Sew Intimidated!

It’s named the Singer Confidence Quilter 7429. Confidence…yes that’s exactly what I need.

This is what I got for Christmas this year.  I asked for a sewing machine and that’s what I got. When I pulled it from the box I was instantly intimidated.  I mean just look at it.

Look at all the buttons…

Less buttons….

The machine I wanted (Singer Confidence Stylist 7467) was out of stock so instead of back-ordering the machine I wanted the seller sent this with a note that they were “upgrading” my machine.  So this machine isn’t as basic as I expected and so here it sits until I figure out what to do first…anyone have any suggestions?  Help!

The original plan was to start out with something simple like maybe a throw pillow and work my way up to the curtains I need to make for my office.  I just love this fabric and I have 6.5 yards of it ready to go.

I’ll admit it. I’m terrified of this machine.

Mama Love

There is nothing in this world that can compare to a mother’s love for her children and to those she loves like her own children.  Today I was browsing through blogs I subscribe to and came across this post by Ann Voskamp over at A Holy Experience.  As I read it I remembered my grandmother.  We all called her Granny.  She’s my mother’s mom.  We were blessed that she lived close by and was one of my best friends growing up.  She went home to heaven when I was just 18 and it’s disconcerting that many memories of her seem to be slipping away but this one is clear to me.  My mother was sick with pneumonia or some respiratory illness and 4 children to take care of.  She tried her best but the illness confined her to bed…One phone call was all it took and Granny, who didn’t have a car or even a driver’s license made it over the Cooper River to our house. There she stayed on the couch caring for Mama until she was well and making sure the four kids were bathed, fed, and got off to school.  Thank God for our wonderful Mamas!

A Wonderful Much Appreciated Surprise

As I do everyday when I pull my car into the driveway, I closed my eyes for a minute and whispered “God please give me patience and strength for whatever I find inside”. When I left in the morning there was a load of laundry in the dryer, a load in the washer , a few pots and pans on the stove, and dishes in the sink waiting to be rinsed and placed in the dishwasher. Up the back stairs to the kitchen door I go with my laptop bag dragging behind me and there through the window I see my husband, Mike, washing pots.  I quickly turn the knob and go inside.  I doff my coat and put my bags away and come back to the kitchen and grab my apron.  Now he’s finished the pots…they are stacked in the drainer and he’s now cleaning the stovetop.  At that moment I want to cry and throw my arms around his neck…call my sister-in-law and have her come get Samuel because I need some alone time with my husband, but hey it’s a school night and there is dinner to get….maybe later. It's not that Mike never helps around the house...he just hasn't lately because he has a job where he is on his feet for pretty much 8 hours and on top of that he has problems with his feet and the last thing he wants to do when he comes home is more standing.  Anyway, once the ceramic stovetop is polished he says…”It’s all yours” and gives me a quick kiss and heads for his recliner.  I feel loved!  But it was just a few dishes, right?

5 Things to do when you find yourself home alone!

I’m not talking about when you know you’re going to be home alone because whenever that happens you’ve most likely planned your day in advance.  I’m talking about when your husband appears in the doorway with the kids and says “Hey babe…going to (does it really matter) and I’m taking the kids with me (Yippee!!!).  We should be back in a few hours (music to my ears!)

Immediately, I’m like…What do I do with myself!?  Well here’s some ideas, in case you’re thinking of grabbing a mop and bucket or cleaning out a closet!

1. A long soak in the tub complete with bubble bath (be sure to have some on hand for just such an occasion).
2. Watch a wonderful tear-jerker, girl-empowerment film, or some other chick-flick you can’t watch when everyone is home.  Don’t forget the popcorn!
3. Write – blog, journal, recipes, doesn’t matter!
4. Read – a blog, recipes, novel, Bible, trashy harlequin, doesn’t matter!
5. Phone a friend – be totally understanding if she seems distracted, after all she might not have your good fortune of having the morning or afternoon to herself.

I Found It!

It's back...I knew it was somewhere in the house and finally I found it.  My watch has been missing for about 3 weeks...I think it disappeared right after Malachai left for Virginia, so before Thanksgiving.  I've felt absolutely naked without it.  It's such a pain to pull out my cell phone every time I need to know the time (I mean when out and about...at home there's usually a clock within sight).
My watch is NOTHING special to look at but it is special to me.  My Timex has been with me for 17 years!  My wonderful husband gave it to me when we were dating and I just keep buying new watch bands and replacing the batteries!  Back when he bought it for me, the Sun/Moon cutout was popular and I mentioned to him that I needed a watch and that I wanted one with the cutout. He being a good boyfriend complied.  Awww...dating!  Anyway, It's found and I'm so happy!  Just in case you're wondering, it was in the flatware/napkin caddy we used for Malachai's coming home party...I was putting away the pasta maker and while up on the step stool I saw the watch in the caddy. I squealed in delight and put my watch on...Hooray.

I Won!

A few weeks ago I discovered a new blog...Easy Recipes by Donna.  Donna's site has excellent recipes and cooking tips for those of us who are kitchen challenged like myself.
I entered her November giveaway and won the grand prize - A 10 inch Lodge cast iron skillet.  If arrived just yesterday and I'm using it to fry chicken tonight.  Thank you so much Donna.  I love my new skillet!

Saying “I Love You!”

There it was…the dress in her mothers hands.  It was just as beautiful as she remembered when she saw it in the store.  She looked at the dress then to her mother and back at the dress.  She gasped and brought her hands up to her mouth.  “Mom!  I can’t believe it…I never expected”..”Well go try it on” Mom says handing her the dress.  She runs to her mom’s arms and plants kisses all over her face…”Thanks Mom…I love you…I love you … I love you!”  She grabs the dress and squeals with delight.

“I love you” come easy and frequent when we’re receiving what we want or being surprised with something we didn’t even know we wanted.

When life is going along without any bumps in the road I remember to tell God how much I love him….I stop during the day and think to myself “God is so good.”    When there are trials and life gets a little difficult the questions come.  “Why me God?”…”What did I do?”  “Are you there God?”

A week after receiving the dress she didn’t get permission to go to a party “everyone” is going to.  “Why are you ruining my life?” She asks her mother “Don’t you want me to be happy?” “How can you do this to me!?”

God loves us always.  Jesus says he will never leave or forsake us.  We must remember to love God always in times of plenty and in want.  When there are trials and when God is growing us up through trials.

There’s a line in Mercy Me’s “Bring the Rain” that goes “Can circumstances possibly change who I forever am in you?”  The answer to this question is “No”.  As the song continues …

“And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain”