My Style

The hubby's sleeping. Two of the kids are sleeping. I am taking a second day "off" in a row--and scrapbooking for the first time in months.

The photos in this layout were taken in January of 2009. Here is another photo of the dress under the coat, taken last fall with my stylin', comfy (and modest! when the wind blows the dress up à la Marilyn Monroe) red-with-white-polka-dots bloomers:


I made this dress in January of '09 while Jason was in Nashville at the Financial Peace Counselor training. In fact, I believe that it was only the second time I'd worn it in the layout photos. It ended up looking much more like the cotton dresses my grandmother wore in the 50's and 60's than I thought it would, but I like it. I also like that I raided my mom's vintage button stash for it, and that there are at least three different styles and sizes of buttons on it.

Here is another example of my vintage, eclectic style: the dress I made and designed in December of 2009 out of a rather heavy denim that my mom had given me:


This was inspired by a desire to stay warm and to look stylish at the same time. The pleated ruffles are cut on the bias and unfinished, so after it had been washed a couple of times the edges got a little fuzzy and stood out more, especially the one on the skirt. Again, my favourite part is the buttons. I find that I can usually make entire dresses for under $20, but if $12-$15 of that is spent on buttons, it makes the whole dress look more expensive. (Free material really helps!)

The journaling on my layout reads:

"If it's a little vintage,
A little unique,
A little modern
A little chic,
A little classy,
A little sweet,
A little homemade,
A little neat,
A little red,
And versatile,
Once all that's said
It's Just My Style."

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety-Jig!

The "home again" part is Jason, who came home today. He's still recovering, but at least he can do that at home. The "jiggety-jig" part--they have ruled out diabetes. We will not hear back about the other tests they took until the end of next week.

Thanks again to everyone for your prayers and kind thoughts. We are all looking forward to a quiet weekend at home.

"This is True Love... you think this happens everyday?"*

Our wedding day also happened to be our college graduation day. We didn't know that they would coincide when we booked the church! Needless to say, neither of us made it to the cap-and-gown ceremony. But I liked my other gown and Jason's suit better.

For our first anniversary, we were moving out of my dad's basement (where we lived during our first year of marriage while Jason completed another college course) down to Calgary. We celebrated amongst piles of boxes that friends had helped us haul into a tiny rented apartment the day before--we were too broke for a date, but we were hopeful and excited about finally being "on our own."

I honestly don't remember many other anniversary dates right now. I know that we have had lovely dinners and romantic nights on the town, which were amazing and marriage-building. But it seems like the ones that are a little less "expected" are the ones you really remember.

For instance, we will always remember how we spent our tenth wedding anniversary--snuggled up on a single hospital bed, trying to watch a romantic movie whilst being interrupted by nurses and visitors and still finish in time to pick the kids up from the sitter's at a reasonable hour...

We've had a lot of ups and downs in the last ten years, but our love just keeps getting stronger. I love you, Honey. I can't wait to see where this adventure goes in the next ten!

Love Is Gonna Break Through
Chris Rice

Hear a newborn baby cry
Hear the farmers pray for rain
One more soldier gives his life
A homeless man begs for change
But change won't come easily
What does this have to do with me?

And my heart pounds with a thunder
And I stop and wonder
What should we do with life's surprises?
(Everyday the sun rises on us!)
Like a swing set in a graveyard,
Like a bloom in the desert sands
(Look at my tremblin' hands!)
'Cause it hits me like lightning
That love must keep fighting
And somehow, every time
Love is gonna break through!
Love is gonna break through!
Love is gonna break through!
Love is gonna break through!

World inside a clear blue sky
Teeming with humanity
Tears and laughter intertwine
Our comedies and tragedies
And History is a runaway
But not so far that Love can't find and save

And my heart pounds with a thunder
And I stop and wonder
What should we do with life's surprises?
(Everyday the sun rises on us!)
Like a swing set in a graveyard,
Like a bloom in the desert sands
(Look at my tremblin' hands!)
'Cause it hits me like lightning
That love must keep fighting
And somehow, every time
Love is gonna break through!
Love is gonna break through!
Love is gonna break through!
Love is gonna break through!

It takes my breath, it's come to this
We all bleed red, you can't resist
The changing wind, the roaring tide
C'mon, get on the winning side

Love is gonna break through!
Love is gonna break through!
Love is gonna break through!
Love is gonna break through!

-----------

Thanks to your prayers and a good God, Jason should be coming home tomorrow. He's not out of left field yet, but he is definitely getting there! You are all such a blessing, and your comments and words of encouragement have meant more this week than you can ever know. We love you.

*Westley to Buttercup in William Goldman's The Princess Bride

A Lighter Note...

The kids and I have been getting some laughs from the uber-talented Tim Hawkins this morning, and I just wanted to share this video with all my friends, especially those with young children.

Jason was doing better yesterday when we were there, but the doctor had decided that he needed more testing to find out what's wrong with him (besides pneumonia.) They took ten vials of blood for a battery of tests that we won't hear about until next week. Also, Jason will now be in the hospital until at least tomorrow.

Thank you to all of you who have sent kind thoughts and wishes our way. I printed them off to take to Jason and lift his spirits.

I'll keep you posted.

... But then it started pouring.

On Wednesday night, Jason came home feeling extremely ill. He went to bed.

And pretty much didn't get out until this morning, when I took him to Emergency at the hospital. After an hour of flurried activity and testing, they decided for sure that he has pneumonia, mostly in his left lung. They think he may also have diabetes and impaired liver function. We'll know more about that tomorrow.

Even though the sun is shining, this week is looking to be a little rainier than last.

I just keep praying for the rainbow...

And the Rain came tumbling down... and turned into snow.

Well, this has got to be a record for "blog-rest" for me! It's been a busy month. Fortunately, right at the beginning of it, my mom split the cost of a new camera with me, so I can give you a quick pictorial overview.

At the beginning of the month, I took the boys and headed down to Sylvan, leaving Jason in charge of the chicks. The boys got to stay with my mother-in-law while I flew with my dad and brother to L.A. to see these two do this:


I enjoyed hanging out with many of my extended family, catching a few rays of California sun, along with some much-needed R&R.

When I got home, it was only a day later before I was to receive 55 new poultry (2 of them an adult breeding pair of Crevecouer chickens), without the space to put them anywhere! I had not managed to get my first chicken tractor done before leaving, but after three days of work, and some help, it was finally finished.

Jude and Jabin with Lotsa Babies!

So, my life has been filled with lots of work related to chickens, trying to shelter them, feed them, and keep them alive. My new babies were dropping like flies for a few days there, until I figured out that I had too much salt in their feed.

Anyhoo, despite being rather eventful on my end, this post about my month is going to be rather short.

I'm just thankful I got most of my garden in last Sunday, before this last week of rain--which turned into snow today. I really hope my oldest chicks (outside in the chicken tractor) survive this little "May blizzard" we are having.

I guess we'll see. I certainly don't have anywhere else to put them!

My favourite brother EVER!