Then and Now

What a difference a day makes. The photo to the left is right after Baby Grace was born. She is holding on to her daddy's finger, knowing already who will be her earthly protector.

The photo to the right is of the newly named, Lexi Grace Roy with 2 of her sisters standing guard over her with much love and attention. Look at the peace on her face.

Our God is still doing miracles. Did you see any today?

Peace-fullness

Do you ever wake up in a "mood" for no reason that you can fathom? Today was one of those days. After these last few weeks of peace-fullness in my life it was scary to find my old whiny, negative self when I woke up this morning. With no luck figuring out on my own what had precipitated this sudden funk, I decided to pray.
We made our way out to Shangri La Ti Da and started to work. I cleaned the new stable of all construction leftovers, helped my husband with roof panels and painted. All the while a stream of praying is running through my mind. When my little husband had to run back into town for supplies, I sat in the quietness of the woods and meadow. As the symphony of nature soothed my spirit I realize that my prayers for a return to peace-fullness had been answered. Ahhh. Thank God.
ps...Baby Zoe, who will now be known as Lexi Grace to the rest of the world, came through her surgery with flying colors today! Ahhh. Thank God!

It's A Girl!

A new baby. An end of pregnancy. A new journey is begun as an old journey is ended.
Today, Baby Zoe Grace Roy was born. (well, that is what I call her....they can't decide on a first name yet) Baby Zoe is a bit of a miracle. Awhile ago she was diagnosed with Spina Bifida and hydrocephaly. Her parents were told how bad it was going to be. They were even told that many babies like her die before they are born. Meloney, her mom, didn't like to go to see the doctor because he was so negative.
So, we began to pray. And pray. And pray. When we didn't have some specific physical need to pray for we prayed that the negative doctor would not be able to be negative and upset Meloney...you'll have to get Mel to tell you that story.
Baby Zoe has a very small sac at the base of her spine and a very mild hydorcephaly. Her legs and her knees work. Her lungs work fine even though she is a month early. She was born big enough to put a shunt in immediately to alleviate pressure.
Yes. Baby Zoe is a miracle. She is already the most precious thing in the world to her 3 older sisters. She has doting grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends. Her parents are two of the most amazing people I know.
Tomorrow the pediatric neuro surgeon will close the hole in her spine and put in her shunt. Surgery will start 7:30ish and last 6 - 8 hours.
And we will continue to pray for continued miracles, because our God is like that.
Lift up a prayer for Baby Zoe Grace Roy.
Lay some lovin' on one of God's miracles that lives with you.

One of Those Days

It was one of those days. Everything went well and a good time was had by all. All shopping goals were completed. No eating out was done ( I packed a lunch!) A bike ride was enjoyed.
My friend, Stevie, and I went to Morgantown. Might actually be the first time all summer. She is back from her trip to Ireland and it was the first day we got to spend together catching up.
We loaded the bikes on the back of the Subaru and took off. First stop was Pathfinder to get my fenders put on the bike, which by the way will now be known as Razzle...she looks most cool with her silver fenders. Next purchase needs to be a bell. Stevie needed a new inner tube for her bike. Then came the shopping part. Smooth.
Finally got to biking. We parked at MedExpress and went toward Fairmont. We only did about 15 miles. I know that is a diappointment to some of you who know I can ride longer distances, but Stevie doesn't have a comfortable ride like Razzle. Her butt was getting sore! I am the best of friends though and sacrificed my comfy seat and happy butt for her to use Razzle a couple of times during the ride. When we stopped for lunch we were near a field and saw several Monarch butterflies. They are amazing creatures and beautiful. We raise them and release them each year in Kindergarten. We saw deer coming and going to get drinks in the river, a squirrel and plenty of birds.
Stopped for a kiddie cone at the DQ and came home. Ahhh. One of those days.
Hope yours was as nice.
Oh. P.S. The show last night, that my Lydia was in, was amazing. I laughed and cried and enjoyed it tremendously. Near the end of the show we realized that every single cast member was a PHS graduate. Even Mrs. Broderick was in the show. The next one starts Friday. Big River. Nate Golden is Huck Finn. You should go!

One Of Those Times

Have you ever had one of those times when you said you wanted to do thus and such, were sure you wanted to do thus and such, were looking forward to doing thus and such, but when the time came to actually do it you could think of a couple of thousand reasons why you didn't really want to, shouldn't really have to, couldn't really even imagine doing that very thing? By yesterday evening I was tired, it was going to rain (the weather map radar was very green), it was going to be late and I didn't really want to go to Chestnut Ridge to see String Fever in concert anymore despite the fact that we had planned to for a few weeks. We have seen them before in the comfort and closeness of Monroe's during a Laurel Mountain Coffee House. It would be OK if we didn't go, right? We are too old to sit in the rain with strangers, right?
Well, it didn't start raining and it didn't start raining and I found out the concert really started at 6:00, not so late even for us (although I was actually looking on line hoping to see that it had been cancelled). So, I finally said, "If Keith can get there, so can we." Off we went, praying the whole while that the rain would hold off and Keith would be strong enough to enjoy what he was doing.
The rain did hold off. I got a big hug from a friend I hadn't seen for years as soon as we walked in and saw a few other folks we knew during the evening. And talking with Keith at the end of the show let us know that he did enjoy what he was doing. His smile and spirit were strong.
For those of you who don't know, Keith has cancer and is generally in a lot of pain. He had to sit through the show. He had to wear a brace from chest to waist. And he sang and he played with his usual passion. He and Joan and Jake were a gift to all who were there.
I'm glad I went. It was a blessing and a testimony to the power of prayer.
Tonight I am going to see one of my graduated kindergarten darlings, Lydia, in the show Steel Magnolias. I'm sure I will be glad I went to this event, too.
Ever had one of those times?

Baskets-my other hobby

These are just a few of my baskets. I really enjoy the peacefulness of creating them. I took a couple of lessons a couple of years ago with my friend, Autumn, and since then I have learned to read directions to make a basket on my own. But even more fun is the creating of an original basket. None of these show my latest "signature" detail that I try to put on each of my baskets these days. I don't guess I have photos of the newer baskets. The basket above is an original design for my friend, Sarah, in New Mexico.

The basket to the left is from a pattern and it is called a Shaker Cat's Head basket. If you look at the bottom you can see the cat's ears. This basket is sort of magic. You go along weaving and then it says turn it over. Voila...you have cat ear's. Lots of fun. This one went to my sister-in-law for her birthday.

This last basket is a twill weave market basket that I probably took apart 5 or 6 times as I was trying to get the twill right. I now carry this basket with me everywhere. It used to be my "pocket book" replacement, but now I have a pocket book small enough to fit inside the basket. It is my lunch box, mail carrier, general tote and supply keeper. I had to install leather band around the handle and woven into the basket after about a year because the handle kept breaking. Ahh, the joy of using something made by your very own hands...makes me think homesteading ... no, probably not in a very big way.

What have you made lately?

Learning New Things

I love learning new things. That's what makes me a good teacher. I never feel like I have it all "figured out" so I just keep trying to figure it all out. I even love learning new things about technology....once in a very great while, but don't tell anyone.
So, what I learned today is how to pull my pictures off of the computer and put them in here. What I didn't learn is how to put them exactly where I want them. Can anyone help with that? They each just went to the top of the page instead of next on the page...
Well, anyway, these are some of my Whimsical Woolies. Let me tell you about them.
This is one of the very first ones that I did and it still makes me smile. It says, "Yum. Tastes like chicken. (oh, it is chicken...)" Look at the grin on that face. He fits in an 11x14 mat, so the art work is about 4x6. Real feather.

Here we have the Cat Whisperer. He just evolved from a southwest feeling. Must be leftover from our 2 years in New Mexico. What do you suppose that crow is telling him? He also fits in an 11x14 frame.

The title of this one is "Mamas don't let your kittens grow up to be cowboys." Doesn't he look little boy determined? That is a real (little) piece of bandana and string for rope. Also 11x14.

This is what I do for fun. I have a gift for creating given to me from the first Creator and every so often I simply must create something. I also make baskets as you know. Maybe I will show you some of them tomorrow.

So, what do you think? Do you have a favorite saying that you think would be cute? Always looking for ideas...

Hope they make you smile for awhile.