Modest swimwear!

Who'd ever think I'd be modeling a swimsuit online? Definitely not me.
Olivia from Fresh Modesty sent me her swim suit e-pattern in order have a go at the maternity option. Aside from some irritations with my sewing machine's mood swings (def. a machine issue, not a pattern issue), the pattern went together quickly and easily. I used some clearance suiting material I had in my stash since time was of the essence and ad libbed myself some roses to the top (which may sound impressive but really, all they are are fabric scraps bunched together till they look rose-ish and stitched into place).
The suit is great and comfortable and is fabulous in the water. I'm looking forward to making a non-maternity option for next summer (look at her suits -so cute and non scary!). Love her sewing blog too. Right now, Olivia is having a SALE so jump on over and order your own pattern!

Sun.

The Boy Who Changed the World

I was recently sent the book, The Boy Who Changed the World, by Thomas Nelson Publishers to review.
The story begins with the life story of one boy who developed super seeds to help starving nations.
A. I liked what he did but
B. I will be sure to mention to my kids the way of the super seeds and the companies that develop them today are not in everyone's best interest.
The story goes on to tell the interlocking paths of different men and how each inspired the next to greatness. A believer that we each have a personal responsibility to make the world a better place, I enjoyed the storyline and know my kids will love it!
This book would make a great gift and is a great jumpstart for lesson plans on responsibility.

We went...

to the sea for the long weekend.

Homeschooling with Toddlers Activity 4!

Lacing cards! Gotta love lacing cards, and especially cute ones. I noticed yesterday morning in Barnes and Noble that they are now carrying them and if you really, really want some cute ones, check out etsy.com. I noticed some nice wooden and vintage ones on there during a quick browse.

We've found a shoelace (dollar store pack) works the best for lacing since it has the hard plastic end and doesn't knot easily. Yarn is a different story.

Chase loves the lacing cards and even the older kids like to practice their "sewin" every once in a while.
Wouldn't it be great to print out some vintage children's graphics on cardstock and laminate and hole punch around the edges?

Around Home

We hung around home this weekend and it was so relaxing to putter around the house, working on little projects, and enjoying each other.
Annaliese spotted this creepy crawling fellow and her papa picked it up with a stick, as it tried to bite and poke. Our chickens thought it was a tasty snack. :)



I love being witness to our children learning to read and loving to learn. Aiden is zealous over reading and just finished his eight books to earn a free one from Barnes and Noble through their summer reading program. If your kids have been reading, the book program extends through next week, I believe, and they did have a nice assortment to choose from.

And the papa... the poor sweet papa has been a sneezing headaching sort of mess for a week or so now because of ragweed. Sean stays off allergies the rest of the year by eating some of our local honey each day, but it seems bees do not pollinate ragweed. His doctor sent him home yesterday with two epi pens, an inhaler, and a prescription allergy med to take along with his over the counter one. He's also been doing the neti pot regularly.

The epi pens are a relief to my thoughts since the last time Sean was stung by wasps, his whole self swelled right up. All this goes in the face of Sean being the hardy, outdoorsy husband that he is, so we are all wishing and praying for relief for him

On Sunday he took time to re-string the hammock we bought him last year for Father's Day in between sneezes.

Andrew brought me grape vines as I sat and watched Sean, which I wove and twisted into wreaths. This is such a simple, enjoyable project and I have time to do more before winter.

Today we are staying indoors, out of the heat and humidity, enjoying lots of fruits and water. We'll head to the farm tonight, jugs in tow, to pick up some cold milk.

Enjoy your family and your evening,

Hannah

More at Home

Stitches in a sweet cotton mattress, layers of batting and fabric for the coming baby to lay his or her head. And thoughts as I sit and sew and stitch, small and precious body parts wiggling just inside my belly.

We are so thankful for God's blessing of this child.

It is true that His plans are higher than ours and while in the many folk's thinking we might seem foolish, even heartless, for welcoming a sixth child - a child that had a chance of inward deformity, imperfection - we know that God is sovereign and every life He creates has a purpose under heaven, whether they are born in a hovel in another nation, born to an addict only soon to end up in the nightmare of foster care, or born into a loving family.

Chase quickly tried out the new mattress with one of the baby dolls. He is delightfully fascinated with all things related to the coming baby and I know he is going to be such a sweet big brother.

As he plays, I begin to think what our lives would be like if we had followed the wisdom of the world and the statistics given to us by modern medicine - we would have stopped having children after our third child. There would have been no hilarious Ella warming our home with her unique humor and snail pets or the cuddles of Chase with his blue eyes and grins who echoes his Papa's laughs.

Because a life without the guarantee of perfection in body and perfection in environment is sound reason to terminate life...or prevent it altogether - this is the sad logic of man.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you hope and a future." Jer.29:11

Perhaps not so ironically, is the fact that God sent this message not to His people in a time of blessing or rosy happiness but when they were in the midst of seventy years of trial and pain. Those children, small babies born to parents in captivity, born in some of the worst enviroments, surrounded by hopelessness - this was the message God gave them - that they weren't born without purpose.

I have thought about what would happen to our children should the worst ever happen to them. Should they lose both of their parents in death, should they be abused, split up, neglected, suffer... Not pleasantness to dwell on but still, I think if all that happened - I would not be able to believe that their lives did not carry purpose or worth, that they didn't deserve a chance to glorify God with their lives.

Neither could I hold and cuddle and look into the eyes of the three foster children we've cared for over the past year: one born to an addicted fourteen year old mother, one the thirteenth neglected child of an addict, and one the third generation in social services and think even for a second, with the painful lives ahead of them, that God allowed them to be created without purpose. Instead of shaking a fist at God for their suffering, I found it encouraging and hopeful to pray scripture over them. The living, breathing Word of God does not return void, we are told.

And now I'll set down my heavy thoughts and show you a fun project that Sean quickly helped me put together this morning.

This piece of moulding came with the house. I love the patina, the paint colors, everything about it and when I saw these hooks so cheap at Hobby Lobby (yes! we have a new Hobby Lobby!) I bought three and asked Sean to screw them in for me...

...and hang the new cute rack that looks like it's been there forever and an age on the inside of our kitchen closet door. This closet is loaded with games on shelves and rollerblades and jackets and not so tidy, so you don't get a peek in today.

...for my aprons! And the girl's aprons. And the boys have aprons that will go up there too when they're scrounged up from drawers.

Resources:

For healing after an abortion and one woman's story here.

To give children in hopelessness a chance to fullfill their purpose, to glorify God and know His grace and love...