A New Day

"This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."

Psalm 118:24

It is a new day. I am re-focused and ready for the weekend! Our God is just amazing. Anyone who read yesterday's post, knows it started out to be one of the worst in months. Toward dinner time, in a matter of seconds, God changed all that. I was blessed beyond words (and you know for me that is saying something!). In the midst of my trial, God blessed me...even with my bad attitude, feelings, and thoughts...He blessed me. A wise woman once wrote.....

"It is so important that we learn to look past the trial we are in......look right on past it and watch for what God is DOING in the midst of it." Coppers Wife

Wise words. I plan to meditate on them, so next time I apply them.

It is time for Wisdom. I plan to seek her everyday. She is my mission...to attain wisdom from Him who gives it liberally. I have none in my own power. 11 Therapists had none. They admitted defeat and so do I. Not that I have not turned to God before now, Yeesh! I have, but not for wisdom (not really)... but for rescue out of the storm. The storm rages on. It is time for wisdom. My friend's words, above, are words of wisdom. I plan to be very attune to her....not my friend, but wisdom...my new best friend. I will seek and follow her like a 2 year old seeks out and follows her mother. Clinging to her and pulling at her skirt until she answers me.
My main source...a place you will always find her right away...is the Word of God.
"And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God."

Luke 4:4

The rest of my weekend??? I did all my housework and laundry, so my weekend is basic routine type cleaning. I plan to work on Emerson's quilt. She is dropping an inch a day!! Rachel has no appetite. I thought you ate alot in that last month. Hmmmm.Tonight is "Ladies Night Out" at the church. I plan to attend. Church tomorrow is at a local forest preserve. An outside service, then a potluck picnic and games. We may attend as a family, if Sweetheart will come.
It is a cloudy, dreary day, so perfect for a Jane Austin movie and quilting. I pray you have a wonderful weekend, and thank you for your prayers and support!

Late To Bed, Early To Rise

I am up very early today, as I am most days. With school starting on Monday, I am doing my "dry run" and trying to get my housework finished before school even starts at 9 am. I am SOOOO glad I put the PODA back into action. It only took me 90 minutes to get everything done, and I had added a couple more things to the list I had shown you. Plus, I took about a 15 minute coffee break with Sweetheart. Today I already have part of my list finished. One of the things on my list is to focus clean the deck. This includes the sliding glass door...glass, framing, and tracks. I am not a worrier of hand prints on the glass. I know it drives some people crazy. To me, it is 99% TJ hand prints, which I love. Eventually it becomes one big blob of prints, but this morning I found a lone TJ hand print among the smears of dozens.Yes, I did clean it off!! That little hand will not be so little next summer. I also found filth and chocolate on the outer frame. I was shocked at the dirt, but gosh my kids have fun!!Fudgesicles and summer....what could be better if you are a kid???

I brought out an old friend yesterday. I thought long and hard on this. It is not very "green" of me, but my kitchen floors are so bad on a daily basis. I hate getting the mop and bucket out every day. My WetJet has a "green" cleaner now, but the pads are still an environmental issue. How come bad things make life easier??? I am using the pads sparingly! What a difference it made. I got up to a spotless floor this morning and it had stayed that way all day yesterday with some random spot cleaning.
I did some errands yesterday. One of them was to get some newborn diapers for little Emerson. (More non-green-make-life-easier stuff)
I sent them home with Rachel, but kept one to "play" with....I know, but it is so cute. My hand is on the small side, so look at how little that diaper is.

I also got a surprise yesterday.A new purse and a "flat" wallet. I love it. My neighbor sells Premier Jewelry and I booked a show from her for October. This is the wonderful gift she gives out as a thank you. Too nice!!!
Though I got up early this morning, I went to bed late. Sweetheart and I stayed up and watched a 2 hour and 35 minute movie. It was well worth the late night.

I am still getting things ready for Monday's start of the new school year. Our books arrived yesterday, so I am going to spend the next couple of days organizing our lessons. Here is what my desk looks like now.I found a great link through Lori's blog to get homeschool T-shirts and tote bags. All t's are on sale for 5.99 right now. I love this one....And of course my sick wit likes this one too!!!!I better get those binders together and switch my laundry around. Have a blessed day!!!

PODA

No, I am not watching a Lord of the Rings movie. PODA sounds like a character from that type of film. Actually PODA stands for "Parade Of Daily Adventures". I came up with the above PODA about a year and a half ago. I stopped using it as my dailies and monthlies became routine for me. Well they became so routine that some days I let them go completely. With our new home school year starting on Monday, I decided to pull it back out and start using it again. Here is how it works...I run enough copies for the week on the weekend. I only use these Monday through Saturday. Sunday is an off day for me other than routines. Every night I look in my HMB for the next day's list of dailies and that week's monthly list. Here is what the dailies say for Wednesday.
The dailies are not set in stone. If the dusting was done on Monday, and Wednesday it is still dust free, I don't dust. It is a guideline of things that may or may not need to be done. I take this list and add the needed chores to that day's PODA under "Daily To Do List".I list any appointments, errands, or phone calls. As I complete a task, I cross it off, or place a check in the box. Also, I check the Monthly list...
This is impossible for you to read, but the 3rd week of the month (I know it is actually the 4th, but I did not count the first 2 days this month) is my focus cleaning for the Family Room, Deck, and bathrooms. I would normally put some of these jobs on my list, but I never do these on Wednesday. It is Sweetheart's day off and I like to keep things lighter on those days. Tomorrow, Thursday, will see many of these jobs because Thursday is my lightest daily list. I am praying this will make things easier as the school year starts. There is just something about crossing a task off a list that makes you feel like you accomplished something!! Do you have a PODA???

A Work In Progress

I am ashamed! I do not ever want to present myself in a way in which it appears that I am a work horse, or that I do so much more than most house wives. Believe me...I waste many hours everyday on nothingness. My last post covered the events of an entire weekend! It was sad I needed to do 9 loads of laundry in one day! I should have had it caught up to where I never have 9 loads of dirty anything to do! I am a work in progress!!!!Speaking of works in progress....Emerson's quilt is quilting up nicely. As any quilter will tell you, it is important to have quilts in ALL stages of creation. I have many UFO's and WIP's floating around here, but one of the most exciting projects is always that NEXT one!! The above pictured quilt is one I am planning to start next. The book is out of print (I think) though there are used ones available.I love the center block...Tree of Life.The actual blocks and applique border are wonderful!
A fellow guild member made this quilt years ago in hunter green and burgundy. She did not do the border (I will), and it was breathtaking!!! I always said I would make this quilt and now is the time. Anyone want to join me????? I think it would be a great block of the month. I think the purple and green are beautiful and may use that color combo. I need to think about it....I know I will use green for sure. I have some gorgeous gold and red that I may use...I have yards of it!

Yesterday I took the kids to the doctor. Just a check up for them both as they had not been to the doc in a year and a half. Not sick in that time, so no need. Anyway, my Charlotte is becoming a woman, though still tiny. She is 4 foot and 60 pounds at 11 years old. Still not on the charts and therefore considered failure to thrive. Her weight is almost touching the line for the 1 percentile, but her height is still a couple complete squares from the bottom percent. She may never see 4' 11". The doctor wanted her to get the Gardasil vaccine. We declined for various reasons and she was released healthy. Zach did fine and though he is small for his age, he is well within the healthy range. If I could just keep him clean!!! He is such a boy, I love it!!!My grandson is very proud of the fact that he can jump on one foot (almost) and wanted a picture of it. Here is a short clip of his talent....I am so proud!!!
I did not realize what whiners we are!!!
And today's verse I am claiming....Philippians 1:6
"Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ"

...Think On These Things

Philippians 4:8. It has been my mantra this weekend. Some days are like that. I keep the above pictured verse in front of my computer so I see it daily. It came in quite handy this weekend. Thanks Amy!! Amy attached this to that beautiful yellow fabric I put in Emerson's quilt.

I spent some time sewing this weekend. I made curtains (valances) for both Grandkids rooms.I will be taking pics of their rooms soon. Emerson's room is still not done, and TJ's new room (he moved to a bigger one) is finally complete with the curtains.

I took TJ for a ride on Saturday. He went cruisin with Grandma with the lid off....say cheese TJ!Kyle went with us...his elbow is completely healed and he finished his medication. He is saving money for a flat screen television. I am very proud of him that he is actually saving. He LOVES to spend money as soon as he gets it!Zach was bummed that he could not go along (He and Charlotte had went with me earlier). He took it ok, I guess....Well, maybe not. He did build a really great jet plane out of legos! Aaaaaand, he was a helper. He washed the kitchen floor. Problem was, he did not wash his filthy feet or hands first. This is the floor AFTER he washed it....I took care of it..;)

And where was Miss Charlotte???Charlotte spent some time sewing too. She decided to destroy the cushion on my swing, so she spent a good bit of time sewing it back up. Since the carpet incident, we have been in a cycle of destruction to property. .....think on these things, Bren!!!!

In between doing 9 loads of laundry, I cleaned up my sewing room/office mess that I created sewing the curtains and putting Emerson's quilt together. I decided to add back a small television and VCR. I love to sew and listen to Little House, or Anne of Green Gables, all of which I have on video. Sweetheart made the corner table years ago and we had it sitting in the basement. It is perfect.TJ stopped by with his parents to pick up his new curtains. He also wanted to show Grandma his "tattoos". I was thrilled!!! :::sarcasm::: Really, he was very proud of these and said to his mom and dad, "Grandma's gonna love my tattoos!"The kid is his father's child! I hope my Granddaughter does not like "tattoos"!!

There she is!Thank you all for the lovely comments on my quilting. I got a little puffed up for a minute there! I was able to finish up the middle block on her quilt, plus a strip of sashing. A few of you wondered what I mark my quilts with. I use a water soluble pencil that you can pick up at Michael's or Hobby Lobby...any store that carries drawing supplies. I prefer Berol brand, but I am having trouble finding them. My other preferred tools are Clover betweens (needles) size 12, Gutermann quilting thread, and a cheap metal thimble...I have several of these and sometimes wear one half the day. I forget it is there."Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

Philippians 4:8

Part of the Process

It never seems to fail, that anytime there is a process to something worthwhile, there is always a step that is less than enjoyable. In the process of quilt making, for me, that less than enjoyable step would be basting! It is also a very important step and needs to be done correctly. I always mark my tops first, and the SBS was no exception. I did 2" cross hatching, instead of 1"...it was more than enough...a cute girlie looking design in the sashing, and a border of interlocking hearts. I will quilt around each part of the actual girls too, but there is no need to mark that.

I pieced the backing and pressed the seam open. I use my kitchen table with both leaves in it to do my basting. For you non-quilter's, here is the non enjoyable, but very necessary step. I lay out the backing fabric wrong side up....Next comes the batting. I cut the backing and batting the same size, about six inches larger than the quilt top all the way around. All the wrinkles need to be smoothed out. Not as easy as it sounds.Once the wrinkles and creases are smoothed, you lay your quilt top on it all making sure it is even and smoothed.Now you baste. I have huge basting needles, but the important part is the thread. There is a very old tale about the color of thread used to baste a quilt. I can not remember them all, but I do remember that a quilt basted in brown thread is not a good thing....something about the recipient being a spinster or a widow...anyway I also remember that purple thread brings with it blessings. Now I do not believe all that, but I have made it a tradition within myself to baste all my quilts going to other people in purple. I baste my own in whatever color I have available.I use cheap thread to baste. I baste baby quilts and smaller with a 6" grid and anything bigger than a baby quilt, I baste with a 4" grid. I did a 6" on Emerson's quilt.A couple of hours (and a break) later, and the quilt is in the hoop!It is a relief to get to this stage. Every time I see Rachel she seems to have dropped more and more. I am working hard to have this quilt ready for Emerson, but I know she has Niki's afghan to keep her warm too!! Did I tell you she is in birthing position, head down and the doc even said she had dropped since last visit 2 weeks ago. We are praying that my son will be close enough to make it home when the time comes, or better yet, Rachel will go into labor on the weekend when he is already home.

I have actually done some housework too. (It has not all been fun and games!) I did declutter my cupboard that holds our coffee cups. In the before pic you can see the mugs stacked on top of each other on the bottom shelf. These are the only mugs we use. The ones on the middle shelf match our dishes, but we never use them.After a little rearranging and a nice wipe down, the cupboard is clean and organized.
Well, it is almost 10 and I need to get my bedtime routines going. Tomorrow is a day at home and one of housework and quilting. I am loving every minute of it!!!