A special gift for a precious little girl ~

As our family was growing, I was always so worried

that the older boys would feel displaced or have their feelings hurt

when we brought a new baby home for the first time.

Having a new baby in the house is always demanding to a mama,

and it's such a balance to include the older siblings so they don't feel left out.

I tried so hard the other evening when we visited with Brent and Emily

to include Clara in all that we did...

she already knows what a great helper she is!

I decided to make her a special gift...

a "you are a wonderful big sister" and
"such a wonderful helper" gift!

The other day when we went to JoAnn's I bought the softest, cuddliest fabric

I had ever felt! I think it was even called cuddle something ~

I will tell you this, it was messy to work with but the end result is

the most plush, cozy bunny I've ever made!!!

They have to take little Murray to the doctor today for a check-up

and will swing by

so I can gift Clara her bunny gift....

Thank you all for sharing my joy...

and our growing family!!!

We are truly blessed.

I hope you have a GREAT Friday precious friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn

One precious week old ~

First, I came across the gorgeous Beatrix Potter illustration

the other day and it simply took my breath away ~

I love her work so, so much....

We went to visit our new little grandson, Murray and
granddaughter Clara Wednesday evening!!!

Murray is now one little week old and is absolutely WONDERFUL!

I had to snap a few photos to share with you,

I hope you don't mind!!!

I was able to love, snuggle and kiss on this precious angel ~

and of course on Clara too!!!

What a blessing these grandchildren are....

Thank you Lord for these little angel gifts.

Wishing you a beautiful Thursday dear friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn

Snippets of Inspiration ~

I've labeled many a post with this title!

But I just love to share with you what inspires me ~

I recently received a massive pile of Restoration Hardware catalogs in the mail...

Not that I can afford one single thing inside but just so I can shop "in my mind"

That's OK, right?

SO, I've saved a few pics (you can also view everything online too)

to share with you here.

Just stuff I love...

and should I get a big windfall or win the lottery

(ha! I don't even buy tickets so how's that gonna happen?)

I'll be shopping for sure!

Inspiration is free...

Ahhhh, that felt good...shopping my heart out and

I didn't even spend a dime!!!

Happy Wednesday precious friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn

A few NEW gifts for you!

I was going through my ephemera collection the other day

and found a few things just for you!

I hope you can use them...

some are for Christmas too ~

Now all you have to do is click on the pic a few times

to get the largest size for you to save :)

Noah is on fall break this week...YAAAAAY!!!

We've been laying low ~ I cleaned all day Monday...

Maybe soon I'll make a little something new???

I hope you have a WONDERFUL Tuesday precious friends!!

hugs and love,

Dawn

Looking back...

With precious Murray's birth,

I find myself looking back to my own family growing.

Wondering as a very young mother,

how in the world could I ever love another child

like I love my precious first baby???

I found a few photos to share with you ~

this one is when we arrived home from the hospital with David.

Brent wasn't even two years old!

By the look on his face, he was kinda dazed and confused!!!

This was November of 1984.

I was almost 23 years old....

yes, I married when I was 19 and had Brent when I was almost 20!

Our little family was growing and I absolutely loved it!!!

But truthfully, when our second son was born,

I was so amazed at how my love grew.

I loved BOTH of my precious children so much...

maybe differently but

it seemed that the Lord gave me the capacity

to love them both so very much ~

And these photos are only sharing our first two sons....

if you know anything about me,

we have FIVE boys!!!!
(oh and guess what...Brent on the right will be 30 yrs old this year
and David on the left will be 28!!!!)

Families are beautiful.

Love is wonderful.

And when you love your family,

you are truly, truly blessed!!!

Wishing you a beautiful Monday sweet friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn

These are the good ol' days ~

I always try to remind myself of this fact...

that THESE truly are the days memories are made of ~

Of course all of our days are

but

to see out little granddaughter Clara

see her little brother Murray

for the very first time

was one of those special moments

you never, ever get again!!

We took Clara to the hospital Thursday to see her mama and daddy but

most of all to meet her precious new sibling!

I snapped a few photos to share with you and for us to treasure always:

A very happy little girl...we were almost there!!!

Uncle Noah came along as well...

The very first moment she saw her little brother....

a tired but proud mama holding her angels ~

And now she gets to hold Murray herself!

Daddy looks on as Clara examines everything about him ~

I don't know what this look is but

I do know this...

this angel Clara is a ham and loves the camera!

More examination ensues...she had to see his fingers and toes!

One last stop by the nursery before leaving

and it had a beautiful,

giant carousel giraffe in front!!!

Such a happy and very big sister....

Thank you Lord for letting me witness this joy...

this truly was one of the good ol' days!!!!

And thank you so much for indulging me and letting me

share my family with you ~

and also for your sweet, sweet comments,

I have just loved each and every one!

Wishing you a wonderful fall Friday precious friends!

hugs and love,

Dawn

Baby Murray is finally here!!!

It was a long day at the hospital but our sweet grandson

finally arrived right after 9:00 pm Wednesday night!!!

Thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers,

baby Murray and mama are both doing so, so good.

The delivery went wonderfully and Emily is happy and healthy...

Brent, the proud daddy, is doing pretty great too!!!

Our little Murray wasn't so little either...

he weighed 10 lbs. and 2 oz.!!! He's 22" long too!!

I didn't get tons of pics but here are a few of our new angel:

I just couldn't get over the resemblance he has to Clara as a newborn!!!

So I looked in my photos and put the two photos side by side ~
Murray is on the left AND Clara is on the right

Can you believe that????!!!!

There's no denying these sweethearts are brother and sister ~

Thank you again for all of your thoughts and prayers

for my sweet family....

we truly are blessed.

Wishing you a beautiful Thursday dear friends,

hugs and love,

Dawn