Heart FULL of Thanks!

"It is only when we as women learn how to lay down our lives for those in our home, that the home will begin to thrive. "


I just read this quote on Women Living Well blog this morning and I completely identified with it! My home is my haven and all the time I have spent in it has centered me immensely!  I had a season of "busyness" a season of "outward focus" and I know it was part of God's plan for sure. Too much good came from it not to be.  But, I also felt Him call me back home this past summer and I LISTENED. I have come to a place spiritually that I actually can discern His voice and follow Him.  I am SO glad I did.  Big changes are coming and it's all Him, I just KNOW it!  Just like I *knew* moving to Texas was RIGHT, I know this next part of our journey is RIGHT.  This is just part of the ride! :o)

As I begin with the menu, the checklists, the organizing and Christmas thoughts this week (yes, we put the tree up right after Thanksgiving!), I will delight in the "busyness" at home this week!  I will not get overwhelmed. I will ask for help. I will let the kids get more involved (like I even have a choice, they truly have become "assistants" to me in so many ways). I will take it all in and enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with family and  cherished friends as this one may be our last here in Texas!  

Heart is FULL of Thanks this year!!  

So, come on and let's bring on the week! I'm ready!!!

Mama's Sew Crafty

I never would have thought a year ago when my sister bought me my very first sewing machine that I would be making AND selling items made BY ME!  WOW!!!!  My mother in law taught me how to sew a couple of years ago and I was always borrowing her machine!  I've done applique shirts, nap mat covers, aprons, pillows and even curtains over the years but since I got my machine, I was on a sewing hiatus! Life was just getting too "busy" for me.  I was doing all I could to keep my head above water that sewing was THE LAST thing I was thinking of.  Heck, I even bought Sofia's birthday shirt instead of making it myself this year!

Then an old friend came back into my life and helped breathe life back into a very stressed, hurt and distraught Gina.  My friend Amanda inspired me and encouraged on my first steps into the Homeschool world, helped me take steps towards healing from "church" pain and relationships ending, AND inspired/motivated me to dust my machine off.  God whispered to me through her. She made a statement and it just STUCK with me.

"If sewing is something you love to do, you MAKE time for it."

She is a HS mom of 5 kids and I witnessed her focus and determination to bring in extra holiday money doing something that she loved to do, sew.  I had never really thought about sewing for money since the competition out there is BIG!  I have local friends that sew way better than I do, so why bother?  Last month I broke out the machine making a shirt for my niece's birthday and halloween shirts for my kids and I felt ALIVE!  Music, coffee, and my sewing machine brought another level of peace to me.  There is something about that "hum" of the machine that soothes me.  There is something about being "crafty" and "creative" that just simply relaxes me.

I've stepped back alot in many areas of my life. I've been STILL.  I feel more FULL than I have in a long time.  I found peace that I thought would come in "doing" so many other things.  I found JOY in SIMPLICITY.

A friend asked me to make her a shirt and that was it!  Ding Ding!!  Could I make money sewing shirts too? Can I bless my friends and family with gifts made just by ME?  YES! YES! YES!!  One morning, my mom and I sat around looking up names for sewing/crafting blogs and Facebook pages and she came up with "Mama Sew Crazy" but that was already taken of course! LOL  SEW......we came up with Mama's Sew Crafty as a Facebook page instead!!  In two weeks time, I've done Eleven Shirts, 2 bows and a tutu with 7 more to do by the end of this week! WOW!!!!!  I feel BEYOND blessed by all the support on my new venture!

So my Fall days are being spent baking for my family and friends, crafting with the kiddos, enjoying quiet family time on the weekends, crafting and SEWING!!  This season feels GOOD!  This season feels GREAT!  While a couple months ago everything seemed terrible, it has all balanced itself out and I feel the inner peace to move forward.  THANK GOD!

Here are a couple of my orders, complete!

TIME TO SEW!!!!

Fall Festival Fun

Sofia and I met up with some moms yesterday from a Hutto Mom's Group and had a blast!  This was my first time meeting most of the moms though we comment on each others stuff on Facebook all the time we had yet to meet in person, LOL!  Sofia was the oldest in this group today since most of them were around 2 so that was definitely weird for me.  I'm so used to her being the "baby" not the big girl!!

Something really cool happened for me yesterday.  I was completely affirmed in my "people loving", if that makes sense.  I have been hurt alot over the past few months but yesterday gave me hope and reminded me that I "DO" make friends easily, I'm relaxed and in my element when it comes to meeting people and being social and so were those other moms too! It was awesome!

Facebook can be great for meeting and getting to know people, especially moms since we don't have the opportunity in a group setting with toddlers to TRULY have a conversation! Ha!  BUT it can also "show" a life that isn't completely what it "IS" for real.  I heard the phrase "Super Mom" and was told how great I do this or that so you know I had to correct that on the spot.  I LOVE TO CRAFT, am always on the go, and love to have fun with my kids, yes. BUT, I"m also way hyper and have problems sitting still! The thing that I explained they don't see is what I DON'T post. Locking myself in the bathroom away from screaming kids to have a "mommy time out" and wash my face for a couple minutes so I don't lose my shit on them!  Taking an impromptu nap because I JUST. CAN'T. DO. ANYMORE.  My kids yelling and fighting and me sending them up to their rooms stomping and screaming....my foul language....yeah the REAL stuff that people don't see but we all go through it at some level.....WE ARE MOMS and have CHILDREN.  It's reality.  My hope is with my transparency and "what you see is what you get" way I am will benefit others!

Anyway, spending the morning with new friends and Fifi then a Halloween potluck with a few of my "old" friends, LOL.....turned out to be a great day!

Peaceful.

My life right now feels peaceful.

Thank God!

My and my Baby Girl!!! Meow!

Yes, my big kids had to be "scary"...LOL  Vampire, Zombie Cheerleader and Kitty!