My Family

My children

My husband and I

My husband and oldest son

My oldest son and I

Homeschool Graduation

My oldest son officially graduated from homeschool this weekend.  We held a graduation ceremony and party at our home on Saturday evening.  I tried to make it special with decorations around the house.

We asked our guests to each write a piece of advice on an index card when they arrived.  When my husband gave a speech about our years of homeschooling our son and our desires for his future, he also read those cards.  The advice ranged from the importance of loving and following God to *Always wear clean underwear.*

My son also gave a short little talk about the two things I as his mama and teacher have given him through homeschool:  an education and love for reading and exposure to--in his opinion--*worthless* algebra.  :)

Afterwards, we shared a hamburger cookout and cake and visited with our guests.

And here is the graduate with his diploma.

Home School Graduate

My oldest son finished his homeschool education this year.  We are throwing a celebration for him this weekend with friends and family.  I am quite busy this week with preparations and cleanin

Hope Chest 2

My youngest daughter turned 13 this past weekend.  For her birthday, her grandmama gave her a hope chest.  It is just like the one her sister received last year.

She has already filled it almost full with table linens, afghans, quilts, and kitchen linens she has either made herself or been given as gifts.  She will continue to work on items for her future home and place them lovingly in this chest for it represents her desire to one day be a wife and mother.

It sits in her bedroom in a place of honor.  It is the first piece of furniture she will have in her own home one day.  There it can hold priceless treasures from her life:  special baby clothes from her babies, photos of her family, cherished gifts.

As I mentioned in another post, I have the hope chest my grandma bought to store her son's clothes in during the Great Depression.  It sits in my bedroom and reminds me of her every time I see it.  It is my desire for my daughters to remember their own grandmama in their future lives when they see their hope chest in their homes--to remember the investments she has made in their lives, to remember the legacy of love she has given them, to remember their heritage of faith in the Lord even when times are hard.

Counted Cross Stitch Embroidery

Pictured above is a counted cross stitch project I did many years ago--20 to be exact.

 During the time after my son died I was floundering and at a loss.  I needed something to occupy my time.  My husband was an over the road truck driver and often gone all week and I was alone.  So I spent months doing counted cross stitch work.  It kept my hands and my mind busy. 

This particular pattern came from a friend.  It was far more intricate and complicated than anything I had done previously.  It served my purposes well.

When I finished this project, I folded it and put it away.  Several years later, we finished our house and moved in.  I found this and took it to a frame shop and had it matted and framed.  Ever since then, it has hung on the wall in our living room.

This piece obviously has special meaning for me...

Counted cross stitch embroidery can be simple or complicated.  It can be framed and mounted on the wall, added to table linens or pillows, stitched on pillowcases and sheets, used to adorn clothing.  It is a thrifty way to add a special something to store bought items.  For the woman who desires to be a homemaker, it is a way to turn the ordinary into extraordinary.

 

Framed Crochet

The framed piece above was made by my sister.  It is crocheted using small thread rather than yarn.  I framed it using a piece of fabric stretched over a piece of cardboard as a backing.  It hangs in my living room.

These sorts of things make lovely gifts, especially for weddings.  They are a one of a kind gift, yet using your own creativity, they are also thrifty gifts that look quite expensive.  These also add a homey look to your own home.

Keeping Plants

Though I am terrible at keeping plants alive, my youngest daughter loves plants.  She seems to have some talent at keeping them alive, too. 

This year, she planted pea, squash, tomatoes, and several flowers in a small area of our yard.  She now has tomatoes on the vine and squash flowering.  Such excitement!  She faithfully waters them and enjoys checking on them daily.

My mama and my sister both have an interest in flowers and plants and she has learned a great deal from them.  The picture above is a plant my daughter planted with my mama.  They chose a pretty red basket as a pot holder.

This would make a nice centerpiece for the dining table.  It also would look good on a side table in the living room.  And, of course, it makes a nice addition to the door steps.

You could use flowering plants or herbs.  You can use flower pots or baskets.  Hanging baskets on a porch are a nice touch, too.