My Easter Flowers

Procrastinator that I am, I didn't finish my girls' Easter dresses until that morning. Well, it wasn't all me...a little boy was not cooperating over several nights, and my available sewing time disappeared.

So, I brought my sewing on our brief little getaway and worked on Brenna's dress hem while enjoying uninterrupted time alone(while hubby went on a walk). However, Fiona's had to wait until Saturday night while Liam slept and then an hour before church...eeek! But they are done, and I liked them quite well...so did the girls:-)


As I said in an earlier post, I used pre-smocked material. I liked it...easy to deal with. All I did was sew up the back seam and hem the bottom, then I used matching ribbon for the straps. The bodice is a touch long on Brenna, but that just means longer wear, right?

I didn't get any real Easter Lilies...but these are much lovelier Easter flowers, don't you think?!

Blessings,

Sommer

A Very Quick Get-Away

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone that sent their kind words to us for our anniversary:-) We had a lovely time. As a gift, my parents paid for a night away at a lovely Bed & Breakfast over on the coast and kept all three kids(don't think they'll be doing that again soon ;-p)...wow! My in-laws gave us a little spending money...awesome!

When we arrived, the owner showed us around and informed us that, because of a little mistake on his part, we had an upgrade! We got to have a fireplace..yippee!!!!




I LOVED our room! So nice...I enjoyed a pretty view from the window seat and the fire was a great treat. We enjoyed dinner at a little Japanese spot nearby and enjoyed the dessert and coffee provided at the B&B.

We checked out mid-morning and headed over to walk on the beach for a bit. I'm really more of a country/mountain girl...but, the ocean is still an awesome thing to behold!

Well, it was only one night with my love...but it was uninterrupted and very precious to me. We headed back to get the kids( an especially very sad Liam) and then home. Liam was happy to see me...he still nurses and has never been away overnight. I missed him too...but it was worth the brief separation.

I came home with a cold, but I will cherish this little time I had to spend with the love of my life. Perhaps it wont take as long to do this again...

Blessings,

Sommer

Sunday Rest~He Is Risen!

"And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

His countenance was like lightening, and his raiment white as snow:

And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus which was crucified.

He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you."

Matthew 28:2-7

10 Years of Blessings

Today, my husband and I are celebrating 10 years of marriage! It hardly seems possible that we've been married so long, that we have 3 children and we potentially have many more years to come and more children to bare.

I never thought that I would find such a man as Dan is. Surely my choices before me were limited at the time and perhaps I didn't really know what I wanted or really, what I needed. Praise God, He is sovereign! He knew my needs and the true desires of my heart! Today, I can look back and see God working in my life and guiding my path.

Here is a picture of Dan and I on our wedding day...the pictures are a little crooked, sorry:-)



We look so young. So happy. And we still are very happy:-) There have been a few bumps in our road, but they've all been softened by the love we have and even more so by the grace of God. I can't imagine spending these first 10 years with anyone else and I look forward to the next 10, 20, 30....



This was our beautiful wedding cake. It was yummy too:-) Dan's mom made this for us. Actually alot of the things we enjoyed on our wedding day were gifts or heirlooms from friends and family. My wedding dress was one my Grandma found(just had to be let out for my figure), my veil was hand made by my sister in law, the cake from my mother in law and the food was provided by an Aunt and Uncle. I wore a handkerchief that each bride in my Mom's family had wore(even my Grandma I think) on their wedding day. Very special.

Many memories..some are hazy, others will forever be in my heart!

Happy Anniversary Darling!

Sunday Rest

"And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake to Elijah."

1 Kings 17:16

There are times when I stress and worry about where our food will come from and if we will pay all our bills on time. But somehow, we always have "just" enough. The Lord provides just what we need, when we need it. The above verse made me think of this today. Although our barrel does waste out..the Lord provides in other ways. Sometimes my MIL sends us off with the leftovers or my hubby gets some extra hours.

Recently, my hubby has been given the opportunity to take on a new position that will pay more, we are getting a tax refund. The refund will take care of some bills that came up suddenly, as well as curriculum for our next school year. Thank you Lord for your always perfect and timely provision. May I always remember your constant provision and be content.

Have a wonderful Lord's Day and make sure to count your blessings...they are no doubt more than we may think:-)

Blessings,

Sommer

An Amazing Team

I love all of God's creation. But my favorite of all His creation is the beautiful and majestic horse. I love to see them serene and still. I love to see them in action. This particular video wowed me...take a look!

The connection between Stacy Westfall and her horse must be amazingly close for them to perform like this. The horse is an amazing animal...there are few other animals that have the ability(and especially the willingness)to work and play with humans as they do.

I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did! Now you know a little more about me:-)

Blessings,

Sommer

*The picture above is courtesy of Pony Magazine.

Homeschoolers Coming Together

Last week I posted about the current legal situation in California that could very well make homeschooling illegal here. If you missed that post, I encourage you to read it and if you feel led and haven't done so yet, please sign the petition.

So, far the situation is still up in the air and we await the results of several legal avenues being taken to keep homeschooling legal here. Please keep praying and consider some options for making known how you stand, listed here.

Crystal and her husband Jesse have taken up the banner in encouraging homeschoolers all across our country to stand for parent's rights and what they believe is their right and duty as Christians. Please join in doing what you can. I believe prayer is the strongest weapon we have...what can man do? May God work in this situation and cause the foolishness of the judges to be seen and cause the men and women working to keep our freedoms to have wisdom and right words! If you can do more and are willing, please do! Thank you to all those joining in this fight.

Blessings,
Sommer

A Bit Of Sunshine...

There are some days where you just wake up needing a little something. Some days just begin blue. So, when I was checking email, it was a lovely ray of sunshine that perked me up:-) Megan at My Life...As It Happens, blessed me most unexpectedly with The Excellent Award! I feel so very appreciative of this and don't know that I really deserve it. Thank you ever so much Megan for making my day a bright one.

So, from what I gather I can award 10 blogs with this. However, I will not probably do the limit...not because there aren't 10 out there..just some I would pick have already been picked.

Below you will find a few blogs that I enjoy. The ladies are of excellent quality and very much encourage or inspire me. And the Award goes to:

Tilly

Pat

Shannon

Lauren Christine(I know...someone awarded you already..but I like you so!)

Thank you again Megan!

Blessings,

Sommer

A Favorite Poet and Author

To Any Reader

As from the house your mother sees

You playing round the garden trees,

So you may see, if you will look

Through the windows of this book,

Another child, far, far away,

And in another garden, play.

But do not think you can at all,

By knocking on the window, call

That child to hear you. He intent

Is all on his play-business bent.

He does not hear; he will not look,

Nor yet be lured out of this book.

For, long ago, the truth to say,

He has grown up and gone away,

And it is but a child of air

That lingers in the garden there.

Robert Louis Stevenson

I just love his work! Robert Louis Stevenson(IMO), is a master of the imagination. I was introduced to his writing when I was in middle school. It was The Black Arrow and it was a lovely read:-) I suppose it wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea...but I did enjoy it so.

Now, I have had the pleasure of reading his poems from A Child's Garden of Verses, it is such a lovely experience. He had such an ability to bring you into the poem, into the picture he was drawing with his words.

When I read the above poem, I could just see him as a boy, long ago....so sweet that he wanted to share his childhood and dreams with future generations.

If you don't already have this book, I highly recommend it. It is worth reading for yourself as well as your children:-) I have another poem of his on my side bar at the "Poetry Corner".

Enjoy,

Sommer

Homeschooling in California in Danger!

California has been known as one of the easiest states to homeschool in. But it is a tension filled freedom. And now we find ourselves very much on the verge of having that freedom taken away!

My husband, Dan, wrote a brief post regarding a recent ruling in a court case that has virtually made homeschooling illegal here in California. If you have time, you may want to take a look at this post and the link included in it, if you haven't already read about this.

So, now I am appealing to all of you my dear friends, if you feel led to do so, please sign the petition that HSLDA is sending around. If they are successful, they can get this ruling depublished and make it so that we can homeschool here in freedom. If nothing else, and this should be happening first off, please pray.

You can help stop this threat to homeschooling by signing an online petition to depublish the Court of Appeal opinion at http://hslda. org/elink. asp?ID=4831

Thank you to anyone that feels led to sign and pray!

Blessings,
Sommer

Sewing for Easter

Easter fast approaches, and I am just now beginning my sewing for it. I know, I know...I'm really getting a late start considering I have just over two weeks to get it done. But that seems to be how I do things...start late and just squeak under the finish line:-p

Actually, I had not planned on making dresses for my daughters. I usually just buy a new one for them, but this year I realised we just couldn't afford it. So I was thinking of which dresses in their closet would best work for Easter. Then it hit me! I had bought some pre-smocked fabric from JoAnn's last summer, planning on making the girls dresses then. Well, I never did get to it(what with baby and all) and so the fabric was put aside in my ever growing stash. (Girls, you all know about the stash, right?!) So, I thought...I could make them little sundresses!



Isn't that fun fabric?! The girls actually picked it out last summer. Brenna chose the lovely Black-Eyed Susans on black and Fiona picked the pastel tropics fabric. Really, I think they suit each of them just perfectly! I'll be using a free pattern that they provide at JoAnn's(I picked it up the other day)...using this particular one:



I will use ribbon for the straps instead of the fabric. I think it will give it a "me" touch:-) Fiona and Brenna are both very excited to be getting new Easter dresses and I am excited to be doing it. I cut the fabric to size tonight and pinned the back seam. I will hopefully sew it up tomorrow and work on the hem over the next couple of days.

I'll post pictures when the dresses are done.

So, are any of you making(or have you made)Easter dresses for you or your children? Please do leave me a comment...I'd love to come by and see what everyone else is doing in their sewing room:-)

Blessings,
Sommer

An Exciting Find!

Most of you may not realise this about me, but I LOVE archaeology! And not only that, but I am especially fond of Egyptology. When I was young, I really wanted to become an egyptologist, but my desires changed as I got older and I gave up that plan. And gladly too:-)

But I am still very interested in archaeology and Egyptology. I love to keep informed and educated. My bookshelves attest to this(as will my family). I also keep my eyes on the news and when there are new finds I get very excited:-)

So today, as I was researching field trip info at a site for a local Egyptian museum, I saw a link to a new find! Apparently, in Egypt they have found an intact tomb...the first since King Tutankhamen's in 1922! This is very exciting to egyptologists, but also to me!:-)

For all you fans of Egypt and her treasures...Enjoy!

Our Saturday

Yesterday was a rather leisurely day. The night before we went with my parents to miniature golf and pizza. The day had been sunny and comfortable, but a couple of holes into our game it became quite chilly and windy. We finished up quickly and went inside for pizza. While we waited, Dan took the girls to play in the arcade and I chatted with my parents. That was a fun time...hope to do it again soon:-)

So, the next day we enjoyed a rather casual time at home. In the morning I did take the kids to run over to Target and we couldn't resist stopping in at Michael's too. I wanted to see what they had in the way of Easter baskets and such and now I have some good ideas. Brenna let me know that she was very interested in having a sewing basket...so her basket will be a combo Easter basket and sewing one..I think she will be quite pleased. I will enjoy making time to sew with the girls:-) I have alot of sewing I'd like to do and I want to encourage it in my girls.

Once home we had lunch and spent time with Daddy:-) He played chess with Brenna and the girls played Chinese Checkers together. It is always fun to see them play together and both had great attitudes. Here they are, enjoying the game:



After that Dan read a chapter of Farmer Boy to Fiona. She is really enjoying this series of books this time through. We've read them all before...but now she seems to really enjoy them. Dan also got some video of Liam trying to walk and playing piano. Liam isn't quite walking yet, but last Saturday he took some official steps! We wanted to get him on tape. The piano playing took a little more time to get on tape. Normally he is quite cooperative and will play with Dan...not today though:-) If you'd like to see his video debut you can go here and see him:-)

After story time and games, the girls decided to make a fort. I had to get a shot of this. Such creativity and it looked like alot of fun!

I love days like this...full of family fun and togetherness. I hope we have many more of these to look forward to.

Hope you have had a wonderful Lord's Day!

Blessings,

Sommer