Self Portrait Challenge - { Shine }

Today I went to lunch with friends...

We are all stay-at-home moms, we rarely get to eat away from our children, much less with friends, or at a restaurant with a menu besides burgers and macaroni and cheese...

We all dressed up... I felt like a supermodel (even though I'd never fit in their clothes) in my heels and silk...

Go on - dress up and make it special!


For Self Portrait Challenge's December theme - Shine!

Miss D

I had the pleasure of working with a new model earlier this week...








The sweater and cloche hat set can be found here, in my etsy shop, and the jeans she's wearing are a preview of what's to come very soon, so keep an eye out!

This was a good one!

I took the girls and one of their friends to a movie yesterday afternoon...

Ramona & Beezus!







All four of us really enjoyed it - Nicole & her friends burst from the theater door saying it was the best movie they had seen in a long time! Wow, now there's a good review.

I loved John Corbett as the dad, and the loving portrayal of a crazy, fun family. I was very pleased with the way the loveable character of Ramona was translated to screen.

After seeing it, I realized that technology was not really part of this family's lives - Beezus didn't have a cell phone with a texting plan (nor did her friends), there was no computer in the house, no big screen tv & game system in the living room. Refreshing... for once a movie not telling my kids "Everyone else does this all the time!"

Full of lots of laughs and a few tears along the way... I know I'll be picking this one up on DVD!

Ultimate Blog Party 2010!!!

It's my third time to participate in 5 Minutes For Mom's Ultimate Blog Party! Every time has been so much fun, I am looking forward to this week of meeting new friends as well as hearing from those of you I already know!


I knew exactly what I wanted to share this time for the party...

First, it would not be a party (in my house, at least!) without cake:




Cookies & Cream Cake

one box of white cake mix
3 eggs
1 c. water
1/2 c. oil
one package of Oreo cookies
1 1/2 c. whipping cream (or you can skip whipping the cream and use an 8 oz. container of cool whip)

Put the cake mix, eggs, water & oil in a mixing bowl. Mix for 2 minutes.

In a food processor or blender, grind up 12 cookies to fairly even crumbs (but not too fine), and fold into the cake batter. Pour into a 9x13 cake pan sprayed with nonstick spray, and bake @ 350 for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

While the cake is baking, wash the mixing bowl & chill it in the refrigerator. Process the remaining cookies to be rough crumbs. Try really hard not to eat them all while the cake is baking and cooling.

Cool the cake completely.

Place the cream in the mixing bowl & whip on high for 2 minutes or so, until it is thick. Fold in about 1 cup of the cookie crumbs. Spread the whipped cream on top of the cake. Sprinkle the remaining cookie crumbs on top of the cake. Store in the refrigerator.


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We might be adults, but we still like presents, right? So for this year's party, I'm giving away one of my vintage inspired hand crocheted bookmarks:



If you feel so inclined, take a moment to browse through my etsy shop, Sunnybrook Farm Designs.

To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment to this blog post... and if you would like, please mention in your comment what your favorite item is that I have listed on Etsy right now! This giveaway is open to international guests as well! I'll use a random number generator to choose a winner at the end of the Ultimate Blog Party!


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Feel free to look around the blog, where you'll see more about me.

♥ Thanks for stopping by, I hope to see you back again soon! ♥


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If I'm chosen for one of the many amazing UBP prizes, I'd like:
11, 31, 49, 52, 73, 87, or 95 - basically a gift card I can use to treat my older kids to something special!

Sophia's baptism gown

When my friend Melissa asked me to make the gown for her newborn daughter's baptism this coming March, I was honored. I didn't know much about heirloom sewing back when my own girls were little, so I sadly did not make such precious things for them... therefore I consider it a truly special task to create these things for others close to me.

Melissa had a few special requests - box pleats, clean lines, and white silk. I took her desire for simplicity, and hopefully created a treasure for this special day for both the beautiful baby girl, Sophia, and her family.





Designs for hand-embroidered crosses were practically non-existent on the internet and in my many back issues of Sew Beautiful magazine, so I designed this one myself.




Five rows of pintucks... three delicate hand embroidered arcs and french knot trios to symbolize the Trinity... I also added baby's initials & year of baptism...




I greatly modified the ideas behind an Ayrshire bonnet pattern from Sew Beautiful magazine Issue #79 for this bonnet - just a bit of flat lace, pintucks, and delicate crocheted edging...




I decided on the use of pleats to gather the crown, which kept with the design of the dress... I found this was actually easier than gathering, and the results are, in my opinion, quite lovely.

San Jacinto

Last week we tagged along with Chad for a business trip, and spent the week with Melissa, her husband and her darling Sophia.






While there, I took advantage of our closeness to San Jacinto, and took the girls on an exciting field trip to this historic battleground where Texas won it's freedom from Mexico. We had literally just studied this battle the week before in our history studies. History came to life for us on this trip!


the San Jacinto Monument




view from the top of the monument, of the reflecting pool on the monument grounds and the Houston Ship Channel




Claire and a rifle that belonged to Sam Houston, as well as two US presidents, and was used in the battle at San Jacinto




Nicole... behind her on the red box is a handful of Spanish silver coins from the age of exploration - around 500 years old




Ever been to a Six Flags amusement park? Did you know that the original Six Flags park was named thus because of the six flags that have flown over Texas? Spain, France, Mexico, Republic of Texas, United States, and the Texas State Flag... here are the latter three:




On the same grounds as San Jacinto is the last remaining US battleship that served in World War I and II!

Battleship Texas

visitor

We had a visitor today!
Karis is three months old, isn't it amazing how fast they grow and change?



The girls were enamored with her. And it's no wonder, she is such a sweet baby!

Fingerprint Friday - { Karis }

A baby is a reminder that God delights in making all things new...


This precious girl was born just three weeks ago. She is absolutely adored by her parents and sister and brother, and I'm sure you can see why! I spent such a sweet afternoon with her and her mommy...












One of her mommy's nesting projects was this dressing table/desk,
which she painted and distressed, then added new knobs...




I think I wore her out...





There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:
I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God

So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them? Here's how to join in:

1. Blog with your interpretation of God's fingerprints.

2. Be sure to link so others can find the entire list of participants! Go over to PamperingBeki's blog to add your link to the list of participants.

Sophia Krystyn

Nicole & I drove down on Friday to visit Melissa & Charles and their new precious Sophia. What a joy it was to spend some time with friends and their new little one!





















{ mommy's necklace is Sophia's birthstone }

waiting.... waiting...

My dear friend's husband called late last night to let me know she was in labor!

Baby Sophia is going to make her appearance three days early...

I'm so excited I can hardly sit still...

just waiting for the phone to ring any minute...

trying to keep my mind busy with sewing for another baby shower I'm attending on Sunday...





is the phone working, anyway??

yes, it's working, there's the dial tone...

still waiting!!!


I realize they probably have so much going on that I'm not going to hear from them today, and since it's been over 18 hours since she checked into the hospital, she has more than likely delivered already (for her sake, I hope so!!)... but she is like a sister and if I lived closer I would have been there in the waiting room, not stuck here at home with no knowledge of anything whatseover... can you tell I'm sooo antsy??



Update! She was born at 11:10am, 6 lbs. 5 oz., 18.5" long.

Sophia and mom are both doing well!

Fingerprint Friday { a new baby }

the hope and excitement of a new baby who is to make her arrival soon

the expectation of this new life and all it will be

the love already felt before her face is seen





There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:
I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God

So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them? Here's how to join in:

1. Blog with your interpretation of God's fingerprints.

2. Be sure to link so others can find the entire list of participants! Go over to PamperingBeki's blog to add your link to the list of participants.

faith for the journey

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

I mentioned Karen on Friday, and had the pleasure of spending some time with her and her family yesterday. Karen is doing very well, and I am so proud of her for her positive attitude of faith and trust in God's promise to her that He is and will take care of her through the battle she's facing.




I went to take pictures for Karen as a way of giving her something to mark the beginning of this journey, and a reminder of the love of her family and her Heavenly Father. It's my hope that she will be encouraged by these photos in some way.

Fingerprint Friday { consider the flowers }

I'm not sure what to write this morning, my mind is full of many thoughts and emotions.

A sweet friend from church is going in today for her first chemotherapy treatment this morning for Stage 3 breast cancer, having just been told of her diagnosis yesterday. She did share that God had given her unexplainable peace before she received her test results. I believe that was His way of telling her He is taking care of everything no matter the results.

So that is my prayer. That she and her family and her friends will stand firm believing that
God's hand is right there, taking care of everything.



Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you [Rebekah adds: take care of your physical needs]...?

Matthew 6:29-30







There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:
I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God

So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them? Here's how to join in:

1. Blog with your interpretation of God's fingerprints.

2. Be sure to link so others can find the entire list of participants! Go over to PamperingBeki's blog to add your link to the list of participants.

days one and two

Florida Vacation

day one :: SeaWorld






day two :: WordSpring and visit with friends




each mannequin is dressed in garb sent over from their country...
you can push a button in front of each one to hear John 3:16 in their language...
the empty space closest to the camera on the left
represents the 3,000 languages that still do not have a Bible translation



the scroll at the top of the fountain reads (in Greek),
"He will lead them to springs of living water..."
Revelation 7:17b
translations in other languages are submersed in the basins of the fountain...


a learning center for the history of Bible translation


friends who we wish lived closer!
(notice how the two serious ones ended up together at one end...)