A Heavy Heart

My heart is heavy today. Filled with sadness for my Grampa. He's remained about the same - has had a few bad days, but things are not looking up. My Gramma and her children have some big decisions to face today.

I think I am finally admitting to myself that Gramps probably won't make it. I didn't sleep well last night - I kept waking up with such sadness and thinking of Grampa. I don't feel like doing anything on my "to-do" list today. I'm supposed to go school-clothes shopping for Linc and don't want to. I need to go get groceries. I've been trying to fill my time with doing things to keep my mind occupied but today the routine seems like drudgery. I need to keep on with the usual for the boys sake {and mine} - but sometimes it seems so silly.

I have been reflecting on my family and the blessing that they are in this situation.

My Gramma has such strength. Getting up each morning, usually to face an unpleasant task, such as canceling credit cards or reviewing legal papers, then off to the hospital for hours and hours. Her unwavering faith is setting such an example. At 93 she is memorizing Psalm 121. Does she realize how inspiring she is?

My mom, who gets up every morning to call the hospital to find out how Grampa's night went. Then sends out an update to the family. Keeping everyone connected. Rearranging work, plans, life so that she can be with and help her mother. Struggling with the decisions for her father that she is faced with.

I am reminded of the verse in 2 Timothy 1:5 -

I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother and your mother. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.

I am so thankful for their faith.

My dad, who is such a pillar of strength. He always knows what needs to be done. Always has the right words. When in tough situations, I always feel better with dad around, knowing that he will know what to do and take care of things.

And always, always thankful for my Michael. Who as I was writing this, called me to see how I was doing and find out the updates on Gramps. He is always here for me. Watching the boys when I need to go. Going up to the hospital with me {I hate to make that drive alone}. Leaving me silly notes to keep me smiling throughout the day.

I try to read from this day with the master by Dennis Kinlaw each day. Little inspiring daily devotionals for each day. Today's devo was ironically enough titled freedom to die. The last paragraph really resonated with me.

How do you get to the place of absolute freedom, where Jesus can do with you whatever he wills? Recognize that the One who holds you in the palm of his hand is greater than any force in the world. When he matters more to you than any other thing, even life itself, then you are free.

That is my hope & prayer for Grampa. For myself. For my children.

And I'll end this post with this thought, from my mama, in her daily email update:
Let's all continue to pray for each other, listen to each other, love each other, just as we are.

Lincoln's Vintage Style: Flannel Shirt

As Lincoln gets older, it's getting harder & harder to find vintage clothes for him out on my thrifting trips. Maybe the older boys just wore out their clothes and they weren't worth keeping?? Months ago I happened to find quite a few long sleeves shirts in his size and I was so excited. I love this little vintage flannel button up. The sandals are from an estate sale and I think they are so cute - they seem to be pretty old. But I don't think I'll be able to get Lincoln to put them on again because the bottoms are very slippery and he fell while walking out the door. Eek!

Linc is such a great model. He wasn't very excited about doing the shoot - but he did it and would sit & look wherever I told him. Such a nice change from my other two won't-sit-still-for-a-minute boys. I love this kid so much...ahhh - kindergarten please don't come! {Feeling panicky about sending him next week!}

Isn't that chair the best? I found it a year ago or so in my Grammie's basement. It was broken and she had it in a pile of stuff they were throwing out so I rescued it and Mike fixed it up. I have a thing for old kid's chairs.

flannel shirt: vintage thrifted | tee shirt: thrifted | shorts: old navy thrifted | sandals: from an amazing estate sale | cute chair: grammie

Linking up with Little Vintage Style and Small Style...

{how about a vote for this vintage kiddo? two clicks}

Thrifty Fun

Yesterday I went to a couple of thrift stores to look for some clothes for my Grammie {her clothes were ruined in the fire}. I know some might think that Grams should not be wearing clothes from a thrift shop, but honestly there is no better place to shop for Grams. She loves a good bargain, she shops at thrift stores, and where better to find the perfect clothes for her? So shop I did. {I also ran into my aunt at one of the stores who had left the hospital to go shop for Grams - what are the chances?!}

I got 6 pairs of pants, 3 sweatshirts, a nightgown and about 10 shirts for what you would pay for one pair of pants and one shirt at a department store. Honest.

Gram had quite the collection of brooches - so I got her a new one. And forgot to give it her this morning - oops!

I also knew Gram would want me to do a little shopping for myself. A new coat...

The cutest little fabric covered hat box....

And this globe to add to my collection!

Oh how I love thrifting!

It has been amazing to feel, see and hear the stories of the love being shown to our family during this time. Thank you. Gramps condition remains about the same - which is good. The first day the doctors were saying that he could get a lot worse over the next few days, but he has not, so we are very thankful.

..........

Also...as I'm writing this, Levi is walking around the house with a blanket thrown over his head and walking into tables and doors. Ahhh - Pippertones. What a crazy little fellow. And now he is standing on the coffee table - stuck. So I must go rescue the naughty little boy.

{how about a vote for this thrifty gal? two clicks}

Levi's Vintage Style: Snap-Up Hoodie

Thanks to all those who have been praying & sending love to our family. Things looked a little better for Grampa today - just because he was not worse. Keep on praying!

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Oh I love this little hoodie. {Do you call these hoodies, sweatshirts, sweaters or something different? I've heard them called all the above. I grew up calling them hoodies.} I love the color. I love the little snaps. I love that it's not too thin, not too thick. I'm also loving that we've had a few cool mornings! Cool enough to need to throw a hoodie on. Fall is coming...and I can't wait!

hoodie: vintage thrifted by Cait {I think?} | shorts: old navy, thrifted | toy: thrifted by Cait

Linking up with Little Vintage Style and Small Style.

{how about a vote for this vintage kid? two clicks}

Prayers

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

My family would greatly appreciate your prayers right now. Yesterday there was a terrible fire at my grandparents home.

My heart aches for my grandparents, for my family. It all seems so surreal. I just want to wake up and have this be a horrible nightmare.

My baby sister wrote a beautiful post. You can see it here.

It is hard to find words to express my sadness. I am trying hard to release my fears and anxiety about Grampa to Jesus.

Please just keep praying. There is so much power in prayer. I am so thankful for my Gramma's steadfast faith in Jesus. For the example she has been in her 93 years. And I am praying for Grampa - to find his true comfort and healing in Jesus.

We are finding comfort in Him. And in the love you are pouring out to our family.

Bit of Luck

Have you ever found a four leaf clover? In all my 30 years - I never have. ;) We were sitting in the grass at my brother-in-law & sister-in-law's house last night - enjoying a warm summer evening and I noticed all the clovers around. So I commented on how I'd never found one before - which prompted everyone to start looking for one. About a minute after we started, Cait found one. Then a bit after that my niece, Sarah, found one. Cait another. Sarah another. Mike one {pictured above}. My niece, Kailey, one. Me? Zero.

It's given me a new item for my "bucket list" - find a four leaf clover!

Have a lucky weekend! I'll be spending mine looking for four leaf clovers!

{how about a vote for this unlucky girl? two clicks}

Cream Wafers

These little cookies are amazing. Melt-in-your mouth, can't-stop-eating them amazing. A perfect little wafer cookie filled with yummy buttercream. They have become a must-have at all our family bridal/baby showers.

They can be a little tedious to make {but well worth it - trust me!}, as any cutouts can be. I like to make them pretty small - so that adds to my time. They are also flaky, so be gentle. I usually lose some to crumbling.

Oh the goodness - looking forward to eating these this Saturday at a family bridal shower!!

Cream Wafers

Ingredients:
For the Wafers:
1 cup {2 sticks} butter, softened
1/3 cup heavy cream
2 cups all-purpose flour
Granulated sugar

For the Cream Filling:
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
Food coloring, if desired

Cream together the butter, heavy cream, and flour . Cover and refrigerate about 1 hour or until firm.

Heat oven to 375ºF. Roll about one-third of the dough at a time to 1/8-inch thickness on lightly floured surface {keep remaining dough chilled}. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Generously cover large piece of waxed paper with granulated sugar. Place cutouts in sugar on waxed paper, turn to coat both sides. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet. Prick each cutout with fork a couple of times.

Bake at 375º, 7 to 9 minutes or just until set but not brown. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely.

While the cookies are baking, prepare the cream filling by beating together the butter, powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth and fluffy. Add a few drops of food coloring, if desired, and mix well. Spread a bit of cream filling on a cookie and top with another cookie to make cute little sandwiches.

Enjoy!

Source: Betty Crocker

{how about a vote for this baker? two clicks}

Levi's Vintage Style: Nautical Shorts

I found these vintage Health-tex nautical shorts while I was out thrifting a couple of weeks ago. I love the cute little print on them.






Picking currants.

So excited to watch the tractor drive by.

This chair is mine from childhood. {Well, not mine - a family chair - my siblings will not take it too well if I lay claim to this. But if they wanted the cute chairs - maybe they should have had the first grandchildren...}

Shorts: Health-tex, vintage thrifted / Pocket Onesie: Old Navy, hand-me-down

Linking up with Hart + Sew's Little Vintage Style and Mama Love Papa's Small Style.

{how about a vote for the vintage baby? two clicks}

Camp-Out Birthday Party

Finally getting around to posting the pictures from Lincoln's fifth birthday party {back in June}. For his birthday, he said he wanted to have a tent and a fire. Done & done....and then some. I was so excited to do a camp-out theme because we love camping. And therefore, we have a lot of camping related items - which made decorating easy. And I wanted to make s'more desserts. This party was so much fun! And I'm so thankful that we had a lovely day so that we could have it in the backyard.

The "main" table was the dessert table, because, well we know what's important around here. I made the banner using burlap and paint and my mom sewed it together. Extra burlap was used for the tablecloth. Mike made the "Camp Lincoln" sign and used a wood burner to write on it.

Mike also made all the wooden labels for the food.

As well as collecting & cutting the wood used for stands {thank you my love!}.

Saw another camp themed party that had Boston Baked-Beans candy and thought it was cute - so I picked up a box from the Dollar Store.

Plates & napkins from my favorite store, Wegmans. Our dinner menu included: pizza hobo pies, fire-roasted hot dogs, baked beans, deviled eggs, watermelon and garlic potatoes.

Mike, Lincoln and my cousin Jessica roasting hot dogs. Wondering why we have so many red & black shirts? Have to wait till October to find out...

Log candle holders were made by Justin {years ago}. Vintage thermos from Andy & Lyndsay {knew we could find something to do with that!} And yes, that's a little camping espresso maker that Mike wrestled from a bear in the mountains. {Real story: hiker had backpack stolen by bear, bear left items from backpack all throughout the woods, Mike happened upon the espresso maker...long after the bear had left - and the hiker}. Had gummy snakes on the tables...the boys loved these.

Beef jerky for the campers. Log toothpick Slim Jim holder also made by Justin. Deviled eggs made by my Grammy. {I love her egg dish. And her.}

Ah - s'more desserts. These cookies are so amazing. I got a kitchen torch and now can "burn" my food. It is so much fun!

Made little birds nests cookies. {Marla saved the day by still having mini robin eggs candy left from Easter!} And a pine cone cake.

Yes, that's right. A pine cone cake. The cake is featured in Rose Levy Beranbaum's Cake Bible. It was the perfect cake for a camp out party! {A bit tedious to make though...that's a lot of "pine petals"}

Our snack food included: s'more goldfish, chocolate covered pretzels {firewood}, tootsie rolls {logs}, homemade trail mix, giant marshmallows, and of course s'mores.

Chocolate graham crackers + peanut butter cups + roasted marshmallow = delicious!

We used a picnic basket for presents. The vintage hiking boots are Cait's {so cute, right?}. We actually played every "game" listed on the chalkboard.

Cait also picked up these cute onion bags for us to use for our sack race {from the pizza place where she used to work}. These are our very rad corn hole boards made by Andy & Lyndsay.

Cousin Tate taking a dramatic fall {no children were hurt during the course of this party...} during the sack race.

Lincoln turned out to be a champ at the sack race and wanted to race everyone...my cousin Andrew, trying to keep up.

Little Levi with his red & black bandana bib {or neckercheif as my mom calls them} - made by my mom. Um, yes, I too participated in the sack race {a lot harder than it seems...especially in a tiny bag!}

I saw a "don't feed the bears" sign on another blog {not sure where though} and we just happen to have a very large stuffed bear in our house, so I knew he finally had a purpose other than always seeming to be in mama's way. Sign made by my love.

Linc could not wait to roast a giant marshmallow {I think the birthday boy even got to indulge before dinner...}!

Ever since Malacai had a sparkler on his birthday cupcake - Linc had been talking about how he wanted to have one for his birthday. He promised not to react like Malacai though.

Some hecklers in the crowd told the boys they could blow the sparkler out if they tried hard enough.

Running through the fields - chasing fireflies.

Such a lovely, fun party!

{how about a vote for the happy campers? two clicks}