Spinach

This is what happens when mommy and daddy are gone

and Big sister tries to feed a 6 year old spinach.

( Sorry for the quality. My son took them)

Hope you enjoy!

I know I got a laugh.

Lent- Saturday

If the sight of blue skies fills you with joy,

if a blade of grass springing up in the fields

has power to move you,

If the simple things have a message you understand,

rejoice, for your soul is alive.

~Elanora Duse

Sneak peek Friday

pages torn out of N's old Literature Home school book-

he might've enjoyed this part! I used my laptop as a light box to trace the letters

onto the pages. I used this pin as a starting point.

I wanted them bigger than the sellers 3" x 4"

I am thinking about painting clothespins

and pinning the pages onto twine Ive pinned in bright fushia,

or plain twine.

Not sure. Our bride is a glamour girl.

There is another bride in our church that I have offered my creations to.

I just might whip up her and her grooms names too.

Next is another coffee filter project Ive pinned.

I first diluted the color we need. Laid them out to dry.

(worst part of the project)

I put them in piles of six. The pin suggested finding the center

to punch a small hole, place a staple on either side.

The crumpled pom pom to the left is what I was making.

I will string those on fishing line or twine and string across the

room with my huge tissue paper and coffee filter pom poms

in the center.

I hope our bride is happy.

Lent

(lil G waiting for brother to get out of bathroom)

(Creation waking from its winter sleep)

(tulip tree)

(camelias - almost spent)
(a carpet of color)

(plum tree in bloom)

Ash Wednesday and a birthday!

This year Ash Wednesday, the day that Lent begins is on the 22nd of Feb.

This is also My youngest sons birthday.

He turned 18 years old today.

Talk about feeling old!

These are two of my favorites from 2010 and 2011

(Lil Wally in 2002)

For the next 40 days I will be keeping Lent.

I have only started learning about these customs of our faith

the past few years.

I am fascinated.

A few interesting tidbits:

• The flood lasted 40 days and nights
• Moses Was transformed 40 days on Mount Sinai
• the spies were transformed by 40 days in the Promised land
• David was transformed by Goliaths 40 day challenge
• Elijah was transformed when God gave him 40 days of strength from 1 meal.
• Ninevahs people were transformed when God gave them 40 days to change
• Jesus was empowered by 40 days in the wilderness
• the disciples were transformed by 40 days with Jesus after his resurrection.

I will continue to limit my time blogging/reading blogs and on pinterest.

I thought it would be fun to just post a picture and its description in only a few words for the next 40 days.

(I got this list from "The purpose driven life" by Rick Warren.)

Under His wings,

Anna

Valentines Day and loving.....

I have something to share

with a blog, another post.

and a link,

and another link.

We celebrate love, and loving this month,

and I want to celebrate the love in Adoption....

Bloggers talking about PAD- Post Adoption Depression.

If you are getting ready to adopt

have adopted

know someone......

please share this post

Because I have linked 6 blogs

sharing what I am getting ready to say

all with different words.

But its all the same.

Mamas willing to talk openly about their experiences.

Its hard to admit, "I know that that feels like."

Its hard to say,

" I love this child, but not like I loved my Bio children."

( how I felt in the beginning)

I felt like there was something wrong with me

because I wanted to feel it,

I couldnt share-

process the reality

much less find words

spoken out loud.

the unknown........

you really are happy,

you really do love this child.

But its not what you thought it would feel like

the sleep deprivation

the culture shock

and the fear of what tomorrow

or next week,

or next year

might look like.

The fear just has a way of robbing you of the joy.

"Hey, you WANTED this, you wanted this child."

"Weve listened to you talk about this for years.

I dont want to hear your reality."

these comments, never spoken, rang in my ears.

Deep inside the mama wondered,

if this child will ever say,"I love you."

But willingly goes to a random stranger at an airport,

or the grocery store

and holds arms wide

to be picked up.

And you just want to stay home

because its easier.

And this child trusts you,

but you arent sure if you trust yourself.

Who is this child?

I am supposed to be her mama?

What is her favorite color?

What is she feeling?

What is she thinking

when all thats before you is a child rocking to her own rhythms,

and grinding her teeth.

And you try whispering Spanish sweet nothings into little ears

and it sounds so foriegn in your own

this is not what," I love you." sounds like.

You start learning a new love language

a new way of loving

(pressing I love yous into each others heart)

Then prayer.....

and time

(This is feb 2010)

God,

grace,

and more time.....

I can breathe better now

now that its all in the past

Its easier on this side,

I now KNOW

she will learn

she is smart

she will tell me she loves me

unprompted.

She will shower me with kisses.

We will learn together.

We will start talking in that new language

and she will learn I dont like mornings so much,

I will learn

Her favorite color is purple.

She loves rainbows,

and butterflies,

and routine.

We will laugh together

and cry together.

And share desserts

and colds.....

And it will look and feel very very good.

You dont have to do it on your own

Even if you are afraid

Trust yourself.

Ask for help.

Keep sharing about hard places

telling our stories

Because if there is more than one

we each can find comfort knowing

we arent alone.

Under His wings,

Anna

Pinterest and whats in my studio sneak peek

Ive been feeling so LAME in the art department.

But I have been creating.

Ive set aside coffee filters for now

to pick up the tissue paper

This is the tutorial

Simple, flower pom poms.

I havent fluffed them up yet

because I dont have a place to store them

But I can tell that I will be awfully happy

once they are opened and hanging together.

Look at this post

I am so glad that I took the pinterest challenge.

Under His wings,

Anna

Valentines day at our house

Doncha just love when

What feels like failure......

can be redeemed?

(take for instance Christmas cookie dough- that didnt get baked)

Turned into sweet Valentine love.......

Sometimes life does get a bit messy......

Valentines day was beautiful.

Lil G had a Dr appt.

it went well,

possibly a sprain?

No orthotics or ankle braces like she wore in Ecuador.

Just keep up the dance classes-

We can handle that!!

(lil G and big brother)

We enjoyed spreading the love

in a sweet way this year.

Under His wings,

Anna

Paper Roses part 2

The second project I have been working on has taken TOO long.

Well, its not my projects fault

Its well, um

Hard being mom

and Mrs Crafty

at the same time......

Remember the coffee filter roses.(from my last link up)

Well here they are

plus a LOT more.....

Add a $5 wreath form that is 14inches

You end up with this......

See the light pink ones- four more to be painted!

( Tutorial by Jones and company- Autumn wreath_)

I know you can still see some foam,

If you look really hard.

But I missed linking up last week.....

And I just had to share.

Get some encouragement

after a week and a half of life,

and painting coffee filter flowers

and hot glue......

Come on,

I know you love it......

(I know I do!!!!)

linking up here.

Wont you please be my Valentine???

Last week husband brought in the mail

there was actually something addressed to lil G.

I opened it, thinking it was junk

not even reading the return address.

So I ended up opening lil Gs

FIRST VALENTINE!

(Here is her reply)

You can read more about it here

(Wyatt asking G when they will see each other again)

We were blessed to be able to go out to dinner a few weeks ago

with a fellow Blogger and her family.

Papa Peep has been working in our neck of the woods

and oldest brother is in school locally-

while Mama and the 2 younger boys are getting the house ready

and completing the school year,

To MOVE to our area!

We had a great evening together at one of our favorite restaurants

and cant wait to do it again.

I guess Wyatt enjoyed lil Gs company

because he thought of her

when sending out valentines.

the two of them staring across the fountain at one another.......

(a little ring around the rosy with Forrest)

It would be a HUGE understatement

to say that I am looking forward to having them in our community.

Penny is so outgoing-

I struggle with that.

Our Down Syndrome Community has struggled

in the past few years

I was so looking forward to being "part of the club"

when we returned home from Ecuador.

Maybe between the two of us we can encourage the others to set aside

just one or two days a month

to connect.

Community is important.

Hope you have a blessed day!

I remain,

Under His wings

PS. Those of you on FB.

Thank you for your encouraging words.

For those of you not... Yesterday was a Dr day. Lil G went to bed Tuesday after dance class complaining with her right foot. She woke up yesterday complaining. "Ouch ouch ouch." If you know Lil G you will know She.does.not.complain. It had me pretty concerned to see her hobbling around saying "Ouch ouch ouch" with every single step. I talked to the nurse and they could see her at 1:40. I went out to the car and brought in the stroller to get her from place to place. (no re injuring mamas back!) After the Drs office we went to get Xrays from the hips down. Xrays came back fine so we are now being scheduled for an emergency Pediatric Orthopedic. I had previously shared my concerns about her poor feet, when watching her walk those ankles are so so pronated and no arches to speak of.(she had some sort of orthotics in Ecuador but they were outgrown) Looks like trouble to me. I have kept her in Stride rite shoes and I was hoping maybe dance could strengthen her ankles. I will be glad to move forward in this area.