Sunday, November 8, 2009
oh no. Where have I been?
I have been surrounded by loving friends who are fulfilling any possible inklings of empty nest syndrome! It is amazing, this work that God does... I haven't had the chance to be very lonely at all.
So this is to say I haven't forgotten my blog, just regrouping a bit and hoping to have some pix to share soon! On my needles right now is "the other" sock for Ninja Man. On another set of needles are booties for some fave twin friends!
Stay tuned and check back soon for the latest!
God Bless!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Sister Barb's Birthday Card and a Little Gift
Anyway, in my quest to try to remember special events (Okay, I rarely do, but my heart is in it!) I decided to make Barb a little something for her birthday.
Check the end of this post for links to each of the product lines mentioned!
First is this nifty tile that holds a little pad of post-it notes. Don't we just love post-its? What I didn't love was it kept falling off the tile since the sticky on the note isn't really strong enough to hold the whole pad up. I added adhesive from my cardmaking supplies and voila, success!
What made it difficult: trying to put into words what my sis means to me. Always a challenge since I love them both so much!
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Baby oh Baby!
So John and I, wanting to spend some quality time with our grandson, offered to sit in the back while The Boy and wife rode up front. Thankfully, one of the dogs is theirs and she rode with them. Our pups were angels the whole way, riding in our laps. Asher was the best of all, a great sport even though he had to sit for almost four whole hours.
The speaking engagement went well and I made a new friend in the process. God blessed me so much I can hardly count the many blessings.It was a wonderful weekend. Baby time, pups in lap, meeting sisters in Christ and a safe trip home. God is good all the time. All the time God is GOOD!
Breaking news: I just snarked these from my daughter in law Emily's Facebook! I'm totally smitten with this little guy...

Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Disclaimer!
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Handmade Jalie cloth diapers with PUL!
The pattern was not difficult but only because there is a video on the website you can use. I couldn't have made it without the video!
The inside is flannel.
Note that it is indeed a Noah's Ark print. After all, we are expecting a flood or two in this diaper. So anyway, I prewashed it and it is soft as a baby's... well, you get the idea...it's soft. The strip lying beside the diaper is the liner. Check this GREAT idea out: another friend Rachel, who has newborn twins and a 3 year-old said you can use a maxi pad for the inside! How cool is that? What an awesome idea! I will recommend this to Emily, AshMan's mom.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Ultimate porch swing
I couldn't believe it! My Ultimate Porch Swing was going to really happen.
Having napped a time or two on this wonderful thing reminds me that our ancestors had a great idea with the sleeping porches they used back in the day. Nothing like a cool Savannah night, curled up in a heavy quilt while swaying with the breeze.
Thanks Ninja, thanks dad. I love it.
Sock it to me! THE KNITTED SOCK!
Here it is. THE sock.Yes, finally.
Why is this a big deal, you ask? Well, considering I had so very many restarts on the grandson's baby socks that he outgrew them before I finished them, this one only took 3 tries and about 3 weeks!
I'm kinda full of myself right now.
But then I realize that my husband actually needs TWO of these... and I'm back to reality.
So I'm getting up my double pointed size 5's and this wonderful Italian yarn (can't find the label but I will update when I do to tell you what brand it is) and I'm starting on the next sock. This one will be easier because I think I've figured out all the hard stuff now.
My friend and neighbor Heather and my new friend Margaret at Unwind yarn in Savannah are the most patient sock teachers EVER, by the way!
I'm also thankful that I recorded Knitty Gritty on a day that Stephanie Pearl-McPhee was on! She was great in her instruction and I could pause her as much as I needed and play it back!
So that's my story... I guess now I can stuff a sock in it! :0)
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
God's Certain Security
Certain Security
People are worried about their finances these days. Saving for the future is a big deal. Working hard to have savings, checking balances, watching stock exchange reports, it's all part of the everyday. Economic turns in the past many months prove that many of the most solvent planners have lost big time.
When young people marry and start their lives together, love is enough to see them through. Nearly 33 years ago my husband John and I set up our household with mom and dad's sofa, a delightfully decorative Spanish L-shaped monstrosity that had some sort of gold corduroy fabric covering its cushions. The black wood was striking against the faded gold fabric that had somewhat survived through many years of four kids jumping on it and adults napping upon its former luxuriousness.
But we were grateful for having something to sit on, and love saw us through.
Our cars were old. One was a 1966 Plymouth Fury. It was a land shark, which might be cool to have now but back then it was like driving that Spanish sofa monstrosity along city streets. The other was a 1968 Grand Prix. He and I bought this when we were dating. It cost $850 and we combined our measly paychecks to make payments for nine whole months. I spent a lot of frightening moments as I had to pour gasoline straight into the carburetor. More than once a flame shot up as I started the vehicle. Putting gas into the engine was a prerequisite for driving, as it often wouldn't start without it.
Just as we were thankful for the ugly sofa we were also grateful for having something to drive because we were kids in love and we didn't care. And even though I was stranded more than once along the highway, love was enough to see us through those times.
When we began buying "nice" things, we could only afford the kind of stuff you have to put together yourself. A book of instructions would be spread out on the floor with parts strewn about. We would help one another with each step until the project was complete. It was part of the whole "love" thing, and we enjoyed going through it together.
Economics are a fact of life, no doubt. But money shouldn't define us. It shouldn't matter if we have the latest and greatest of things. They will all end up in a heap at the dump one of these days. None of the "things" that we slave for are eternal. There's not one electronic or metal or plastic or paper that is going to be there when all is said and done, and there certainly isn't a human that will be there when all is said and done.
So what do we have? Ephesians 5: 5 says, "For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God." I love this because the Bible says "certainty." I have not been to a single bank or retail store that can offer "certainty." Money back guarantees? Sure, but certainty? I haven't seen anyone to offer that, ever. We need to consider if we are immoral, impure or covetous. Do we idolize our "things" or other people??
Embracing immorality and impurity, being covetous or idolizing isn't going to give us any eternal security of the biggest inheritance that is just waiting for us. What if we've already been these things? We have. We're human. We ask and God will forgive us for it and we can move on. Toward Him.
Forgiveness will be given. A brand new life is promised. A few verses further in Ephesians tell us, "...you were formerly darkness, but now you are the light in the Lord; walk as children of light."
Wow. We can toss out that tattered former life, the one we had to pour frightening things into just to keep it running. The one that was faded, ugly and worn and we can walk as children of light. Especially now, God's love is enough to see us through. His promise is certain. He gives us eternal security.
He's even given us a book of instructions. It's all just part of that whole "love" thing that God offers. The difference is that His won't fade or break down. It's forever.
And it's guaranteed.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Sweet Little Hoover Boy
He is so accustomed to our "quality" time that he waits for me to get settled, looks across at the shabby chic quilt I made, watches as I drape it over my legs, then he jumps up and snuggles in. I took this photo tonight as he was lying with me in my chair.Just as sure as I am typing this, I know for a fact that God sent this little angel to comfort me. He came into my life at the most perfect time and I love him dearly.
I thank God for the sweet wonders of life and the compassion and gentleness of this little dog who loves me unconditionally.





