Today I’m over at Edie’s: Life in Grace, talking about the little dish mat that many of you requested a tutorial for. I wish I was really at her house sipping a latte and sampling that beautiful birthday cake she’s lighting. In fact, her little party {pictured above} was inspiration for Morgan’s upcoming birthday party.
It’s been an absolute delight and encouragement to get to know Edie. We are like-minded theologically {and in other ways} and it’s been such a joy to read along as she shares the truth of the Gospel. She’s beautiful on the outside and the in. I greatly admire her for so many reasons; dedication first to her Savior and then to her family and her children {all 8:: a combination of his, hers, and theirs}. Edie is a semi-retired family practice physician. She’s honest and talks about the struggles and effects of divorce on families, the lack of understanding from peers and professionals about trading getting dressed every day and doing pap smears & treating gout for staying home and schooling her children. {Ahhh hem… I’ve never administered a pap smear but personally I think I’d take sewing a dish mat any day!} Basically, by the “world’s” standard she’s a nut: she “gave up medicine, started homeschooling, became Lutheran, and started blogging”… clearly Edie’s not of this world nor is she conformed by it… she’s saved by grace and living in it. Go spend some time at her blog… you’ll be encouraged. She’s not a “denim jumper” homeschooler… she likes MAC make up, heavy eyeliner, & Mike’s Hard Pink Lemonade!
Thanks for having me friend, I’m honored to be included in your 12 Days of Handmade… that’s right, you all should check back… she has 12 straight days of fun tutorials!
In other news, I spent the better part of the weekend recovering {still} from the illness. I must be getting old because I certainly haven’t been able to bounce back like I had hoped… or maybe it was staying out too late with friends Friday night and absolutely laughing my ass off. {Pardon my language… that is the only word to describe how hard we laughed}. We were outside thoroughly enjoying our time together when an officer showed up with a flashlight and introduced himself as “Officer So & So”. We were certain it was for our boisterous voices, fortunately we weren’t busted for noise… Justin haphazardly parked the car halfway in the road. We should have explained to the officer that we don’t get out much and we were just so ready to be in fellowship with other adults!
As for Halloween… we didn’t dress up. The kids didn’t want to and I didn’t feel like forcing them to be something they didn’t want to be. On any given day John Martin could be a barnyard animal… so I technically could say he went as a barnyard animal.
But he’s the only barnyard animal that has ever absolutely melted my heart into a puddle. And I really like barnyard animals.
People always warned that boys will pull at their mother’s heart strings. I never really got it… ’til now. I could eat his face off and forget about his screaming tantrums in 1 second flat when he looks at me and smiles!
Be back soon with info on all the new sponsors and special rates for blog readers!!
Don’t forget to drop by Edie’s… I promise you’ll be encouraged!
And my washer is smelling better. THANK YOU!
And, thanks to y’all, I’m very well informed about travelling with children– still apprehensive but informed. THANK YOU!
And last but not least— one of my favorite hymns from worship this morning.
“Wonderful, Merciful, Savior”
Wonderful, merciful Savior
Precious Redeemer and Friend
Who would have thought that a Lamb
Could rescue the souls of men
Oh you rescue the souls of men
Counselor, Comforter, Keeper
Spirit we long to embrace
You offer hope when our hearts have
Hopelessly lost the way
Oh, we’ve hopelessly lost the way
You are the One that we praise
You are the One we adore
You give the healing and grace
Our hearts always hunger for
Oh, our hearts always hunger for
Almighty, infinite Father
Faithfully loving Your own
Here in our weakness You find us
Falling before Your throne
Oh, we’re falling before Your throne
melissa stover
November 1, 2009 at 10:37 pmlove edie. enjoyed your tutorial. i know what you mean about boys. i only have one and he totally has my heart even though he drives me crazy almost every day flipping off and on my furniture.
Holly
November 1, 2009 at 11:23 pmi cant wait to meet your friend Edie! i love this post..love that song..little boys are awesome. love your perspective on halloween and not making them dress up..not anti halloween but just why force it…are you Lutheran too…is that why John Martin is John MARTIN;;..love the denim jumper comment..my friends and i are always having talks about not judging one another for homeschooling or not…hope you are 100% better soon.. Holly
oh i really love that you typed A$$ ..hilarious!
your cool friend Cheryl
November 2, 2009 at 12:05 amYes, little boys are the best! (My 2 especially 🙂 )
Your denim jumper comment cracked me up…I will most likely be homeschooling and I am anything but Little House on the Prairie looking! LOL
Megan
November 2, 2009 at 12:21 amHE IS ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE!
Kimberly
November 2, 2009 at 12:44 amThank you so much for the tutorial! I was *just* talking to my aunt about your dish mats and we were trying to figure out how to make them! Well, she was trying to figure it out since I can’t sew 😉
Kimberly
https://yeptheyareallmine.blogspot.com/
darla
November 2, 2009 at 5:31 ami love Edie, i can always count on her to inspire me! you have the cutest kids!… and I am going to make that dishmat, i absolutely LoVe it.
alison g. (brazil)
November 2, 2009 at 6:23 amI’m happy to hear you got to partake in some powerful healing: Laughter.
I will have to hop over to Edie’s place, sounds like a true-blue winner blog.
Have to admit, I’ll be nervous if we learn this baby is a boy – from what I’ve seen, all baby boys tend to be barnyard animals – but definitely of the melt-your-heart kind!
I had lots to offer on air travel with children – I’ve been on planes with Avery since she was seven weeks old, but I saw you had LOTS of other commentary, and figured my two cents were probably covered. It’ll be fine. In general, people are understanding and kind (sometimes, even helpful) – those that may give you the side-eye when you board the plane probably haven’t been in your shoes.
Take Care!
ag
Kelly
November 2, 2009 at 7:09 amLove Edie. Love that I found your blog through hers:-)
mommasis
November 2, 2009 at 8:06 amI am about to go check out Edie, but a couple things real quick… A) the “demin jumper” comment about made me spew my coffee. B) Rover is a big boy… and a cute one!
XOXO
mommasis & sloane
Alana @ Gray Matters
November 2, 2009 at 8:30 amThank you for the new blog introduction and the tutorial – great stuff!
Jennifer
November 2, 2009 at 8:46 amI love that song! Great thing to have running through my head this Monday morning while taking care of sickies. Thanks. : )
Kara
November 2, 2009 at 9:54 amI was having such a difficult morning today, Darby. Still suffering with the “old” me and also with grieving my father. I really appreciate you introducing this blog to me because it sparked my heart again. I would really really really appreciate it if you would share some other Christian blogs with me as I do not watch tv. I only read and blog and I am trying to only read blogs that will strengthen my faith and yours, Edie’s (now, TY very much!) and Meg’s Whatever, and Erika’s really do that. Can you suggest any others?
I hope you feel better!!
lauren
November 2, 2009 at 9:56 amim still dieing for the pot pie recipe!!!!! i have to look at the picture atleast once a day lol
Mandy Norris
November 2, 2009 at 10:01 amSo glad you had a fun weekend with great friends. Will check out Edie’s blog this afternoon! I loved your post regarding her b/c I am about to end a great job to be home with my kids and I remind myself daily that I am in this world and and not of it and that while this may make no sense to the world, it does make sense to me and my family and I really feel like the Lord has called me to do this….now I have to walk it out and be obedient. Glad you all are well! Have a great week! Mandy
Cate O'Malley
November 2, 2009 at 10:01 amLove the pictures! My daughter eats much of the same way – food everywhere. She can use a fork and spoon fine, along with a plate, she just chooses not to. 😉
Brooke
November 2, 2009 at 10:39 amI LOVE LOVE LOVE that song as well!! Gives me chills just reading the words!
Kristen
November 2, 2009 at 11:04 amEdie sounds awesome! Love the pics of John Martin and Love that song! Finally got my computer back…I have been missing your blog!
Lee Ann
November 2, 2009 at 11:05 amWe sang that hymn in our service yesterday morning–incredible. Love it.
Michele
November 2, 2009 at 11:09 amWow, is it just me or does JM look just like Daddyboy in that last photo??!!
Thanks for sharing your blog friend with us…going to check it out now:)
Be well!
Victoria
November 2, 2009 at 11:18 amI laughed and thought of you while watching the news Sat morning because they were talking about a Mother and her child that were kicked of a SW flight because her child wouldn’t stop crying. She was being refunded her money plus a $300 voucher.
Not to say I think you would be kicked off because your child(ren) wouldn’t stop crying. Just made me think of you and your upcoming flight.
Tara
November 2, 2009 at 12:58 pmAbout the Flying…well I (alone) took my son when he was 2 to Florida with a stop and plane change in Dallas. We missed BOTH of the connecting flights (to and from)! So it was the Airport that was hectic, but he was an angel in the air. (You may want to Pack Chewing Gum if their ears pop) You might want to seperate them a little too, or give them Sominex…I know people that do that.
Kelli
November 2, 2009 at 1:51 pmThose little boys do pull on your heart strings. I didn’t know that until recently with my little and how he can make me forget all about the screaming he just finished.
Alyssa
November 2, 2009 at 3:11 pmI just have to say I love your blog! Your pictures are so fun to look at and I totally know what you mean about little boys pulling at mothers heart strings. I have a little 21 month old and what a handful but worth every second of it just to see his little face smiling at me! LOVE IT
Jen
November 2, 2009 at 4:51 pmHey there!
I named you as one of my top 5 favorite blogs…because you are & thought you might want to check it. thanks for all that you share…it truly makes me smile!
HAPPY BLOGGING-
Jen
https://jenniferbrzinski.blogspot.com/2009/11/if-you-love-blogs-you-will-love-this.html
Brittan
November 2, 2009 at 5:59 pmLook how big he is!! Will go check out her blog:) Hope your’re feeling better!
meg duerksen
November 2, 2009 at 7:09 pmi saw you over there…very cute.
maybe i will actually get around to making something this fall. i miss my sewing machine!
Lindsey
November 2, 2009 at 7:12 pmlove love love your blog, and now I love Edie’s as well! Can’t wait to read more on her blog, and of course yours. Thank you for introducing her to us. Your guest blog was great, because I wanna make one of your famous dish mats. but…I have no sewing machine (thats how new I am to this whole do it your self craftiness). What kind of sewing machine do you have? I think I may need one! 🙂
Laura
November 2, 2009 at 7:34 pmYour little boy is so adorable!! You should be proud! Thanks for your “realness” in your verbage, if ya know what I mean 😉
edie
November 2, 2009 at 8:06 pmMy favorite new friend Darby,
You are so darn sweet {and a little sassy today, I might add!} to slave over this tutorial while you were sick, and then to send eight million of the sweetest people to my blog, and then to say the nicest things (which I so don’t deserve) about me. I am sure that I am your biggest blog fan. But then eight million people are gonna fight me for that title.
And that little John Martin—-heavens to betsy—he is too cute for words.
Now, I must go back to my blog because I feel I should be there for my eight million new guests!
Love to you!
edie
Amy
November 2, 2009 at 9:04 pmEdie,
I too relish in your words about your sweet baby boy as i have four myself. 9, 7, 5 and 2. Yes, they tug at your heart and make you crazy all at the same time! GO FIGURE!!! We recently moved to the DC area from Chicago and I have been passed along to your blog by a girlfriend and in response have so many gal pals both at my new home and old home equally addicted to your passion for Jesus, family and LIFE as we know it as moms! Keep up the hard work and thanks again for opening your hearts to so many!
p.s. YOUR KIDS ARE BREATHTAKING!!!
Blessings,
Amy xo
Amy
November 2, 2009 at 9:09 pmI am so sorry Darby, i was reading the article about your wonderful friend Edie and put my last comment to her. she has so many great reading tips as well i will equally praise her and her job she does!
Amy xo
JennaG
November 2, 2009 at 9:29 pmYou must go to itunes and listen to Selah’s version of that hymm, if you haven’t already. You won’t be sorry.!!!
Leslie
November 2, 2009 at 10:26 pm1) I’m convinced you straight-up cloned your husband in a laboratory to make Rover. (can I call him that? I feel like I know the little bugger…) Does he have the “bad thumbs” as I used to call them when I was little?
2) I’ve never heard of children not wanting to dress up for Halloween! Must be a miracle. I used to stress my mom out so bad with demanding costumes requests
Erika@BluLabel Bungalow
November 3, 2009 at 1:44 pmLooking forward to reading Edie’s blog. If it’s anything like yours, I will be adding her to my regular reads! Regarding John Martin, such a cute little man…I feel the same way about little boys. I have two of my own. Thanks especially for the hymn…always lovely to have song such as this playing in my head and in my heart.
paige
November 3, 2009 at 3:07 pmi’m not sure where i first stumbled upon edie, but i immediately thought she was amazing.
of course ya’ll would be friends
because i think you’re amazing too
glad you’re feeling better
because
tv really is the pits
xo
bird, bird, bird « The Misadventures of Kelly and Kelly
November 5, 2009 at 9:57 pm[…] I found out about Life in Grace from Darby at Fly Through our Window. […]
Hillary @ The Other Mama
November 5, 2009 at 11:55 pmLove, love love Edie’s blog! How much fun!! Congrats! That’s wonderful!
Carrie
November 12, 2009 at 11:17 amRight with you on the boys…I’ll never forget when I was chewing out one of mine…he looked up at me with his B I G brown eyes and said….”I love you Momma”…and I scooped him up and gave him the biggest hug…I think it was God’s very words, because I have never had him do that again…
Now, I just hear….”but, Mooooommmmmmmm!”…to which I get to reply, ” Excuse me, did you just call me BUTT MOM????”
Enjoy your precious ones…life goes by WAY TOO FAST when measured by growing babies!
C~