Words of Wisdom Wednesday

Last night I was watching a television show, and the message was profound;

It is much easier to let hate into your heart than it is to grieve the event which has caused you discontentment. However, it is much healthier for not only you, but everyone around you, to allow yourself time to grieve and learn to love again.

I don't feel like I'm in need of grieving anything in particular right now that would otherwise cause me to be hate-filled and resentful, but that message was shouting at my heart.  I may not feel like it's something I need today, but I know it is a lesson I need to remember always. It really is easier to say an unkind word or think an unkind thought, to be snarky or rude, to hold a grudge rather than forgive, but I know it isn't better.

Sometimes we don't even realize we are being hateful, it just kind of creeps into our thoughts, words, and deeds.  I think losing respect for someone if they've done something hurtful to you, or losing love through a break-up or death are the easiest things we can see in our lives as reasons to be on our toes about letting hate in.


So today your challenge is this: Choose to grieve.  Choose forgiveness. Choose to be filled with love, even when it is difficult, but most of all, do not choose hate.

Why do I keep ditching you guys?

Honestly, I don't really know. It isn't intentional. Life just happens.

You might be wondering where I've been. Rest easy, I've been here all along, but I have once again taken an almost 3 month break from this place called blogland.

I miss it, but I'll tell you, life has been busy, and sometimes writing about it is just one more thing on my list that I can't get done. I want to. Trust me. Every time I complete a project, or while it's in progress I have a mini dialogue with myself about how to write the post for it. The thing is, I haven't done it. I haven't even taken pictures of all the projects I've accomplished in the last 3 months. Why? Well, mostly because I was having so much fun(read; going so fast) getting things accomplished that I actually forgot about taking step by step photos or even photos of finished projects. Sad, I know, but not really. Just think how much more we can accomplish when we don't have to stop and photograph every step so we can give the world one more tutorial about how to do something that 500,000 other somebodies have already told us how to do.  Did that sentence make your head hurt? Sorry. It's something I've been struggling with. I LOVE writing, and I especially love reading all the other blogs(PLEASE DON'T RUN AWAY LIKE ME) and looking through Pinterest for ideas about how to improve our lives, or fun things we can make/do to enhance our experience as a family. I will say though, not stopping to take a photo of my process on projects the last few months has let me get things done much faster. And I'll tell you what, when you only have an hour naptime in which to accomplish 10 tasks during your Saturday without worrying where the munchkin is or what she's getting into, well, going faster is helpful.  However, I DO intend to show you some things I've done around the house soon. I'm hoping I can take photos today or tomorrow and get some things posted over the next few weeks.

I might just start a Pinterest Inspired Project of the Week/Month.  Keep an eye out for it.

Mini Cowboy Band Outfit: How I Did It

CBB Uniform Details

Secret: I actually made two bodysuits. The first became too small for her, so after homecoming I made a second bodysuit to use for Halloween.  The first run had felt for the patch and neckerchief, the second used purple fabric from an old tshirt.  Felt doesn't really sew on well, so I glued those things. When I went to make the second outfit I couldn't unstick them so I made a second set out of fabric and sewed it to the new bodysuit.  That is why you will see glue/stitch in several places.

 

Bodysuit

1. purchased youth small shirt from craft store (couldn't find appropriate colored bodysuit)
2. altered using current size bodysuit for comparison, neck stretched enough I didn't change it
3. Used fabric marker to draw pockets, button placket, collar fold
4. attached stiff quilting fabric for collar
5. glued buttons to front and sewed on snaps at crotch
6. made patch and neckerchief from felt/fabric and glued/sewed on

 

Patch

 

Looked at original patch and cut fabric in Texas shape

Used fabric paint/markers to draw symbols on matching original layout/style; this was freehand since the patch was smaller to fit such a tiny outfit.

Let dry, then glued/stitched on.

 

Chaps

 

1. Purchased scrap leather, felt, and sequins from craft store
2. Cut scrap leather to appropriate shape.
3. Hand-stitched sequins onto felt to spell Hardin on one panel and Simmons on the other.
4. Glued felt to leather as the leather I had was to thick to try to sew it. So, tacky glue to the rescue.
5. I also cut small fringe pieces from a leather cord I had and glued them just under the edge of the felt. That took a bit of time, but it gave a more finished look.
6. Let dry overnight.
7. Made an elastic belt, covering with brown fabric I had on hand. If you do this, make sure your fabric is as long as you want the elastic to be able to stretch otherwise it defeats the purpose.
8. Sewed a "buckle" from yellow fabric scraps and stitched it to the belt.
9. Folded chap panels over the belt and glued leather to leather.

 

It was relatively easy, but each part took some time because I wanted to be pretty precise.  I worked on it over the course of several weeks, but overall probably only spent about 5-10 hours.

 

Have fun!

 

 

 

 

 



Catching Up

I know I've been absent for a long while. There is a good reason. Life. It happens so fast and I am so tired that by the time I think about putting something on here I'm 3 months behind and realize it's silly to bother. Well, it's not silly, but sometimes it feels that way.

So, a brief picture update of our life.

Our daughter met the cat.
(She's become mobile, almost walking full time.)
They instantly fell in love.
She now squeals with delight every time she sees TJ.

We dressed her up as a mini Cowboy Band gal for HSU homecoming and again for Halloween.
She had boots but they didn't stay on long because it was hot.
(She's getting stronger willed.)

Here is a look at the back of her "uniform"
(She interacts more and seems to understand our instructions, but doesn't always follow them.)

We had Thanksgiving and are getting ready for Christmas.

Oh, and we are now gearing up for her 1st birthday in January!
Wow did that happen fast.
It has been an amazing rollercoaster ride of love and joy.

Maybe you'll see more from me if time allows in the next few weeks.

Merry Christmas!



 

Wait...What?!?

Nine Months Ago

 



My little baby hit the 9 month mark yesterday. Yep, nine months old!

It's amazing to me how quickly the time has gone.  She is crawling, standing, trying to walk, and talking. She has her daddy's adventurous/mischievous nature and her momma's grace, or lack there of.  It's quite a combination.  She climbs over every barrier we can fashion and often bangs her head on the floor during the tumble that follows, but she's resilient. She usually just gets up and tries again.

We love watching her learn, and today I had the biggest surprise of all.  She spoke.  Not just the lovely babbling mumbles she's been doing for the last few months, but a real sentence.  In fact, two of them. Wait....WHAT?!?  Yeah, you read that right.  My little Lila said two sentences to me in direct response to questions I asked her. They were short, but it was still amazing.

When she woke up this morning, she had her regular diaper change/bottle while lounging across mom routine.  Afterward, she was standing on my lap fully awake and happy, but gassy.  After several rather large toots I asked her "Does that feel better?"  She looked at me for about half a second then said, "It does!" So I kind of half laughed in shock and amazement, then decided to keep going.  I asked, "Did you sleep well?" She responded, "I did!" It was incredible.  After that I started getting the normal dadada babble as she tried to tell me a story, but she said those two responses plain as day. Who's a proud mama?  This gal.

Then, as we were saying bye to Daddy and getting ready to leave Ryan asked her teasingly "Is Amanda Dodson your dad?" It's a joke he thinks is funny to use my maiden name and say I'm the dad and he's the mom.  I tell him not to because she'll get confused, but when he asked that she turned to me and said "Momma, Momma."  Melt my heart. :) It was intentional, deliberate, thought out, and not because she was feeling bad. The few times she's ever said Momma have been when she really was upset and didn't feel well.  This was an excited expression, not a whiny one.  It was wonderful. And then, of her own volition, without any prompting(we've been trying to teach her bye-bye and waving for about two months) she said "buh beh bye bye" to her Daddy.  When I asked her to say bye bye again and wave she gave me a look as if to say, "Didn't you just hear me? What do I have to do woman? Do you need a sign?  Hello!! I JUST SAID THAT!" Lol...it was a very long, very pointed look.

I am so proud of my little one. She's growing so fast, and expressing what she learns more every day.

One Week Ago

Talking to me while I took a picture before school.

 

 

 



We thank you Lord for choosing us to be caretakers, protectors, and guides for her soul on this earth.  We are blessed to have her and ask your guidance as we train her up in your truth and love.  Amen.