Gift of Warmth... Gift of Joy...

For the last three years we have started prepping for our NICU project in September for delivery right before Christmas.  It's done in honor of Viviana, and for those moms and families that are living out their holidays with the same trials and struggles we had back in '07.  It has been a collaboration and a way for us to give back.  

For us, 2010 brought its own unique challenges...  Unless I was able to get everything 100% donated, there was no way to pull it off.  Sadly, I was just not feelin' it during this year of

reduce & simplify.

My heart turned instead to my brother, Mark, and his family.  I felt a sudden impression and desire that he needed a token of our love and support for him during this difficult journey.  He took a job with a company flying planes... through a war zone.  This means he was on the other side of the world, away from all loved ones for both Thanksgiving and Christmas and into 2011 with his rotations.  Tallie had just learned she was prego with #3... and would be left behind with the two boys during this great time of sacrifice so that Mark could further his career as a pilot in the Captain's Seat since it's increasingly difficult to accomplish that in the states in today's economy.

I wrote an email to Laverty and Menzie families, asking for support in this project.  I thought about what it might feel like to be in his position... and how it might also feel to really know just how loved he is when there is no one close by that really knows him, while also yearning for very basic and simple comforts of home.  

The first thing that came to mind was a quilt... because it could accomplish bringing physical warmth, a treasure to keep, a service aspect involving many, and certainly he could feel the pure love that went into each stitch.  I asked for each family to decorate and personalize their quilt square with their personalities from their family to Mark.  My Mom made sure we could pull it off financially, and I assembled them ... as a gift of love  just for Mark.  It was well-received... miraculously everyone pulled through, and Mark was able to open it on Christmas Eve while skyping with his family.  I included Mark's remarks way below...

from Luke

A big squeeze from Hank

 from the Boston Menzies

 from the Bako Lavertys

 from the California McLaughlins

 from the Utah Menzies

 from the Seattle Lavertys

 from Tallie

 from Dad

 from Florida Menzies

 from Mom & Kelly

 pure love... pure joy... pure grace... pure laughter... 

pure excitement... pure bliss... pure happiness...

Pure & Simple

 Some of Mark's comments....

Realizing it was Christmas Eve while talking with Tallie, I pulled out a package I received last week from Shayla that read, "Open Christmas Eve." I was able to open my Christmas gift with Tallie and Hank while Skyping. (Luke was already sleeping. I know Tallie was a little frustrated that Hank was up past his bedtime but it was nice for me to see his smile and big brown eyes). 

Inside the box there was a card and a note in Shayla's handwriting. I read it out loud while on Skype with Tallie and this is what it said:

We call you Papá, Daddy, Marcos, Mark, son, brother, husband, friend, and uncle. And we ALL wanted you to feel of our great love for you while you are in a far-away land this holiday season.

Whenever you are feeling lonely, vulnerable, home-sick, or even happy and grateful... and you just need a hug from someone who cares and knows your goodness - wrap yourself up in the warmth of this quilt made especially for you and feel the love of all of us that care for you most dearly. We LOVE you, dear Mark!

Tallie, Luke, Hank, Mom, Kelly, Dad, Tami, David, Ben, Susan, Ben, Kathy, Lorea, Mikela, Saioa, Bret, Cat, Tim, Maia, Kincaid, Esme, Terra, Wayne, Becky, Christina, Thomas, Grace, Caroline, Wesley, Curt, Shayla, Brayden, McKenzie, Monson, Alexandra, Isabella, Viviana, Matthew, Heather, Mattie, Reddin, Brett, Emily, Jonas, Makai, Caysa, Kevin, Brooke.

I couldn't finish reading it out loud. A councilor told me once I suffer from Alexithymia, or the inability to express in words one's feelings. I suppose most males do, especially if your last name is Menzie. As I sit here and try to conquer my Alexithymia, I'm looking at the quilt Shayla assembled from your individual, personalized patches. The border she used on the quilt has words on it that read, 

"pure love, pure joy, pure happiness, pure bliss, pure excitement, pure elation, pure & simple."

I think I have overcome my Alexithymia. The only other feeling I would add is a useful Portuguese word that doesn't directly translate into English. "Saudade" can mean to yearn/long for something or someone, or to be homesick or lonely. 

I miss you all. I am so grateful for all of your thoughtful participation in this huge project that Shayla organized. Shayla, I'd love for you to Blog about making it - I'd love to hear how it came together and include detailed photos of the art/handy work from everyone. I've posted the pictures I took of the quilt on my facebook page if anyone would like to see them.

What you all don't know is I was just about to ask Tallie to send me another blanket. It's getting so cold at night and this quilt will be perfectly useful as well as sentimental. 

Thank you so much and Merry Christmas,

Love,

Papá, Daddy, Marcos, Mark, son, brother, husband, friend, and uncle Mark 

PS; One of my favorite things on the quilt is Luke's art and note, "I love it when you play cars and trains with me." Me too Luke!

 Tallie didn't know we made one for her too... until Christmas Morn.

Hers had a vintage feel- made with those fabrics we remember well from the 80's.  I felt like Tallie's part in the deal was equally a sacrifice and decided to make sure she had that same feeling of love and warmth.

A genuine thanks to all who donated time, fabric, funds, and encouragement for this project.  A LOT of late night hours went into both quilts... but it was well worth every minute for the joy & anticipation it brought to all involved.

 backing

 crayon rolls and coloring books for the boys

Does your camera have bling?

How could I resist? Amy Butler & Sandi Henderson yummilicious fabrics combined to spruce up the otherwise boring 'ole Nikon strap. You, too, can accessorize your big fat black camera strap with this tutorial. I have looked at several 'slip covers' and tutorials, but liked this one the best. For you beginners...straight lines all the way - Easy Peasy. Happy sewing.

Happiness is Homemade ~ Crayon Pockets

Every year for Christmas I try to make at least one homemade thing for each of the kids.  This year has become a bit more of a homemade Christmas than usual...and if I would have just started back in August I wouldn't be burning the midnight oil so much!

My inspiration for this one came when I thought about all the drawing, coloring, scattered half-used computer paper, and missing crayons in our home, cars, and church bags.  It's such a large equation to the messes at our home-- among all ages. I've seen these crayon rolls all over blog land, but wanted something a bit more.  (Although I wish I would have taken a bigger cue from the link under 'these' above & used that cool iron-on vinyl--oh well...next time).  Then I found this activity bag.  Of course, I could have just paid the $20 x 3 and saved myself the wonderful pleasure of spending a day in my pj's, watching the house around me fall apart, having the girls keep busy watching umpteen princess movies, and trying to keep the iron away from little miss Vivie's precious hands while sewing away.  Why would I possibly want to save myself some sanity?

I understand completely the harmonious feeling when my mom was in 'her' element {sewing} and trying to concentrate with six kids and our demands surrounding her.  I try to do this kind of stuff late at night, but with Christmas fast approaching and my list a little longer than I'd like to admit...nights turn into days.  My head has not hit the pillow before 1 am for the last month. I worked hard for those bags under my eyes!  I made three (Lexie, Izzie, Vivie), and each one is uniquely it's own size (not on purpose...I'm a bit of a doofus) but I think the third one is a charm.  I can't wait to wrap them, and see the glee on Christmas morn.  {and there had better be glee--I worked hard on these!}

The crayon rolls in the links above would be much, much easier... but I couldn't resist these great all-in-one holders, especially for church (yes, I do let my little ones color in church) and outings in the car.  I love the easy tutorial at Skip to my Lou.

Happiness is homemade and I'm stickin' to it.

No More Wadded-Up Diapers

Don't you hate it when you have diapers in your purse that get juggled around like tennis balls and when you finally take them out to use them, it looks like they were thrown around, run over by a car, used a few times over, stomped on...hardly resembling a diaper anymore?

Maybe it's just me. Hmmmm....just maybe that's why we're supposed to use those massive and unattractive diaper bags that have specific pockets to store these needful things! Well, the 'bag tag' and subsequent purse cleaning pushed me to finally do this project. It has been on my radar and wait list for 6 months now and I finally got around to it. Of course, the laundry went un-folded and I had to go blind to the tornado that ensued around me, but I can cross this off my list...finally.

It's a diaper/wipe/desitin holder and changing mat. I stole the idea from my cute sis-in-law, Tallie, but with a different design. Now I can grab my clutch and head to wherever to change a poo-poo bottom and still have an new & intact diaper and actually find my wipes! My kids like to kype those and use them for random things like wiping down their bikes. Izzie gets into cleaning mode and takes them around the house to clean pretty much everything in sight--which I love about her--she's a great cleaner-upper. But I don't like my wipes missing-in action.

One side is lovely Amy Butler Lotus, the other is polka dot minkie. I had to improvise a little---ran out of my Amy Butler fabric because I designed this as I went along...so for you perfectionists, don't laugh--it works.

It's An Apron...It's A Smock...

This is what I've been up to lately...besides saving a baby mouse and making our home look festive for Christmas. I borrowed Bailey Searle's little apron and made a pattern for it...then went to work! How cute are these little apron smocks?! Of course, the lovely Isabella is modeling hers for me. And they're completely reversible so if one side gets too stained, flip it! I figure all my girls can wear them for art projects, helping in the kitchen (which they LOVE to do), and eating sloppy foods (since they won't wear bibs)

Although, they're so cute, I don't know that I want to see them get stained!!! Sometimes we just have to let things go... They're actually cute enough to wear with a tee underneath with jeans... maybe I'm on to something! I have to say though, it wasn't my idea---saw how darling and practical it was on Bailey and I also saw a similar one on mayfly.com. I kind of went all crazy with the pockets all embellished and cutesy. Now, I just have to figure out how to adapt the pattern for big people! I want one!