11 Years and Counting...

Today, Dan and I are celebrating our 11th anniversary. It is kind of hard to fathom the years that have gone by and the children that we've been blessed with.

I find myself full of joy and love this day. I think of the man I married and am overwhelmed by the goodness of God for giving me such a man! I think of my children...those I've already gotten to know and the one I am still waiting to meet and again thank God for giving us so many wonderful blessings to fill our home with joy and laughter. He surely has been good to us.

I am looking forward to the years to come, to see what it is the Lord has planned for us. We have had ups and downs and joys and sorrows(thankfully few of these) and through it all we've stayed close and our marriage has not faltered. The Lord has strengthened us through all and today I look at a man whom I still love and love more than I did the day I married him:-)

Unlike last year, we will be staying at home tonight, just enjoying some time together and a movie. We will be watching a movie called Bella that was recommended by a friend and savoring some yummy, raspberry creme brulee...yum! I love simple dates and plans and this will be a perfect way to celebrate our anniversary!

May you all have a wonderful weekend!
Blessings,
Sommer

Just a Quick Hello!

Today is a bustly sort of day. I've been finding bursts of energy the last couple of days to shuffle, toss and reorganize my children's room in preparation for a new bunk bed and new occupant in our little apartment. I do believe the prayers of my friends and family have helped me get some motivation..thank you dears:-)

The room is slowly coming together, little by little, with bits of junk being found and tossed...lost items being gotten rid of after brief thoughts of "oh, so that is where you went!", realizing that we just can't keep it all and a sigh of relief from mama as the room has less.

Today, we go get the bunk bed from some dears that are giving it to us free of charge. What a blessing:-) My honey will pick it up and hopefully we will be able to put it up today or tomorrow. So right now I am taking a break and then I will continue to organize and revamp the room so we will have space for said bunk. The girls are very excited!

Once this room is in order, there are other less pressing spots to get to and sewing that really must get done if I want some mama-made items for my wee girlie.

Well, I must rush...do have a lovely day! And thank you all again for your sweet thoughts and prayers:-)

Blessings,
Sommer

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

I arise to-day
Through the strength of Christ's birth with His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the Judgment of Doom.

...

I arise to-day
Through God's strength to pilot me:
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptations of vices,
From every one who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in a multitude.

...

Christ to shield me to-day
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every one who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

**These are portions from Deer's Cry, by St. Patrick. The whole of the hymn is lovely, but these portions especially speak to me today!

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you all!!

A Sweet Knit Bonnet

I should be sewing dresses, I should be reorganizing rooms and checking off the must-haves for my sweet girlie...instead I keep knitting:-) I can't seem to help myself.

Knitting is something you can do whether you are watching a movie, talking to your hubby or just needing to sit back and rest your feet and back. The sewing machine..well, it needs to be dragged out, set up and isn't necessarily quiet. So knitting it has been!

This last month I've been working on the bonnet in the above picture. Again, this is another project that I knit up amazingly quick...for me:-) For the longest time I've looked for lovely knit bonnets(since I don't crochet) and they always have been hard to find. It is easy to find beanie caps and berets and such or to find patterns for crocheted bonnets...but where were all the knit ones?!

Well, I found one in a lovely little book called Easy Baby Knits by Claire Montgomerie. The pattern ended up being relatively simple, although my inexperience certainly gave me a run for my money!

I used the pattern called, simply, Baby Bonnet. It is a plain bonnet, but pretty. The trim around the face and ties is supposed to be in seed stitch...but...I messed it up and it came out in a 1x1 rib...go figure! Still looks nice, just not as pretty as seed stitch. Somehow(after casting on an obscene number of stitches...225)I lost some stitches in the ties. I have no idea how I did it :-D So the ties are not equal...but who cares? Not the baby:-) After all that and being tempted to give up, I got to work on the body and decreases and that ran quite smoothly and really turned out lovely. The neck band in the back was another new thing for me..I've never "picked up and knit" stitches before, so it is not as neat as I'd like, but again...who is gonna care? Not the baby:-)

I really am pretty happy with it and I will gladly make another. Hopefully, it will turn out much better the next time!

One thing that I'd read some people complained about with this particular pattern was how pointy it came out in back. Mine didn't end up too pointy, but it does have a darling pixie peak in back that I just LOVE! You can kind of see it in the picture below with Brenna modeling it for me. Yes, she is too big for it, but I had to have a model and Liam wasn't going for it;-)

I think Brenna looks cute and I think my sweet, new girlie will too:-)

Hopefully, the next crafty post I post will have sewing in it...but we shall see:-)

Blessings,
Sommer

Sunday Rest

"Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!"

~Psalm 95:6

" Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!"

~Psalm 96:9

As a mother I have found it difficult at times to concentrate properly on why we are at church or on what the words of the hymns are saying or even, what the pastor is preaching on that day! I suppose, I can say that I have the excuse of a toddler that we are trying to train up to sit with us during worship, but to be honest, even once I've perhaps gotten him settled in the pew or in the nursery(depending on the day) sometimes I find my mind wanders on to some stress or worry.

Yes, having small children in church can be a distraction for the young parents, but I believe that I should be making a much greater effort to listen, worship and soak up what God has for me this day and for my family. What example am I showing to my children if I too can not even remember the key points of the sermon?

As the two Psalms above remind us...the Lord is our Maker! We should worship, bow down and tremble before Him! We should not forget so easily His holiness!

This morning I hope to take these words into my heart and remember them as I worship my Maker! Wont you?


****

And just before I close this morning, I wanted to say thank you to all of you that left me comments on my last post. What wonderful friends I have here and such encouragement you all gave me. Thank you for reminding me what a gift I have growing inside of me and to slow down and to not fret so:-) Thank you for your love, friendship and prayers!

Blessings,
Sommer

Feeling Drained and Overwhelmed

As I draw nearer my date for delivering this sweet bundle that grows within me, I find myself feeling desperately unable to finish what is needed to make ready for her. I have sadly been delinquent in my household duties of declutter and organizing before being pregnant. And in the first few months I was feeling sick and now I am constantly feeling tired and too big to maneuver! I get winded just with a short burst of exertion. So I find the feeling of being overwhelmed, well, overwhelming!

I have about 6 weeks to go and I have been unable to get down to business in organizing/decluttering my kids' room so that we can put a bunk bed in(which we really must have for this to work!). There room is a mess and I am just not sure where to start.

And this last month or so has been full of doctor appointments for sick kiddos, pregnant mommas and many errands that just keep popping up. This week is no exception. So, I guess I'm having a pitty party :-p Sorry! I will now, restrain myself and try to focus on the good:-)

We have had much needed rain off and on for about 3 weeks now and the foothills look gorgeous! I've been seeing signs of Spring...cherry blossoms and other lovely flowers on trees. Also the daffodils are blooming. I just love daffodils! Such bright and simple flowers!

This month is my hubby's birthday(on St. Patrick's day at that!) and our anniversary will come the day after the "first day of Spring"! Perhaps if I remind myself of these beautiful and lovely blessings, I will be able to perk up and find some much needed energy:-)

I hope everyone is having a good start to their March!

Blessings,
Sommer