A little inspiration

In the past I have had a bit of a problem obsessing over the kids clothes, especially when a new season is approaching. While I've learned to curb the need to buy whatever I wanted for them, I still want to dress them the way I want to. So for this up coming Spring and Summer I have decided to make the majority of Donnelly's clothes. The boys are easy and inexpensive to shop for and lets face it - they will ruin whatever they wear. They're boys. Its a fact.

But sweet little D is a different story. I can't remember the last time I was able to get her into a pair of jeans. She'll put them on for Papa but never for me. She must always wear a dress or something that resembles a dress and leggings. To be honest I love this independence in her. I love her in dresses. She is my sweet Angelina Ballerina, literally dancing wherever she goes, with her pinkie in the air and a song on her lips.

Gearing up for this task, I've found a bit of inspiration...

These three are all from Kayce Hughes / Pears + Bears. How cute is the neckline on that red dress!

I just love the wrap dress!

And I already have the perfect fabric for a dress like this. So cute!

This little set was on my watch list on ebay. I loved it, saved a picture of it to my computer, watched it and forgot to bid... that's pretty typical. But I think it would be pretty easy to replicate. I have the perfect fabric just waiting for it!

And because Donnelly and I are both American girl doll lovers and I just go gaga for a good vintage design, I think we'll have to make something like Kit's dress. Too stinkin' cute!

To help get me started on my overwhelming little task, I ordered this book!

Carefree Clothes for Girls: 20 Patterns for Outdoor Frocks, Playdate Dresses, and More

To help get me started on my overwhelming little tast, I ordered this book. I'm really excited to get started!

With a few vintage patterns, my handy pattern book and some really beautiful inspiration, Miss D should have a rather fabulous wardrobe some spring.

My Funny Valentine

A few days before Valentine's Day, I saw a commercial that stuck with me. I can't recall what was being pitched or sold but the point of the add struck me as a little off in this age of "me" and "you". Here's the gist:

Valentine's Day is not to celebrate me.

It is not a day to celebrate you.

Valentine's Day is a day to celebrate "us"

No matter what "us" may be.

Now Erik and I have celebrate fourteen Valentine's Days together. And sad as it may be, many of those were celebrated after we dropped our children off with one Grandma or the other. This year, with this idea on my mind, Erik and I decided to celebrate "us". For us, "us" is our entire family. I am not Emily without my husband AND my children. Erik is not Erik without his family. We are in some way defined by our loves. So this year we celebrated our family and the love of that defines it.

A very Valentine's Day breakfast for my very funny Valentine's.

Music feeds my soul!

Music is so often a tool that God uses to reach me. Be it my obsession with KLOVE or my youngest singing about "Bebe Jeesis" in the backseat of the car, the simple act of a raised voice to my savior is so powerful in reaching my heart. I can't tell you how often I will be singing along with a song, a song I may have sung to a hundred times before and suddenly the words become my prayer. Suddenly I am overcome with the pure love of my Jesus and my heart aches for more of Him.

Tonight, while listening to the same mix of music I always listen to, I was overcome by lyrics I've heard countless times before. But this time they became a prayer that poured from me and in turn I was filled with passion for what HE has a passion for.

Heal my heart and make it clean

Open up my eyes to the things unseen

Show me how to love like you have loved me

Break my heart from what breaks yours

Everything I am for your kingdoms cause

As I go from nothing to

Eternity

Hosanna Hosanna Hosanna in the highest

He is SO faithful, we are SO blessed!