vintage linens

 

I have a fondness for all things vintage but really, really love linens.  I found these great sheets months ago while on Urban Treasure Hunt.  Don’t you think it will go great in a quilt?  By the way I love antiques too, the table above was made by Mr. Miller’s grandfather.  We have an inlaid game table downstairs to match.

I am trying to hold true to a handmade Christmas.  So far so good, I will admit that I did purchase toys for the boys.  Cameron loves his legos and Henry loves Thomas. 

My sewing machine has been working on full speed and it has been very therapeutic.  Life is so busy but I am trying to slow down and enjoy the season.

Hope you all are staying warm and enjoying the blessings of the holiday season.

i said yes...

As I was prowling Facebook yesterday I came upon a post by one of my childhood friends. Jeni and I lived 3 doors from each other during 6Th - 8Th grade. We were close and always getting into mischief. I know you find that hard to believe. Jeni lives in New York now with her husband and 4 beautiful little girls. Jeni posted that today would be the 18Th anniversary of David proposing to her and as I was reading her post and yes crying, I realized that 12 years ago today Mr. Miller officially "popped the question" and I said yes, eventually.

Mr. Miller and I had known each other since I was 18, but didn't date for 9 years. When we did start dating I knew that he was it. Crazy that in all the years we knew each other I would not have ever guessed that he was the one. I have to say that when he kissed me that first time it was it! I had a "Sabrina" moment, corny but true. Our relationship was a long distance one with him in Kansas City and me in Topeka but we made it work. The year we got engaged it had been and unusually warm season and he was a landscaper which meant lots of hours. We snuck away over Thanksgiving to see the Deacon and Pops in Illinois. We took the train and were going to drive back as they were gifting Patrick with a car since the "bucket" had died.

While on the train Mr. Miller told me to get my calendar out. I thought it was strange but I went with it. So he said lets just do it, pick a date. Not so romantic I know but it does get better, eventually. We discussed lots of options and settled at the time with October 16Th, 1999. (Little did we know at the time the church would double book that date and we would end up with October 9, 1999.) I think I was so excited that we actually had the time to talk about getting married that I didn't realize I wasn't given a ring. Come to find out he had already been shopping with my Mom and because it had been such a crazy season for me he wasn't able to go pick it up and actually present it to me on the train.

I knew the ring would come and we started planning and figuring things out. Along comes Saturday, December 10Th, 1998 and we were in Topeka meeting with Fr. Terril about the ceremony. We met my family at the mall to do a little Christmas shopping so I was told. Mr. Miller and Mimi had a different agenda, while Erika and the kids took me to the Dillards shoe department, they went to the jewelry store.

We met up in the food court for dinner. Things were fine and we were laughing while enjoying our Chik-fil-a and then it got quiet. He grabbed my had and said, finally and officially, "will you marry me?" and I just looked at him and the first thing I could muster was "as far as you know!" (that was Mr. Miller's answer for everything) He just looked at me like a lost puppy and Mimi said ask her again. He did and I said "YES!". He slipped a cigar band on my finger first followed by what I call my Princess Diana ring. He gave me a sapphire surrounded by channel set diamonds and I LOVE IT! You ask why a cigar band? I had always told him I didn't need a ring that would put you in debt, if we couldn't pay cash for it we were not getting it. I didn't care if it was a cigar band or twist tie, all that mattered was that we were together forever. I still have that cigar band and will keep it forever and plus what a great story if Chik fil a ever has a contest. Haha...

I love you Mr. Miller!

thoughts by dr. seuss and myself

Have you ever really thought about what the Dr. was trying to tell us in his books? I guess lately, since I read a lot not only to my kids but the sippy cup gang as well, I have pondered over these little helpful hints.

I received an email this morning and this was her tag line,

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothings going to get better. It's not!

-The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

Now just sit here a minute and think about it. Doesn't it really hit home for you? I mean with the state of the economy and the world, I feel as if we don't all just stop for a minute nothing is going to change. We can all talk about how we feel regarding our state of affairs right now but what are you going to do to make a change. Big or small, just think about it.

Right now we are entering the Holiday Season. For my family that means Advent. Advent comes from the Latin word adventus which means "coming".

We took Gigi to mass on Saturday evening at St. Thomas More (Cameron's school parish), yes we are Episcopalian but Gigi is Roman Catholic and is coming on 90 years, it was a beautiful service and it too made me think about what I can do to help prepare for myself but for others. Kansas City has a Catholic Service Center known as Seton. They help those in need and a Sister from the Center spoke and shared stories with us about Seton and those in need. You never know who you come across that might need help.

One change my family is making this year is to up our donations to the local food pantry, could you imagine not knowing when your next meal is coming? We are going to daily put food in a bag to take to church on Sunday. As a family we are going to pray for those families that this food will nourish.

I feel this is one small change that we can make in our daily lives to help with the "coming" meals for others in our community.