Sew a fine Seam: January 2010

New Decor

Have you ever been to a Home Goods Swap? If not, I highly recommend that you throw one yourself. Here's how this one worked: Each person took 3 things from around their house(mostly home decor). One item was supposed to have a value of $10 to $15. The other 2 were to be around $5. All items should be things you still like but are ready to trade! Then the higher end items were placed in one group, with the other less high end items in the other group. After we ate a delightfully yummy lunch together, everyone drew a number out of a basket. Numbers 1 and 2 started by picking something from the 'high end' group w/ 3 and 4 following and so on. Then we each redrew numbers and started over w/ the 'not-so-high-end' stuff! We each had 2 turns there. It was fun; a great way to spend time w/ friends and a great way to rejuvenate my home decor w/out spending any money:) I love to decorate and it's always so fun to have new stuff to inspire me to redecorate. This way was so much more economical than a shopping trip!

Here is what I brought home w/ me. (sorry I forgot to take pics of what I took. it was stuff i still really liked but never seemed to find the right place for)

Glass jar. (i did the filling!)

Cute chippy white stool

The jars w/ the fake babys tears was Little Sister's choice! I gave her a few options on my last turn and this is what she picked. They look cute in the transom above the door in my kitchen.

Not a good idea.

This is what happens when your point turner gets under your iron and you don't know it. I wouldn't recommend it.

...in whatsoever state....

Philippians 4:11 says:
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

The translation that is fast becoming my favorite says it this way: ...Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.

I've thought of this a lot lately. Because I find myself very often NOT content. I don't like the cold weather. The snow makes things difficult when I have to take 3 girls out. My sewing/computer/school/craft room is not as warm as I would like. And the list could go on and on and on. But then I come back to "whatever situation". I think that means even when I'm cold. Even when the weather isn't what I would have ordered. Even when I don't like the temperature in the room I'm trying to work in.

So...instead of complaining I'm trying to think of the blessings and the positives instead. I still fail plenty of times. And then God gently whispers Philippians 4:11 to me and I have to stop and rethink. Yes, I will be very thankful when it warms up. Yes, my days are usually better when the sun shines. Yes, I still complain some, but I'm working on it! I'll never be perfect but HE is and with His help I CAN be content whatever my situation. (even when it's cold and windy!!)

A school day in January

This is what a typical school day looks like around here lately. Yes, I do realize they are wearing their pajamas. And that their hair isn't combed. I was probably in my jammies too. But maybe not. I do get dressed more often than they do. Jammies are warm and cozy on cold winter days. (hasn't seemed to cut down on the laundry pile - how is that possible??)

I was inspired by this post. Made me feel way better about our homeschool habits lately:) Check it out, it'll help your outlook on raising kids in general:)

If God be for us....

We live most of our lives unconvinced that God is really for us. We have little trouble picturing ourselves on God's side, but for the life of us we can't picture God stooping down enough to be on ours. Even though we'll say things and sing things to the contrary, we live as if we believe down in the hidden places of our hearts and minds that God at best tolerates us. And lucky we are at that!" -Beth Moore

Do you ever feel this way? This hit me hard. I'd never really stopped to think of it this way, but all of a sudden, there it was in black and white. Exactly how I feel "in the hidden places of [my] heart and mind." Wow. Time to clean house. Time to reclaim all the promises God has given me about His love and provision for me. Even on a human level I would have to be totally 'for' someone to do half the things for them that God does for me. I've been blessed by this, and I hope I can remember - GOD IS FOR ME.
HE LOVES ME. HE WANTS THE BEST FOR ME. HE IS INTERESTED IN EVERY ASPECT OF MY LIFE. HE TRULY CARES. HE IS THERE TO FIGHT MY BATTLES FOR ME. I JUST NEED TO GET OUT OF THE WAY!!

"One of you routs a thousand, because the LORD your GOD fights for you, just as he promised. So be very careful to love the LORD your GOD. -Joshua 23:10-11

A few old pictures but very fitting tonight! GO COLTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A texting conversation I had w/ a friend over Christmas.

J - "Larke is going to be so jealous.

Me - Why??

J - "He broke his arm last nite!

Me - HOW did that happen ????

J - "Well you know...Finn was it and Clark was running and blah blah blah. Very much drama. Blue Cast.

Me - "Those Virginia Boys!!! Were you at ur Mom's?"

J - Oh yes. [my brother] has a dr. friend who put him in a sling last nite and his clinic put a cast on at 7am.

Clark and Larke. Oh yes, and a blue cast.

Puzzled

there was a puzzle we could work on at Grandma Bussey's this year. It turns out that Little Sister is very good at puzzles. I was flabergasted at how much she put together on her own. Needless to say we are going to be putting a puzzle together this winter!

Little Sister took a walk with her Daddy at Grandma-Great's

New Residents

Some of the new things that have come to live at our house since Christmas:)

New Year's Eve

We used Mom's old cupboard as our buffet line. So fun to put to use things you have in a unique way!

Chicken Salad and spinich salad. Yum.

Beer bread and dips from Tastefully Simple

Delicious punch - fill pitcher w/ lemon and orange slices and cover w/ white grape juice. Simple, beautiful, and yummy:)

Esther Price Candy and strawberries. Ahhhhh.

Cool Decor disks designed by Wendy Addison, sold by McMaster and Storm

thanks to my 'little' brother....

...we will be well entertained for awhile! (I think my sister and my mom had a little to do w/ it too!) Thank you all of you, it's so fun to have more 'options'!!!!

measuring cups from McMaster and Storm. I'm using them for drinking glasses (thanks Kara, for the idea!)

Scalloped scissors and petite pinking shears both from McMaster and Storm

Large serving bowl - McMaster and Storm!

Music detailed letters from Damask Design

My sis gave me this cool pitcher. It's technically for wine. Might get used for that but I'm sure I will find some other creative uses for it. Isn't it just the cutest?!

And my sister also gave me the 'baby' white pitcher to go with my 'momma' white pitcher that she gave me for my birthday:)
So how was your Christmas? Did you get lots of cool stuff? It's fun, giving and receiving gifts from family and friends. But even more 'fun' is knowing that we were all given the most precious gift over 2000 years ago when God sent His Son down to our humble level. That He walked this soil we walk on, breathed this air we breath, lived this life we live, felt all the joy and heartaches we feel, and then was willing to carry out the Father's plan - to suffer and die so we could live eternally - with Him. Amazing. What a gift. Will you receive it?? It can't be truly given unless it is accepted. We would be hurt, maybe devastated if someone refused a gift we had lovingly bought for them. How do we make God feel when we reject His gift? And how does Jesus feel when we reject Him, THE GIFT?? Freely given, choose to receive!!!!