crafty dream come true

(image taken from here) 

Uh to say that I've been looking forward to this day is a slight understatement.  I'm going to MEG'S WHATEVER CRAFT WEEKEND people!!!!!!!  Read about it here.  It's kind of a long story...I'll try to make it super short.  I was asked twice by two different friends.  The first time I said no (just didn't have peace about spending the money), the second time I had heart palpitations, a quickening in my spirit...total confirmation, so I knew I must go.  I must GO!!  As you read this I'll be flying to Kansas to spend a long weekend being a helper (cooking, cleaning, prepping...pray for me), hopefully crafting, and making lots of new friends;) 

 

 

 

If you've been reading along for awhile you know that I've admitted to having a major blog crush on this gal.  Wrote about it wayyyy back here.  It's sort of embarrassing meeting her now.  She read that post.  I'm super nervous.  I'm meeting the blogger that made me want to blog...staying in the house that I've drooled over...for 4 days!  EEEEEK!!  It's surreal...pinch me;)  I'm going to be roomies with Megan, whom I've always wanted to meet, and reconnecting with my friend Amy from MN.  It's gonna be soooo good.  Can't wait to tell you all about it!!

 

 

 

 

***If you can, follow along on Instagram...my user name is farmgirlpaints. 

You're not going to want to miss any of this:)

Be a blessing.

 

 

869.  a time to create

870.  a nature walk with my girlies

871.  opportunity to make new friends

872.  for the chance to be a blessing;)

873.  November's chill 

 



one more soul

This little boy comes with a story.  Don't they all;) 


The day I posted that I was moving to Richmond I got a letter from another blogger telling me she had just found my blog that day.  God was bringing me to her.  We were going to be friends and that was that!

 

God doesn't mess around.  We did become friends.  Many playdates and lunches followed where she would lay out her heart telling me her desire to be a momma again.  She has a son and two little girls, but felt there was one more soul.  I was like oh my!  Really?  One more soul??  It's funny how you kind of know you either want more or you're done.  For her she didn't feel like her family was complete yet.

Not long after our talks she got pregnant.  From the beginning the pregnancy was riddled with uncertainty and they lost the baby.  It was really hard on her.  We prayed together.  My heart broke for her.  And then she got pregnant again...

This time it went pretty smooth, but she was fearful and anxious throughout the entire pregnancy because of her previous loss.  I've never had a miscarriage, so I can only imagine the stress that would weigh on you until that little one is finally placed in your arms. 

A couple of months ago she asked me if I would come in and take pics for her in the hospital.  I was like SURE...but inside I was a nervous wreck:/  I love to take pictures.  Photography is probably my favorite hobby, but I have absolutely no plans or desires to take pictures for people.  That involves pressure.  It becomes work and I stress OUT!

 

So Sunday I anxiously gathered my camera and headed to the hospital.  Heart thumping.  Sweating profusely.  Praying God help me get some shots that were clear.  Lord let there be light in that hospital room;)  I pray he won't fuss.  Help me know what to do!

 

He was an angel.  He didn't like laying on his stomach.  He was a little cold and quivery when we took his clothes off.  I would have been too.  Then there were moments where he was completely still.  Where he just stared at me and embraced the camera snapping fury;)  It was precious.

 

 

I couldn't help but reflect that this little one...this baby Chip...was who we prayed for.  He was that one more soul Brandee knew would complete her family.  He is precious and perfect.  He is fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalms 139).  God loves him, and knows every detail...every day of his life already.  What an honor and privilege to snap his first few frames:)  Thank you Brandee for asking me.  I'm so very happy for your sweet family.

Be a blessing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

863.  doing it afraid

864.  virtual friends who become real life peeps

865.  a God who restores

866.  prayers that are answered

867.  brand spankin' new life... 

868.  the privilege to vote!!

 

shopping with sasha

Good morning friends.  Can you believe we are already a week into November?  Does that make anyone else's heart race a little bit?  Christmas is just around the corner, so I thought I'd share one of my favorite Etsy stores with you. 


My friend Sasha is the mastermind behind Lemonade Makin' Mama.  She is uber creative and seriously if the girl had a staff and unlimited resources she could wayyyyy outdo Martha Stewart any day of the week.  She's like the energizer bunny on speed.  Just sayin'! 

She makes gorgeous prints, napkins, garlands and and...you name it the girl is CRAFTY!

 

I was more or less ogling her barn picture when I was at her house recently and she gave me one!  Oh to find the perfect spot...  I had this little nook in my house.  Do you have any of those?  It was supposed to be a butler's pantry or something like that.  Anyway I don't have a butler and I certainly don't need that space, but I found the perfect place for my Sasha print.  It just cozied up the area, and I added some of my favorite cards and pictures and voila:)  By the way doesn't that little iron sheep look perfect there?? It's just grazing;)

 

 

 

 

Her shop is adorable!!   Check it out and if you enter the code farmgirlfriends you will receive 20% off everything for the rest of November.  Sweet deal!!

 

 

 

 

 

Be a blessing.

858.  baby chip;)

859.  an exciting get away this weekend

860.  little puff ball trim

861.  two days off with my girlies

862.  a lens with my name on it 

 

incognito

My stomach was in knots on Halloween for a couple of reasons.  As I was pulling out my crazy red wig I couldn't help but miss my old hood.  It was this unexpected icky pit feeling that just zinged me out of nowhere.  In Minnesota they just did it up big.  One of our neighbors pulled out all the stops and had a huge party every year.  It was so fun to see the costumes, and dress up incognito for one night.


We walked the streets with our stand in "family".  We'd peer into all the houses...letting the kids run wild and free.  We'd bundle up with long underwear, gloves, scarves...hats over our ears.  The weather was unpredictable and we could be battling wind, rain...snow.  It was adventurous and memorable.   We loved it...every minute.

This is not to say Halloween wasn't fun here.  We still dressed up.  We still made the rounds with new friends.  It just made me miss the old...

And then there was the text I got that afternoon from my big chick asking if she could trick or treat with her bestie, in her hood, without us:0  We let her go.  We didn't want to...but we did.  And it didn't help that she borrowed a wedding dress from the neighbors, and looked like a sweet innocent bride!  Be still my mother's heart.   

 

It just didn't feel the same without her.  Part of us was missing.  I'm not ready for that just yet.  Next year it will be different.  Next year the friend will come with us...ha! 

 

 

So that was part of my Halloween stomach ache...and then there was the text I forgot to send out to ask a neighbor girl to join us in trick or treating.  I felt so bad when I ran into her and her mom later making the rounds.  The last thing I wanted to do was leave someone out...make them feel not included or special.  Grrrrrr. 

 

 

The fact is I screw up sometimes.  I have a bad memory.  BAD!  And as much as I want to remember every little thing, I drop the ball sometimes.  Then I punish myself later.  So goes the perpetual cycle of motherhood. 

This was me as a wannabe punk rockin' Jesus Freak (in color the wig is red..and I had a fake nose ring in earlier) and my honey was a crazy mountain man...or something like that;)  The jacket is his dad's Army coat.  He wears it for sentimental reasons. 


Anyway I instagramed this pic and people thought this was us when we first started dating!!!  Someone even said his hair was probably what drew me to him;)  I about DIED laughing.  DIED!  I'll have to hunt down an early picture of us.  We were 16.  SIXTEEN!  Good times...good times...  Have a great weekend friends.

Be a blessing.

843.  making new traditions
844.  Heath bars
845.  house hunting with a friend
856.  cracker barrel with my sugar sistas
857.  brandee's baby is coming!