Quilt is Quilted!

Our first granddaughter is due in December, perhaps on her Nana's birthday; which would be the 20th or her Grandma's; which is the 19th! Our son, Reggie, is the new Daddy and we're all getting excited for Marlee's arrival.

We had a church shower for them this past Saturday and here are pictures of the quilt that I made. It's the first one that I actually quilted and it was so rewarding to finish it! Thanks to a good friend, I was able to get it done before their shower... YAY!

Quilt Top:

Quilt after it the three layers were basted... until I learned I had done it wrong and my good friend assisted me in making it easier to do!


Reggie and Porscha opening quilt - I think it was a surprise!

Here I am holding my completed quilt. It is folded in half...

I have fabric purchased for next one but I will wait until after Christmas to begin it. Until Christmas I have a few other projects I am working on... rice pillows to be exact.

Next on my list is to complete our December calendar. That is another thing I learned from "Unplug the Christmas Machine." I try and get all the activities and things we're doing the whole month so that there's not the big build-up to Christmas and then it's over in one day. It worked real well last year and I'm hopeful it will do the trick this year, too!

It's such a relief to be done shopping so I can focus and my family and minstering to others this month.

Attitude of Gratitude

Last year Paco learned a song at school called "An Attitude of Gratitude." Its lyrics say how an attitude of gratitude is pleasing to the Lord. I can't help but think of this song today.

As the turkey is roasting, the sweet potatoes are mashed and the cranberry orange sauce is made, I am grateful.

Grateful for... a warm home. I don't say this lightly, either. I cried when the news devoted a whole section to the care of pets "in these terribly cold conditions" and how they brought in portable heaters to keep the temperature at 60 degrees when the power went out at the pound.... and the images I saw through my tears were of moma's and their children freezing in their car because they don't have a home.... men and women huddled up trying to stay alive...little ones crying because they are hungry and cold. And I was angry at our news. Then I thought of our service men and women recently deployed - in terrible war conditions and we are educating people how to care for their pets in the winter on our 10:00 news.

I'm grateful for healthy children... I didn't realize how rarely we were sick until Paco had a terrible fever the other day and we didn't know why! Still don't. But I realized how often others are ill and I'm so thankful for our health.

I'm grateful for my children. I miss them this year. Half of them won't be here and it's just not the same at all.

I'm grateful for a husband who loves me and I him. I'm grateful for our marriage.

The turkey is done - what are you grateful for this year?

Beloved Disciple

I'm 5 weeks into the Bible Study, Beloved Disciple, by Beth Moore. It's the first corporate study I've done in years and years. Too many years to count, actually. It's..... awesome.... powerful.... life giving.... life changing.... amazing.

Today's thought that I want to share is:

"Moving a mountain is nothing compared to changing a selfish, destructive heart." Beth Moore

If ever there was a selfish destructive heart, the Lord truly knows mine was one. I'm so thankful today for the amazing love of Jesus and the grace he extends to me.

Christmas Pledge Update!

In 2008, I brought you this pledge:

The Christmas Pledge

Believing in the true spirit of Christmas, I commit myself to:

*Remember those people who truly need my gifts.

*Express my love in more direct ways than gifts.

*Examine my holiday activities in light of my deepest values.
*
*Be a peacemaker within my circle of friends and family.

*Rededicate myself to my spiritual growth.

From "Unplug the Christmas Machine"

I also pledge to:

~ Have a debt-free Christmas. If I can't afford it - I won't buy it!

Last year, I brought you this post! Sharing ideas on economic gift ideas and sharing with you how we were staying on budget through the gift giving season...

This year, I want to share our daughter's wish lists with you to show you how far we've come since introducing "Unplug the Christmas Machine" several years ago.

M's list:
1. Gas Money :)

2. Overcome - a movie (she wants us to have as a family)

3. Books by Jane Austen and Jane Peart

4. Any other book you think I'd like

S's list:

1. NIV Bible

2. Book - Jaguar by Roland Smith

3. Socks - white and black any length

4. Barbies (to model clothes she is making)

5. Material/Fabric (to make clothes for Barbies)

6. Gift Cards - Starbucks, Moxie Java and iTunes

When they gave me their lists, I looked for the "big ticket item." The one big thing on their list... it's not there! They both confessed that they didn't "need" anything and honestly their want list is very small. It's not that they couldn't come up with a bunch of wants but they're learning that those things don't/can't fill the void that only Jesus can!

Needless to say, I am humbled by how far we've come as a family. From spending over $1,000 on immediate family gifts to way below half that now. From charging to "make Christmas happen..." to saving and only spending Christmas money for Christmas.

God is good. He has brought us a long way. It's a good place to be and yes, all my Christmas shopping is done. I can now focus on the real important stuff - meals, story time, lights, TIME! I don't have to be the stressed out, broke (and broken) mommy and wife anymore. Like I said, it's a good place to be.

Fall Life

School started and fall has arrived in all its glory of gorgeous leaves, crisp cool weather and harvest! This means canning and prepping for winter!

One of the things I've wanted to learn how to do for years is sew. This past June my friend took the challenge and has been working with me ever since! I am even enrolled in a beginners quilting class!

Here is the first (and only so far) quilt I have done. It is tied, not quilted...

Front of the rail fence quilt:

Back of quilt. I used a real nice big fleece to make it cozy warm:

Back and Front to see colors...

I made this for Sky's 13th birthday. I am very pleased with my first attempt but am truly looking forward to all the cool things I will learn in my class. I learned many things NOT to do with this one and that's okay! She loves it and so do I.

Other projects I'm working on: aprons, class quilt and several dream quilts are in the making! Add canning, apple butter plans and life with kids and you can see why I haven't been on here much!

Enjoy fall - I know I am!

Simply Simplify

I have been working on ways to simply simplify our lives. Here are some other people's ideas I am way excited about:

Bulk Breakfast Burritos: Convenient, Cheap, Healthy, and Easier Than You Think. I am going to make these up for the kids to have before school so they get the stuff they need while not taking forever in the mad rush that tends to happen each school morning! What I love about this recipe is I can easily make it with all organic ingredients that I already have stocked! Perfect!!! Plus, i can see DH taking some on his way out the door to work. Win-Win!

I was given a subscription to MaryJane's Farm and have truly enjoyed it! In it, I find Simple Solutions to Everyday Organic. I've been challenged and stretched to do things differently and how to go about doing it!

I'm also learning that to simply simplify, for me, means slowing down, taking time to see what Jesus actually wants me to do and listening to His will. He does speak to me, I just have to stop and be still long enough to listen. When I do, I find I a result tends to be simply simplifing!

Old Quaker

An Old Quaker

I want to be an old Quaker. For to me, that means having arrived to speak my mind. That does not mean that I don’t already speak my mind but being an old Quaker means I actually SHOULD speak my mind. By then, my mind and heart and soul shall be so intertwined I shall truly have something to say!

Don’t get me wrong, we all have a voice and should use it – often. And we do. Okay, I do. I speak. I think I sometimes I have something to say. And hopefully others think I do to.

To be an Old Quaker… to sit… in the midst of Jesus wherever I am - whatever I am doing is to “have arrived.” And I’m guessing I won’t even know it. For it seems, with being an Old Quaker I have found the virtue of humbleness. And I’m sure by then; I won’t think I’m close to arriving. Similar to how I feel now, perhaps?

To be an Old Quaker and when I speak to have others nod their heads and smile with awe with knowing that an Old Quaker has spoken.

I don’t think being an Old Quaker and age are related but time spent with Jesus plays a most important part of the transformation from being a Young Quaker to being an old one.

Have I offended with the term Old Quaker? I hope not for that is not my intention, whatsoever! The opposite is intended – praise and humble adoration to those who have plowed through generations of our worldly crap. (I’m sure an Old Quaker won’t use that word, either. Sorry, Mom/Dad.)

An Old Quaker has been around the block. They have seen the life cycle of our times come and go and come again. The issues that have been debated and discerned over time are being debated and discerned again. And they have endured through them all. They have come out the other side wiser, more humble, more transformed, more Quaker.
Who are these Old Quakers of whom I speak? They are the ones who, when they speak, you listen. Arthur R spoke today and I tell you what… I listened. He is an Old Quaker. He hit the nail on the head when saying we have one virtue in common left anymore and that is tolerance. Oh my, if you weren’t there, it was a moment I’m glad I did not miss! Alice M, you are an Old Quaker! Your heart and soul and mind are so intertwined and linked so closely to Jesus, I love being in your presence. Dorothy K, an Old Quaker I get to spend much time with shows me how gentleness and love pave the way for open doors in accepting people in Jesus’ name. My list goes on and on of Old Quakers I just can’t get enough of. I wish they spoke more often but honestly, they don’t have to! I owe much to those who have walked before me as Friends and am blessed personally to be part of this awesome family.

Today, I am honored to be a Quaker. I will keep running my race and know that when I finish and go to my heavenly home, I want to be like Jesus and I see Him in my Old Quakers.

As Brooke Fraser sings:

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like You have loved me
Break my heart for what breaks Yours
Everything I am for Your Kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity