tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3652190767853914302024-03-04T22:15:05.635-08:00Little Bit of LoveOne daddy, two daughters, one dog, one cat, and me, the mostly stay-at-home mommy all living together in our "fixer-upper" home. Love is the little bit of glue holding it all together, and I wouldn't change it for anything!Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12679373224277825474noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-365219076785391430.post-9371829827850626532015-03-18T09:47:00.002-07:002015-03-18T09:47:13.305-07:00What IF...What IF: My life does not matter?<br />
<br />
You don't need to call suicide prevention and I'm not in the middle of some pre-midlife crisis. Last weekend at the IF:Gathering I felt one of those shifts, a slight tremor in my soul, a movement of the Spirit. It may end with these thoughts pouring from my heart, but I hope not. I hope it is a tremor that becomes a shake that turns into an upheaval that will go on until the landscape of this world has been utterly changed. What IF?<br />
<br />
What IF: My life does not matter? The truth is that my Father God is all powerful and in the end He <u>will</u> bring forth His kingdom, His plan <u>will</u> come to fruition, and the best part of the story is that we already know the ending: He <u>WILL</u> win. There is nothing that anyone will do that will change this truth. My life does not matter.<br />
<br />
I am not here for this life. I am here as part of His ongoing plan: to bring as many of His children into His kingdom as possible. My God <u>will not</u> stop, <u>will not</u> give up, <u>will not</u> come again to make everything perfect eternally until His plan is complete. He is long-suffering. He is patience. The 32-100+ years of my life do not matter.<br />
<br />
This world is full of brokenness. Things happen that "shouldn't"; the earth swells and overwhelms, carefully constructed edifices crumble; our bodies wear down, wear out, and give up; people hurt one another inside and out; we gain <i>it</i>, we loose <i>it</i>, and still we hold on so tight to <i>it</i> that we or <i>it</i> breaks. <i>It</i> does not matter.<br />
<br />
Brokenness is our separation from God, visible as sin. It is the space the enemy uses to try to turn us from God and separate us forever. Sin is the only card the enemy has to play, the only thing he can do in the face of certain defeat. The enemy knows he will loose in the end and is trying to make the loss less bitter by taking what he can from God before it's over. The enemy is cunning and unflinching in his own depravity. He knows that turning us from God will not change the outcome, but he will not stop attacking while he has the chance. He grasps any hold he can find, pursuing our hearts with calculating accuracy. He attacks no matter the cost because he knows he can not win. Nothing is more dangerous than a bitter enemy who already knows he is defeated. He will go down fighting no matter what. The cost to my life does not matter.<br />
<br />
The enemy knows my weaknesses, the distractions of this world that draw me into brokenness. These are chains he uses to bind me and hold me in bondage as real as any slavery in this world. I selfishly pursue health, wealth, success, security, happiness, and so on... as if they were in my power alone to ensure. As if my Father God would not provide them in proportion to my need. As if there was nothing worse than my failure to achieve them. As if there were nothing worth more pursing. I hold onto people, things, circumstances, and knowledge that I think will ensure my achievement in this life when really I am just fortifying the chains. I am held in chains by a life that does not matter.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
And yet,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I Matter.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
To my Father God, creator of the universe known and unknown, who is bigger than any box I can put Him in, who is the epitome of Love, and who IS GOOD, I matter. I am His beloved daughter. He moved mountains, defeated armies, waited eternities, gave up <u>HIS</u> <u>SON</u> <u>because</u> I matter. He will wait, will pursue, will fight for, will ALWAYS love me because I matter. It does not end here, I do not have to close the book at the end of this life. I have the promise of perfect eternity given to me by my Father God and paid for through the blood of His Son because...</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I MATTER</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What IF?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What IF: I lived this truth?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Instead of pursuing all those things <i>I</i> think I need to ensure in this life, what IF I lived in deep, abiding trust of the love and provision of my Father God? If I believed that in every area of my life God will provide perfectly according to His plan, that everything I truly need will be provided like manna from heaven. All I need is to walk daily in faith, pick it up, and put it in my mouth. I will not be left hungry or wanting, I will not be forsaken. I will not be here one minute more or one minute less than He intends and the purpose of it all was set long before my time began. I matter and I do not have to be bound by these constraints of the enemy. I am God's beloved daughter and through Him I have more power than the enemy could ever threaten. God will loose the chains that control me and change them to weapons He will use to fight the good fight in my life. What IF: I could be powerful, I could be free?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Could I walk in faith even when the path looks different, difficult, or even dangerous? Could I let go of control? What do I know about loosing control? I know that <a href="http://coloradokatie.blogspot.com/2011/07/heaven-is-for-real.html">when I lost my mom</a>, I experienced God, in big ways, small ways, miraculous ways, and difficult ways, but most importantly: in <i>so many ways</i>. I know that <a href="http://coloradokatie.blogspot.com/2015/02/lessons-in-financial-peace.html">when we gave up our self-determined ways with money</a> and followed God's path, it was tough at times, full of challenges and frustration, but He provided in ways my mind could not have imagined. In just these parts of my life, I have already experienced the very nature of my Father God and found Him more than enough. I feel it. He has so much more of Himself left to reveal to me and through me, more than all the steps I have left in front of me in this life.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What IF: I just took that first step?</div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12679373224277825474noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-365219076785391430.post-88595407354323551692015-02-24T09:56:00.000-08:002015-02-24T10:19:07.577-08:00Lessons in Financial Peace<span style="font-family: inherit;">I recently shared our financial status on Facebook and realized quickly what it meant to share those details with the world. I realized it could be </span>embarrassing<span style="font-family: inherit;"> to share with family, friends, people I went to high school with, people I've worked with, even our mortgage </span>adviser<span style="font-family: inherit;"> that we had gotten ourselves into trouble. Instead, I decided that I would open up even more in the hopes of helping another family succeed. I have shared about our decision to live like no one else a couple times on my blog. I'll admit that at first I worried it would just be a "phase" we would go through and once our enthusiasm was gone, the plan would fizzle. I am happy to say now, 4 years and 10 months later, that we are still going strong and reached a major milestone. WE'RE DEBT FREE!!!!! (except for the house). To fully appreciate that, let me give you some numbers and tell you our story... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I will start by introducing myself: I'm Katie and I am the "nerd". That means I like to make the spreadsheets and since I'm such a good nerd, I even did an extra spreadsheet to track our debt. So, here is our financial dirty laundry in black and white. In April of 2010 we had <span style="line-height: 115%;">$90,577.07 in debt (not including our house)</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">.
</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">According to the payment plans we were on, we would not finish paying all those
debts until March 2028, and that assumes we would not have added any other debt in those years which obviously was not our habit. By paying off these loans in just under 5 years, we saved an estimated $20,500 in interest. I also calculated that we paid an estimated total of $103,500 in principle and interest on those loans in just under 5 years. This means we paid over $20,000 a year to our loans on my husband's income while I've been hard at work as a mostly-stay-at home Mom. </span></span><span style="text-indent: 48px;">Life has also happened in these years, our car needing several thousand dollars in repairs, our house flooding and having hail damage, minor medical expenses, schools and activities to pay for our girls, building a business for me to work a little on the side, and even a couple of small trips. We have managed all of this on a plan. T</span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">hese numbers are big, they actually boggle my mind, but the lessons we learned in these years are more valuable than any of those numbers. Here is our whole story:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">It happened six months after our
second child was born. We were trying to balance everything going on with a new
house and new child. We tried to have as frugal a Christmas as possible while
still making it </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">nice</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">”</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">. At the beginning of the next year we got a notice from our bank. We had overdrawn our account by $200. I was
shocked. This meant that we had blown through the several thousand dollar
"buffer" we had in our account from a tax return in less than a year, and an additional $200 we didn't
have. I knew we had to do something different, I sat down at the computer and
pulled up old </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">budget</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">”</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> spreadsheets and remember thinking </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“budgeting</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> just <i>doesn</i></span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><i>’</i></span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><i>t work</i> for us!</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">”</span></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">We got a phone call that month that
would change everything. My sister-in-law had told me 2 years earlier about a
program she and her husband were taking through his work called </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Financial
Peace University</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">”</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> with Dave Ramsey. She had gushed to me over the phone about
all the things </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Dave says</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">”</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> and how great it is. I remember her
explanation that you </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">add up what you will spend for the month
and then put everything extra toward debt</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">”</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">I also remember mentally rolling my eyes and thinking </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Well
<i>good</i> for you, we don</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">’</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">t <i>have </i>any extra so how is that going to
work?</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">”</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> Well, this sister-in-law called again at the right time. I
don</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">’</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">t know how it came up or what I said, but she told us that
if everything continued as planned that they would be out of debt that coming
summer. Wait, WHAT? I knew she</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> had tens of thousands in student loans
like I did, and I knew it had only been a couple of years. Alright, she got my
attention. She offered to send us the CDs and workbooks, and we thought it was worth a shot.</span></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">I loaded those tracks onto an MP3
player I had, and went outside to weed our lawn. This being a several day
process (gotta love a fixer-upper), I managed to listen to almost the entire 15 hour program while
weeding. Once I got through the first section, I went into my husband</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">’</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">s
home office and instructed him to start listening RIGHT NOW. I remember little
of what was actually said in those 15 hours, I</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">’</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">ll admit, but what I do remember is </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">how it made me feel</i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">. I remember at one
point Dave earnestly stating </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">You work TOO HARD to</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">…”</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> live paycheck to paycheck, feel like you are just treading
water. I don</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">’</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">t remember the exact words, but that was how I felt, so much so
that there were tears streaming down my cheeks. I</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">’</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">m sure I looked like a crazy lady weeding her yard wearing
ear buds and crying rivers</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">, ha ha! After just the
first few hours listening to this program feelings began to grow in me, brand new
feelings I</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">’</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">d never experienced in regards to our financial situation:
motivation and hope. I committed myself to try, to do the work on paper and see
what would happen. I really had no idea.</span></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">I have that first FPU spreadsheet I
made that month, copying (just for us) the worksheets in the workbook into a spreadsheet. I started
filling out the forms </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">“</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Quickie Budget</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">”</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">. That was
pretty simple. I looked at our bank account and was able to estimate what our
monthly necessities like food, shelter, transportation, and utilities cost us.
That was relatively painless and seemed reasonable. For the first time I had a
tool to take into account annual expenses like car registration and contact
lenses. The nerd in me was singing. I put in our regular income, $3700, which
was my husband</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">’</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">s monthly income and it still looked okay, still a few hundred
more a month then our expenses. And then. The bottom line.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">For the first time, other than just my
student loans, I added up our debt. I took a deep breath when I saw that total:
$90,577.07 Wow, what a weight. I filled in the Monthly Cash Flow Plan with all
the necessities and the annual expenses. Then I totaled the monthly payments
for those debts: $1436.86. I was speechless. There wasn'</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">t any money
left, there wasn'</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">t even enough to cover all of that. Big. Ugly. Cry.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I thought quickly. Fortunately, it
was tax return time. We were able to put $1000 into savings for baby step 1
right away, and then we paid off a couple of the debts we’d
been planning to take care of with that money anyway. I took the remainder of our return and
divided it by 12 to add to our monthly income. I crunched all those numbers and we could just get by. I
remember when I sat down that I was thinking “okay, so a movie would be like $20 a
month and maybe $30 for a restaurant once a month”. I was sobered. With what little wiggle
room we had, I could just squeak out $10 a month for entertainment. I realized
quickly that I had not been realistic about spending money, ever. I couldn't
imagine living this way for a whole year. Worse, what if it didn't
get better that year? I think this is what made me commit to the next step: get
OUT of debt. I realized that if we could just get rid of a couple hundred
dollars in debt payments a month, we would at least break even without counting on the
tax return. That became my goal, even though I wasn't sure if we
could even stick to the budget yet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, long story short found in
tidbits on my blog <a href="http://coloradokatie.blogspot.com/2010/05/living-like-no-one-else.html">here</a> and <a href="http://coloradokatie.blogspot.com/2011/04/year-of-financial-peace.html">here</a>, we followed the plan, followed the rules, and
watched it start working. We were blessed by support from our friends,
especially our best friends who took the class the following month. We did our
financial workbook every month, and after a year I was amazed. In March, almost
a year exactly to the day we started we had paid off every debt except our
student loans. </span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">$18,532.69 to be
precise. I cried again, this time out of pure joy. We had lowered our monthly
debt payments not by $200 a month but by $475. It was a just a small chunk of
the total but it was better, and most importantly we were making it work. We
could live on a budget AND en</span>joy our life, more in many ways than we had
before. Sure, we had sold a lot of our fun stuff, and sure we couldn'</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">t do everything we done in life before, but we could still live and have
fun. That was a wonderful lesson for us to learn in that process. That first
year was also the success we needed to continue the long journey ahead.</span><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We had paid off the $18,000 but we still had $71,694.61 in
student loans. We also had not been budgeting </span>realistically for the long term<span style="font-family: inherit;">, we needed to budget
at least a small amount for some trivial things, you know, like clothes that
were literally wearing out ($20 a month goes a long way at a thrift store, FYI). There were a few other expenses we really felt were
necessary including some work on our house and starting our oldest in
preschool. I was happy with our ability to do all of this, but I also think I started
to realize just what a long process this would be. It was exciting to watch
$2000 debts disappear from our workbook, but I knew that those student loans
wouldn'</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">t disappear so quickly. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It took about 15 months to pay
off the first student loan, the “little” one my husband had which was just $8100
when we started. There was still $54,000
left of my loans and t</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">houghts like
</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">“</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">at this rate it will take</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">…”</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">
started to deflate my enthusiasm and threaten my resolve. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is a
feeling I would grow to know well, extreme pride and happiness in our
accomplishments, but impatience and even doubt about reaching the next goal.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've always taken the phrase “let
go and let God” with a bit of skepticism. I’m not good of
letting go of control over even the smallest things in life, and I know that
sometimes God needs me to DO the work. Another year of the journey went by and
the balance was down to $39,500. At this point I was feeling drained and
guilty. We had worked and were giving up so much, but that weight of mine still
felt like it was holding us down. I was sitting in Bible study one Tuesday
morning in October, dwelling on these thoughts and feelings rather than the
lesson that day when all of a sudden I heard a stern voice “Stop
watching the balances”. I got goosebumps and looked around to see if anyone noticed my discomposure. I
kept this moment to myself at the time, but little shivers of excitement ran
through me as I wondered what God was planning. I went home and told my husband
about this experience. I can only imagine how it would have sounded “so
I heard a voice today tell me to stop watching the balances”. It didn't have quite the impact on him as it had me, but he and my best friend both encouraged me saying “Well, I guess you’d better
listen”. So I did.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I stopped tracking the exact
balance of those loans and just kept putting in every bit we could squeeze from
our budget and extra income. Six months later I couldn't believe it,
we paid off one of those huge loans. I cried a few tears at God’s
goodness and faithfulness. One loan left, just over $20,000, and I knew we
would get there. There were chinks of lights around a space that had been so
dark. I began to experience a feeling I had not realized was even needed, lightness.
It was only at this point that I realized just how much guilt I had carried for
so many years, guilt over ignoring decisions about college when I should have
dealt with them, guilt over carrying so much financial burden into our
marriage, guilt over staying home with my children. I was able to forgive
myself and finally feel peace and pride in myself again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">That was just ten months ago, and
again I was faithful to God’s instruction and did not track the
balance until this month. I started to add up the money from this and that and
started to realize we were probably getting close. I had to print tax documents
for the loan so I logged into our account and there was the balance, $10,800. It
was, of course, at this time that the car would start “acting funny”.
Those selfish feelings of mine welled up again and I got so grouchy. I snapped
at my husband, started looking at “newused” cars, and threw my version of a pity
party. Thankfully, by now our financial habits are pretty well cemented and
instead of snap decisions over the car we did the smart thing and had it
repaired.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">That brings us to today, February
23</span><sup style="font-family: inherit;">rd</sup><span style="font-family: inherit;">, 2015. I woke up this morning and it was almost like Christmas!
I checked our account and that last paycheck we were waiting for had
been deposited. I immediately ran to the computer and logged in to our loan
account, selected “loan payoff” and click the
buttons. It was done, we are debt free. I expected a torrent of emotions, but
it doesn't feel quite real. My husband and I shared a couple of
smiles and a little hug, and I messaged my best friend with the news. A few
solitary tears of happiness rolled down my cheeks. I’m sure all those emotions are still
coming.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">I truly think the time we saved and
the changes in our behavior with money are the most valuable in this whole
story. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">I am very proud of our accomplishments with this. I am proud of my
diligence in doing the worksheets (almost) every month, for living on a cash
envelope plan, and especially for finding in all of this that the joys of life
are usually the ones that don</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">’</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">t cost a thing. I am more in love with
my husband than ever. He has provided for us consistently and without
complaint, shared these financial goals, supported my dreams, and never held
one bit of that burden against me. We also have not fought about money since we started, that makes almost 5 years of financial peace in our marriage. We'</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">ve discussed finances (a lot) and had a few small disagreements, but
we don</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">’</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">t fight. At the beginning I would often say that </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">“</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">we
don</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">’</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">t have any money so there is nothing to fight about!</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">”</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">
I can definitely say our marriage is exponentially better because of this
journey, and I cannot wait to now build our future together. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">We also are deeply
grateful. We have had the support of family and friends that counts for more
than any of the dollar totals. Our best friends have been our
companions, the ones who truly </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">“</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">get it</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">”</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;"> when we'</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">ve said </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">“</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">it</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">’</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">s not in the budget</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">”</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">.
We'</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">ve done countless meals together, at each other</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">’</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">s
homes instead of restaurants, and enjoying each other</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">’</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">s company just
as much if not more. They have been shoulders to lean or cry on and companions
to share a laugh with. Our family has never undermined our goals and have
supported us in countless ways, from gifts to weekend trips, to free childcare.
These people in our lives are true blessings, and I am so glad to be more
grateful for them than ever before. We truly could not have done it without
them.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">Our future is one bright open door
right now. Yes, the monthly worksheets and budget discussions with my husband
will continue. Now, we get to give and save. Giving to others as God has called us to give, showing in one way the grace and faithfulness that he has shown to us. Save for our security, save for our
retirement, save for the future of our daughters, and save for fun. We are
already booked to go to Disney World this fall, what an amazing celebration
that will be (all paid for in cash, of course)! I am looking forward to watching our goals change from numbers
going down, to numbers building. We did this, now I know we can do anything we
set our minds to. It</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">’</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: 0.5in;">s a great feeling, to be FREE!</span></div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12679373224277825474noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-365219076785391430.post-19431942251329781612013-11-13T08:43:00.000-08:002013-11-13T08:47:24.667-08:00Blessingway- A Christian Approach<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit;">A "Blessingway" was an idea that I was first introduced to by a fellow birth worker who mentioned how wonderful the Blessingways she had been to were. I looked it up and became intrigued. I had a traditional baby shower with my first and really enjoyed it, it was a great party. There was something about this idea, though, that seemed deeper, and could potentially be more "Faith-ful" than the traditional baby shower. A couple years later my friend was pregnant with her third daughter. No one was planning a baby shower for this pregnancy because, well, it had already been done. I felt the opportunity immediately and offered (okay, to be fair I pretty much just told her I was going to do it) to host a Blessingway for this pregnancy. This turned out to be an amazing celebration, for the expecting Mom and all her friends and family who got to be a part of it. Now, I will mention that if you do search this word, you will find ideas that do not necessarily come from a Christian perspective. Sometimes Christian beliefs can be incorporated into these ideas, sometimes not. I have listed below some Christian appropriate ideas that for those who would like to incorporate these into their celebrations.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: purple;"><b style="text-decoration: underline;">What is a Blessingway?</b></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: inherit;">The
practice of celebrating the pregnancy and birth of a new mother and child is
common in many cultures around the world. While the traditional American baby
shower is usually focused on the baby to come, a Blessingway is also about
celebrating and praying for the pregnancy and the soon-to-be mother as she
prepares for the birth and a new stage of motherhood.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><b style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: purple;"><b style="text-decoration: underline;">The Party</b>- The celebration itself can be set up in many different ways. You can use the term Blessingway or you can have a Baby Shower and incorporate some of these ideas. You could have a separate Blessingway for a mom who is having a Baby Shower also. You can invite only the women closest to her, or you can invite families. These choices will all just depend on what kind of celebration is best for the expecting mother and her preferences can be considered while maintaining an element of surprise.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: purple;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">Invitations-</u> I got ideas for an invitation (and the party) from <a href="http://blakeanddaniellemalone.blogspot.com/2012/02/blessingway.html">another blog</a>. </span><span style="color: purple;">I liked how they explained the Blessingway celebration in the invitation. I then created the invitation pictured below. I used the colors for this baby's nursery added a bible verse I felt was appropriate. You can include instructions for what to bring or what activities to expect. I did this on a separate insert so that the Mom could get the main invitation but still be surprised by some of the activities.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFriaSOy4jVrUPh7-1B-A0ywi1yvpVXWQ-1ty-sGXjeSVJSUDCkvqm0V3F4Das4qcNLiYIIBDaiYV2gClVMoAXeCU81iCMCjH1CP5qadnFl653IphSJjmDpNnNdRJMo2s-vop9IWGMgbd/s1600/IMG_20131110_152125-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFriaSOy4jVrUPh7-1B-A0ywi1yvpVXWQ-1ty-sGXjeSVJSUDCkvqm0V3F4Das4qcNLiYIIBDaiYV2gClVMoAXeCU81iCMCjH1CP5qadnFl653IphSJjmDpNnNdRJMo2s-vop9IWGMgbd/s1600/IMG_20131110_152125-001.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vjdPPjyihwNFlDFt8sUCj4t-kE2J5_5XcesCB5m-BmGiblO_x1BVbQk_L5Iz4mN8kLYiD3Zqfdt8BU2tftv_bIYd1wFSpXz1kT9u4sTkRKJPl_jNc0iKeEZAsr3My91JU1JMrK_xe-jR/s1600/IMG_20131110_152142-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vjdPPjyihwNFlDFt8sUCj4t-kE2J5_5XcesCB5m-BmGiblO_x1BVbQk_L5Iz4mN8kLYiD3Zqfdt8BU2tftv_bIYd1wFSpXz1kT9u4sTkRKJPl_jNc0iKeEZAsr3My91JU1JMrK_xe-jR/s1600/IMG_20131110_152142-001.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><u style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></u></span>
<span style="color: purple;"><u style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></u></span>
<span style="color: purple;"><u style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></u></span>
<span style="color: purple;"><u style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></u></span>
<span style="color: purple;"><u style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></u></span>
<span style="color: purple;"><u style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></u></span>
<span style="color: purple;"><u style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></u></span>
<span style="color: purple;"><u style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></u></span>
<u style="color: purple; font-weight: bold;">Decorations-</u><span style="color: purple;"> Again, this can be done however you would like. Anything from general dinner party to baby shower themes or girls night themes would be appropriate. I could also imagine pretty amazing decor themed on </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Red-Tent-A-Novel/dp/0312427298" style="color: purple;">The Red Tent</a><span style="color: purple;">, which is an incredible novel. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: purple; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWwFIigurr4Uhqi1YuRj5uB3E8bp2dL-OaF0JJAcvxM8VY9BWOAGRdIIOmUKMQ3f6qOzWDhlWxnbIn-g9oBle4UkA4k7A_YjnYZXVUmxgKOiABemrDZP6crP0sH2DH8KysJYlPv5lhUGOd/s1600/red+tent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWwFIigurr4Uhqi1YuRj5uB3E8bp2dL-OaF0JJAcvxM8VY9BWOAGRdIIOmUKMQ3f6qOzWDhlWxnbIn-g9oBle4UkA4k7A_YjnYZXVUmxgKOiABemrDZP6crP0sH2DH8KysJYlPv5lhUGOd/s1600/red+tent.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: purple; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: purple; text-align: left;">
<u style="font-weight: bold;">Refreshments</u>- You could serve anything that goes with the theme, or you could have it be a potluck style party where the guests contribute food also.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: purple; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: purple; text-align: left;">
<u style="font-weight: bold;">Gifts-</u> This really depends on the family. The focus of the celebration is on Blessing the new family. For a first time mother, if she is not also have a Baby Shower, it would still be a HUGE blessing for her to receive those things she wants on her baby registry, so this would be very appropriate. You can also have guests bring a freezer meal (if the expecting family has freezer space) or sign up to bring a post-baby meal to bless the family with food in those early weeks of new parenting. One of the great parts of this celebration is that it is not about the "stuff", necessarily, but about blessing this family. Sometimes the greatest blessing is just time for Mom to focus on herself.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: purple; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: purple; text-align: left;">
<u style="font-weight: bold;">Activities-</u> This is the other aspect of Blessingway celebrations that are unique and special. You can incorporate as many Blessing activities into the celebration as you would like or not. These activities are meant to honor the expecting Mother in her pregnancy, pray for and support her birth, and to bless the new life God has created.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: purple; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: purple; text-align: left;">
<b>Mother the Mother</b>- Activities to relax and bless the expecting Mother:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: purple; text-align: center;">
<u>Foot and Hand Washing</u></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: purple; text-align: left;">
This act can be both a wonderful pampering and a spiritually meaningful experience. Read John 13: 1-17 about Jesus washing the disciples feet. To pamper Mom, maybe add epsom salts mixed with an essential oil such as lavendar, peppermint, or orange. You could also float flower petals on top. Be sure to have soft towels and creamy lotion available for her also. If you would like you could make this a full pedicure.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: purple; text-align: center;">
<u>Massage</u></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: purple; text-align: left;">
What pregnant woman doesn't like a massage? You could give this as a gift or have someone give the massage during the Blessingway. Make sure to hire someone who is familiar with prenatal massage techniques. Set up a space for the massage with candles and soft worship music playing.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: purple; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: purple; text-align: left;">
<b>For the Belly-</b> Activities to honor and bless the life she carries</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: purple; text-align: center;">
<u>Belly Painting</u></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: purple; text-align: left;">
This can be done in a variety of ways. You can have an artistic friend do the work, all the guests can contribute, or you can hire a professional artist. You can use safe, non-toxic body paints to create a design. You can get henna paint and create a design that will last a while longer (This does require a significant amount of time with Mom's belly wrapped in saran wrap after the paint is applied, so make sure it's okay with her first).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: purple; text-align: center;">
<u>Belly Casts</u></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: purple; text-align: left;">
This activity usually requires a fairly significant investment of time, at least 30min, and requires Mom to be mostly topless and messy so be prepared. You could do the belly casting at the Blessingway, or you could do it ahead of time and have those present help decorate the belly cast.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: purple; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: purple; text-align: left;">
There are some pictures of <a href="http://www.proudbody.com/articles.asp?id=162">belly painting, casts, and henna here.</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: purple; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: purple; text-align: left;">
<b>For the Soul-</b> Activities to pray for and bless the pregnancy, baby, mother, and birth</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: purple; text-align: center;">
<u>Prayer Beads</u></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: purple; text-align: left;">
For this activity, you need to inform the quests of the preparation. The invitation I pictured above has this in the card insert. Basically, each guest will bring a bead or charm and then a card with a scripture, prayer, loving thought, poem, or quote to share with the Mom. With some sort of ceremony (again, think candles, soft background music, either in private or in the group) each guest presents there prayer and bead. Have a cord or ribbon available to then string them together. Mom can then wear this whenever she would like, including during her labor and birthing. When I did this, I made sure to ask her husband to provide a bead and blessing. This is a beautiful and extremely meaningful activity, <a href="http://shellyhomemaker.blogspot.com/2012/07/prayer-beads-for-birth-and-for-life.html">my friend wrote about it here.</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: purple; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimYT4hKCyvxKKOPKWVzpnOB5JewIZP_-kKUm2usthy_VLqQyYKOeDZkaGjOZCGhlmHEJiqjD-bij_WNqz8wYZn_YcUJLqxsRUXJeS67dzqOmJTJp1BWN4VK6DC22hEEHJoD-oH-XW_NYOr/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimYT4hKCyvxKKOPKWVzpnOB5JewIZP_-kKUm2usthy_VLqQyYKOeDZkaGjOZCGhlmHEJiqjD-bij_WNqz8wYZn_YcUJLqxsRUXJeS67dzqOmJTJp1BWN4VK6DC22hEEHJoD-oH-XW_NYOr/s1600/027.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: purple; text-align: center;">
<u>Prayer Candles</u></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: purple; text-align: left;">
The guests can either choose, or you could even make candles during the Blessingway. When the Mom goes into labor, she will notify someone to contact this special group of people who will light the candle and then pray for the family through the birth.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: purple; text-align: center;">
<u>Cord Ceremony</u></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: purple; text-align: left;">
Ecclesiastes 4:12 says "<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Though one may be overpowered, </span></span><span class="text Eccl-4-12" style="font-family: inherit; position: relative;">two can defend themselves. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." Make a cord of three strands out of ribbons or yarn. These strands can symbolize this strength, the trinity, the strength of a marriage which includes God, and the three lives intimately tied together in this new life. Have the guests stand in a circle with the Mom at the center. Tie the long strand first around Mom's wrist, and then around every guest's wrist around the circle. After everyone is tied together in prayer, cut the cords between the guests apart. During her labor, the guests can wear these cords and prayer for the family.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: purple; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #38761d;">As you can see, there are many options for this celebration, you could even make a whole weekend out of it! One of the things I really love about this celebration is that it is appropriate to bless and celebrate every pregnancy, every birth, every miracle that God blesses us with. This can be a larger celebration, or an intimate affair. It offers whatever will bless this Mom, this baby, and this family. I hope these ideas inspire you to celebrate this incredible time in a deeper way and can see how we can walk this journey together in a Faith filled way. </span></span></div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12679373224277825474noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-365219076785391430.post-7805047072891642552011-11-04T09:06:00.000-07:002011-11-04T09:15:39.542-07:00"Punkin" Pie...a Gardening AdventureSo, here is what I had for dessert last night:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5TfEEZJLNckmmo0zAHws9lZ_t8bCJ__7-OA3RwO9r-lHrprDpM9BHtxpyAQXt0RveHBLf6DoINkV1qF_HRUHtCXEHVF8CklCODhdGOrDzyiE-srxcl28v61xJ2OwGv3_7VPT9JKPPBWmU/s1600/IMG_0867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5TfEEZJLNckmmo0zAHws9lZ_t8bCJ__7-OA3RwO9r-lHrprDpM9BHtxpyAQXt0RveHBLf6DoINkV1qF_HRUHtCXEHVF8CklCODhdGOrDzyiE-srxcl28v61xJ2OwGv3_7VPT9JKPPBWmU/s320/IMG_0867.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
YUMMY! I love Pumpkin Pie this time of year, and with freshly (real) whipped cream it was divine...but what the heck is so interesting about pumpkin pie that I would blog about it? Well, let me tell you!<br />
<br />
This tale goes back to the spring time, see I have wonderful parents-in-law who love to help us with projects, play with our girlies, and just are generally all around awesome people. They don't like to stay still, though, and on a visit this spring they dug up the corner of our front yard, right next to our porch, because MIL (mother-in-law) was trying to grow some sproutling flowers and was going to give me some. Well, the flowers were a no go, they got hammered by some crazy early spring weather. My MIL felt bad, though, about this big patch of turned up dirt in our front yard and asked if I might like to plant some veggies there. <br />
<br />
Secretly (or not so much), I would love to be a green thumb, grow wonderful plants and vegetables in my yard and house to enjoy. But... I'm not. I've neither the time, nor money to really invest yet in "gardening". What we have around our yard is: hardy buffalo grass that my hubby maintains, some flowers that my MIL has helped plant in years past that keep on growing and blooming (see I don't even know the difference between perenial and annual, I just know these keep coming back), a sad little Lilac plant that I need to move and tend to (I love lilacs, and I want to keep this one), a crazy grape-vine that came with the house and we tried desperately to kill that I'm deciding I just need accept as part of our family, LOTS of wood chips, and...well...weeds. When we moved in, weeds were the landscaping, and on a 13000 square ft lot, well, it's taking time and persistence to deal with, sigh. Anyways, I have wanted a veggie garden since we bought the house, so when MIL offered to help with just a little one, I said "sure, why not"<br />
<br />
So, she gave me seeds (yes, we sure did start from seeds), instructions, and a plan and we got to work. Adding nutrients to the soil, building little hillocks and rows for plants, and carefully planting our little seeds. Then, I said "alright, here's hoping". I can't believe I never took pictures of the progress of our little garden, but I can say that it far exceeded my expectations. We ended up with 2 zucchini bushes, 3 pole bean plants strung to the roof, 1 pat-a-pan squash plant, 4 butternut squash vines, and 1 head of spinach (I tried for some lettuce and more spinach...not super successful, but the spinach was the tastiest I've EVER had). We also grow tomatoes and basil in earth boxes on our front porch, but we get these as plants so not as super exciting...although the homemade spaghetti and pesto is! It was REALLY cool to see, and to show my kids "how does your garden grow", from tiny little seeds, some soil, water, and attention (thank you hubby) we had ALL of these plants growing FOOD for us, WOW!<br />
<br />
The harvest from these plants was no less amazing. I have a picture of our final harvest:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPiwThpA8C0Hw9yo7xim5zlBmOEPibOq5kvxpxTcX6CViKh-1j5TVzuB4eScmyvaX3IwSgke6mdhT3rpWfV0lSJ4WYpU0vOTI-DjJuBL3FtqFRFuiJq7FNhoftChjrYN3bhMhlfVe2B_S/s1600/IMG_0808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPiwThpA8C0Hw9yo7xim5zlBmOEPibOq5kvxpxTcX6CViKh-1j5TVzuB4eScmyvaX3IwSgke6mdhT3rpWfV0lSJ4WYpU0vOTI-DjJuBL3FtqFRFuiJq7FNhoftChjrYN3bhMhlfVe2B_S/s320/IMG_0808.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
In that basket were about 10 butternut and 7 pat-a-pan squashes AND this doesn't include 2 butternut or 4-5 zucchinis (yes, that same size) we'd already given away or eaten, another 3-4 harvests of beans earlier in the year, the spinach, or any of our tomatoes. Pretty much, our garden went NUTS.<br />
<br />
Fortunately I REALLY REALLY like all of these veggies. I've also shredded and frozen some of the zucchini to use in breads, muffins, and chili throughout the winter. So, turns out I am a happy gardener! Lately, I've been hearing that it is hard to find canned pumpkin, and that it is expensive this year, so I was kind of bummed I didn't try growing pie pumpkins...which brings me to my pie story.<br />
<br />
Monday being Halloween, and I being so on top of it, my girls had pumpkins that they really wanted to carve into Jack-O-Lanterns. They were small pumkins, reminded me of pumpkin pie pumkins and I though "mmmm pie". Would I really deprive my children of this festive activity just for pie, short answer- yes. Well, what I was thinking was "I could just have them paint these this year with washable paint, then wash them later and turn them into pie" See, not a heartless Mom. So, I hopped online and started looking at how to make pumpkin pie from actual pumpkin, a new experiment for me. This is where is got very interesting. At the end of the day, the pumkins looked like this:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTZsrY0NYj1XeBaDdo_L_dAOclnMeHDqA31kCwBoiyPhn7PbgERkmU4ibfid2XbZflOWMBmK5kcfBWWf8FEMiE4hltJg-vB30PdZwfJhOkfzimeVp-pcYm4UOd9s-J2nODHDISjOBNztf/s1600/IMG_0856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTZsrY0NYj1XeBaDdo_L_dAOclnMeHDqA31kCwBoiyPhn7PbgERkmU4ibfid2XbZflOWMBmK5kcfBWWf8FEMiE4hltJg-vB30PdZwfJhOkfzimeVp-pcYm4UOd9s-J2nODHDISjOBNztf/s320/IMG_0856.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
So where did the pie come from? Well, my internet search led me to discover that canned pumpkin often comes from a form of butternut squash, so in a pinch you can use a butternut squash for pumpkin pie. WHAT!?!?! you mean I have like 10+ pies worth of squash sitting in a basket in my kitchen, this MUST be tried. So I did. Here's how is went:<br />
<br />
The first step is just basic cooking squash technique: cut it in half lengthwise, scoop out seeds, cut into managable peices, place in baking dish with an inch or so of water face down, bake at 350 for 45min-1hr until soft. This is only half of the squash I cooked, I remember half way through scooping to take a picture for blog-land.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZa34OBTq-rmALKlB5_D06g1FvbvhYUfz5J20JHbwS_TYMTRS61ghnZ0FVskE5PxaW0CTdyeHxL7fmUYplhxNCj8zG2COU_UKhWeQLjiRmEZuQHgyS8vQc1w_X0s2pbF6gj-TFRgKXJDKS/s1600/IMG_0835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZa34OBTq-rmALKlB5_D06g1FvbvhYUfz5J20JHbwS_TYMTRS61ghnZ0FVskE5PxaW0CTdyeHxL7fmUYplhxNCj8zG2COU_UKhWeQLjiRmEZuQHgyS8vQc1w_X0s2pbF6gj-TFRgKXJDKS/s320/IMG_0835.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Here's this inside onces it is cookes, nice and orange. You can serve this in peices with butter, salt, and pepper as a yummy side if you want...but it gets better.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZAW9uBd2UQj2nfD6JwiAzo0cmWW2oBVzdg14JkdsO5Py10LHLSkxWyePxb6wbH6AxY43BVAG3MAuQVt9Chzticns0OZCzz-XlraabaKFI6M3Z0irOL-kxf1TAN48iysWDJ3Vp1-Kjqxk/s1600/IMG_0837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZAW9uBd2UQj2nfD6JwiAzo0cmWW2oBVzdg14JkdsO5Py10LHLSkxWyePxb6wbH6AxY43BVAG3MAuQVt9Chzticns0OZCzz-XlraabaKFI6M3Z0irOL-kxf1TAN48iysWDJ3Vp1-Kjqxk/s320/IMG_0837.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Scoop as much of the orange yummy-ness out into a blender or food processor (I recently "borrowed" my Mom's old Cuisinart from my Dad's house...this may be a permanent kind of borrow, unless they ask for it back, I LOVE this thing). Blend or mix until it is as very smooth as you can possibly get it. It looks something like this.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0ilDiLGdXtVZnC7ivjEeb_PzrWAthnLfebXxeEp0q9LB4yFwjqvexe-Avmvz0s_a3J5gzIx9X1QMB4o40-soBkMCXjbyTubbcLCyr5ZyDuBw51JaRJRWnbBbG2P_dopbUeyq00C2GnJF/s1600/IMG_0838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0ilDiLGdXtVZnC7ivjEeb_PzrWAthnLfebXxeEp0q9LB4yFwjqvexe-Avmvz0s_a3J5gzIx9X1QMB4o40-soBkMCXjbyTubbcLCyr5ZyDuBw51JaRJRWnbBbG2P_dopbUeyq00C2GnJF/s320/IMG_0838.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Now, with this mixture you could make one of my other yummy Butternut squash recipes: soup. Sautee some diced onions and garlic, add with some (1 can-ish) chicken broth to the squash during puree, put back in a pot on the stove, mix in some milk or cream until the right consitency for you, add some fresh grated nutmeg, salt, and pepper to taste. Viola, Butternut squash soup. This is a favorite of mine, I'm not a fan of tomato soup, so this with grilled cheese is my idea of comfort food ;-)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlL_wq5_Wm4mU922cCzYs73QDgPvx6JfGD3G36dG3hBFQtDEEtrThyPhNlHLTyVyzGQDeyZSlakt6fMaXvP2g_8r4o2tBjOQsy84LfAkJTd6YzT6MYM-wvHJvcJEiS0wrHyD1EXmXivZt/s1600/IMG_0839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlL_wq5_Wm4mU922cCzYs73QDgPvx6JfGD3G36dG3hBFQtDEEtrThyPhNlHLTyVyzGQDeyZSlakt6fMaXvP2g_8r4o2tBjOQsy84LfAkJTd6YzT6MYM-wvHJvcJEiS0wrHyD1EXmXivZt/s320/IMG_0839.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The instructions I was reading said to strain the pureed pumkin, and since I have a metal strainer I decided I would go ahead and do this step. I'm not sure how essential this step is with butternut squash. It might have been a little smoother, and it did catch one little peice of unpureed squash, but I might try skipping this step next time. Here's what my puree looked like:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn2Jis02PRG_4P_cKaIymsHSm2Q4umvBGpR5e41twoRvmgG1XAAuUxDZNDUTP18Ssjxnn8R4ZsF2M30kU85wAEjmRH_TsKbklQaUDPgqQTUDgxojep8t1-3V1uQTyB6hloC3i5ZYgu5L7i/s1600/IMG_0840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn2Jis02PRG_4P_cKaIymsHSm2Q4umvBGpR5e41twoRvmgG1XAAuUxDZNDUTP18Ssjxnn8R4ZsF2M30kU85wAEjmRH_TsKbklQaUDPgqQTUDgxojep8t1-3V1uQTyB6hloC3i5ZYgu5L7i/s320/IMG_0840.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This was about 4 cups of squash puree from a decent size (not the biggest we have) squash. The pie recipe I had called for 3 cups of puree, so I stuck the extra in a baggie in the freezer ("pumpkin" muffins anyone?). I then made a crust (from scratch, big pat on the back, decided to try this in my processor too, and it worked like a charm, SUPER yummy too). Added 1 1/2 cans of evaporated milk, 2 cups sugar, 4 eggs, and all the usual spices, baked for an hour and viola, PIE!!!!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjcLsmHUdJDcnjo5zMVBDvSNnRkqVf1nd6V3rr7uunBZwdWA-qRSazKbhEc7P-hzPzTwPbp6Ae29pPnj_YS4bH3m-geIAZBZYucHZL76n-CWb6WjzZGGikDKkbOG9ByQvnALgCyjx77bb/s1600/IMG_0862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjcLsmHUdJDcnjo5zMVBDvSNnRkqVf1nd6V3rr7uunBZwdWA-qRSazKbhEc7P-hzPzTwPbp6Ae29pPnj_YS4bH3m-geIAZBZYucHZL76n-CWb6WjzZGGikDKkbOG9ByQvnALgCyjx77bb/s320/IMG_0862.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We tried it that night, while it was still slightly warm with some ice-cream and it was really good, but not quite the same as my idea of pumpkin pie. We had it last night after chilling with whipped cream and it was AMAZING, the best "pumpkin" pie I've had! <a href="http://www.pickyourown.org/pumpkinpie.php">Here's where I found recipes and such.</a><br />
<br />
So, my kids got their jack-o-lanterns and I got my pie and everyone was happy. It is official, butternut is my favorite squash. I've always liked it as a side, just sweet and smooth enough to be yummy, then I discovered soup, and most recently I've had <a href="http://www.womansday.com/Recipes/Ravioli-with-Sauteed-Butternut-Squash-and-Thyme-Recipe.html">Butternut Squash Ravioli</a> which was impressively good, and now PIE, it doesn't get any better in my mind. Now, I think I need another peice, just to make sure it's as good as I remember ;-)Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12679373224277825474noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-365219076785391430.post-32100296849304896482011-10-17T10:00:00.000-07:002011-10-17T10:09:36.807-07:00Duct Tape Style Coupon OrganizerMy friend <a href="http://michellemabell.blogspot.com/">Michelle</a> is doing a blog series on saving money, couponing, and other sorts of fun things that us <strike>monetary challenged</strike> frugal Moms do for our families financially. On that note, I offered to do a few posts on this topic, and the first thing she asked for was a picture of my coupon holder...not really cause it's the do-all-end-all coupon holder, but more because I MADE IT and because its a nice simple one. So, I decided to go above and beyond and post more info on how I made it. First, here it is<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97NW8csMsRoEcncd3OlQrLDMTOYwvLJcpixGpeTbqohbXcc-PmJctsn5wK3Fwpg7vJrwFTdeyJTZR4v27F7CkBo3a1ODTUMsuuYErOlj_oeDF0K3ZU6zjKLxjhNCbGdMtE3bUTKueWWM6/s1600/IMG_0813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97NW8csMsRoEcncd3OlQrLDMTOYwvLJcpixGpeTbqohbXcc-PmJctsn5wK3Fwpg7vJrwFTdeyJTZR4v27F7CkBo3a1ODTUMsuuYErOlj_oeDF0K3ZU6zjKLxjhNCbGdMtE3bUTKueWWM6/s320/IMG_0813.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUugtbw5sSSSlB-JG4WoUAXJX64AC2yUH3qTWXEs57c0SGVW6Y20GLjfxcd6UpraMZIRoLy528DcYJL-YwLnk7sMF8-mVUTdJXtvor-6RB0FkgQomVnEwY1pv_0xd1X8YPOFub-Qn8WarM/s1600/IMG_0814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUugtbw5sSSSlB-JG4WoUAXJX64AC2yUH3qTWXEs57c0SGVW6Y20GLjfxcd6UpraMZIRoLy528DcYJL-YwLnk7sMF8-mVUTdJXtvor-6RB0FkgQomVnEwY1pv_0xd1X8YPOFub-Qn8WarM/s320/IMG_0814.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Now, I decided to make this for myself real quick one day during nap time, so instead of thinking ahead and taking pics along the way for a tutorial, I was simply focused on finished before <strike>all heck broke loose</strike> my kids got up. So, this isn't a step by step picture kind of thing, but more of an overview:<br />
<br />
Here is what I used:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwoLXrPcELBESlPIbxiK7LMhhds-3jmPRXASOFpYeespXi8-A0Tff3vXdvjHu37XPGa5BlvVxiQQkKrH7ceNLqbvXRF7QZKZzoWfoTHBJsV18o6TEqb1hMPc8qltq6Rzfqz8vd5SDZ8TD6/s1600/IMG_0817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwoLXrPcELBESlPIbxiK7LMhhds-3jmPRXASOFpYeespXi8-A0Tff3vXdvjHu37XPGa5BlvVxiQQkKrH7ceNLqbvXRF7QZKZzoWfoTHBJsV18o6TEqb1hMPc8qltq6Rzfqz8vd5SDZ8TD6/s320/IMG_0817.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
~ 2 Mac and cheese boxes- you can any similar sized box, or a cereal box if you want a larger organizer<br />
~ Fun Duct Tape (I found houndstooth, LOVE IT, and bought at a craft store....with a coupon of course!) This was actually the only item I had to buy for this project, everything else I happened to have at home<br />
~ Clear Packing Tape<br />
~ Scissors (yes, for cutting)<br />
~ Envelopes (I used 3 5/8inx6 1/2in size, you could use longer for a larger holder<br />
~ Ribbon (not a necessity, but it made it prettier and easier to see the flap, I just raided old wrapping paper/craft supplies for a peice)<br />
~ Sticky back velcro- This is just to hold your top flap closed. Again, I happen to be a craft nerd, so I have some but you can find little packages of this about anywear, very handy.<br />
<br />
Here is how I cut the first macaroni box- cut off the top and bottom flaps, then cut out one of the skinny side pannels. Voila, you have the folder section for the coupon holder.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPj34KSEQXuuA3ZdRQ5cc9wwkGkUbMAuGLLRUId2BFxaT6iKFXuigvt2MHIlVebuqYqJVoTBBIFWiJWnaoP_-50P-OEEboDjOAyBYso-cTD7i_R8gHtcM_KgUS-VFwMa401Sq_-7HWijI/s1600/IMG_0819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPj34KSEQXuuA3ZdRQ5cc9wwkGkUbMAuGLLRUId2BFxaT6iKFXuigvt2MHIlVebuqYqJVoTBBIFWiJWnaoP_-50P-OEEboDjOAyBYso-cTD7i_R8gHtcM_KgUS-VFwMa401Sq_-7HWijI/s320/IMG_0819.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The second box for the flap, I patterned this after my billfold, actually, cause I like it. Just cut one of the large sides of the box about 2/3 of the width, then cut triangles off the sides to make the angles.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51cGYwf6jDoUs0JVGMXZZvnNWj_Um99IzgGWfF-a7j6sagn4M_fdHW6tlk2PF1ZQHNk0nVgdIkjO2lFm2X_RRMJHa1qRZv0xuiqdRyxTPmUhTGZPbLx0kqUD-RC7poJrFvNWkhGei4doQ/s1600/IMG_0820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51cGYwf6jDoUs0JVGMXZZvnNWj_Um99IzgGWfF-a7j6sagn4M_fdHW6tlk2PF1ZQHNk0nVgdIkjO2lFm2X_RRMJHa1qRZv0xuiqdRyxTPmUhTGZPbLx0kqUD-RC7poJrFvNWkhGei4doQ/s320/IMG_0820.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Okay, assembly. Now to not leave you hangin I am putting up the Youtube tutorial I found for the idea. Notable differences are the size of the holder (I wanted mine to fit in my purse) and the decorative ribbon, and the flap I just stuck the ribbon to the holder and covered it with a strip of packaging tape (which is also used to attach the inner envelopes, as you can see in the video) across the top for protection. For the flap, I made a section for the "hinged" top area out of just duct tape so it would be more flexible, and then have the flap. So, I covered the box folder...then had a strip of plain duct tape...then attached the flap. Hope that makes some sort of sense after you see the video.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://2.gvt0.com/vi/HvMt5e_uIUY/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HvMt5e_uIUY&fs=1&source=uds" />
<param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" />
<embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HvMt5e_uIUY&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A couple things to remember:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
~ My duct tape was just slightly see through in the white part, so I made the bright side of the box the inside.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
~ Start by taping the inside of the holder and finish on the outside, this way the tape overlap will be on the inside of the holder.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
~ These are just ideas, make it your own! And if you have a question for me, just ask :)</div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12679373224277825474noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-365219076785391430.post-88422782303924589712011-08-31T10:09:00.000-07:002011-08-31T10:09:24.432-07:00Mei Tai It Up! (a 'tutorial')Oh Michelle will be so happy, I finally got my booty in gear and posted these instructions. Background: Bff is having second baby and is <strike>a skinny minny</strike> on the slim side so Baby Bjorn style carriers just weren't cutting it for her (as they don't for most women in comparison to a better carrier I'm finding out, which is bologna for the $80-$100 price tags on those things!). So, she tells me about a carrier she is looking at, and I think (much to the pride of my frugal roots) "I wonder if I could make that". A quick internet search reveals that, yes, someone smarter than I has already laid the foundation of instructions and I figure I can alter the design slightly to be more like the carrier my friend would like. Oh, and did I mention I had a 4-ish month old and figured I'd make one for me as "practice"...I know, sacrifice. Anyways, here's what I did, with some pictures, in case any of you would like to design and make your own versatile kangaroo pouch. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I took inspiration from another blog online and these instructions combine the techniques: </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://scanditute.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: blue;">http://scanditute.blogspot.com/</span></span></a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Materials:</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ63gxto61GNEALnLYT248drxfWTCeE0Lcn6jSEGdk4q4fN4dX5HlpEHLdRIvLhQ1GV2on9mcpTYSUeOj4mONdUNRn4mx0TBtvUQdY77rNv1SGTLCE5-93vpOglGlIsPSRKDhwlqTZNYOo/s1600/Mei+Tai+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ63gxto61GNEALnLYT248drxfWTCeE0Lcn6jSEGdk4q4fN4dX5HlpEHLdRIvLhQ1GV2on9mcpTYSUeOj4mONdUNRn4mx0TBtvUQdY77rNv1SGTLCE5-93vpOglGlIsPSRKDhwlqTZNYOo/s320/Mei+Tai+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><em>From </em><a href="http://scanditute.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: blue;"><em>http://scanditute.blogspot.com/</em></span></span></a><em>: Strap fabric (the brown twill in the pic): “2.5 yards of strap fabric. When choosing your strap fabric - it is important to select a bottom-weight fabric like canvas, denim or twill with a minimum weight of 7 oz. Actually, 10 oz. is better. Baby cord is not strong enough for a baby carrier. </em></span><span style="color: red; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><em>NOTE: There has been a lot of recent discussion about the suitability of corduroy for mei tai straps. Cord is a compromised fabric because the pile inside the wales has been cut, thus weakening it. If you do intend to use cord for your mei tai, I can not stress enough how important it is to make sure that the cord is strong. Hold it up to the light before sewing with it. If you can see light through the fabric, it probably isn't strong enough. Cord carriers have ripped in several instances because the fabric used was not strong enough to support the weight of a baby. Please exercise utmost caution when using cord.</em></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><em> For what it's worth, I now only make mei tais with heavy canvas (8-10 oz) or twill. In addition to being safer choices, sturdy, strong fabrics also offer the most support and comfort.”</em> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><em>Other fabric: <o:p></o:p></em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><em> </em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><em>¾ yard outer design fabric. (Flower patterned cotton in the pic)<o:p></o:p></em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><em> </em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><em>¾ yard lining fabric. (Pink Minky in the pic) Minky or Fleece works well and is snuggly soft, a friend of mine also used another design fabric and made it “reversible” (it will look a little different on the other side because of the way it is put together, but it works the same)</em></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br />
<em> <br />
</em></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><em>An 18" square of heavy canvas. (Cream colored piece you can just see under the designed fabric in the pic)<o:p></o:p></em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><em> </em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><em>Some fleece or cotton batting for padding the waist and shoulder straps. (I used polar fleece, easy to work with and was cheap on sale/with coupon) This is where I cannot remember exactly how much you will need. You will need 2- 12x20 inch squares, 1- 12x17inch square, and another 2-4 layers for the padded upper piece. I think a yard is plenty, but check my math. <o:p></o:p></em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><em> </em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><em>Thread: I used button/craft thread for sewing the straps on the canvas to make sure it is secure, but heads up, some sewing machines have a hard time sewing with this thread so check your manufacturer’s instructions for information. If it says it will be difficult to sew denim, it may be difficult to sew the canvas with this thread.<o:p></o:p></em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><em> </em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><em>Coordinating, high-quality thread like Gutermann for the rest of the project. <o:p></o:p></em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><em> </em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><em>Make sure you wash and press all of your fabric before beginning (I even washed the canvas and air dried to make sure I could wash and air dry the Mei Tai when it was finished).<o:p></o:p></em></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">I can tell you that I found twill on sale (40 or 50%) off, and spent about $45 total. You could get cheaper even if you really focused on shopping with coupons and for go the fancier fabric. It is well worth this price, to me, though as these carriers sell for $100 and up.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Step One- Straps:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">Finished straps will be 4" wide by 74”-84" long, so measure 9" across the short end of your strap fabric (will give you a 1/2" seam allowance) and measure the length of your choice + 4” on the long end (add another 4” to the finished length for canvas attachment)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="font-size: small;">“Note: 84” are really long straps. You might want to make them up to 10" shorter. I like to tie Tibetan in a back carry, so I make them longer for me. If you decide to make the shoulder straps shorter, make sure you keep the waist strap around 80-84".”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">If you desire, cut the straps at an angle on one end if you prefer a taper.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39z2NqhwBWmcoffvHr0yt2Q_XPzpJonIb8TYsrsMfvapS2eZEw5mc6_YntJPUstVl58DYoyKIMjbRrdfgf6KKtmSbpsUAD_fh2qT_A8T5Puv_ea_M9fyy9BiZzV4c0jm458Ore6u55eav/s1600/Mei+Tai+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39z2NqhwBWmcoffvHr0yt2Q_XPzpJonIb8TYsrsMfvapS2eZEw5mc6_YntJPUstVl58DYoyKIMjbRrdfgf6KKtmSbpsUAD_fh2qT_A8T5Puv_ea_M9fyy9BiZzV4c0jm458Ore6u55eav/s320/Mei+Tai+%25284%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 404.4pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Next, sew the shoulder straps: with right sides together, stitch the straps from the point of the taper to the end. Turn right side out and press.<o:p></o:p></span></div><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"> <o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"> </o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype><v:shape alt="Mei Tai (7).JPG" id="Picture_x0020_9" o:spid="_x0000_s1028" style="height: 129.5pt; margin-left: 357.3pt; margin-top: 50.65pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 173.1pt; z-index: 3;" type="#_x0000_t75"> <v:imagedata o:title="Mei Tai (7)" src="file:///C:\Users\Katie\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"> </v:imagedata></v:shape><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shape alt="Mei Tai (6).JPG" id="Picture_x0020_8" o:spid="_x0000_s1027" style="height: 130.4pt; margin-left: 179.7pt; margin-top: 50.65pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 174.3pt; z-index: 2;" type="#_x0000_t75"> <v:imagedata o:title="Mei Tai (6)" src="file:///C:\Users\Katie\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image003.jpg"> </v:imagedata></v:shape><v:shape alt="Mei Tai (5).JPG" id="Picture_x0020_5" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 128.4pt; margin-left: 0.9pt; margin-top: 50.65pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 171.4pt; z-index: 1;" type="#_x0000_t75"> <v:imagedata o:title="Mei Tai (5)" src="file:///C:\Users\Katie\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image005.jpg"> </v:imagedata></v:shape></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">For the padding - I used a layer of polar fleece - cut 12"x20" Then, fold the long ends to meet in the center and then fold that in half (so raw ends are tucked inside). I always make a little tack stitch on the ends and the center so it stays together while I'm stuffing it into the straps.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdDc6AFnq7k5G0L08cqmjMvsYIqABwOUmSBICOsmZimoLXG9GRG4PFJqm74Bq8fLecseg3Rf9beW9AaT8TcV_F18YkxWRFomAdL4Y4i95Vqe90_ykz3yqluZxSxi3LbKHvJwWOgOkLPS6k/s1600/Mei+Tai+%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdDc6AFnq7k5G0L08cqmjMvsYIqABwOUmSBICOsmZimoLXG9GRG4PFJqm74Bq8fLecseg3Rf9beW9AaT8TcV_F18YkxWRFomAdL4Y4i95Vqe90_ykz3yqluZxSxi3LbKHvJwWOgOkLPS6k/s320/Mei+Tai+%25285%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwnPrpFZ8VhviTICu-Os4R_MFcQh7vrfvlDX4GPC0MLM1DjMZqlGL8fOt-mb0zk3cmzJ4UhTDr5XhqT9Td51kTUiUvEZWgPCylEuIMVT0OJggKubsqsuSZA3PjkFmiqa9nCmPiBR7YaILb/s1600/Mei+Tai+%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwnPrpFZ8VhviTICu-Os4R_MFcQh7vrfvlDX4GPC0MLM1DjMZqlGL8fOt-mb0zk3cmzJ4UhTDr5XhqT9Td51kTUiUvEZWgPCylEuIMVT0OJggKubsqsuSZA3PjkFmiqa9nCmPiBR7YaILb/s320/Mei+Tai+%25286%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2vJh_mnN55-wUIVeWulpepaIbgkDUt0mPUs_Ah8gC3j4mzx5g-epkFlIS1f75S33DvFuOVchpJHW124douh9CuPpWa4shmShlpFEknRRNRrxah2DQOm_i0e4T5sbx0UxVjnNGnPCP_P58/s1600/Mei+Tai+%25287%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2vJh_mnN55-wUIVeWulpepaIbgkDUt0mPUs_Ah8gC3j4mzx5g-epkFlIS1f75S33DvFuOVchpJHW124douh9CuPpWa4shmShlpFEknRRNRrxah2DQOm_i0e4T5sbx0UxVjnNGnPCP_P58/s320/Mei+Tai+%25287%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now, to stuff the straps- Fold the top 8-10 inches of the strap down like you're turning down the cuff of socks. Stuff one end of the batting inside and pull the strap material up over the batting. Use kitchen tongs or a yardstick to help in keeping it flat and even. Stuff it far enough inside so that you have at least four inches of strap material left at the top. (Yes, this takes a little effort to get done) Stitch three equally-spaced lines down the length of the padding in the straps. (I did the two outer lines first and then finished with the middle line to make it easier to get the spacing even)</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhVcmtFYOSVqELfSP2M8PBMsWDcMh_nYx-UA_a9vR2GUgbcuk8HDzPqPpgVm-nNk3GS9NGLn7DUaxZiwDDtDDunOg4ukuICGdeFd3laWiPDvBEr8eqK_VMECU_QOwN5eMTov6g2LI1DxS/s1600/Mei+Tai+%25289%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhVcmtFYOSVqELfSP2M8PBMsWDcMh_nYx-UA_a9vR2GUgbcuk8HDzPqPpgVm-nNk3GS9NGLn7DUaxZiwDDtDDunOg4ukuICGdeFd3laWiPDvBEr8eqK_VMECU_QOwN5eMTov6g2LI1DxS/s320/Mei+Tai+%25289%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_mV888HzbbS0LlSrp2cBnDTxtKeEwfImcbF2STYo_jsjkT5huQfCiD6gjqt5i11owUPWoDEzHk484fZUt-qU7yEZETYC6gWOVnuU6m9iInesloDXT1HwaP2-ACNM_-HBFX3IzTcT6nVu/s1600/Mei+Tai+%252810%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_mV888HzbbS0LlSrp2cBnDTxtKeEwfImcbF2STYo_jsjkT5huQfCiD6gjqt5i11owUPWoDEzHk484fZUt-qU7yEZETYC6gWOVnuU6m9iInesloDXT1HwaP2-ACNM_-HBFX3IzTcT6nVu/s320/Mei+Tai+%252810%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Step Two- Cut Body and Attach Straps:<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">For the body of the Mei Tai, you'll need to cute the pattern from: one layer of your decorator fabric, one layer of the liner or reverse (minky, fleece, or another decorator fabric if you want it to be reversible to that), and one layer of heavy canvas for the inside.<o:p></o:p></span></div><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"> <o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"> </o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype><v:shape alt="http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n256/Olivia-Bolivia/IMG_2255_edited.jpg" href="http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n256/Olivia-Bolivia/IMG_2255_edited.jpg" id="Picture_x0020_20" o:button="t" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 200.2pt; margin-left: 125.1pt; margin-top: 56.6pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 132.9pt; z-index: 1;" type="#_x0000_t75"> <v:fill o:detectmouseclick="t"> <v:imagedata o:title="IMG_2255_edited" src="file:///C:\Users\Katie\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"> </v:imagedata></v:fill></v:shape><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Here is a pic of the pattern the </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://scanditute.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: blue;">http://scanditute.blogspot.com/</span></span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <span style="color: black;">blog had and here are her instructions: This pattern is “Cut on the FOLD. The body is 8" wide at the middle, 18" tall. The flat part at the top is 5" and the part where the shoulder straps attach is also 5". You may choose to make your pattern a few inches taller if you have an older baby. This pattern will yield a MT approximately 17"-17.5" tall.”</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2vI5MDBq8rWzjk59YjIwFoRUznC4qwiGp7pyS90uA_R2C2Jtxfa07Iumx0fcR773ubfneExfuk4Yx9ZZle4uLZHGzgEZn9SB9xWyDW-LQVtiY1gSZbInuSdE4Rv4GcVqoTFXD9-QgHA5/s1600/IMG_2255_edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2vI5MDBq8rWzjk59YjIwFoRUznC4qwiGp7pyS90uA_R2C2Jtxfa07Iumx0fcR773ubfneExfuk4Yx9ZZle4uLZHGzgEZn9SB9xWyDW-LQVtiY1gSZbInuSdE4Rv4GcVqoTFXD9-QgHA5/s320/IMG_2255_edited.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, you can draw out and make your own pattern. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"> <o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"> </o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></span></v:shapetype></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Now, my husband has this wonderful program called AutoCAD for his work, with which he so nicely designed a pattern for me. I can send this pattern to you if you ask for it, in PDF form, but I will warn you that it is in 11x17 format (because we conveniently have a printer this size, again for his work). The seam allowance (dotted line) for this pattern is 3/8”. This pattern is really only for the shape of the top edge and for the padded upper piece (more on that later). So, what I did was to trace the top edge p<v:shape alt="Mei Tai (3).JPG" id="Picture_x0020_12" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 42.732pt; margin-left: 102.6pt; margin-top: 130.1pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 320.102pt; z-index: 1;" type="#_x0000_t75"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><v:imagedata o:title="Mei Tai (3)" src="file:///C:\Users\Katie\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"> </v:imagedata></span></v:shape>ortion (the smaller shape on the pattern that looks like the contour on the pic above) onto the top of a piece of tissue paper and then measured 18” down from the middle, marked my bottom line, and then drew a straight line from the bottom of the curve edge to this bottom line, viola, I had a reproducible pattern. The long, straight side is ON THE FOLD. We’ll get to the top piece later. Here are the 3 body pieces cut out with the pattern.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-OuzEpf4m5rJdigynwZh51zu6Yik380YO3G4fzb7vGt4gCG5MlUHt9nzC667byXaKU0ymekamzrTe907i6rFBqBu2HqxvQ-r2eLWBkoY5ntYNFQBqhTpGA3dOHhfQEHVhvrOA9zpeyBQS/s1600/Mei+Tai+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-OuzEpf4m5rJdigynwZh51zu6Yik380YO3G4fzb7vGt4gCG5MlUHt9nzC667byXaKU0ymekamzrTe907i6rFBqBu2HqxvQ-r2eLWBkoY5ntYNFQBqhTpGA3dOHhfQEHVhvrOA9zpeyBQS/s320/Mei+Tai+%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Next you prep canvas and attach straps. <span style="color: black;">First, fold down the 3/8" seam allowance on the canvas body panel where the shoulder straps will attach and press.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6OpVMUBsOWUy1SwWrxfwyRWqsvo58kUhT9ow9cRkhoQDh1VovKc1y-1wcDCpaPAS9hhhG2x3nvvXH8kR8SzLuSdZOgMPoMpPA3_6ZN7jFf_Y45r5LweWVGiWhaTv3Kj5iMJ5CNLl6wCE/s1600/Mei+Tai+%252811%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6OpVMUBsOWUy1SwWrxfwyRWqsvo58kUhT9ow9cRkhoQDh1VovKc1y-1wcDCpaPAS9hhhG2x3nvvXH8kR8SzLuSdZOgMPoMpPA3_6ZN7jFf_Y45r5LweWVGiWhaTv3Kj5iMJ5CNLl6wCE/s320/Mei+Tai+%252811%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Then, pin the straps centered on the body. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Tip: roll up the straps and secure with a rubber band to keep things neat while you're stitching.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLZcLy30t9CmmWmqjrFJDRUgmeHZWGqpd83tGk53uRfurjgbH36DTLcr9OAopt69Esju58_7QYBmIx-bjG_UXcyEJpiMb09L13WIeIGXpEoQCTFNyts5vnMg5DOAluGFAGrehoyZxAzTY/s1600/Mei+Tai+%252812%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLZcLy30t9CmmWmqjrFJDRUgmeHZWGqpd83tGk53uRfurjgbH36DTLcr9OAopt69Esju58_7QYBmIx-bjG_UXcyEJpiMb09L13WIeIGXpEoQCTFNyts5vnMg5DOAluGFAGrehoyZxAzTY/s320/Mei+Tai+%252812%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t32" o:oned="t" o:spt="32" path="m,l21600,21600e"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <v:path arrowok="t" fillok="f" o:connecttype="none"> <o:lock shapetype="t" v:ext="edit"> </o:lock></v:path></span></v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1029" o:connectortype="straight" strokecolor="red" style="flip: x y; height: 37.2pt; margin-left: 6pt; margin-top: 61pt; position: absolute; width: 55.8pt; z-index: 4;" type="#_x0000_t32"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <v:stroke endarrow="block"> </v:stroke></span></v:shape><v:shape id="_x0000_s1027" o:connectortype="straight" strokecolor="#00b0f0" style="flip: y; height: 40.8pt; margin-left: 6pt; margin-top: 61pt; position: absolute; width: 55.8pt; z-index: 2;" type="#_x0000_t32"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <v:stroke endarrow="block"> </v:stroke></span></v:shape><v:shape id="_x0000_s1028" o:connectortype="straight" strokecolor="#ffc000" style="height: 40.8pt; margin-left: 61.8pt; margin-top: 61pt; position: absolute; width: 0.6pt; z-index: 3;" type="#_x0000_t32"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <v:stroke endarrow="block"> </v:stroke></span></v:shape><v:shape id="_x0000_s1026" o:connectortype="straight" strokecolor="#00b050" style="height: 40.8pt; margin-left: 6pt; margin-top: 61pt; position: absolute; width: 0px; z-index: 1;" type="#_x0000_t32"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <v:stroke endarrow="block"> </v:stroke></span></v:shape><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Stitch around the straps with a square and an X in the center. This is where I used the heavy duty button/craft thread. I also doubled this line (so stitched twice total). This is all because this area is what will carry the weight of baby, and I wanted it to be very secure. If you sew the lines in this order:</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzJDM5wGxL5km6kyjTh1DSRcz1yIJCU4jbiCyeZxl0CSyK9OkxBjkEveWNB2dbydEGlLqr1QXbIBGXhCSttUjFO06nBwPqXTCxnlPjjSrrqywQFmrEFgkkzrPlVA7_1w8GDw2ukLMK6KR/s1600/Box+Stitch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzJDM5wGxL5km6kyjTh1DSRcz1yIJCU4jbiCyeZxl0CSyK9OkxBjkEveWNB2dbydEGlLqr1QXbIBGXhCSttUjFO06nBwPqXTCxnlPjjSrrqywQFmrEFgkkzrPlVA7_1w8GDw2ukLMK6KR/s320/Box+Stitch.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Then you can do it all in one shot without having to cut thread and move the needle.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRaAA5-TMOEuvbbMWSJgr4QFEFxcg0CjvD-UjQM-_tpcQxxQtkXw-Ts4OngloStrlpxMbUALEz5Y37rkNtPNlarC8r52FaODKO8qML78Uy7rviTWEMTIPJaF3pDx4u_EfEFgsLRC3BJjyk/s1600/Mei+Tai+%252815%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRaAA5-TMOEuvbbMWSJgr4QFEFxcg0CjvD-UjQM-_tpcQxxQtkXw-Ts4OngloStrlpxMbUALEz5Y37rkNtPNlarC8r52FaODKO8qML78Uy7rviTWEMTIPJaF3pDx4u_EfEFgsLRC3BJjyk/s320/Mei+Tai+%252815%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiug4e_LZbNs74YbAr6ZIkIZc67Lg9d6ai36S_vZcOWo3eyv_xdjiOaIQ6CjH9Otdmm2_Ja_JtC38vkBvMDTE-Hoddc0T1GMXjOdKO2IQCVvv-pIYVQJM_Ik78PvU1TmUO8vHrbC1bGor2u/s1600/Mei+Tai+%252813%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiug4e_LZbNs74YbAr6ZIkIZc67Lg9d6ai36S_vZcOWo3eyv_xdjiOaIQ6CjH9Otdmm2_Ja_JtC38vkBvMDTE-Hoddc0T1GMXjOdKO2IQCVvv-pIYVQJM_Ik78PvU1TmUO8vHrbC1bGor2u/s320/Mei+Tai+%252813%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Step Four- Make and attach the Padded Upper:</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> <v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"> <o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"> </o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype></span></span><v:shape alt="Mei Tai (18).JPG" id="Picture_x0020_23" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 188.4pt; margin-left: 201.3pt; margin-top: 76.7pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 141.3pt; z-index: 1;" type="#_x0000_t75"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> <v:imagedata o:title="Mei Tai (18)" src="file:///C:\Users\Katie\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"> </v:imagedata></span></span></v:shape><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-no-proof: yes;">I traced the</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> pattern for the upper (the larger shape that looks like the pieces below) onto tissue paper. This is CUT ON THE FOLD. Then, cut two pieces of your strap fabric (coordinates so well!) and 2-4 pieces out of your fleece or batting (I forgot to take pics of these pieces, same shape though) depending on the thickness you want, thick is nice for this padding and helps it stay up well. It helps to cut the padding layers at least 3/8” smaller than the outer fabric pieces so they fit inside easily.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbYd_sdSGyx9_1IPFjoFyh2-VQyKGMrni08WtXvqUCOechbdQRINZq7wihWwwOj4rzHE72_59m-rIG40lJeJri9bsmynC2n_sthtBa4gRofEfUlFB7hh2d3XXPOFUHcT7jXoTFWieibYX/s1600/Mei+Tai+%252818%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbYd_sdSGyx9_1IPFjoFyh2-VQyKGMrni08WtXvqUCOechbdQRINZq7wihWwwOj4rzHE72_59m-rIG40lJeJri9bsmynC2n_sthtBa4gRofEfUlFB7hh2d3XXPOFUHcT7jXoTFWieibYX/s320/Mei+Tai+%252818%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 348.6pt;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">With right sides together, sew the top edges of the outer fabric pieces together leaving the bottom edge open, turn right side out, and press with the bottom edge seam allowance folded under. Fit the fleece/batting inside this cover piece and trim if you need so this lays nice a flat. You may want to tack the fleece/batting pieces together before placing them all inside the cover. (Sorry, again I forgot a picture of this part).<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 348.6pt;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"> <o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"> </o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></span></v:shapetype><v:shape alt="Mei Tai (20).JPG" id="Picture_x0020_29" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 124.2pt; margin-left: 186.9pt; margin-top: 44.7pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 166.2pt; z-index: 1;" type="#_x0000_t75"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <v:imagedata o:title="Mei Tai (20)" src="file:///C:\Users\Katie\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"> </v:imagedata></span></v:shape><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Prep your outer design carrier fabric by pressing under the seam allowance at the shoulder. Now, place your outer design fabric face up and lay the padded upper piece on top of it, lining up the curved edges and pin in place (again, I forgot to take a picture of this step, but it will look something like this, just without the sewn lines and finished edges). </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtW6DCcYg4raPp8U8ffe8G2Xa2zpsne3HQ0pfMSGIZlRTlVrTKBBQsm-dokGlzxGckF_R6EYTJzvXmcbPPD4jLY3GSkAkGdhI9ZEacSTgrtwf6pRsDLS2envtD1LJI7NjdbrIYqtlq4nLg/s1600/Mei+Tai+%252820%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtW6DCcYg4raPp8U8ffe8G2Xa2zpsne3HQ0pfMSGIZlRTlVrTKBBQsm-dokGlzxGckF_R6EYTJzvXmcbPPD4jLY3GSkAkGdhI9ZEacSTgrtwf6pRsDLS2envtD1LJI7NjdbrIYqtlq4nLg/s320/Mei+Tai+%252820%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now sew the along bottom edge of the padded upper, the first horizontal line of the padding, and the edge between these two lines all to the design fabric for the Mei Tai Body. I know this is a little confusing… you can see the line I sewed in this pic (from the backside- it’s easier to see, although I sewed with it facing up):</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ybwZLYatlatr021lgYUZcSPRwi1JT8Mw1XftTxCzhW6LY8RZRSCG8EhybHmRDFRGTsKfts2sib5BwpXjMZEcVB5r6s9JAH_ajriIbSe7z-HTwpjk9Do6r9r6gK5PwYdWnnBvAcjuNj5e/s1600/Mei+Tai+%252819%2529-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ybwZLYatlatr021lgYUZcSPRwi1JT8Mw1XftTxCzhW6LY8RZRSCG8EhybHmRDFRGTsKfts2sib5BwpXjMZEcVB5r6s9JAH_ajriIbSe7z-HTwpjk9Do6r9r6gK5PwYdWnnBvAcjuNj5e/s320/Mei+Tai+%252819%2529-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 57.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Step Five- Assemble Body Pieces:<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> <v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"> <o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"> </o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype></span></span><v:shape alt="Mei Tai (19).JPG" id="Picture_x0020_27" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 207.6pt; margin-left: 186.9pt; margin-top: 50.3pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 156.9pt; z-index: 1;" type="#_x0000_t75"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> <v:imagedata o:title="Mei Tai (19)" src="file:///C:\Users\Katie\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"> </v:imagedata></span></span></v:shape><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Pin the outer design fabric (with the padded upper) facing down on top of the liner (i.e. right sides together). It helps to fold and pin the padded upper piece down on top of itself at the horizontal line you sewed previously, so it will be tucked inside the pieces pinned together. You want to make sure that the padded upper is OUT OF THE WAY of sewing during this part.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65ltn33kOccb5vt-45JGrSA_bvkYkbIxxMhuFUJ0ANhX_0P6oCNbG6sutsWSxCwGr-GRbUY3NSvY1rPBEMlCx8K7k8SivwR4nhLRMR88N0j6uBetrHGxsPfFXPMefLRNAEKHEAg-Kab9x/s1600/Mei+Tai+%252819%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65ltn33kOccb5vt-45JGrSA_bvkYkbIxxMhuFUJ0ANhX_0P6oCNbG6sutsWSxCwGr-GRbUY3NSvY1rPBEMlCx8K7k8SivwR4nhLRMR88N0j6uBetrHGxsPfFXPMefLRNAEKHEAg-Kab9x/s320/Mei+Tai+%252819%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 57.0pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Stitch with a 3/8" seam allowance SKIPPING OVER the part where the shoulder straps are attached. Don't worry about stitching the bottom closed. This will be sandwiched in the waist strap anyway.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> <v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"> <o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"> </o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype></span></span><v:shape alt="Mei Tai (20).JPG" id="Picture_x0020_29" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 162pt; margin-left: 166.2pt; margin-top: 18.5pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 216.3pt; z-index: 1;" type="#_x0000_t75"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> <v:imagedata o:title="Mei Tai (20)" src="file:///C:\Users\Katie\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"> </v:imagedata></span></span></v:shape><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Turn inside out, pull the straps through, unfold the padded upper, and press. The front will look something like this: </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAlxF43sRNRfzXQ6B-6UjL3yVAWbUyzo5pFrfB0s-SfrLjoJrURISU8T7tl8r8kR5JBtLhZk1h4fEHwGfQhiHx12MSG7-FXO8KHVHbbBMC-FAaSXzvcT9EyK9F6Ppk7T81miqJ9Z3PGw6c/s1600/Mei+Tai+%252823%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAlxF43sRNRfzXQ6B-6UjL3yVAWbUyzo5pFrfB0s-SfrLjoJrURISU8T7tl8r8kR5JBtLhZk1h4fEHwGfQhiHx12MSG7-FXO8KHVHbbBMC-FAaSXzvcT9EyK9F6Ppk7T81miqJ9Z3PGw6c/s320/Mei+Tai+%252823%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now, at those shoulder straps, where you've folded under the canvas and liner fabrics, you'll see you now have neat layers. Fold the decorator fabric under and pin through the straps and all layers.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHXiNVK6q9mA-TPfMoeHqeoYqX1tCMuFg6PvJe2i8uRp5ZceHJ6UXMa6SfVhUmi5EGBlsecfNYNQ9J15O6ccSByAX10l461glcDSUauKzzsKViOj9rXUTi6JqP9HDs0A8ip3tW0zEb-xM/s1600/Mei+Tai+%252824%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHXiNVK6q9mA-TPfMoeHqeoYqX1tCMuFg6PvJe2i8uRp5ZceHJ6UXMa6SfVhUmi5EGBlsecfNYNQ9J15O6ccSByAX10l461glcDSUauKzzsKViOj9rXUTi6JqP9HDs0A8ip3tW0zEb-xM/s320/Mei+Tai+%252824%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Topstitch around the entire body of the carrier, except the bottom, very close to the edge. You will be sewing through the padded upper in this stage. You can simply sew the edge and next horizontal line through the padding at the top edge of the Mei Tai body. Then, you can go ahead and stitch one more horizontal line through the padding to finish it. I’ve brightened up one of the pictures to show these lines a little better.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbfWjNq-A8URuFqPd0xgZWFQuv-tOG41ilwUW8RR1YjpYk3-U2vnfe-dLuYIfK14D5a3NSUOY8SmCtaRVyEYF_ubcOav3sQB1B9D37nh5urSAoJVEsJJhenSI3RYA-5n97e9fRY01d5UZa/s1600/Mei+Tai+%252825%2529-copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbfWjNq-A8URuFqPd0xgZWFQuv-tOG41ilwUW8RR1YjpYk3-U2vnfe-dLuYIfK14D5a3NSUOY8SmCtaRVyEYF_ubcOav3sQB1B9D37nh5urSAoJVEsJJhenSI3RYA-5n97e9fRY01d5UZa/s320/Mei+Tai+%252825%2529-copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 343.8pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">It can be tricky to catch all the layers while stitching around the padded upper, so take your time. I’ve also had to go back and sew another line at the places where the shoulder straps attach to catch all the layers and folds, and it looks fine when it’s all finished. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 343.8pt;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> <v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"> </v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">This topstitching will close all the holes and give the carrier a nice, finished look.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfaPmFP4Vq7AJ8eV0nJnBEelneIkrdXZhgiknGZBbJpNtX4AaAv3o-cJBsc8mjXEbEu_FjpcygpbxIZOu8n1ng090e-9fIoIgBNwyYqqM7Qi4jxM95dOVl84HCNBlS36jM9TYA-Hey_20P/s1600/Mei+Tai+%252825%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfaPmFP4Vq7AJ8eV0nJnBEelneIkrdXZhgiknGZBbJpNtX4AaAv3o-cJBsc8mjXEbEu_FjpcygpbxIZOu8n1ng090e-9fIoIgBNwyYqqM7Qi4jxM95dOVl84HCNBlS36jM9TYA-Hey_20P/s320/Mei+Tai+%252825%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Step Six- Waist Strap:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Take the last strap and cut a taper on both ends if desired. Stitch right sides together, leaving an 18" hole in the center. Turn right side out and press. (I went ahead and did this when I made the first two straps)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Measure a 12"x17" piece of polar fleece, fold it like you did for the shoulder straps, insert the bottom few inches of the body of the carrier inside the padding. Here’s a pic of a different Mei Tai with the polar fleece folded around the bottom:</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ggZYTh_8YMW5AtBzfEkbnMN_e3wXDpXpoc52K-iXuPgiPFiLqbFTYyMCy1e6maMDZs7Vio3q_4WSZA_iA6jMsmcPdg5yn47JRUOphLRZUYSwiBN2SOBwJTLQGZ-OKsPvFjHwZaj90Pfs/s1600/IMG_2318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ggZYTh_8YMW5AtBzfEkbnMN_e3wXDpXpoc52K-iXuPgiPFiLqbFTYyMCy1e6maMDZs7Vio3q_4WSZA_iA6jMsmcPdg5yn47JRUOphLRZUYSwiBN2SOBwJTLQGZ-OKsPvFjHwZaj90Pfs/s320/IMG_2318.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sandwich the fleece and the bottom of the Mei Tai body inside the hole in the waist strap, turn the raw ends of the strap under, and pin.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5DapQOfnenkXyQgX9tjYxT-8Nyv4k5RDLYaBL5wTvqNkKByHFp7vUT1iA-TnVOlApR7DxOL2Cw6g1a4-tL2ehGmAZzC8NA-uVTZ8qBqd5OoBcR2PModb9wC89rUZAbQfIjnzRjbtDtdE/s1600/Mei+Tai+%252827%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5DapQOfnenkXyQgX9tjYxT-8Nyv4k5RDLYaBL5wTvqNkKByHFp7vUT1iA-TnVOlApR7DxOL2Cw6g1a4-tL2ehGmAZzC8NA-uVTZ8qBqd5OoBcR2PModb9wC89rUZAbQfIjnzRjbtDtdE/s320/Mei+Tai+%252827%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Top stitch to close the opening and then stitch horizontal lines through the padding for security and comfort.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_iSrvgUkLjqqhJ16OFdXSIL-ZS7zIqap1JAOPyidUtIpoNhU6S0-OPbqXEMsd_cfCqVWYGEXMRPc-RmbHX9WKUZ7TQKnEETunCEAlNpCmGSb2d0doCeHKqpDeFA47EOP6B7Q-XYY0o07/s1600/Mei+Tai+%252829%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_iSrvgUkLjqqhJ16OFdXSIL-ZS7zIqap1JAOPyidUtIpoNhU6S0-OPbqXEMsd_cfCqVWYGEXMRPc-RmbHX9WKUZ7TQKnEETunCEAlNpCmGSb2d0doCeHKqpDeFA47EOP6B7Q-XYY0o07/s320/Mei+Tai+%252829%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Finished! Here’s a couple that I have made so far:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV4il1l0lhB9ovOjmSvrVrE9hrsoF8chNSK6v8TWJovgii0GYmZ6V59g4ldWSv-xHQ_VWHTXyJqMiiwzCe9uZf7ODokP-nBmiyghYAuEG-LHYv8mwbMzdCINxTeRDyiu4BUyTvIWecMC6r/s1600/Mei+Tai+%252828%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV4il1l0lhB9ovOjmSvrVrE9hrsoF8chNSK6v8TWJovgii0GYmZ6V59g4ldWSv-xHQ_VWHTXyJqMiiwzCe9uZf7ODokP-nBmiyghYAuEG-LHYv8mwbMzdCINxTeRDyiu4BUyTvIWecMC6r/s320/Mei+Tai+%252828%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGY6w7Nd6Exgui35mFuxDetfIsZW6pnNnJEHyR3RD4g9glFSp7f4ux1qRbZ-joRT_kyR6vP3ggygjNPsRNRbWQ6QhsPmEInPxZObHTiocJMtr9RCvwSvAYbeRRtiJDf4ZNUvSReUnz-og/s1600/Mei+Tai+%252834%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGY6w7Nd6Exgui35mFuxDetfIsZW6pnNnJEHyR3RD4g9glFSp7f4ux1qRbZ-joRT_kyR6vP3ggygjNPsRNRbWQ6QhsPmEInPxZObHTiocJMtr9RCvwSvAYbeRRtiJDf4ZNUvSReUnz-og/s320/Mei+Tai+%252834%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Step Seven- Wear Baby and Enjoy!:</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4CpvRDQmaevRcnJ4KcQEuKM4XJBUsECbuCcr0YgcGGsX_5pbkcn24P8CzLnPXZ-6z_IBUrFPTsjOgguLxPvRIC-789Ra-9zBH411QSZaBtnoD1zvbVJLjEw_32I2hcW6kySTIuwJo6T2h/s1600/Mei+Tai+%252831%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4CpvRDQmaevRcnJ4KcQEuKM4XJBUsECbuCcr0YgcGGsX_5pbkcn24P8CzLnPXZ-6z_IBUrFPTsjOgguLxPvRIC-789Ra-9zBH411QSZaBtnoD1zvbVJLjEw_32I2hcW6kySTIuwJo6T2h/s320/Mei+Tai+%252831%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7Jm_HPu0n_Y24lzHp7MZTA1ywz-SpifBHiO0Giln2_UlK8WkyrP8qEafFVsCUpJbxVCMHF9fgLYtlFIbjiUvxhcmfpDXbAyo5A81jB5zkg6lTy0a1xttYOJTDOlLUANaEHq8txY29KLW/s1600/Mei+Tai+%252832%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7Jm_HPu0n_Y24lzHp7MZTA1ywz-SpifBHiO0Giln2_UlK8WkyrP8qEafFVsCUpJbxVCMHF9fgLYtlFIbjiUvxhcmfpDXbAyo5A81jB5zkg6lTy0a1xttYOJTDOlLUANaEHq8txY29KLW/s320/Mei+Tai+%252832%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvE8ZqwvcUgK561rjT5FEqd1pel7En39LZWqDLaUmoIKIQfLswbOdkzrkcC-32Olr-vknxLh401iyLpdSlAaPdx3PIjxwByXbpWcOMVA4AgSQE2J7EY9gmaH2hBeb2k8lGawtgAauQKfyj/s1600/Mei+Tai+%252833%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvE8ZqwvcUgK561rjT5FEqd1pel7En39LZWqDLaUmoIKIQfLswbOdkzrkcC-32Olr-vknxLh401iyLpdSlAaPdx3PIjxwByXbpWcOMVA4AgSQE2J7EY9gmaH2hBeb2k8lGawtgAauQKfyj/s320/Mei+Tai+%252833%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
I have found this too be a comfortable and EXTREMELY versatile carrier. I've used it for front carries, hip carries, and back carries (even hiking in Yellowstone). I've also carried my older daughter (when she was almost 3) in it through Costco when she had fallen asleep in the car and wouldn't easily wake up. Here is a site that has some directions for some carries in this type of carrier: <a href="http://kozycarrier.homestead.com/instructions.html">http://kozycarrier.homestead.com/instructions.html</a><br />
<br />
Make sure you learn how to tie the Mei Tai safely and effectively, you are carrying precious cargo!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">~ FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY ~</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> <v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"> <o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"> </o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype></span></span></div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12679373224277825474noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-365219076785391430.post-8513117919392045552011-07-01T11:29:00.000-07:002011-07-01T11:29:50.733-07:00Heaven is for RealAs you can see, I'm about to get faith-ful on ya, but please stick around regardless of your beliefs because I think this is an important part of me. I am not very Evangelical, it's not my strength, but I do hope that the light of Christ in my life shines out through me and may at some point make someone think "hmm, maybe there's something special there" cause there is, just sayin. I am writing this post because sometimes something crosses your path and makes you fall to your knees, so to speak. Well, a few months ago my sister mentioned this book to me, Heaven is for Real, and then last week she gave it to me. Good timing because a couple of nights ago I finished my pile of "to reads" and was ready to pick up a new book last night. So, I picked up this pretty short (155 page) book at 10:30 at night to read a little before bed. Well, I put it down, finished, early this morning. I am NOT that kind of reader anymore, even my fave kind of books have the tendency to put me to sleep in my tired Mommy state, so when I told my husband this morning even he said "You FINISHED it!" If you get no further in this post, then please pick up this book and read, even if it's just for fun, or a "what are those crazy Christians talking about now" kind of read. Here, though, is my "Heaven is for Real" kind of story because I don't just believe that God answers prayers and is present in my life, I KNOW it.<br />
<br />
If you are/know any Christians than you know there is the "asking God and Jesus into your heart" moment. Well, that's really where I begin because I think about it every once in a while. I was 6 years old and a busy kid who loved to pretend and play just about anything. I was also in Sunday school, and I'm sure one Sunday our teachers told us about asking God or Jesus into our hearts, I really don't remember these details. What I do remember in vivid detail (which they call flash bulb memories in psychology I've now learned, by the way) was the moment I asked God into my heart. I was sitting with one leg tucked under me and my other knee by my chin, next to the air conditioning vent in our living room playing with a peice of paper in the cold air comming from the vent, and I remembered "oh yeah, I have to ask God into my heart" so I closed my eyes and prayed in the way a 6 year old knows how "Dear Jesus, please come into my heart and stay there forever, thank you" Then I opened my eyes and got up and ran into our kitchen. That's all I remember of that day, but the point is I REMEMBER it, in vivid detail. I'm sure I pretended to be lots of things at that age, but they are vague memories of a beautiful childhood, not pinpoint. I also remember feeling light and happy, like I'd just accomplished something, which I remember seeming silly since all I'd done was ask God to come into my heart when I already knew He surrounded me everyday. I now know I had accomplished something, the most important something of my life.<br />
<br />
I could take you through numerous examples of God working in very tangible ways in my life, I don't know where it really begins or ends, it just always has been. I know one of them was meeting my husband, because had it not been for Christ we would not have come together and Tim has been one of the greatest gifts God has given me. I want to focus for now though again on my Mom and my journey with her disease and death. I know I've spoken of her in some depth in another post <a href="http://coloradokatie.blogspot.com/2010/03/touching-on-deep-feelings.html">here</a> but I want to tell the whole story.<br />
<br />
My Mom was diagnosed with brain cancer the summer before I went into 8th grade. This timing, well sucked. I was an ackward, at best, young teen and had never really faced any difficulty and was not even close to prepared for the year that was to come. My Mom's 13 hour surgery came and went very well, we were surrounded by friends and family lifting us up and what I thought would be the hardest single part of this journey would turn out to be by far the easiest. After surgery came radiation, and this is where the troubles began. I don't even remember all of the hospitalizations and challenges during this period, but one example was a point where Mom got really really sick, lethargic, and out of it. When my Dad took her to the hospital they found out that her blood sugar level (which at the very high end of "normal" is 180) was 1300, and she could have died if he hadn't took her in. This was a complication, turns out, of the steriods they were giving her to control the swelling in her brain from radiation treatment and we were totally unprepared for it. Between all of these side effects and things happening Mom just was too sick to be Mom. She was in and out of the hospital, I remember she had to be in the hospital that year for Christmas, which was incredibly hard on me. We were taking over the household things, and were trying desperately to cling to some sense of normalcy. It was during this time that I began writing, and have very poignant verses from these days:<br />
<br />
<em>A Cry</em><br />
<br />
<em>A cry in the dark sent her in</em><br />
<em>To her child's side, </em><em>My Side</em><br />
<br />
<em>Through my life her love kept growing</em><br />
<em>My light in the darkest of nights</em><br />
<br />
<em>So many nights now I am weeping</em><br />
<em>In need of her constant care</em><br />
<br />
<em>But even love unending</em><br />
<em>Can hide in darkness and despair</em><br />
<br />
<em>I'm scared, I'm crying</em><br />
<em>To no prevail</em><br />
<br />
<em>"Where oh where is my Mommy"</em><br />
<em>Where oh where is her care?</em><br />
<br />
<em>I can hear my Father weeping</em><br />
<em>even though he hides his tears</em><br />
<br />
<em>I can see my Sisters heart breaking</em><br />
<em>hiding nothing all is fear</em><br />
<br />
<em>I sit here lost and lonely</em><br />
<em>knowing there is little I can do</em><br />
<br />
<em>My whole life is slipping</em><br />
<em>sliding like my tears</em><br />
<br />
<em>Where I turn to</em><br />
<em>Where I go</em><br />
<br />
<em>Because I know You are out there watching</em><br />
<em>Caring for me so Dear</em><br />
<br />
Written when I was just 13 years old, and it makes me cry to write it now because I can not imagine that child (for I was) that was hurting so very much. As these verses indicate, I clutched to my faith during this time, but I won't say this fixed everything. I will never forget laying in my little bed one night, aching so deeply, crying as hard as I've ever cried saying "Please God, I just want a hug, just give me a hug, it hurts too much". But, no giant arms reached through the ceiling to pick me up out of the hurt. The answer to that prayer was yet to come which I did not understand and just hurt so very deeply. My "friends" were 13 year olds just like me who couldn't handle navigating their own lives, let alone the struggles I was having, so I lost most of my friends except one amazing friend, Karina. I drifted through my classes, my school life in general, looking for nothing more than something away from the hurt I felt inside. I remember that year having several suicidal thoughts, but felt like I couldn't share this with my family because I thought it would be too much more of a burden on them. I thank God today that through his grace and my friendship with Karina (a friend from church, I might add) I made it through that period even though I hadn't reached out for help. We came through it as a family, and my Mom healed and was well as I entered high school and life seemed to be getting back to "normal".<br />
<br />
Our indication that the journey was not yet finished came as my Mom started forgetting little things. Now, if you know me then you know a little of what my Mom was like. She was an amazingly organized, thoughtful, and make-it-look-easy multitasker. Then at first, she'd get a little confused, then she had a hard time at work, eventually being asked to resign when I was a senior in high school, and by and by her mind slipped away more and more. My last best memory of her was the weekend of orientation we spent together at CU. She was determined to be present and supportive of me in every way possible. I, of course, was a headstrong 18 year old girl ready for my freedom. It was a nice weekend, though, that we spent walking the campus together and talking about how the school was, and how proud of me she was. She always was and always expressed it. I love her still for this, because my self confidence now is a by product of this. During my first semester of college, this Mom I knew, ever present and involved, taking care of anything and everything I needed, slipped away. By second semester freshmen year I was taking care of everything from finances to my health care that I had so recently taken completely for granted. I now know that this fostered an indepence and strength that I needed in life, but at the time I threw a pretty good self-pitty party and racked up substantial student loans to "give myself what I needed since I had to now". If I'd asked, I could have gotten more help, I just didn't know that I should. During this time, I "met" Tim. Really, what happened was that I recognized Tim from our shared history so we became friends and quickly more. God gave me someone special, and I know this saved me in many ways, but that is another story. <br />
<br />
I don't remember when Mom started having her "episodes" but she would get a headache, get really confused, and then seem to recover, if not entirely back to her previous self. My sister had moved in with my parents at this point to help out. The doctors would rule out major strokes or other issues, but my Mom again spent periods of time in the hospital. A moment here came when I was home visiting my Mom in the hospital when a neurosurgeon came to talk to us, Dr. S. Yup, I still rememeber his name and will NEVER recommend him (a word of caution to cavalier Dr's, we are not mindless sheep, we will remember your name for decades and your attitudes and behaviors will catch up to you). Basically, Dr. S to me, my sister, and my Mom (who was concious, just a little confused at this point) insinuated that trying to figure out a diagnosis or treatment was pointless considering the "quality of life" it would offer my Mom. Yup, he basically said it would be better to give up on her than to fight the fight which SHE STILL WANTED TO FIGHT. My Mom basically thought she was dying, good job Doc, way to follow the Hippocratic Oath. Up until that moment we had been fighting hard to try to help my Mom, focusing on the positive and hope, but in that moment I felt like I'd been punched in the stomach and deflated. I went out into the hallway and let it all out in a flood of sobs and tears, thinking "Not AGAIN, I CAN'T go through THAT again". I'm sure I looked a mess and would have attracted attention, but what came next shook me so deeply it gives me goosebumps today. As I cried, a nurse came up to me, handed me a box of kleenex, and gave me a hug (which after becoming a nurse I know isn't extremely common either). Then, another visitor at the hospital came up to me and gave me a hug. Next a hospital chaplain came up to me, asked if he could pray for me and gave me a hug. Then, my sister came out into the hallway and held me in her arms, and we shared our hurt together. After I had calmed down and was by this time sitting on the floor against the wall, I thought "In all the time I've been in hospitals I've never had that many people all of a sudden pop out of nowhere just to give me a hug". Suddenly, I had one of those "flashbacks" to laying in bed all those years ago crying out to God for a HUG. Tears started streaming down my face again, but not because I was sad. I realized that the prayer I'd felt had gone unanswered and hurt from so deeply had not gone unheard. God had LISTENED to me and in this next close to breakdown moment HE would NOT let me feel that alone again. We are God's body, and you may touch someone in ways you cannot even imagine with something as simple as a hug.<br />
<br />
In December of 2003, our Junior year of college, Tim and I got engaged. My Mom was so happy, it seemed to be something we could finally connect together about again. We started planning the wedding, found my dress, tasted cake, picked out flowers. She was still pretty sick, but she did her best to be an involved Mom, just like I'd always known her. Then, in August of 2004, just 4 months before my wedding, she had another "episode". I happened to be in town at a friend's for the weekend and I rushed in the middle of the night to the emergency room to meet my sister. As I drove the song "How Do I Live" by Leann Rimes came on the radio and tears were coming so hard that I consider it another small miracle I made the drive in one peice. "How do I, Get through one night without you, if I had to live without you, what kind of life would that be?" Deep down, I don't know how, but I knew.<br />
<br />
I met my sister in the ER, Mom was having scans done to check her brain for stroke. It came back with no signs of typical stroke activity, just as it always had. They brought her back to the room and she was awake. When she saw me she smiled a little, the same smile she always used to try to comfort me. Then, was trying to ask us something, but she couldn't get the words out or communicate. I could tell she was confused, frustrated, and scared. That was hard. I tried to reassure her, to let her know she was being taken care of. They moved her to a regular room, and sometime in the early morning she went to sleep. That was the last time I saw my Mom awake, or smile at me, or heard her voice. I wish this last memory was better, but to be honest, it just hurts. The next week is a blur of hospital rooms, Dr. theories, strings of hope, then seizures, ICU, and finally, the peace of hospice care. <br />
<br />
The torment and struggle all seemed to calm down the moment hospice got involved, but we began another difficult process...letting go. After watching my Mom struggle and suffer for the week, I was ready for her to be at peace. It still hurt so much though, and there is a lot about that whole time that is still healing. We got to bring Mom home, though, and that was priceless. We set her up in the sitting room just outside my parent's bedroom and began the care and wait of dying. The hospice nurse was wonderful, and showed us how to mix and administer the medications to keep her out of seizures (watching your Mom have a Grand Mal seizure is something I don't wish on anyone) and keep her out of pain. The nurse told us the first day we were home that she thought my Mom would pass sometime that night...but she held on for days. I struggled, wondering what she was holding onto, and whether God was even there was to lift her up and help her. I remember a lot of these thoughts, mixed with laying with her in her bed, brushing her hair, putting lotion on her hands, singing lullabies to her with my sister at night, and telling her she could let go. Her care was round the clock, and we set alarms to help remember along with the meticulous charting of dosages (I was practicing for my future career). In the middle of the night I was up getting some of her medications ready. Our upstairs back deck is shaped like an L, and the kitchen window looks out onto the deck in front of the sitting room window. I was looking at the syringes on the counter and rinsing out a medicine cup when I glanced up, was startled seeing someone out there, so I looked up again and my mouth dropped along with the medicine cup I'd been holding. In front of the window to the sitting room I saw a man, his face looking at the window with compassion and concern, his arms spread with his palms to the sky, and there was a light around his whole being, especially around his head. His body was clothed in white and it seemed almost like a mirrage as it shimmered ever so slightly all around him. He looked in the window, and then up at the sky and then was gone from my sight. I realized we were being cared for deeply, and God was RIGHT THERE with us and I started shaking, and was still shaking but smiling when I walked into the sitting room. I looked at my sister and said, "I think I just saw an angel".<br />
<br />
Doubters may question what I saw with ideas about sleep deprivation or the deep emotional state of grief I was in. That's fine, I've had two babies now, and I know what sleep deprivation does to me. I grieved and ached deeply for months and years, but have had no recurring visions like this. What my journey taught me was that God does hear, and in the deepest darkest moments he is there, and answers prayers. I still fall into doubt, and I will admit that because I love science and thinking things through that it is true that sometimes God and his plan just don't make a lot of sense. What I know is that my sense doesn't matter. When I read "Heaven is for Real" last night, I got goosebumps a few times, but one was because when the little boy, Colton, described the angels...it was just like what I remembered Mom's angel looked like. I put the book down, lay in bed smiling, and the thought suddenly came "I can't WAIT to see my Mom again" and I starting crying, again, with the grief and sadness, but also renewed hope. I got up to go finish crying and blow my nose in the bathroom so I wouldn't disturb Tim. We leave the Christian radio station on in my girls' room at night as background noise, and as I sat down to wipe my eyes I heard the song change and goosebumps jumped to my skin again: <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/3aG51zYw56c?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Dancing with the Angels", a song that started playing on the radio shortly after Mom's death and we actually played at my Wedding reception in honor of her. Yes God, I hear you, Thank you for being ever present in my heart just like I asked over 20 years ago.</div>Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12679373224277825474noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-365219076785391430.post-13840385325329872822011-04-27T16:49:00.000-07:002011-04-27T16:49:39.148-07:00If You Give Your Wife Permission to Paint the Bathroom<div style="text-align: center;">A cautionary tale about "small" home improvement projects</div><br />
If you give your wife permission to paint the bathroom orange...<br />
<br />
Before:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3mAv-d6yVad10JeL1Qhn0js0iWFvy51NRmpN1-H0ZTZvUtwijfsyeWv35hVvM4g6xgzHbEm-26M-XHWYceRruVCDLJYr4IobDJWZvnMxJbQIZslJt-f7p2eBmCxYcEGOkn7QXfCRGtGh/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3mAv-d6yVad10JeL1Qhn0js0iWFvy51NRmpN1-H0ZTZvUtwijfsyeWv35hVvM4g6xgzHbEm-26M-XHWYceRruVCDLJYr4IobDJWZvnMxJbQIZslJt-f7p2eBmCxYcEGOkn7QXfCRGtGh/s320/004.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kRe_6LMOZPBWX3elqGeDxMrTlPI1GqA5cL4wpH041Gt89_pfyGW97exUMS7sEYLm9-xbplITDqQDM_isYKI_It45TEK5zjlEVAJBjT86KUuRhGUjqRpaKbsKeN-8jP4b28MBeTDeNGrj/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kRe_6LMOZPBWX3elqGeDxMrTlPI1GqA5cL4wpH041Gt89_pfyGW97exUMS7sEYLm9-xbplITDqQDM_isYKI_It45TEK5zjlEVAJBjT86KUuRhGUjqRpaKbsKeN-8jP4b28MBeTDeNGrj/s320/005.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQlm-fslTchcIbnaBrg4WvTrtvyctx-g7kvz6G18RmeoCLMaudbubeqtRQANj5cZ_dEV2VqmOBnUO1o0NsyhmO_KxwwDxYcSZOGtNYKmtDnMI59AkoeKD5PR-gAAqcOkkwJH96-nf6o6b/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQlm-fslTchcIbnaBrg4WvTrtvyctx-g7kvz6G18RmeoCLMaudbubeqtRQANj5cZ_dEV2VqmOBnUO1o0NsyhmO_KxwwDxYcSZOGtNYKmtDnMI59AkoeKD5PR-gAAqcOkkwJH96-nf6o6b/s320/006.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
She will ask what it would take to trade the dated vanity for the pedestal sink in your basement.<br />
<br />
If you tell her you can swap the sinks, but you'll need to change the flooring because the <strike>ugly</strike> vinyl is cut around the vanity...<br />
<br />
She will google search and fall in love with a glass tile floor.<br />
<br />
If you buy her the glass tiles, mortar, grout, and all the corresponding tools...<br />
<br />
You will both get so excited that you will immediately start tearing out the old floor.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jXD07f8Wn7sv7TeG-Hun7-pDnTQXLCfW2rGeNBJWR7rVTt5NKPxnUgAtRqD-oKA6Re8Kt3xPEB2BoxQDfF0_HG4qTP7q5soHv9XQnPZzT_czTrqckk9ogl64SgvIfAYVPAVGp8j_Z6ow/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jXD07f8Wn7sv7TeG-Hun7-pDnTQXLCfW2rGeNBJWR7rVTt5NKPxnUgAtRqD-oKA6Re8Kt3xPEB2BoxQDfF0_HG4qTP7q5soHv9XQnPZzT_czTrqckk9ogl64SgvIfAYVPAVGp8j_Z6ow/s320/010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
If you start tearing out the old floor...<br />
<br />
You will fine one... two layers of vinyl...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6sxHB0poNWZe_9KsbqwPM0kFvZOGryLt6PVE-9P01GUsU7AICJY8vbJItKWOFTHFJfQs7ifFXdeFM6HHTZ2y815ZlvSoARvSlR8X-uB-cyTwENyDmCsQXr6VK8K259VX_okNHZc33hvf0/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6sxHB0poNWZe_9KsbqwPM0kFvZOGryLt6PVE-9P01GUsU7AICJY8vbJItKWOFTHFJfQs7ifFXdeFM6HHTZ2y815ZlvSoARvSlR8X-uB-cyTwENyDmCsQXr6VK8K259VX_okNHZc33hvf0/s320/009.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Followed by a layer of luan on top of... A layer of original 1950s linoleum...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_PXBqbxCFxuOYj-jmPZ5EkDq-gt963_7Y4PTMCMKiN_p_NG8DOmXjlzSjQzi-dn3-pQDEAPWerVsRPyhZLuP4QkAwSK8GA_0X7BPne_kJ5-hrg2-zSOWqjZUJXc1oXPUAOClI0-M4WHyH/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_PXBqbxCFxuOYj-jmPZ5EkDq-gt963_7Y4PTMCMKiN_p_NG8DOmXjlzSjQzi-dn3-pQDEAPWerVsRPyhZLuP4QkAwSK8GA_0X7BPne_kJ5-hrg2-zSOWqjZUJXc1oXPUAOClI0-M4WHyH/s320/012.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Plus a layer of plywood before you finally reach the subfloor<br />
<br />
And you will get so ahead of yourself that you have to leave a section, or you would have to pull out the toilet and sink before you are really even ready to get started.<br />
<br />
If, a few days later, you get everything together and tear out the toilet, sink, and the rest of the floor...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrSnOsBsTevL5ttiBhniv_pMQFXp3Xl3x4HxQnTELAJMUFfSDSk710qqC29TU4bUnx8qTzLlxUNUuPch1PUN3-5ZjCiMYu1W97uPPy4MJzbqAun7A_83h5rq3oYYP5X-cqdTPSiHjhKeJK/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrSnOsBsTevL5ttiBhniv_pMQFXp3Xl3x4HxQnTELAJMUFfSDSk710qqC29TU4bUnx8qTzLlxUNUuPch1PUN3-5ZjCiMYu1W97uPPy4MJzbqAun7A_83h5rq3oYYP5X-cqdTPSiHjhKeJK/s320/015.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
You will find the flange for the toilet is 1 1/2 inches above the subfloor and is plumbed with a lead extender from the cast iron drain, so you will have to call a plumber to get their input on the situation.<br />
<br />
If you call the plumber and get the go ahead to just cut the lead to the appropriate level and reinstall the flange...<br />
<br />
You will finally be able to start with the mortar and cement backerboard. Of couse you will only be able to start after you put the kids to bed and will have to stay up until approximately 1am.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1X_QcTexJetGnmfEdCEWeVuHkJm8CsIONX2WHPoI5ohaMTpbMAGvSz9A1ipFxX_nhHV0F1CbWlASL60rdGboOCipS78JtFNsl5lbLZjcRcDCw7ml_8y_5Nk5xvlk0q6pnQlLA8GnGVk4/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1X_QcTexJetGnmfEdCEWeVuHkJm8CsIONX2WHPoI5ohaMTpbMAGvSz9A1ipFxX_nhHV0F1CbWlASL60rdGboOCipS78JtFNsl5lbLZjcRcDCw7ml_8y_5Nk5xvlk0q6pnQlLA8GnGVk4/s320/021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3CQWuYQOAoD1YWCDH__rO_8g_fqIKIYVn8vhPKNfXd5EzhiOZfxjxZEsLCiXIWPBNmLN9ayu9BegbF5Mv4k8aeMYVnilhw5RaGy_lZy5F0Ysock5t0HXwrefUybX9oWzrmwRd9Gwwt-RB/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3CQWuYQOAoD1YWCDH__rO_8g_fqIKIYVn8vhPKNfXd5EzhiOZfxjxZEsLCiXIWPBNmLN9ayu9BegbF5Mv4k8aeMYVnilhw5RaGy_lZy5F0Ysock5t0HXwrefUybX9oWzrmwRd9Gwwt-RB/s320/018.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabP9BRhwBXQlUecifP4Dm55SCXXXq5l8VGvuNNNmXoPwwRNnFL_sgbFGljjvECFFlNnJHhP1Gyz9KMwQyw1ETR-ZEQvnOUCjmFi6mHKfSZSw5qpATH_qWnF1Xl4_M6CeFV2XqeD1FHFGM/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabP9BRhwBXQlUecifP4Dm55SCXXXq5l8VGvuNNNmXoPwwRNnFL_sgbFGljjvECFFlNnJHhP1Gyz9KMwQyw1ETR-ZEQvnOUCjmFi6mHKfSZSw5qpATH_qWnF1Xl4_M6CeFV2XqeD1FHFGM/s320/023.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
If you lay the cement backerboard underlayer for your tile<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnir0y9vHOluNBdMJu4H2pvSQBWWmfzu04ETmRA3pj1VPD74rGwru1io4JeOycdLgsIx1L1x1KEThk-qHJbdbMGi7NGt-hxsdppPug1YurOaFP-u_Uc00NNAMFWoiSMUD7tZyNH5w_Y5Y/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Your project will be ready for your wife to paint the bathroom.<br />
<br />
If your toilet and sink are removed, layer of flooring is in but not finished, and your wife finishes painting the bathroom...<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnir0y9vHOluNBdMJu4H2pvSQBWWmfzu04ETmRA3pj1VPD74rGwru1io4JeOycdLgsIx1L1x1KEThk-qHJbdbMGi7NGt-hxsdppPug1YurOaFP-u_Uc00NNAMFWoiSMUD7tZyNH5w_Y5Y/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnir0y9vHOluNBdMJu4H2pvSQBWWmfzu04ETmRA3pj1VPD74rGwru1io4JeOycdLgsIx1L1x1KEThk-qHJbdbMGi7NGt-hxsdppPug1YurOaFP-u_Uc00NNAMFWoiSMUD7tZyNH5w_Y5Y/s320/025.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>You will notice that the rough in plumbing for the sink is only about 8 inches from the edge of the tub and you will decide to call a plumber "just to see how much it will cost to move the rough in a few inches"<br />
<br />
If you call plumbers on a Friday to come check out your rough in...<br />
<br />
They will tell you they cannot come out until Monday, so you will decide to go ahead and lay the glass tile floor.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd00N7a8BQpCvRjomO0LOEm65dAEkl-Ae-wJw7BfHnj9p8CqzYqARiqrUdz0JBXAFWU9_kKJ4cnAA3wHPGcx8pQzX0I-Tni2ZpZtEgS8Lxmie6m-60H8Qkr1twKo6y_8Dbtw9nzfwK3alJ/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd00N7a8BQpCvRjomO0LOEm65dAEkl-Ae-wJw7BfHnj9p8CqzYqARiqrUdz0JBXAFWU9_kKJ4cnAA3wHPGcx8pQzX0I-Tni2ZpZtEgS8Lxmie6m-60H8Qkr1twKo6y_8Dbtw9nzfwK3alJ/s320/027.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
If you lay the glass tile floor on Saturday and then grout on Sunday giving the appropriate curing times...<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJ4FCKBuP5DK9fBXAZ6AspHLSj-UTSMhOMqy4R2_RF_8r8xuwIFPZv0Nplc-ZriSVOsCITlhxeOVdBnUbsCUv0i0UET8ofPnjBBY2ewrIUMzpczGMgwk8UuW6jhSJrEjt-SRGQEEEW1jR/s1600/040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJ4FCKBuP5DK9fBXAZ6AspHLSj-UTSMhOMqy4R2_RF_8r8xuwIFPZv0Nplc-ZriSVOsCITlhxeOVdBnUbsCUv0i0UET8ofPnjBBY2ewrIUMzpczGMgwk8UuW6jhSJrEjt-SRGQEEEW1jR/s320/040.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>You will realize the plumbers cannot come on Monday because the floor is not "walkable" yet so you will have to reschedule for Tuesday and Wednesday.<br />
<br />
If the plumber comes on Tuesday to check out the rough ins...<br />
<br />
He will tell you that the supply lines are copper, which is good, but the drain pipe is lead and not only would be impossible to move without replacing, but also should probably be replaced anyway because it will fail at some point.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhd-PZz0FPdWtkgZppX8wgW7gJyIhNV_deDRjs0X3kblX2Dk0jWTIZFmvSixABXKz4-E9AHAuCoaxrP8hXp2aApYnVQyhPCK7t5cCBDGv1kM8QyMYQQOMg3jGnqq5rMT9P7kA5RhdnGxz/s1600/046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhd-PZz0FPdWtkgZppX8wgW7gJyIhNV_deDRjs0X3kblX2Dk0jWTIZFmvSixABXKz4-E9AHAuCoaxrP8hXp2aApYnVQyhPCK7t5cCBDGv1kM8QyMYQQOMg3jGnqq5rMT9P7kA5RhdnGxz/s320/046.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
If you ask what replacing the drain pipe entails...<br />
<br />
He will tell you he will have to plumb over to the cast iron drain stack that runs behind the toilet which requires extensive work and will cost a few hundred dollars, essentially doubling the cost of your "small" project.<br />
<br />
If you talk with your wife for a few days about the bathroom plumbing situation...<br />
<br />
You will both decide that you would rather avoid a leak in the future so you will open up almost an entire wall so that you can call and schedule the plumber.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1sVJb-x4qExAvN-JyukOfeYvHUmqLkm5nHfY8BlA_aVWlSn0sNwHsjvKFgL5RJX_tZPTcnE4r1bhkAAUSrICVLm4MYxp1lCapjP91LFyzm3cclqck0Fzg-6mx_R1AFaufWHmwF0ClMlHN/s1600/057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1sVJb-x4qExAvN-JyukOfeYvHUmqLkm5nHfY8BlA_aVWlSn0sNwHsjvKFgL5RJX_tZPTcnE4r1bhkAAUSrICVLm4MYxp1lCapjP91LFyzm3cclqck0Fzg-6mx_R1AFaufWHmwF0ClMlHN/s320/057.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
If you finally schedule the plumber to come a week and a half after originally checking out the rough ins to repair your bathroom plumbing ...<br />
<br />
You will have to make a useable bathroom out of three rooms in your house: the still useable bathtub in this room, the downstairs for toilet, and the kitchen for the sink.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYdARykJBxqe1VC1pEyFKbupQHAC-a_x3ddTwRul7iP2Pabt2pm01l6Om81HOV8xXpd0NNPvPm1oPBTCPbF3XYLfyi_OeKee3QfQOcGUNDLeJE9vTQcJqPvI_jwyMt9h7s8tmEVIRKWJIF/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYdARykJBxqe1VC1pEyFKbupQHAC-a_x3ddTwRul7iP2Pabt2pm01l6Om81HOV8xXpd0NNPvPm1oPBTCPbF3XYLfyi_OeKee3QfQOcGUNDLeJE9vTQcJqPvI_jwyMt9h7s8tmEVIRKWJIF/s320/026.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kitchen stuff+Bathroom stuff+Construction stuff= Disorganized mess</td></tr>
</tbody></table>If you schedule the plumber to come and do extensive work on this bathroom's plumbing...<br />
<br />
You will also get curious about the rest of the bathroom plumbing and decide to open up the wall in the bathroom directly under your project so you can see where ALL the drains go.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisgvlFKFwvqvrMf41GLiUOCYIspSGOo1Q32Y4rLv3K2bzFWN-Weu4T9fLzGIz9yFcDR4FIYdg2TN7YYWahiXRJZ0nm9rAXfm0_c1PZVrnW9xcX4FToQkfunZmytt1cm4I8X2YEi5gzS-jk/s1600/059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisgvlFKFwvqvrMf41GLiUOCYIspSGOo1Q32Y4rLv3K2bzFWN-Weu4T9fLzGIz9yFcDR4FIYdg2TN7YYWahiXRJZ0nm9rAXfm0_c1PZVrnW9xcX4FToQkfunZmytt1cm4I8X2YEi5gzS-jk/s320/059.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
If you open up all these walls to see what is going on with the plumbing...<br />
<br />
The plumber will discover a way to plumb the new drain and fix all the other bathroom plumbing (and a leak in another pipe pro-bono), all for the same price as the original plan! (Hey, celebrate the small victories) You will also find that the culprit lead drain pipe already has a hairline crack at a bend and was slightly leaking, which makes you feel slightly better about the whole fiasco.<br />
<br />
If the old, out-of-date plumbing gets repaired with shiny, new copper and PVC...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4lJH5g8kbWnazRjsWCzl5LYJ0ynzoiDzS6ZB7WY0PQ2g20C3eFYPHTGQx85IqhUEzX4b9HpupX4SZ2XCV-4Fs4C56tHlVgdcfLvBucY3DOXqnjIbsZjt_4JKe3qten5piELnQoUgxqlO/s1600/063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4lJH5g8kbWnazRjsWCzl5LYJ0ynzoiDzS6ZB7WY0PQ2g20C3eFYPHTGQx85IqhUEzX4b9HpupX4SZ2XCV-4Fs4C56tHlVgdcfLvBucY3DOXqnjIbsZjt_4JKe3qten5piELnQoUgxqlO/s320/063.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhacpo9O4J7MHxBDEguQvZlm4mBf7n8p9XyN7z8xXz6qXOXFCePem-QHsnCYhI_BLfbUtr-iv6bMjUUlNm-wbWy5dj5reL6tUjn_R4BMWJjGbx-OWCbyTmMQ1PGQGVX9BTQuuWuALQjLPBh/s1600/065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhacpo9O4J7MHxBDEguQvZlm4mBf7n8p9XyN7z8xXz6qXOXFCePem-QHsnCYhI_BLfbUtr-iv6bMjUUlNm-wbWy5dj5reL6tUjn_R4BMWJjGbx-OWCbyTmMQ1PGQGVX9BTQuuWuALQjLPBh/s320/065.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
You will finally be ready to put the bathroom back together again and decide that since you've already torn out the whole wall you might as well replace the old, rusty,medicine cabinet/light fixture too.<br />
<br />
<br />
If you prepare the wiring to install the new light fixture...<br />
<br />
You will mistake a live wire for a ground wire and electrify the entire chrome fixture so that when you are measuring from the top of the wall to the copper pipes to cut the drywall you will ground the new circuit and zap yourself...three times...before taking the light fixture down.<br />
<br />
If your wife calls her Dad for help the next morning who comes over to take a look, and then calls his electrician friend for help...<br />
<br />
You will discover your error with the help of a voltimeter and be able to move forward, put up new drywall, tape and mud, have your wife repaint the wall, and move onto "finish" work.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLO82dBljCPEapSsWwDvtWnx7AYyg2Ceh5IyUBn_Ejm8kYbigIXuf8HsjtZNY4ZZ0X_UdEpUAwhlqZTeV22FkTPKVVkHE2whgYN8HugZ_AQenM17DQwY93Aa452ZnuATezJuzvLLVFLnN-/s1600/069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLO82dBljCPEapSsWwDvtWnx7AYyg2Ceh5IyUBn_Ejm8kYbigIXuf8HsjtZNY4ZZ0X_UdEpUAwhlqZTeV22FkTPKVVkHE2whgYN8HugZ_AQenM17DQwY93Aa452ZnuATezJuzvLLVFLnN-/s320/069.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
If you want to replace missing tiles in the wall, install baseboard and shoe, recaulk and regrout sections of the bathtub, caulk around the bottom of the wall and floor, put up the new light and mirror, and reinstall the sink and toilet on a Monday and hope to be pretty much done for your wifes birthing class on Tuesday...<br />
<br />
Your wife will work her fingers to the bone all day scraping old caulk and grout out from around the tub and you will both be up until all hours of the night trying to get the above list done (hey, we didn't write it all out and think about how extensive the list actually was...it was just supposed to be "finish" work)<br />
<br />
If you try to get all the above work done by staying up until all hours of the night...<br />
<br />
You will get to the point of installing the toilet, the tank will leak, your wife will cry, and you will crawl into bed defeated at 5am.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixCKwoNpJC6bSIXcBX5Ddtg3R4hAbtFCGBrWM82rJePjGUbdkdlFzXj1Uv9HSbTGY7ZgESTfv4zSTy1z9hyphenhyphentzZqqn8Pq5e_jXKmuWyCAFTHK8oiVLP0d6atWSvokFcEB367p_MN_PMqweZ/s1600/111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixCKwoNpJC6bSIXcBX5Ddtg3R4hAbtFCGBrWM82rJePjGUbdkdlFzXj1Uv9HSbTGY7ZgESTfv4zSTy1z9hyphenhyphentzZqqn8Pq5e_jXKmuWyCAFTHK8oiVLP0d6atWSvokFcEB367p_MN_PMqweZ/s320/111.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
If you get defeated after staying up all night but still have half of the "finish" work left to do...<br />
<br />
You will pretty much end up taking the day off in order to fix the toilet tank leak (turns out the new seal kit was a peice of sh** and our wonderful plumber, Greg, gave us a new one because he was just around the corner on another job), put in the sink, and put up the light and mirror.<br />
<br />
If you want to reinstall the pedestal sink with pretty chrome pipes and decide to dry fit everything so you will know what you are doing before you mount it on the wall...<br />
<br />
It will take a couple hours just to mount the sink on the pedestal and you will find that you cut one supply pipe too short and that the other supply line and the drain are leaking.<br />
<br />
If you pick up the supplies for a new supply line and to fix the leaks...<br />
<br />
You will stay up until 1 am that night trying to get the new supply line properly installed without leaks in the extremely cramped space behind the pedestal sink.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1derZuJco2yyw6bgt0rLIPn-aZswKBsE0E0ZldRkWA7UNqAS17FSbS-St9pMX8G-Cn6MLBphiz8g7beQacis2BE9C_Wd3Og91PEUoHgLdALGERIf83rgtwsNZisp_mYE1KP09-bncDu71/s1600/109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1derZuJco2yyw6bgt0rLIPn-aZswKBsE0E0ZldRkWA7UNqAS17FSbS-St9pMX8G-Cn6MLBphiz8g7beQacis2BE9C_Wd3Og91PEUoHgLdALGERIf83rgtwsNZisp_mYE1KP09-bncDu71/s320/109.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
If you get the toilet, sink, and shower up and running again, your walls painted, and ready to finish up the cabinet...<br />
<br />
You will discover the small patch peice you'd planned for the bottom of the door casing won't work because the old profile doesn't match so you will have to replace the entire thing...adding an extra full day to the project, necessitating more paint touch ups, and seriously irritating your wife.<br />
<br />
<br />
If you patch things up, in the bathroom and with your wife, and finally finish "painting" your bathroom...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9x1yyManDqJEuraF6yicfVqL7nEKzwY1W1s0GpmoyFddC4DE6gZzOO-orv77tDW7X8naNb8Vfm3tdLqrwrvD1mTB9HShzJsd7OebNsp_yFpXgY0q-uKVqrDnUobzWf4XFZoAU-KOkwtr/s1600/127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9x1yyManDqJEuraF6yicfVqL7nEKzwY1W1s0GpmoyFddC4DE6gZzOO-orv77tDW7X8naNb8Vfm3tdLqrwrvD1mTB9HShzJsd7OebNsp_yFpXgY0q-uKVqrDnUobzWf4XFZoAU-KOkwtr/s320/127.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDX1LpGarVDWkhea7GDkilYwG_DK_aEhkVJ-kpNtb0N34nHtKOzTzFDaIHFFM24RWDEdx6RFraXxp0xxWTCEUYooxRa814BPKL4ai5tjcZSWvmVTGJH99bIkNTFbdHQthzVo_oSq9wATTy/s1600/123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDX1LpGarVDWkhea7GDkilYwG_DK_aEhkVJ-kpNtb0N34nHtKOzTzFDaIHFFM24RWDEdx6RFraXxp0xxWTCEUYooxRa814BPKL4ai5tjcZSWvmVTGJH99bIkNTFbdHQthzVo_oSq9wATTy/s320/123.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlJ7DNvO6jPDf_lrJwVvqlfPHVY3Gsz_2P-WK5574orvn_oohFDPXARsGQOCyxEnupSPeaOM1OIjpkssL43vfOE3X88-K2nHU6r_KqdAvURKqCfWdUTTLehVpColA7PZA83jK5vM2YP-r/s1600/122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlJ7DNvO6jPDf_lrJwVvqlfPHVY3Gsz_2P-WK5574orvn_oohFDPXARsGQOCyxEnupSPeaOM1OIjpkssL43vfOE3X88-K2nHU6r_KqdAvURKqCfWdUTTLehVpColA7PZA83jK5vM2YP-r/s320/122.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Your wife will be so happy with the result that she will ask to paint the kitchen ;-)Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12679373224277825474noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-365219076785391430.post-24716981420417685912011-04-04T10:02:00.000-07:002011-04-04T10:10:46.801-07:00A Year of Financial PeaceWhew, it's been quite chaotic around here for a little while... lot's going on in life and mostly in very good ways. I told myself just a few months into doing Dave Ramsey's plan and seeing some results that I would share my journey after a year. I am so glad to say that I am as excited to do that now, after that year, as I was when we started. You may remember my post <a href="http://coloradokatie.blogspot.com/2010/05/living-like-no-one-else.html">here</a> about getting started Living Like No One Else. Well, here's what that has been like...<br />
<br />
I remember so clearly a year ago and what a rude awakening it was to realize how little money we had left after our bills, and to realize that a third of our income was going out every month to debt that was NOT our house. I think the prayer and promise that came along with listening to Financial Peace University must have gone a long way because otherwise I probably would have just cried at the computer, not knowing how we would manage to make it all work. I prioritized food and our children, making sure we would be able to be fed and keep them diapered and clean. Then I allocated very modest amounts to envelopes. I was reasonable and did have an "entertainment" envelope and I can share with you all now that this envelope received a whopping $10 a month, yup that's right. We simply did not have anymore than that to put towards it. That gives you an idea of where we started, and I tried to be optimistic and move forward.<br />
<br />
The first few months were pretty exciting, we were actually able to stick to the budget we made with a few adjustments we felt like we were doing great. We were also very blessed because our best friends started FPU last year and have been a HUGE support and partners in the "let's hang out, what do you have in your fridge for dinner tonight" kind of mentality. I know this has made the year considerable easier and more fun. Now, this year was relatively good to us but we also had our rough patches. My husband's job announced last summer that they no longer could afford to cover health insurance benefits at the same level, and that would add another $300 a month to our load. I admit, I cried quite a bit thinking "We finally got our act together and now <em>this.</em> We can't afford to go to out for a date, let alone another $300". Then I put my big girl panties on and got proactive. Dave mentioned in the class that a better route for a healthy family for health insurance was a High Deductible health insurance plan (cheaper per month) with an HSA. As a nurse, I thought this was brilliant, but high deductible means at least a few thousands bucks...a little scary for a young family just starting to get their finances together. So, when we started I thought "We'll look at that when we have our 3-6 month emergency fund in place"...but I am very thankful now that this info was in the back of our minds because when the shoe fell, I did some research. I did some internet searches, and then contacted one of the Endorsed Local Providers for Health Insurance to get some info and quotes, then Tim and I had a long talk. I can say that this process was pretty stressful and not super easy and that we have taken on a bigger risk than I would ideally like. That was our choice though, and when you weigh that risk against the extra $300 a month we would have paid anyways (and that's if rates wouldn't increase next year...yeah RIGHT) we basically took a risk that no major events (more expensive than our deductible) would occur <strong>more than once every 3 years</strong>. If this is true, than we still save money...which is actually pretty impressive. So, crisis averted and I put the money we saved every month (compared to our previous paychecks...not even the additional $300) towards an HSA and at this point already have $1200 in there. So thanks to Dave's info we are covered and in a BETTER place in that regard than before. We also had some surpise and not so surpise expenses that we were obligated to before Financial Peace, but those all got covered. All the while we worked off debt, by paying every bill, plus EVERY EXTRA PENNY we could squeeze from life in order to pay those off. We worked the HypnoBirthing, cakes, and overtime as much as possible and we sold stuff, not tons of stuff, but quite a bit of stuff to go toward that debt snowball.<br />
<br />
When we started a year ago, I was hoping just to live successfully based on a plan, and if THAT could work than maybe to bring our bills down in a year to a place where we would at least break even every month and not have to rely on the "tax bonus". Well, this year has been more than I could even dream. We have lived successfully on this plan, and we've even lived well. We've found ways to still have fun, see movies, go out to eat occasionally, enjoy life. We had Christmas, and yes I spent almost every penny of that budget (just $4.50 left over), but I had NO GUILT after Christmas, I spent exactly what we had planned for Christmas this year. A big thing for me has been the actual Peace part of Financial Peace. I feel an incredible weight has lifted because I KNOW that we can manage our money and anything that comes our way from here on out. Also, it has been incredibly good for our marraige. We used to be stressed pretty regularly about money and maybe not have blow out fights, but definetely have arguments and I'd have the pit in my stomach feeling when it came to our finances. Now, I can remember the one "argument" we've had about money ALL YEAR, and it wasn't so much an argument, but me being upset that my husband had spent $30 while I was out of town that we hadn't planned on or talked about ahead of time. No biggie, we found another spot for that money to come out of, and it really was no big deal. The point is, that is the ONE AND ONLY time we've been in disagreement over money...all year...and we are in a better relationship because of this. It has become easy and important for us to communicate about where our money is going. There is enough in life to stress us out, it feels so good to not argue about money anymore.<br />
<br />
The biggest news out of this entire year is where we are as of March. On March 11th I paid off our last credit card and our car loan, so as of last month we are now consumer debt free! (we still have student loans, which is why we are not yet debt free). I could not believe it, I literally cried because it felt so good. In just one year we have paid off $18,532.69 in debt! It's crazy and if someone had told me last year that this is where we would be I probably would have laughed at them. This, also, more than covers our break even point as this reduces our monthly bills by about $475 A MONTH! I literally want to shout Dave Ramsey's name from the rooftops, because it IS WORKING, and I know that Living like no one else means that we WILL Live like no one else someday...and probably sooner than I imagined. <br />
<br />
I got to sit down at the end of March and make our Monthly Cash Flow plan for April, and it was FUN. We decided to re-adjust our finances a little to make room in a few envelopes. We haven't had an envelope for adult clothes this year, and that worked while we needed to get intense and in control, but let's just say that I definetely wore through my jeans and a few other essenials. Not having a budget for clothes is just not sustainable, so now we do. Plus, we've budgeted more now so I can get my hair cut and colored regularly since I am supposed to be some what professional. We also increased a few other envelopes ($15 a month now for entertainment...wahoo!) just to give ourselves a little more breathing room as we keep working this plan and attacking our student loans. Tim has been fortunate enough to have quite a bit of overtime lately, and we are also rewarding ourselves with a bathroom mini-remodel...that story to come :) We'll still have a chunk of extra penny's, though, that I am excited to throw at his student loan.<br />
<br />
It's only been a year and with Financial Peace, and we have not been able to call Dave yet for the DEBT FREEEEE!!!! scream, but I wanted to tell you all where we are because if we could do this ANYONE CAN. I want people to know and experience this amazing feeling of success and peace. So, think about it, what could you do with an extra $475 a month a year from now, or even better, what could you do if you had no debt? I'll let you know how it feels in a few years when we get there!Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12679373224277825474noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-365219076785391430.post-90527074041850486732010-05-12T08:10:00.000-07:002010-05-12T08:10:06.334-07:00Living Like No One Else!So, as I said this would be my next post. Don't worry, I have tons and tons of pics on my camera and I will get them uploaded and post some pics of my girlies next, I promise. I guess lately it's been too easy to get lost in my role as "Mom" and it just feels good to have an outlet where I can talk about the other things going on in my life besides my kiddos (about 2% of my life right now, but still). I just want to share something with you all because it is (hopefully) changing the way Tim and I live and grow financially, and it is already making a difference. I teared up last night looking at our "budget", and they weren't sad tears, what is going on? Well, let me tell you.<br />
<br />
Alright, I will admit when my sis-in-law was gushing to me about the financial class they were taking and how excited they were I was like "Well, that sounds really cool and I hope it goes well." But in my mind I'm thinking "Yeah, we've read some books and gotten excited too, but how different can it be. We'll just see how long this lasts for you". What she was talking about is Dave Ramsey's <em>Financial Peace University. </em>Well, that was maybe a year and a half ago, and since then I kept hearing about this Dave Ramsey guy, and in the mean time we bought a house and seemed to loose complete track of our finances. So, when this same sis-in-law told me back at Thanksgiving that it was going well and if they stayed on track they would be out of debt by this summer, I said "Wow, really?" I knew that they, like us, had a good amount of debt to plow through because we are young <strike>and stupid.</strike> So finally in April I had her send us the CDs to listen to and decided to reign in our budget once more.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The Nerd</span><br />
<br />
One of the first things Dave (yup, I feel comfortable calling him Dave after listening to him for 15 hours) talks about is the "nerd" and the "free spirit" in every relationship/marriage. In a nutshell, the nerd is typically the one to make the budget, and the free spirit is the one to break it = financial fights, which we all know SUCK. So, he talks about this, and makes you laugh out loud (I don't do this much to CD talkers...but he is FUNNY, worth the listen just because he is such a good speaker). I knew immediately that I was the NERD, because my laptop was full of about 5 budgets that I meticulously made, and then there is even one that shows how badly we blew the budget that month. I am still the Nerd, so I listened carefully, took the workbook my sis-in-law lent us (she is the free-spirit by the way and SHE recommends this program) and inputted the worksheets into Excel, and did all the other nerdy financial stuff I do, and then we started to work the program aka:<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">LIVING LIKE NO ONE ELSE</span><br />
Dave's motto (at least one of them) is "If you live like no one else, later you can LIVE like no one else". This means a lot of things but I will write out the Baby Steps for you:<br />
1) $1000 in an emergency fund<br />
2) Pay off all debt except the house utilizing the debt snowball<br />
3) 3-6 months expenses in savings<br />
4) Invest 15% of your household income into Roth IRAs and pre-tax retirement plans<br />
5) College funding<br />
6) Pay off your home early<br />
7) Build wealth and give!<br />
And he spends 15 hours teaching you about ALL of this so obviously I'm not going into all of it, but I have decided to be very open with people about what we are doing so you know a) why we are living like we are broke and b) to share something I think is great because I am now very grateful that someone shared it with me.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Broke, not Poor</span><br />
<br />
If you were to call Tim and I tomorrow and ask if we could go out to dinner we would likely say "We can't afford it" and while that is true, it is because we are broke, not poor. I thought this part of the CDs was great, because he says something along the lines of: Poor is a way of life, but Broke is something you pass through, you are there and recognize you don't want to be there forever. So yes, we are broke, but in the long run, it's a good thing. The nice thing about the "Budget" (actually its a Monthly Cash Flow Plan) is that it is COMPLETELY up to the people using it. There are areas for every luxury and IF YOU HAVE THE MONEY, you can spend it as you choose, simple as that. One of the keys is that several areas work on cash envelopes. That's right, I'm back to my childhood of paying cash instead of with the card, and if you listen to the program you'll understand why this works. I can tell you it works well, because it feels different going to the milk store with my milk envelope and paying, seeing what's left and knowing "that's it, that's all we have for the month for milk". The great thing is, so far we've done well with this, yes it takes some months of adjustment to figure out what you <em>actually</em> need each month when you've been doing it different for so long, but we are finding that we can live comfortably with this, it's not a huge sacrifice. We may be able to go out to dinner with you next month, because we have an envelope for that, there's just not a lot of money in it this month :-)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Gazelle Intensity</span><br />
<br />
I will also be very forward and say that Dave is a Christian and his program incorporates this. There are MANY reasons I find this a great thing. First of all, I am a Christian person, and hearing him talk about scripture within this program reminds me that my Father wants me to succeed in life, but for the right reasons, and that the only way I will truly succeed is through Him. Here's a thought for those who may not care about the bible passages: Dave Ramsey is teaching this program much like I feel about teaching HypnoBirthing: Yes it is an income, and that helps me and my family, but I teach because I genuinely feel that people deserve to have this information to have a better birth (in my case, financial life in Dave's). I truly believe that because of his faith, Dave has the best of intentions for the people he teaches. He also doesn't sell financial or investment products, just information about these things, so he doesn't make anything more from you following his system...or not... He wants you to win, and for good reasons.<br />
<br />
So WTH is the "Gazelle" about, well, Dave explains a biblical passage about debt, specifically getting out of it, and it's hilarious so you should listen to understand it completely. This is where Tim and I are though, Baby Step 2. (It's amazing how good Baby Step 1 felt BTW just to set that money aside and KNOW that we won't touch it except for an EMERGENCY...and no, a landscape project we <em>want</em> to do doesn't count). This is going to be a BIG baby step for us because tackling our debt was always one of those things we were meaning to do, and although we don't have a ton of credit card debt, or a huge car payment, we've just never gotten around to it, and then we have (and with my degrees and no income, I am the big contributor) and LARGE amount of student loan debt...then we went and had these kids (what were we thinking, lol) and here we are, under the weight of debt. So, with Gazelle intensity we are focusing on this step, snowballing our debt, and doing what we have to do, why? Because, you know what we can do when we don't have any debt? ANYTHING WE WANT! <br />
<br />
This means we are putting EVERY extra penny towards the debt. I hear people say "You can't do that if you don't have any extra a month, and we've done the budget, we don't have extra" Well, believe me, when I sat down and made our monthly budget, we don't have magical extra, in fact I had to parcel out his "5 instead of 4" paycheck months and our income tax return money into 12 months worth of money and count it as income just to break even in each month. So, how do you do it? You LIVE LIKE NO ONE ELSE. For us this means I am baking cakes like a maniac this summer and continuing my HypnoBirthing classes (this will be extra money as soon as I pay for that cruise I booked before we started the program....yes it will be a very worthwhile experience, next time though I will plan for it differently.) Also, SELL SO MUCH STUFF THE KIDS THINK THEY ARE NEXT. Now, I know this is hard, I like my stuff too, but a lot of it we don't NEED, and when we are out of debt and can save up again, we can just buy more stuff, and you know what, it could even be nicer than the stuff we have now. So, we are selling bikes, snowboards, video game systems, baby stuff (soon), and whatever else. At first, we only came up with a couple things, but after you get over the idea of selling (for quite a bit less than you bought sometimes) something, it gets easier to look at other stuff that way. If you put that money towards a debt, and get just one paid off, that means now you have a little extra from that monthly payment, and that can go toward another debt along with every extra penny, and so on and so forth.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The Tortoise and the Hare</span><br />
<br />
Dave talks about the story of the tortoise and the hare a few times, meaning "get rich quick doesn't work", but it's the tortoise that ALWAYS WINS. I will have to remember this as time goes on, because it is a slow process. I listened to the CDs and they gave me hope (and I never thought someone could make me feel so good about being broke), then we started the system and it is going fairly well and I have faith it will only get easier, and last night while looking at my spreadsheets I had this feeling well up in me. Before, when I would look at the budget sheets and compare to what was actually happening, I would feel butterflies in my stomach because inevitably we were spending too much. For the FIRST TIME last night I looked at our sheets and what we are doing and I felt warmth in my heart because IT IS WORKING, since just the middle of last month we have found over $400 to put towards debt, and this means we are close to paying off two small debts. Now, in the long run this is still at tortoise speed, but it is a big tortoise step in the right direction and I have hope, because if we are working this part of the system, we can work the rest, and someday we will LIVE LIKE NO ONE ELSE!Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12679373224277825474noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-365219076785391430.post-65851471813358006022010-03-20T10:08:00.001-07:002010-03-20T12:25:07.724-07:00Touching on Deep FeelingsSo, this is going to stray from my typical "life in a nutshell" kind of post, and I am going to express some of my feelings. A little scary, yes, but they live inside me and are part of who I am as a woman and a Mom. These last couple days have been rough, and I am only glimpsing the sign that indicates there will be a light at the end of the tunnel, so I think I need a good emotional moment.<br /><br />I explained in a <del>few sentences</del> previous entire post about my friend Natalie. Well, she has been blogging about some touchy subjects the last few days (which is why I haven't linked her blog right now, I feel like I need to respect her privacy this week). She briefly mentioned her Mom recently and it brought tears to my eyes because, again, those feelings are ones I understand all too well. This time, she mentioned the idea of kids, and although she did not directly say this, it reminded me of the all too present hole I often feel now in my heart. Okay, there's the intro, so here we go.<br /><br />I remember right after my Mom died I was <del>wallowing in self pity</del> working through some of the many things I felt cheated from. One of these was, of course, my wedding. I thought of this recently when watching a show called "Say yes to the dress" and I remembered trying on my wedding dress. My Mom was there when I tried it on and she bought me this wedding dress. I have, and treasure, these memories along this picture my best friend took that day:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4zjMiSjDGJXBa0xQJxLP-NujExp-PmNj57xwvNkeOtRGR1y830Ejh6H908DYyR5YOXhEebmI0mCZhf9ojRT0lHNoUmgTgiYLY3pGp4rUfRk9R7dyzwsXsvLgAP3agMc2BMo5ZVU244UJ/s1600-h/Dress.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4zjMiSjDGJXBa0xQJxLP-NujExp-PmNj57xwvNkeOtRGR1y830Ejh6H908DYyR5YOXhEebmI0mCZhf9ojRT0lHNoUmgTgiYLY3pGp4rUfRk9R7dyzwsXsvLgAP3agMc2BMo5ZVU244UJ/s400/Dress.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450770489305977826" /></a><br /><br />You can see my Mom in the mirror sitting on the sofa with one of her big, real smiles. This makes me cry because I know she was so happy for me, and so excited to see me get married. I know that she was there, watching from heaven, but I still missed her so much, and was so sad that I did not get to see her there, and see this same smile on her face that day.<br /><br />The other major thing I remember being sad for was that she would not be there when I had kids. I think as girls that we connect becoming a Mom with the relationship we have with our own moms. I know this is a very natural occurence, and now as a childbirth educator I even understand this association on a deeper level. I knew that this was something I would miss out on, but I did not understand the full spectrum of these feelings until I was pregnant. These are some very sad feelings for me, but what has surprised me more are the moments of happiness and peace I feel as well. You see, I anticipated completely the sadness that came when I realized that I didn't get to see my Mom's face when I announced I was going to have her grandchild. I also anticipated the sadness of not getting to see her hold my newborn baby, or getting to see her spoil her grandbaby. These were all true, and still are sadness that I occasionally feel. Here are the sad things I did not anticipate that I would feel: <br /><br />- I did not have my Mom there to ask questions about how she felt when she was pregnant. I never got to hear what it was like for her or talk about how it was the same or different for me.<br /><br />- I never got to talk to my Mom about my own birth. The things I knew were that my Mom had wanted to deliver my sister naturally, but in 1960 this was rare to say the least, and she was knocked out for the delivery. I knew she was not happy about this fact (well, pissed would probably be a better term really, but if you knew my Mom you'd know I'd never mention her and "pissed" in the same sentence). Finally, I know that she had me naturally, but that's about it. I asked my Dad about it, but my Mom was a fairly private person, especially about matters with her body, and all he could tell me was he remembered she was just quiet and resting. So, approaching my birth and the things I was learning, I naturally had LOTS more questions come up. I wanted to know why it had become important to her to have a natural birth and where she had gotten these beliefs. I wanted to know what she expected, and what her experience was like. I don't have the answers to these questions, and I never will. <br /><br />- I wanted to share with her the things about birth I learned from HypnoBirthing. I had this strong sense that she would very much agree with some of the things I was learning, but would probably also have a cautious opinion of some things as well, and maybe a little iffy about the whole "hypnosis" thing also. I don't know what her real opinion would have been, and I also don't know how this may have changed my experience.<br /><br />- I wanted to share with her the triumph of my having the birth I wanted. I wanted to tell her "Thank you for being part of my inspiration"<br /><br />- I wanted to share my journey into womanhood with her. The last time I felt like I truly "knew" my Mom was based on a relationship with her as a teenager. She was suffering the effects of her brain disease when I went to college, and after the first semester I really felt like I had lost the Mom I had always known. I was a typical teenager that pushed the boundaries and argued with her Mom. I did not understand her as a woman, and I never got to make that transistion. I have always been sad about this, and these feeling became more strong with becomming a Mom. I would never get to commiserate about, or appologize for, the trials of being a parent.<br /><br />- Finally, selfishly, I couldn't ask my Mom for help as a new parent. I couldn't ask her to come make me my favorite dinner, or to hold my baby so I could take a nap. I couldn't ask her about what breastfeeding was like for her, and if she thought I was normal. I couldn't ask her what diaper rash looked like, or how to clip my baby's nails. I couldn't even just ask her for a hug when I was feeling overwhelmed. Yes, I had lots of other support, but it's just not the same as Mom, and I knew it.<br /><br />Okay, now that I've shed a few healthy tears about some of the sad things, let me share the unexpected things that also came up for me about my Mother as I became a Mother.<br /><br />- From the moment I knew I was pregnant, I started to have this feeling. It is still impossible for me to fully describe, or to not sound a little weird, but here it goes. I have always had this idea that God knows all the little babies long before they are born. It is like they all exist like little stars in His eye and he pulls one of those stars, made especially for each Mommy and Daddy, out of the sky and gives them this wonderful gift of life to meet and begin to understand the deep love that exists between Him and His children. Well, I started to have this feeling that my Mom was up there with God and at the moment we were given our baby that she was part of the choosing of this star just for us. Like she had poured some of the love she had as my Mom into the creation of this child for me.<br /><br />- This carried into our birth in a couple of ways: <br />~ Tim and I had decided to be surprised about finding out whether we were having a boy or a girl. When Laura was born, I got the strongest sensation that Mom had wanted me to have a little girl because she wanted me to know some of the love she felt towards me as a daughter. I also felt like I had the opportunity to develop a mother-daughter relationship not exactly to replace the one I had been "cheated" out of by my Mother's death, but in some way to help me heal this feeling and to help fill in the edges of that hole. <br />~ During my pregnancy, a friend and I had been discussing different traits of our husbands and ourselves that we'd like to see, or not see, in our kids. I remember saying, "I guess I don't really care what different traits this baby has...well, I guess that if this is a girl then I hope she gets Tim's eyelashes because they are beautiful and long and dark, and mine are light, short, and straight". Well, wouldn't you know it that out comes this little baby girl with the longest and darkest eyelashes I have ever seen on a baby and especially a girl. No kidding, everywhere we'd go people would look at her and say "Look at those EYELASHES". I think it was a little joke from God and my Mom...haha, I guess it is what I asked for. <br /><br />- I get to see my Mom again, not physically, but through my daughter. Sometimes she has these looks and these faces, and she reminds me so much of Mom. I know this is because she favors me in how she looks and I favor my Mom. I am sure that if I had a mirror or camera on myself everyday I would see this in myself as well, but it has made me smile a few times now that my daughter reminds me of my Mom.<br /> **Side note- This isn't to say that Charlotte isn't just as amazing to me and a reminder of the love of daughters, as I will point out in just a few more sentences, but if you've seen Charlotte, you know she looks just like her Dad. I love this also, but that is a topic for one of my typical "all about my kid" posts.<br /><br />- God has a way of knowing just exactly what we need. I feel like I have two girls because I am meant to have two girls, but again I also feel like this gives me a glimpse into what it was like for my Mom, like it is a way of getting to know her in another way. Granted, my Mom's experience was VERY different considering her daughter's weren't 20 months apart, but more than 20 YEARS apart. But still, I have two girls, and like her get to see how they will grow into women. I also believe that God gave me my sister for a very important reason. He knew what life was destined to be like, and my sister was just the kind of sister I needed. She has been the woman and mother figure for me to ask questions of and get support from. It isn't the same as Mom, but it is amazing and wonderful none-the-less. I am so excited that my girls get to be sisters because I know how wonderful it is to have a sister.<br /><br />- I sometimes feel like my memory of her has faded so much, and then something pops up and brings it right back. For instance just a couple weeks ago, opening a drawer and finding her sweaters at my Dad's house. Not in her dresser drawer, so how did I know they were hers? Because of the smell, it was Mom. I sat there on the floor with the drawer opened and buried my face in one of these sweaters and let a couple of tears fall. Then, I also find that her memory is safe and sound in my subconcious because I dream of her. She looks like I remember her at her healthiest and I hear her voice, and it is all just right. Well, in the most recent dream (I was pregnant with Charlotte at the time, I laugh now and say I should have known it was a girl because of this dream) my Mom was there with my two kids, two girls. We were arguing about something lightly (pretty appropriate kind of interaction for us) when Laura came up to her and said something and my Mom scooped her up into her arms in such a natural and warm expression of her love toward my daughter. I woke up with a smile on my face because I felt like I'd been able to glimpse an experience I'd wished I'd had and missed, and it was perfect. Again, it was like a little message to show me what my Mom really felt as my girls' Grandma and this was just a little something to fill in the edges of one of the holes in my heart.<br /><br />Ahhh, that feels good. A good feeling fest for me and a putting in words of the things I have been feeling for years and never wrote down. I know my Mom has been with me ever since she died, but I have been pleasantly surprised that this presence has been stronger in a good way since I became a Mom. This is just another gift my children have given me.<br /><br />*Just as I was finishing this post Laura was sitting right next to me. Laura and I often go through pictures and I ask "Who is this?" and she either answers or I fill it in when she doesn't know. I do not have many pictures of my Mom around, I just do not physically have many, so I haven't ever told her "That is your Grandma". Well, I just showed her the picture from above and pointed to me and asked "Who is this?" and she said "Mama", then I pointed to Michelle and asked and she said, "Ashell" (which is how she says Michelle), then I pointed to my Mom and asked, fully expecting to fill it in with "That is your Grandma in heaven", but instead Laura answered "This Gramma". Do you ever get goosebumps? Cause I did. I first wondered, does she think it's Tim's Mom, but no, she knows Julie as "Grammy" not "Gramma". I don't know how she knew exactly who that was, but it made me cry, and this is what I mean by thinking my Mom already knew her, long before she was born.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12679373224277825474noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-365219076785391430.post-67968186924786603762010-03-20T09:18:00.000-07:002010-03-20T11:50:53.233-07:00Pre-amble to Touching on Deep FeelingsSo, this turned into a story about how I became friends with someone named Natalie. This was supposed to be a short introduction to a post, but turned into one of it's own. I will do another post on my feelings, but I think I will leave this as a explaination of the friendship that we developed, and the a dedication to the journey we have taken together. I think our paths crossed for a reason, and I am so grateful that they did. <br /><br />I have this friend, and she is an amazing woman, but a different kind of friend for me. Most of my friends and I spent significant amounts of time together in the "hanging out" stage, and we grew into close friendships through time spent together. Well, my friend and I went through quite the stage together in college called "the hell of being an RA" (this could be a post in itself). She suffered along with me just one floor above me, and through this closeness in location and sharing this part of our lives we got to know each other. This closeness lasted only one school year and through this she was 1) an architecture major like my future husband which takes LOTS of work time away from your home base 2) Engaged to a (at that time never met) military man... and September 11th had happened just the year before and this combination REALLY threw a wrench into their wedding plans, so she had the planning of an ever changing wedding on her hands and 3) We both had the obligations of our position to attend to, plus I was often hanging out with my relatively new boyfriend at the time, Tim. So, we did not have the kind of time together that I had with my other friends to get to know each other, yet, somehow we became fast friends. She was, and still is an almost always positive kind of person who laughs easily and lives openly.<br /><br />Well, one night (which turned into a few) we got to talking, and our Moms journeys came up. My Mom was suffering the degenerative brain disease from her cancer and radiation, and her mom was working through her journer with breast cancer. I was immediately touched by how SOMEONE FINALLY understood how I felt about this whole thing, and how we could laugh and cry together. Our friendship was officially cemented. I got to meet her Mom and see where my friend's internal light seemed to come from, and Tim and I got to go to her wedding that summer and I got to see the culmination of so much stress and work on the part of this friend. She was beautiful, SO happy, and SO very much in love. I also finally ment this so-called "fiance" of hers, although I think he met and saw so many people that day that he would never have know I was there. Lol, I have since gotten to know this so-called "fiance", now husband of hers and I can see that he was well worth the effort of the wedding. Anyways, the point is that after these short few and busy months of becoming friend, she went and got married and decided to move to California. I was bummed to "loose" someone I had felt such a connection to, and someone who taught me "Everyone needs a little red in their closet" which I think is quite practical on the clothing level and also quite philisophical if you think about it. <br /><br />Okay, now fast forward a year. <br /><br />The summer of 2004 I was engaged and planning our wedding. We had everything planned and most everything picked. Then, in August, my Mom lost her battle with her brain disease and passed away. I was about to embark on the most difficult journey of my life, and it was only 4 months until our wedding. My family changed, my life changed, my whole world changed, and I subsequently changed. I questioned everything in my life, somehow came out the other side and 4 months later we were married. Unfortunately my friend was unable to come, but they sent their love (and a great gift!)<br /><br />Now, fast forward a few months.<br /><br />I got an e-mail saying that my friend's Mom had lost her battle with breast cancer and had passed away. Everything came rushing back to me, our nights up talking and crying about our Moms, her Mom's smiling face, the feelings of loss for my own Mother, and I was so sad for her. I can only say that this is one of those experiences I DID NOT wish to share with her (or anyone). I got to see my friend again, sadly it had to be at her Mom's memorial service. It was a beautiful rememberance of a beautiful woman.<br /><br />Now, fast forward a few years.<br /><br />I am a few months pregnant with my first and my friend has a picnic while she is in the state. Well, Tim and I were in the northern country anyway (not that she wouldn't be worth the treck all on her own) and went to the picnic. It was like we fell back together like no time had passed, we got to hang out with her family and her husband and eat fried chicken (yes, the pregnant part of me remembers) and have a great time. I left thinking how much I had missed this friend, and although I wished her all the best, I wished she lived closer. Miss smarty pants, however, had decided that she would move from California to New York for some graduate program thingy at this little placed called Cornell, so whatever.<br /><br />Now, fast forward a couple years (wow, we're getting old!)<br /><br />I get another message that miss smarty pants and her hubby are going to move BACK TO COLORADO!! (happy dance happy dance) For some reason they decide that Denver is going to be their new home (okay, I admit, there are many more job possibilities for an architect in the big city, snicker snicker, and they did find a cute house, and they are right between us and our in laws, so it works) Oh yeah, and they are located just a few minutes from Water World, so after a trip there the summer after Laura was born we went and spent the rest of the afternoon with my friend at their new place. I was so excited we would be able to at least see each other more than once every couple of years.<br /><br />Now: And it is true, we have been able to see each other a few times, and I know I will continue to make the effort cause she's awesome. What's even better, my friend started a blog, so now I can bloggy stalk her and find out more about what is going on in her life. Yay for the internet age!<br /><br />Now, if you want to know where this post is going, continue on to Touching on Deep FeelingsKatiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12679373224277825474noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-365219076785391430.post-91356207202146230002009-06-15T17:52:00.000-07:002009-06-15T19:04:30.381-07:00"Fixer Upper" FunSo, Tim and I are beginning to understand what they mean about fixing up a house yourselves...and we've only gotten to the backyard. It really does take three times as long and cost three times as much as you were expecting. The physical labor is, however, good exercise and it is pretty rewarding to look around at our accomplishments and appreciate them all the more. Here's what has happened so far in our backyard fun:<br /><br />Unfortunately we forgot to get "before" pictures of the backyard...but if you can imagine our deck extending out to a wonderful landscape of...WEEDS... ground cover, bind weeds, thistle, dandelions, you name it, we have it. So Tim started our summer fun by spraying the entire yard with herbicide to "start from scratch" (as you will soon see, this does not exist entirely when you are talking weeds). Below is a picture of our front lawn... you get the idea...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHddH_Oc7Tuo0MtdgXT0PwNbSfz9ngTmGsu5oXpHiZmueoMJJcQ_I3SEmvKiGRI51k6xWqK3_eC6oGqQWykNq7p3qkiHE1qKXN7w7ZZjXtsyzuleNQoQOwt5ZdSk3ya-y85dFnbxbzgo0/s1600-h/IMG_5111.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHddH_Oc7Tuo0MtdgXT0PwNbSfz9ngTmGsu5oXpHiZmueoMJJcQ_I3SEmvKiGRI51k6xWqK3_eC6oGqQWykNq7p3qkiHE1qKXN7w7ZZjXtsyzuleNQoQOwt5ZdSk3ya-y85dFnbxbzgo0/s400/IMG_5111.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347724577402577106" /></a><br /><br />Then, we laid out where our grass would go and placed rocks along the edge (bonus of buying an old house, we had all the rock in other areas of our lot that we needed to do this edge). Then, Tim painstakingly tilled the ground, brought in manure, tilled some more, then he flattened the whole lot to a smooth finish, beautiful. We were ready to plant seed (why put ourselves through the fun of seeding a lawn? Well, I could give a mumbo jumbo answer about choosing a Colorado friendly grass that is not available in sod, but really, we're poor). We were all ready to go on a Thursday about a month ago, and on Friday a tree trimming company Tim had called a couple weeks ago showed up (unexpected, let me add, they said they would call but didn't) with 10 yards of wood chips that Tim hurridly told them to dump in behind our house. So the weekend began :) Tim's parents and my family helped tremendously with the following projects, but it was still a ton of work. The swingset (another added bonus of our foreclosure acquire) was originally placed about 4 feet from the side fence and was attached to the "tree house" in the very back corner of our lot. We moved the swingset out and turned it and fixed some of the broken/splitting wood. We fought with an out-of-control grapevine that was beginning to climb into my crabapple tree and choke some of the branches and removed all of it beside the stump (in the process we revealed a very sad little lilac...I am trying to bring it back and make it pretty). We spread all of the 10 yards of wood chips everywhere besides the grass area, which involved some regrading work on the west side of our house. Tim also got the grass seed planted (after re-flattening the lawn due to a major rain storm, see below). Tim and his Dad also began work on a fence from the garage to the house. This all took place in the span of just a couple weeks, and things seemed to be going very well. And then there was rain...<br /><br />We haven't had a really wet spring in a quite some years, and this spring has been particularly wet and late. With that we have had some rain storms here that DUMPED rain on our beautiful new yard and revealed a drainage issue...okay more like a pond off our back stairs and down the sidewalk. After all our work, it became obvious that it would keep getting washed into ugliness if we did not address the problem, so instead of finishing the fence, Tim started to plan how we would clean this up. This required pulling up the flagstone walkway to our driveway, and painstakingly removing the landscaping rock that occupies the corner between our house, back deck, and driveway. We can't afford to buy all new rock, so Tim has been sifting it, and dumping it in water to clean out the leftover woodchips that were hurridly dumped on top. He at some point this week discovered that one of the fence posts was getting a little loose (not good considering it is one of the gate posts), so he dug a trench to put in a stabilizing bar, and discovered that water dripping off the garage was collecting around that post, so he decided that we needed to add a french drain along the side of the diveway to drain this area. We got this project going...and lo and behold another fun surprise develops. There is an old concrete slab under our asphault driveway that has likely settled over the years and now runs downhill right into the corner of our foundation. This hasn't seemed to cause any issues to this point, but that corner is where we were planning on running the drainage from our yard...and that means more water would settle down, hit the slab, and run right into our foundation. So add building a concrete grade/gutter around the side of our house to our growing To Do list. Meanwhile, we finished the french drain and stabilized the fence, all so that we could cover it all back up and make it look like nothing ever happened. Instead, we took a picture to document the large amount of ground work we accomplished this weekend.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghp81-Kmu36Nmmlqt7JHQG36W8-HLYtKKrrKNsl1w-vv6TmyJWrqQuXorKX8gqnXiojpjbaziGSLwIduDLGSvqpuP2mz35zg1D7YQTs63w1FqmHrwwvycf9vnUNN_Bqv7TVxP2DUtP9x08/s1600-h/IMG_5107.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghp81-Kmu36Nmmlqt7JHQG36W8-HLYtKKrrKNsl1w-vv6TmyJWrqQuXorKX8gqnXiojpjbaziGSLwIduDLGSvqpuP2mz35zg1D7YQTs63w1FqmHrwwvycf9vnUNN_Bqv7TVxP2DUtP9x08/s400/IMG_5107.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347735247798077730" /></a><br /><br />Needless to say, we still have to remove/sift the remaining rock, add the drainage for the yard (and the grading/gutter at the corner of the house), replace the rock, replace the flagstone walkway, and finish the fence. Then we will be back to where we "thought" we would be by now. <br /><br />We are very excited to see our grass finally sprouting (it didn't all wash away)! Now, those weeds we "killed" are beginning to sprout also so we get to go through and pull the biggish one to keep them from getting out of control until our grass is established enough to use some weed spray. See our pretty little grass sprouts:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUaujFoVMOMQsgwx2jHRZP3FxVLbl5J8AVYWxiB8FUfGJdECAfZDdb1sXSrAODccI41WMgFmg7eiKuUek4rLmNFSeolm7qHC3b1H7nl2_VFMGup3e7uaHkhPftqG6TARp5Uxulp7PAh29y/s1600-h/IMG_5114.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUaujFoVMOMQsgwx2jHRZP3FxVLbl5J8AVYWxiB8FUfGJdECAfZDdb1sXSrAODccI41WMgFmg7eiKuUek4rLmNFSeolm7qHC3b1H7nl2_VFMGup3e7uaHkhPftqG6TARp5Uxulp7PAh29y/s400/IMG_5114.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347736847510008722" /></a><br /><br />All this fun for our simple backyard landscapping project...I can only imagine what's to come with the front yard, and we haven't even gotten to the inside yet. Oh yeah, and a new baby should be joining us in just a few months. I have to say though, it is still all worth it to be in not just our house, but our home.Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12679373224277825474noreply@blogger.com1