The Cross :~

#27 – 1″ Life Sampler

As I have been taking this journey through my life, one stitch at a time, I would be remiss if I didn’t catch the most significant ‘happening’ in my life.  It was being introduced to Jesus Christ at a very young age.  As I grew in years and understanding, the blood of Jesus became more and more real in my life.

Today, as I celebrate His Blood through His death on the Cross, I still struggle with the full meaning of what it meant for Jesus to give His life on that Cross so many years ago.

This is what I do know…

♥He did it for me!

♥He did it for you!

♥He did it that I could have freedom and a new life in Him!

and

♥He knew exactly what He was doing!

I am blessed and forever changed because of His gift!

I have a friend who is an amazing communicator and writer who writes every 5th week for the religious column of the Seattle Times.  Here is that column from this weekend, reposted to her blog.

Sunday Inspiration!

the Lion Chaser’s Manifesto by Mark Batterson

Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Consider the lilies. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don’t let what’s wrong with you keep you from worshipping what’s right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze a new trail. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don’t try to be who you’re not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away. Chase the lion!

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#12 was chosen by Mr T as the winner for The Twelve Teas of Friendship.

Jenny! That makes you the winner!…w/Relaxation!

Jenny & I have become friends through this community.  She lives in Australia and she actually found me last year when she was searching the internet for soldered charms (at least I think that’s how she found me).  She has a fabulous sewing business, life story, family and life in Australia.  Go visit her and say, “Hi”.

my favorite comment was from my daughter w/[fond]memories!   …makes me smile just thinking of them~

Sunday Inspiration!

I’m thankful for the hope

that each one of us can realize in a personal way

because of the love and life that Jesus so freely gave to us through the Cross.

Sunday Inspiration!

Put yourself in competition with yourself each day. Each morning look back upon your work of yesterday and then try to beat it.

Charles M. Sheldon

Sunday Inspiration!

This is my Father’s world,
And to my listening ears
All nature sings,
And round me rings
The music of the spheres.

— Maltbie D. Babcock (1858-1901)

I love my Father’s world!

*the picture was taken when the girls & I were on a little nature walk this week – we enjoyed looking at a variety of animal tracks – these were bird tracks that wiggled this way and that and looped around mid-way making a large heart.  We definitely stood in awe at that and all three of us took pictures with our cameras.

Sometimes, it takes more than a village!

There is an African proverb that says, “It takes a village to raise a child.”  Hillary took it a step further when she wrote (or did she?) a book with the same title.  When Amber wrote a sweet and meaningful post recently with that same famous title, it got me to thinking about my own life.  I’ve always known that a key factor in my ‘turning out’ (some would argue that I have indeed ‘turned out’) had a whole lot to do with the many wonderful people in my life who greatly influenced me.  However, for me it definitely took more than a village – maybe a city – or even a country!

Happy 50th Anniversary, mom and dad ~ this has been my mom's favorite picture, therefore it shows much wear

My parents deserve the greatest show of appreciation from me.  They celebrated 50 years of marriage yesterday.  This commitment for them hasn’t  just been a matter of ‘sticking it out’ because it was the right thing to do.  They are a wonderful example of two people who have loved each other and loved God through the good times and the hard times.  They have daily lived out the vows that were declared publicly on their wedding day.  Thank you mom & dad!

some of my village people

This collage represents just a handful of the people who poured into my life throughout the years.  When I was growing up our home seemed to have a continual flow of wonderful people going through it.  I would latch onto any and all of them and simply make them crazy.  Most of them would give me some of that attention that I so craved.  OK…I was, and still am, a bit needy!

Over the years, I’ve known that now it’s my turn to ‘give into’ the lives of others, especially kids as they are going through their time of ‘turning out’.  That’s a grand opportunity that each one of us have and there are so many creative ways to to it, but it’s not a challenge to take lightly!  😉  What does your village look like?

*In the center picture of the collage, take note of the stylish rw&b outfit that I have on.  I made that myself (w/help, I’m sure) and I was quite proud of it.  Must have been around 1976.

Sunday Inspiration!

I recently took this picture of the snow just above my house.  At that time I thought, “How pure and untouched”.

In my own life, how I long to be so pure, and untouched by this world.  It has so much to offer, so much of it, often the parts that appear the most appealing, threatens to snip away at that purity until there remains  the potential of an open, weeping wound.  Sounds a bit dramatic, but so easily attainable with so little effort.  Really, it’s the effect of sin on our lives.  I have choices to make each and every day.

“Lord, I give this day to You!  Make my heart white as snow with Your cleansing power”.

Threadly Musing…

I recently picked up a ‘baggy’ of old threads…

So beautiful to look at…

…the colors: crisp, clear, vibrant, splendid…grand ~

With any selection of a variety of colors, it seems that red will always be my favorite.

…how rewarding it was yesterday to need this very particular color, then, to go to my ‘baggy’ and find it…beautiful silk thread.

As I look at these fine threads, especially the red one, I can’t help but think about the thread of God’s love that has so tenderly been woven throughout my life; visible through His grace, mercy and unending love .  Sometimes these are felt through discipline but, even so, persistent and true.

Sunday Inspirations!

The family.  We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another’s desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together.  ~Erma Bombeck

My Christmas Holiday 2008

I can’t remember when I’ve enjoyed our Christmas Holiday so much.  As it comes to a close, I find those little tears puddling in the corners of my eyes as I think about just how incredibly blessed that I am.  I know that my steps have been ordered and directed by God and my thankfulness to Him goes beyond words.  I live out His goodness in my life each and every day.

Sunday Inspiration!

I have recently been welcomed to participate in two shows this coming summer.

The Farm Chicks & MaryJane’s Farm Fair

These will be new shows for me and I feel so blessed to be asked to participate…blessed, excited and scared for  this addition to my busy life.  It’s going to add some craziness and I’m always trying to keep inspired in the area of better time management.  I was sharing my excitement (& some fears) this week with a sister-in-blogging, and she shared some words with me that I hope I can really take to heart…

” I know this will be a lot of work for you; but God gave you this talent and He will be right with you the whole way!  I just always ask everyday that He help make me a hard worker like He is.  Can you imagine having to work hard answering all those prayers, making sure the sun sets at the right time; this place needs snow and rain, I mean the guy has his hands full! 🙂  And I am grateful for it! “

I told Teresa, it had never dawned on me to ask God to bless me with His work ethic…I need His touch in that area!

I found this in an old textbook.  My biggest problem is that I prefer to ‘work for happy feelings’.  So I guess it’s all good!

Today is our Christmas open house for our church family.