On God's Goodness.....

I am so amazed everyday that God is good to me. It shouldn't amaze me. He has been being good to me for 38 years. I am amazed that God is good to others, as well. I read a book on infertility today...specifically about endometriosis.... God has blessed at least two close friends with babies after LONG infertility. I have web friend who has lost two babes. She has just found out that she is pregnant. How amazing. How wonderful. Her heart is scared. She is worried that she might not carry this new one to term. Would you, dear friend, pray for her? Her name is Beka. God is good. He is good even when the little one that we are carrying is taken to be with Him. He is good when the child we (I) expected to be so wonderful has issues that can't be explained. I doubt and I worry. Yet, through it all, God is good to me.
God has promised to take care of me. He knows the suffering and pain. He knows that I carry scars and wounds. Some of the wounds are a long time healing. They have to be cleaned and washed and bandaged. That is painful. But He is Jehovah-Rapha - the GREAT HEALER. He will heal the wounds. He will touch the scars.
God is good to me.

List for today!

1. Any nicknames? Reese, Tees

2. Mother's name? Carolyn
3. Favorite Drink?- Melissa's Lemonade Iced Tea and sparkling grape juice (could we work that into communion somehow?)
4. Body Piercing?-Yes, ears
5. How much do you love your job?- Sometimes it is overwhelming!
6. Birthplace: -- Memphis, TN

7. Favorite vacation spot? Florida Panhandle
8. Ever been to Africa ?-- No
9. Ever eaten cookies for dinner? - Yes
10. Ever been on TV? Nope
11. Ever steal any traffic sign? - Is it stealing if it was laying on the ground?
12. Ever been in a car accident? -- Yes
13. Drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle? - 4
14. Favorite salad dressing? - Blue Cheese and the Hot Bacon from Houston's
15. Favorite meat? Steak
16. Children?-- 6

17. Flown in hot air balloon?-- No
18. Pay bills online? -- Yes
19. Been divorced? - no
20. Ever steal something out of a store?- No
21. Slept longer than 15 hours? -- No
22. Favorite toothpaste?- Arm and Hammer Original
23. Favorite smell? - anything chocolate, Mark's cologne, Reed - fresh from the sun
24. Work on the computer -yes
25. Scuba dive?-- no, but not opposed
26. Kiss on a first date?- No
27. Furthest place you will send this message?-Germany
28. Who will respond to this post the fastest?- who knows!
29. Ever jump out of an airplane? Not really that interested in dying!!!!!

Favorite Heirloom Sewing Things

What is your favorite sewing pattern? Anything by Wendy Schoen

What is your favorite fabric? Pima cottons and cotton knits ( I love organdy and organza as well)

Buttons or zippers? BUTTONS!!

What kind of sewing machine do you have? An Elna Funstyler

What is your favorite item that you have ever sewn? One of these : Libby's Dedication Dress, Pippa's Dedication Dress or Ruth's Wedding Quilt

Where do you sew? Well, my sewing machine is in the living room, but I will sew anywhere that I am sitting still...ballet, baseball practice, long sermons, etc.

When do you sew? I used to sew lots at night, but now, I sew mostly in the daytime. After 10 pm, I can't sew anything or I get REALLY frustrated.

Do you use the iron? I NEVER used to. Now, I get it out everytime I am putting something together.

What is your relationship with the seam ripper? I HATE IT!

What is your favorite sewing store? Probably Lace Cottage, but there is a place in Pensacola that I like as well.

What sewing books to you recommend? The A-Z series by Country Bumpkin.

What is your favorite sewing magazine? Creative Needle

Post Partum Depression

I have a friend whose blog talked today about PPD. I think it is so sad that so many women still struggle with PPD and don't even realize it. I have had it 4 times and that is just about the thing I dread most about having babies. I LOVE being pregnant. I love looking forward to holding that new wee one in my arms. I love that smell of clean diapers and baby skin. I DO NOT LOVE feeling so sad that I just want to disappear. When my last baby was born, I sat and read Psalms over and over and over. I just claimed a single chapter and begged God to take away the sadness. I felt so paralyzed and unable to DO anything.
I am thankful that My FATHER is able to see past the depression to my heart. He met the needs that I had. He provided my sweet husband to help me and hold me. He provided my doctor who prescribed medication that helped me get back on my feet. He provided friends and family who helped with the Littles and brought food.
Zephaniah 3:17
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

A List for Today

1. Where is your cell phone? in my purse

2. Where is your significant other? at work

3. Your hair? medium

4. Your mother? fixing to be 60!

5. Your father? has an infection in his leg

6. Your favorite thing? learning

7. Your dream last night? don't remember

8. Your dream/goal? owning an heirloom sewing shop

9. The room you're in? my bedroom

10. Your fear? that my children will not make wise choices

11. Where do you want to be in 6 years? somewhere cold

12. Where were you last night? at Bible study

13. What you're not? a good housekeeper

14. Muffins? cranberry orange

15. One of your wish list items? a Nordic cruise

16. Where you grew up? Memphis, TN

17. The last thing you did? ate lunch

18. What are you wearing? white t-shirt (what else?) and red linen pants

19. Your TV? never on

20. Your pet? 14 yr. old Nina...a black, VERY tempermental, long-haired cat

21. Your computer? always on

22 Your life? busy by choice

23. Your mood? quiet and simple

24. Missing someone? yes

25. Your car? Mazda MPV in need of a good cleaning

26. Something you're not wearing? a hat

27. Your summer? art camp, Camp Good News, the swimming pool

28. Your favorite color? hot pink

29. When is the last time you laughed? with my sister this morning

30. Last time you cried? yesterday

COMPUTERS!!!

Sometimes I just want to scream when I use computers. They have a mind of their own. I know, I know, it is the "user" not the computer. NOPE! This computer is completely stubborn and tempermental. I should be able to sit down and tell the computer what I want. The computer in turn should do as I ask. It is very simple. MY computer however, has a different agenda than me. It does as it pleases, whenever it pleases. ARGH! It reduces me to absolute rage when I sit down, ready to give commands to the computer only to have it......ARGUE!?!?!?!? with me. This is without a doubt my greatest irritation! Well, my greatest irritation at the moment.
On the weather front, it is very hot here in the South. How did the folks who lived 100 years ago do it? I am sure that my northern European ancestors would have quaked in their boots if they had lived in this heat. I think that fair-skinned folks like myself (obviously of Nordic descent, ummm....) were meant to live where the snow is deep and the summers are virtually non-existent.
One other observation for today. Girls DEFINITELY are born wanting to tell boys what to do. I know this because I watch Muireann everyday.

A snapshot

I am thinking...
about meeting my sister and her children in just a bit for a time of sharing with one another. the children will play and we will plan a birthday tea for our Mama.


Somewhere near me....there is a patch of green....Himself has to take the weed-eater to it because the space is too small for the lawnmower. the sky is marvelously blue with scattered clouds

I am thankful...
for my sweet husband who looks at me with loving eyes....he sees in me the beauty that I can't see myself. also, i am thankful for my sweet wee ones who are growing so quickly. and I am most of all thankful for my Father who forgives me for running from Him and waits and listens when I share with Him.

In the sewing room...
I have a reversible baby bubble....it is royal blue with red, yellow, green and white dots. It is lined with white pique. I need to add a button and crotch snaps. Also, there is an "Ashley" bubble (from Children's Corner)made of tan and white gingham. It needs buttons and crotch snaps. I have plans for another outfit forming in my head. And, I am working on a "Mary De" - navy and white gingham with smocking of the Wizard of Oz.

From the kitchen...
just thinking about dinner....cornbread salad sounds good...but what to have with it? tomorrow, I am making Shrimp Mediterranean for Bible study.....I need to get everything ready for that

I am wearing...
pajamas....apricot plaid capris with a blue cotton t-shirt...nothing special...need to go shower

I am reading...
Careless in Red by Elizabeth George. It is the latest book in her "Inspector Lynley" series. I am also always reading whatever I can get my hands on. I got a new "No Greater Joy" magazine. That was interesting. Also, I am reading lots to figure out what I am using to homeschool this fall.

I am hoping...
that I make really good use of this week....spending time with the children and with Himself...enjoying the small break

I am hearing...
my three littlest children talking about Pokemon cards. Muireann has just woken up and she has her sleepy voice on....Reed and Aiden have been up since 6...they have LOUD voices and talk over one another so that they can be heard...they are very melodramatic

One of my favorite things...
falling into bed too tired to think about things around me....feeling safe and loved and quiet.


Some plans for the week....
Bible study potluck, Ballet moms night out, date with Himself, swimming with the children, picking up Ren from camp

Fourth of July Aprons

I am making Fourth of July/Independence Day aprons for two dear people. One is our friend, Mrs. Parish. She always invites us over for an Independence Day celebration. She and Mr. Parish provide all the food and they have a in-ground pool. She doesn't ever want us to bring anything, so I thought that I would make her an apron to wear each year at the party. The other person is my sister-in-law, Julie. She has a birthday on July 5th. I thought she would enjoy a little apron as well.
I picked red quilting fabric for one side and navy with stars for the other side. I will do the topstitiching in gold thread. I will try to get Himself to post a picture of one when I am finished.
Himself and I have a date tonight. We are meeting friends for dinner. Our babysitter is in town for two days and so we are going out. It feels weird to go out on a weeknight. I always think that the following day is a Saturday or Sunday.