Let's talk stitching

First some catching up on SBQ's:

Today's SBQ was suggested Danielle (http://scopist.blogspot.com/) and is:

Are you on "The Wagon?" If so, how long have you been on and how "serious"
are you about it? If not, have you considered it?

Nope, not on the wagon. I am trying to use stash instead of buying fabric and thread. But I am not imposing any rules on my craft buying.

April 5 SBQ was suggested by Heather
(http://theneedlesbewitchingeye.blogspot.com/) and is:

How do you decide which stitching blogs are worth repeat and/or regular viewings? Are there certain things you look for in particular? Are there things you wish there were more of? Less of? Is your blog a good example of what you like to read?

Several things determine if I go back to a stitching blog. Writing style usually draws me. Finishing techniques that are different will draw me back so I can learn. The stitching style does not have to be my style. There are a few blogs that I regularly read that I would never stitch the same patterns, but the presentation of the pieces and the quality of the stitching inspire me. I would not say that my blog is a good example of a stitching blog. I want my blog to be a reflection of who I am as a person (especially a person growing in Christ). Stitcher is part of who I am, and so it is reflected, but the blog itself is not just about stitching.

And now some actual stitching.
When I learned that Margaret and Megan were willing to drive to the airport to meet me, I knew I wanted to make something for them. Two of the stitched bags I showed before my trip were for them (blue for Margaret, pink for Megan). I put these little biscornus in as well. Megan is a math major like me, so I did the Pi-squared freebie from View from an Alternate Dementia for her. Margaret is a Bronte fan, so I stitched a silhouette of Charlotte Bronte on the front, and then put CB initials and the names of her works on the back.


Here is a little biscornu I made for an exchange on a message board I frequent.

And here is my part of Kell's Blackwork RR. I really love this piece and I'm sure it will end up on my wish list.


Hopefully, I'll be posting some larger project finishes soon. Thanks for looking!

Vacation Recap

Thank you all for your prayers while we were traveling at the beginning of the month. Leading up to the trip, so many things were happening in the lives of those we were going to see, we truly did not know how it would work out. But God knew all along--and it was an awesome holiday. It is always so much fun for me to watch my girls experience American life since they only know it a couple weeks a year. Jewel was amazed at the number of US flags adorn gardens, houses and buildings. That kind of patriotism is foreign here. She would sit in the back seat and yell "another US flag" "a Missouri flag too" "oooh there's another one" every time we were in the car. I hope as she grows she understands the importance and freedom that flag represents. A funny thing was her spotting her first mobile home. She said, "Mom why is that house on wheels?" (it did not have skirting around it). She was dumbfounded that houses were built that could be moved. There were hundreds of other cute sayings, some I am sure will find their way into the blog at some point. But, here are a few pictures to recap the trip.

I had a long layover in Newark. Blogging and stitching friends Megan and Margaret drove to the airport just to spend a couple of hours with me. It was awesome! It was like we had known each other all our lives. And they even put up with me, scatterbrained that I was after flying for 9 hours! We talked stitching and photography and other stuff. The time flew. I hated to leave them as early as I did, but since it took me 52 minutes to get back through security (but hey who's counting?) it was a good thing I did. I had about 20 minutes to wait before boarding my flight. Sure made the wait in the airport more enjoyable. Here we are (picture taken by Margaret's daughter):

First overnight stop was St. Louis. We spent the night with my brother-in-law, then moved out to our friends "little cabin in the woods" they just bought, for a few days. Papa B broke his leg just before we traveled, so things were a little up in the air. We had fretted about not being able to stay for Easter which is our tradition. But with his leg broken, Papa had decided that he could not host Easter this year. He said it would have been more difficult to cancel if we had been staying. God knew months ago when we booked our flights it would be best if we were not there. How awesome is that! But we were able to have some real quality time visiting with him and his family because we were not so busy running all over the place (since he couldn't). German's godson is graduating from High School this year and we spent some good time with him, and met his girlfriend. The granddaughter of another friend had been in a car accident just before we left and we did not think we would get to see them. But she was released from the hospital the day we arrived and we were able to spend one evening with them since they were not at the hospital anymore. God is good! (And Valerie is doing amazingly well!) We came back to the city to spend Good Friday with my brother-in-law.
He took us to City Museum--a wonderful maze of climbing things, caves and slides to explore.
The girls had a blast. This is actually a slide! The museum is built in an old shoe factory. These were the chutes used to send shoes from one floor to the next and they have been made into slides. German took Flower down it (much to the astonishment of the people around us). She was probably the least afraid of anyone!

On Saturday we flew to Birmingham where we checked our things in storage, and paid for it. Then we visited with our former neighbors and had dinner with old friends. Easter Sunday we attended our former church for the first time in six years. They have moved into a new building and are now at 3 services. It was an amazing time of worship and seeing friends. Two dear friends asked us to join them and their daughter for Easter lunch (more on their hospitality later). It was a perfect way to spend the day!

Monday we flew to Tucson Arizona to see German's cousin. She took us to the Desert Museum. We saw an amazing raptor show where the hawks were literally about 3 feet from us.
Jewel's favorite was the mountain lion.
I personally loved the quail (this is not taken with a zoom--he came that close to me!)

Wednesday it was on to Texas!
We celebrated my Dad's birthday with him.
He got married this summer, and so we had the opportunity to meet my 2 step-brothers and step-sister for the first time. Again, it was like we already knew each other. We had a really great time. We had several opportunities to go visit my Mom as well. She continues to decline in health, which is hard to watch. My brother, niece and nephew also spent a day with us.
Back at my Dad's, we spent time out on the farm and the girls drove the tractor. My step-brothers rodeo, so we went to watch them rope and they put the girls on the horses. Flower was in heaven! I am afraid we could develop a very expensive hobby if we aren't careful. On Sunday, we attended church with my Dad and Larry Ford who travels with the Gaither's Band happened to be leading worship. It was a wonderful gift of old Southern music to my soul. I am sure God smiled at our delight. The entire trip was a wonderful time! Jewel burst into tears when she said good-bye to my step-Mom. She had fallen in love. I pray that they will come visit us soon.

It was a wonderful holiday. I'm glad to be home, but I am so glad we had the opportunity to go. Thanks for sharing the memories with me.

In Other Words--Busyness

“Busyness is not a spiritual gift.”
From an interview with
~ Lisa Harper ~

I could easily be a hamster spinning in a wheel this week--lots of output and getting no where fast. Busyness is calling my name. Unpack. Laundry. Iron. Sort clothes out of the closets. Plan meals. Prepare meals. Clean kitchen. Teach the girls. Go shopping. Go to the library. Write. Catch up on email. And on and on the list goes. And that is just home stuff. There is also "ministry" stuff--Prepare Bible Study. Plan lunch with the ladies. Go to PDC. Email Prayer Chain. And more.

But the question comes down to this: Is my busyness really accomplishing anything for the Kingdom of God or for developing God's character in me. And the answer is: no. All of those things can be good things to do, but when I am doing them just because I have to accomplish them, they are lots of output and no progress.

But when I stop and ask God to accomplish through me what He would have accomplished today amazing things happen. Two specific things happen--my true spiritual gifts are used and the fruit of the spirit is developed in me. How, you ask? Because the activity becomes more than busyness.
Preparing Bible Study becomes an extension of my gift of teaching, rather than something to check off my list.
Teaching Flower and Jewel develops self-control in me as I discipline and teach them right from wrong rather than problem manage behavior.
Preparing meals with the girls teaches them how to manage tasks and grow to be women who will manage their own homes.
Ironing shirts develops joy in me as I praise God for the husband He gave me and who provides for our family.
Yet another load of laundry develops perseverence that the task can be managed and develops thankfulness for the abundance God gives.
Yielding my day to God develops meekness that I can't do it all myself--especially as I see Him accomplish everything on my list and I don't feel "busy" but "empowered."

Busyness is not a spiritual gift. God calls us to be steadfast with the tasks that He prepares for us, but He does not want us to do those tasks in our strength. He expects us to depend on Him to accomplish the tasks of our day. Then He will develop our gifts in us. Amazing! (If you haven't read Cyndi's post at CWO Cafe last Friday go read it now. She talks about giving our days to Jesus in a much more articulate way than I could ever dream. Her post has gone a long way to allow God to change my heart this week. Don' miss it!)

Heavenly God, help me to discern this week the tasks that you call me to do and those that are just "busy" on my list. Help me to hand them over to you and be a conduit through which you work. May the things I accomplish this week bring You glory, and may they be a part of your plan to make me more like You. Amen.

Christine at Fruit in Season is our hostess this week for In Other Words. Please visit here to read what others are writing.

Menu Plan Monday

I have returned to the land of the functional after our 17 day trip to the States and the massive jet lag and cold that I endured when I returned. I promise, holiday pics and details soon, but for now here is my menu plan for the week. We are getting back to a South Beach way of life after not worrying about it on the trip, so menus are heavy on proteins/veg and light on carbs.



Monday: ground pork burgers with cheese (no bread), mixed green salads
Tuesday: Grilled Salmon with lemon pepper, steamed carrots, salad
Wednesday: South Beach BBQ chicken, steamed peas, corn
Thursday: Indian takeaway
Friday: Lamb steaks, green beans, salad
Saturday: Pork in marscapone sauce, steamed broccoli, salad
Sunday: Bean soup with ham

For other great menu ideas, please join Laura at orgjunkie.

A Little Stitching Fun

I'm getting ready to leave for the US for a 2 week visit, so I haven't had much time to blog. If Flower will cooperate, maybe I'll get some writing time on the plane. All in all we will take 11 flights in the next few days. But barring that, I'll leave you with a few things I've been stitching.

First: Bags, bags and more bags. Two are for Jewel and Flower to take on the airplane. The rest are gifts.


Second: Here is the layout for the Blackwork Round Robin I'll be participating in starting mid-April. The sections will be completed to look like a stained glass window. I really love how it looks.


I have other near finishes, that I'll show when I return.

I cannot foresee getting back to Blogger before April 18 with travel and anticipated jet lag. Please pray for us. We will be visiting friends and family in NJ (airport only), MO, AL, AZ and TX. I can't wait, but I know that traveling with children across time zones is exhausting. I'll miss you all and expect my Google Reader to be teeming when I get back. Blessings all.

IOW---Choices

Last evening we went for a family walk--something that we do most evenings now that the time has changed and it is light until very late. New the last couple of walks is that we are leaving the push chair home and letting Flower walk the entire 1.25 mile trek holding someone's hand. As she and I were walking, hand-in-hand, someone else was walking on the other side of the street with their dogs. Flower kept turning to watch. This caused her to pull away from me and stretch our holding hands to the limit. At one point I said, "I'd like to have more looking forward and less looking backward to make this easier." Immediately, God impressed upon my heart one thought...."exactly."

More looking forward and less looking backward. I choose whether to dwell on the things of the past or the things of now and the future. I choose whether to second-guess and wish things were different or I choose to allow God to mold me into the person He desires me to be. Every moment is a choice of going backward or going forward. Paul said it this way:

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14

We must be making choices that propel us heavenward. In his great masterpiece, Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis reminds us,

"Every time you make a choice you are turning the central part of you, the part of you that chooses, into something a little different from what it was before... either into a creature that is in harmony with God, ...or into one that is in a state of war with God. Each of us at each moment is progressing to the one state or the other."

He doesn't say sometimes when you choose you change, not even most times when you choose, he says every time. Every choice matters. Every choice shapes us. And every choice demonstrates to the world Who we are serving (or not serving). Every choice.

Just as I was wishing Flower would focus on propelling forward as we walked, I am certain my Heavenly Father wishes I would focus on propelling forward as well. He isn't going to let go of me when I loosen my focus on Him, but it does slow down the process of me getting to where He wants me. Today I choose to move forward. How about you?

Christine at Fruit in Season is our hostess this week for CWO's In Other Words. Please come join us!

A Perfect Weekend, Part Two

After church on Sunday, we quickly headed to the train station to get our train to London. We stayed in the London area Sunday night and Monday we spent the day at LEGOLAND. What an amazing place! I could not believe the things that they were able to create out of legos. Here is a sampling:



Jewel had her first driving lesson. She kept forgetting to press the gas pedal. And when she remembered to press it, she would forget to steer. It was too funny!






Flower rode her first "horsie". Yes, it is a carousel, but she kept shouting "I ride horsie".








Jewel went on her first rollercoaster. This is the smaller of the two she went on. Yes, it is snowing, but it only lasted a few minutes.


It was a great day! The girls loved it. German and I loved it. And we will definitely take them again.

A Perfect Weekend, Part One

We just had the most awesome 4-day weekend! German took Friday and Monday off so we could have some quality time playing with the girls. And play we did. I came back absolutely exhausted, but it was worth it.

It started Friday morning. It was Red Nose Day here in the UK and the girls enjoyed getting in on the act.
Red Nose Day is a fundraising project with Comic Relief to raise funds for projects in the UK and in Africa.

German's work colleagues were participating in a "try science" launch at a children's science museum. He was one of the volunteers, so that is where our day started. While Daddy helped the 9-10 year old students with science experiments such as aerodynamics (paper airplanes), weight distribution and strength (pasta bridges testing breaking points), water displacement (blowing water out of an immersed bottle) Mommy and the girls went exploring in the museum. They have an entire town centre section that allows children to "bank" (complete with learning how to open safes and avoiding pressure points and "lasers" in the big safe), "grocery shop" (getting items and scanning them), "cook", and "car maintenance" (Jewel learned to fill the car with petrol and change a tyre!)

After lunch with Daddy's co-workers, the whole family spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the other parts of the museum. The section on how the body works was a big hit--except for the x-ray stuff, that scared Jewel.

We stayed overnight in the area and on Saturday we visited a farm that had a large play barn area filled with different slides and rope bridges and climbing frames. Moms and Dads could have as much fun as the kids! After that we visited the Bronte Parsonage and Museum. I am a huge Bronte sister fan so this was lots of fun for me. Jewel and Flower aren't old enough to introduce them to Jane Eyre and the like, but they know of the story since our friend starred in the theater production last year. We took lots of notes to use when we teach about these books when they are older. We went home late Saturday. Good friends were being baptised Sunday morning and we did not want to miss that. I'll tell about part two of the weekend in the next post.

IOW--Life on Mission

"It is insufficient to proclaim that the Church of God has a mission in the world. Rather, the God of mission has a Church."
~Tim Dearborn~


The past few years I have considered how Jesus' very coming to Earth was demonstrating a life on mission. He could have stayed in the comforts and beauty of heaven, but He came to us to show us a better way. Every person He met was a person who could be touched with kindness, healing, and hope. He lived His life in a demonstration of what He expects us to do--and meeting the needs of others was His highest priority.

So that tells me that my life needs to be a life on mission as well. I remember as a young girl hearing stories of missionaries and assuming that meant you had to go off to Africa to serve Jesus. Even the "home" missionaries served in "exotic" places like "Indian Reservations" (yes, I know it isn't PC but that is what they were called back then) or inner city hovels. It was not until later I developed a sense of mission being everyday.

In Deuteronomy 11:18-19 tells us:

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

God taught us to use every opportunity to teach our children His word. He did not want us to waste a moment. In much the same way, Jesus left His disciples with this admonition:

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20

This can be interpreted "as you are going...make disciples". In other words, don't waste a moment--meet spiritual needs wherever you are. WOW! He only set up one means of continuing His mission to meet the needs of people--the church. He told the disciples and they were expected to make disciples, who would in turn make disciples, etc. etc. Mission came first, then church. When that thought takes hold in your heart, your life becomes a life of mission no matter where in the world you are.

Living a life on mission does not necessarily mean going somewhere exciting. What it definitely means is changing your mindset to see the world all around you as a mission field. Here are a few things that work for me, maybe some will work for you as well:
1. Try to see everyone as someone for whom Jesus died and pray for them. This includes the driver who just cut you off, the salesperson that gave you attitude when the price tag wasn't on the blouse, the waiter who gave terrific service, the homeless man on the street. Everyone. When you see them as a person who Jesus came to save, it makes it easier to want to see their needs.
2. Work in ways to talk about Jesus around people (not necessarily to them). The kids are great help here. I quiz the girls on memory verses or Sunday School stories when we are on the bus or in taxis--and at least half the time someone who is "eavesdropping" comments or asks a question. Gives me an opportunity to talk about how we learn about God. Another way is to sing church songs with your kids while playing in the park. Other kids inevitably want to know the song--and the word of God is planted in their hearts.
3. Give God credit. When someone says "you are lucky" turn it and say you are blessed. When someone asks how you cope, say "God gives me the grace/courage/strength to cope." Don't let people walk away believing your life is by chance or coincidence. Verbally acknowledge God's part in it.
4. Find a missionary to support. This can be in prayer, financially, with letters and emails, or with practical things (I know one missionary who loves being sent magazines or books because she can't get them where she serves).
5. Subscribe to news feeds that increase your awareness of world needs. Get on some mission prayer updates.
6. Do volunteer work serving the "least" in your community.

And finally, if you can do go. You will not be the same. Our time in Romania two years ago opened my eyes to how a simple touch can make such a difference. My travels in Europe and to Israel and Egypt show me that there are needs everywhere. You will never regret making yourself available.

the orphanage that was having another story added to house more children






distributing candy at children's home. The kids loved the candy, but loved having their picture taken more!







barrels of clothes, books and computer equipment to distribute







You are never too young. Jewel was only 2, and was in more people's homes than we were. This lady would just take her to show off her red curls.





This week's In Other Words Hostess is Laurel Wreath. Please join us!

The party is over, but new friends are made

Well the party is over. I managed to visit around 200 sites. I tried to comment on most of them, and I bookmarked several sites to visit again. Here are a few of the new possible friends I have found. I hope you enjoy their sites as much as I do.

I just enjoy the honesty, and her writing style here: http://afteracupofcoffee.blogspot.com/

Some inspiration and challenge that I have found: http://www.changedbychrist.blogspot.com/, http://www.thepreachers-wife.blogspot.com/ and http://thereisaseason.typepad.com/

Mom of a preschooler I think I can identify with: http://kcozonac.blogspot.com/
Dad of a preschooler I think I can identify with:
http://somethingaboutparenting.typepad.com/
Mom wanting to raise daughters of beauty and grace: http://inbeautyandingrace.blogspot.com/
Makes me homesick for Texas and challenges me too! http://www.middle-years.blogspot.com/ and she participated in a new writing forum called woman-to-woman that I am praying about whether it is a place for me to participate. Check it out! http://accordingtolei.blogspot.com/2007/03/woman-to-woman.html

A few Americans living abroad to brighten my days: http://shasherslife.blogspot.com/, http://www.woodward-family.com/karenwoodward/blog.html (okay she is returning to the States, but she understand expat life), and http://romanianadventure.blogspot.com/

And finally, an awesome foodie site: An awesome cooking site: http://brazilianfoodlove.blogspot.com/

The winner of my book give away was UKZoe. I'll be contacting her for an address to send it this week.

Thank you for visiting my site and for participating in the party.

IOW--A Three Stranded Marriage

Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:

If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!

Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?

Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12


These were the verses used as the basis of our wedding invitations and ceremony. We chose to focus, from the very start, that we could not be "everything" to each other. Maybe it was that we were "older" (I was 27) when we got married. We had lived away from family, as adults, for almost ten years. So, there was a sense of how to cope with life, and trust in God for the ups and downs of life, before we got married. The foundation was set and we were going to build on it.

That sounds great in theory and planning. Practice, on the other hand, was more difficult. We were married in November. In April, German moved to Alabama to take a new job. I stayed in Washington to sell the house. I was miserable. I was a newlywed with no husband. And I was angry...with German, with well-meaning friends who kept asking how I was, with the lousy housing market, with German's old job, with German's new job, with God....you get the idea. I knew in my head that God had blessed us with the job and that He was working out His plan. But I was not resting in it. Nightly phone calls were miserable. German was not making me happy--and I let him know it. By September, the house had still not sold and the decision was made we couldn't do what we were doing any longer. A young cousin of mine agreed to watch the house and feed the cat daily--and I left for Alabama. It was a difficult six weeks of learning to live together, again. But the amazing thing was....German still did not make me happy. I was still miserable. I was focused on the house not selling, us being in temporary housing, and the mountain of things that would need to be done when we moved. I wanted to look for a job, but until we were settled I couldn't (my car was in Washington for one thing). I still was not trusting God with the move.

The house did eventually sell. We moved into our home in January. We found a church. I found a job. But the most important thing I found during that time was a knowledge that my new husband could not meet all of my needs. I learned to trust God and His timing during that year. I begged him that I would never have to do that again. But a few years later, I would find myself putting German on a plane to move to England without me. I would stay with friends while being there to sell our house. But this time I did it with a peace of understanding that my emotional and spiritual needs would be met by God and when He allowed it I would join German. What a difference the move was! I feel certain that this scene will continue to replay in our life, but God is constant and wants our best. When I trust Him with that, then, and only then, can German and I meet each other's needs.

"One of the secrets to a happy marriage is remembering the source of our joy, which is not one another. The source of our joy is the Lord. Yes, we share tons of joyous moments, but we don't expect, let alone demand, endless joy-filled moments from each other. "
~ Liz Curtis Higgs ~
from the devotional: Rise and Shine

Darlene is hosting "In Other Words" this week. Please join us here.

photo credit: www.morguefile.com; mervynjenkins