And the winner is.....

Congratulations Chantel!!!

Hope you enjoy the cute necklace!

email me at kimmybit@yahoo.com to claim your prize!!


A huge thank you to everyone who entered and has supported my little business!  It's something that I've really enjoyed doing and I love seeing others enjoy what I've created.  I plan on doing more give aways in the future so keep watching...and watch for a new necklace upload coming soon!!

Give Away Time!

I took a bit of a break from posting necklaces this summer...it's time to get back at it.  Even though I wasn't posting I was still collecting all summer long!

Soooo to get things going I thought I would start with a giveaway!

Leave a comment here or on my fb page to be entered to win this fun necklace!

And make sure you like my page so you can be notified of my next sale!

Good Luck!!


Contest closes on Friday at 6:00 p.m.

I'm Back!

I realized today...yes, it's the end of April...that I have not blogged yet this year!!  How is it possible that I have let my blog go.  This was once a place where I shared all my creative energy as well as the life of my little famiy.  I loved it and cherished it.  And now it has been forgotten and left to sit here doing nothing.  The stories are untold and will be forgotten since I clearly am not recording them anywhere.

Sooo...to get back at it I'm going to share 10 things I don't want to forget right now.

1. A couple of weeks ago we splurged and bought the boys a trampoline.  I had been against getting one for quite awhile cause I honestly didn't want it taking up our backyard, didn't want to spend the money, and was a little bit afraid of someone getting hurt.  BUT...I will admit that it has been the BEST purchase!!  The boys love it and jump on it any chance they get (one boy more than others).  The very best moment that I never want to forget is Ryker's excitement towards it.  I send him out almost every morning to jump before school.  We are talking 7 a.m. jump sessions!!  He waits patiently until I tell him he can go jump and he knows the rule that he has to be super quiet!  There was even a morning it was cold and rainy and he begged to go out and jump.  Having my window open listening to them laugh and play on the trampoline is the absolute best!!!

2.  We've been working really hard the past 4 months to figure out Maguire's food allergies or sensitivities.  His preschool suggested we go see a naturopath because of the bags Maguire always has under his eyes.  I was a little hesitant as I had never been to one before and wasn't sure what it would be like, but this journey has been full of learning and growing.  We went off Dairy, gluten and corn over the course of 4 months...one at a time...and it was really interesting to watch how we reacted to the changes.  I made the commitment to do it for the whole family which I thought was going to be really hard, but it was amazing.  The kids were great at staying away from the foods we weren't supposed to be eating.  And...the results...dairy has been a culprit.  Whenever the kids eat it they complain of stomach aches...and I actually feel the same.  I used to always have stomach aches after supper especially and now it is rare if I have one!  Good news!  We are on a break right now from trying anything new, but we continue to eat dairy free and gluten free any meal that I make for the whole family for Cody.

3.  My little necklace business has been great!  I love having a way to be creative!  And I am so greatful for the support of my family and friends who love my necklaces just as much as me!

4.  My hubby's grandma passed away this past week so he is away for the weekend at her funeral and visiting the place he grew up.  I wish I was able to be with him, but with so much going on at home it just wasn't possible.  It was fun chatting with him yesterday though and hearing that so many of his cousins and siblings were able to be there.  I had mentioned to my hairdresser that she had wanted to die for over 20 years...her daughter and husband had both died within a few months of each other and she had lost another daughter a few years ago) and she looked at me like that was the weirdest thing she had ever heard.  But having the knowledge of the plan of salvation and knowing we can be together forever as families brings comfort and peace.  I am truly thankful for the knowledge I have of this life, that we can return to live with our Father in Heaven again when we leave this earth and be reunited with those we love who have passed on before us.

5.  My favorite snack at this moment is Hummus and Mary's Organic Crackers.  Someone needs to stop me.  I can't get enough.

6.  I have been trying really hard to completely de-junk my house!  I have gathered countless bags of stuff to get rid of, and the kids have managed to unload everything behind me.  Everytime I open a drawer or sort through something I ask myself "Do I need this?"  and "When did I use this last?"  When you've lived somewhere for over 12 years it's hard to believe all the stuff you've collected.

7.  I set a goal for myself to read a book each month.  I have been doing a great job so far and have enjoyed getting back at it.  Some books take over my life, and some seem to last most of the month.  The best book I read was "The Spark"...check it out cause this mother is AMAZING!!!

8.  Can't wait for the nice weather so I can get back outside and take pictures!!!  This year I am offering a couple of days of mini sessions.  I usually only book a handful of shoots since being a momma is my #1 priority.  I seriously can't wait to get back out there though.  I love it!

9.  This week is our 14 year anniversary!  Hard to believe it's been 14 years!!  And sadly with Cody away this weekend and the kids schedules this week we won't really get to celebrate....

10.  Setting a goal for myself to get back to blogging.  It's time.

K :)

Time To Get Back At It.

I've really been missing this little blog of mine.  It's been way too long since I've posted and I almost feel like I'm missing out on recording special little thoughts and memories that have been happening in my little families lives.

Instead of trying to "catch up" on all the things that have been happening here I'll just move forward and do my best at starting again.  Life is busy and never seems to slow down, so why spend time stressing over past events, but look ahead and capture the moments right now.

The boys are growing so quickly and life is never boring with them around.  Last month we did our yearly family photos with Talia Audenart Photography and I sadly have to admit that I still haven't been able to sit down and look through them all.  Every single photo I've seen though has been amazing and I am always so very very thankful that we take the time to do this.  This one is probably one of my very favorites so far as it completely captures our life at this stage.  With the boys constantly going and moving and just being boys...just being able to step back and watch as they interact with each other is priceless.  For me a perfect picture doesn't have to be the sit...look at the camera picture that we so often expect, but it's the real moments where we don't even notice the camera there that speak to me.  Those are the ones that I want to have big in my home to look at everyday.  Those are the ones I cherish.

This year, now that Ryker is almost 7....seriously...7!!!....how did that happen???!!!....he is becoming more independent and wanted to do his own hair for pictures.  I am learning to let go of control, which can be so hard to do sometimes and allowed this to happen since fighting over hair for pictures was not a battle I wanted to fight.  hehe.  I will forever look at these pictures and his hair and remember that moment in the bathroom watching him make his hair perfect and exactly how he wanted it.  Hair is such a big deal in this family with these two little boys...they are sooooo particular, that I have learned to let them decide when they are ready to make changes...at such a young age!!  Oh boy.

Ok...I'm really not trying to look back and talk about pictures...but I was trying to say that I am hoping to get going on our Christmas cards soon.  Because before we know it Christmas will be here and I'll be wanting to mail cards.  See how when I haven't been blogging for such a long time I become random with so many thoughts??!!

I am also very thankful for November.  It's National Adoption Awareness Month!!!  I love reflecting back on our journey to becoming a family and I love seeing the posters displayed around my city.  You may have never noticed them, but it was one of the things that brought us to our decision to adopt.  After praying to know what we should do and if adoption was right for us we saw a giant poster for National Adoption Month hanging from an overpass.  It was one of those moments where I was filled with the knowledge that we were supposed to move forward in that direction.  And now every year after, I smile whenever I see these signs.  We also LOVE our birth mom so very much and even though I think about her daily, in November I especially am reminded of what an amazing women she is.  As I think of all the blessings I've been given by the sacrifice this beautiful girl made so many years ago, I always feel like I need to express my love for her at this time of year.  7 years ago I was frantically getting ready for the birth of Ryker.  We knew we had been chosen as the adoptive family, we had met our birth mom, and we knew Ryker's due date was December.  I wanted everything to be ready when we brought him home...to have his room all finished...to have a car seat and all those other important things that we were doing secretly.  hehe.  I was also trying to finish all my Christmas shopping so that I didn't have to even think about it in December...all I wanted to focus on was Ryker.  This is such a special month.

Hopefully I will be back more often.  These gaps in posts are unacceptable!  haha!!  There is so much to share so hopefully I can get back on track.


K :)

The Loewen Family

We stopped last week to play with cousins and even managed to do a photo shoot!!  We love this family so much...and apparently sleeping over at their house was the best part of my kids summer!...We definitely need to do it again :)

 Love you guys!

K :)

Sidebar

I just wanted to mention that I've added links to my Stranded Handmade Jewelry facebook page in the sidebar as well as my furniture painting facebook page (Redone for fun).  Go over there to be updated on upcoming sales and make sure to "like" both pages!!

K :)

Blog You Heart

I have actually sat here many times staring at a blank post not knowing what to really say.  Sometimes there just isn't anything exciting happening to share and then other times I am filled with emotion and can't seem to express my feelings.  This is one of those times.

Tomorrow we celebrate 'Birth Mother's Day!' which I love.  I love that tomorrow (and really not just tomorrow) I can remember our special birth mother and what she has done for me and the special role she plays in our lives.  It is because of her that 6 years ago I celebrated my first 'Mother's Day!'...after many painful mother's days of silently crying...wishing, hoping and praying that I would one day become a mother.  We love her and remember her everyday.  I've learned as an adoptive mom that love isn't measured by blood, but is free to take form in many different ways.  I don't love one child more than the other but love them each deeply for who they are and the miracle that they are in my life.  I believe that they were both meant to be my children and to come to our family and I was taught important lessons of faith, patience and understanding that truly has helped me to be a better mother.  There was never anything else I wanted to be.  From the time I was little I knew that I wanted to be a mother.  As I grew older and a little wiser I quickly learned that becoming a mother wasn't going to happen the way I had planned, but eventually it did happen and I am eternally greatful for this experience.

This week I have quietly watched my children.  Pondering on their little lives and how they are growing so quickly.  I have noticed how Maguire has changed into a little boy...the years of babies and diapers long gone and we have now fully jumped into the life of school aged children.  Maguire is my most imaginative child and has a strong personality that pushes me to my limits on most days.  He teaches me to look for the extraordinary in our everyday life...to always watch my actions and words...and to remember to not take life so serious.  I have noticed Ryker determined to do better and trying a little harder in all that he does.  He is my peace maker.  Always happy...loving life...and thinking of others.  His friendliness and outgoing personality sometimes scare me as I worry about his acceptance from others...when it's not even a thought in his mind.  His love has no limits and his forgiveness is easily given when others have hurt him.

Awhile ago I read this statement on facebook "We will spend eternity knowing our children as adults. But today, right here, right now, and for the few precious years, we have the rare privilege of knowing them as a child."  It hit me hard.  These moments are precious.  They don't last forever.  And they will be over before we know it.

As I watched my children this week my heart was full.  The happiness that these two little boys bring into my life exceeds the dreams I had for motherhood.  I could never have imagined how rewarding this time and experience would be.  As I comforted Ryker after losing a race this week and when I picked Maguire up from school after leaving him crying...I was so very thankful that I was the person that got to be there with them in those moments.  I was needed by these boys and it was my love and attention that they were seeking. 

How very blessed I am that after countless years of waiting I was given the opportunity to be a mother. It wasn't how I had thought my life should go, but I know that it has been a better plan for me.

I love you most my sweet little boys.

xox