spring pillows

hi you.
don't forget about my etsy shop discount this weekend!
use code PATTY20 for 20% off your order!
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it's been warm and sunny here and my winter couch pillows were feeling a bit stuffy.
i grabbed some light and airy cotton fabric and spent a little quality time with my sewing machine.

ahhhh, so much brighter and sunnier.
it really feels like spring now!

and i made more for the shop too.
we can be pillow twins!
:)

praying for you all to have a very blessed day today!
thanks so much for visiting.

st. patty's day discount!

don't ya just love st. patrick's day?
the corned beef and cabbage, green beer, four leaf clovers, irish accents?
we sure do.

so to celebrate, tricia and i are offering a 20% discount on your purchase from our etsy shop, coffee sisters, this weekend!
use the code PATTY20 to apply the discount!
happy shopping, you lucky leprechans!

wednesday.

on monday, john had surgery to remove his gall bladder.
he is tired, achy and sore.
but he's getting better.
he is moving around and eating again--both signs that he's on the mend.
thank goodness for a healthy husband!
i won't take that for granted.

*****

it's super hot here.
this afternoon i came home from work to a hot, stuffy house.
ugh.
so we turned on the air conditioning.
just to kill the humidity and chill the house.
we are comfortable again!
thank goodness for air conditioning!
i won't take that for granted either.

*****

i love this kitchen.
i have dreams about it.

ok, i lied.
i dream about this entire house.

*****

i lost five pounds.
it doesn't sound like much really.
but then i picture a five pound bag of sugar or even worse, five pounds of lunch meat, and then it seems like a BIG deal.
i am proud of myself.
i think i could lose five more in a heart beat, if i could just give up ice cream.

*****

i am inspired by this porch.
that chevron floor is killer.

*****

i'm listening to anna jean talk to her friend on the telephone.
seven year olds are so cute.
"why don't we talk to each other in funny voices? like this 'memememeep!'"
giggle
giggle
giggle
giggle
giggle...
it is driving josh crazy.
too funny.

thank you and a bird's nest craft.

i wanted to say thank you for all of your support and prayers concerning my last post.
i read each one with big drippy tears streaming down my face.
something so wonderful about knowing there are prayers being said on your behalf.
such a wonderful feeling!
thank you!

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about a jillion years ago, meg posted a craft for a robin's nest on her blog.
i rediscovered it again on friday and showed it to anna.

"do we have all the stuff to make it, mommy? i think so!"

she requires very little supervision from me.
painting, drawing, glueing.
she does it all without hesitation.
she is a girl on a mission (to create!).

when it was all done, we let it sit overnight to dry.
saturday morning, the robin's nest was ready to go.
she decided that it would be a perfect gift to nana.
and i'm happy to report that nana thought it was the perfect spring decoration for her home!

have fun crafting with your little ones!

prayers for our boys.

my mind is filled to the tippy top.
there is absolutely no more room in there.
i am anxious and scared, worried and lost.
but i have a big God.
He will not leave my side.
He has gone before me and tells me to trust in Him.
and i'm trying, begging, to keep my faith in Him.

things with the adoption are...hard.
i can't talk specifics, but there is a chance that davis may not be able to be our child.
just writing that sentence makes me want to throw up.
there's always a chance, with every adoption, but this chance seems more real than ever.
i need clarity.
i need focus.
i need to regain some of the strength that i had in the beginning of this process.
oh Father, please hear my prayer!

i have known all along that davis would be deemed unworthy.
but i never dared to dream he would be deemed worthLESS!
please, if you can, say a prayer for sweet davis, that he will be given a chance, that circumstances may change, that his heart is not closed off and detached forever, that his health is good, that God knows his deepest desires and they are to have a family.

there are several families in the same boat as me...
we are all being told that our children are "unadoptable."
not because they aren't able to be adopted but because they feel that they wouldn't add any value to a family.
"heavily medicated"
"severe issues"
"a huge risk"
these are the words being passed on to us, along with much urging to rethink our hearts.

"take the emotion out of the situation and think clearly."
umm...really?
when is that ever easy for a MOTHER?

please pray for these children.
please pray for these coordinators, for the agencies, for the caregivers, for the judge.
please pray that their hearts will break for our children as much and as deeply as it breaks ours.
three little mommas, all heartbroken and empty, shoulders back and chin up, moving forward only by the Strength of our Lord.
please pray for the children.

EVERY CHILD DESERVES THE LOVE OF A FAMILY.
EVERY CHILD.

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today's daily devotional from the book jesus calling:

WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT. As you take steps of faith, depending on Me, I will show you how much I can do for you. If you live your life too safely, you will never know the thrill of seeing Me work through you. When I gave you My Spirit, I empowered you to live beyond your natural ability and strength. That's why it is so wrong to measure your energy level against the challenges ahead of you. The issue is not your strength but Mine, which is limitless. By walking close to Me, you can accomplish My purposes in My strength.

imagine childhood.

have you visited this shop before?
imagine childhood is giving away a $100 gift certificate for one winner and a friend!
i had to tell you about it because seriously, who could resist sharing such cuteness??!?!

click HERE to enter!

good luck and have a great weekend!

the r word.

five years ago this month, i decided to take a pledge.
it was march 26th, and i had just met this awesome baby boy and my entire life changed.

the word retarded used to be one of my most used words.
i used it to describe everything...from the weather, to something silly that happened to me, to the way someone was behaving.
it didn't mean much to me.
i threw it around without ever giving it a second thought.

then i had a child that was born "retarded".
retarded by definition means slow to learn, delayed.
i read that word on the internet when i was researching what down syndrome was.

yes, it stung like hell.
reading that word next to the definition of down syndrome, a chromosomal disorder that is apparent in every single cell of my son's body, made my face flushed and angry, sad and upset.
my son is not retarded! i pleaded in my mind.
but he is.
in every sense of the true defintion he is.

the problem with the word retarded isn't its webster dictionary defintion.
the problem with the word retarded is what our slang language has defined it to mean.

stupid, dumb, worthless...
my child is not any of these things.
and when i hear someone use that word to describe things, most times they are not speaking about my child directly.
i get that.

but still, others do think that children with disabilites are retarded--and no, that doesn't mean slow or delayed--they mean stupid, dumb, worthless.
and in saying that, they imply that my child is too.

i even hear josh's friends, 10 year old boys, using that word!
and where are they learning that? from us!
i even hear 65 year olds using that word!
come one guys, we are so much better than that!

today i am renewing my pledge to NEVER use that word ever again.
ever.
it is GONE from my vocabulary.
and i sincerly hope that you banish it too.
there are lots of other words you can use in its place...like superstar!, awesome, smart, funny, sweet, energetic, spunky, adorable.
these are much better words to describe my ben boy.