Lasso The Moon

When this whole world starts getting you down...

Something Donnie and I came across while we were out for a drive.

It was nice to be gone...

But it's great to be home.

The Beach

Emma no longer thinks her flip-flops are made of poison.

27

    I turned 27 yesterday.  Sometimes I wonder how I got here.  I know I lived all 27 of those years, but it seemed like only yesterday I was turning 19.  And then so much has happened since that 19th year.  I became independent of my parents; I got engaged and then married to Him.  We had our first baby, moved 2000 miles away from home, when neither of us had ever lived outside of Texas.  Started a ministry.  Had another baby.  And these are just the big milestones.  There are so many day-to-day opportunities for growth and change.  I'm so different than I was then.  Sometimes I just need to stop and remember the journey. 
    Yesterday was a fun day.  It didn't start that way, though.  I woke up feeling very alone.  Donnie was still gone so I spent part of the morning like the left-behind puppy staring at the door, waiting for him to return.  He didn't, but I had some company and that made it easier.  (She brought the cake.)  Emma sang the birthday song to me over and over again.  And I got some presents.  Very generous family and friends I have.  I practically have an entire new craft library.   And I got a notice in the mail that some are coming that weren't in stock yet!  Yikes!
    Finally Donnie got home, with just 30 minutes left of my special day.  And more presents.  A new digital camcorder.  (!)  And yet another craft book (Japanese).  So the day was salvaged.  More than salvaged.  It was incredible.  Thanks for all the gifts and phone calls and well-wishes, loved ones.  I feel overwhelmed from the generosity.  You  helped make a potentially lonely birthday girl feel like a princess.  And Mom, thanks for pushing.

Score

As promised, I have uploaded some pictures of the goodies I brought home with me from Dallas.  We had so much new stuff to take home, that we had to borrow a third huge suitcase for the plane. 
Next time we go home, we're going to charge everyone a gift-giving fee.  (I'm joking.  Mostly.)
Anyway, on the right is the cool set of nesting bowls my sister gave me as a bridesmaids gift.  So thoughtful.  All I did for my wedding helpers was give them a bunch of different stationery.  But she got thoughtful, useful gifts for everyone--way to go, Abby!
    The day before the wedding, Abby and I went over to our friend Laurie's house for manicures.  I was telling her about the design of the kids' shared room (cowboys and cowgirls) and she went rummaging in her closet for something that "I think you could use."  What she came out with was a big stack of the coolest vintage cowboy fabric ever!

This is so perfect for the bedroom.  I just don't know where to start.  She gave me what looks like several yards.  She had used it in her son's room in their first house, and had been holding onto it, because she just couldn't bear to let it go. 
    And then she gave it to me!!  Don't worry Laurie.  I'll try to prove myself worthy of this awesome gift. 

Okay, so the next thing I came home with was some more fabric for the kids' room.  We got it at Room Service on Lover's Lane.  They were having a sale, of course. So we left the babies in the car with Grandma V, and started digging through the clearance bolts...they were $5 a yard!  I found two that I just could not resist.  A denim with star appliques, and another cowboy print.  This is basically a reproduction of the fabric I had just gotten from Laurie, but with a blue background.  What a cool find.

Well, there was even more on the horizon.  While we were at Junkadoodle, also on Lover's, Mom found this great multi-media piece that I am just crazy over.  It is painted on canvas, sewn with a couple pieces of wire in between, and has a metal star dangling off of it.  So "Lasso the Moon".  I'm looking for a place to hang it now.

Well, there is much more to say, but I have tons to do and I'm trying not to use my blog as an excuse to not do them. 

I got my initial tee up on Ebay yesterday, and I'm hoping to list the Easter Dress this afternoon. 

I also have a late Valentine present for Emma that I'm working on.  Can't wait to show it.  It's very SWEET.  Later.  Anna