Giving more

I want to give more. Do you ever feel that way? I want to give more of my time and full attention to my family. I want to give more of my time and effort to serving God. I want to give my crafts more time. I want to give my house the cleaning attention it needs. I want to give so much more attention to making my body healthy so that I can give more of all these things that I want to give more of! ; One thing at a time, yet all at the same time. So that means I need to prioritize my everything better, and that seems so overwhelming and so I just sit and pretend it all away or daydream about it while I tread water, right? I want to encourage you today - fight back! I love that you took the time to visit but get off of here and make your house smell wonderfully clean by doing a load of laundry. then polish your dishes. Those dishes that have stuff stuck on them because you made food to nourish your family. Clean, polish, scrub, sparkle and shine! Nope it doesn't have to be perfect but then nothing but Christ is perfect. Let me also encourage you to pray as you go about doing things. Pray for the one who ate off the dish you are rinsing, slept in the bed that you are making, will wear the jeans you are folding... I have one more trick for the day - learn a new way of doing something and try it out. (why not origami fold a towel for your bathroom) or do the same thing you always do but in a different order. In other words; change things up for yourself. In fact if you can, inspire yourself with a new batch of cleaning supplies! Since it's so close to Christmas may I also add that a new batch of cleaning supplies is one of my sister's favorite gifts to receive! I'm guessing she is not the only one so if you have a lady (or gentleman) on your list that you are unsure of what to get them, why not fill up a new scrub bucket or supply organizer with some wonderful encouraging cleaning supplies! you are giving more! Giving more time to serving my family, giving more time to creativity, giving more time to homemaking, and most of all giving more time to serving God who is so worthy!<

hustle and bustle

As the Christmas season draws closer and closer I find that all I want to do is be quiet.
I want to enjoy all the Christ honoring movies and plays that I can watch or attend. I want that visual reminder. I want to stay all day in His word. But I have gifts to finish making and wrapping and sending. I find that I really love praying for the person that is to receive the gift that I'm creating at any particular moment. I like to think about them and their future, our relationship. I haven't bought a Christmas present in a mall for, well I don't know how long since. I like it that way. I like hand made things in a Christmas tree. I like house decorations that remind us to reflect on the birth of Christ. These are the things that I love, how about you?What touches you at Christmas time? How do you get away from the hustle and bustle?

Our Wedding Anniversary

It is indeed a very happy anniversary for me. So many husbands and wives struggle today - and that's if they stay together at all! Husband and I took our vows before God knowing that we represent Christ's relationship with His church. That's a sobering thought when you are tempted to "disagree". Nothing in marriage allows you to sit back and be selfish. Christ loved the church so much that He gave his life for her. Should we as women then representing the church challenge our husbands at every turn? Manipulate them into letting us have our way? Nag and criticize them? How would it look if the Church did that to Christ? I should say how does it look when the church does this to Christ! It's really ugly when it happens isn't it? We even have words for such churches, apostate. So it is ugly when we choose to step out of the role that God has set us in within the bounds of our marriage to our husbands. I'm not at all blind to the fact that some husbands are difficult to love or that the husband may not be even close to living up to his role in the marriage. No matter what the case, this doesn't dismiss you from your God given roll. Men sin just as women do. You can't expect your hubby to be Christ for you. He can't. But let me say it again, this does not give you the license to become anything less as a wife. No bitter tit-for-tat thinking ladies. Instead, we as wives need to rise up and bless our husbands. Pray for them intently. Try to anticipate their needs. Serve him. Love him.

Serenity

   Our little family went to my cousin's house for the weekend. We enjoyed and treasured the serenity that surrounds her. Bird song, the whir of wind through drying leaves. Her house has that homey feel that a person isn't able to describe in words. Some of this can be attributed to her decorating style within and outside of her walls but, not all of it. There is something more that refuses to be explained in mere words. Our Lord blessed us with strikingly beautiful weather! Sunny, with puffy white clouds decorating the sky. Cool enough to enjoy the out of doors without being so chilly that you were chased indoors to warm up. Perfect for a cup of hot apple cider.

    Everywhere you look there are things that catch your attention and delight your eye.

 She has a way of tucking things around her park er, yard so that you don't notice them until you are surprised at such a cozy nook being there. For instance you might walk up to a bush to look at the leaves and then notice that there are chairs and a table waiting for you behind the bush and it's friends. Things made by man don't bully their way into your view distracting you from what God put there first. Also there is the splash of the whimsical to keep your smiles coming. Do you see the pink flamingos in the next picture?

She is blessed with the gift of hospitality and we are thankful to her. More than that we are thankful for her. It's the lady herself who makes the surroundings feel that way. Joy and enthusiasm for life are hers, and she shares them freely with us. She makes us feel welcome.  She herself is what comes through all the beauty that surrounds her.  It's her beauty blended with God's that makes such a pleasant ambiance.

   Thank you T, for having us. We love you.

Verses for Toddlers?

   I'm having trouble with something and hoping my readers can help. I'm having difficulty finding a great way for toddlers (mine in particular) to learn verses. Now I don't expect her to spout off passages because "all done" and "up please" are the only two phrases she can say! It will be to her benefit though to hear real verses. Which brings me to my next point.
   I am able to find partial verses and paraphrases of verses for toddlers. My concern is confusion. I don't want her to learn a verse (not repeating it, but learning it) in a toddler version then later be told she is wrong that the real verse is...
   So how did you do this? Tell me your methods, triumphs and struggles. Oh, I forgot to mention that we don't want to have her learn verses just as an activity we will use them in her life as God intended. To learn about God Himself, to comfort, to edify, to admonish, to praise, the list goes on and on.
   Since we're on the subject, how do YOU memorize scripture? Do you memorize the Word at all? Happily waiting to hear from you!

It's amazing what they pick up when you think they are ignoring you! On this particular day, I was doing something on the computer and looked over to see this! Sparrow had put on my head covering and was "in" the Word!

  

2011 Christmas Craft Update

   I wanted to give you a sneak peek at what I'm up to for Christmas.This one is not for a person who would see my blog so thankfully I can share it with you and not worry about ruining the surprise.

   I am making a few of these and they are all different, according to the person's personality as I see them.  This one happens to be for my lovely Mother-in-law. (So if you know her, please don't tell her)! I suppose I should tell you that it will be a bookmark. I will finish the embroidery and hem the edge adding a trim of some kind.

   You can see where I need to fill in "gaps" around the petals and around the gold area where the petals are turned. This motif is from Mary Corbett's Needle and Thread you can find it here. She named it the Tudor Style Rose. Ms. Corbett outfitted her rose in real gold and silk. Mine was done in DMC cotton and "satin" (rayon). I think I'd really like to see it in silver and pink but that doesn't fit my Mother-in-law.

I thought I'd give you an idea of the size of this piece since it's so tiny! The picture above this one is very 'blown up".
   Don't forget to spend time with God today, reading His word in private worship.

Facebook

Facebook changed their format today. No one seems to care for it much. I wonder if it's because we are so resistant to change or if it's because it just doesn't work well. I've enjoyed having so many friends at my fingertips. Maybe I enjoy it too much. I spend a lot of time on there, more than necessary. It's addictive because I care about the people that I'm friends with and I don't want to miss if they should need something or have something to celebrate or even just share something funny. I'm not deleting my account but I am planning to spend a lot less time on there. Besides, I like my blog. I like reading other blogs too.

God's Word

I am finding it difficult lately to keep my mouth closed (and several times I haven't) when people choose to follow a god of their own making and call him Jesus. I am seeing it more and more. They don't go to their Bible for answers, they just use the verses that they know. They may use then out of context quite a bit. They use a lot of "I feel like god tells me..." No matter that the thing goes directly against what His word says. I am seeing a lot of people who say that they are Christians living in a constant rebellious state in regards to choosing their sin over God because their desire for that sin is so strong. Don't misunderstand, we all as Christians still sin. But we don't live in constant sin. Do you see the difference? You can make a wrong choice and sin, truly repent of that sin and move on. It's a different thing all together if you continue in that sin as a lifestyle.  A good example of this might be a person letting a swear word slip when they stub their toe. Yes. It's still a sin but not at all the same as if a person chooses to use that language as often as they speak. The first person runs to God and says, "Lord please forgive me for saying that. Help me to never say it again, give me a different way to express my pain". The second person says " God gave me free will and I can say whatever I want, God knows I don't mean it personally at anyone". Do you see the difference there? I hope you do. The difference is repentance. Repentance means to turn away from something, sin in this case. As Americans we are woefully ignorant of God's word. I am too. I admit it and I'm making an effort to remedy this in my life. Can you say the same? I hope you can. How can we ever teach the next generation to do and be better if we don't know ourselves that things that we are to be teaching them? Open up your Bible today, read it, study it. Learn about who God is and who He wants you to be.

Happy Birthday Husband

Today is Husband’s birthday! So please join me in wishing him a happy one!

   Have you started working on your Christmas projects yet? This year I'll be doing a little less than I had in previous years.  It's hard to find time to sit and do crafts when you have a toddler climbing on you! I am excited for the day when she will be old enough to sit and stitch beside me. But I love this "everyday is a discovery" time too. She said "Apah" for apple today. You know it is the little things like this that make my mother heart soar above the clouds.
    Some of the things that I am taking the time to make for Christmas is a pillowcase doll for Sparrow. It was a kit that I'll have to look up the name on. but she is a real pretty little thing. I'm embroidering little butterflies and flowers on the skirt of the dress. Another project is petit point bookmarks. The tiny motif is just under 2 inches - the whole thing! The last thing that I have planned for this year is to make and send sachet's with each package. They aren't difficult and they aren't expensive.
   What are you making for Christmas? Have you started on it?

Did you ruin your stainless steel pot?

   That is one scorched on mess! But not to worry. It can be easily cleaned up - with the help of a dryer sheet (of all things!) Even if you don't use dryer sheets in the dryer it's handy to keep a cheap box of them to rescue pots and pans. They are inexpensive (you can get them for $1 at the dollar store or sometimes cheaper at the grocers if they are on sale or if you have a coupon - or bonus, on sale and a coupon!)
     
  Here's what you do... 

Put a dryer sheet in the pot and add some water. If it's really thick burned on muck, use two. Add a few inches of water. Enough to cover anything burnt on the sides. the dryer sheet will float for a while and that is okay, normal even.

 Then just set it out of the way for a while...

 You can watch the rain fall because (ahem) you have nothing better to do, right? *wink*

  ...or star gaze because you're leaving it overnight. 

After a few hours (at least) you can rinse the pot and amazingly most of the yuck simply comes off with the water. Use a dish cloth for any remaining bits - they wont be bad - really! Then as Sparrow is fond of saying "all done"!

Peace vs Clutter or Too Much Stuff!

As I try to make our home a peaceful, serene, joyful place one thing keeps getting in the way... Clutter. We folded 5 garbage bags of clothes, and household items this weekend. It's not that I wait to do laundry all at once, I do some everyday. So, clearly something is wrong. We just have too much of it. No one needs as many clothes as we have. We've decided to pack up all except 3 work outfits. 2 comfortable outfits and 1 dress outfit. (the baby is the exception to this) I have found that I am much more comfortable in skirts than pants. I actually only have 2 at this time so I'd like to have one more. If that isn't enough, I'll make our clothing pile even smaller.

   There are 3 of us, so we should only need 3 towels, 3 wash cloths and 1 hand towel for each bathroom. With the exception of the day that the dog and cat get baths. We really need only one set of sheets. In the kitchen, I haven't yet thought of a way to eliminate linen in there. We use cloth napkins, cloth "paper"towels, dish cloths and tea towels. The kitchen is a busy place!
   We have huge plans for re-arranging things very soon. the clothes we aren't going to use currently will be packed in plastic bins to be used as our current clothes wear out. Mike and I will share a dresser. Adelaide will have what is now my dresser and the plastic drawers that Adelaide used for a dresser since she was born will be used to organize crafts and office things.

   Books are another area in our home that we are trying to thin. Last spring our library system had a huge book sale. We went overboard! It was without a doubt a blessing. As we take the time to read them we are finding that they don't all capture our attention or, entertain or, teach us. So we are weeding them out. Last night I sold 10 books for $5 on Craigslist.
Ultimately, this is not just a lesson in organization but also frugality, stewardship, and self discipline.
   The peace of not being overwhelmed with things is worth seeking. 

 

another seizure?

   We think Sparrow may have had another seizure, not witnessed. Thursday (Aug, 25th) when I went to get her up for her morning Keppra dose, she was already awake just laying quietly in her crib (7:30 am). She had been running a low grade fever for a few days and had not been eating much. She is teething and those are all normal things. I took her to our room and changed her diaper on our bed. Brushed her teeth and carried her back into her room to rock her for a little while. Her room is fairly dark (we purchased blessedly thick curtains because Mama isn't a morning person). Jack, our sheltie began sniffing around her crib so I knew to look more closely. Dried vomit. I stripped the sheet and took Sparrow down for some breakfast. She drank her milk but would not eat. She crawled up next to me on the sofa and sat quietly. She asked for a movie, I indulged her. I checked my e-mail and glanced at her. She was asleep. Hmm. She slept for the next three hours. I'd been warned by several Dr.'s and nurses that fevers could cause break through seizures. She was a nice pink color and since I couldn't prove a seizure and you can't do anything for a virus, I decided to just observe her rather than calling a Dr who wouldn't be able to do anything anyway. She was sleepy most of the day and after noon she slept for another hour. We noticed she stopped saying "up" and went straight to "please" to be picked up. She would put her arms in the air and say "ease, ease".  Saturday she was trying really hard to make a sound and it dawned on me that she was trying to say "up". We'd been trying to get her to say it but but she either wouldn't or couldn't. After I figured out what she was doing I had her watch my mouth as I would say "up" and then she would say the short u sound "u". Finally she said "up" followed by a huge grin and multiple "up pease" sentences. She was already in Husband’s arms through out this episode so it was not from a desire to be picked up. From what I can gather she had indeed forgotten how to say "up". I don't know and probably never will know if she had another seizure, but I really suspect that is what happened. I'm so thankful for her. She is such a mild little girl. Oh, she plays like all little ones do, and gets into things that she shouldn't but, there's just something about this girl. This girl who more often than not sits with her little hands folded together in front of her or on her lap. I love her. She seems to be back to normal now, all except her appetite. We'll just keep praying about that one.

Glory to God

   I give thanks and glory to my God because my daughter has had no more seizures!!!!! But as hard as it would be I'd have to give Him glory if He chose to allow her to continue having them. Because He is worthy of all my worship and glory and praise, no matter what my situation or emotion He has not changed and is therefore still the Holy God.
   All of Sparrow’s tests including her EEG have been negative. Her neurologist is keeping her on the keppra for one year. If during that year she has no seizures and her tests continue to be normal/negative then we will do a trial of the medication.
    Husband and I pray for her. We know that God is in control of this He either is allowing the medication to stop the seizures or He has healed her or the purpose for which He allowed the seizures has been accomplished.

Lab results normal

The pediatric neurologist called today with Sparrow’s blood and urine test results. They were normal. I was hoping that there would be something that would explain her seizures and that the remedy would be a simple vitamin or something. Don't get me wrong, I don't want anything to be wrong with her, I just wanted answers and I wanted a guarantee that it would never happen again. So, now we wait to see what the MRI shows. That test will be July 12th and we'll get the results on the 20th when we follow up with the Ped Neuro.
 I know that I can trust My Lord with my daughter, He formed her and He knows each hair on her head (I can't claim that!). I don't know how it's possible but He loves her more than I do. So we'll just keep leaning on Him and praising Him every step of the way.
   I hope everyone has a safe and fun 4th of July! God blessed this country in it's infancy, but it has rejected Him. We as a nation sin against Him, we have removed Him from our country. So what does our country need most? Better health care? A huge reduction in our national debt? No, our country needs repentance. It needs to return to God. So America, bless God this 4th of July!

Update on Sparrow

Thank you all for your prayers! We are indeed blessed. Sparrow is doing well. She has been seizure free since Saturday!! Her EEG was normal, as was expected. She had a busy day yesterday with tests and seeing her Neurologist. She will have an MRI in July and we'll get the results later that month. Before you call me worrying that it's too far away, let me assure you... It's okay to be scheduled that far in advance. It gives Sparrow a chance to adjust to her medicine, get over any residual effects from the seizures and Husband has off the day of the MRI. It's not a fun test for her or for Mom and Dad to watch so it's best that it's a 2 parent day without Husband missing more work.  It also gives her brain that many more days to build up the fatty brain tissue that makes an MRI clearer and therefore more accurate to read. Sparrow has some great Dr's and specialists who work for her and we're really thankful for that. We are just taking it easy today and trying to catch up on sleep and establish a new routine. She is taking a nap as I am typing this. She is quite wobbly and falls more often. She is mouthing her hands and staring. She is much more hyper before crashing to sleep, just generally more moody. She is normally such a mellow little girl that her behavior now is probably more typical of the average toddler. These changes could simply be after effects of the seizures or they could be side effects of the medication. Either way they will most likely resolve with in a few weeks time.
For those of you who are questioning my parenting skills in reference to putting this "sensitive" material on the Internet...I am doing this for several reasons. My family is scattered all over the country and my friends are spread throughout the world so instead of taking precious time away from Sparrow by explaining the same thing multiple times, everyone can be aware and updated quickly and without taking time away from her. It's also very good for me to document everything that she does before the memory fades, it's better for the Dr's that way - a great example of this is that we didn't see her neurologist until yesterday and since I had all the details here, I didn't have to question whether my sleep deprived, information overloaded, adrenaline saturated brain remembered every detail because it was right here. Finally, I know that other mom's may someday suffer through this with their little ones and they may need to see that it's not anything to be ashamed of, and that they are not alone. If you are that mom then you need to know to trust God in this. None of it is a mystery to Him. Run to Him for comfort and seek Him in prayer and in His word. I've taken some time and prayed for you, your children and your medical team, so you've already got at least one person praying for you. It really helped me to get on YouTube and watch other babies have tonic clonic seizures, you get an idea of what's "normal".
Thanks again everyone, I'll post anything new that happens in the mean time  - walk with God.

Sparrow is having seizures

Friday Sparrow didn't eat anything at all. I mean she refused all food. She woke up several times in the night. 5am yesterday (June 25, 2011) Husband got up and assuming she was fussy because she was hungry, he gave her milk. At 6 she was crying and he was going to get her up for the day (he's good to me, lets me sleep in anytime he's home). But she had thrown up. (this was likely after she had slept off her first seizure) I got up and gave her a bath she seemed fine. We decided she should sleep more but put her in bed with us. we all slept and Husband and Sparrow got up about 9am.
She has been a little constipated so when I got up (10am) he went to get some apple juice at the store. while he was gone I called my mom and Sparrow 'talked' to her. I then gave her about 5 baby spoonfuls of yogurt and another 2-3 of applesauce. I returned a call to my friend and while talking to her Sparrow (she was seated on the floor) fell over slowly onto her back. I ran to her but she had rolled to her side and was having a tonic-clonic seizure. It seemed like she would throw up so I picked her up and held her face down. She was still seizing. She threw up, when she was finished I laid her down and just gave her room, at this point I hung up on my friend (I had thrown the phone to the floor but not hung it up. This was an “old fashioned” landline), called Husband and told him to come home, and called 911. I had them on the line and she was beginning to relax. She turned blue, I carried her closer to the sofa so I had more light. I was still on with 911. She began to get more pink and eventually they hung up. 911 called back almost immediately and said they were 60 seconds away. Husband came in then and said they were outside. I took her out to them, she was asleep and really hard to arouse. She was fully awake when we got to the ER but still slow, clingy to anyone that held her.
No fever, no signs of infection. Blood tests were normal. They gave her iv fluids as a precaution. She signed that she was hungry so I gave her 2 packs of graham crackers and a little apple juice. One of the Dr's came in and asked how she was. I relayed what she had eaten. He asked if she had anymore episodes, I looked down at her and she was starting to seize, she threw up then turned blue same as the first time. Our neurologist office on call Dr told them to start her on keppra. They admitted us and the on call neuro will see us tonight or tomorrow. The general Dr for the peds unit said that most likely they will find the minimal amount of the keppra that works and keep her on it for 3-6 months, then try to see if she can be without it. Oh, her O2 sats would drop when they tried her on room air so she was on 1 liter of O2 for a while but that's all stable now and she is keeping her oxygen up on just room air.
My cousin T. is driving up tomorrow to be with us so that's a comfort. I'll update as we go along.

as of 7am she is sleeping peacefully in the hosp crib surrounded by a seizure bumper - looks like baby jail!

sorry this is blurry. top # is her heart rate, middle # is her sao2's, bottom is respiratory rate. (all stable now!)

Thanks for all your prayers!!!! Husband and I really feel attacked. First that money issue.  Then his car permanently broke down and we had to get rid of it,(Thursday) now this.  But our God is an awesome God, He reigns on Heaven and Earth and He will help us through this. It's strange to have a sweet peace through this.

The "A" monogram

This is a tidy little number that I decided to do over the Resurrection Remembrance holiday. (I should post on that later too)! I'll warn you now that this is a long post because I'm almost finished and there is a lot I want to share with you. As for this project... Husband tells me that I'm always doing projects for others and that I don't do any for our house. It's true, he's right, again! So I decided that since there are a lot of techniques I'm just learning about, I'd experiment on us. I got a free monogram pattern from Mary Corbet's Needle and Thread (link) and began to work it up. Please visit her site if embroidery interests you (just make sure to still visit me some times too)!   I had certain elements I wanted to include, gold work (I'm using DMC metallic gold thread), and needle painting are the two biggest. I started out using a royal blue but without the camera flash and only under my incandescent lights  it looked black and dreary.

I changed to a wine red color and it looks much better. Again, the camera's flash changes the color to a raspberry hue but is really a rich deep color.
 
   I'm getting way ahead of myself though. Let me start at the beginning.
I printed a copy of the pattern onto a piece of regular paper. I then taped the paper down onto my hard surface ( a wooden TV tray table).  I doubt you can do this with most fabrics but I was using an off white quilter's fat quarter. (a square of cotton fabric, of a certain size, from which I clipped a smaller square) As I mentioned it's off white so I could see the printed paper through my fabric.  When I had it centered I taped the fabric over the paper then I traced the pattern with a #2 pencil. You can see the faint pencil lines in the above snapshots. To give you a sense of the size, the hoop that I'm using is a 4" metal spring hoop. There is probably a good reason why they don't make metal hoops anymore but I love them. My Mother and my Grandmother, Erma both used metal hoops so to me they are homey and nostalgic. (Hi, Mom)!

   This picture shows the color a little more realistically. As you can see I don't have much to go. At this point I had satin stitched all the little circles and most of the ovals. I used Long and Short stitch to needle paint the flower and the leaves. Everything is outlined in couched gold thread (a gold looking metal is flattened and wrapped around a thread). The 'A' itself is chain stitched, I might have satin stitched it but I felt that it was too large. It is instead chain stitched, I'm filling it with chain stitches.
Have a great day everyone!

Pillow cases

I started these pillow cases as a gift for a certain young lady who will be turning 10 the day before the royal wedding. But (there's always a 'but' isn't there?) they didn't work up as quickly as I expected so I gave her something else this time and will pass these on to another gift-needer when I finish them.

 this is a chain store kit. the colors were sort of subdued and drab to me, so I changed them to seem more like the colors a 10 year old girl dreams about.

 I also added a bit of beading on the butterflies. But, alas this project will have to wait as it has become sidelined by another. Not to worry, I'll get back to it, besides she has another birthday next year1

time for a change

I changed the layout and look of this blog today, I'm hoping that you find the colors tranquil and the text easier to navigate. Let me know if it's not! I've also added a "home" button that I believe will take you to the most recent post if you get lost. You don't even have to click your heels!

red work is finished, well the embroidery part!

Last night I completed the embroidery on the red work crib quilt. My Mom wants to put it together and I'm happy to turn it over to her capable hands! There are 22 different stitches in it. It was almost like a sampler for me, only I'm not going to keep it...

It is said that the Amish, when making a quilt will purposely mess up if the quilt has no mistakes in it because only God is perfect. I've not had that problem... there are many mistakes in this embroidery!   I'm not perfect and I enjoyed making it. 

...yep probably shouldn't have used a blanket stitch for the bunny's ears...

...loved satin stitching the ball...

...it's funny how I remember what was gong on as I stitched, Husband and I were watching a PBS program about the history of whaling in America as I stitched this one. I gave the cat on the right curly hair!...

...so here is where the biggest "oops" is most evident - unless you see these up close. Half way through this project I ran out of the red I was using. It was from an economy bag of 6 stranded cotton floss. I forgot to take some of the floss to A.C.Moore (the craft store that I use) so of course I chose a red that was much darker than the red I started with. I'm planning to tea dye the entire quilt when it's finished to help mellow them both out. The first red is bright with yellow/orange undertones. The second is darker with blue undertones. Such is life...

I don't yet know who will end up with the quilt. But I prayed for the receiver a lot while I stitched. Here are the rest of the panels they are pretty self explanatory. I hope you enjoy looking at them.

My next project is a pre-printed set of pillowcases with a matching dresser scarf. I thought the colors were bland. After all the red I'm ready for some pastels. I'm going out on a limb with this one, it will be fantasy colored. After all they are pillow cases, they should be dreamy! Have a great safe weekend. Walk with God.

books, books, books

Our county (public) library had a book sale last weekend. 450,000 books for sale. Some were withdrawn library books others were donated from private citizens others yet were donated by used book stores. We came out with a total of 8 boxes (I think!). We are just now cataloging them on Library Thing. So far we have found many first editions and even 2 signed first editions, and 2 birthday card tucked inside. It may take us till the rapture to catalog them all and some we will give away to friends and loved ones but no matter what we will enjoy them!

Exercise With God

When it seems like a subject seems to keep popping up in my life, banging me on the head, I know it's time to grab ahold and  take a good look. Recently I have repeatedly come across 2 things...The idea of exercise as compared to refraining from sin. And an aching longing for a deeper relationship with My Lord. I realize that these are 2 huge topics and in a way they are related, I could apply easily the idea of exercise to spiritual discipline and thus grow spiritually. Furthermore when I say I long for a deeper relationship with the Lord I mean that I long to be able to see and understand things the way that the old ones did. Jonathan Edwards, William Perkins, Matthew Henry, C H Macintosh, they had a much deeper understanding of Gods word and knew Him better for it. That's what I want. We are far less Bible literate today than those who traveled the  road before us. Why? How can this be when we have so much information at our very finger tips! It is simply because we don't read it. We don't take the time to read, study and learn God's word. Even in Christian circles we talk of godliness, modesty, child discipline, frugality...I want to talk about GOD! About what His word says about Him. He Himself. What did you speak of yesterday with your friends at church?  Did you sit quietly before the service and meditate on Why you were there? Did you seek your friends and discuss the things of the world? Do you want more of Him? I do, and I'm excited about it!

   Now for the part about exercising... the principle of this is; exercise, be it physical, mental or spiritual is difficult and painful at first. But it does get easier over time the more we do it. I know this is so simple it sounds ridiculous. But even though it is simple we don't practice it! It hurts to say "no, I'm not gonna eat that (fill in the blank)." I outright panic and get cranky sometimes if I deny myself something I want. This is the painful part of exercising wisdom in food choices. But over time it does get easier (doesn't it dieters?). Depending on your situation this is also an exercise of your deny-sin muscle. OUCH!  *alert, bunny trail dead ahead* I have often said "you wouldn't go into a church and empty a garbage can all over the place, so why if your body is the temple of the Living God would you do it to your body with junk food? (assuming you are a Christian as described in the Bible then,  Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are. 1Corinthians 3:16,17 ) *alert,  bunny trail abruptly ends here*

How often do we whine saying "I'd do anything to lose weight" when what we really mean is - "I'd go through the drama of surgery to lose weight quickly". The truth is we won't do anything because anything would include eating a reasonable amount of healthy food and exercising daily, and that is very thing we won't do. The same is true of spiritual exercise. We will be on any committee, bake any amount of brownies, do any number of shallow "bible" studies *EEK, another bunny trail* why is it that in so many 'bible studies" ladies open up a book other than the Bible? *okay, back to our topic* but we are not wiling to open God's word and learn it. Prayerfully, diligently, giving God our time, effort, patience, love and worship? The answer: because it's as hard as eating a reasonable amount of healthy food and exercising daily! I heard a wonderful speaker once who wisely opened up the verse Hebrews 5:12.   "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food."  He said "not to be gross but, milk is food that someone has already digested for you." Milk is easy for us to take in and digest the work has already been done. Meat has to be chewed swallowed and digested. It takes a lot more work on our part! Oh, but dear sister in Christ, what reward we have as we work, and especially at the end!

I am thankful that you read my blog, but please close it now and open God's word.  

  

Hand embroidery - redwork

I've started a redwork lapquilt or crib quilt. It's called sunbonnet girls by Jack Dempsey needle art. I think I got it about 10 years ago at BenFranklin Crafts for $5. You don't have to buy a pattern though, that's part of the beauty of hand embroidery. I hope to get into that more later. Hand embroidery is something that I love, love, love to do. Being a true crafter I float from one project to another but I always come back to embroidery. I love trying to make my stitches small and even. I get excited to try new stitches. I like that it doesn't have to take a lot of fancy, expensive tools. It's not especially messy, and you can embroider anything on anything - well almost anything! So far I have used the following stitches: split stitch, chain, backstitch, lazy daisy, french knots and stem stitches. Let me know if you want tutorials on any of the stitches you see, I'd be happy to post them.

The hard stuff of Hypotonia

   I sometimes become bogged down in the hard stuff of life. Don't we all? I spent the weekend feeling like an awful mother because of Sparrow’s needs. You see, I get these obscure explanations about her needs. The "why's" and "how much's" are never explained to me in a way that I can still agree with them after the person who is here to help, leaves. Don't all babies walk on their toes? Aren't all babies flat footed? Why does she need a Developmental Therapist? How far behind is she? What happens after she turns 3 and we are out of the program? How horrible of a mother am I when she needs a therapist to help her with every part of her life? Oh, the accusations. Are they pushing her to hard? Would I be selfish and cruel to her if I refuse the care that trained professionals tell me she needs? Can you hear my heart breaking?
   There are no answers to some of my questions. Even her diagnosis is vague. Even though I can see the results of it for myself. But this I have - I have a God who knows no puzzle or mystery. He knows no confusion or vagueness. He knows all of Adelaide. He knows her smile and her DNA. He loves her! He loves me. In Him I will place my trust. In His careful hands I will place my precious daughter. I ask Him to confound their efforts if they have alterior motives. I ask Him to heal her pain. I ask Him to bless her life, to make her His own. I ask Him for wisdom in raising her to be the woman He wants her to be. Ya know what? He answers me. He answers me because He loves us. Because of His love for us I know I can trust Him. His love which He proved over 2000 years ago.