Our new little home, that's me peeking out.
Cute backyard!



Sojourn's Fall Festival and Affordable Art Fair.
Lorie bought one of my purses from the Affordable Art Fair!
Lindsay did too!
Mike and Dorothy spent the day together while Terri and I sold our fine products. The Art behind them is the one we bought for D's new room. Sarah Hall did that piece and it's perfect.

Terri, Ellory, Karen, Dorothy(the penguin), and I at our sales table.

Fall Finally!

Oh nerds! It's been too long. I was doing so well posting and then life went crazy as it does in October. Why October? Here is to fill you in.

*Doing better health wise, well sorta. We have been relearning what it means to live with Rheumatoid Arthritis since I was in remission during pregnancy. Cold, wet weather makes it hurt all over. I have found that cutting back on wheat, dairy, and sugar help minimize the pain. To bad for me because cereal, cheese and candy are my favorite foods. Mike is doing better and has follow up appointments next week. Keep us in your prayers and thanks for all of your comments, emails, and previous prayers.
*Bought a house. Yup, sure did. It'd in Germantown. We will close on November 7th. I think even more exciting than having a house is that I have a DISHWASHER! Seriously folks, we are going on 8 years of marriage without one. sigh. We are so excited. The house is a remodeled turn of the century home. Yeah! So it has the charm of an oldie but the benefits of a new house...and we have a garage, and our own yard that we don't have to share unless we want to.
*Come to the Fall festival! I am in the Affordable Art Show! I have made a messenger bag, purses, holidays onesies, and more. Everything is under a hundred bucks but mine is way under that amount. This is the first time I will sell any of my stuff and it is all original designs so I am excited and nervous.
*Dorothy Jean is 12 weeks today. It is so crazy to see how much she can do each day. She mimics Mike and I. She also sticks her bottom lip out when she is sad. And if you catch her off guard she gets sad and then cries, so hurt. Most of the time though, she is throwing her head back laughing and wrinkling her nose.

OK, so that's us for a while. Thanks to all of my readers for checking in on us. Especially my Aunt Jane who checks, can't wait to see you in December!

11 weeks

Real Quick.

Real quick. We are experiencing some health issues. Please pray for Mike. He has some doctor's visits tomorrow. Dorothy is doing well. She saw her hands and feet yesterday. It was very exciting for her.

Welcome to my blog, again.

I remember when I first read a blog, probably five or six years ago. It was a friend's blog. It was hilarious, witty, and a blessing in that it talked about her faith in God and Journey with Christ. I remember thinking blogs were a great way to communicate with family and friends from out of town...but I also thought about the caution that one should take in what they write for safety. I guess I thought if I started one some day I should be cautious.

When I started this blog it was mostly to post the pictures of my trip to Europe, with the idea that I would talk a bit about my life, our marriage and interests too, particularly my journey in faith. As I discovered the many arts, craft, and sewing blogs over the past year, I have been more inspired to create and share those ideas on this blog as well. Then I reunited with some dear friends and we discussed how we keep up with each other through this sort of thing so I wanted to post more updates on life. And I have to post pics of D and share my adventures in motherhood. How could I not? But. I really want to get to the real reason I have a blog. I need to state my ultimate purpose for this little thing I write every few days.

This is about Christ.
I am about Christ.
It is high time I get bold enough to say it here. I would say to your face but, I have been too afraid to type it out where who knows who reads it, which is just silly.

So hello to all.
All I know, use to know, don't know at all.
Welcome to my blog, again.
If you choose to visit again and/or often expect some pictures of our little family, updates of how were doing, what sewing and crafting projects I am working on.
But above all know that I am learning to find contentment in Christ. Not what I own, not where I live, not where I work, not what I drive, not what I wear...

Two Months

Two months old. People ask if she is four. Cooing, smiling, and laughing are what she does for fun. Compare how big she's gotten to these pictures.
We love her so. I am teary eyed, she's sleeping in her room in the big crib tonight. Oh me.

Edit: At her two month check up she was 12 pounds 11 oz and 23 1/2 inches.

Happy needle crafting!

Some dear friends were discussing ideas for cheap and crafty baby gifts so I cut and pasted my favorites below. Some I have tried, all I hope to try. I can't wait to try the toddler dress from a button up shirt for D next summer. Be sure to check out the last two as there are links to multiple projects (I love the SewMamaSew blog!)

Baby Sling
Kids pants
Toddler dress from button up shirt
Baby Booties
Headbands for adults and kids
Embroidery tutorial for burp clothes
Embroidery patterns for burp clothes
Sew Mama Sew: Girls' clothes tutorial round-up
Sew Mama Sew: Boys' clothes tutorial round-up

I love to hear if you have other tutorials I should add to my list.
Happy needle crafting!

Edit: Most of these links ask that you make these for yourself or gifts. They don't want you to use their patterns and then sell them. Just wanted to warn you.

What'cha Making? Below are some of my latest projects

I have been making these baby slings for friends. That's my little D in there, sleeping. I got the fabric last spring at Hancock's for 3 bucks a yard! I wish I had bought more. Here is the pattern/instructions if you want to give it a try:
Karma Baby Sling.
Here is a photo album for my friends in Africa with pics of our first few weeks as parents. I am making another for Mike's grandma.

...Someday soon I'll post the instructions on this tied baby quilt which I made as a baby gift for Nathan and Amy(it's similar to the one in the Oct. Martha mag, which is originally from the book, Last-Minute Patchwork & Quilted Gifts, which BTW is on my wish list) .


Post a comment and let me know what you've been making and any favorite sewing or crafty links you have. God Bless you all this week!

Which Austen Lady are you?

Take the Quiz here!

Come on Carrie, Leesa, Hilary, Rebecca... I know you want to know!

No title needed.

Friends Forever...

Little Miss Coffey, Little Miss Cosper, & Little Miss Abell!

Mondays.

We use to hate Mondays around here. Sunday night's were full of dread for the upcoming week, my dear husband would have just worked a sixteen hour work day and I was always polishing up lesson plans and grading spelling tests. Now Monday is our day of rest. Yesterday Mike got up with little D at 6am. They watched the weekend's football highlights together while I napped and after I got up Mike went and got some Nord's donuts and Quill's coffee. To top the day off we had Kasmir's Tiki Masala for dinner.

After all the indulgence yesterday, today marked our getting back to healthy eating. We don't live on junk food but I have had quite a bit of cinnamon toast and oreos in the last 10 months. So here is to healthier alternatives.

Smiling and crafting.

I know, I know, this is turning into a blog all about Dorothy. I know lots of you don't mind that though, especially her grandparents! This pic is her again at just a few days old. Mike and I haven't loaded her newer smiling pics. She is smiling at Mike all the time. She is pretty use to me and she only smiles at me every now and then, but when she does it melts me.

D was measured at her one month check up this week and is 11 pounds 2 oz and 21 1/8 inches. Since late July we have had SOOO many friends who have had babies. There is Thomas, Anna, Levi, our Dorothy, Logan and this week we welcomed Nora, Arlen, and Ruby. Next up is baby Eubanks. It's in the water people.


In other news...
Leesa and I have known each other for about seven years but realized recently that we have the same birthdays and mutual love of crafting. She encouraged me the other day with this:

"At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a
disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of
my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong,
stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see
myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up
at a job that they will never see finished, to work on
something that their name will never be on.
The writer of the book went so far as to say that no
cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there
are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the
friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My
mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies,
and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and
presses all the linens for the table." That would mean I'd built
a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to
come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his
friend, to add, "You're gonna love it here."

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We
cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it
is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at
what we have built, but also at the beauty that has
been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible
women.

May the passion of your building be fueled by your
faith that the eyes of God see everything."

Thanks to all who commented last time. It encourages me to keep posting when I know you all are reading.
God bless you all this week.

One month old!!!

This is Dorothy in th hospital on day three...












And this is one month!







That is the little quilt I made the week before she was born. I started it once the c-section was scheduled. I was going stir crazy because I felt huge and it was so hot. I didn't want to watch TV all week so I made her this blanket and Mike got her the bear. We are hoping to take a picture on the quilt with the bear every month to show her growth.

Obviously she is a great eater. Some random nerd at a restaurant called her a meatloaf!!! Mike thought I was going to kill the guy. Whatever, she is super healthy!

Anyway post a comment and say hello. Especially all our family and friends who are visiting for the first time.

Did Do List

I can't remember where I saw it but the other day I read a suggestion for new moms to make a "Did Do List" instead of a "To Do List". It is encouraging when you feel like you haven't done anything all day. Here is my list for today so far:

• Woke up at 8:30 and got Dorothy and I fed, cleaned up and dressed to meet Mike at church by 9:30 (OK we were a little late).
• Listened to Daniel's sermon, which inspired me to memorize John 17:24 and Hebrews 7:25
  
• Ate Kentucky Fried Chicken for the first time in about 5 years
• Remembered why I only eat Kentucky Fried Chicken every 5 years
  
• Changed 10 diapers
• Fed Dorothy 7 times
• Held and loved on Dorothy
  
• Made sweet tea
  
• Watched some Sunday Night Football and ate sushi with Mike
• Did the dishes and cleaned the kitchen!!!
• Updated my blog.

John 17:24 (New Living Translation)

Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!

Hebrews 7:25 (New Living Translation)

Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.

Grandma and Nana

I was going through the photos of Dorothy and all that has happened since she arrived. I stumbled on this one. It is her two grandmothers, Nana Cosper and Grandma Huff. Mike took this picture as they stood right outside of the surgery wing, which they were NOT supposed to be doing, but they are grandmas, what can you do?

If you know me well you know I had the joy of spending time with my two grandmas growing up and I have been praying Dorothy will be able to have as many memories with her grandmothers as I did with mine. May they teach her many things like I learned: cross stitch, sewing, baking, canning, reading, faith in God, love for family...
She is blessed to have them.

Two weeks in...

Dorothy is two weeks old today! We are figuring things out daily, but Mike and I kind of can't remember life without her. We are falling into a little bit of routine and count ourselves blessed when it goes as planned and muddle through when it doesn't. Mike has surpassed all that I could have imagined him being as a dad, he is so caring, thoughtful and has blown me away. Our parents have blessed us over and over with love, support, and endless gifts. Thanks to the family and friends that have welcomed Dorothy. I'll post more soon on my tales of motherhood as well as more pictures.

Dorothy Jean Cosper

9 years ago yesterday...

...I went on my first date with Mike!

How much longer?