A Little Busy...........

I am really staying busy, but I'm disappointed that I just can't do it all!

There are several things on my plate right now, and once the girls' activities start up, they'll be added to the top of the list. Please know that I am not complaining about having too many things to do, I am just sad that I can't add the other 4/5 things that I'd really luuuuuuuv to do, to the list. I love being able to keep my mind occupied, not dwelling on personal issues. Let me share:

• FIRST AND FOREMOST~~My kiddos have started back up in school and so have their activities. Adi is playing junior high volleyball and is cheering, too. That will keep her busy, but I know she will love it and excel in all that she does. Audra will be starting volleyball. She was reluctant to sign up because she said it is boring. She is the type that needs to be moving-every minute! Her favorite sport is basketball and lemme' tell ya', she's gonna be good! She may be little, but she is quick!! Austin started kindygarden as so far has not thrown a fit about going. His best buddy is in his class so I think that plays a major role! He won't get to do any sports during the school year, but will do baseball this summer.



• Shepherd On The Hill Daycare~~I have the perfect job!!! I do childcare in my home for teacher friends. This way, I still have my summers off!! Smart, eh? Well, let me say that last year I thought I had the perfect group of wee-wonders, but........this year, considering a 100% turnover, I am truly blessed in that this new collection will give the previous group a run for their money. I would love to share pics of them, but I don't think mamas and dadas would appreciate that! Great kiddos come from great parents!! I just can't say enough about how great the kiddos are and how much I connect with the parents!! What a true blessing from God!!

• Adam' Harvest~~I still do my 'thing' in the designing/creating community with Adam's Harvest. I have a two day show, Children's Miracle Network's Miracle Market, next Friday and Saturday at the mall. I have asked Nathalie and Rachael to join in and so we will be sharing a booth space for tutus and bows!! I am sooooooooo excited about this, I just can't hardly stand it. I love the craft fair environment!! Meeting new people, chit chatting, seeing the older ladies look at and figure out that my things are made from the vintage chenilles and pillowcases and tablecloths, and sheets, and table runners, etc..... it's priceless! I did a show at a different mall 4 years ago and had a really good outcome, so I'm especially psyched! We will do another one for CMN again in mid-November. I also sell on etsy.com and just a tad on ebay. It's so hard for me to build up a large inventory if I sell on these sites, but I like having an online shop to share with people at the shows so then they can share with others, too.






• NILMDTS~~An organization that has been very dear and near to my heart the past 18 months is Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep. This organization is made up of photographers who volunteer their time to go to the hospitals and work directly with the parents who have lost a babe. I am the Area Parent Coordinator for the SW MO area. You must go to their webpage to learn more to hopefully become involved with them and help spread the information to get more volunteer photographers. I will forewarn you, it will be an emotional journey that will touch your life forever. I was not able to benefit from their services as I didn't find out about them until after we lost our second son, Aaron, but I have been in contact with Cheryl, the lady who started it and her heart is gold. We had a meeting last night at the hospital and I found out there that one photographer has already got the paperwork started, jumped through all the 'hoops' and it would be implemented in one of our area hospitals today!! There are 2 other hospitals we will be meeting with to hopefully get them on board, too.




• The Vision~~A friend of mine and his wife asked me to be a part of a Music Worship Group with them. We have been meeting at their house for the past 3 months working on songs that we can eventually take out share with the small town we live by. There is such a need to bring people in this town closer to a more personal relationship with our Lord and we're hoping to be able to be a step in that direction. Talk about some amazing, totally uh~maz~ing!, truly gifted music artists. We have a drummer who can't read music, he just hears it and knows it. Then there's our lead singer who is the high school band/choir teacher. Of course we have Ronnie and Kristi who are our spiritual warriors. And then there's me who can'ty make it through a practice without shedding a tear. I was raised in a very musical family so my emotions are lead by music. It is one of the most personal ways for me to share my expression of love for My God. We are hoping this can lead into a small group study time, which can eventually lead into a bigger group time which will add to our community being a stronger body of Christ.




• Emotional Healing~~Finally, as you know because you are here, I try and keep up with my blog. I find that it is healing for me to share with others how I am feeling, what I've been up to, etc..... I realize there are people who don't care but honestly, I don't do it for others, I do it for me. (even if I am the only reader) Please feel comfortable to leave a comment on any and all posts. I would love to hear from you!
  

Sooooooooooo sorry about the long post, I just wanted to let you know that if I don't answer my phone at a particular time, it may be that I'm a little busy.............

AND LOVIN' IT!!

Kennedy and Friends Co.

Now that we are talking craft shows, I can't forget my new 'tutu' friend!

I found Miss Nathalie , better known as 'Kennedy & Friends Co.' on Etsy, 4 months ago and she has some BEAUTIFUL things! She lives in a town just 1.5 hours away from me. She sells her tutus for your little princess' in her Etsy shop and she does handmade dolls, too. I don't know that she sells the dolls or just makes them for friends and family. Either way, they are cute, cute, cute!!

And, it shouldn't surprise you that, we worked out a trade!

I have been needing something to fill out under the skirts that I make. I use a mannequin to take pictures for my auctions and the tutu helps the skirts poof out and look full. I thought one of her tutus would work and...............it's perfect!!

She saw a skirt in my Etsy shop and we agreed to trade.

Then, she also asked me to make a coordinating kimono style top. It turned out too cute!! I didn't take a picture of it (bummer!) before I sent it but she took one of the skirt. The top is still a little big on Miss Kennedy so I can't wait to see the complete set once she grows into it.

Miss Nathalie is a total sweetheart! Actually, I asked her back then if she would be interested in doing some shows with me, and she said yes! With us going on vacation for 2 weeks, her finishing up college classes, and her moving, we are still trying to find a time to get together. I know I will see her on Sept. 5/6 as we will be doing a show at the mall.

I'M SOOOOOOOOO EXCITED!!

Miss Nathalie is nothing but a sweet, sweet friend. I am totally humbled to have such creative friends in my life!

'HE' never ceases to amaze me!!

He, being our Lord and Savior above!!!

Sooooooo, I have 2 open spots in my home daycare. I always try to watch teachers' kids so then I get the Summer off. Sooooooooo, I stop by the school and ask the secretary if she could put out a message to all the teachers letting them know about the 2 open spots. Our district turned over 10 certified positions, which is HUGE for our small school. This was my best chance, and quickest, of getting in contact with all the new staff.

I leave the school, stop by the Dari Cream (after just hearing that after 2 years of their soft-serve machine being broke-they'd been serving ice cream out of tubs from Sam's-that they finally fixed it so are back to serving soft-serve. You have to understand, I live in a town of 1000, this is the only joint in town that even sells 'eat now' ice cream. The convenience store and grocery store are the only 2 options of any chance of getting any ice cream period.) and head home. After being there for 15-20 minutes, I received a phone message from a new teacher, Miss Rachael. She lives in a surrounding town, has a 3 yr old and sounds delightful! We set up a time to meet, yesterday morning, and I can't believe what is about to take place...............

Her kids are gorgeous! Very well mannered, and then, as she gets ready to leave she asks, "Do you sew?"

"Yes," I said.

"Do you sell on ebay?"

"Yes," I said in amazement that she would even ask. There isn't anyone around here that I know of who does the 'boutique custom community' gig. Half of my friends don't even know that I do sew children's clothing, quilts, bibs, diaper bags/totes, and etc...... let alone sell them on ebay, etsy and at local craft shows and boutiques.

"SO DO I!" she says. She doesn't sew, but she makes hair bows. Her seller id is bowcrazybowtique. ADORABLE hair bows at that! She is in several selling groups on ebay, she sells on etsy, too, and said she will give me the name of a couple other online boutiques that she uses.

SMALL WORLD!!! GIRLFRIENDS!!!

When I started selling 5 years ago, a friend and I did the craft show thing together with her making coordinating bows for my outfits. We had such a good time and I miss Jenner dearly, as she moved to Bella Vista, Arkansas. Sooooooooo, this is really cool to find another friend to possibly do some shows with.

Rachael is very good at her graphics and templates and html, etc...... that I mentioned that I'm sure we could do some trading of outfits for teaching me some of the techy things.

Later in the evening, after we shared our seller id's with each other, we were reading up on each other more. She read my About Me page and immediatley sent me a message.





Come to find out, she has suffered several miscarriages, childloss, and infertility, ...just as I have.




NOW THIS IS GOD AT WORK, lemme' tell ya'!






I am very excited about how we can become friends, learn from each other, teach each other, be there for each other and still be able to use our God Given creative talents to enjoy our lives.



...............and to Him I say, "THANK YOU!!"

More Ball Stuff................

I ordered in some softball fabric (10 bucks a yard, OUCH!!!) the ONLY softball fabric that had all yellow balls. All the other fabrics had either all white balls or yellow and white balls, or all the sports combined, etc..... I loved the fabric so I made one purse/tote for myself. Well, it sold the first day I took it out. She was a mother on our ballteam and didn't care that I had just used it that one day.

Kara's

The next week at practice I had 3 more orders.

Kerrie's

Terisa's

Tammy's

And then, because I love her so much, I made one for Adi's coach/team sponsor from last year.

Patti's
(Her daughter was on a different team than us, can you tell?

Let me tell ya', these are so fun to do. and eeeeeeezzzzzzzzzz! Now, easy doesn't mean quick, there is alot of time designing/creating the ribbons/laces/patched pieces, etc.... but they are addictive. I went ahead, after doing everyone else's, and did one for myself!

I just love that each one is so alike and yet so different!

USSSA 12U World Series!!

PLEASE note, I'm working on the picture situation. Yes, I know you can't see the entire pic, I'm working on it.........you can try clicking on the pic and it may bring it up that way. soooooooooooooo sorry!!

Adi's team won 2 USSSA sanctioned tournaments and 1 ASA sanctioned tournament this summer which qualified them to compete in the World Series Tournament to wind up the season.

They went 1-4, but let me tell you, they have memories and friendships for a lifetime!

What a great group of girls and quite honestly, I have to say parents, too. I have made some friendships that will last forever, too. We will certainly play on the team next year, and until the girls decide enough is enough.

CRUSH! proudly carrying our banner in Opening Ceremonies Parade!

The team is made up of girls from 11 different small towns. Considering that no more than 2 players are in the same class attending the same school, they got along ggrrrrrreeeeeaatttttt! We will compete against several of the towns in Junior High and High School. That will be neat for the girls to see each other at athletic activities----not so neat to have to be competing against them.

Every team needs a coach's time out every so often!



Adi, #30, at bat.



Coach Nate gettin' the silly string from his own kiddos!



The teams walked from 1st base, down around home plate, to 3rd base and line the outfield in the Opening Ceremonies Parade.


Day 1, as we entered the gate and prepared for our first game.



Kacey, our pitcher!



Adi, our 1st baseman.


Nate in the stands, pre-parade!




(I know this isn't quite the most appropriate song for 12 and under girls softball, but it is cute and personally, I like the beat of it!!)