A New Dress for Ashlyn

I made this dress in 40 minutes flat from one of Ashlyn's t-shirts from last year and a scrap of fabric from our stash.  I got the idea from another mom (thanks Anna) and definitely see more of these in our future.  It was super easy!   I simply stitched a seam down the back of the skirt fabric and gathered the top edge.  Then I eased the gathered edge around the hem of the t-shirt, pinned, stitched, and finally hemmed the skirt.  VIOLA! A new dress :O)  Just the kind of project that makes everyone happy.

So touching

Today I read Ashlyn a book called, The Rag Coat, by Lauren Mills, and I almost didn't make it through! This little story is both heart wrenching and heart warming at the same time. If you have never read it, I recommend moving it to the top of your list (even if you don't have kids under 6). Then let me know if I'm the only overly sentimental mom, because I choked up three times, and needed a tissue by the end!

Mom's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all of you amazing Godly moms that visit here and that I know only via the internet.  The inspiration, encouragement , and wisdom that I find on various sites and blogs is priceless to me.  The Lord has truly blessed the connections we have. 

Have a wonderful day filled with love, rest, and the peace that you are doing His precious will.

Sharing

It has been too beautiful to blog for the past several days.  We have spent many hours in the out-of-doors playing and gardening. 

However, I do have a goodie to share with you.  I made this Book of Centuries template for my oldest daughter and thought some of you might like it as well.  I had mine printed and spiral bound at the local office supply store.  It cost around $30, but it is for all 4 high school years (and I used really high quality paper and color ink).  You could always print it at home and put it in a three-ring binder.  I found this layout to be more easily organized than a general year A to year B page.  Enjoy!

Book of Centuries Generic

How Sweet!

Shannon at Homeschooling Their Hearts just gave me a Sunshine Blog Award. The Sunshine Award is gifted from one blogger to another that she feels "inspires others and shows positivity and creativity." Isn't that sweet?!

Now, one of the guidelines for the award states I must pass the award on to 10 fellow bloggers.  So, here are 10 of my FAVORITES!

~Dove's Rest
~Feminine Farmgirl
~Haigh Happenings
~Joyful in Hope
~Regan Family Farm
~Gracefilled Oaks
~Generation Cedar
~Joyfully at Home
~I am but a vessel
~Home Living

Here are the rules to the award:

1. Put the Sunshine Award logo on your blog and/or in a new post;
2. Pass the award onto 10 fellow bloggers;
3. Link the nominees within your post;
4. Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blogs;
5. Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

Free Homemaking Lessons

This wonderful (and very useful) handbook used to be available only in hard copy, but the lessons are now also online FREE of charge. What a blessing. Thank you Laurie Latour of Future Christian Homemakers.

Field Trip!

Today we spent a beautiful day with a few other homeschooling families at Deanna Rose Farmstead.  We enjoyed looking at flowers, walking on nature trails, feeding animals, and fishin' for perch. 

Get ready to laugh...

Yesterday Allan and I purchased a new lawnmower at our local Sears store.  When we got it home, I was reading through the manual outloud and noted to Allan that we would need to change the oil after every 25 hours.  At this time Allie got a very strange look on her face and said, "Wow!  Do you really think it is necessary to change the oil everyday?".  After we stopped rolling on the floor with laughter, we kindly explained that it meant after 25 mowing hours.  I'm not much for "blonde jokes", but this could be a classic.  YEP, we're homeschooled :O)

Cookin' for Allyson's Hope

Today Allie and I cooked and seasoned 30 pounds of ground beef to help make burritos for our friend (and piano teacher) Allyson's fundraiser.

She has a rare condition called Neurofibromatosis Type II or NF 2 for short.

We will get together with several others from our church to make over 4800!!! burritos on Saturday. The money raised will help pay for an innovative treatment that is not covered by insurance.

Thrifty Tip

One thing that I have longed to be more intentional about is sending cards to the special people in my life. Not just for birthdays, but for encouragement, getting well, and just because. I truly struggle with this. I never seem to be thinking about greeting cards when I am at the store and when I do think about them, the cost is a BIG deterrent. Well, I think I found the solution to my problem. I'll admit I am a late bloomer to the idea of thriftiness, but WOW!!! boxed cards are a lifesaver! Now I have cards on hand for all kinds of occasions and they are way more economical than buying one at a time. To make it even better, I ordered mine from CBD at a huge discount. I ordered eight boxes of cards with twelve cards in each box for only $30.96 INCLUDING SHIPPING! That makes each card only $.31. Now I have no excuses.....better check my calendar :O)