Spring Garden Party

Nothing says SPRING like a good ol' fashioned garden party. The weather is warmer, the flowers are blooming, and the birds are chirping.

If our backyard looked fabulous and wasn't overrun by mosquitos half the time, this is the kind of garden party I'd throw:

Fresh flowers and romantic lighting:

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Fun music in the background:

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I'd serve some fancy drinks:

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And there'd be plenty of cupcakes:

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And don't forget your garden party hat!

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And of course, you're all invited! :)

Week 23

Here's the latest "bumpdate":

I'm feeling mostly okay, but I am having some back issues. When I sit for longer than 5 or 10 minutes, the right side of the middle of my back starts twinging and I have to stand up and walk around. Other than that, no complaints!

We were recently blessed by one of my husband's professors who gave us BOXES of boys clothes since she's done having kids. Everything from size 0 to 2T. It took me two hours just to sort through everything by size!! We are feeling so blessed!

Tickle Me Tuesdays, 59th edition

Welcome to the latest edition of Tickle Me Tuesdays, where we all share what's been tickling our fancy!

If you'd like to participate (and you know you do!!), here are the rules:
  

1. Write a short post with anywhere from one to five items that have been tickling your fancy recently. Please include pictures and links :)

2. Make sure to link back to the party in your blog post (you can grab the button or include a text link)

3. Come back here and link up your blog post!  

4. Visit some other links and HAVE FUN!

 Antique Mustard Country Basket from Anna Lou Vintage

Bird Plates from Black Baroque

Doily Coasters from Uncommon

Now it's your turn! What's been tickling your fancy lately?

<a href="http://yesteachercrafts.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s92/french_mk/tickle.jpg" /></a><br />

Missionary Kid Monday: Surviving America

{For more on this series, click here}


My eleventh grade year still holds the title for Most Awful Year Ever. It's not a very prestigious award; it mostly comes with a lot of tears.


You may remember that every four years, my family had to go back to the States for a year to check in with our churches and raise more support. We called this year "furlough". (I wanted to call it "My life, interrupted").


Our second furlough was during my eleventh grade year. Now for once, I was feeling just peachy about my current situation: I really loved my boarding high school in Germany. I didn't want to leave.


In fact, I remember throwing a bit of a teenage-tantrum when my parents informed me they would be pulling me out of school ONE WEEK EARLY so they could get cheaper airfare. My logical mind was all: 


"How is saving hundreds of dollars worth the social interaction I'll be missing out on?!"


It just didn't make sense! But sure enough, mom and dad showed up at my dorm at near the end of my 10th grade year. And as we were driving out of my little village, a stork showed up and flew right alongside my passenger window for well over a minute. I stared at it through my tear-filled blurry vision. It was my personal farewell.


And a little later, when our plane descended at LAX in California, I sang The Doxology in my head over and over to prevent myself from becoming hysterical.


Granted, I did not have the best attitude. BUT! In my defense....


1. I was going from a Christian high school with 250 students to a public high school with 2500 students!


2. I was leaving the only place I ever fit in.


3. I was going to have to share a room with my younger sister (14) and brother (12) for a whole year.


But I guess there was one good thing about that year:

I got my driver's license!

But mostly I remember sneaking off to hidden places so I could cry in peace.


I didn't really make any friends that year. I had the ILLUSION of friends, as you can see from this youth group birthday party where my sister and I are standing awkwardly to the side (on the right):

Besides finding hidden places to cry, the real thing I learned in eleventh grade was that I can survive anything for a year!

Tickle Me Tuesday, 63rd edition

Welcome to the latest edition of Tickle Me Tuesdays, where we all share what's been tickling our fancy!

If you'd like to participate (and you know you do!!), here are the rules:
  

1. Write a short post with anywhere from one to five items that have been tickling your fancy recently. Please include pictures and links :)

2. Make sure to link back to the party in your blog post (you can grab the button or include a text link)

3. Come back here and link up your blog post!  

4. Visit some other links and HAVE FUN!

Rain of Hearts Embroidery Hoop from Buligaia

Pencils from the Carbon Crusader

Balsam Sachet from Gardenmis

Now it's your turn! What's been tickling your fancy lately? 

<a href="http://yesteachercrafts.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s92/french_mk/tickle.jpg" />

The Fruits of my (Long) Creative Process

My creative process (when I'm trying something new) is embarrassingly slow. Here are my steps:

1. See a great project on Pinterest.
2. Think about doing the project.
3. Hoard some Joann's/Michaels coupons to get the supplies I need.
4. Spend two consecutive Saturdays at the craft store to get the supplies. (A big deal since the nearest store is 12 miles away!)
5. Think about doing the project.
6. Wait until I have a Saturday FREE of any extra errands or responsibilities to do the project. (Because I can't be interrupted and projects sap my energy!)
7. Actually do the great project.

But let me tell you... when I actually DO accomplish a project, I am just grinning from ear to ear - I am so proud of myself!

So let me present to you the latest projects I've finished:

A nursing cover (tutorial here)

I have to admit, I'm in love with that fabric!

Burp cloths (tutorial here) 

I'll be making more of these with some baby boy fabric I ordered :)

What about you? Have you crossed any crafty projects off of your list? Is your creative process like mine?

 

Whiner

When I was little, I whined a LOT. I remember when I was about five or six, and my dad was admonishing me for whining about something. "Stop using a whiny tone of voice!" he said.

And I replied (in my whiniest voice): "But I don't even know what whining SOUNDS like!!"

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As an adult, I still whine... but to myself. I've been feeling convicted of this lately in reading the book of Numbers. In chapter 11 it describes how the Israelites complained about the Lord's daily providence of manna to eat. They regretted ever having left Egypt (their place of slavery) because at least they had had meat to eat there. They wept at the entrance of their tents about the manna.

It's easy to read a story like this and shake my head at them. Those Israelites! Didn't they see that the Lord was taking care of them and providing for their needs? Couldn't they be grateful? What babies! They totally deserved that plague that God sent them as a result!

And then I turn around and have the same attitude about work. I have a lot I could complain about and rail against God about. Like how I have twice the students as my colleagues. Like how THIRTY percent of my students have major behavior issues. Like how I don't have a teacher assistant in the mornings like my colleagues do. And on, and on. 

Sometimes it's easy to think "poor me!" But in reality, this is my manna. This is what God has given me to pay the bills and help my husband get through his PhD. 

And when I think about feeling sorry for myself that I'll have to go back to teaching for at least one more year after the baby comes, I need to remember this life lesson from Numbers. I need to be grateful for the blessings He has given me, not resentful!

Linking up with Kelly and Casey today.