Saturday, December 31, 2011

From EMBRACE to NURTURE

2012

2012....a year that is just to begin.

2011 changed my life. It changed it in ways I never knew it could. It knocked me down to my knees on more than one occasion.

First with the unexpected death of my Gramms. I was there, I watched multiple rounds of CPR performed and then them calling the "time of death"....I thought I'd never stop crying.

My eyes hurt for days. I felt gutted.

That pain? It was only a glimpse of what 2011 was to bring.

May came and another major blow. We lost Songbird.

I was brought to me knees harder than ever before. I felt lost, uncertain.

And yet, my word that had chosen me was E M B R A C E

To embrace it ALL. The good, bad, ups and downs.

Wow. I never had a clue how 2011 would so drastically change the course of our lives.

***********************

Then, we met Sunshine.

November, we became Sunshine's forever family. November 10th to be exact.

E M B R A C E

All of it. And I did.

2011 is coming to a close and on such a more positive note than it began. The crazy, uncertain and exhausting adoption journey that we've been on, finally slowing down. The waiting chapter closed and the journey of forever family begun.

New beginnings

***********************

N U R T U R E


I want to take this time...this time that is seemingly slower paced. Even if in reality, it's not slowed down much at all. There is a lull, moments of still that I want to immerse myself in. Capture it, soak it up, find the joy...

I want to nurture this time. Enjoy this time with our new little family of four and take it all in and hold on to it a moment.

To see it for what it is, to nurture our spirits, our love, our gratitude.

To watch and nurture this new little person in our lives. To nurture my marriage and my family.

I want to see the hope, believe in this year, see this year. Enjoy it ALL.

So, n u r t u r e

I will take the time and N U R T U R E it. It is my word for 2012.

What will your word be?

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Pinterest Tuesday!

....er....I mean Thursday!

Yeah. It's been one of those kinda weeks....

I just had to share this though. Not only did God call us to adoption, He also has given our son a big squishy heart for orphans.

All on his own. It's just him. I love it.

We were going over what we were going to give/make for teacher gifts. We were also checking out a site you might have heard of called Reece's Rainbow.

Gah. My heart.

There was a boy that we learned about a while back. We knew we were not his family, but we knew we were to pray for this boy and his forever family.

We did and while we were in Russia, Jake and I decided to look up the site and see how this boy was doing. We were crazy happy thrilled when we saw that a family has come forward to adopt him and he was on the "my family found me page!".

So happy. We pray it continues to go well and he gets to be with his family soon.

Meanwhile...we spotted the Angel Tree page and checked it out. Then we saw something about Angel Tree dollars.

Oh yes. My boy was all.over.it.

And just to give a little story here: my son actually cried big, sincere tears over these children. Wept. In the hotel room as we looked at the dozens of pictures of these orphans. He said, "mom! we HAVE to do something!!! Can we just adopt ONE MORE?! Please?! They NEED us!".

Oh how my heart ached. We know we most likely will adopt again, but we need to settle with Sunshine first. In time...His time.

Meanwhile. I told him, "we cannot adopt them all baby. BUT, we can do something. We can pray for them. We can pray for their forever families to step up and take that leap of faith".

We chatted a bit more about how some are called to adopt and some are called to help. We talked about the Angel Tree and what it can do for these kiddos. He asked if that is what he could get for part of his teacher's gifts.

So we did. And made some peppermint bark I pinned of Pinterest.



Mine aren't nearly as pretty as these lovelies, but I couldn't find that snowflake mold to save my life! So, I did the basic old break-it-apart way. No matter...still tastes yum!

I packaged them up late last night and early this morning and got them ready for him to take to school. Then he thanked me for being such an awesome mom and doing all that.

I thanked him for being willing to do something for others.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Pinterest Tuesday

I love Pinterest. Do you love Pinterest?

Holy WOW is it ever addicting! But, I've found some really fun holiday inspiration that I decided to try my hand at. 

I'm attempting to keep the holidays simple this year. Being home with Sunshine now (who's a full ball of energy!) and her not really having a clue what all this having a TREE in the HOUSE (she's getting used to it...) and twinkle lights and such is all about....well, simple is best. :)

And, since my son is also adjusting, some of these projects are great for he and I to do while Sunshine naps. Total win/win!

A while back I pinned this pretty picture:

AND this pretty picture:

I love, love, LOVE twinkle lights. We happened to have two extra boxes, so I grabbed them and strung them up behind our sheer curtains in the dining room. Here is my version:



Then, while Sunshine napped, the Jakester and I cut out a bunch of snowflakes. See?



I decided to string them up with the twinkle lights. I used a seriously high-tech method involving a little tape and invisible thread. Then I took some paper clips and used those to hook over the curtain rod to hang the snowflakes from. You could probably use ornament hooks too. Easy peasy and simple. I like simple.

And VOILA!


My pinterest inspiration completed! 

I'm thinking each week this month I'm going to try doing/making something from all my pins. Wanna join me?! ;)


Thursday, November 24, 2011

Thanksgiving Adoption and Orphan Care Fundraiser

::UPDATE:: I've decided ALL donations are going to Orphans At Play. Seeing the kiddos left behind...it's heartbreaking. The Grandma Mentoring Program is so, so needed::

So, I've mentioned it before...but! It's finally here! A fundraiser for orphan care! And just in time for a little holiday shopping!

I started this to help out with our unexpected third trip with our adoption. You can read more about that HERE.

It was difficult, yet, we've been able to move forward and complete the adoption of a precious child who desperately needed a home. You can meet Sunshine over HERE.

Meanwhile, I began to get a fundraiser together. As I was doing so, something just kept delaying it.

I think I know why.

I want this to be so much more than just about our adoption. And, through this last trip we've taken, I met some fabulous mamas and learned about an organization that helps orphans. It's called Orphans At Play.

Amazing.

They have something called the Grandma Mentoring Program.

Here is a little more about this great organization and the program:

Children thrive with simple contact in promoting emotional growth and physical development by giving a baby home a grandma. The few orphanage employees cannot keep up with the growing number of children in these homes. This is where Orphans at Play have partnered with the vladmission.org in the Primorsky Krai region to provide the Grandma Mentoring Program giving children a chance to “play”.


In early 2011, several adoptive parents came together and shared their experiences of adopting children from the Vladivostok region in Russia. Although their children were born in a variety of cities and lived in many different orphanages, there is one common theme among their conversations: the children had limited stimulation before coming into their families. Many children without early attachment and bonding may experience reactive attachment disorder, sensory integration concerns and hyperactivity just to name a few. Through research Orphans at Play has the opportunity to bring the latest in current development and create solutions to support the children in the baby hospitals, orphanages and those in transition to their new families.


Orphans at Play is celebrating the holiday season by giving the Gift of a Grandma. Please join us in helping fundraise during this special time of the year to help children in need.

Our goal is to raise $5000 dollars this year so we can place four grandmas in 2012. We need your help through donations and holiday shopping in the online store. All proceeds go directly to our grandma mentoring program

Will you please consider helping out with a donation? Will you help spread the word?


Here's the scoop: There are three groups of items to win! They are numbered #1, #2 and #3.

To enter, give a donation of any amount by clicking the "chip in" button located on the side bar (top left). Suggested donation is $5 per entry and for each $5 you will receive one entry into the giveaway. When you use the chip in button, please put which group number you are wanting to put your entry towards (ie please put my donation towards #2). Of course, if you are not able to give at this time, but would still like to enter the giveaway, just leave a comment on this post. :)

For a BONUS entry! Just facebook or tweet about the giveaway, linking back to this post and then just come back here and leave a comment that you did so! You will automatically receive an additional entry!

That's it! Easy peasy!

Giveaway will go for 1 week and winners will be drawn December 2nd ::Update: Extended through December 10!::

So, without further ado....here are the lovely items to be won!










Group #1

3 pretty flower pins, donated by Edan. 

Custom Little Bird Creations Vintage Definition Pendant: You choose the word!





Design Your Own LBC Owl Coffee Cuff! You choose the colors.



 Group #2 
Beautiful "From Russia With Love" necklace donated by the fabulous Tracy at JunkPosse

2 large pretty flower pins donated by Edan. Great with scarfs!
Pretty Bloom statement necklace & 2 pretty bloom pins by Heather

Group #3

Fabulous trio of button earrings donated by Lindsay. You pick!






2 Statement necklaces & 4 Pretty flower headbands donated by Heather


Thank you and many blessings to you and yours this holiday season!

*No donation necessary to participate







Sunday, November 13, 2011

Is It Dusty Around Here?!?

Wow...poor little blog of mine. It's been terribly neglected.

But! It's because I've been blogging a bit more over HERE on our adoption blog!

And guess what else?! This little blog will be hosting a giveaway/fundraiser fairly soon. Just getting some kinks worked out. However, I'm excited to get it going and introduce you to an amazing new non-profit I've recently learned about. Half of the fundraiser will be going to this organization that loves on orphans. I hope you will join me next week in raising funds to help complete our adoption, as well as support orphan care!

Until then, hope you've all been having a lovely November!

Blessings!
-Jaime

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Business of Oreos

We like Oreos in my family. No. We LOVE them.
However, we don't often buy them. They are a super special treat. Perhaps twice a year at most do they show up in our pantry.

But, the one time for sure they will be there? In the Fall when the typically white cream center turns to orange. Oh yes, the halloween Oreos. Mmm.

Now, I don't much care for (gasp) halloween itself. Always loved the dress up part, but never the scary part. I was the kiddo that would rather stay home and snuggle up and watch "It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown". But, I can guarantee you I will eat some halloween Oreos!

We were enjoying some the other evening for dessert (I know, it's only September) and the question arose as to what kind of Oreo eater each one of us is.

These are the catagories we discovered:

The dipper : just lets a little of the cookie be dipped in the milk

The dunker: just dunks it and eats it (my son)

The drowner: dunks it in and lets it get all soaked up. Then eats it.

The 'no way I'm putting my cookie near milk': just likes to eat the cookie and chase it down with some milk. (my husband)

I am sure there are other types of ways to Oreos, but I have discovered I am a drowner. Doesn't that sound horrible?! Yeah, I think so too. But, it's true (gasp!) I let my cookie just drown in the milk. Yuppers.

Funny story, growing up if my aunt caught me doing that she'd scold me. I thought it was totally normal. She thought it was terrible to let your fingers get near the milk. Whatevs...I was a kid and didn't much care. She told me my grandfather (otherwise known as Papa) taught her how to eat them that way. Try as I might to please, I just couldn't do it. I'm a cookie drowner.

Yup.

So, what kinda cookie eater are you? Do you even like Oreos?!

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Seven

The other day I was meandering around a fabric store. I had been feeling a little sad...no, a lot sad. I wasn't sure why I was feeling so blue and then it hit me...

It had been seven months. Seven months since the very day my precious Gramms had passed away. Oh...seven months how could it possibly be?!

I miss her so, so, so much. I was in the middle of the store. A store we'd been in together countless times. I was looking at a book I thought she would have liked. I wanted to turn to her and show it to her, but she wasn't there. It was in that instant I snapped out of it and was almost a mess of tears.

I felt sad, mournful and a bit silly. Like I had almost forgotten she was gone. That she was not standing there with me.

So very sad. I quickly had to flee the store the tears were coming so fast.

I was a mess of tears. Tears flowing down that I could not stop. Oh how I miss her.

I talked to my sister the next day to find out she had been feeling the same way and didn't realize it either. Funny how that is, isn't it? Those moments of sadness well up inside us, but we don't always know why. Until we are reminded of that sadness....that day it happened. The day my precious Gramms went to heaven.

I want to think this sadness will one day fade away, but I don't think it ever will. I will never stop missing her.

It's hard to believe life keeps going on as it does and I do not get to share it with her. But, I know she is happy and free where she is....blissfully happy and with Jesus. And that? That gives me peace.

I love you Gramms...your generous heart and happy, sunshine filled smile will forever be with me.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Tangled Mess

Over the weekend I decided to tackle some unruly twine....

It went from this:



With some of these:


and voila! Turned into these!


Much less tangled and more functional. :)

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Closet Thinking

It's been in my mind for a while...changing things up. Perhaps converting a closet?

I have a dedicated sewing/craft room. The thought of giving it up and giving it to my kids...well, some might think I've lost my mind! But, more often than not, my kiddo (and kiddo to be most likely will too) come in and sit and craft along while I am working. Or chat or talk or color/build/design....and the like. Right along side me and I love it.

However, I have a whole room. I love it. It's mine....my special space that I can dream and design and sew and create in.

But, changes are coming. And I've been thinking about this for a while. Thinking about converting the closet in said sewing/craft studio into the craft/sewing studio itself. Doing so would make more 'hang out' space for kids. Also? It could double as a play room/craft space of their own. I also like the idea that I could shut the doors of my sewing/craft studio, lock it and enjoy the rest of the space hangin' out with my kids! :)

I checked around internet world (mainly pinterest) and stumbled upon some very creative and lovely spaces.



love the colors in this one. Not sure how best used the space is though.


Source: bhg.com via Jaime on Pinterest

this one is nice too...



very creative and good use of all the space!


Source: bhg.com via Jaime on Pinterest

Okay...this is really fun. Too bad I don't have an armoire I could do this with.



Loving this one and the great use of space!



I'm thinking this one has to be my fave with the colors. Maybe a little more storage like the one above it though and it might just be the one! ;)

I know I have a lot (LOT) of purging and reorganizing to do to make this happen. That is, IF I decide to take the plunge. I know my kid(s) would love it. I'm thinking I would too.

It's gonna take some time....I'll let ya know if I go for it and pics along the way of the transformation.

Do you have a dedicated craft space? If not, does your dream room (or closet) look like?

Friday, September 2, 2011

InstaFriday

It's InstaFriday! Time to share some fun and randomness of my past week...


Outside at a local Austin place. It was 8:30 at night, record high temps that day and misters still needed...HOT I tell ya.
On Sunday, after church we grabbed some Hey Cupcake! cupcakes. It's a super rare treat, but we were in the area, so....we got some. Mmm.


From my son's "I wonder journal" from school. Oh my heart. I love this kid. 


Apparently we had a chance of rain this week. Uh....yeah. No clouds, no rain, still icky hot.

Colors! I picked up some fun fabrics this week. Love them.

And ahh....pretty lantana. I think that's what this plant is called anyway. Regardless, I LOVE it. :)

life rearranged

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Then and Now

Little Bird Creations started almost eight years ago. It started out as a means for my creative outlet making items for baby. My son was (and still is) a very big part of my inspiration for Little Bird. After all, Little Bird is named after his nickname he received in the hospital. 

Eight years later, he clearly is no longer a baby and Little Bird no longer makes and sells items for baby. Little Bird has changed and grown over the years and it's purpose has too. 

What started as a creative outlet has become something more. More personal and with more purpose. 

As many know, we started the process of adoption almost 3 years ago. We are (hopefully) nearing the end of this process for this adoption. However, we know we want to do more. I want Little Bird to do more. 

Last year I introduced the Little Bird Russia Coffee Cuff. A portion of the proceeds of the sales of those Coffee Cuffs goes towards an organization called The Harbor. More info on them HERE

Throughout this past year, much has happened in my life personally. I lost my grandmother and then we lost Songbird. These are things I have shared about here and there, but mostly I write about our adoption over HERE

And throughout this whole adoption process of learning and growing and meeting other families and Little Bird being able to help out with their adoption fundraising, I've come to truly see how much more I want there to be a purpose for Little Bird. 

Not just about me or my coffee cuffs or pendants, but within those items, why those items are being sold. For whom. 

Yes, all the sales in my shop go towards helping make our adoption possible, but I want to do more. With more purpose. 

So, not only will sales from my SHOP help out our adoption, but other organizations, like The Harbor and others, that are doing what they can to help out orphans and families. 

And that leads me to introduce a NEW item in the Little Bird shop! 

Hand Embroidered Little Bird Pendants. Each unique. Each a little different. Each handmade. 

(shown are the Heart for Africa pendants. More styles and sizes to come)

Each sold, a portion of the profits will go to help out the 147 million orphans and those that are doing what they can to help. 

It's not just about me. It's not just about Little Bird. It's about so much more....so many more. 

So, not only these pendants, but now ALL Little Bird items sold in the shop, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to these organizations. 

These are the organizations that Little Bird will be donating to:

Both Hands Foundation: http://www.bothhandsfoundation.org

The Sparrow Fund: http://www.sparrow-fund.org/

The Harbor:  http://www.theharborspb.org/

More will be added in time, I am sure. For now, these people, these organizations....these orphans.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Happenings at Little Bird

Just a little update for you!

A few things have sneaked back into the shop this week...

Including lovely little Rosette Pincushion Rings! More colors to come...

And Eastern Europe has made an appearance once again....starting with Russia! Available in *Design Your Own* More info on how these got started HERE.


And lastly....I *heart* Sewing Coffee Cuffs in *Design Your Own* are back as well!



PS: use code Happy25 at checkout to receive 25% off your next Little Bird purchase!

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Memories and Wishes

Scenes in the house I have missed. Scenes that have been missing for a while...

My boy. I used to be held captive at the playdoh playing time for what seemed hours. Thinking, honestly, that it would be something that lasted for much longer than it did in reality.

How time passes so quickly and that 2..then 3...then 4....now 8(eight!) year old has grown so, so fast!

He took out a little tiny package of play-doh he received as a birthday party favor. Before I knew it, the table was covered in little shapes cut out of play-doh. Just like old times, but with a little more big kid vibe to it.

My big kid.

Sigh. Scenes I know will be missed once again...






Friday, August 12, 2011

InstaFriday

Ya know it's been a long (or good?) week when there is a coffee theme to one's pics. For realz.

However, I'm gonna start off at last Friday....
This is one of my FAVE local Austin places to get pizza. It's in SoCo (known as South Congress) in downtown. LOVE it. My boy calls it "the best pizza in the universe". They also have garlic knots and yum salads.

Over the weekend, we got our craft on. I made up some more Vintage Dictionary Pendants and my boy made a pirate ship. He so rocks.


We also headed to the G-parents for a bit and my boy got to do some concrete surfing. Fun stuff.



Earlier in the week, we had to go downtown again for some adoption paper work chasing and I got to swing by my FAVE local Austin coffee place. Caffe Medici. Mmmm. Ironically, this pic? Had nothing to do with that coffee place, just happens to be a sign I saw when driving around and snapped it. :)

There were some Lego happenings around the house....plenty of heads seeming to be lost?! Who knows....

I stopped by my sisters for a bit one day and she gave me a belated B-Day present. Or early...either way it's funny because my birthday was in May and we already did a sister deal with that. BUT, my sis saw this on her vacation and said she HAD to get it for me. I laugh because it's as-big-as-yo-head huge! Plus, my niece will always tell her "Auntie Jaime can make anything!. So, there ya have it.

My boy is into TaeKwonDo. Big time. Loves it. Apparently is was a harder session....he fell asleep on the way home while playing his DS.

Oh look! Me....with what else, but an iced mocha! Oh yes, it was a HOT day and I needed a lovely iced beverage. With caffeine. And of course a coffee cuff to keep my hands from being all wet and cold.


And I leave you with my morning. I love how the sun filters into the dining room in the morning. Just makes me happy.

life rearranged




Thursday, August 11, 2011

On Horsemen and Legos



The other day my son hollers from the other room (he'd been playing with legos most of the morning) "Mom! I can't find my headless horseman! Have you seen it?"

Me: "no honey, I haven't seen any headless horsemen today"


The things I never thought I would say when I became a mother....