Watch this!

Three loves of mine:

Volkswagen- LOVE my Jetta!

Star Wars

Dogs

Have an incredible weekend!

Under His wings~

Anna

Sneak peek Friday

I mightve mentioned in passing

my son is getting married this Spring.

The Bride has asked me to help her with decorating.

Ive been on pinterest WAAAY more than Id like to admit.

I have found some really fun ideas and will be sharing one today,

since thats what Ive been creating this week.

Im laughing because my "studio space" Is a drafting table in the corner of our back room.

It has about 4-5inches of " halfway created stuff" piled on it.

I thought it might be great incentive for us to also show our creative place each week-

that might encourage peeps like me to actually CLEAN our creative place and use it.

(instead of just moving to the Dining room table which has to be cleared off at mealtimes!)

Giggle.....

You have to just laugh at yourself every now and again dont you!

Go ahead, it will feel better.

Just take a breath,

offer yourself a little grace.....

I will wait on you.

See?!

Told ya! Wink.

Here is what Ive been creating-

Im knitting a shawl for myself.

If the bride chooses peacock feathers as part of her decorations it will really look pretty.

Not sure if I will need it for a Mid May wedding in Florida.

I started making flowers.

The Bride wasnt really crazy about the idea.

"Flowers made of paper?"

I showed her how pretty they were.

But she still wanst convinced.

I really wanted to try my hand at it and figured we were going to throw a shower.

So..... I am getting ready for a Bridal Shower.

If she likes what Ive done then I will be a few steps ahead.

I first started with the coffee filters we had on hand. They are a 1-4 cup size.

Yesterday my daughter and I were out running errands and I picked up 8-12 cup size.

I will link to the tutorial in case anyone wants to try it out.

All you need is coffee filters, scissors, and watercolors.

See, my knitting needles came in handy for something other than knitting,

you could use a skewer.

On The tutorial I saw the author used pliers.

I cut the filter in a spiral and started wrapping them starting with the tiny part of the spiral for the middle all the way around.

You end up with this circle at the end and apply hot glue here at the end .

see you put the dab of hot glue here.

I end up with this- Im not gluing just yet.

Add color next to end up with this.......

To apply the color:

I went though my beginner watercolors and put some in a little pan I dont use.

A styro egg carton would work too.

I found if I dipped the flower in my water

squeezed out the excess Water.

Then apply one color on one end

another color on the other end.

The water would wick the colors toward the middle.

Some flowers I also used my paintbrush to put some yellow

or if I wanted it to be like a rose pink,or red in the middle wad of paper.

Then I took the paintbrush to apply the paint to the edges of the petals.

My son (future groom) stopped by and I showed them to him.

He thought they were real.

(I hadnt tried the blue and purple yet-

only doing that to add to things if she does decide peacock colors)

I will mention this was only a few hours of work.

I do them assembly line fashion.

Cut them out all at once

then roll them up,

then sit down to apply color. (IMO the best part!)

Of course I will need to add stems with floral wire and tape.

If you want to see a few more tutorials:

take a peek at this or this or this

This is whats in my studio this week.

If youd like to see more creative hearts

go take a peek at Studio RJU.

I remain,

Under His wings,

Anna

New glasses!

Lil G enjoying big sister and Clemantine.

If you looked at lil G you might not be able to tell that she has new glasses.

(the frames were warrantied- so same/new frame and new lenses)

But, it took hard effort on our optometrists part to get to this place.

They called us Thursday to let us know her glasses were ready.

I am so so happy with them.

They put the extra thin lenses in them so she looks so different!

It will make things more tolerable until we can figure out what we are doing with contacts.

I am so glad I met up with the photographer in December,

I really love seeing her whole face without the glasses.

She does have bifocals now

we spent a little time with some books I brought to the office.

I picked out a few that we dont read often so that we could ask her questions

the tech could watch her to see if the line on the bifocals was in the right place.

The Tech was incredible and really made the adoptive mamma feel good.

She couldnt believe the progress weve made-

Lil G was signing up a storm and cooperated when she felt like it! ha ha!

She kept watching Lil G then looking at me for an interpretation.

Awesome feeling!!!

We made a purchase the first last week and I have to tell you,

If you have a little one that loves music and Sesame Street we

got the DVD called "Singing with the stars" with Elmo.( I will say we only pd $7 at T*rget)

She enjoyed it so much I went back and bought "Music Magic" with Elmo too.

The Music Magic one has been on our DVR for several months- its one of her favorite episodes.

They took Abbys flying fairy school and a few other blips they do out- happily.

(Ive mentioned before that she does.not.like flying fairy school. If Im not paying attention she will bring me the remote to fast forward through it!"Here Mom, you need this."LOVE IT!)

Weve both got the cold/virus going through the house and community.

So having a few new DVDs really were a God-send.

Its been fun to have something else playing instead of signing time.

Today we were up and out the door early,

Lil G had an ENT appt.

We thought she was going to have ear wax removed.

Papa camer for moral(muscle) supprt.

Thankfully our Drs trick using Hydrogen peroxide worked.

(DO NOT put peroxide in your childs ear if they have Tubes- "It will be QUITE uncomfortable and she will let you know." said the Dr. She has a tube in the left ear so I was diligent every night to repeat Right is right. Left is wrong.)

ANyhoo, using the peroxide- a syringe with 1cc at a time, let it sit in there and bubble or whatever. Drain and repeat a few times. We did this each night before bed for a week or lil more.

If your little one has tiny ear canals like ours you might want to ask your Dr about this trick.

It saved us from a possibly painful procedure today.

She DID however,

climb up into the Drs arms and hug and love him up.

He laughed and snuggled....

my heart even smiles to remember

"I love you Lil G" coming from his mouth.

I told him, "Looks like youve been graced today."

Yarn along

Oh I am so excited to be able to join in on Yarn Along with Ginny again this week.

I started my stained glass shawl a little over a week ago

with some beautiful yarn I bought at the Pensacola Art Festival in the Fall.

I am knitting with a strand of some black shiny filament I purchased

for my mother of the bride shrug I knit for "D" a year ago.

I didnt want glitter but a little sparkle.

On the shawl I am knitting,

I knit the stockinette triangle

then added the filament when I started the lacework.

I am modifying this pattern because I dislike triangle shawls.

I feel like they are an arrow pointing to... well.....

you get the picture.

I may also change the lace to make the stained glass windows larger.

This is the row to decide if I am going to stick with the pattern..... or not.

I am knitting this shawl for myself -

it has been a great comfort

the yarn is so perfect

the wood and fiber working together in harmony

Im also working on reading three books at once!

Two I am reading through as books to review

and the third is from our "Health and Wellness" class at church.

One review book is "What a son needs from his Dad" by Michael O'Donnell Phd

Two ended up being by the same author Steve Arterburn:

"Loose it for life" and " The exceptional life"

I mentioned in a post the other day that I think God has a sense of humor

maybe he thought I really needed to learn a few things-

enough to read it twice.

I sure hope to get the review books read,

and reviewed soon.

This is the third week Ive missed my Tuesday morning Bible study.

I am hoping that next week will look different.

For those of you reading along today.

Wanting to see/hear what Lil G has been up to.

Shes been a hoot!

She is signing and putting 3-4 words together,

Using her voice a lot. I never thought the day would arrive

when I would have to tell her to not talk while she is eating.

She is developing her own sense of style.

Here we are getting ready to go eat at one of our favorite restaurants

"The oval office"

She is like a princess there,

the owners and waitresses dote on her-

we are thankful she allows us to tag along

these photos crack me up

she LOVES scarves.

I think this morning she figured if one was good-

several was even better.

(especially while still wearing pajamas!)

Today we are going to get her new glasses.

I will admit Im pretty nervous about it.

Its been a challenge. I just want my daughter to be able to see.

I want her to be able to experience life to the fullest.

This time we are trying bifocals.

She has not been seeing a pediatric opthamologist-

instead we have her seeing our optometrist.

She is willing to try helping Lil G.

We spent two days in their office,

Nervous to go pick the glasses up-

yet I know that we wont know if it will work

unless we try

and keep trying.

I dont know what this means for the future-

Will she be able to wear contacts?

I keep knowing that God loves her more than I do

he took care of her and provided for her when I wasnt able to.........

He has a plan for her future.

Under His wings,

Anna

Onions

Grief and pain,

like layers of an onion.

He lets us heal as we are ready,

little bits at a time,

stripping off the layers

tears coursing down the cheeks.

A dear friend shared this analogy during our long waiting,

the dark waiting time, of our adoption.

Last week our adoption agency Director posted

she was not accepting paperwork

for new adoptions in Ecuador due to the lengthy process.

The red tape.

I started to type out a glossed over f8book response, and literally.

Could. not.breathe.

The circumstances

and emotion surrounding our airport ordeal

washing over me

then those first few weeks......

then months.......

like it was happening

again.

(Add to it the fact that we had gotten the note the day before from the IRS that we were being audited.)

Then God.

I AM.

Remembering-

I am changed.

(That was the plan.)

Even tho I sat at home "feeling it all."

I have learned

there has been a transformation.....

this time my response to the panic and overwhelming grief is different.

I put little one down for a nap,

laid my bible in my lap to read,

pulled out my latest knitting project,

the praise music drawing out what was true,

hot tea soothing.

(and my friend called, I pray she could tell that even though I was rocked by emotion, it wasnt getting to me. I CAN do this! Only through Gods grace and mercy.)

This is not what it would have looked like "Before".

Some people think Religion, faith, belief- means you are weak.

Oh, I have seen the opposite in my life.

It has changed me.

If it wasnt for the new way of loving,

I wouldnt have chosen this hard-made-full-of-grace-walk.

Really. Who goes out of their way to choose this.

It would have just been hard.

Remember the verse I mentioned yesterday.

This verse shared at our "health and Wellness " meeting,

and seeing it again today. (with the beautiful verses surrounding it!)

Matthew 5:3-8

The Message (MSG)

³"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

⁴"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

⁵"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.

⁶"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.

⁷"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.

⁸"You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

Whats in an Oak tree?

I had given it much thought,

It doesnt seem like it on the outside looking in.

But trust me.

I wanted the word to be spectacular!

One year it was trust. (we may need to revisit that word again.)

Last year it was grace.

I kept coming back to grace.

can you hve the same word two years in a row?

It seemed like cheating.

But what if.....

what if it took you six months

or more

to really get to the heart of the issue?

Doesnt such a profound word get more than six months?

A year?

A lifetime.

I think thats it.

Ive said it before.... a lifetime of grace.

Anna defined is grace.

I signed up for a group at our church.

"Health and Wellness"

It was so hard getting there.

I ended up being late even!

(wishing i hadnt gone)

yet grace....

We are using a great book as the basis of our study/ gathering time.

"Loose it for Life" By Stephen Arterburn.

It just so happens the book I am reading/reviewing is also by him."The exceptional life". I suppose God really has something he wants me to learn.

And learn it well.

Ya think?!

Headed home from the first class I heard my favorite song.

"Beautiful things" by Gungor

God and I, we had a heart to heart.

He wins.

That night I started reading the book

There is a whole part of the first chapter in the book about grace.....

I needed to read it.

Last night reading this verse;

God sent me to announce the year of His grace- (italics mine)

a celebration of His destruction of our enemies-

and to comfort all who mourn.

To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion,

give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes,

Messages of joy instead of news of doom,

a praising heart instead of a languid spirit.

Rename them "Oaks of Righteousness"

planted by God to display His glory.

-Isiah 61:2-3

Lil G and I are number three and four out of five to get this cold/virus.

Off to rest.

Got Mansfield park ready to watch with a cup of tea.

Maybe tomorrow I will download some photos off the camera so I can share with yall.

I remain,

Under His wings,

Anna

Joy!!!

Today I am sharing about another adoption.

I will start off by sharing with you that I dont know this family personally,

BUT they are friends of my photographer... you know the one I posted about a few weeks ago

that took those great pics of our adopted little Angel.

RK shared with me about the family's raffle/ Fundraiser and I promised I would share with you

Does a vacation in Orlando sound good????

My bloggy friends,

I know that we are being pulled in so many different directions financially,

So Consider this with prayer,

and if its not possible for you,

maybe you might be able to say no to dinner out this weekend?

Or a cuppa coffee at *bucks?

......and just leave a little donation in their chip in?

I can tell you that little bits do add up.

God can and will move mountains for the orphan,

to see them in a family-

Ive seen it with my own two eyes!

Under His wings,

Anna

FYI- Were being audited

Yeah, so Ive been trying to play with little one and focus on my family and real life,

let the blogging take a little bit of a back seat.PLUS Helping my sons fiance plan their wedding.( I love planning events and decorating!) Pinterest has made things easier than planning my daughters wedding several years ago was. But it still takes time.

Husband brought in the mail and the easy peasy process we had with our taxes and the Adoption tax credit, check in the mail..... (when it took other families months and months of anguish)

Yeah.

Weve been audited.

I kept impeccable records.

But still, it causes my stomach to churn.

I have everything in a manilla envelope,

and a Spreadsheet I did on Word.

It should be all good.

Its all grace.......

"things" that make me smile

Im mkaing a list of happy thoughts,

a list of graces in my life

"things" that make me smile.

Its quite random and will probably change

as I go through phases.......

If you were to ask me today,

this would be the list,

Things that make me smile

• my "Message" translation of the Bible. My dear friend......
• Burts Bees lip balm. (I prefer the kind without mint, just a yummy honey smell and soft lips)
• my Yellow box shoes, comfy and shows off my handknit socks.( Insert HUGE smile here)
• Mrs Meyers dishsoap in " Orange clove" scent. Who knew handwashing dishes could be fun?
• my knitpicks knitting needles
• Dr Pepper- regular (I havent and wont try the new version since "its for men" they lost a possible customer with that slogan.)
• Signing time videos- they have given lil G a "voice".
• Swiss miss Indulgent collection - Dark chocolate sensation Hot Chocolate ( I know its calories in a beverage. BUT it cures my chocolate need for only 150 calories and warms me through and through.) My other go-to warm rink is chai tea. If you havent tried it, do it. You just might like it.
• my prayer ring. A recent gift, reminding me that God knows.

I want to ask you one thing,

I know we are so busy,

but wont you take the time,

read this last link and-

take the joy dare for 2012?

I read the book, "One thousand gifts" last year. After suffering from Fibromyalgia, Chronic fatigue syndrome, or Post Lyme disease....whatever label youd like to give this" chronic not feeling well" that Ive been dealing with for so many years. (And the Eeyore syndrome. wink.)

This book has really helped me.

The days seem fuller when looked at through a different lens,

a new perspective.

I hope you enjoyed my little list......

Off to make a cuppa hot chocolate and knit on my shawl.......

Under His wings,

Anna

A photo shoot

One of the things we were able to do in December was meet up with our favorite photographer. She took some incredible pics of G last Fall and is on our list to photograph our sons wedding. She sent me a note on FB and asked if we wanted to meet up with her at the park. HECK. Yeah! She didnt have to ask twice. The only problem is that I now have to choose which photos to have printed. I have it narrowed down to 55. Yeah. I am so serious. Here are a few of my favorites.

Friday- Sneak Peek

"Instead of seeking control, we can recognize God's handiwork in every moment, at each stage of life, whether it's painful or pleasurable, easy or difficult, frustrating or satisfying. Though we can't view the entire picture yet, we can rest in the assurance that the Lord faithfully loves us and is tenderly working for our good even in the tiniest of details. The sovereign Painter is creating a priceless masterpiece. We can trust Him to complete his object perfectly."

My oldest daughter being an elf on Christmas Eve !

Creating cookies together..... YUM!

everyone needs a break to watch the

Nutcracker music box play.

I made a few simple wreaths.

knit some gifts.....

both my yellow no purl monkey socks are in the mail headed to Germany.

Made watercolor messes.

Got a year old project done and hung at my sons apartment.

Decorating the tree counted as art right?!

Christmas Eve service........

Our church had a "family service" this year-

As the pastor read the Christmas Nativity story.....

The children were to dress up as their favorite characters.

There were Josephs, Marys, angels, a star, shepherds, sheep......

I shed tears...... The adorable Joseph up front in the wheelchair,

the children that were so kind during VBS...... remembering us.

my little angel......

I spent a whole afternoon creating wings.

(my thumb has just healed from the hot glue burns and wire cuts)

(I wish Id remembered to have her take her glasses off for a photo or two- cant wait till this afternoons optical appt and ordering her new contacts! say a little prayer for todays appt. Hoping the prescription is wrong and the reason she keeps digging her thumb in her eye, she didnt do it when wearing the contacts with the old prescription in them)

Son was able to play the Christmas Holiday.

see the glitter........

Sisters

sorry this one is blurry........ she saw the camera.( frown.)

We traveled to N Ga to spend time with family,

Fried two turkeys - one for Christmas and the other for New Years.

Made HUGE messes..... But we had fun and enjoyed being together.

Join me with the other ladies to see whats going on in their studio-

Linking up with Studio RJU.

Under His wings,

Anna