Life is a Whirlwind!

So my hubby was in Arizona for a week of golf and FINALLY returned yesterday. I find it interesting that while he was gone it seemed like my schedule was packed, the phone rang more than usual and decisions needed to be made about a variety of things. I coped, but was so thankful that we were able to talk things over on the phone. And then his cell phone began to malfunction! Conversing with him became problematic but he borrowed his friend's cell phone and I managed to get the advice that I so needed.

One of the more time-consuming and stressful situations was when my daughter and son-in-law decided to list their house for sale on Zillow so that they could try to get it under contract to make it doable to get financing on a new house. I had minimal stress....but they were overloaded with stress! They were working like crazy people to "stage" the house for an open house on Sunday and I volunteered to handle the open house so they wouldn't have that aggravation to deal with. They received a full price offer that evening. And then things got really crazy with another offer the following day for a bunch more. I felt so sad for them as they navigated their way through dealing with the offers on their house, their phone ringing constantly with people interested and real estate agents wanting to list it, as well as scrambling to get their offer in on the house they hoped to get. Because of my real estate background I was immersed in helping them with the contracts and giving them the information they needed to make proper decisions. Unfortunately they did not get their offer accepted so now they are trying to figure out what to do.

So, anyway, my stress level is almost nil today as I have no responsibilities elsewhere and I am beginning to wonder just why I was so overwhelmed for the past many days! Ah, there really were reasons and I won't go into all the other situations that needed attention. I am thankful, however, for a bit of relief.

It was interesting that yesterday's memory verse was quite relevant to me. James 1:5 "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him." I shared this with Shauna because I knew she needed that reminder.

Today I randomly pulled another card from my box of verses and amazingly it was the followup verse. James 1:6 "But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." I am so thankful that God does give us wisdom when we ask and that my faith is firm as I believe he will give it to me. I sure don't want to be doubtful. I shudder to think of myself out to sea on a life boat, blown and tossed by the wind, without the Lord calming the seas.

Praise God! He is in control of all of our circumstances and will direct us when we look to him for guidance. What a relief that is!

The book of James is my favorite book of the bible. It continually speaks directly into my life to give me pause to make sure I am doing and saying what is pleasing to God.

I LOVE JANUARY!!

It's a great time to get some closets and drawers cleaned out, catch up on some sewing projects and just not feel any stress. Today I thinned some clothes from my closet....just the beginning. I still have more to get rid of but I have to gather my courage! I also got my desk drawers cleaned out and organized, tossed some brochures and magazines AND went to the nail salon for a color change. I like the fact that I can go every 2 1/2 to 3 weeks for a color change for $15 and don't have to get a manicure. I always get gel (shellac) polish because it lasts and doesn't chip. Last time I had gray glittery polish that turned turquoise when cold, but look what I got today!

warm hand

I ran the tips under cold water to change the color

And here they are after a bit more cold water. Isn't that fun?? They have lots of new polish that have this ability to change colors. Can't wait to try a new color combo next time. Life is short....LIVE A LITTLE!

Over the weekend I did some sewing and got TWO projects finished. The first one is a Bionic Gear Bag which was tricky to put together but I think it came out pretty good. I will be using this one for sewing supplies to take to future classes. I may make more of these because they are really neat little bag to use for a variety of purposes. Look at all those zippers! I didn't need to purchase any fabric for this bag. I just chose coordinating fabrics from my stash. LOVE IT!

The other item is a rigid-sided, folding, hand sewing "table" that has pockets to put your project in. This will be a good item to use when flying or in the car when I need to do a bit of hand stitching, which I almost never do. BUT, I have a teensy project in mind that will be a fun one and this little thing-a-ma-jig will be a great aid. 

And that is why I like January! I still have the pantry to clean out and reorganize but that will happen later this week. My aunt has been in the hospital for 6 days and is being transferred to rehab this evening because she is too weak to go back home. Tomorrow I will go see how she is settling in to her new temporary digs.

"Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you...

with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God."  Colossians 3:1

It is a simply thing to accept Christ as Savior. Just a few words in prayer, seeking God's forgiveness and admitting that Jesus is Lord. There. Now I have salvation and will be with Him in heaven. Whoa....wait a minute! This simple act of contrition  and acknowledgement doesn't mean we go on with life as we know it and just make sure we attend church on Sunday. Or at least, it shouldn't!

I need to be IN the Word, or rather have the Word DWELL (live) in me. If I don't read God's Word, how am I supposed to hear Him speaking to me? How can a believer know how to live their life if they never crack open the Bible and study? Hmm. I know of people who think they are Christians because they believe in God, but have no understanding of what is actually said in the Bible and how it all fits together. Yes, I believe the simple truth of John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." I also think there will be many who "make it" to heaven by the skin of their teeth.

I cannot judge who is saved and who isn't. Thankfully that is not my job. My job here on earth is to know God, love Him and serve Him.....and be a witness for Him. You may have a different thought about this and that is fine, but hopefully we can agree that we need to follow scriptural commands.

So back to the Word dwelling in me....Many, many years ago I put together a 3x5" box to help me memorize scripture. I decided I need to revive that box! I have 7 indexes for each day of the week; Sunday through Saturday plus one marked DAILY that I keep in the front of the box. Then I have 31 index cards marked 1 through 31 representing each day of the month. Sounds complicated! I also have 85 3x5" cards with one scripture verse on each with the reference written on the back. These verses have been ones that I have memorized in the past, but as you can imagine by now they are all familiar but I can't remember them word for word or attach a book, chapter and verse. And most of these were memorized in the NIV but now our church uses the ESV.  I guess I will just stick with the NIV.

So what I do is place one card in the Daily spot and one in each of the day of the week spot as well as one in each day of the month spot. The extra's are placed in front. Each day I take out the Daily card and practice that verse. Then I remove the day of the week card for review and then review the appropriate day of the month card.

The next morning, I move the Daily card to the appropriate day of the week spot (moving the one in that spot to the appropriate day of the month spot. If you find over time that you have more than 3 verses in your day of the month spot, just move them out to the front of your box. In time, verses will be memorized for those times when you need them.

There you go! A painless way to work at memorizing bible verses.

Two Projects Finished!

I'm well on my way to actually finishing a bunch of knitting/sewing/quilting projects that are started or planned but just stacked up awaiting my attention.

The top has been finished for a few YEARS! Finally got the binding sewn on and a label stitched to the back. Beemer seems to like it.

This is the Azel knit pullover that I made for Charlotte. It doesn't look like much laid out on a flat surface, but check out the next photo to see why I made it.

This little girl reminded me, with her blonde hair, of how cute this would look on Charlotte.

One of my friends recommended this book. She said she couldn't put it down, but at 500 plus pages, I really have to get cracking to finish it. I checked it out from the library (Kindle version) I guess Francine Rivers is a great author and storyteller.

It looks like a romance novel, but my friend says it isn't. I don't like romance novels. We shall see. This is what it says on Amazon "A powerful retelling of the story of Gomer and Hosea, Redeeming Love is a life-changing story of God’s unconditional, redemptive, all-consuming love."

It's a New Year - Priorities and Practices

I have rarely kept my past resolutions for a whole year. Good intentions are just that. Intentions. I am pleased with myself that I actually followed through for ALL of 2016 with a photo a day posted on my blog. Well, I did have a couple of goofs, like right in the beginning when I missed Day One!

But here it is 2017 and I made no resolutions, so no worries about failing. I've been thinking though. Thinking about what is truly important in my life. What do I value? Where are my priorities? How do I spend my time? A bit of introspection, if you will. Wikipedia defines it thusly: "Introspection is the examination of one's own conscious thoughts and feelings. In psychology the process of introspection relies exclusively on observation of one's mental state, while in a spiritual context it may refer to the examination of one's soul."

So there it is, both the mind and the soul. One cannot be untangled from the other. My "conscious thoughts and feelings" are definitely tied to my soul. What do I think about? How do I feel about things? Once again, my favorite source (Wikipedia) defines soul: "In many religions, philosophical, and mythological traditions, the soul is the incorporeal essence of a living being." 

Where am I headed with this? I am simply questioning just "who" I am or rather "whose" I am. I'm almost 70 for crying out loud. I really know who I am, warts and all. Ah, but "whose" I am is the more important word to ponder. I know, I know, I am a child of the King. I was snatched out of the grip of the devil and presented as clean before my Lord and Savior. That is the easy part. I know that He is mine, but am I HIS? I mean really His?

What do I think about during any one 24 hour period? How do I spend my time? How much time do I spend in His Word? I think I could do a better job of showing the Lord that I am really His. You know what they say "actions speak louder than words." My mind is pretty active, so I am definitely viewing my "thoughts" as active and very important to God. My thoughts certainly say something about my "essence" (soul.)

Now to the bottom line. I should be continually striving to be more Christ-like, seeking both the mind of Christ and the actions of Christ. This is what I will continue to ponder and work on in 2017 and until the Lord calls me home.

As I have been studying the book of Colossians, I am struck by the reality of this verse and how well it plays into what I have been dwelling on lately.

"And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach--if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard,which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven...." Colossians 1 21-23

Thank you, Lord, for your saving grace. May I fully look to you in all my ways and seek your face.

Day 366

YAHOO! LAST DAY OF POSTING PHOTOS

every day

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I made a chocolate babka. YUMMY!

Annual New Year's Eve pinochle party...SOME of the food

and this is the dessert table

And a fun time was had by all.

Day 365

HAND SEWING WITH THE GIRLS

and they did so well!!

American Girl Kits that make up 2 each of the panda and elephant (big one and smaller one.)

Day 364

AFTERNOON SPENT GETTING MY AUNT HOME

after two days in the hospital

I really only had a few tasks that I wanted to get done today, but my plans were interrupted with a call from my Aunt Eileen and then from her doctor telling me she was better after treating her for diverticulitis and surgically draining the large cyst on her back. She was ready to go home. Only somewhat ready. My aunt had called to let me know that I needed to stop off at her home and get some clothes, her shoes, teeth and glasses because she was taken by ambulance in her nightgown. I also remembered to get her walker so she could walk back into her assisted living facility.

It was an all afternoon affair given a mixup with insurance records in the Overlake "Walgreen's" Pharmacy, a 20 minute call to Group Health to get that straightened out, rush hour traffic and getting her situated back at her place. She got right back into her nightgown and crawled into bed, waiting for the nurse to give her an insulin injection. She is weak and tired. I forgot to snap a photo. Sigh.

One of my tasks for today was to package up the American Girl doll we got for Hailey and get it sent back, asking them to send a different one that Hailey really wanted. It doesn't have bangs and has blue eyes. What was I thinking!!?? Oops, that's what happens when you get your gifts too soon before Christmas! The problem was that I forgot to bring the box that it was shipped in home from Kyle and Kari's and UPS wanted $12 to sell me the appropriate size box. SO, here I am trying to fashion a shipping box out of a fruit box. I shall succeed. Tomorrow.

Day 363

THE YEAR IS ALMOST OVER

only 3 more days of trying to remember to take a photo

Time for the decorations to come down and be put away. I wonder if I did this photo journey in 2017 if all my photos would be pretty much the same!? 

Day 362

FUN NEW GEL NAIL COLOR

it is sparkly grey when warm and when the nails get cooler it turns turquoise

Just ran cold water very briefly over my fingers and dried my hand. It is fun to watch the color change! If it is cold outside or I rinse my hands in cold water, they will turn totally turquoise.

Day 361

IT WAS A FULL DAY OF FUN

in Bellingham with the whole family  

What a great time we had together. Opening gifts, eating prime rib with all the fixings, snacking on M&M's, playing games, eating pierogi in the early evening (burp), laughing and just enjoying an extended time together. The roads were pretty traffic-free by the time we left for home at 8:30 pm. Jason rode with us and he has to work tomorrow.

 

Grandma made Seahawks pillowcases for Saben

Beemer and Maple got along wonderfully, but Beemer still prefers sitting on a lap!

Just can't resist climbing in the box

Oooohh, look what I got!

Let's just see how many can be on their cell phones at the same time. And check out Saben's new Rubik's Cube collection.

Time for a little virtual reality

The electric bike that Kyle purchased and is testing

Shauna takes a turn with Saben's paint ball gun

Let's see how the trampoline handles us and the snow

Prepping for the delicious prime rib "lunch"

The adults played Myron's new game and then later switched to Pounce

Day 360

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

full day of fun

The girls put their dolls to bed in their new bunkbeds

Shauna served us a yummy Christmas Day brunch

Uncle Jason the game player

What a good uncle!

Learning a new game

Visit with Uncle Bob

Our fabulous hostess, Debbie

Day 359

IT HAS BEEN A QUIET CHRISTMAS EVE

before the storm of the next couple days

They should have been here. They were supposed to come. I signed us up. We saw them across the street. But they skipped us. Management had said their families would be around to sing carols to us and that all we needed to do was sign up on the clipboard in the mail room. Ah well, we waited between 11 am and 2 pm for them to show, pausing our Christmas music so we would hear them when they arrived. That was to be my photo for the day. So this is my replacement picture:

While I waited I made several small zippered fabric pouches to store teensy things in. Don't know how much use they will provide, but I already had the supplies in my stash so why not.

Day 358

SNOWMAN IS DONE

I stopped by to deliver the decorations to Hailey and Charlotte

Unfortunately I ran out of felt for the back of the snowman so I made a quick trip to JoAnn's to purchase a bit. I really wanted to finish these up so that I wouldn't have any more projects hanging over my head before Christmas. Well....I still have a knitting project, but I decided it will not be a Christmas gift so I bought some more time!

On the way to deliver these to the girls, I stopped at Marv and Merrely's to wish them a Happy 49th Anniversary and visit for a bit. It is really wonderful to live so close to our friends. Phew, I can now breathe a sigh of relief. I still have to make the pierogi dumplings tonight and then make 2 different desserts, but I'm feeling confident that it will all come together.

I gave this machine embroidered Gingerbread Man to Charlotte

The Snowman I gave to Hailey

Day 357

CHRISTMAS PARTY

and gift exchange

Of course, I forgot to actually take pictures at the Christmas celebration at the Bernina/Janome store. They had a super spread of food that deserved a photo. It was nice to just sit and talk with the other employees and meet a couple of former employees who showed up for a little while. I stayed for almost 2 1/2 hours and then when I got home I discovered that Ed was over helping Dave with a computer set-up problem. Ed said he was more moral support than help!

I received this Shimmer FizzyBody Lotion along with a quilting book from Annette at work. This is sold by Bath and Body Works. Now I'm going to sparkle for sure!

Prior to showing up at "work" for the party, I stopped at Dave's brother Bob's home to drop off gifts he had purchased with Jill's help to give to the residents and staff. We will go visit him on Christmas day but didn't want to wait until then to bring the gifts he would be giving out. Dave had to go to my Aunt Eileen's to bring her headphones back to her after working on them to try to figure out why the base stopped working. He thinks she had simply touched the wrong button and thereby changed the channel on the headset so the two parts were not on the same channel. Anyway, they are now working again for her.

Now I have some potatoes boiling and onions and butter ready to be fried up for pierogi that I will be making tomorrow. Enough busyness for today!

Onions and Butter.....lots of butter!

Day 356

SEWING LESSON WITH ANNIKA

she wanted me to help her make a new dress for Itty Bit

Granddaughter Annika is 9 years old and she has been interested in doing some sewing lately so her mom asked if I could come up to Bellingham and spend part of the day working with her. We had given her a sewing machine for her birthday and this is the first time I have been up there to give her some one-on-one time with the sewing machine.

Itty Bit is her stuffed rabbit. I gave her this rabbit when she was first born and I can't remember if this is the original one or if it is a 2nd generation rabbit. At any rate, she is a tiny bunny and I had made it a dress a few years back, but it was time for another one since the sleeve had a tear in it. Unfortunately there is not pattern for these clothes, so I just have to wing it. 

After we made the first dress, which turned out to be more like a nightgown, we stitched up a 2nd version and then I made Itty Bit a gathered skirt. We had a nice lunch which Kari prepared in the middle of our projects and then when we finished Saben, Annika and I played a card game called Rat-a-Tat-Cat. It was a fun day together and I left there at about 4 pm, arriving home at a little past 6:30. I was right in the middle of rush hour which added an additional hour to the drive. But it was worth the effort!

Annika did a fine job of working with her sewing machine

Saben entertained himself with his Rubik's Cube and the computer

Itty Bit with her new frock

Day 355

A FEW EMBROIDERY PROJECTS FINISHED

these things take a LONG time to stitch!

The larger one is for Saben and the smaller one will be for Hailey

Finally got this one done for Annika. I still need to stitch up either the tree or perhaps a snowman for Charlotte. The smaller ones are 12" long and the big gingerbread man is a couple inches bigger. Too big for the tree, but hopefully the kids can find some place to hang them.

Day 354

BIBLE STUDY DINNER

at Vince's....too bad some couldn't be there

I got a call from my aunt this morning saying that she needed to go to the doctor at 2:00 today and could I take her. She had something that broke open on her back and the nurse where she lives told her to get to the doctor today. So off we went. Turns out it was a nasty abscess and I watched as the doctor expressed bloody pus from it.....one of the reasons I could NEVER be a nurse. It just grosses me out too much. Anyway, we had to pick up an antibiotic for her and she had a pneumonia shot. She had one a couple of years ago, but as I discovered recently, we all need this new and additional injection. Back home and trying to finish up an embroidery project that I began this morning.

Then off to dinner with our Bible Study group.