Sunday, May 31, 2009

May Winding Down ~

May is coming to a close and it whooshed by so fast! I'm glad its winding down but there's still so much left to do. So much in fact I'm not sure why I'm even taking the time to post. . . well, I just didn't want May to end without mentioning a few added things - "blessings," that were left out of the previous post.
Last post had it right with mixed emotions; when you're in the process of a making a big move out of a house you've called home for a while, you just can't help thinking of others that have been in your life while in that home.
For the little girl I've been watching grow up right before my eyes, it's wonderful to see what a fine young lady she is becoming. I've had the pleasure seeing Monica sing one last time this year in the school chorus. They were magnificent and so was the band. All the students put in some quality time to really put on a show. Camera's were flashing and people were clapping. We're all very proud of her - especially her family.


The other blessing was going to a wonderful Tea Shop called the Tree House in Avon, OH; and with non- other than Monica, her Noni and Aunt Rita. There aren't to many people who can say - you actually have friends that are also your neighbors. .
We had such a fun time, the food was awesome and the company was wonderful. I really needed to get out! Thank you dear friends. I don't know what I'll do with out them after we move. The one person that was missing from the group was Becky my old school chum. Next time, okay? There's actually one in Tea shop in Cheswick I'd like to try - I'm sure they must have coffee.

~


On the creative side of things check out the bag I made. I've been saving coffee bags for a long time and have been wanting to do something with them. I decided bags. What's cool about it I actually used it to bring in the house hot potatoes from the grill while carrying a tray with my Cinnamon Chicken - Grill Roasted on it - everything one trip. I'll be making more of these babies!

Monday, May 25, 2009

Memorial Day ~

I pray you have a good and a safe day. And, in all the festivities and traditions of the day; I pray you take time and remember the reason this is day is to be celebrated. For more information and also one to share the history of this day with you children click the link below.  

History of Memorial Day

Remembering and honoring - 
those on this special day. 
The love in their hearts and;
the selfless sacrifices they've made.
To all of those from, far and near. 
To all of those not known - 
and those we've held so dear.
Remembering- This Memorials Day. 
VLB 5/25/09

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Mixed Emotion May. . .

So far May has been filled with mixed emotions and some events - also upcoming events for the next month. For the most part my thoughts are happy ones that's been intertwined with some sad.
For instance earlier this month while we were at church I was reminded of when I was younger and going to church with my grandparents; we sang that old hymn - "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" - we mostly sing current / contemporary songs but I do enjoy singing old hymns once in awhile. I realize some might not care to sing the old songs but I do sometimes, they make me teary eyed - happy/sad.

What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear.
What a privilege to carry, ev'rything to God in Prayer.
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry, ev'rything to God in Prayer.

And, it's not just this hymn ~ it's any that rockets me back to the Church of Christ. I have so many fond memories of when my brother and I attended; with no surprise to me that I feel as I do when I hear the old hymns. All the songs were sung a cappella (without instruments) it was beautiful, and our grandpa sure loved to sing ~ he seemed to sing everywhere!

Then while at church I started thinking of a little black pocket Bible. I haven't thought of it in quite some time maybe it was that my birthday was coming up - and you might ask what did that have to do with this. I'll explain why. This little pocket Bible I believed belonged to my grandpa Baker. I don't know how I came to acquired it, I had it for many years and I'm sad to say I know longer have it in my possession. I sure remember it though; it was a New Testament Bible, black and I think possibly leather bond with a small emblem of silver or gold on the bottom right corner. The most important part to me and where my birthday comes (I should add my brother also since we were born on the same day 4 years apart) into play is at the back of the Bible was a page with a prayer of commitment.


You could fill in the blanks as you prayed. Giving his life to the Lord on May 10, 1958 and signed at the bottom of the page was Lawrence David Baker, my grandpa - and on my first birthday. Not knowing it then but what an awesome gift to me (us) and to be able to see him again one day is an added bonus.

It's something how one memory can lead to so many more, whether it may be happy or sad. Like in the song we might be holding on to sad things in our lives. For interest:

The old hymn was written in 1855 by Joseph Scriven (b.1820 - d. 1886) and was originally published anonymously; Scriven did not receive full credit for writing it for nearly 30 years later. It was said that Scriven wrote it as a poem to provide comfort to his mother in her time of special sorrow and hardship; not intending anyone else should see it. The world has surly been blessed with its comforting words, I know I've been blessed by it. I also read that the author was too, as he had times of sorrow and grief in his life as well.

Our family has faced may sad events in our time and of most recent was having to say good-bye (for now) to a deeply loved family member.

My husband's (Jim) step-father (his name is also Jim) died earlier this month; he had been fighting cancer for quite awhile. He was the one who raised Jim, his role model for life, and the one whom he had always referred to as his Dad. We'll miss him dearly, we didn't want him to go, but knowing how much he loved the Lord, we know he's in a much better place than here.


Last week I saw a book in a Christian book store about death and how it's not the end of one's life, as so many want to believe. I know a number of people that believe this way -- that when they die they are "just no more," that they cease to exist. Jim said that "it's what they're hoping for, because they don't want to face the reality of heaven or hell."

Wouldn't it be wonderful to have the assurance that when your time comes you know you will be in a much better - a most wonderful - place called heaven? To be able to be reunited with those you miss and love again. You might be thinking that it's not so -- but how do you know? What if there truly is such a place, you surely wouldn't want to miss it. Would you?

I don't have a little New Testament to give you with a fill in the blank page. You really don't need it anyway.

Jesus say's "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and will dine with him, and he with Me." Revelation 3:20

This verse remind me of another memory. When Mathew was close to 4 years old. We were sitting in our living room in Seaside, OR, I was watching some minister on TV and he was quoting the verse above but never saying what it was about. Mathew said to me, "Mommy, Jesus is knocking at my door." I replied, "He is." Then asked Mat where his door was and Mat replied, "In My Heart!"

Jesus doesn't ask, nor expect, you to put on any special clothes, or to bring out the best china and silver for dinner. He doesn't even ask what's for dinner, he just wants to sit down and break bread with you, just as you are. Why? Because He loves you just as you are, He wants to be your friend; why not open the door and dine with Him?

O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry, ev'rything to God in Prayer.

Sometimes I do hold on to things that I shouldn't as I'm sure you do, and it eats at you. Then I'm reminded I do have someone to take things to. He is Faithful. He has blessed me this month so far more than you know and in the most wonderful ways. We aren't even through this month.

Next month we'll be celebrating Mathew getting marred. Our family won't be making it there - just us and his brothers. But, I'll be breaking out the tissue and recording another memory for my thoughts to hold dear and to share.

My birthday was on Mother's Day this year - I have three blessing I always hold dear.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

A Couple of Creative Projects

Here's a couple things I worked on this month if you are thinking creatively or about recycling. I made this peg bag from leftover fabric from other projects. The hanger was made from scrape wood from Jim's shop in the basement and the hook is from a wooden hanger. Though I didn't particularly care for the finished product the peg bag (clothespin) wasn't to bad. The trouble I was having was figuring out how I wanted to do the lining. Actually the project it and of it's self doesn't' take long, thinking about how you want to make it does. LOL

This next bag was a no sew project. The bag is made of a heavy canvas that my husband acquired from a previous job. It had the company's name and etc. on it that was no longer of use. I didn't want to toss it so this is what I came up with.

I used fabric I had and heat bond, cut out shapes and ironed the patches on; I place a strip on the back side as in the front you see. Cool. I may still do more to it but I can at least use it now.

Saturday, May 2, 2009

It's Coming!


It's coming, yes Mother's Day is on its way. I've been working on on some things and this is what I made my Mom; don't get to excited she knows she's getting this. She has already seen a part. It's for mail - or whatever you'd like to use it for. I made this with all recycled pieces of fabric I've used, was given or worn. Yep, worn. The worn part only was the pockets for favorite jeans.

The butterflies I cut from material and hand appliqued them to each pocket. No sticky stuff was use for this. I also embroidered antenna on and legs. The wood was leftovers from one of Jim's projects. I didn't care to use dowels. I had other I ideas about hang it but decide to sew a strip of fabric from the denim I used for the back and holes will be drilled into the upper strip of wood for hanging.

Unless I get more fabric with butterflies this will be one of a kind.

If I don't get to post for Mum's Day ~ I pray you have, that is if your a Mother, a wonder blessed day in Him.

PS ~ I also have added to my site's, a new one you can find it by scrolling down a short ways.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Shalom

I don't want to sound like a broken record. . . sometimes it's hard not to do. This spring the blossoms and blooms came out later this year than last. Last year the weeping cherry was thick with beautiful blossoms at this time - this year hardly and there seems to be a mix of blossoms and leaves. I didn't get to my flower bed either and boy it needs it. I've mentioned to many people that the outside of the house is starting to look like the Munster's! LOL For me I need blinders and learn to recognize my limitations. Not that I'm professing to be old - I'm just starting to feel a bit warn. 

Have you been feeling this way?

I bought a book a number of years back and I think I'll get it out of the packed box to read it. You may have heard of it or have read it; "Women Who Do Too Much" by Patricia Sprinkle. I bought it for my sister but for some reason never gave it to her. Maybe the Lord had intended for me to read first.

Chapter one captured my attention; "Women in frantic search of Shalom." Shalom: A Hebrew word used to mean both "hello" and "goodbye;" literally, it means "peace." I think somewhere I have lost my peace. Yesterday, I said to my husband that its definite - I'm a Martha! I need to be a Mary! I need to get my lavender stress pouches going! [they really do work] I need to do what I preach! - What I need is to exercise patience and trust the Lord more.

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." John 14:27

Exercise is an action (doing) word as well as the word trust. Action words or verbs means doing or putting into motion - 'something is required', as in all relationships. Exercising my patience and trusting the Lord; means I have to do something - like really giving everything up to Him, diving into His word - not looking at the circumstances surrounding us day to day. Believing His promises - praying through . . . You could literally go on and on . . .

A verb denotes an action, occurrence, or state of existence [a state of being] according to Webster.  

AGAIN - Exercising my patience and trusting the Lord; means I have to do something - like really giving everything up to Him, diving into His word - not looking at the circumstances surrounding us day to day. Believing His promises - praying through . . . You could literally go on and on . . .

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." John 14:27

What action then should I take / should you take?

Mary sat at Jesus feet,
[PEACEFUL]
Martha stressed -
fixing food to eat.
Mary's choice was better -
you'll see.
For life is more than,
mere food -
and doings!
VLB 5/1/09

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6

Added May 11, 2022
Shalom [Hebrew word meaning peace, harmony, wholeness, completeness, prosperity, welfare and tranquility and can be used idiomatically to mean both hello and goodbye.] What a wonderful word and what God has for all of us who believe in Him and trust in the validity of His Word. Shalom Vicky