Size 6 Skirt to Maternity Skirt Tutorial

One of my sisters gave me this cute skirt from Target. Cute but not gonna fit my belly much longer! Yay! We're expecting another kiddo in October! God is gracious to us.
Back to the skirt:

So I chopped off the top right below the pleats and zipper.

She also gave me this tank top, whose shortness made it useless as a tank top to me so.....

I had this thought:

And cut just below the straps and tag portion of the tank. It is a great stretchy knit from GAP and will work perfectly!

Then I insided out the tank and fit it over the right side of the skirt, lining up the side seams.

And sewed a small zig-zag around it. Normally, I could have done this on my serger in half the time but that would have meant re-threading a spool that just ran out and I didn't have the mental capacity for it that morning. This Mama is exhausted!

So I zig-zagged the edges when I was done.

This is what it looks like now. Would make a cute tube dress if I were a tube dress sort of girl. But I'm not.

So I'll wear it folded above or below the belly, whichever whim I feel like following that day.

Some men bring home flowers...

I just happened to glance outside one day last week and noticed a something in the bed of Sean's truck besides the normal fire wood that kept the truck from sliding during our winter snows. "What's that?" I quickly asked.
"Oh, do you like it? I found it on the curb outside a trashy apartment building in Utica."
"Um. Yes!"


She has/had some issues. She's very lightweight so Sean is planning on screwing it into the wall now that I've found a home for it that I'm pleased with. I washed and scraped and painted and wood-glued and clamped. She was old, with only one coat of paint and original glass knobs. The knobs got a soaking and we agreed we liked the creamy color against our kitchen walls so an oops gallon of paint already had made her look fresh and clean.

She was missing a door so we (read Sean) took the other one off and I found the baskets for her lower shelves. I almost wish I had bought two more for the upper shelves but paying retail to get two matching baskets about did my frugal tendencies in.

Sean is also planning on cutting two more shelves for it, to replace the missing ones in the top portion of the hutch. I plan on putting all my colorful pyrex and fun looking dishes that I use regularly in it once its done. For now, it brings a happy smile every time I walk into the kitchen!

It has been anything but quiet around here, and so my absence from here. We still have Kaleb, our five month old foster son. His young mama has court this week and hopefully then we'll have a clearer picture of what is going on. Meanwhile he's cut two teeth while we've had him and is working on some more.
I met his mama on Friday, briefly, and how she broke my heart. I have never seen such sadness, hopelessness, anger and apathy rolled into one soul. I pray often for her and slip cheery notes about Kaleb into the bag when he is going for visits.


On the way home from a rough visit on Friday, I found a Sears sewing machine and case on the curb. It is almost identical to one my mother had thirty something years ago sitting beside it in the photo.

Saturday at the Cabin

"The earth is the Lord's and the fullness there of!"

Thoughts on Hospitality

"I want you to share your food with the hungry and bring right into your own homes those who are helpless, poor and destitute. Clothe those who are cold and don't hide from relatives who need your help.

If you do these things, God will shed His own glorious light upon you. He will heal you; your godliness will lead you forward, and goodness will be a shield before you, and the glory of the Lord will protect you.

Then, when you call, the Lord will answer. 'Yes, I am here,' he will quickly reply."

Isaiah 58:7-9 Living Bible

"If you have never done any of these things, or things of this nature, if you have been married for years and years and have had a home (or even a room) and none of this has ever occured, if you have been quiet especially as our culture is crumbling around us, if this is so - do you really believe that people are going to hell? And if you really believe that, how can you stand and say, "I have never paid the price to open my living place and do the things that I can do"? Francis Schaeffer quoted in Open Heart, Open Home by Karen Burton Mains

We want the government to do the job of the church, of followers of Christ: paying for foodbanks for the hungry, caring for modern day orphans in group homes, institutions and foster care, giving vouchers for those needing clothing and shelter, subsidies for housing and heat... We even depend on the government to do the impossible job of bringing healing to broken minds and damaged souls - and then we shake our heads and blame the government for failing at our job.

It's easy to be hospitable to the trendy new people we meet, the ones with nice jobs, the culturally relevent ones, the ones who will appreciate good food and can reciprocate the invitation, inviting us into their trendy homes, the ones who don't make us feel uncomfortable, the ones who don't make us feel anything like uneasy or sad or compassionate or exhausted.

Heavy thoughts, but these are the ones I'm thinking today. Join me.

As the earth brings forth...

"I will rejoice greatly in the LORD,
My soul will exult in my God;

For He has clothed me with garments of salvation,

He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness,

As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,

And as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up,


So the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise
To spring up before all the nations." Isaiah 61:10-11

Pressure Cooker Lentil Stew

Fabulous recipe, one of our family's favorites! I love this because it is quick and easy and tasty! If you have a large family, double the given recipe.

Begin by browning 4 slices of sliced bacon, two sticks of sliced celery, and one large chopped onion. The sizzle and the smell is great!Add in two cloves of chopped/minced garlic and turn off the heat.

Pour in four cups of broth. I took a photo of mine but the chicken broth looked like swamp water, so I'll pass on sharing it. Veggie broth would work too.

Next comes two cups of lentils.

2 pinches of thyme. Big pinches. Be generous.

2 bay leaves.

Four sliced carrots. Messy chopped is fine. It'll all work together.

Seal your pressure cooker and bring it to high pressure and then leave at medium for about 15 minutes. Don't be afraid of your pressure cooker. Mine is simple and doesn't have any fancy gauges. How do I know if it sealed? Wiggle this just a teeny tab. If you hear a hiss -it's sealed.

After fifteen minutes release the pressure and puree your soup using an immersion blender or regular blender. I add a bit of water here and salt to taste. I also don't puree it completely since I like the occasional carrot chunk. Mix in a little cream or milk and tada! Delicious lentil soup!

Weekly Menu

Monday am -oatmeal with cinnamon and raisins
lunch- Greek yogurt with granola and honey, apple slices
dinner- potato soup, rustic bread, salad
Make and refrigerate brownies for Tues night group!

Tuesday am - freezer muffins, fresh pineapple, scrambled eggs
9am pediatrician appointment!
lunch- peanut butter and jelly, orange slices
dinner- sesame noodles, salad
Orphan Care group here!
water, iced tea, popcorn, brownies, cookies

Wed am - cereal with bananas
lunch- tomato soup, crackers, apple slices
dinner -cheeseburgers, green beans, carrot sticks and dip

Thurs am- banana bread, fruit salad
lunch-ants on a log(peanut butter filled celery with raisins on top)
dinner-ziti

Friday am- caramel dipped cinnamon rolls, juice
lunch- granola with milk, apple slices
dinner- quesadillas

Saturday am-pancakes
lunch- grilled cheese on rustic bread, carrot sticks
dinner- chili and corncakes

Sunday brunch - cinnamon raisin bread, strata, fruit
dinner- chili and cornbread

Thirty One

Apricot stuffed French toast greeted me yesterday morning with freshly made syrup from our few maples out front. And little gifts, creatively wrapped, lined up with verbal instructions on which was from whom, at the dining room table my love built me, which I still love. Little favorite stones, a beaded bracelet, lavender soap, and a vintage pin from my kiddos.

We spent the day in the city of Syracuse, visiting the science museum, gritting our teeth against the St. Patrick's Day traffic and detours, taking the kids for ride on the carousel, picnicking in the van (courtesy of yummies from Wegmans) and ending the day with a quick stop at a favorite thrift store. (Best find of the day was a $9, eight quart pot with pasta insert, veggie steamer tray and vented lid.)

Friday night my Dad came for dinner and my sister Katie and her husband. Sean cooked a rib eye roast, goat cheese potato galette to go along with salad and rustic bread. Annaliese baked me a delicious lazy daisy cake with crisp buttery broiled coconut on top. My sister gave me a great vintage straw sunbonnet which will be perfect for gardening. I can't wait to wear it under the sun, poking seeds into the earth.

Thirty-one is great.

Bowls and babes.

Found littlest man asleep in his crib, hands folded so sweetly under his chin.

I can already see progress in Kaleb since five days ago when he came to us. We've introduced baby cereal, after we found out his age, which has done wonders to his fussiness. I think he was just hungry. We've also switched him off soy formula to lactose-free, which has decreased his spitting up after a bottle by half. He's still quite the fussy spitter upper, which I'll ask our pediatrician about next week. Overall he seems to be getting more comfortable with us. Even I am getting used to the 2:30am cuddle and bottle time. We've been trying to incorporate more tummy time and lay him to sleep on his side, since his sweet noggin is pretty flat. All just simple things but hopefully things that make him more comfortable and give him a loved sort of feeling.

I found these wooden bowls at the thrift shop last week for .49 each. They match the spoons Sean carved the kiddos for their Christmas stockings. We treat them all with a beeswax and olive oil mixture, which is fantastic for dry hands too!

We've been enjoying spring weather this past weekend and today. I crunch, crunched my way through the snow to hang a few first loads of the year on the line and chopped away at melting ice on the walkway. The kids are enjoying seeing how much work (or little of) they have left for the schoolyear. Bookwork is quickly done each day so they can play outside. Aiden has just begun to sound out words and is as proud as a peacock. We are all anxious for spring.

All I have needed...

He quiets my soul, rough and turbulent from exhaustion. This little one I rock in the wee hours of morning, malnourished and neglected, I cry His tears over. I feel helpless to fix the brokenness of the world so I rock the one broken piece at a time that He sends me. I am spread thin and He is my strength. His strength is made perfect in my weakness. When I am strong and capable, I get the glory. But when I am weak and exhausted and still manage to be kind and patient and loving - He receives all the glory. God does not stand at a distance.

The words well up in my heart, shoving over mind numbing tiredness: Great is Thy faithfulness. Great is Thy faithfulness, morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed, Thy hand has provided. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.

The day dawns, spilling precious sunlight across our bed, long before I would have wished it. Already I hear elephant feet on the stairs, a door slamming as the dog is let out and from the boy's room, "Mama... Mama? Mama - I wu woo! ...Up!" The days' begun.

Cultivating Thankfulness

Tonight I am thankful for:

sunshine today

sweet words from a social worker who had never met us, but says she has heard great things about our foster home

boys with fresh haircuts

an extra wee boy in the crib, Kaleb

my husband's hugs

Dinosaur BBQ baked beans for dinner

a nap. Fell asleep on the bed with Andrew working out math problems beside me. Twenty minutes of bliss.

48 pack of fruit leathers at Big Lots for $6. The expensive kind they sell in health food stores. Bought two boxes.

My son Aiden's words that he "is thankful God brings us so many foster children to love." Aiden is sometimes more the cup is half-empty kind of boy so this impromptu thought of his, I loved.

Watching my husband and the kids tap the maple trees.

Thoughts of homemade sausage, fried potatoes, biscuits and smoothies for breakfast tomorrow.

Winter is hard on me, so I'm feeling the need to be extra diligent with cultivating thankfulness. What about you?

And the winner is....

The winner of the Rainey's book (random.org) is Lisa, who wrote: "Thank you for sharing this interview. I especially liked the question and response about serious bible study even with little ones. A good encouragement."

Lisa, you can send me your mailing address via the contact link at the top of the page! Congratulations!

Quick Caramel Dipped Cinnamon Rolls

Breakfast is one of my favorite meals to prepare and this recipe, from a vintage Watkins Cook Book, is now on the list of quick favorites.

Butter baking pan and preheat oven to 400 F.

Stir together 3 cups flour, 6 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp salt and 2 tbsp sugar. Cut in 4 tbsp butter, then mix in 1 egg and 3/4 cup water. Blend the ingredients and knead quickly till dough comes together. Roll out on floured board to 1/2 inch thickness. Spread with soft butter, sprinkle cinnamon and sugar over to your liking and raisins too. Roll up and let sit while you make the caramel syrup.

In a small saucepan, melt together 4 tbsp butter and 1/2 cup corn syrup (alternately brown rice syrup or honey).

Cut roll in 2 inch thick slices and place in baking dish. Pour caramel over the top of prepared rolls or dip each one into it. Bake at 400 for 20-25 minutes. Num. Num. Eat.

Interview with Barbara Rainey and GIVEAWAY!

I love free things and I'll hope you'll really enjoy the copy of Dennis and Barbara Rainey's book, Starting Your Marriage Right.
I wish this book had been around when Sean and I were first married! I've written before about what a difficult adjustment we had when we were newlyweds, not knowing where to go for advice or godly counsel with so many changes of life going on.

We were the first of our friends to get married and on week nights while Sean was in college, I'd flip on the radio and listen to Family Life Today. I still tune in to Family Life Today, so full of godly wisdom and sound counsel as it is. A few years ago Sean and I attended one of Family Life's Weekends to Remember and had an absolutely fantastic time learning and growing together. It was definitely a marriage strengthening event! We've also hosted Home Builders small groups and use their premarital curriculum in counseling.
Barbara Rainey was kind enough to recently grant me an interview and I hope you'll enjoy reading what she's shared.

1. One of the hardest things my husband, Sean, and I had to work through in our first years of marriage was not having a Biblical example of marriage or parenting to emulate. What advice would you give a young couple who is starting out just as we did?

The best step a young couple can take, even if they have good models in their own parents, is to find a couple who is ahead of them in the journey and ask for a regular meeting time to ask questions. They do not have to be empty nesters, although an older couple would have more time, but this couple can be just 5 years into their marriage and have plenty of life lessons to share. Obviously they need to be believers in Christ who are committed to growing in their marriage, but they don’t have to have it “all figured out.” Secondly I’d recommend attending one of our Weekend to Remember marriage conferences. Dennis and I just finished leading one in Washington DC and I was reminded how good these are for couples just starting out to get it right from the start. And they are good refresher courses for those married several years and beyond.

2. Speaking of marriage and parenting, you've talked frankly about how the empty nest affected you. To be honest, this is one season of life that the thought of terrifies me! I tell my husband that I am daily working myself out of a job. For a mother like me, with young children, or to a woman with older children who is more quickly approaching the empty nest years, is there any advice you can give as to how we can more gently transfer into this new season of life?

Just acknowledging that it is a reality is healthy. I remember being terrified too at the thought of my children leaving me behind. But as we got closer and closer, it became so clear that it was right, that it eased my anxiety. And I must say it was not easy still. My husband and I sobbed as we left our first born standing in the parking lot of her new home in a high rise dormitory. I hated it. But it was right and I knew she would be OK, even though I was not OK at the time. Interestingly, by the time the last one left it had gotten easier. I’m not sure if it was because we had six and when the last one left I was exhausted and ready for the end or if I had gradually gotten used to the changes the departure of each one brought. Now that we are just the two of us again we are loving it in so many ways. Yes, I still miss my kids being under my roof, and yes, I feel twinges of sadness when I see photos of all of them when they were cute and cuddly and all mine, but we did our best as unto the Lord and we are resting in and relishing this new season of our lives.

3. You raised a large family, Barbara. What is one thing, in your role of wife and help-meet to your husband Dennis, that you wish you had done a bit (or entirely!) different in those busy years of parenting?

I wish in the early years that I had made more of an effort to be in serious bible study. I was too dependent on Sunday morning sermons for my spiritual food. It was too easy to give in to my overwhelmed life and stay home rather than fight the battles of child care and diaper bags and less time to get my home tasks done. As a result I am passionate about young moms feeding their souls with the truth of Scripture. My daughter who has five boys has made this a priority in her life and she is much more directed by the truth of Scripture and the power of the Holy Spirit than I was.

I did not have a strong Christian background and I needed the feeding more than I realized. I began attending Bible Study Fellowship when my youngest was two and my oldest was 12. It was the beginning of life change for me. Since then I have been committed to being in serious bible study in some kind of class (not just a book study, a pet peeve of mine) and I will be for the rest of my life.

Many kind thanks to Barbara, for sharing some of her wisdom with me. There are four ways to enter the giveaway this time. Please let me know in the comments which way(s) you have entered.

1. Leave a comment.
2. Blog about it.
3. Share it on FB or Twitter.
4. Visit the new Mom Life Today , leaving a comment on any of the posts.

Winner will be drawn and announced on Friday.

P.S. even if you're not a newlywed, you can enter. Give the book as a wedding gift, use it to strengthen your not-so-newlywed marriage with a case of the doldrums, or save it for your someday marriage!