My Christmas Stockings are done!

I finished my stockings just in time for Christmas! My family loved using them, and because they're so big, they loved all the things stuffed in them!

USPS Delivers Damaged Mail

This is too funny! I open my mailbox today, and discover this mangled mess inside a USPS envelope. They apologized for the damage to my letter. What is so amazing is that I see this gaping hole on the bottom (see photo) of the envelope and then read the back that said "Thought you could use these. Pam". I immediately open thinking that this has to be a very important letter or something and hope the damage isn't irreversible only to find these untouched coupons for M&Ms inside!

I am totally cracking up right now! The coupons were sitting in the top part of the envelope and whatever tore this thing barely touched them. Too funny!

All Appliques Done!!!

I am so thrilled to be done with the 60 appliqués on all 6 stockings. I would like to put pictures up, but I am still trying to get them done. What an experience, working on all those little pieces and ironing them all on. I am now working on some embellishments, and then comes the quilting before I can complete them. I have learned a lot through all of this.

I have my friend Kristi to thank for providing me with the pattern and lots of advice. I also have her to thank for a recent trip to Houston, TX, that she took me and our friend Darcy on. We had a lot of fun walking up and down all of the many isles at the Quilt Festival. It was my first time to Houston, and I am glad I went. Wow! It's hard to believe how warm it was there when we had such cold weather in Denver. We got to learn some new techniques and buy some great stuff while we were there. Staying with her dad and stepmom was very nice and wonderful to get to know them. Patsy made us this amazing mexican meal of enchiladas (my favorite). It was great! Thanks Kristi!!!

Two Down...Four to go!

I have finished applying the appliques for my second stocking! I am so excited at how these are coming together. Whoo hoo!

My First Apple Pie!

This is the first year I have attempted to make any fruit pie. I am known for my Chocolate Mousse pie, and I have no problem making one that I can put the filling in an already baked crust and chill. But this time, I had an abundance of apples from a couple of sources this fall, and I said, "What the heck, why not give it a try?". So, I made my pie for our Homeschool Group's Fall Potluck, and it was pretty good. I am going to make more for Thanksgiving to take to my family's house this Thursday.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!!

My Christmas Stockings!

I have been working since this summer to complete 6 stockings for my family. First, the piecing of the different fabrics, then appliqués...10 per stocking equals 60 appliqués total. Today, I finished applying the appliqués to my nine year old daughter's stocking. (In the picture there is one blank block which now has a little train) Voila!

This is the first of the 6 stockings to get this far. The next step is to stitch each appliqué's edge down to the fabric to ensure they don't fall off.

Well, it's back to sewing! Abiento. (See you later, in French)

Where have you been?

That is what you are probably thinking if you planned on visiting my blog more frequently. I have been crazy busy keeping up with everything going on around here. I know there have been moments on the road with my family that I have thought, "I should go home and blog about this moment". Then I get home, and have lost what it was that I was going to write about.

Have you ever done that? I have so many memorable moments in my life with 3 little girls and a teenage (with a driver's permit) girl. The only problem is, I don't always recall all of those moments. The little ones say such cute things. We just laugh and laugh. Last week, my family took me out to dinner for my birthday at Black Eyed Pea. It was kids eat free night, and we needed to get out the house for a while. They just lit up our evening. Our youngest said the cutest thing. Darned if I could tell you now what it was, but we sure had a great time. It was a good thing they seated us in the bar area where no one else was seated, because we might have gotten some stares.

That's another thing, why is it restaurants these days seat families in the bar? Isn't it supposed to be for 21 and older? Last week, the bar was empty except for the occasional take out order, but that is not normally the case. Like the time we went to On the Border and they seated us in a booth in the bar. It is a little uncomfortable when the bar is full and people are spouting off profanities in front of your children. Should we ask those drinking (and possibly not in their right mind) to be quiet when we're in the bar? Or should we have been seated there in the first place? While I would like people to be respectful when children are present, it seems irrational to try to reason with someone who has been drinking, and possibly feels that we are invading "their territory" because it is afterall...a bar. Hmm....Just something to ponder.

Well, that was my soapbox for today. This weekend was very busy. We had a bridal shower to attend and my nephew's 1st birthday party after that. They actually overlapped and I had a 45 minute drive between them, but made it alright. The bridal shower was beautiful and I helped with some of the food. I made chocolate chip scones and Mandarin salad, and brought store bought chocolate eclairs, and cream puffs. The arrangement was beautiful. My daughter took pictures. You can see the photos at her blog. She did a great job.

Self Rejection is a Sin

Did you know that comparing ourselves to others is a sin? And that this root sin unrepented will cause other sins to grow? I didn't realize that my self criticism was such an offense to God until reading today's school lesson to the children today. Okay, so I knew it, but I had gotten more caught up in my self judgments than in what God says about it. I used to have the perfect frame with a 24" waist and weighing at 105 lbs and 5'5" tall. Even after I had my first child, I was down to 115 lbs. within 3 months. It was easy to stay thin, my friends always asked me how I could eat so much and stay so thin. It was something I prided myself on.

Now, after 4 children, I find myself struggling to lose even 1 pound. It was so easy before, and now it is so easy to be upset at myself for weighing more and not losing. The more I beat myself up, the less focus I give God. Why? Because my focus is on the pot and not the potter. That was one of the scriptures we studied today: Isaiah 45:9 says "Woe to him who strives with his Maker!--a worthless piece of broken pottery among other pieces equally worthless [and yet presuming to strive with his Maker]! Shall the clay say to him who fashions it, What do you think you are making? or, Your work has no handles?". Ouch! Am I doing that? Well, I had to tell the children (and myself) that comparing yourself to others is a sin and that we are to love ourselves. It's not just a sin, but our study today said that it is a root sin that can cause other sins to grow as a result. Comparing ourselves to others creates a bitterness to spring up that is terribly unhealthy and a poor example to those around us.

What a lesson. Keep this in mind as you go about your life and catch yourself when you are not happy with your figure, your mental capacity, hair color, etc. Make sure you replace that self hatred with self love. Because you have to love yourself before you can love your neighbor. : )

Sugaring Time

Today, my children learned about the time of year for sugaring (Spring). While now is not that time of year, what a journey to read about how other people harvest the maple that we eat. I used to think that maple syrup was more expensive because it was a healthier choice over Aunt Jemimah, but I didn't realize until today the work that goes into making the syrup. Wow! For the kids and I to discover that 40 gallons of maple sap is boiled down to make 1 or 2 gallons of syrup. Now, we know the real reason that maple syrup can be expensive. With that in mind, I will be more thankful of the syrup we put on our pancakes, oatmeal, waffles and Thanksgiving's pumpkin spice bread.

I will take the time to reflect and remember the hard work and diligence that goes into producing such a delicious sweet. Tonight for dinner, we are having Hasty Pudding just like Laura Ingalls Wilder had and I will serve with it...real maple syrup. This will be a new experience for all of us. : )

School at Home: Good Days and Hard Days

Well, I am in the second week of this school year. It has been eventful. We have made corn cob dolls just like Laura Ingalls had, and learned how to square dance among all the many discoveries brought forth in the academics like learning to read and write and draw. (They drew the funniest pictures of their daddy today) My high schooler is really liking her studies too.

We have had good days and we have had hard days. Today, was particularly hard to get off the ground. It didn't help that I had little sleep last night and that the younger children tend to wake up fighting as soon as their feet hit the floor. I don't understand that. Also, the personality clashes that happen between parent and child sometimes.

We had a learning experience as parents today, though, that makes me proud of my 16 yo daughter. She shared with us that yesterday, on her walk she decided to stop in for a frappachino at, you guessed it, the corner Starbucks when she met this girl just two years older than her behind the counter. This 18 yo girl was elated because she just found out she's pregnant by her boyfriend. Then she starts to tell my daughter that her parents wish her to have an abortion and tell her that they hope she miscarries. My daughter tells her about my having her at 17 and how I chose not to have an abortion. (she lets people know that if I had made that choice, she wouldn't be here today)

I was proud of my girl, sharing with her. This is not the first time she has been so bold and caring to discuss this issue with others. It does my heart good to see that there is no shame in how she came into this world. It is good to see how passionate she is to help hurting people.

I told her today after talking with her about the parents' response to their daughter's news, that there was something I had never shared with her before. I told her about how the second time I had a pregnancy test (my mom had to make sure it was for real, so she took me to another doctor), I asked God to "take this from me". I was fearful of what was to come, how my life would change. I was a pastor's kid! People surely would look down on me and my parents would be embarrassed by me - so I thought. Right then in the car, leaving the doctor's office knowing my life was never going to be the same, I heard God speak to me. To me! A 16 year old rebellious teen who had really messed up, heard from God. He said to me, "This is not cancer, I can not take it away because it is a life. I cannot take life away." I realized then that this was something I had to face and that God would not give me more than I could handle. There was another thing that happened that day, that changed my life forever. I said to my mom all of these "what ifs". "If only I had..." or "If only I hadn't..." and she stopped me dead in my tracks and told me never to talk like that again. She said that I can't go back and change things, and beating myself up would not help anything. That I have to be positive and thank God for providing and for protecting me. That was the best advice I have ever received from anyone. I still hold onto it to this day.

Well, I told my daughter that I was proud of her. I asked her if she felt she had an opportunity to minister to this gal some more. She said, "Yes". What an amazing teen!

So, there are good days and hard days, but when you look at the hard days as an opportunity, they then become good days too. I am so thankful that I have this time at home with my children to have such deep and meaningful conversations. It makes me feel that I am truly doing what God called me to do. : )

Seed Not Sown

Last week, my parents shared with me and my family in our Sunday church time about Isaiah 55:10 which says "For as the rain and snow come down from the heavens, and return not there again, but water the earth and make it bring forth and sprout, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater". We have witnessed a physical manifestation in Colorado of this very scripture. They have seen people harvesting that which they did not sow all over the countryside SE of Denver. My parents have those very crops rising up on their 6 acres that they did not sow.

Now, David and I are experiencing that in a different way ourselves. We have been blessed to receive bunches and bunches of apples that we did not sow! My dear friend taught me to can these apples along with some peaches we bought together. We had a lot of fun, going through and processing all of this harvest. She also taught me not to be so squeamish when it comes to the blemishes on the apples. I have truly enjoyed this experience. Now, we have more apples than we know what to do with, because David's parents let us harvest their apple tree. Oh, my! The most beautiful apples I have ever hand picked. David said that they are red delicious apples. I am so excited to can these too. I have already canned Apple Butter and just plain apples and I have also frozen 1-1/2 gallons too. It is such a feeling of accomplishment, and David is enjoying watching me be so "domestic".

There is more, though, to that scripture. If you look at the following verse, (v. 11) it says "So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." God is actually telling us that His Word is just like that rain that comes down and brings forth and sprouts. So, if we would like to continue having this blessing, we have to speak His Word. Also, the Word of God (as I was taught in Bible school) is as it says in John 1:1 Christ. "IN THE beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself." So every time we speak the Word of God, we are releasing Christ's power. It's like having the Holy Grail and there being enough to share with anyone who will drink.

Two Posts in one Day!

Well, I'm back. I am so excited! I just made my very first batch of homemade butter! And, here's the kicker....it's delicious! I decided I had better give this recipe from the Little House Cookbook a try before teaching my children how to make it next week. Well, let's just say it became a family affair. Becca, Ariana and I took turns shaking the jar (that's the modern replacement of a churn). Looking for a way to burn calories? Try shaking a jar of cream for 15 minutes and see how energized you feel afterward.

We danced to the song "I like to Move it, Move it" on the soundtrack of Madagascar as we shook away. It was such an experience, as we shook the mixture of fresh carrot-dyed milk with 3 cups heavy cream, it went from somewhat thick to beautiful whipped cream to granules floating in liquid. I had always heard of this process, but never experienced it myself until today.

I immediately sent my DH out for a loaf of shepherd's bread (have to stay authentic, here) and we just sampled some of this gorgeous butter. I am going to have to be careful not to eat too much. One could gain a lot of weight eating such decadence, even after burning all those calories. I guess you could call it "a wash".

Busy?

Okay, so I wasn't joking when I said I was a busy mom of 4 girls. My DH and I co-lead a support group, I am managing 3 to 4 websites, making my first set of 6 Christmas Stockings, in a quilt of the month club, was just voted President of our HOA, and I am preparing for my first year with all 4 students at once (one high schooler, one 4th grader, and two preschoolers)!

Alright, breathe! Breathe...Are you still there?

What a blessing it is to be so popular. I was never this popular in high school, and I certainly would have never run for President of anything. Oh, that's right, I didn't run! I was nominated by my neighbors and my oh so bias husband. That is what happens when you are one of the few people home during the day, and that is when the City Hall is open for calls. Well, at least I am still working toward making sure school gets started on schedule and that those stockings are completely sewn before THIS Christmas.

Well, it's good to be blogging again. I have missed the release of venting and getting my thoughts out. Hopefully, I will be more regular with my entries. See you soon. Oh, and check out the websites I have designed. They're looking pretty good.