Some of my sewing creations...

Here are just a few of the dresses I have been working on. I love to sew and these are so simple and cute for little girls!


This was an apron for a cousins little girl. I love the fact that it doesn't pull at the neck, but wraps around and ties at the waist.



I have been trying to add a few embellishments to the dresses I make so they all don't look just alike. I pratty much specialize in the pillow case dresses because they are so easy to make and soooo cute!

To sew or not to sew, that is the question!

Last week, I did not do any sewing because I felt that it had become and all-consuming thing for me. I was in a zone and there was not much else I wanted to do or did while I was sewing. I did complete about 20 projects to sell from the week before, but the week before, I also did not have a very clean or organized house, I did not make dinner, Danny did, and time with the kids was at a minimum because I was consumed. So, this week, I want to get back into my sewing, but I must prioritize my time better. This is what I think I will do this week: I will cut out my sewing projects when the kids go down for their afternoon naps, and when they go to bed for the night, I can get about 3 hours of sewing in. That way, my time with the kids is not compromised, dinner is cooked, and I can also focus on the house being clean and organized. This is a lot of what I have been thinking about today and feeling guilty over letting my sewing get out of hand. Sewing is something I have grown to LOVE and even though it is also a means to make money, I realize I have to give it is proper time and place. There is a limit I must learn!!! What kinds of things do you let get in the way of your time keeping house and training your kids? How do you prioritize and plan? I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas!

WAY PAST DUE

I am sorry because I am WAY PAST DUE with a Hodges Family update. There is so much going on and so much to tell, so let's get to it!

Okay, so the last update was my broken ankle, so let me start there. Thankfully, my break was not too bad, so I spent about 3 weeks in a non-walking cast. I was down and out, meaning, I wasn't supposed to be walking at all, just using crutches, but remember, that was a joke! I couldn't use crutches, the cast came up too high to use the knee walker and a boot that was put on was affecting prior nerve damage in my leg, so that was a no go. It was really humbling! I wasn't really able to do much of anything but sit and watch the kids through the day, and that was with no lifting and not getting up on my leg. By the Grace of God, I got my cast off, and about an hour later, me and the kids hopped in the car and headed for GA! No, I am not joking!!! I was in a caravan with my cousins here in Roanoke and we made it in time for the SHoal Creek 4th of July meeting. It had been forever since I was able to be there and it was soooo enjoyable!!! I got to see and visit a lot of people I hadn't seen in a long time and being under the sound of the Word was awesome! What a great meeting!

So, I stayed in GA for almost two weeks, just me and the kids. I spend a lot of time with my younger brother, his wife and kids and I also went to visit my cousin's family and my older brother and his wife and kids in south GA. I really enjoyed spending time with my mom and Granny too. ll in all it was a great and needed trip. I was beyond thanful to be back home though. I missed my husband and the kids missed him so badly too!

You may be asking how I was able to take a couple of weeks away from my job and make it to GA. Well, that is another thing. A few things came up at home making it necessary for me to leave my part time job and come back home as a full time stay at home mom. I loved my PT job, but I love more being here with my family full time where I am completely and 100% needed. We were having some problems with Josiah that required a lot more of my attention that it was getting. Praise the Lord the situation seems to have gotten a lot better since I left my job.

Since leaving my Pt job and coming back from GA, I have been really sick with bronchitis. Who ever heard of bronchitis in the summer...not just the summer, but the heat of the summer? What a bummer! Danny and the kids finally came down with it too, so we have been down and out for a couple of weeks. We seem to be on the upswing now and I am ready to get on with things. I have been really busy this week cleaning, organizing and purging. It has felt really good. I am getting ready to start babysitting again full time so I can afford to stay at home. It will be difficult, but still worth it. I have been working on other things too. I have been sewing a whole lot - especially little girls items, and we are about to begin the adventure of some mild preschooling. I am excited about everything.

Well, this is a long post, so I am going to close for now and hope to update you all again soon!