thankful for all the hard times that left me with a heavy heart and that it is those same hard times that have also lifted me up and have me realizing all the things I have to be thankful for....Since Ava's diaversary(May 27th ) and yesterdays 5k I have been finding myself reflecting and so thankful for how far we have come...

Thankful for my brave daughter fighting diabetes like champ after being diagnosed at 2 its not something she always understands but something she always faces with a can do attitude(wish we could all have faith like her)!

Thankful for the last 2 years of learning treating and living with the disease, which has taught me to trust my self, to have faith in the future and confidence.

Thankful for family whether near or far I know they all truly love and care and may not be what I expected, needed or always hoped for but there are circumstances that I have to realize might cause the unexpected, change needs and hope goes on.

Thankful for my husband who although I am tough to love has continued to be by my side never swaying, always ready to catch me when I fall. He is stronger then words can describe and patient beyond all doubt. I am so lucky to have been in the right place at the right time. To have made a friendship with him first to have fallen in love and to have married him and be blessed with two mouths to feed.

Thankful that his love is devoted and thankful I get to experience this kind of love.

Thankful that our love isn't always perfect but it always comes right back around to where it needs to be

Thankful for losing my job (that place can suck it) thankful to call it an utter waste of 6+ years of my life to know that in this life time I shall not waste a minute more stuck doing something I hate just to make a dollar!

Thankful to have found my creative passion and thankful for hope that one day I will support my family on my love, drive and passion and nothing less

Thankful my children have picked up some of my best qualities(lord knows I have some not great ones too)

Thankful for my brilliant and loving son who will be nothing less then his father

Thankful for my childhood as broken as some people think it might have been, they don't know, what they should know is that it made me who I am today.

Thankful for my few true friends who love me, lift me up and are always there when I need them. I know it's not easy to love me but they do it anyways. They love my family more then they need to and are so understanding when it's so hard to understand.

Thankful for a roof over my head, chickens in my yard, piles of laundry and dinners to be made.

Thankful for being humbled by all the hard times and looking forward to dancing in the rain rather then waiting for the storm to pass

We may be face to face with a disease raging war on our tiny daughter, hard times with my marriage(stress can kill a person!), miss understanding from people who aren't in my shoes, lost my job, etc...but all I can say is I am so thankful, humbled and grateful.

Thankful for all these people supporting an amazing cause! Way to go peeps!

I had the joy of participating in the Heaven can wait 5K yesterday and try as I might I will never be able to understand what some of these women have to face and I pray that I never will. However, I do know that a beautiful YOUNG women did lose her battle and left behind 2 young boys(babies really), a loving husband and an entire family who will never forget her amazing smiling face. I run for her, I hope for her children and I am Thankful with a heavy heart to have known her and her story and thankful that I get to see her boys still smile to this day(way to go dad!). Alyssa I know you are loved and missed like crazy and I hope someday for you, your family, for everyone that some day there is a cure!

Thankful....The list goes on

I suppose thankful is not an easy thing to say or be, and don't get me wrong it's easy to complain about all the same things too but when I remember what some families strife is I can't help but think it's a shame to live a life of complaints when after all we are living, something not everyone gets to do...

So bring it on universe because I now know I can look back and someday be thankful for all the hard times that let me be....

Yay! It's finally here!

Sew with Rachel

Learn To Sew Class 1

Learn to Sew teaches everything you need to know to get you started sewing and confident with your abilities! Students will learn machine basics, practice various stitches and complete an envelope throw pillow cover. We'll discuss sewing tools and fabrics. *Students will provide their own machines accompanied by their manuals (If you have one). Machines MUST be in good working order. *I have 2 machines available first come first serve via registration.

 Learn to Sew: Students will learn sewing machine basics, including bobbin winding, threading the machine, and how to operate the machine.Basic sewing tools will be discussed as well practicing a few basic stitches.  Each student will complete an envelope throw pillow by the end of class.

**Materials purchased for class use at Hancock Fabric are eligible for a 10% discount! **

**Only for classes held at Hancock Fabrics**

Materials:  

·        3/4 yard of 45” wide fabric Cotton or home dec (pre-washed preferred)

·        Scrap fabric (for practicing stitches)

·        Matching all-purpose thread

·        16” x 16” OR 18x18 pillow form

·        Empty bobbin

·        Universal machine needle

2 1/2 Hour Session $35.00

 to Register/Questions Please Contact Rachel @

Sewwithrachelbend@gmail.com or 541-280-6773

Visit me @ http://www.facebook.com/SewWithRachel.

Source

Will, Jimmy and Jake

I don't claim to be a photographer and I barely know the bare minimums to get my camera of auto mode. What I do know is how fast children grow and how great it is to have pictures (good ones) to look back on. So every time I get out my camera I try my hardest to make sure memories are being caught. Enjoy my latest manual mode photo shoot of baby Will and his brothers. Jake the oldest is autistic and from what his mom says never looks at the camera but a little game of peek a boo changed that right up for me :) Thanks again Shanna for letting the boys partake in my amateur photography practice!

Jake

Jimmy

Shanna (not prepared for pictures;)

I think he was fascinated with my camera

Shanna's amazing bay window!

love me some arm rolls

sweet little tongue

Hat crocheted by yours truly - pattern available free on this blog!

wonder what he's thinking?!

Layered Felt Flower Clippie DIY

thatmorrisfamily.blogspot.com

4.99 @ Cricut.com

Supplies:
Sizzix Big kick or Big Shot or Cuttle bug
Cuttle Bug Flowers die #1 (currently 4.99 @ cricut.com!)
Felt wool or Eco-felt 
Button 
Thread and Needle 
Hot Glue 
Hair Clip

 (I didn't not plan to post this or I would have taken at least a couple more pics ;)

This is one of the easiest felt flower hair doo dads I have made in a while. In fact I made about a dozen yesterday most of them in my 4 year old assistant choices of colors ;)  I have seen them on etsy a lot and thought "how simple and cute" Plus you can layer all sorts of colors to match outfits. I made one I like to call raspberry orange creamsicle, hot pink, orange, cream and light pink layered up. I think so far that's my favorite one :)

FIVE easy steps and a little creativity and your on your way to a small business plan ;) ok that is if you can market and part with some of these cute little things! Or pry them from the grips of your fashion forward four year old!

1: Cut one of each size from the cuttle big die out of your color choice of felt 
(ie: cream and YES these tiny dies will cut felt, that is really all I use my Sizzix for I DON'T SCRAP BOOK :O)
2: Stack them nicely together place button on top and sew button on with a few stitches 
(make sure to start from the bottom so you loose threads aren't on top of the flower)
3: Cut two little leaves and place as shown on the bottom with a little hot glue
4: attach to hair clip, barrette, headband etc...
5: Cut one more smaller circle scallop to finish the bottom of the clip so you can't see the leaves glued on or the glue adhering the flower to the hair clip (optional but very professional ;) 

Enjoy....its hard to stop dreaming up all the fun color combo's for summer! TIP: Make 2 and put them on a cute set of piggies!

DIY EASY Garden Box

2 complete garden box's and up-cycled retaining wall to fire pit all my handy work!

Little lady ready to worship some diy'n

This was stupid easy and all I had requested for mother's day but lucky me it was so easy it was done a week early just in time for nice weather (be for warned also request that your strapping husband fills them for you...I can barely move my arms after all the filling and emptying of the wheel barrow!) Does that mean I still get a gift for mothers day??

(Lowe's disclaimer - we attempted to go to home depot but all the employees were the least happy least helpful group of people I have ever encountered plus they didn't have the cuts of wood we needed, so we tried to give them a chance but I honestly almost always go to Lowes so I am comfortable making my rounds there)

Supplies: (for one box 4 foot by 5 foot and 16 inches tall)
2"x 8'x 10 foot

2"x 8"x 8 foot
(heaven forbid I don't know the proper wood lingo, thanks to the Mr. This should read correctly for you!)
(2x4 if you don't just have one laying around like us hoarders)
Weed stopper
Screws or BIG nails

Did I mention 2 of these bad boy's only cost about 40 BUCKS!

Here's the best part :D Have Lowes cut both boards in half, all the hard work is done and now they are easy to load in the back of the car. We always fight over strapping lumber to the top of the car and I always think he is going to chop is fingers off when cutting large boards so extra bonus less arguing through out the process :O 

Now here is the tricky part: We had pieces of 2x4 laying around to brace the corners and the front middles, if you don't NO biggie get one 2x4 from Lowes and if you bat your lashes hard enough they will cut it in to 12 inch section for you as well.

Assembly : Make your top then the bottom by screwing the sides to the front and backs with a drill, don't have one?! Well maybe BIG nails will work :D galvanized so they won't rust.

Stack them together and attach the pieces of 2x4 in the corners and on the front middle and back to secure!

**I opted to staple weed stopper onto the bottom and trimmed away excess***

Done! Now fill - warning this takes a lot of dirt and time! Each was about 5 or 6 loads in the worlds largest wheel barrow :( I am one tired but happy mama today!

Another FROG! Our back yard is a frog retreat ;) I have been moving them to a secure location where I am fairly certain they are being eaten by the neighbor's cats...oops!

Off to collect goodies for said DIY Garden Box's! HAPPY SPRING!

Call Me Rehab Rachel

"Given enough spray paint I could change the world" not sure who owns that quote but it's totally me. Especially now that I have discovered Zinzer in a can. I am pretty sure anything could be painted with that stuff....

Following this post soonly is going to be a gallery of allll the things I have "Rehabbed" with a little love a lot of sanding and primer ;) Hoping it will inspire people to see the beauty in the ugly things. ( list of items, FREE dresser, Free wing back chair, Gold Huge plastic mirror, coffee table, Desk and more!)

My recent Rehab was the worlds UGLIEST table.

 I am always looking for furniture (when I need it, because lord knows I have too much) that has character since we live in a newer house lacking character. I have been severely struggling with ideas for the bonus room aka my sewing (class)room and had a few good friends swing by to get me out of my rut all three confirmed put a table in the middle so I ventured on to craigs list for a few days looking for a table I liked and was in my teeny price range....then I spotted it, a 70's solid wood, laminate top, covered in years of food grime and lacquer for the mere price of 25 bucks. What made me want this hideous table?! It has GREAT legs ;) I am a total leg girl when it comes to furniture! I made the purchase for 20 bucks and my husband could not believe he was having to lug it home but I was confident it had great potential and was the perfect size for the awkward room.


I sanded for a day, primed for a day, and painted for an afternoon and I LOVE it (all for the cost of the table I owned primer and paint!:) Proof is in the pudding folks. Re-use, Reduce, Re-Cycle making the world a better place for my little ones in more ways then one! So before you toss something out put some lipstick on that pig and see what you think of it :)

Pink Life Support

My time has been consumed by a tiny little girl and her tiny pink pump. YES! We switched from MDI (multiple daily injections of insulin) to an insulin pump a Minimed from Medtronic and yes she got to pick the color :) I don't think she would have allowed it any other way.

Now I had mixed feeling about using an insulin pump, and sometimes I still feel that way, but I can tell already that we have chosen the best method for her. She's able to have a little more freedom and not so many bombs of insulin. Or as the pump starter nurse here said "think of it as bullets of insulin instead of grenades". Which means before we would give her a big shot of insulin which tends to sit under the skin and all be absorbed at once which caused Little Miss to have very high blood sugar levels caused from the food she consumed then low's from the big dose of insulin. Now she is able to have the same insulin but with more of a drip affect so her body absorbs it over time rather then all at once. I have noticed a big difference in just the 2 short weeks it has been and while she doesn't' LOVE getting her "sticker" aka catheter or infusion set inserted(every 3 days) it certainly is nice to be able to just push a couple buttons and not have to poke her little body with a needle 5 times a day.

infusion set allows insulin to drip in via a tiny catheter - also allows tubing to be unplugged for water sport aka bath's ;)

And on top of all those good things we also have a live log right there on the pump so we can look at how much and when her last dose was, no more guessing, HEY don't JUDGE, we are insulin giving robots and it's hard to remember when your going through the motions on little sleep....do you remember how many breaths you took at 8:08am?! Didn't think soooooooo :) so now we know we aren't missing things and if I panic I can double check.

Now with all that greatness does come some bad news....mostly I can live with it cause let's face it, DIABETES SUCKS AND I WOULDN'T WISH IT ON MY WORST ENEMY.....MAYBE JOSEPH KONY ;)So the  bad news: well, there's no long acting insulin so if the pump has a kink in the tube or something happens, tough cookies, we are on high alert when there is high blood sugars(which are still happening, we have fine tuning to do) and my daughter is connected to a machine, all be it pink and small but it is still a reminder that insulin is keeping her alive and it isn't a cure but a way to manage her disease which in the past would have caused her a slow painful death! Boy am I glad for technology. We still have to check her blood sugar FREQUENTLY and at NIGHT (There is no true rest for me/us) and Finding a place for the pump to hang out comfortably on her little body is a challenge....hence another reason I am MIA, working on a great affordable juvenile diabetes pump pouch. I always find a necessary reason to sew even in the dark cloud that is diabetes. It's in my blood like a disease ;)


So there you have it! I am missing from blog land and or my friends and family recently due to a tiny pink life saving machine!!! Which I am utterly thrilled to have in my home each and every day!