So... I am the type of person if I see something somewhere that I love my first thought is not "where did you get that, I need to go buy it" it's "I wonder if I could make that"? Its fun for me. And when it's one of my own ideas it almost always comes to me in the middle of the night. I guess it's the only time I have some space in my brain to allow some new creative thoughts to come in. I am also working on starting an account on ETSY. It's my favorite website in the world and could maybe find a client base through it selling my paintings and purses/diaper bags.

My friend Becka is having a little girl Ellianna this month. I made these paintings for her.

This is a purse I made for myself. Thinking about selling them.

Both Jon and I have needed to be reminded of HOPE. The HOPE we have in Christ, and the HOPE we have to "restore" our community. So I made this for our family room.

Trick or Treat

Hi friends! It feels like we've been celebrating Halloween for over a week now. Between festivities at school, and our Annual Costume Murder Mystery Party last night we have gotten plenty of wear out of our costumes. During our party last night I kept finding myself singing Christmas songs. I am so ready for the Christmas season to begin! Goodbye Halloween, and Hello Thanksgiving which leads in to my favorite time of the whole year CHRISTMAS! Eeeeeeeeeeeee! Love it, love it, love it!

Buggie is Tinkerbell. Her favorite. I got the costume at a garage sale for $5, never worn! I scored!

Jac was Ariel. As you can tell she loves to give a good "pose".

The girls with Uncle.

Why is it so hard to get a great family picture, where everyone looks good? Argh. Whatever.

We love Auntie. She's the best.

I was "Mama Butterfly". It made the girls so happy. I wore the bridesmaid dress from my sister's wedding, and bought some wings.

Jon was a "bro". He went by "Jed" or "Earl".

Hope you guys had a great Halloween, and the Mac Fam is moving on to the next season! Hurray! Gobble, gobble, gobble!

The Never Ending Summer!

It is the never ending summer! I know many of you love the heat but, I am sooooooo ready to be done with it. Bring on the frost, and crisp air! Usually by Halloween it's cold so we've got a week or so to go (hopefully). This pic was taken the other day at the park.

I love our public library. It is a "weekly event" in our family. It an old historic building, filled with beautiful architecture and art, it has many, many places and "nooks" where you can read a great book, and offers many things throughout the week centered for kids. The girls love picking out their books, and some continue to get checked out over and over again. Buggie always wears her high heels (which makes so much noise in a really quiet place) and everytime I end up carrying her until we get to the carpeted area, and every time she says "Mommy, I won't wear my high heels next time". It hasn't happened yet, (partially my fault since I don't look to see what shoes she's wearing as we leave the house). They love watching the librarian beep the books, and then they put their books in their book bags, grab a free book mark and we are on our way. We can't spend less than an hour there. It is a lot of fun. One of the new things the girls play is "librarian", and it is pretty funny. They always tell the other one to "shhhhhhhhhhhh" and "be quiet".

They have a couple gardens throughout the library where you can read, and enjoy the outdoors. We spend much of our time here.



My sweet girl, I love her.

Apparently she was bored.

I love Buggies expression here, so confused or perplexed. She was reading a book called Mrs. Wishy Washy.

And I will confess that I always have a fine to pay. Sometimes it's higher than others but, it's still worth it. Memories are being made, their little brains are being stimulated, and I get a break! It's worth every penny (or sometimes dollars). Tee Hee.

Fall, Fall, Fall! I love Fall!

This past weekend we visted our local pumpkin patch. This place is amazing, and the variety of pumpkins is incredible. I thought it would be fun to take my mom (Nana) and my Aunt Jewels and knew they would appreiciate the beauty and variety. Here's a couple of pics of the pumpkins and some of the fam.

My Aunt Jewels and Mom

Buggie looking at some goats. I love this outfit of hers. She looks stinkin cute in it too! My little pumpkin head.

Nana with her girls

The Mac Fam

And here are some pics of my fall decorations. I will admit that I started decorating "early" Septmember while it was still a cool 100 + degrees outside. But, I was over the heat and over summer. Needless to say, I have welcomed Fall and am so happy. Redlands is beautiful this time of year.

So... a couple of things.

1. Sorry I have been lame on the "blogging" lately. It's just been a nutty time plus, I have been abnormally tired lately. The motivation to do anything has taken more effort these days. Pretty sure it's just life making me tired but, the Mac family is doing well, and feeling joyful!

2. I love projects. Like home improvement projects, or crafts. Lately I have been doing quite a bit. Doing alot of sewing, and painting. I want to show you my latest painting project. My sister gave me 4 of her old chairs and thought I would try painting the cushions first and if it didn't turn out I could always upholster them. I am pretty happy with how they turned out. Take a look-



I have many posts to come of a softball game, pumpkin patches and fall stuff/decorations, more projects, and time with Nana. Now, I am going to enjoy the cold weather with my family, and take a walk to the University. Ciao.

Argh

So... this weekend has been hard for me. As most of you know we lost our third child at 18 weeks in April. Yesterday (Friday) was my due date. Argh. Most days I am doing well. Feeling like I am able to hold to on to a healthy perspective, and able to rest in the Lords strength. But, this weekend it just kept popping up in my mind that I have hit my due date, that our third child would most likely be here by now. I know many of you that have miscarried have had this same experience. It's just a really weird and serial feeling. Filled with lots of different emotions.

I have been seeing my Ob/Gyn on a frequent basis to figure out what's going on with my health. To state in a major "nutshell" version I have been having some "hormonal imbalances" ever since Buggie was born, and it has and continues to put some health stuff out of wack. To say that this past year especially has been hard would be an understatement. This has been a really tough year for our family. Lots of stuff, lots! Again, argh. But, we are holding on to what is true and what we were created for, and that is for us-
1. That we are called to Redlands, and love our church Restoration Covenant. And that we will continue to be faithful in serving and fighting for peoples hearts and lives to be "restored", healed, and free!
2. To be grateful for what we do have. What we have been blessed with. To learn to be content, thankful, and embrace the joy, the life that is right before our eyes.
3. Just think about today, not tomorrow. It can be overwhelming at times.

May you too find and hold on to what is true, and what you were created for. Ciao.