FIVE!

Today is our fifth anniversary! David has been such a wonderful blessing to me and I am so thankful for God's faithfulness in our life together! It has been a busy five years, but a good five years! I love you and am thankful for you, David!

When we bought our wedding rings, our jeweler suggested that every five years, we add a diamond to David's wedding band. He loved the idea and is thrilled with his new addition:

I will write in his journal again this year and he has dinner plans, place unknown to me yet!

You can read more about our wedding here. Thank you, Heather, for the fun pictures taken at The Glen where we were married five years ago!

She senses the worth of her work...

It's been a while since I visited this series - but just finished this latest project continuing on in Proverbs 31!

"She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night." ~ Proverbs 31: 17-18

When I read this passage, the words that jumped out at me were, "her work." What is her work? How is she doing it? Why is she doing it? When is she doing it?

Her work is everything encompassing the home: caring for those who live in her home, caring for her home, for their clothing, for preparation of their food, it is everything mentioned in this passage that we have already talked about and that is still to come.

She is doing her work with vigor - working at it with her whole heart, with energy and not with a begrudging attitude. I love how The Message captures this passage:

"First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started. She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for the day." ~ Proverbs 31:17-18

She is eager and ready to do the work that lays before her. The work that God has called her to. And, I think this is why she is doing it so willingly - God has called her to do it. He has laid the path before her and she follows that path with a joy and eagerness that please Him.

It would be easy to wonder when she is doing all of these many things. How does she have time to care for all of those responsibilities? It seems that the answer is in both her attitude about her work and her priority of her work.

She does not save her work until all the fun things are completed and then squeeze in a bit of cleaning or caring for her home or family. She is up with an attitude of eagerness to get started. She knows how to set limits on her time and to put her home and family first, thereby putting God and His calling on her life first.

I thought it would be fun to create a project where hopefully we could remember these thoughts while we are cleaning or working in our homes. To make something pretty and hopefully make cleaning a little more fun, improving our attitude about it and reminding us of why we are doing it and Who we are striving to please.

We're going to create a pretty spray bottle and rag for cleaning! Please join me, and as always - I'd love to see pictures if you make this!

Supplies:
* Spray bottle with label removed or a new one with no label
* Fabric
* Hot glue
* Scissors
* Fine tip marker
* Ribbon
* Wash rag
* Small fabric scraps
* Needle and thread
* Embroidery floss

Let's start with the spray bottle. Begin by cutting a piece of scrap paper that will fit the height and width of the spray bottle. Just the part you want to cover.

Once you have your paper template, lay out your fabric and cut about 1/2 inch bigger than the template all the way around.

Next, cut a small band of fabric. You'll want this piece to go all the way around your bottle, but it won't be nearly as wide - just as an accent. I cut mine with pinking shears and then flipped it over to create a contrast.

I wrote right on the skinny piece of fabric using a fine tip Sharpie - center as much as possible.


Make sure your hot glue gun is ready and fold about 1/4 - 1/2 inch of the main piece of fabric to the underneath side. You can press this if you want, but I just worked in small sections.

When you have a small section folded under - you'll want to run a line of glue around the bottom edge of the space you are covering on your bottle. And, attach fabric to the glue. Repeat all the way around for the top and bottom edge leaving the seam unfinished for now.

To finish off the back seam, fold remaining piece over to create a clean edge and hot glue in place:

Now, with your contrasting band of fabric - glue one edge just over the seam edge centered where you want it on your bottle.

Fold over the remaining edge for a clean finish:

and glue in place:

Tie a length of ribbon around the bottle and put a dab of hot glue under the knot to secure it in place:


With a second length of ribbon create one loop on each side:

Then, create a second loop on each side and use ends of ribbon on bottle to secure into a bow:

Moving on to the next part of the project, you'll need a washrag or whatever you like to clean with. I found these washcloth "mitts" at Target on the clearance rack.

To begin, get out your fabric scraps and trace a mason jar lid on the back side. Repeat three times. If you're already familiar with how to make yo-yo's, just go ahead and make them however you like.

Cut circles out and thread a needle with coordinating thread.

Folding over a tiny edge, stitch all the way around the edge of the circle:

Here's how it will look when you've finished the stitching:

Next, place one finger in the middle of your fabric and pull the strings to gather the stitching together:

Once it is all gathered, stitch a few of the gathers together at a time to secure it in place:

Bring your threaded needle down through the center:

And stitch in place to your cloth, I did three across:

Next, I threaded my needle with a length of floss using all strands and created the stems to my "flowers":

And, using the same method as stitching the stems, stitched on the words "willing hands" above my yo-yo flowers:

PS: Dawn mentioned the term willing hands in a recent comment and it has stuck in my mind ever since! That was the inspiration for using that in this project!

All finished! I hope you'll enjoy using these cleaning items, not only to make cleaning more fun, but to remember our inspiration behind why we do what we do and Who we do it for!

Living with Discipline 4

Who oversees the training I require?

I have lived most of my life in places with a strong military presence. Growing up, we visited the Air Force Academy with lots of out of town company and would tour the visitors center learning what life was like for those who lived there. We'd see cadets out training and walking in formation and I'd wonder what life was really like for those who chose that walk. We could gain a lot from thinking about the disciplines of the military in thinking of our training in discipline.

Serving our country requires everything that a man or woman can give. It is physically and mentally challenging, and requires great training and discipline.

When I think of a young recruit just beginning the military journey - my mind immediately thinks "Boot Camp" - an intense training program designed to help create a disciplined member of this country's military. One who will follow directions, be dedicated and hard working, take orders and be committed to what they have signed up for not just for the short term but for the long haul.

These training exercises are overseen by Drill Instructors (a job I would never want and one that seems taxing to the very extreme) who ensure that those under them are trained properly and will contribute to the overall good of those they will be serving with.

Carrying this analogy on just a bit more - it is though I am in spiritual boot camp with God as my drill instructor. He is the one who has laid this burden on my heart and shown me the things that need to change - now He is the one who will carry it on to His desired goal.

Philippians 1:6, "... being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

I have responsibilities to carry out as He shows me what to do and how to follow. But, the leadership is His. Attempting to take this on myself completely would simply be setting myself up for failure.

Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength."

Lord,

Thank You for showing me my weaknesses in the area of discipline. Please oversee every step of realizing I need to grow in this area. I want to be in your army and be a true and pure witness for You. Boot camp does not sound easy or really even fun - but thank You for giving me the strength to do it and the desire to be made more holy.

It is in Your Name I pray and for Your glory,
Amen.

Pedestals

On my heart and mind this weekend is this idea of pedestals. After reading Joy's post, a phone call from a friend a week ago and other comments - it seems that this is something on several minds and hearts at the moment.

Ladies, are we putting one another that we read about through our blogs up on pedestals? Are we looking at one another and noticing that she has a beautifully decorated home, well planned events, is a great cook, has well behaved children or a thoughtful husband and feeling like we don't have those things?

God has uniquely gifted us - He has made us in HIS image! He looked at His creation and said it was good. When we wish we were like someone else or had different gifts or talents, is that honoring the way He created us?

I like to picture each of us as a puzzle piece that God gave a specific shape and purpose - we fit together to make a beautiful picture as a whole - but if we decide we want to be a different piece, the picture won't end up beautiful.

There are many wonderful things we can learn from one another, ideas we can share, encouragement and friendship. This is wonderful and is really why I love blogging!

We must make sure that our measuring stick is God and His Word. When we read other blogs and begin to feel discontent with who we are or what God has blessed us with - we must return to His Word. When we read an idea or thought we love - let's take it to God and measure it against His Word and make sure it is His will for us, for our home, for our family, for our situation!

Let's save those pedestals for elevating His Word, the light of His truth and the glory of His name to those around us!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Good morning! I hope you all had a great weekend with those you love -

Our little family had lots of sickness floating around - so we were all feeling a bit puny. But, we did manage to have fun together on Saturday just laying around, watching movies, snuggling and eating lots of heart shaped foods!

Emily and Rachel were feeling particularly low - so they began the day snuggled up in the kitchen while I made breakfast!

I made heart shaped pink pancakes with sprinkles, strawberries and pink milk. We read Biscuit's Valentine and 1 Corinthians 13:

At the little ladies places was a cute new dress I found on Target clearance after Christmas:

Samuel enjoyed his pancake too!

For lunch, I had planned heart shaped pasta - but the girls were not up to that, they wanted toast. So - I made heart shaped cinnamon toast instead! David brought me these beautiful roses and I had fun arranging them in a thrifted vase!

I had thought about having a candlelight dinner and moving our table in front of the fireplace, getting all dressed up and having a very formal and fancy dinner in the evening. But, since we weren't feeling well, I skipped the dressing up and formal part - but still moved that table for a cozy candlelight dinner in front of the fire.

The little ladies had small princess Valentine's at their places and we enjoyed the beautiful roses! I made pizza with heart shaped pepperoni just like we had done last year and planned to open some special chocolates for dessert, but we skipped that part and just let them enjoy their princess Valentine candy.

It was a good day and I think everyone is feeling a little better now! We also had a little Valentine tea party on Friday morning all set up for Grandma when she came over to watch the girls while I went to lunch with a friend:

Keeping It Real: The Update

Thanks so much for all of your comments on my post the other day. There were many good suggestions and one that was pretty consistent was not to have both ladies helping at the same time.

Several of you made me laugh out loud and I was encouraged in the fact that we, as mothers, understand one another and are walking a very similar road to one another. It is a blessing to have others who "get" us and who can support us along the way.


The next day went much better. We had planned to go to Bible Study at church for the first time in months and Emily woke with a cough and Samuel was coughing terribly. So, our plans changed. Emily requested pancakes and that is how our morning began.


Emily wanted to sit up on the kitchen counter and watch me cook - which turned into her helping some and Rachel sitting on the counter too. It was fine - we had fun and I did not lose my patience. I did set more limits and only allowed one helper at a time. I tried to think of little things they could do to help.

We made piggy pancakes and we tinted the batter pink, a huge hit with the pink-loving-ladies! Fixing this breakfast and enjoying it together took us until nearly 9:30! But, that was ok - we were together and enjoying being together. It was good.


The ladies played with play dough at the table while I cleaned up the kitchen and then we headed outside to work on the garden (not planting yet, but putting a walk way in) and they played so wonderfully together for an entire hour. I was thanking God as I worked in the garden for the way they were playing and for the blessing of a day going smoother than the one before.


Jamie sent me this prayer from The Power of a Praying Parent which fits perfectly with the struggles I shared ~

Lord,

I submit myself to You. I realize that parenting a child in the way You would have me to is beyond my human abilities. I know I need You to help me. I want to partner with You and partake of Your gifts of wisdom, discernment, revelation, and guidance. I also need Your strength and patience, along with a generous portion of Your love flowing through me. Teach me how to love the way You love. Where I need to be healed, delivered, changed, matured, or made whole - I invite You to do that in me. Help me to walk in righteousness and integrity before You. Teach me Your ways, enable me to obey Your commandments and do only what is pleasing in Your sight. May the beauty of Your Spirit be so evident in me that I will be a godly role model. Give me the communication, teaching, and nurturing skills that I must have. Make me the parent You want me to be and teach me how to pray and truly intercede for the life of this child. Lord, You said in Your Word, 'Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.' (Matthew 21:22) In Jesus' name I ask that You will increase my faith to believe for all the things You've put on my heart to pray for concerning this child."

Anyway, I am thankful for the blessings of hard days which draw me closer to God and the blessing of easier days which are such an encouragement to me.

Incidentally, the carrot cake was delicious (though I am the only one who likes it) and we redeemed the opportunity by frosting them and decorating with a huge number of sprinkles! Emily even said at the end, "this is fun!" Thank You, Lord...

Valentine Hearts & Garland

When I was with my Mom, we went to one of our favorite stores and I saw some cute Valentine items. I decided that I could figure out how to make a couple of them, but have only gotten around to trying this one!

These little hearts are so easy - I freehand cut a heart and hand stitched on the corduroy heart. Then, I stitched around the outside edge of the heart and stuffed with filling. I have only made two - but I picture them in some neat apothecary type jars on top of my china cabinet someday.

Note: the original ones I saw had calico as the top fabric - but I looked and looked and didn't see anything I liked. I found this brown with pink polka dots as a remnant for 12 cents! Gotta love that!


Next up - Emily has been especially interested in Valentine's Day this year. Including wanting to decorate her room! I saw this idea via Crafty Crow and made it in one evening for less than $2! The little ladies love it!

Find a list of previous Valentine ideas here. I am feeling a bit uninspired as to how we will celebrate Valentine's Day around here - what are the rest of you planning?