a settled place

Awhile ago I was searching for a good women's top pattern and ran across this tutorial by The Sewing Rabbit . I've used her resources before and loved them, so I decided to give this one a try. And then I actually ended up making it three more times, in different variations! Her instructions are clear and the concept is simple, so there's lots of room for creativity and modifying. I made three shirts and a dress using her tutorial. One of my shirts didn't really turn out which is why you're not seeing pictures of it here. I even tried to redeem it, and it still just needs to go in the garbage. It's still sitting on my sewing cabinet for now, hopefully if I give it a little time, throwing it away won't be so painful. :) Jess's tutorial is a crop top but I added length for both of my shirts and it worked really well. I'll maybe try to post some pics of me wearing them at some point in the future, but for now here's this: Fabric Sources: c

Watching fireworks in Sibley all during my growing-up years, there would be candy bars passed around - 100 Grands, Charleston Chews - and those are the tastes that still come to mind on this holiday. I'm blessed by a heritage of deep patriotism from a family that values celebrating this day, and it's always been among my favorites. Recently I made a list in my journal of things that I want my children to know and who I want our family to be. I'm not even sure that "patriotic" made the list, but each day finds me discovering new ideas and desires for the childhood that Ivory, Titus, and Elijah are currently living. Although each day feels like the same battle over and over again, I hope that someday they look back - and I look back - and remember this time of great learning and growth with fondness. As parents, we are literally shaping who they become, and I have to constantly remind myself that by God's grace, we are enough. We are not as good as those par