A Commitment to My Children

*Disclaimer* This post is nostalgic and sappy.  Possibly because Christmas is coming and yesterday was my birthday. Have tissue or another absorbent device handy.  You may also not want to read this in a public place like the library (which is where I was when I wrote it *embarrassing*)

Two of my nieces got married this past summer. One in May, the other in August.  They've found wonderful guys to spend their lives with and I am incredibly proud of the young ladies they have become.    The weddings were absolutely beautiful. Totally unique, and each as different as the girls are themselves.   Their mother is a genius with decor / hospitality planning and I had so much fun helping her.

The point of my rambling is this... time has flown.  They are no longer the sweet little girls that I used to babysit and take to the park.  They have grown into sweet, young married WOMEN  *sigh* Which in turn means that I am no longer a youngster myself.  You would think this is obvious, but somewhere in my brain the time machine is switched off.  I am still a young married lady myself and my children are still...well, children.  Sadly, this is not the case.  Somewhere in the past 18 years I have become middle aged - old.  again I say *sigh*.  My children are teenagers and will soon be looking for Mr and Mrs Right for themselves.

What?? eeeekkkk!! Are my children really old enough to be thinking of and planning weddings??  and then moving off on their own??  Actually, yes.  If my eldest daughter, Destinee marries at the same age I did, that is 4 years away. For my son, Thaniel only 2 years.

Where did all those child rearing years go? They have flown by.  Have I taught them everything I should have? Everything I wanted to? Will they be able to make the right decisions? Are they dedicated? disciplined? diligent? honest? giving? compassionate?   Have I given them the tools they need to be resourceful?  creative? generous?

Have we spent enough time together reading? baking cookies? playing board games? exploring? just being silly? Will they have fond memories to carry with them into their adult lives?  Have I taught my daughters what they need to know to be good wives / mothers? Have my boys learned to be strong but kind?

These thoughts have been swimming around in my brain for the past six months or so.  I could sit and worry (which honestly is my tendency) or I can be proactive.  I choose to be proactive and not be the woman who sits and says "if only..."  So, we WILL be baking, reading, playing, talking - listening, crafting, singing, etc....  I am determined to make the "learning years" that I have left with my children PRODUCTIVE and FUN.  Hopefully we will all learn something TOGETHER.

Which really is the point, right?

New Blog and Giveaway

The ladies over at just2moms are having a giveaway this week.  Super cute hair clips from Natalia Designs on Etsy.  You can find the giveaway blog  here  and Natalia's Etsy shop here 

Hope you enjoy them both! =)

Black Friday Weekend Sale on Etsy!

In the hustle and bustle = pushing and shoving of the Black Friday madness, remember you can buy lovely home made items for your friends and family online.  Support small businesses (and very talented, incredibly nice people) from the comfort of home and spare your feet and elbows!

Black Friday Weekend Sale through Monday 11/28

Save 25% on everything in our shop!! Use coupon code Holiday25

Visit our Fuss & Feathers shop on Etsy

~~ A Year Has Gone By ~~

Technically not, but very close.  A lot has changed in the past year and a lot of things have stayed the same.   


I started this blog last November as an outlet to sell our handmade / homemade accessories.  Soon afterward, I decided to open a shop on Etsy and haven't touched this page since.  As a newbie blogger, I was so proud of the background I chose, the way the colors complimented each other and the fact that I was actually able to add pictures of my items.  Looking at those pictures now -- I cringe.  


I've noticed this change in the items I craft as well.  Starting out, I was full of enthusiasm, but very little know how or supplies.  While I have always maintained that my items be as well made and  professional as possible, some of the first items would not make the grade now.  


I guess this should be true in all areas of our lives --this growth.  If not, we become stagnant and irrelevant and if so, what is our personal influence? We have a need to "better" ourselves, to "become" more today than we were yesterday.  


I am still a newbie blogger. I can not promise profound thoughts or daily posts. But I will post thoughts, ideas, new items, etc and with some luck, they will be at least mildly entertaining. 


I hope it will be a testimony of growth. Growth as a crafter and business owner, but as a person as well.  Another year will tell.