Moving Again?

Like I said the other day, there's not much time after homeschooling and working on my etsy shop. But I promised to return so here I am.  Our next project is..... we're moving!  Yes, once again it's time to pack up the house and move somewhere else.  I think the count will be 13 moves in 26 years.  Hopefully we'll stay at the next place for a while because we're not just moving but we are BUYING a house.  For the first time in 16 years, John and I will be home owners.  I'm getting pretty excited about being in our own home.  We've talked about getting some chickens perhaps.  What I'm not excited about is the packing. Sigh.

Today is Gabriel's birthday!  He turned 22. He called this afternoon and was very excited about his day. They announced his birthday in chapel and sang "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" for him. (Hannah was the instigator.) It made his day!

Hannah, Gabriel and Sarah (Gabriel's girlfriend)

Can I Blog Again?

Someone posted something on facebook and it reminded me of something I wrote a very long time ago.  So I started looking for it on my computer and found some old blog entries.  I really made me miss blogging.  Is blogging something you can start back up again when it's been neglected for so long?  My life is busy - even though I'm only homeschooling one now.  I thought it would slow down but it hasn't. So what have I been doing?  Most of my "free time" is spent here making  

  Gift Tags

 

  Greeting Cards

 Journals

 and

a few other things

And there's not much time left after that.  And now we have a new project.  I'll tell you about it tomorrow.  Not to keep you in suspense but hopefully to lure me back to write again.

It's a Girl Banner

Spent most of the day working on a custom order for Ellie Marie Designs.  Love the finished product.  Wish I had better lighting for the picture.

 

Need a custom banner?  Stop by my shop and I'll make one for you!

Etsy Custom Order - Baseball Wedding!

 

Gabriel

Gabriel sporting a beard while he's home.  Looks nice.  But makes me feel older...

Gift Exchange

I'm on a Christian team on Etsy and this year I decided to participate in the Secret Santa gift exchange.  I'm so glad I did.  The gifts I received are from Noelle.  She has a cute shop call Regift Store.  She gave me a beautiful felted flower brooch.  And a Bath and Body Works lavender vanilla bath set. It smells so good. I love it all!!!!  Thank you so much Noelle.  I hope the person who got my gifts loves hers just as much.  Merry Christmas to everyone!

 Here I am with the brooch pinned to my sweater.  Yes, I do need a haircut!

Here is the bath set, brooch and card under the tree. The gift exchange was fun.  I hope I can participate next year.

Constanta, Romania circa 2002

 

Our House - the front part anyway. There is more to the side.  I'll have to find that picture later.

 

Gabriel playing basketball on the street outside.
 

  

All house are gated

  

A little neighborhood store that Gabriel walked to and bought whatever we were out of.  Truly a convenience store!

Gabriel learned to handle Romanian money quickly. (Gabriel -age 11)

 View from the little store.  Our street is the one on the right.  Our house is about half way down.

 The Black Sea was about 2 miles away. (Holly age 4)

 (Hannah - age 9)

 There was a park within walking distance from our house.

 One of my favorite pictures of Hannah and Holly were taken at that park.

 The mountains were about 6 hours away.  This particular one was only opened a few weeks out of the year.

My favorite picture of Gabriel and Holly.

 Someone gave us a bunny for May Day. (Thaaannks.....)

 The kids and their friend Catalin in our yard.  The swing was everyone's favorite.

 Holly's first day of kindergarten. Changing shoes was a daily routine.  Kids never wore their street shoes in the school.

Christmas program at Holly's kindergarten!