Blessings

I love that the Lord finds so many unexpected ways of blessing us. Surprise blessings are such a sweet reminder of His tender care for us.

This past Friday we got our taxes done, and boy were we in for a surprise! Ever since my Handyman and I were married, he has handled his taxes as a someone who is self-employed. That means that taxes aren't automatically withheld from his paycheck. So every spring when we file our taxes we know that we're going to owe money. This is fine, we know that it's coming, and we save up to pay it.

Well this year was the first year that we are able to claim Sweet Pea as a dependent. That coupled with the fact that when I was working I had the maximum taken out in taxes, because I knew we always end up owing money anyway, along with various other credits/deductions, resulted in a tax return! For the first time ever! And it's pretty substantial! My Handyman was so incredulous that he came home from the tax man's office and re-calculated everything, just to be sure.

I know it's not a good financial plan to try to get a big tax refund every year, since it isn't that the government is sending us free money, they're actually sending us money that was ours all along, and we just lent it to the government interest-free for a year. That said, however, having gone from always owing money when we file our taxes to receiving money back is a really nice feeling.

We plan to beef-up our emergency fund, and maybe do a couple fun things for ourselves, too.

More Creative Fun

I had so much fun yesterday making a tote, that I decided to make another one today. This one is smaller, and mostly meant for Sweet Pea to play with. She had so much fun with the tote I made yesterday, carrying it around and, of course, putting the handles over her head and off again repeatedly. So I made one just for her. This one only took about an hour to do, and it was really fun!

I used left over scraps from a quilt I made for my niece.

It's even reversible.

Afternoon Project

I was feeling crafty this afternoon, so I decided to try my hand at making a tote bag. Sweet Pea is showing more and more interest in books, and I want to start going to the library with her regularly. So I thought it would be fun to make a cute bag to bring the books home in.


I used some scraps of cloth that I had left over from making Sweet Pea's baby quilt. I found this website which gave step by step instructions for making a basic tote.

Here's the finished product.



The lining is an off-white floral pattern, but it's hard to see in the photo.

More Gratitude

26. Quiet day at home, without obligations

27. Long conversations with my mother

28. A family I long to spend time with

29. New recipe, warm dough rising

30. Warm cup of tea

31. Unintelligible baby talk

32. Mailbox full of samples and coupons

33. Renewed connection with the one I love

34. Encouraging words

35. Weekly meal plans

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Two times this week I've received news that has made my head spin, heart sink, eyes brim.

This day, I received word that a friend, one I lived with, studied with, is gone. The shock waves have reverberated in my soul all day. She was but twenty-seven. Barely older than myself. But tonight she is gone. Her husband, her lover and best friend, is left to sleep in a cold, lonely bed. Her little girl, just two years old, is left to learn life without her mama. Her baby boy, not yet a year, is left without her tender arms to hold him. In a moment, she was taken. A clot of blood the alleged culprit.

Why God? How can this be? How could you allow this? Cause it? For the second time this week I have asked these questions. My heart aches for the pain of others. As these questions surge in my mind, almost simultaneously the Words of Life rise up from deep within.

At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."
(Job 1:20-21)

I sought the LORD, and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces will never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him And saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them. O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! (Psalm 34:4-8)

These Words of Life offer hope, consolation. Diving deep into this life-giving book slows the spinning crazy of this life. In it I find stability, as I am reminded of my Father's good intent for all who follow Him.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

And so, I draw near to Him. Cling to Him.
And drink in the promise of hope.

First Birthday

Sweet Pea is one year old today. How can that be? It surely doesn't seem possible, yet the pages of the calendar tell me that it's true. I think it was a good day for my little one. Here are a few snapshots of moments throughout the day.

Opening one gift before breakfast

"I am a Bunny" - Sweet Pea loves to look at books!

Daddy and the birthday girl

A birthday lunch of potato and cheddar pirogi with broccoli. Yum!

Stylin' new sunglasses

Sweet new baby doll

Time for cake!

First taste of cake. She wasn't thrilled.

It was fun to smear around though. Ice cream wasn't any more exciting than cake,
but boy was it fun to play with the bowl and spoon!

She loves her mama.

All that partying called for a nice, long nap.

One more gift!

Sweet Pea loves her beautiful new pillow from her aunt!

All in all, it was a good day.

New Discoveries

This afternoon Sweet Pea was playing with my purse, and realized that she could hang it around her neck. She thought she was really clever until she couldn't get it off. I rescued her a couple of times, but she was still so fascinated that she kept putting it back.

A little later she grabbed one of my socks and tried to wrap that around the back of her neck. It was a little small, though, so she didn't have much success. She toddled off, and a few minutes later when I went into the living room, this is what I found:


It was so sweet! She found my scarf and decided to try it on. It made me smile.


Note the black sock also made it into the look. =) I was pretty impressed with how she managed to drape the scarf over her shoulders!