Thursday, October 13, 2011

Exclusive to Ruffles & Rust...

New products exclusive to the show!

Lots of sassy n sophisticated flower pins and headbands:


Boxes and boxes of infinity scarves, with new fabrics:


Pretties for your ears:


Remember this lace accented fleece infinity scarf?


Well. Let me tell ya, you'll have a barrel full of different color options:

(this is just a sampling...many more packed away in those boxes pictured above!)

Off to create more, drink coffee, price, organize my booth (which is currently set up in my living room) and eat hot fudge.

Outta the jar.

With a spoon.

Heated up first, of course. I'm not a barbarian.

Amanda

Keep up to date with newest products and Ruffles & Rust show updates on my Facebook page found here.

Monday, October 10, 2011

How To Make a Craft Booth Sign...

I am knee deep in crafting, labeling, pricing, organizing, packing and planning for the Ruffles & Rust Vintage Market show next Friday and Saturday at the Evergreen Fairgrounds in Monroe, WA. You coming? Print off the coupon on very top right sidebar for $3 off your entrance fee.

One of the hugest projects on my to-do list was to create some sort of sign for my booth. You know, let people know what booth they are shopping in. I really really REALLY didn't want to spend big $$$ on this sign. But yeah, wanted it to look amazing. Of course.

Finally figured out what would work best.

First off, you need a hugenormous frame. My Mom has this large black ornate picture frame that my sis and I have been teasingly(sorta) arguing over for the past 10 years or so. Mom keeps hiding it in new secret spots all over her house, refusing to let us touch it.

However. She let me borrow it :)

Let's make a sign, shall we?

1. Gather your supplies:
- A hugenormous frame and a backer board that fits the frame.
- Level, Measuring tape, large clamps.
- Fabric larger than backer board (I used a drop cloth).
- Archival non-smudging ink pens. Yup, plural.
- Push pins, Straight pins and tape.
- Old school overhead projector.
- Your chosen logo/saying/photo etc printed on a transparency (local print store can easily do that for ya. Mine cost 89 cents. Perfect.).
- Clear Glaze Spray (optional), Adhesive Spray.
- Kiddos entertained with DVD.
- Diet Coke. Duh.


2. Stretch fabric and tack to wall. Make sure it's level! I used a windowsill to help it stay level.


(These are the pens I used. Fine point on one end, calligraphy plume on the other.)


3. Tape the transparency to your old school projector. Make sure it's level!


4. Turn projector on, center and level the logo. Measure, remeasure and then measure again...for good measure.

(sip your diet coke. Quickly check on the kiddos)

5. Carefully CAREFULLY start outlining your logo. Go from left to right to prevent smudging.


6. Turn off projector every so often and check for missed spots and lines. (sip more diet coke, insert a new DVD for the kiddos). Carefully fill in your traced lines.


7. Ah yes, so nice! If your frame doesn't have glass (like mine) then you should think about sealing your project. I used Krylon Clear Glaze spray. Test on a written on fabric scrap first! Cover entire project, let dry.


8. Here's another step where you need to measure, remeasure and then measure some more. Center and level the logo on your backer board and firmly clamp. Work with half the project at a time. Have a helper (a handsome husband works great for this role :) hold up the bottom half of the project while you spray the adhesive on the backer board. Slowly and firmly press the sign down from the center out and make certain to eliminate air bubbles. Repeat on other side.


9. Trim excess fabric from the edge of the sign. Leave a 2 inch selvage.


10. Place your newly made, oh so cool logo in frame and use support boards to keep in place. I'm athinkin having my sign crash to the ground mid-show wouldn't make me feel too grand.


11. The best part! Hang it up!!!
Pin It


SOOOOO excited how this turned out! And yes, this picture is HORRIBLE. It doesn't do the sign any justice. Captures about 10% of the awesome factor of this handmade sign. Time for a new camera?! :)

Oh, almost forgot the last step:

12. Finish that Diet Coke!

Amanda - Vintage Dutch Girl

Keep up to date with newest products and Ruffles & Rust show updates on my Facebook page found here.

Friday, September 30, 2011

Pumpkin Spice Latte Printable...

I am digging this fall weather.

Yup, I am soooooo done with summer. Unless someone wants to take me somewhere tropical. Then maybe I'd be OK with some sunshiney goodness.

Finally got this put back up on my wall this week!
Pin It


Ah yes, good ole pumpkin spice latte....that MAY have something to do with my being DONE with summer. Just maybe.

Print it out, frame it and drink one:

Pin It


YUM.

Other than that, I have one tiny ceramic pumpkin sitting out...and that is as far as I've got decorating for fall.

I'm thinking I need to do something more.

I know! How bout I line up all my used Sbux coffee cups and turn them so you can see the PSL on the side?! It'd be a conversation starter, that's for sure :)

Amanda - Vintage Dutch Girl


Make my day and become a fan on the Vintage Dutch Girl Facebook Fan page found HERE.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Fitting Room Chit Chat...

I spent greater part of yesterday afternoon and evening running errands and shopping. Ya know, a list ten miles long and ALWAYS end with Wallyworld because hello, it's open 24 hours!

I was in the mall (in and of itself a rarity for me) and missed the 9 PM big box store close deadline. See? I don't know how to work the mall. Those of you who have the location of every store memorized? I don't understand y'all.

However, ask me where to find a specialty fabric or random crafting item in Jo-Ann's and I can mentally walk the aisles and tell you right where to find it. You know, utilizing my completely accurate photographic memory.

Trying on clothes and trying not to eavesdrop on other customers' conversations is...well...impossible.

Hello echo.

First up was a tween who claimed that in California, life is perfect. Apparently Washington is the place to move to if you want to ruin your life. Good to know.

Next up was the girl who claimed that she needed some serious hootchie mama improvements. OK, lovely.

And the last was, "I look like a prostitute! YAY!"

Uh huh. Right.

Methinks the next time I go solo shopping I'll be wearing headphones...

Amanda - VintageDutchGirl

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Sassy and Sophisticated...

Hiya! I’ve had this new sassy and sophisticated cozy warm infinity scarf design brewing in my mind for a few months and finally got around to figuring out exactly how I wanted it to look.

I am so excited to finally show you the final outcome! Pin It

Sassy and Sophisticated by Vintage Dutch Girl on Etsy.

There’s no reason you can’t look stunning when it’s stinkin cold outside! I have a bunch of different varieties coming….such as teal, champagne, cream, black and gray. Ah yes, wonderful FALL colors!

As for something more blatantly AUTUMN I have this new gorgeous Burnt Umber Blossom print:

I love sewing these up, they make me smile!

I’m doing some MAJOR house whipping today, hoping Tinkerbell can come sprinkle some magical super fairy dust on me so I can flit and fly all about my house. Seriously. There isn’t ONE room in my house that I would be proud to show my Grandma. Coffee coffee coffee……

Speaking of Tink...

I may be making Lil Chick a Tinkerbell costume for our Harvest festival party this October. We’ve been bringing back the VHS tapes in the bonus room while I do some sewing. The kiddos are LOVING Peter Pan, The Lion King (Uh, FFW through the scary parts!), Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Pinnochio.

It’s fun to see the kiddos enjoy movies I enjoyed as a child. Now, if I can find (thrifted, of course) Anne of Green Gables, Lady and the Tramp, Dumbo and Cinderella on VHS our collection will be almost complete. It still makes me giggle to see those ginormous VHS tapes. Remember waiting FOREVER for them to rewind?

Be kind, rewind!

Amanda – Vintage Dutch Girl

Keep up to date with newest products and show updates on my Facebook page found here!

Monday, September 19, 2011

Ruffles & Rust!!!


OK folks, announcement time!
{deep breath}
I am so very honored to be invited to participate for my very first craft show! I am going to be a vendor at the uber-amazing, so-much-to-look-at-it's-dizzyin, handmade-heaven, inspirational Ruffles & Rust show! Eeek! If you've never been, it is HIGH time you go.

This HUGE 90+ vendor show, presented by Come Junk With Us, is a vintage market filled with antiques, clothing, home décor, handmade accessories and more…This show is very similar to the oh-so-sassy and fun Farm Chicks show. Uh huh. Wonderfulness.


The fun is happening October 22, 2011 at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe, Washington (click for map and directions). Doors open at 9 AM, with an $8 entrance charge….but I've heard shoppers start lining up before 7 AM! Grab your gal pals and get there early with a Pumpkin Spice Latte in your hand to keep you warm while you wait :
Yesterday, I dragged my sis-in-law in with me to the recently opened Ruffles & Rust Square located in historic Snohomish, WA. We were both drooling over the fun items in there! I was able to pick up something wonderful for you…and to shop a bit, of course. I've got a COUPON for you folks! Ah yes, LOVE me a good coupon.

Present this coupon at the entrance and get $3 off your entrance fee.
$5.00 is much nicer to see than $8.00, right!? (Plus, it means you can spend moreJ). If you see me out n about, I've got one I can hand to you personally, or you can just print your coupon off right here:


I will have a LARGE assortment of my infinity scarves available to try on and purchase, with new styles and patterns I haven't yet listed in my ETSY shop.
Many of the scarves will be pre-folded and tied up with a ribbon and tag, PERFECT for gift giving. All you gotta do is throw em in a gift bag, stuff some crepe paper in and good.to.GO.
Course, I don't just plan on scarves, I've got some SASSY half aprons – Rows and rows of ruffles, each apron is one of a kind! Add in a lovely bunch of handmade earrings (from subdued colors and sizes to jaunty reds, oranges, and blues to STATEMENT earrings), some nifty, witty throw pillows and a few other secrets I've got up my sleeve and that will be one FULL booth.
I've been a busy little sewing bee, running my sewing machine, serger, and iron to their very limit. And having a MAHvelOUS time! Oh to have a maid to cook and clean so I could play all the live long day…ah yes, a lovely dream J
Click on the link for some handy hints and tips for shoppers from ComeJunkWithUs.com. Some really good info, ex. most vendors are CASH ONLY.
HOWEVER, I'll be accepting cash, paypal (if you have a smartphone with you), and Credit Cards through the tiny yet amazing and secure Square accessory for my iPhone. SO nice for shoppers who find stuff they just can't pass up! Christmas shopping 2011? Oh yes. I plan to be DONE with my shopping by the time the show ends.
I do hope to see you there, can't wait to chat with you! Off to sew again…
Amanda – Vintage Dutch Girl
Keep up to date with newest products and show updates on my Facebook page found here!

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Nursing Care Plan on Momma Stress…

My Mothering has taken a hit. Meaning, as a Mom, I feel hit. Beaten down psychologically, so to speak. Parenting a strong willed child...the hardest task I've ever had in my life.

I'm actually starting to implement some stress relief techniques to help me freak out a bit less. I can do a nursing plan on relieving stress, wanna see it?


 

Assess: Huh, the Momma's tearing her hair out and has a wild look in her bloodshot eyes.

Diagnose: The Momma is too stressed

Plan: We are going to lower some stress with calming techniques, more rest, some Momma breaks, choosing your battles and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.

Implement: Do all that stuff in the Plan.

Evaluate: Is Momma less stressed? Getting there slowly but surely.


 

See? Don't have that RN license for nothing. Putting it to excellent use.

Amanda

Monday, September 12, 2011

Sneak Peeks...

Where have I been? Why aren't you posting sewing stuff? Why are you only posting once a week?

All good questions. All questions I'm sure are in YOUR brain as well as mine :) Some answers:

I've been here. Really. At my home, mostly. I've been working on some secret projects:

And once again trying to figure out the balance between Mothering and crafting. It ain't easy. I'm still working on it.

Finally did a project for ME. Well, it was for Lil Chick, but whatever. Maybe I'll do a tutorial, maybe not. It completely depends the on cuteness level. Still thinking on it.


Hee hee hee, OH the fun my sewing room has seen :) COLOR and RUFFLES, people. Makes me smile...it may make you smile too:


Currently drinking my very brand new uber yummmmmy Pumpkin Spice Latte of the season. Let the peasants rejoice! Don't hate me, but I am officially ready for FALL. Are you?


Speaking of Sbux, my coffee cup is cuter than yours:


Sassy, no?

I've got a big announcement of sorts coming this week regarding crafting stufferoo. Hey, it involves coupons! That get your attention? I thought so.

Go get a Pumpkin Spice Latte right now. I give you permission. You may want to go half-sies on the caffeine like I did because hey now, some people need to get their beauty rest...

Amanda - Vintage Dutch Girl

*** Make my day and become a fan on the Vintage Dutch Girl Facebook Fan page found HERE. ***

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Hot Tub Chaos....

Swimming lessons are done for the day and teacher says Bubbalu can go in the hot tub. A post-lesson treat for all the kiddos. They love it! Especially in our not-always-sunny Pacific NW summers.

Mommy walks over when she decides it’s time to go and tells Bubbalu, “Ok, it’s time to go, get out and get your flip flops on”. Six pairs of 4 yr old eyes look at me.

“NO! Teacher said I could stay in here!". Five pairs of 4 yr old raised eyebrows, one pair of Mommy raised eyebrows.

“Bubbalu, GET. OUT. NOW.” (No, not yelling….the scary quiet voice paired with the look that every Mom has which primary purpose is to scare your kids witless. I'll not tell you what my MIL calls this voice and look...Something along the lines of the big scary guy who rules the underworld of fire and brimstone. Yeah.)

“NO!”. Five 4 yr old children thinking, “hey, if HE gets to run the show, maybe I should try to!?”

At this point I’m trying to maintain my dignity (and balance) while chasing a 4 yr old around a small in ground hot tub while 5 other children look on with awe at Bubbalu’s response and fear at the Momma with THE FACE. Awesome.

Course, the pool deck was jam packed with parents and grandparents watching their precious young’uns learn the art of staying alive in the water. And now watching me run around the hot tub deck trying to grab my defiant son.

Yep, I eventually won. AND I did not fall in. Score +2 for me.

Bubbalu’s consequence of his (very public) defiance? No post-swimming lesson hot tub time the next day….which was the last day of swimming lessons. Painful.

Fast forward to three hours pre-swimming lesson the next day. I’m feeling super sad about Bubbalu not getting to sit in the hot tub with his swimming buddies. He LOVES people. He LOVES making new friends. He will be very sad not going in.

I hemmed and hawed, trying to come up with alternate ideas for a consequence for him instead of banning him from the hot tub on his last day of swimming lessons. I admit I almost changed my mind.

I’m glad I didn’t. What would that be telling him? Disobey and be defiant, especially in public…Mom will be angry and punish me….then I’ll get out of it the next day. Um…NO.

That last day in the pool he was telling anyone with a pair of ears that, “My Mommy said I can’t go in the hot tub today!”

Awesome. Make me look like a mean Mommy.

Then his teacher says to him, “Hmmm, sounds like you might have gotten in trouble.” THANK YOU. YES.

Bubbalu, “Yeah, I didn’t listen. I wouldn’t get out when Mommy told me to yesterday so I don’t getta go in the hot tub today. I'm gonna listen better next time”.

Almost fist pumped the air and cheered. What I said MUST have sunk in. (Pun completely intended)

Here’s to following through!

I am by no means trying to brag about how wonderful my children are, how compliant they are with respect to discipline or even my own response. Sometimes you just gotta finally say, 'Phew, that was good". Especially when so much feels like it's going wrong. Which I have much more to share later....and it involves paint. Yup.

Amanda

*** Make my day and become a fan on the Vintage Dutch Girl Facebook Fan page found HERE. ***

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Lace-Trimmed T-Shirt Tutorial!

The most popular post to date is this lace-trimmed tshirt tutorial, originally Posted Jan 24, 2010. I've have many new followers since then, so thought I'd reshare! Enjoy:

Step 1
: Buy an inexpensive, boring plain v-neck from, well, ANYWHERE. Me? I chose an Old Navy dark gray tee:



See? It's boring. It needs some help.

Step 2: Dig through huge bag of vintage lace and notions lovingly thrifted and given to you by your Grandma K and pick out some sassy, funky or complimentary ribbon or lace. ( Hee hee hee, I'm imagining my ribbon saying, "My my Amanda, you are looking mighty FINE today!" Get it? Complimentary ribbon? OK, It's just me then.)

Step 3: (If needed) Serge or zig-zag stitch raw edge of lace or ribbon. (Yep, I'm slowly getting over my serger fear! However, it must still be having an effect on me because I completely forgot to take a photo.)

Step 4: Pin lace around neckline of t-shirt. Remember to not pin the back of the shirt while pinning. I pinned both the inside and outside edges of the lace all the way around the neckline:



I didn't have enough lace, but would have liked to go all the way around to the back of the neckband. Instead I serged the ends and pinned them down at the shoulder seam:



Step 4.2: Carefully miter (translation: fold it until it looks right) and pin lace or ribbon in place at the bottom of the "V" if you chose a v-neck style t-shirt. Of course, with a scoop neck or regular t-shirt this may not be needed...OR, you may need to every so often add a tiny fold to allow the lace to curve around the neckline correctly. Once again, just fold and pin until it looks right.



Step 5: Stitch the lace to the shirt along the inside/unfinished/serged edge first:



Step 6: Stitch the outside edge of the lace to the shirt, following the decorative pattern. I followed the curves as much as possible so it wouldn't flip up after washing:



Step 7: I stitched the folds down at the bottom of the "V" so it would lay flat. My stitch lines are marked in red:



Step 8: Admire your handiwork then jump giddily around your sewing room because you created something cute, individual, inexpensive AND sassy in a short amount of time:



Step 9: Try sassy new shirt on and attempt to take a self portrait without showing the camera or your face or earrings. Whoops, guess I didn't do Step 9 very well:

Pin It

Step 10: Wear it everywhere. It's a washable t-shirt so who cares if your 3 year old smudges it with jelly coated fingers? Just make sure that 3 year old isn't wielding a sharpie. I mean, I'm pretty good at getting stains out but that's pushing it.

This Lace Trimmed T-shirt can dress up jeans, dress down a suit jacket but can also be worn under a simple zip up hoodie paired with faded black yoga pants while feeding the kiddos lunch and doing laundry. Oh wait? Is that just me?

Enjoy your sassy Lace Trimmed T-shirts!

A


*** Make my day and become a fan on the Vintage Dutch Girl Facebook Fan page found HERE. ***

DIY Day @ ASPTL

U Create

oneprettything


Friday, August 26, 2011

Fabric Makes My Heart Go Pitter-Patter....

Opening a box of ordered fabric always makes my heart go pitter patter!

Today I opened a delivered box and found these:



{smile}

On the left is a snuggly flannel print, on the right is a lighterweight knit stripe with some shimmer in the gray area - it's beautiful!

Can't wait to run these up to the bonus room and get sewing...

Amanda

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

No Fear? No Problem...

Yesterday we started up one last round of daily swim lessons before preschool starts up again.

It helps Bubbalu learn how to swim (duh) and helps keep his huge bucket-sized need of social interaction and physical activity partially filled. MUCH more full than can be accomplished sitting at home with a boring Mama and a sister to torment.

This kid has no fear. As I've said before, I've always wanted his swimming instructors to scare him a bit, to help him develop a healthy sense of fear for water.

NEVER works.

Hence the need for LOTS of swim lessons so we know he will be safer when he is around water.

This lack of fear was proved again at our local fair where he rode as many rides as his height would allow, the faster and scarier the better. Oy.

This is our first lessons at this local pool for Bubbalu. It's actually where I learned how to swim. Great memories! After a swim lesson is done, all students get a chance to go down the really tall (for a 4 yr old) slide or jump off the diving board.

Of course there was no hesitation from our thrill-seeker.

Grabbed my phone JUST in time to snap this pic of Bubbalu shooting off the end of the slide with a look of absolute glee on his face:

Pin It

Makes me laugh EVERY. SINGLE. TIME I look at it :)

Off to rinse out his swim stuff...

Amanda

VintageDutchGirl on FACEBOOK :)

Friday, August 19, 2011

Stain and Germ Smackdown...

I cannot believe how excited I was yesterday for the FedEx truck to arrive.

I was actually giddy.

As a stay at home Mama with two very messy (and one pottytraining) younguns, I'd say these are pretty giddy-worthy:



On your left is the Eureka Enviro Steamer Hard Surface Steam Mop, 303A. I purchased mine here.

On the right is the Bissell Little Green Portable Deep Cleaner. I purchased mine here.

SO, STINKIN excited! My beautiful wood floors take a daily beating. As in milk drips from leaky sippy cups, being peed on (sad but true), trudged on with muddy shoes, sneezed on, sat on by toddlers with leaky diarrhea diapers, food squashed onto (and dried!) and other random disgusting grossness.

I hate to mop. As in hands n knees with a bucket of soapy water and a rag mop. Up till now I haven't really found any other cleaning device that is as effective as the old fashioned way. But THIS steam mop!? Cue the hallelujah chorus. Drips, smudges, etc just melted away effortlessly!

Here is a before/after shot of my kitchen floor:

Yes, they really ARE gleaming!

The ultimate test, the corner where Lil Chicks' high chair lives:


Smooth as buttah! And all it took was WATER....and killed tons of nasty bugs, because that steam? 220 degrees. Twice as much as the Shark one.

Before deciding which steam mop to get I read reviews like a crazy lady, and especially the seven steam mop comparison review on Amazon.com. I was most concerned about reviewers saying it leaked all over the floor the first time using it. Not at all! Smiled like a techy dweeb the entire time I used my new fave cleaner.

Hey now, don't forget about my cutie lil green machine! I've taken it out of the box and kissed it, but haven't used it yet. I have a list of about 10 pillows, pieces of furniture, places in my car and carpet spots that I'll be using this baby on. Can't wait for the stain smackdown to begin!

Ah yes, I must truly be a Mama to be THIS excited about cleaning appliances....

Amanda

***Oh yes, I should probably say that I've received NO compensation, was provided NO tester products or given anything except for a smile ole fat smile for this post...it was all me baby.***

VintageDutchGirl on FACEBOOK :)

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Hot Fudge and My Knight in Shining Dental Loupes...

Yep, it's been quiet around this ole blog. Our annual fair is going on this week which makes the entire town go nutso for the entire seven days.

OK, not the entire town. But really, it's noticable. Especially in a town where rush hour is three cars lined up at a red light.

I'm also fighting a bad cold. No, absolutely NO nose sniffling! An immediate red flag goes up and a flashing neon sign spelling WARNING! WARNING! in bright red letters appears in my brain due to the dangerous and rapid increase in intracranial pressure.

My Knight in shining dental Loupes came home from work and whisked the children off to have dinner out and leave me to rest and relax in peace. Glorious. Wonderfully healing, I tell ya.

I miss craftin... and sewing.... and doing crazy projects that makes a huge mess but ends in something beautiful.

I blame pinterest.

Or rather, I blame my obsession with pinterest. It's too fun!

So, yes, I miss craftin. So I just hauled out all my girly bow n ribbon thingymajigs to make a requested hair clippy for a dear friends' daughter. She's a cutie patootie. My friend Trisha AND her cutie patootie daughter.

Hubby just brought me home a steak salad and lots of extra uneaten kid meal items from the restaurant (Nuthouse for you locals).

Not sure what I'm more excited about, the steak salad or the kiddie food :) Can anyone relate?



I've got a movie started on my laptop, ('New in Town'), good food, fun crafties, a hubby giving me free time and two jars of Smuckers special recipe hot fudge in the fridge (microwave, spoon, mouth. In that order).

Life is good. I'll kick this cold in NO time living like this!

Amanda

p.s. Tomorrow I'll show you what the FedEx truck brought to my door today. I'm oohing and aahing in between my hacking and coughing...

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

I'm Raising a Human Being...

Seriously, thank you thank you all for your kind words of support and kindness regarding my 'Parenting a Spark Plug' post from Monday.

It's been a bit smoother around here. Usually when Bubbalu is having a rough go of it I need to drop everything and spend some serious quality one on one time with him. Unfortunately, that is when I least want to spend time with him.

But it's not about my wants and my needs and my preferences.

I'm a Mama.

After all:

"Remember you are not managing an inconvenience, you are raising a human being" … Kittie Frantz

I made up some free printables, I figure I need to read this quote as much as possible. Take and enjoy!

Pin It



Pin It


Pin It


Pin It


Pin It

Amanda

Follow VintageDutchGirl on FACEBOOK :) Cause sometimes I post on there...If I feel like it...If I'm bored...because I'm out of queso or chips.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Parenting a Spark Plug...

Some days I fail as a parent.

As least I feel like I've failed.

Yes, the kiddos may have been fed, clothed and kept out of general danger, but their other needs may have been left by the wayside.

You know, teaching them the fruits of the spirit like PEACE. PATIENCE. KINDNESS. SELF CONTROL. GENTLENESS. Patience. Patience. Patience. Pat - ok you get the idea.

I've had MANY of those days lately. Survival days. Struggling to provide those basic needs of a human, but ignoring many of those other, ya know, things. Let's just say our strong-willed child is once again trying valiantly to become ruler of the family.

God made him this way. God blessed him an unusually firm character, a drive and determination and spirit of fortitude that will one day become the very thing that helps see him through anything he sets his mind to accomplish.

He is a firework. A spark plug, if you will. Small package, lively zippy personality, huge potential.

Today I'm praying for patience, guidance and for a spirit of gratitude for the gift this wondrous child has been to us. For what character development parenting him has produced in ME.

Cause sometimes He needs to tear me down with whatever means necessary to wake me up again.

God knows what HE is doing. Imagine that.

Amanda
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