Like a Stick in the Mud

This has been a whirlwind of a weekend. Where do I begin? Oh, I know where I'll begin, because I can only really even write about a few things (the down side to having people you know read your blog...).

Well, we just got word that some good friends of ours are leaving. Pastor Travis (our worship pastor) and Leann, along with their two little ones.

It sucks.

To be honest - it's strange how much this is effecting me. I consider them dear friends, and he has actually been kind've a mentor to me for the past year plus. Not to mention they're just plain ol' fun to be with. But even as I sit here typing this up, I find myself crying (...again...).


I get it that people come and go in your life. And I've only even known them for a little less than 2 years. I guess I've just grown really fond of them? I don't know... like I said, it's kind've strange how much this is effecting me. I almost feel stupid. Hopefully it doesn't weird them out to hear that. ha.

But I can honestly say that I hope we remain friends, even after they are gone. We don't know, yet, just how far away they'll be going or where they'll be... they're still trying to figure that out. But for some reason I'm really having a hard time with this.


Gosh dang it. My tear-ducts must be broken... there's a leak or something. Any eye plumbers out there??


I know that God's got plans for them. And I know that he's got plans for me. To prosper all of us and not to harm us. To bring glory to him. I just hate that those plans are going to be in different places, even if just for now. It sucks.


But I know that his ways are higher than mine. I can't even begin to comprehend what he's doing in and around us. I just hate it when it hurts, ya know?


And what makes this weekend even more difficult (and probably why the shut-off valve for my eyes is MIA) is the stuff that I can't really write about. I wish I could. I want answers to some things. I feel like I deserve some answers!! And hey - maybe you guys could shed some light on some stupid situations, but unfortunately I'm left without.

Honestly - I wish I could just dump it all out there. I want to just get it off my chest, but I just don't feel right about it, right now. And it sucks. Dang it - why am I such a freaking nice person?! Ugh!!

Some of it is related to the above, and some is not. So if you're reading this and you know me, and you're wondering why I'm being such a big weird baby, then know that there's more at play.

And you know how it is... a piece of paper doesn't weigh much, but when you start to stack it all up, and then fill a box, and then another... it starts to really weigh you down.

I just feel so torn. I feel stuck. I've really felt like God has been moving me in a certain direction, and now I keep asking myself if I just misheard or misunderstood him.

But his sheep will know his voice. And the Lord confides in those who fear him. That's what my bible tells me... what my Jesus tells me. And I believe it.

...and that's why I'm so confused! Because what I feel and what I'm experiencing don't add up. God's saying "apples" and all I'm seeing are oranges. I'm surrounded by oranges. Oranges. ORANGES!

What the heck?!

And I think, too, that I got so caught off guard because I wasn't expecting ANYthing like this. I did NOT see this coming at all (back to the original subject here, folks).

But then it did.

And I realized how much I take for granted.

Period.

Even just in general.

But I was asked by several people, this morning, how I was doing. They're the ones leaving, and people have been asking how I was doing. So to most of them I just replied that I'm doing good. That I'll obviously miss them (they have no idea, I'd bet), but I know God's got a plan a-working and things all work out for his glory.

But then one person asked me how I was doing, and I began spouting off what became my routine answer, and all of a sudden I sprung a leak, again! I had been fine ALL morning, and then BAM.

I felt like SUCH a dweeb.

But I think we both knew that he wasn't asking for the standard answer, but he wanted to truth. And, well, he got it. I started crying, again, and just smiled. He said "yeah. I figured..." and said that he'd be praying for me. Which is all he can do, really.

Again... have I mentioned that I totally feel like a dweeb with how much this is effecting me.

It's just that we'd made so much progress, I felt. We were doing things. I've been growing so much.

And even through it all... last night as I was trying to go to sleep and my mind just would NOT stop running in circles... I just felt like God was pushing this song back at me that I had been working on a while ago. One that I had worked on with Travis and didn't get very far. And then he came back with some changes to the melody and, again, it kind've stayed in that stage for a while.

But last night I just couldn't sleep and I couldn't stop thinking through this song. I felt like God was really just leading me to focus on it, and I just really couldn't help but do just that.

In God's grace and sovereignty, I feel like I might've finished it last night. And I don't know how I did that without crying (I told you I've been a weepy mess... poor McStudly), though, in the interest of full disclosure, I did get choked up by that knot in my throat...

You know what's funny? I made it through this last night without a single tear, but as I prepare to write the words to the song here on the blog, I am crying yet again (or still, maybe?).

Anyways - here it is. Not all of it, but the main point of it, in poetic order as I'm feeling right now (so, basically, not in song format or order):

Our hearts now changed by your love

Your praise my lips will still proclaim

Who can ever compare to You,

God, I'll never be the same

You're my strength when I have none

You're my vict'ry, You're the one

I may stumble, I may fall

But by Your grace, You're my all

You're my all

You make life out of death

You bring peace and rest

You're my all in all

You bring joy in my pain

Time and time again

Jesus, You're my all

So yeah. I cried. I took a break. I think I'm past it, now, but Lord knows it'll probably come back in a second or two.

Basically, I'm a big huge dork baby and I probably need a midol or something (I promise I don't usually cry this much, no matter how much McStudly probably says otherwise) and I'll be fine. But I'm not happy about this change.

*insert pouty lip and child-like tantrum stomping here*

But I'll accept it, because... well, what other choice do I have?!

I just know that I will really miss them more than I thought I would miss someone I've only known for not-even 2 years. And I hope I haven't freaked them out by saying so. ha ha

Keep praying for me, guys. And please add our church to your list, if you can. We need to find a new worship leader and transition as smoothly as possible. And hopefully some other big bits of my mess can be cleaned up soon...

...to include the puddles caused by my leaky eye-holes. *sigh*

Love you guys. Thanks for letting me blubber on here. And count your blessings that this is not a video blog because I am NOT a cute crier. No no... not in the slightest.

Snot ya later.

Whoopsie!

So We've been kicking it into high gear, lately, in the Deep End of the Puhl household.

Not only are my friend Queen Rosh and I still putting the finishing touches on our Etsy store (to soon be open, for those of you interested... it's only taken us, what, like 2 months, now?), but McStudly and I are also kicking it with repainting the entire first floor of our home. It usually takes lighting a fire under us to get things rolling, and since his mother will be in town in a few weeks, we thought it'd be the best excuse to finally get it done!

We started priming last week, and this weekend we will be painting (hopefully!). Then it'll just be about organizing and finishing things in the spare bedroom (FINALLY!).


And don't worry - there will DEFINITELY be pictures once everything is painted... whether they're cruddy lame-excuse pictures from my phone, or I finally end up locating the missing battery charger for my camera, you will get pictures!!


So there you have it. Lots of stuff going on. And hopefully once everything gets rolling (at home, and with Etsy) you will get the full scope on all of the above. I am still reading your blogs, just don't necessarily have time to write one of my own, right about now. But I'm staying in the loop so keep those posts coming!!!



Toodles!!

Time to Grow Up... for a minute

**Scroll down for info on the coming Etsy shop and prices for my homemade Baby items!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As much as I LOVE love love making cute little baby shtuff, I thought I should attempt a few things for around the home, as well... seeing as how that's kind've the way I convinced hubby I should get a sewing machine to begin with.


You know - to spruce up the house on a dime? Yeah. That was my angle. ;-) Aaaaand it worked.




SCORE!


Anywho, this past Saturday, McStudly and I went to a cook out at the home of one of McStudly's AF buddies. It was fun! I already know him and his wife from when we went to the Kenny Chesney concert with them a year or two back, so it was good seeing them again.


Well, back to the point of the story: it was like an hour away, so we left their house at around 6 and got home by about 7 ish, or shortly thereafter. So I decided that since I was done making baby shoes and headbands, at least for a minute or two (HA!), that I'd finally make a pillow for our couches, since I'd already bought the fabric, and whatnot.


So I did it! I made an envelope pillow (you know, kind've like a sham, where you can stick the pillow form into the back of it with no zipper or anything? Yeah that kind.) and it actually turned out pretty awesome. I'm so proud:







And my next project:

I know it's hard to see - this picture didn't turn out so hot, but it's all I have for now. This is the mock-up of the baby bib I'll be making for little Kilea's shower, next month (or whenever it ends up being). I'm going to make a similar one for Baby Sierra (well, I will once I can figure out how to make an "S" that doesn't look craptastic), and possibly Eva, as well. And don't worry - I'll be sure to update you on the project progress as time passes! ;-)

Speaking of baby showers - does it strike anyone else as super odd to plan baby showers a month AFTER the baby is born? I mean, this isn't a last minute idea, but the people planning it have planned it that way from the beginning. How weird is that?! If you ask me, although something is better than nothing, they're going to have most of what they need by then, aren't they?

Ah well. I'm sure it'll still be fun. ;-)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Etsy and Baby Stuff:

For those of you that asked, I'm still deciding on prices and such to sell the baby shoes and headbands (and btw, I'm SO totally honored that you like them so much. It just makes my day!). I'm hoping to have an Etsy shop up soon, but if you're too anxious to wait for that, just leave me a comment, or e-mail me at sarahpuhl {at} yahoo {dot} com, and I'll get back to you on how long it'll take me to make them and/or ship them to you. I'm thinking about charging about $15, or a little less, for a set, but I'm not sure.

Be honest - is that a reasonable price? I want it to be inexpensive, but still cover the cost of supplies and shipping in the process. Would you pay that for a set? Maybe a little bit more for customization, or something? What about $15 for the set with flowers, and maybe $12 for the plain set, is that a good deal?

Let me know what you guys think and we'll go from there.

Like I Said...

I told you all that I've been getting awfully crafty lately, right?! Well, if these people would quit having babies, I could move on to a few more projects I've been wanting to work on!

Just kidding.... kind've.

Two Pastors in our church, their wives were due to have babies this week. Well, one of them done had the thing! Ha ha. Baby Sierra was born today. Congrats you guys!! I'm sure she's quite the lucky gal.

The others are set to be induced at nidmight - er - midnight (Sorry... a little Rindercella humor, for those of you who may remember) Wednesday evening. Little Kilea will be here before we know it!!

So with all these pretty little girls coming into the world, of COURSE I've had to make some adorable little baby accessories, right?! So a little set of shoes & a matching headband or two may or may not have been made for when they're a teensie bit bigger. If you scroll down, you can see the set I made for little Kilea out of a little fabric leftover from turning a dress into a shirt.

Sierra's wasn't finished, just yet. I thought I had time until Sunday, but it looks like she had other plans and insisted that she come today! Hopefully I can get everything finished tonight, or at least sometime soon and before she's outgrown it! ha ha.

Anywho - that's that. BUT I wanted to show you guys the fabric I bought to make a pillow or two for our couches (I can FINALLY replace those horrendous pillows that came with... HOORAY!!). Check it out (picture of fabric is darker than reality):

And for those of you wondering, YES I have some things up my sleeves for some little boys. I'm hoping to send some stuff to a certain blogger friend of mine, when I finally get the chance to finish it all (she shall remain nameless until I finally finish it and ship it out... then again, it's not rocket science if you want to try and guess).

So - what do you think? If I had an etsy shop, would you buy from me? I'd be cheap, I promise... and there'll be more options coming, once I get the chance to put my brainstorming session down on paper - er - fabric? :-P

Toodles!!

HAIR-mergency 911!

HELP!! Calling all female bloggers (or heck - even male, at this point!). I need assistance, STAT!

For real - I've had SOOO much going on in my life over the past few months, and TOMORROW I'm in a wedding. I totally didn't even THINK about hair until last night! The bride doesn't care what we do (she's got a few more important things to worry about, I'm guess...) and I'm slap out of ideas.

I was thinking about a typical half-up do with "the poof". Something along these lines:

What do you think? I need your advice. So I'm calling on the power of social networking and hoping you all can help me pick a hair-do before Noon tomorrow. That's when my hair appt is and I need to be ready to go immediately following, so... GO!

Any ideas... help a sister out! Preferences: I have super thin hair and it's pretty dang straight, as in like almost anti-curl, so nothing too curly will stick around for more than... oh... say 30 minutes. It can stand to hold small slight curl, but that's about it. AND I have a giganto-giraffe-esque kind of neck that I'm a tad bit conscious of, so full up dos have to be low, and loose-ish if that's what you're thinking. And finally, I don't do well with that super sleek and flat hair-style stuff. You know... where it's so shellacked to your head that you break a comb trying to get that funk outta there? Yeah... so none of that.

PS: This is a pretty fancy-shmancy type wedding, so that "whispy" look may not work, but what do I know?! Maybe I'm wrong and it would??

But anything is worth considering at this point. HEEELLLP!!!!

Thanks, guys - you're the BESTEST!