Blogger Award!!!

My sweet sorority sister Adair gave me this blog award!! She has been a blogging buddy for a while now. I love keeping up with her online; we haven't seen each other IRL since I graduated! :( Thanks for my award Adair!!! MWAH!!!

Here are the rules:
1. When given the award, you list 7 things that you love.

2. Pass the award on to 7 bloggers that you love.Be sure to tag them and let them know they've won. (You can copy the picture of the award and paste it on your sideboard.)

7 Things I love:

1. My Lord and Savior
2. Matt, DH (darling husband), love of my life, sweet sweet man
3. My wonderful family - biological, adopted (if I've adopted you as my family - you're there whether you wanna be or not), and married-into
4. My collection of friends - I say collection because I have a few BFFs from childhood, a few - ok just 1 from HS, a few from college, and a few from Grad School, and a few from Chattanooga - it's like I just collect them as I go through life!! I love them ALL!!
5. FOOD - namely chocolate, sushi, avocados, artichokes, olives, pasta, Ben & Jerry's... NOT all together
6. Finding new practical ways to be green and enjoying God's beautiful creation
7. My SWEET BABIES (the four legged kind)

7 Bloggers I LOVE

1. Hilary - doing what she can to make this world a better place!!
2. Lamm - being a FABULOUS work-at-home mom and a creative GENIOUS!!!
3. Lauren over at thickneckARTS
4. Christie's crafty creations over at The Silly Monkey
5. Sarah over at Makers and Water
6. The Busbys living life with 2 amazing kids!!
7. The Bevins family (I stalk, I mean follow their sweet family's story)

SOOOOOOO TAG YOU'RE IT!

It's Not ME! Monday again!!

That's right, it's NOT ME!! Monday again!! I'm starting to get the hang of this :) If you want to read past entries of NOT ME!! Monday, just click the tag at the bottom of this post.

I did not spend last week at work totally distracted and missing my sweet Joshua and his wonderful mommy Molly. And I certainly wouldn't miss them terribly and be totally bummed that Molly didn't get that job she applied for in Chattanooga a year and a half ago, all the while dreaming what it would be like to have them here. Nope, not me!!!

I also would NEVER spend the entire week planning to take off half a day Friday to go and see my mother, but wait until Thursday to turn in a leave slip. Not me, that's inconsiderate ;)

I CERTAINLY DID NOT make the biggest scene and squeal like a FREAKIN' SCHOOL GIRL in the middle of the Cincinnati Airport when my friend Hilary told me that she had decided to apply for grad school at UTC and move to Chattanooga from Indianapolis!! You know, because it has NOT been nearly 15 FREAKIN' YEARS since we've lived in the same town!!!! That's right, Hilary and I have NOT been long distance friends for half my life, when we only lived in the same town 5 years. Nope, I would never act so childish at my mother's workplace around her co-workers/ friends.

Even though I was visiting my mom for a late Mother's Day celebration, I DID NOT let HER buy ME a pedicure, because I totally did not need one. I mean, my toenails have certainly been re-painted several times since EASTER!

I did NOT have a wonderful time visiting Mom, seeing Matt's family at the CF Walk and hiding the Tobette statue this weekend! I don't love the tradition that Mom has of everyone who comes to visit her hiding Tobette.


I did not wonder while I was visiting my mom if it would be the last time I would see my little brother Toby, the yorkie. It wasn't bitter sweet for me to love on him and cuddle him Saturday before I left. I did not feel blessed to be able to see him once more, but also know that I may not see him again. Toby is not just the sweetest yorkie on the planet, and I certainly DON'T refer to a dog as my "little brother", I mean that's ridiculous.


























I did not feel the least bit guilty about being away from home while my husband was really sick for the first time in over a year. Nope, not me!

I certainly did not wait until 1 week before Caleb's Christening date to MEASURE him for his outfit, you know, because I NEVER procrastinate!!

Caleb did not spend much of after church and lunch flirting with me. And it DIDN'T KILL ME to not hold him, just in case I was carrying whatever virus Matt has. Nope, never. I mean, why would I want to hold a baby anyway? Especially a cute one like Caleb.

I did not shamelessly photograph our two dogs FINALLY laying down on the same bed because I didn't think it was so sweet. And taking time for this picture certainly didn't contribute to my tardiness for Sunday School!


And this morning, I DID NOT stay in bed a little too long snuggling with my husband because he was finally feeling better. I have not been avoiding touching or snuggling him in fear of catching whatever brought down his immune system of steel. That extra snuggle time didn't make me 1/2 hour late to work today. NOPE NOT ME!!!!

Trip to Arkansas

So I promised to write more about our trip to Arkansas for Mother's Day. It was SO wonderful. I really miss Molly because she lives so far away, I don't see her much. She is one of my dearest friends from college and I just cherish spending time with her. She also gets along splendidly with Matt (basically she laughs at all of his jokes and means it!), which makes it that much more enjoyable to spend time with her. Pictorial evidence...

Yes they are playing with deer antlers at the Nature Center!!

I was so honored last year after Joshua was born when she asked me to be his godmother. I have a wonderful relationship with my own godmother, and I so look forward to the special relationship that Joshua and I will have. Matt asked if he is the godfather, since I am the godmother, and I informed him that he got the job by default! Until this weekend, he argued that he never signed on to it, so he can't be held responsible. He's not arguing anymore, Joshua and Matt are big buddies now... case in point.


























Molly cooked some WONDERFUL food for us (I learned how to make Chinese dumplings from scratch). We had fun really just hanging out. There were a couple of older ladies in the grocery store (Matt went on a run while we went out) that were fishing to see if Joshua had 2 mommies (I think it's my new glasses plus the short hair)!!! I'm always flattered to be mistaken for "family"!


We had a great time Saturday at the Crowley's Ridge Nature Center, especially since it was FREE!!! Molly put on a great puppet show for us about a squirrel named "NuttBag". As you can see, Matt enjoyed the show as much as Joshua if not more! But most of the time we chilled at home and just caught up on life and played with Joshua.

He's really not terrified of me, REALLY!

Sunday was Joshua's baby dedication at Molly's church. It was wonderful to see her stand in front of her congregation of peers and promise to raise Joshua in a Christian home. I hope as his godparents we will set a Christian example for him as well.


It was a fabulous weekend, and I was still beaming even yesterday. I am looking forward to a (tentative) visit from Molly and Joshua in August!!!

NOT ME Monday!!!

It's Not Me Monday again!!!

As a Christian, I have really been working to live what I believe. I am really trying to rid myself of my potty-mouth. I would never scream expletives at the top of my lungs while sewing my sweet godson's outfit he will wear as his mother dedicates him to the service of Christ. No, not me, that would be so un-Christian.

I would never gab to my friends at work about my husbands latest "OMG, did he really say that?" moment. And proceed to relentlessly make fun of him. NOT ME!!

I am such a health nut, you know, a dedicated pesco-vegetarian. I would never eat ice cream, frozen custard, and frozen yogurt 3 out of 4 days this weekend. Not Me!!!

I wouldn't purposefully spend a large chunk of the weekend talking about how much I LOVE Chattanooga in a shameless attempt to get Molly to move here. That doesn't sound like me AT ALL.

I didn't spend the rest of the weekend watching my husband play with our godson and think what a wonderful dad he will be some day. Nope, that sounds EVEN LESS like ME!!

I would never want to steal my precious godson and bring him home with me, nope never.

I wasn't just a little sad when my "visitor" came on Sunday just before we left for the airport, even though I know it's way too soon and the total wrong time to miss my visitor. Nope, not me.

I would never use my "visitor" as an excuse to skip a workout, or at least turn a high impact swim into a low impact walk. Nope not me!!!

our adorable godson Joshua

I will blog more about our wonderful weekend with Molly and Joshua. But for now, a couple of precious pictures of Joshua before his dedication.

Precious treasures, the old becomes new

I've been doing a lot of sewing lately, and most of it has remained unblogged-about. But this project is very special. It's been in the works for months now (talking, searching for pattern and materials). Our godson Joshua's baby dedication ceremony is this weekend (they do it once a year on Mother's Day at Molly's church). Baby dedication is similar to Christening, except without the water. The family of the child stands in front of the congregation and promises to raise the child in the church.

When I first started searching for patterns and thinking about this project, I realized that it has been over 8 years since I've done any "heirloom" sewing. I've made lots of other things, cutesy stuff. But heirloom sewing is what I truly love, not just because the items are so beautiful, but also because it is becoming a lost art and not many people can do it (especially in my generation).

I became increasingly excited when I started gathering the materials. One reason this is so special is that I was able to use leftover fabric Mom had from making my wedding dress to make Joshua's outfit (and I still have nearly 2.25 yards left!). When doing heirloom sewing, I try to use only the best, most authentic materials. I thought last week that I may need to purchase some vintage buttons for it as well. I went to the local antique store (BAD BAD JILL) in search of buttons. I came home with lots of antique linens and trims, but no buttons.

Then it dawned on me. I was the only one of the grandchildren in our family to learn to sew, so I got my Meme's sewing machine (it's one built into a cabinet). I've been putting off going through the drawers, but this gave me the perfect excuse! Last Saturday, I spent the first half of the day cleaning out, sorting and restoring one of two drawers in Meme's sewing machine. It was so cool to sort through all the things that she kept at arms length when she was sewing. I found her metal scissors with the handles painted black (thought the paint is all but gone now), TONS of vintage buttons still on the cards, little promotional item cards with needles attached from Liberty National Insurance, and my favorite - a welding rod. My Papaw was a welder/ ironworker by trade. Meme kept a welding rod in her sewing maching to help push out the corners of pieces when you turn them right-side-out for sewing. Just knowing that I was touching the things that she used to make every dress for her daughters and granddaughters, every Easter outfit for her grandchildren, every suit for church, and maybe even the veil Aunt Pam wore in her wedding that we later repurposed into my veil, was very special to me. These things that look like not much to anybody else, are treasures to me. Most people would open that drawer, pull out that welding rod, and say, "What is this and why is it in a sewing machine?"

Wouldn't you know, I found BOTH size buttons in the exact color that I needed in that drawer? I also used that welding rod a couple of times to make the little button belt in the back of the romper :) Without further ado, the final product. I will DEFINITELY post pictures of our precious godson in this outfit when we get back!!

My NOT ME Monday!!!

So, I am still keeping up with Stellan and the entire McKFamily after his heart surgery. It will be a long road ahead for him. But McKMama has this great tradition called Not Me! Mondays. It's a way of confessing how human you are in a sarcastic way, but I'm NEVER sarcastic. Not Me! GET IT?? To read McKMama's Not Me! Monday entries, click this button.



She says it can be liberating to live your life with this kind of honesty, so here goes.

I would NEVER wait until 30 minutes before small group to read the passages for the week, Not Me! Especially on a week I was leading discussion, no I would never do that.

I would never, EVER even THINK of waiting until 10 days before we are leaving for our godson Joshua's baby dedication in Arkansas to PULL OUT the PATTERN for his outfit. No, NOT ME!!!

I wouldn't be jealous of friends' opportunities and wallow in self pity. NEVER, Not Me!

I wouldn't neglect quiet time with my Lord, or forget to pray for people I've promised prayers for, Not Me!

I would never waste too much time on the internet when I should be doing productive things, Not Me!!

I wouldn't hit the snooze so many times that I ran out of time to shower before work. I would never wash my face, brush my teeth, freshen my deodorant, flat iron my hair, get dressed and think, "All I did was go to church and sew yesterday. How dirty could I be??" NO NOT ME!!