Saddest Blog Yet

I suppose it is time. I've been avoiding it. I've been thinking somehow this made it even more official. Not really sure....
A lot of people know, but I know there are a lot of others who don't. How do you tell a mass amount of people something like this? In our media age, do I send handwritten letters to everyone who I care about, but haven't exactly talked to in person in the last few months? I don't know. I don't even know if it's appropriate to blog, but this is my way of avoiding that awkward conversation that inevitably arises when I run into someone or they see something "strange" going on.
I'm extremely sad to write that Nick and I are getting divorced. It is incredibly tragic and a loss I cannot begin to describe. We've been separated for over 6 months and Kya and I have actually moved to Lampasas in the hill country were I was able to get an elementary teaching position.
There is a reason God doesn't like divorce; the division of two joined together, should not be separated and at times has felt like losing all my appendages would have been easier and less painful. Our loving Father does not like his children in this kind of pain.
I will refrain from salacious details as it is quite honestly, private and out of regard towards Nick. He is Kya's father and I will always try my hardest to respect and protect that.
I just ask for prayer. The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and I know His everlasting, loving arms have been around Kya and me during this time! However, there seems no happy ending to this and no child should ever have to go through this. Please pray for Kya, that her spirit is strengthened and protected, that she will rise on wings of eagles and not stumble because of this. Please also pray that Nick and I will act in the fruits of the spirit during this extremely hard time.
blessings, tawny
James 1:2-4
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
1 Peter 5:10
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Lazy Days of Summer Sewing

I love to sew...like LOVE to sew! You'd think if I loved something so much, I'd be doing it all the time, but no, I don't do it near enough. I over-analyze every stitch and usually my OCD tendencies and perfectionism get the best of me and I scrap my half done project. Seriously, I have a stack of "almost completed" projects. It's quite ridiculous.
SSSOOOOO....this is my goal for the summer: I am going to sew at least five days of the week all summer (unless I am out of town). Here are the rules I've made for myself:
1) No nit-picking and critiquing. NONE! I'm going to be happy with what I produced and not tear it apart no matter how much it might kill me.
2) It can be simple hand stitching to taking a couple of days using an advanced pattern as long as I'm doing something sewing related!
3) (This is the hardest one)I have a little bit of a fabric addiction, like should probably attend an FA meeting if available. A couple of years ago when I first started sewing, I was given 11 trash bags full of fabric. (Check out my fabric armoir that really is organized...sorta

I have way too much of it, so here's my third rule....No fabric buying UNLESS it is from a thrift store or garage sale (those are the best vintage finds anyway, right?). I will allow the occasional notion, but that's it! I'm going to use what I've got and just try to be as creative as possible.


Here's the first week's results.

Monday- I actually sewed about twenty flags for a lady from church running a summer boy scout camp. I didn't get a pic, because they would be seriously boring!

Tuesday- Bathroom Curtains (Can't break rule #1, though I try not to cringe every time I go in the bathroom)

Wednesday- Yo-Yo's (Super easy, hand sewn and perfect for throwing on bows, etc.)

Thursday- Pillowcase Dress for Ms. Kya (used from a long ago thrift store find, fabric scraps from the apron I made Tiffany, and the camera strap I made for Jade). Kya specifically asked for pockets (because she loves finding coins, rocks, various small toys and putting them in her pockets only for me to remember as they are clanking in the dryer).

*Yep, that was the best picture I could get of my silly girl in her dress

Here's a hairpiece/bow I made for her out of the extra scraps and my bow stash. Sadly enough, this thing took me probably twice as long as the dress.

Friday-A matching dress for Kya's "baby". She was over the moon excited to have a matching dress with her cabbage patch kid. I had no idea! She's already requested more. Seriously, my rule number one would have been out the window with this one, but Kya's joy made it feel like I'd spent a hundred bucks. The baby even got her own bow (yeah, that might be actually some of the OCD coming out again in me.)

How cute are they together?

There you have it. I'm hoping by blogging it, my goal will be that much more attainable. I'm also hoping some of my sewing girlfriends will want to do this too (ahem...Addie). I'm making a little list of easy /fast sews and gifts I need to make, so that I won't have an excuse one day of not knowing what to make.
Hopefully, I'll become a better seamstress and FINALLY get some much needed gifts out!

Dear Rolly Polly's Residing in my Backyard (or various parks we visit)

My sincerest apologies on your possible demise! The three year old knows not what she does, she means no harm. You see the the child that used to loathe all bugs, now has a fondness for them. Not just a fondness, but an unadulterated love for all crawling creatures! If she sees you, she will pick you up, hug you, squeeze you, rock you, and sing to you. You will not survive this love fest and she will be deeply saddened and somehow shocked about this. It is an unbridled joy that cannot be contained and actually quite sweet.
So, here's my advice to you: If you hear the high pitched giggles, get away as fast as your tiny legs will take you, lest you become Kya's latest victim.
You have been warned!

In Case you Hadn't Heard the Big News...

I know it's probably on everybody's mind and it's really HUGE news...
well, it was to me.
Did you know that now Nutella -everyone's favorite Hazelnut butter- is now in a large family size.
Technically, I don't really need a "family size" of Nutella because I'm the only one who eats it (yeah, I don't let Kya eat delicious pieces of heaven such as Nutella, because I feel sure she'd never go back to the all natural organic crap peanut butter she normally gets); but I just couldn't resist buying it.
Just thought I'd share the joyous news with everyone!
Blessings!

Hoppy Easter

Being the God fearing woman I am...or like to think I am...or rather strive to be...okay moving on; I have been trying to teach my three year old the importance of Easter (we went through all of this at Christmas as well).
I am of the mind frame to still enjoy the festivities of a holiday (Easter bunny, Santa, gifts, egg hunts, etc.); however, it's vital to me that Ms. Kya knows the real reasons of all the seasons.
So, after talking to her about why we celebrate Easter and letting her watch a couple of Easter VeggieTales, figured it was in the bag.

This was our conversation:
Me: Kya, why do you think we celebrate Easter?
Kya: EASTER EGGS!
Me: Uh, no.
Kya: Hmmm..jelly beans.
Me: No, no quite.
Kya: I don't know
Me: It's all about Jesus!
Kya: Oh. Ok.

Two minutes later

Me: Kya, why do we celebrate Easter?
Kya:(Triumphantly)THE EASTER BUNNY!!!!

Grown Up? Questionable

For the past twenty minutes, this is what I've been doing. Playing with, ahem....I mean organizing Kya's dollhouse. The toddler is asleep, yet here I am making sure all parts of the doll family were in their respective places. It didn't dawn on me that no self respecting thirty something-ish woman should be playing with a dollhouse...alone, until I found myself saying aloud, "Man, I really need a couch and possibly a bookshelf".
And yes, this is my entrance back into the blog world.