Lanie J. and Co.

She stopped me in my tracks today...

2012-04-17T22:06:00.003-05:00

Admittedly in the recent weeks, I have let the circumstances in my surroundings steal my joy. God chooses to bring messages in many different ways.

In the midst of running around today, to the school my 9 year olds recorder concert, to the Vitamin Shoppe, the dry cleaners, the drive through for lunch, I sat on the floor in my living room nursing my baby boy and turned on the mid morning news. The last story on the newscast was about a family choosing joy in the midst of grief.

A baby girl named Avery Canahuati stopped me in my tracks today. Here is a link to the story I saw. I sat nursing my perfectly healthy baby boy with tears pouring down my face. Avery's parents are beautiful, amazing people who are making a choice to make the very best of their baby's life for whatever time they have her with them here on earth.

At one point in the interview her mother says this... “Mike always told me we’ve got all the time in the world to cry,” said Laura. “We can cry, you know, when she’s no longer here. But for now we want to enjoy the time we do have with her and just make memories.” I know they are putting her story out there to raise awareness of spinal muscular atrophy, SMA Type 1. But the message they are sending in addition is a much, much bigger and powerful one. We can choose how we spend our days with our loved ones.

Life is so very precious and fleeting. In the final days I spent with my mom before she passed away I sat in the presence of a woman who had had her share of pain in her life, both physical and emotional and all of that falls away when you are left with precious little time with the people you love. My parents had been divorced 5 years before Mom died. Dad visited her a few days before my final visit. All the blame and pent up anger fell away in that visit and it seems as if the two of them put things to rest and all that remained was sweet, sweet love.

The Canahuatis realize what is important in the here and now is to love Avery like nobody's business. And they are doing it with all of their might. I took a lesson from them today and hugged each of my precious ones close, for I have taken them for granted. I'd like this beautiful family to know that I am sending prayers for Avery, their strength and peace on this journey they are on, and a hope that a cure may be found soon.

Please visit Avery's precious blog at Avery's Bucket List and like her page on Facebook. Help her parents spread the word about spinal muscular atrophy and learn a little about choosing joy at the same time.

On a journey to change...

2012-04-05T10:26:00.000-05:00

I learned something new this week. It is something that I have known deep inside, but need to be reminded of over and over until I really "get it".

Without going into the very details, I will invite you to share on my journey of realizing that I have the power to choose what I believe about myself and the world I live in. The power to choose spiritually, mentally and physically how I will move about in this world.

I have the power to love people right where they are in their journey, even if I don't agree with what they believe. I am hoping they have the power to love me where I am in mine even if they don't agree. I am starting with me.

What I am reading now...

The Courage to Change by Marilyn Gustin. You are welcome to investigate what the book is about by clicking on the above image. I am reminded that not everyone's journey is the same just by reading the three reviews about the book.

Knowing how to choose is one of heaven's greatest gifts.

~Baltasar Gracian

Something beautiful....

2012-04-03T07:16:00.000-05:00

Don't forget today...

You are something beautiful!

Blue Butterfly Doodle

2012-03-08T17:32:00.000-06:00

Still like the green doodle the best. :)

Finished work...

2012-02-29T22:44:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite doodles so far.

Work in progress....

2012-02-28T09:17:00.000-06:00

Inspiration Friday (2/17/12)

2012-02-17T07:26:00.000-06:00

Visit Ann Voskamp at A Holy Experience.

A Valentine Doodle

2012-02-15T15:11:00.000-06:00

So... it's been a while. I would apologize, but it is my blog after all, and kind of an extra curricular activity for me. I've been busy adjusting to being a mom of three and learning a few things about myself.

Hopefully those things I am learning can help push me to some creative work. I've missed working on the blog and doing doodles and such. So, I should be around a little more.

I'll be back in the next few days. Until then, here is a doodle I did for Valentines Day. It felt really good to get the pens out. I love doodles, because I am not trying to be perfect or impress anyone. They are an impromptu excercise in creativity. Gonna have to do some more very soon!

Baby boy is here!

2011-10-10T11:34:00.000-05:00

Just dropping in to announce that my little boy Kyle made his entrance into this world a little early on September 27th at about 35-1/2 weeks. He weighed 5 lbs. 13 oz. and was 19-1/2 in. long. He spent a bit of time in NICU and is home on an apnea monitor now. We have had no apnea episodes and his is gaining his weight as he should. There are a couple of concerns with his heart, but hopefully they should be minor or not at all after we visit a pediatric cardiologist later this week.

I am completely and utterly in love with this little tiny guy!

Lord, please help me to live fully in each moment with the precious gifts you have given me. All three of them... Katie, Nikki and Kyle.

"Godspeed Little Man"

2011-09-22T09:57:00.000-05:00

Goodspeed little man! We can't wait to meet you! 2-3 more weeks and you will be in our arms precious boy!

Inspiration Friday (9/16/11)

2011-09-16T06:57:00.001-05:00

So, I am going to have to sheepishly admit that I got totally hooked on Pinterest this week. I get my Inspiration Friday ideas from blogs that I follow and subscribe to, but oh the beautiful pics on Pinterest have captured my attention. I would love for you to follow me both here at the blog and over at Pinterest (just go to the first column on the right). I promise I will follow you back. Who knows maybe your project, art, recipe or beautiful picture may show up here!

Fabric Penant Tutorial at Sugar Bee Crafts

Pumpkin Butterscotch Muffins at Mommy's Kitchen

Inexpensive Party Favors at The Happy Housewife

Oreo and Peanut Butter Brownie Bites at Picky Palate

DIY Pumpkin Art at My Blessed Life

3D Canvas Art at The Craft In Me

Happy Friday! Grab a button!

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Little man's room is coming together!

2011-09-15T14:43:00.004-05:00

Just wanted to share Kyle's room. It is coming together nicely.

Sweet bedding is from Nautica Kids. Hubs and I picked it out together.

Sailboat paintings done by me. I thoroughly enjoyed making these!

Window valances match the bedding and are also from Nautica Kids. The desk needs a new home somewhere in the house. I just haven't figured out where that is yet!

Of course I already posted his letters.

See that basket? I've stuck my nose in it for a big whiff more than a few times. Nothing like the smell of Dreft to make you ready to hold a baby!

Now I am having Hubs be on the look out for nautical themed wall stuff that will match. I would like a wooden oar for above the closet (not pictured) and maybe something to go on each side of the window. I think a painting or painted sign that says "Come sail away with me..." would be sweet don't you?

Participating here:

More decoupage wood letters for a baby boy...

2011-09-13T06:18:00.004-05:00

So, I've been nesting and decorating preparing for Baby J.

Last week, I made his name for the wall in his room. It has been quite interesting moving from all things girl to doing crafts for a little boy. But I'm starting to catch on and really enjoy it. I can't wait to meet little man, this is for sure.

Making these letters is very simple. If you would like to make your own see my tutorial here.

Participating here:

Monday Musings... Faith

2011-09-12T06:00:00.009-05:00

Original artwork by Lanie J.

“You block your dream when you allow your fear to grow bigger than your faith.”

~Mary Manin Morrissey

"Fear can keep us up all night long, but faith makes one fine pillow.”

~Anonymous

“I know God will not give me anything I can't handle.

I just wish He didn't trust me so much.”

~Mother Theresa

Participating here:

We will not forget....

2011-09-11T06:00:00.001-05:00

Inspiration Friday (9/9/11)

2011-09-09T11:47:00.000-05:00

River Rock Table Name Tags at inspiration & realisation

Kids Art Display at Clean & Scentsible

Freezer Paper Stenciling at The Artful Parent

DIY Stickhorse from Junk in Their Trunk via Lolly Jane

Faux Handblown Glass Ornaments at Aileen's Musings

French Breakfast Muffins at HoneyBear Lane

Homemade Gel Air Fresheners at Homemade Mamas

Repurposed Shower Curtain Seaside Wreath at Cajun joie de vivre

Rootbeer Float Fudge at Shugary Sweets

Please feel free to grab a "featured" button and thanks for all the fabulous ideas!

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Imagining a phone call to my Mama on her 63rd birthday...

2011-09-06T07:30:00.001-05:00

Sweet Mama, today would be your 63rd birthday. If I could give you a birthday call, I imagine it would go something like this...

It would start with you picking up the phone and Katie and Nikki and I singing a rousing round of Happy Birthday with the extra cha, cha, cha! flourish at the end of each sentence.

I would lament to you how hard this pregnancy has been on me emotionally and physically being 40 years old and how scared of a third c-section I am and you would comfort me, reminding me of how the doctors didn't want you to deliver my little sister because your life and maybe even hers could be lost in the process and you did it anyway. I would thank you for that because now I have Mika for a sister.

Then you would talk about how great little boys are and how much fun Justin was and how awesome it will be to hold little man in my arms and we would count our blessings. You always told me girls were wonderful, but there was something really special about a little boy.

I might cry a little when I tell you how much I wish you could be here with me to share in the first weeks with the baby, just as you did with Katie and Nikki. But I'd tell you, I think I am covered as far as help goes. Of course, they can never replace you.

I would tell you how great it would be to sit at the kitchen table and paint with you again. I have learned so much in the couple of years since you have been gone and I think we would finally launch that little art business we always talked about.

We would talk about how much the girls are growing and changing everyday. How talented artistically Katie is (she got it from you) or how witty Nikki can be. I would share with you my concerns about raising girls and you would share with me stories of Mika and myself when we were growing up and then tell me that raising a boy will be easier.

In general, I would tell you how much I really do miss you and love you and that there will forever be a hole in my heart that will never be replaced. Thank you once again for being my Mom, confidante and best friend over the years.

26 weeks: A letter to my little boy....

2011-07-20T13:45:00.000-05:00

Wow, to type it out, or say it out loud... "my little boy".... wow!

(25 weeks... looking as tired as I feel! :) )

We are now at 26 weeks although your mommy looks and feels more like 36 weeks. We are on the downhill slide and I am finally looking at purchasing your layette. We have your new travel system and play yard (complete with a changing table and hamper so you and I can take care of business in the living room instead of running all over the house while I am recuperating from the c-section) and I ordered some sweet cradle bedding for your cradle when you come home.

Daddy is beside himself with excitement and is amazed at your strength. You can get my belly moving and it fascinates every single one of us. One of our new favorite pass times is to put the t.v. remote on my belly and watch you move it with your little kicks. At a recent doctor's visit, I found that you were head down (I know this will change a few more times) and I questioned if that were so, why did it feel like someone was stomping on my bladder. Reason... your little fists were in front of your face. Apparently, you were using my bladder as a punching bag!

Your sisters are having fun helping me pick out items you will need. They love to pick out outfits and ask me questions about you all the time. They already love you and pray for you at night before they go to sleep.

With this pregnancy, I have become rather large, rather fast and I get bunches of double takes when I go out in public. "When is your baby due?" "October." "Really?!" (Which is usually replied with eyes as big as saucers.) I haven't had much energy this time around and it continues to dwindle as I haven't been sleeping well. I am already the weight I was when I had Katie and it is getting increasingly difficult to bend over and pick things up. It was rather amusing the other night when I was buttering a nice piece of corn on the cob and dropped it. I watched as it rolled down my tummy and onto the kitchen floor. Katie was sitting next to me and looking down at it she said, "You want me to get that for you don't you?" I don't know what I would do without your big sisters to come to my rescue!

Because of our little scare back at 11 weeks and because of this being my third c-section with a chance of a uteran rupture on the second one I had (doc says he doubled that area last time) I have had more fear and worry with you than with your sisters. I discussed a c-section at 37 weeks (as soon as we know your lungs are fully developed) to keep me from going into labor this time. When I wake at night and my mind starts to wander on all the things that could go wrong. I remember that God is in control and he has, as your big sister Katie likes to say "very BIG hands!" And I picture you safe in my arms. I know for a fact, all of this will be worth it in the end.

I cannot wait to meet you my precious boy.

Love, Mom

20 week ultrasound of you (we will do this again at 29 weeks)

Letters and Doodles

2011-06-24T15:04:00.004-05:00

Yummy Rootbeer Cookie Recipe!

2011-06-22T05:00:00.002-05:00

When I was 16 years old, I spent the summer with my cousins in Utah. Looking back, my favorite things from that summer were when we would threaten to tattle to my Aunt Peggy (who had 5 children) and she would say she didn't want to hear it (I use this today with my own children) and these yummy, yummy, yummy rootbeer cookies.

My children have recently become rootbeer lovers like their Mom so I decided to dig out Aunt Peggy's recipe.

Rootbeer Cookies

1 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. butter (softened)
1 egg
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 c. buttermilk or water
1 tsp. rootbeer extract**
1-3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt

Mix as for any cookie and bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes

Rootbeer Glaze

2 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup butter softened
1-1/2 tsp rootbeer extract**
2 T. hot water

Glaze the cookies generously.

YUM!

**I used to be able to get rootbeer extract at the grocery store. Now it is rootbeer concentrate which I don't think is as strong. So I ordered my extract from Cooks Vanilla online.

Enjoy the cookies!

Pregnant lady who loves lettering will work for food....

2011-06-21T07:25:00.000-05:00

Last week, my friend Dianne messaged me through Facebook asking if she could bring me breakfast in return for writing on some baseballs for her son's team.

Of course I said yes. I mean what woman who is 21 weeks preggo and ALWAYS hungry would say no?! Plus, the fact that I love Dianne and I love to letter made it easy to say yes.

Here is how they turned out...

All in all, I wrote on 14 balls while visiting with Dianne and she finished the outline at home since we ran out of time. I think they turned out nicely and I hope some daddies thought they were a great gift from their little ball players on Father's Day.

P.S. Dianne so thoughtfully brought a gift card to my favorite store ever... Hobby Lobby! Thanks Dianne!

Happy Father's Day Daddy...

2011-06-19T07:07:00.000-05:00

My Daddy and I circa 1974.

Happy Father's Day Dad!

ICAD #8 Emerson Quote....

2011-06-11T16:53:00.000-05:00

ICAD #8 (Zig writer, Pitt Pens and Copic Sketch B04-Tahitian Blue)

ICAD #4-7 Courtesy of my Katiebug...

2011-06-10T09:09:00.000-05:00

ICAD#4 Katie says, "Only big guys in red pickup truck have seen ufo's except for this guy."

ICAD #5 Katie says, "If he lays in the sun too long, he'll melt." (I love the reflection of the sun on the water.)

ICAD #6 Katie says, "How long do you think he will last dancing?" (Personally I think he looks like he could soar!)

ICAD #7 Katie says, "The flamingo looks like he is going to burn his beak on the sun!" (Flamingos are well loved in our house, especially by Nikki!)

Don't forget to check out Inspiration Friday this week!

Inspiration Friday (6/10/11)

2011-06-10T07:33:00.001-05:00

Okay, so it has been a pretty busy week.

We found out we are going to have a "son". I can't believe I'm going to have a little boy! Katie fell off a skateboard and chipped her permanent front tooth and got a bloody and fat lip. Nikki lost her first tooth. And we are simply busy having summer fun.

The girls love to go to the craft store. Katie takes after me spending hours making latch hook rugs and pot holders on a loom. And they both love to draw.

Thank goodness for the drawing. Katie has a stack of her own ICADs so since I haven't kept up this week I will post ICADs 4-7 in a little bit and they will be from her ever growing stack. She has some fantastic drawings for an 8 year old! You can see ICAD #1 here, ICAD #2 here (my fave so far) and ICAD #3 here. It's also not to late to join Daisy Yellow in the summer ICAD challenge here.

I'm never to busy to peek around the web though so I thought I'd share some inpiration I have for this week...

Love, love, love these artsy canvas shoes! Gabriela Delworth has a tutorial for these and more on her wonderful blog. Go check it out!

CrAzY HoUsE asks if you can say "yum"?! I'm pretty sure I could if I made this yummy looking recipe for Apple Julep!

Oh how I wish I could really sew! I would use this tutorial from Sew Like My Mom to make my girls each one of these swimsuit cover ups. Cute and fun!

Surviving Motherhood shows us how to make this patriotic and cute bunting. (A great new blog I just discovered this morning!)

YUM! Coffeehouse shared a recipe for healthy blackened tilapia baja tacos. Say that ten times real fast! Delish! :)

Would you believe this is a pasta necklace?! Suzy's Artsy Craftsy Sitcom proves they aren't just for kids with this wonderful tutorial.

Check out the tutorial for these adorable and handy little boy burp cloths at Made By Rae. They are made by using quilting cotton fabric and jersey knit cloth. Awesome!

Scrapbooking can be so overwhelming. I love Red Ted Art's Blog simplification of the process. It would be nice to just get the photos in a safe and pretty book. It doesn't have to be extravagant!

Grab a button!

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Catch ya later with Katie's ICADs! :)