Coffee

I used to be a morning person.   My internal clock woke me up seconds before my alarm.  Every morning, without fail.  And it wasn't just a, "Oh, I think I'll mosey on into the shower" kind of waking up.  It was more of a BOYING, "I'm AWAKE!"  I'd sit straight up in bed (a habit I had to painfully break in college being on the bottom bunk), hop right out of bed, and I was showered and dressed, ready to go, lickety-split, just like that!

Then, along came marriage and soon after, children.  The luxury of sleeping without interruption, trying on multiple outfits, wearing sexy underwear (even if uncomfortable), doing what ever I wanted with my time (when ever I wanted), all of it, gone. But!  It's been replaced with new adventure, boundless loves, cuteness heaven, frustration hell, teething, dirty diapers, messy house, baking, gourmet cooking, gardening escapes, gut wrenching laughter, tear soaked pillows, inadequacies realized, dreams come true, challenges I could never have imagined, living life to the fullest, strength that can only come from my Maker ... and coffee!  

 Oh, that gloriously, smooth flavor of coffee with a good creamer! It is my daily indulgence, my grocery budget extravagance.  Give me a good cup-o-joe first thing in the morning and my foggy mind, lazy limbs, and grumbling about having to get out of bed, vanishes like water vapor.  

I get many compliments on this bracelet.  Three strands of coffee hued goodness, a smooth feel like cream on the tongue, a beautiful flowered clasp.  It looks fabulous on a wrist wrapped around a steaming mug.

If interested in purchasing this bracelet, feel free to check out my shop at:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/SecondChanceBeads?ref=ss_profile

Pretty in Pink

Seeing as it is so close to Valentine's Day I thought it appropriate to share this lovely piece with you.  I have to say that this is one of my favorite bracelets I have made.  I love to wear it and often times get lots of compliments.  Even though the clasp has tarnished a bit from wear it only serves to add to the character of this bracelet.  I never would have thought to put hues of gold with my brown, pink, and shades of gray.  Somehow, while playing around with my glass beads, this combination just popped out at me.  The pale gold in the beads caught my eye and I played around with it, finding just the right combination of golds and yellows to accent the browns and pinks.

I love that the bead on the very end, the one with the black in the center, is slightly chipped, bringing out it's inner beauty.  It adds such detail and flare to this piece.  This one seems to bring out that feminine feeling while singing, "I feel pretty!"  

Happy New Year!

After a little over two months of a sabbatical I am back!  Boy, has it been quite the journey recently!  It was wise of me to take time off.

On October 24th I gave birth to this adorable creature.

It amazes me how my heart can be taken with, not only one, but FIVE children!  That number still astounds me.  Many think that the more kids you have the less love you have to give.  I'll admit it.  I feared that would be the case.  Boy is that SO wrong!  I have found that the more children we have, the more our love multiplies!  Not adds ... multiplies!  Anyway ...  Unfortunately, today has been filled this:

Crying, lots of crying.  I got to the point of turning him away from me just so I can hear the other kids.  Poor thing is having serious tummy troubles today.  After getting used to all that rich, holiday foods, the transition to eating our "normal" foods must be taking a toll on him :(  He is now passed out, sleeping HARD on my lap while I type away.  Thank God for a few silent moments.  I've been wanting some silence so I could think a few things through.  I've had a few moments here and there throughout the holidays, to mull, to stew, to simmer my thoughts and feelings.

I've been thinking a lot about the last year.  Just last night I took down our old calendar and transferred birthdays and special occasions over to our new calendar.  Looking at all the plans, dates, vacations, gathering, and activities brought back so many memories!

My daughter finished out her gymnastics season last spring.  It had taken a ton of time, blood, sweat, and tears to allow her to finish out the season.  We truly didn't know what we were getting in to when she tried out for the competitive team and made it.The expense!!  I shake my head on wonder that people can really afford a sport that costly.  Then again, maybe they really can't.

We found out we were pregnant again, causing our other children to be incredibly overjoyed.  I was thrilled but also apprehensive about loosing another baby.  I had just miscarried the previous autumn.  I remember being so sick that we needed help from our community.  We had to ask for meals and needed help cleaning.  Hyperemesis takes such a toll on the family!  We were well taken care of though.  I love our friends for being here to do what they can.  What a blessing!  I really missed my Mom during that time.

We did tons of fresh fruit picking, strawberries, raspberries, cherries, apples!  We gardened as usual.  Some things failed and others went crazy.  I started an herb garden and I gathered ideas on what else I want to grow.  I was in heaven!

My best friend got married in the summer, on the hottest day of the year, in a church with no air conditioning.  Haha!  The pictures were so fun.  We had such a blast celebrating their special day.

I so wasn't ready to start school when we did, even though we started a week later than the rest of the school.

Then the birth of our son, what an absolutely amazing experience.  We had him at home (my first time doing a home birth) and I'll tell you what, it was truly the most peaceful, intimate time I've ever had giving birth.  I wish all my experiences were like that!  His birth was, by far, the highlight of our year!

My husband and I worked together in the kitchen to make a feast for Thanksgiving.  Boy was it a feast!  Turkey, baked mashed potatoes, homemade cranberry-walnut stuffing, baked corn, steamed carrots and green beans from the garden, honey-butter pumpkin crescent rolls, pecan and pumpkin pies, and, the ultimate delectable treat, Guinness chocolate pudding!  See, I told you!  A real, honest to goodness feast!!  It was so much fun, to make AND eat!

We then kicked off the year spent in the presence of our families, well, most of them at least.  My sister from Seattle and my brother from Chicago weren't able to back east and we missed them so much!  Many we haven't seen except through video chats and FaceBook in over a year.  What a special time of catching up and watching our kids grow so big and tall and shining life all over everything.

All these memories came flooding back as I transferred dates to our new calendar.  I finished the details for January on the new one and just about tossed the old when I saw ... this!

How in the world could I throw such glorious colors away!?  My thoughts were at war with those bright pictures.  "I have enough paper to roll as it is!"  "Just toss it, you don't need to clutter up another nook in this house."     My hand steadied over the trash can, those vibrant colors screaming out to me.  I couldn't, just couldn't throw them away!  So, right now they are sitting in my dining room, begging for my attention.  Unfortunately, they're gonna be left screaming as I tend to my littlest so HE doesn't scream at me, as I tend to the older boys, struggling with their homework because they just want the holidays to continue on, as I tend to the toddler who is now bored and getting into everything he knows he's not allowed to be into, as I tend to my almost teenager daughter as she craves Mom time to talk through things that are changing and working their way into her life.  BUT, don't worry!  Keep an eye out for these beauties!  I am super excited to get my hands on them.  

Excuses, Excuses

So much for posting something every week ...

How is it that life just runs wildly away with me?  I can blame it on the canning season, being largely pregnant and getting ready for baby #5, the to-do list that just grows longer and longer with the end of the summer, home schooling started, being just plain tired, practically anything.  But the reality is that we make time for those things that are important to us, which is why my house is in total disarray: 10 loads of laundry that's been sitting on my couch, unfolded for the last 2 weeks, finally got put into drawers (well, the kids stuff at least) just yesterday, my counters are cluttered with dirty dishes and kettles because the sinks are overflowing with more dirty dishes and kettles (why am I sitting here at the computer again?),  the floors have tumble weeds of pet hair and only God knows what my two year old has tried and tasted, my husband even condemned (seriously but oh so humorously) our back room where the kids play, no, throw their toys around and wreck any semblance of order to my crafty storage space, I have tomatoes that need my attention before I have to start throwing them away AND I want/need to get applesauce canned and pears done.  I'd love to get more tomatoes for making into sauce and try my hand at ketchup (our tomatoes aren't doing so well this year ... ), the benefit concert for our local City Mission is tomorrow night, etc. etc. etc.

BUT, and it's a big one!  My husband is joyful, my kids are enjoying themselves to the fullest as all kids seem to know how to do without being taught, and I am loving life like I've never loved it before.  Do I get stressed out and feel like I just can't function anymore when my living space gets like this.  Absolutely!  And unfortunately, some of my closest friends get the brunt of my frustration and craziness.  Through the years I have been learning what is important, I am beginning to see that this time I have with my children and my husband is so much more precious than a sparkling bathroom, or a spotless kitchen.  I am learning to do what I can, be all that I am, every single second of every single day ... and be happy with it!  Even if the to-do list grows and only a little gets marked off (isn't that what winter is for anyway?).  Soon I'll be tucked inside our home, snuggling with a new born baby, while the trees turn vibrant shades of color and eventually get covered in fluffy white stuff.  So, with the holidays fast approaching, we'll soon be enjoying the fruits of all our hard work this past summer with flavored vinegars, pickles, jams, pumpkin pies, applesauce, cobblers and crisps ... I just have to share this necklace.  This is the time of year I had in mind when I made it!

I love the vintage metal buttons and chocolate brown, the golden accents with a splash of cream spattered in there.  It just makes me want to grab a cup of creamy java, snuggle in with a warm blanket, and love on my kids while we escape into a good movie and eat pumpkin pie.  I just have to say, I love this time of year. Hopefully, you will too!  Enjoy wrapping up your summer activities and look forward to celebrating the end of another year lived with those that you love.

Music and My Momma

My Mom just came out this past weekend which is why I missed blogging last week.  She always cleans and works so hard when she comes out that I wanted to make sure that she could just relax and enjoy her grand-babies this time!  I am SO glad I did all that work ahead of time since she came out over the HOTTEST days of the year so far!  Of course, the day she travels out our central air breaks down and we're looking at temps in the 100's of degrees.  OY!  So, the one room that we have a window unit in is where we lived and what did we do together?  KNIT!!  She started working on a beautiful wrap and I continued with a sweater for my hubby.  Ironic, isn't it?

My Mom is one of the most talented and gifted musicians I know.  Not only is she excellent in piano playing and singing but her heart just shines so glorious when ever she puts her fingers on those ivory keys.  She so inspires me to be better, trust in God for everything, and encourages me to keep taking good care of myself and those around me. She challenges me.

Last Christmas I decided I needed to give some of my creations to my family.  I had so much fun thinking of their personalities and creating just the perfect piece that glowed of their individuality.  This one I made for my Mom.  I used aged Chopin music which was actually very hard to roll!  The paper was so thin and fine that I had to be so careful not to tear it.

I had so much fun wrapping the wire around the beads.  I need to do more of that.  Now, whenever I look at beads I make with music I think of my Mom.  I am so thankful for all that we've been through together and how that has made our relationship stronger.  I love my Momma and miss her from the moment she drives off till we are together again.  My heart aches being so far from her but I know that I am to be where I am.  At least for now.  Love you Mom!!

My Great Escape

We all have those places we like to go to for much needed respite, a quick breather, time to put up our feet and drink in the peace and quiet.  I know most of us don't take the time to regularly recharge leaving us spent and unavailable for others in the busy-ness we're so stubbornly reluctant to let go of.  Being a Mom of (soon to be) five I do my best to daily find a few moments of alone quiet and most often it is found in my vegetable or herb garden.

The peace and tranquility I find in nature has always been a part of me.  I find myself there.  Whether it's sitting on a big rock, sunning myself in the middle of a big stream, listening to the waves crash on the beach, or picking peas and cucumbers, I allow myself to be treasured by my Maker and to discover all things about myself.

My gardens are definitely my inspiration for this jewelry set appropriately named "All Things Green."  The greens and browns are so soothing to my soul.  If this one isn't sold by winter time you can be sure that I will gaze on this set as I remember such peace and tranquility I found there.

I challenge you to find that place, that time, where you find rest, where you find yourself, where you find peace.  You'd be amazed at the journey it will take you on!

"Summer Sunset"

Remember when everyone was complaining about winter being SO LONG!?  Well, summer is now in full swing here in Ohio!  As a family, we have been trying to make the best of these long, hot days.  We love to camp and very much miss the ocean, gardening and pick-your-own produce have been wonderful adventures for us.  So, one day, during my many day dreams and various thoughts that pop into this crazy brain of mine, I decided to play with some beads that I was super excited about.

The flecks of green in these orange beads got me all excited (yea - I know - it doesn't take much haha!).  I knew exactly what I had in my stash that would be perfect with these glorious, sunshiny beads.  I was kind of in a funk and this necklace just cheered me right up!  It has, by far, become my most favorite summer necklace.  I will be sad and thrilled to see this one sell.  Sad because it's so lovely and brings so much cheer to me on days I feel gloomy but thrilled because I just KNOW someone else will love wearing it for the same reasons!

So, as I tip my frosty glass full of homemade smoothie and watch another beautiful sunset, while the air cools for another evening of pleasant darkness, I say to you, enjoy your summer to the fullest!  Revel in the sun.  Feel the warmth on your skin.  Splash in the coolness of a river, ocean, or pool.  Relish the time with your family, hugging them extra close and squeezing them extra tight until they squeal with delight.  Take time to bask in this glorious season of plenty, provision, warmth, and refreshing for soon the air will cool again and the sky will darken, heavy with snow and trees bare of color.  Soak it all in while you can for it will be another year to pass before the opportunity comes again.