What If........?

What if instead of video games that featured crime and killing…...........there were games that featured  rescuing people and saving lives?

What if instead of the local news media featuring stories about puppies, kittens or even ducks being saved…...............there were stories featuring babies’ lives being saved from abortion?

What if instead of asking celebrities and movie stars their opinions on politics and life issues..........….there were conferences where missionaries, pastors and teachers were asked their opinions?

What if instead of prime time TV that featured  swearing , crime and a homosexual agenda….............there were programs that were family friendly and encouraged people to do the right thing?

What if instead of magazine covers that have to be shielded from young eyes...........….there were magazines that featured “real” people that had overcome obstacles?

What if instead of books about death and killing on the ‘New York Times’ Best Seller’s List’ ........….there were books about being a better parent or serving others?

What if instead of parents needing to work long, overtime hours to pay taxes.............….the tax burden was lowered and government waste was decreased so Moms and Dads could have more family time?

What if instead of teaching students in public schools that they are evolved pond scum...............…they were told that they are valuable, important and they have purpose?

What if instead of being complacent and not attending church…...................the 2,154,000 evangelical/ born again Christians in the USA read their Bibles and did what it said?

What if instead of being shocked when innocent people are killed…................we looked around us and saw what society and the media have been feeding the population?

 ~~~~~~Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ~Philippians 4:8

Eleven!

 My 'baby' turned eleven today. Time just keeps flying by. We celebrated the night before by eating at Red Robin. Red Robin's birthday club is our annual choice for our December birthdays (we get three free meals). This morning we woke up with sinus and throat issues so we didn't attend church. Tim read to us from Psalms and Proverbs about wisdom and we prayed together.

Isaac's main hobby is football. Football cards, football games, football facts....

His sisters got him the Patriots shirt, some Legos and a Monopoly game with debit cards to replace our prehistoric model. The prices in the new game really reflect the inflation rates! He was very excited to get the Madden13 Wii game he has been wanting.

Isaac's dinner choice was home-made macaroni and cheese.

 Football field cake made and decorated by Erica!

 A 'Polar Pop'  is always a favorite-especially on your birthday!!

Christmas Sewing...

Most can be found in my shop~

All But Forgotten...Reflections...

Well, it's been nearly 10 months since I have posted on this blog. Homeschooling, sewing, gardening, vacation, 4-H (rabbits this year) and life in general took over. I have been using this blog as a springboard to visit my blog links on the sidebar. 

It seems strange that I have chosen a busy month like December to revisit. Maybe it's because December is time of reflection. A time to focus on my Savior's birth. A time to reflect on the past year and becoming another year older a few short days ago. 

What have I accomplished? A vacation in May to The Outerbanks of North Carolina. A great time with only the two youngest. In our family you are now known as an 'older or younger' the 'olders' were all working or had obligations. So, it was a vacation for four. I was the only girl. The homeschool Mom in me made sure we learned a lot. Roanoke Island, The Wright Brother's Memorial, the ocean water versus the brackish waters of the sound and catching crabs and cooking one. We even ventured through Washington D.C. on the way their and back. 

Sewing for my Etsy shop has kept me busy. I hit 400 sales and we celebrated with a pizza and Polar Pop party. I redid my sewing space and it is much more efficient now. Most of my fabric is on mini bolts and I have a real cutting table. 

We had a drought this summer and that along with getting the garden planted late-made for a strange harvest. I was still canning tomatoes in October and I never did get any green beans. This is the first year in 27 years that we didn't can beans. The "youngers' switched from pigs to rabbits this year and we were shocked when Josh won Grand Champion. We learned a lot about rabbits. Especially, that they are much easier to load up and transport than pigs. 

Homeschooling began this Fall with 3 students. This spring 3 will graduate. One from high school and two from college. My 'baby' will be eleven in a few days. Hard to believe. Time is marching on at a faster pace than ever before. Tim's schedule is as busy as ever. 

Growing spiritually and studying God's Word remain most important. The books of Matthew, Hebrews and Jonah have been our focus this Fall. I am convicted that we (or I) need to be serving more. 

Conclusion: God is good and I have so much to be thankful for. 

Ooh! BeBe! A beautiful mademoiselle is on her way!

These were the words on a recent baby shower invitation that I received. I immediately thought of some cute Paris themed fabric I had seen: Vive La France by Monoluna for Robert Kaufman fabric. It has the sweetest Parisian pictures on it. I ended up using it for two baby showers because a friend needed a shower gift too.

Reverse applique Eiffel Tower by Planet Applique and Curlz font.

 

 

 

Sweet ruffle pants with bow accents.

Here is the other set. Because we don't know the baby's name, I decided to embroider "amour" over the Eiffel Tower. shown here with a pair of ruffle pants and a sweet little cardigan that has raggy flowers sewn on. (I don't know how to turn this picture-if you do please comment below!)

Close up of raggy flowers with button centers.

 

A matching bib and burp cloth were also included.

And because this post has a French theme-I thought I would add in a picture of my new Ballerina Crayon Roll!

Images of Today

Bible Lesson Plagues on Egypt Exodus 10-11

Rearranged the kitchen a little. Removed a cabinet door to display dishes. Idea from Better Homes & Gardens.

Erica made Pineapple Upside Cake for dessert.

Gorgeous fabric I won-Sweet  Lush by Patty Young for Michael Miller. Deciding what to sew with it.

Christmas....A Little Late this Year.

This post goes along with the picture of the post below.
Well, I finally got a Christmas card ordered!  Note the date: December 27. I like to send picture cards and we were not all together until Christmas this year. I usually try and get a picture at Thanksgiving. But Andy was in Arizona visiting family. I made sure that we got a picture when we got home from church on Christmas Sunday-- before we ran off to my Mom's house. Luckily, Alissa knows how to set up the timer on my camera! I thought the picture was pretty good for a spur of the moment job. I was impressed with the selection of cards that share the true meaning of Christmas at Shutterfly. I ordered a few of the below style and more of another style (because of cost). I also ordered a book of our vacation that we took last May in Myrtle Beach.  Mmm...I am seeing a pattern here. Procrastination. At least I still remembered our vacation to write about it :)  So....Merry Christmas (a little late)!