The Adventures of Sewing

A few blogs ago, I talked about how I wanted to spend more time being productive rather than just sitting and watching television. I mean, what’s really going to matter 10 years from now, the shows on television, or the things I was able to accomplish? 

This year Joel and I are trying to save as much money as possible. We make our own laundry soap, cut out the cable, have basic cell phone plans and even are doing without texting (and we’re still alive!). I make bread for us rather than buying loafs every week (which actually leads to us eating less bread because sometimes I’m just now in the mood to make it). We are spending very little on each other for Christmas this year. Another thing we are doing is making Christmas presents for everyone rather than getting the store bought ones. I’ve been perfecting my ornament decorating over the months of November and December, and have actually gotten pretty creative with them. When trying to figure out how I wanted to wrap them, I got the idea of making some bags to put them in that could double as something else for the gift receivers. I’ve wanted to learn how to sew for about 6 months now and after my mom passed her sewing machine to me, which I am so thankful for, I was one step closer to starting to acquire this skill. After learning the basics at a sewing class, I thought I would be able to make anything set before me.

 After looking at several different ideas, I decided on a small drawstring tote bag. I searched for a video online and found one that explained everything well and went through the steps towards a simple tote bag. I customized it to fit my ornaments rather than making the large one the lady was making. I watched the video twice, and then got all my supplies ready to work with on the kitchen table. I started cutting the fabric, leaving lots of extra room for mistakes. I lined it up, pinned it, and starting the sewing process. Something was not quite right. One side of the sewed fabric looked great, but flipping it on the other side was a different story. It looked like a hot mess and as if someone decided to wad up a bunch of thread and glue it to the fabric. I could not figure out what I was doing wrong. I went back to computer and look at how to thread the bobbin and it looked like everything was right. I tried sewing two more times, and twice got the same results. I knew my mom was capable at sewing a hem, which is where I was on the project. After me trying to figure it out for two hours on my own, I called her to rescue the fabric. After she looked at it for about 10 seconds, she placed the foot down and started sewing. Magically, both sides were looking great! Silly me, I was sewing without the foot down. My first tote bag I made was….special….unique….and will need to be in the hands of someone who can love those things not so perfect. After that, I was on my way to making what I thought would become a masterpiece. I’m not sure the end product is a masterpiece, but it is recognizable as a tote bag.

The second bag I made only took about 40 minutes and looked much better. I was so happy with myself and my bags that I drove over to my parent’s house at 10:30 at night to show my parents the bags. So far, I have made four tote bags and each one is a little better than the last. With each one, I am learning something new. I have now remembered each time to put the foot down and am learning to do other things with each bag. I am getting a feeling I will be making tote bags for lots of things. 

Some ideas I have as of now:

·          

O   Ornament holder

·         Jewelry bag for traveling

·         Putting a loaf of homemade bread in it to give to someone

·         Camera lens holder (dad came up with that one)

·         Spare change holder

Let me know if you have other ideas!

 

And I only have about 12 more to go!

A normal question, yes, but a necessary one?

An insert from my journal entry last night:

I guess it’s technically December 7^th. It is currently 3:15 in the morning and I am unable to sleep. Using the lights strung on the Christmas tree as my way of seeing, I sit here hoping to get my thoughts out of my mind and onto paper so I can hopefully get to bed soon. When I lay down earlier my eyes were wide open and my mind racing. My mind was on its usual thought, the thought of a child, but this time it seemed to be stuck like a song glued to your brain. 

I started thinking about the question Joel and I get so many times, “So when are we going to have some other little ones running around here?” Some people say this is a normal question to ask newlyweds and that there is nothing wrong with the question. What those people don’t understand is how hard it is to answer that question when we would love to announce, at any moment, that we were expecting. That we want so much to have a child and to hear coos and pitter-patter feet in our home. Tat I pray almost daily for a child, God willing. That I wait each month anxiously each month if there will be signs of a pregnancy or not, when there are not those signs, the disappointment that hits instantly; and how in the midst of it, I somehow find a way to still praise God and trust his will. That I feel like I am not able to provide my parents with a grandchild they want so badly but try so hard to not show it each time the thought comes to their mind. That I regret so badly taking a pill each day for six months. I don’t even know why I started. I thought I was supposed to – everyone else I knew started it when they got married. It was part of the “getting ready for the wedding” process. That I wonder myself when there will be “some other little ones running around here,” day after week after month Joel and I wonder if it is possible for us to have a child.  

All I’m asking is if that question comes to mind around a couple who hasn’t yet had a child, think about it a little longer. There may be nothing wrong with the question, and it may be a normal one, but that doesn’t make it a necessary one.

Before I started writing in this journal tonight, I found a piece of paper with this passage as part of some Bible study notes.

James 1:2-4

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Romans 5:1-5

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

I’m not saying that it is impossible for us to have children, I know that it is and I have seen numerous people who thought they couldn’t get pregnant to be expecting. We are learning to solely trust in God that he will provide when he is ready and how he wants to provide.

What's in an Hour?

I have a confession. It's not something I'm proud of, but it is something I am working on. I like television. It usually doesn't matter what is on because I get engaged in the show with about 30 seconds of watching. The show could be a pointless game show, a ridiculous "reality" show, a sitcom, or a drama I know nothing about. Since I have started my new job, I have the morning to do with it whatever I please. Instead of using it effectively, I have instead been sitting my butt on the couch and wasting away for a few hours and before I know it, it's time to get ready for work. And what have I accomplished? Nothing. The sad thing is, we don't even have cable and I still find worthless things to watch.

Last night Joel and I were going through our Bible study titled By Faith. The chapter we are on currently is titled "God Develops Fellowship For a Consistent Walk of Faith" and it mentioned in order to have that, one that have must be done is you must change your life to align it with God's revelation. One thing that must be realized is that change requires a reoriented lifestyle. It talked about how God requires us to change our lifestyle in order to walk with him consistently. It doesn't only mean we must change the things we are doing that are sinful, but also those things that are not sinful. It could be that we are spending too much time at work to spend time with our family, sleeping in whether than getting up early to study the Bible, or vegging out on the couch on the weekends rather than investing in our community. For me, I realized that I was wasting away the day that was given to me on worthless things that would not one, glorify God, and two, were not giving any results at the end of the day. For me, to be the wife I feel like I should be, for both my husband and for God, I need to be spending my time at home being more effective. I wrote down a goal yesterday that I am planning to stick to. For one hour each morning I will spend my time doing something other than watching TV or spending time on the computer. I wanted to see how much I could really get done it that hour.

This morning I woke up at a decent hour and sat and did watch the news, but only for about 10 minutes. I was determined to have a meaningful day. After those few moments, I opened up my Bible study and did a portion of it. Soon after, I turned the music on in the apartment, set my kitchen timer to one hour and took off. I didn't clean one whole room for the entire hour. I cleaned the kitchen some, and when I got tired of that I moved to the living room for a while. I also worked on the bedroom a little. My tummy was ready for breakfast so I fixed a bowl of cereal, stopped the timer and sat down for the time it took to eat, then was up and at it again. I got the living almost all the way clean, the laundry folded and put away, and started a new load. It is amazing what can get done in a hour when you put your mind to it! I even went over an hour. The timer went off I finished hanging up the clean clothes. I didn't work much past the timer, but still some. I cannot wait to see what can be accomplished in the next days and weeks with this plan. One thing's for sure, I won't feel like a bum when I get home from work and see what was done earlier in the day.

"Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper."
Proverbs 13:4 (NLT)

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The Woman Who Fears the LORD

 ^10[d](P) An excellent wife who can find?
   She is far more precious than^(Q) jewels.¹¹The heart of her husband trusts in her,
   and he will have no lack of gain.¹²She does him good, and not harm,
   all the days of her life.¹³She^(R) seeks wool and flax,
   and works with willing hands.¹⁴She is like the ships of the merchant;
   she brings her food from afar.¹⁵She^(S) rises while it is yet night
   and^(T) provides food for her household
   and portions for her maidens.¹⁶She considers a field and buys it;
   with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.¹⁷She^(U) dresses herself^[e] with strength
   and makes her arms strong.¹⁸She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
   Her lamp does not go out at night.¹⁹She puts her hands to the distaff,
   and her hands hold the spindle.²⁰She^(V) opens her hand to^(W) the poor
   and reaches out her hands to the needy.²¹She is not afraid of snow for her household,
   for all her household are clothed in^(X) scarlet.^[f]
22She makes^(Y) bed coverings for herself;
   her clothing is^(Z) fine linen and^(AA) purple.²³Her husband is known in^(AB) the gates
   when he sits among the elders of the land.²⁴She makes^(AC) linen garments and sells them;
   she delivers sashes to the merchant.^25(AD) Strength and dignity are her clothing,
   and she laughs at the time to come.²⁶She opens her mouth with wisdom,
   and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.²⁷She looks well to the ways of her household
   and does not eat the bread of idleness.²⁸Her children rise up and call her blessed;
   her husband also, and he praises her:²⁹"Many^(AE) women have done^(AF) excellently,
   but you surpass them all."^30(AG) Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
   but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.³¹Give her of the fruit of her hands,
   and let her works praise her in the gates.

I hope to be a Proverbs 31 Wife. This is just a tiny step towards that.

A set of Stairs

How can the same set of steps have the greatest memory and the poorest memory of my lifetime? In 2008, I spent the day after Thanksgiving in downtown Louisville walking around, watching the parade, and seeing the lights, fireworks and music come on for the start of the celebration of Christmas. I was able to spend that day with my mom, Joel, and a few friends who joined us later on. Little did I know that was a day that would change my life. While Joel, mom , and I were spending our day downtown, Joel had a beautiful ring in his pocket, waiting for the perfect moment to bend his knee and ask me to be his bride. While everyone else was packing up their blankets and kids, we were celebrating a wonderful moment. It was the best Light up Louisville I had ever experienced.

Thanksgiving came back around before we knew it and it was time to head downtown once again. This year was a little different because instead of watching the parade, we had the chance to be in it with my Aunt and her work. Me, Joel, Michael, and my Aunt were all in the parade while my mom sat on those famous steps to take pictures and save us a seat. After silly hats, cold feet, and lots of passing out candy, we headed back to the stairs to watch the magical lights and fireworks once again begin the Christmas season. While we were sitting and waiting, my mom received a phone call. From the look on her face, I knew instantly something was not right. Without explaining, she jumped up, grabbed her purse, and practically jumped down the stairs. My aunt followed, somehow knowing what was going on. Because my grandmother had been in the hospital, I had a feeling the phone call might have involved her. While everyone else was waiting anxiously for the even to begin, we back our blankets and people and headed out to one of the worst nights.

How can one set of stairs hold so many memories? It really is bitter sweet for me each time I think of Light up Louisville, or drive pass that building with the stairs on them. Will the day after Thanksgiving ever be the same? I suppose it will get a little easier each year, and I hope that the good moments will shine through while the gloomy ones will slowly fade out. I didn’t make it to Light up Louisville this year, and I’m not really sure why. I think it’s because I am afraid. Afraid that the memories will be too much. It’s amazing what those stairs can hold.

Searching

Since I moved back to Kentucky I have been searching daily for a job. There have been lots of possibilities and "almost" jobs, but something always falls through. The first I thought would be great - working close to home as the property manager of the apartments I live at. The commute would be great; resulting in about a one minute walk to the office. My dog wouldn't have to be locked up in the kennel all day. I could go home for lunch. My mother would be the one training me. I was told it was a sure thing, no way they wouldn't hire me, it wouldn't make sense to hire someone else. So what happened? They hired someone else. Maybe it's a good thing. My neighbors don't have to be my enemies. I won't have to bug them about paying their rent, or parking in the wrong places, or picking up their dog's mess. There won't be anyone coming to knock on my door in the middle of the night because they got locked out of their apartment. After I realized I wouldn't get that job, I started applying to other jobs.

I found a website that was very helpful with applying for jobs. Instead of spending 45 minutes on each application it took seconds because my information was saved on the site. I applied for several jobs, mostly at non-profit organizations. Most placed didn't respond to my applications at all, and the ones that did said I wasn't qualified enough, didn't have enough education, didn't have enough experience, blah blah blah. I did end up getting an interview from one place. They even offered the job to me! I shared a couple concerns with them about the child development center where I would be working, and they decided I would be too much to handle I guess, because they then took the job away from me.

After Joel's sister came to visit and we talked about various things, I thought that maybe being a nanny would be the job for me. I love caring for children, but would rather not work in a daycare setting. I found a website that several parents advertise nanny positions and I set up a profile and started applying. I went to an interview for a possible nanny job and did a trial day a couple days later. I spent time with the three year old first. We had a great time playing and learning, until he locked me in the basement. Later on the 5 year old came home and we had a great time, and got some one on one time while her brother was taking his nap. The girl and I were downstairs playing when she let me know I needed to go upstairs and get her a drink. I responded with, "Well, we can go upstairs together and get it, but I'm not getting it for you."
       "But you need to. I'm thirsty. My other baby sitter goes and gets me a drink when I want it."
       "I'm not doing it for you, you are able to go upstairs and we can go up together and get it." After a little bit, she suggests we play hide-and-seek and I figured she was over the drink thing. She said she would count and I would hide, which was fine. So she starts counting and I hide, then when she gets to 20, I see her turn and run for the stairs. Because I saw what her brother did earlier, I knew what she was doing. Why did I hide under the trampoline? I should have hid somewhere easier to get out of. I raced up the steps, but she was already on the other side, when the door locked, once again. Thankfully her mom was home and unlocked the door. I later laughed about the situation, thinking that this was something from a movie about crazy kids trying to get their nanny out of the house. The girl and I later on talked about it, and she told me, "Sometimes I do that to my babysitters," All because I wouldn't go get her a drink! What crazy times this has been. I have yet to find a permanent job, but I am getting a pretty funny story out of the journey!

Adventures with Curious Awlee

Our new dog Awlee




 

Morning is here and Awlee is sound asleep in his bed. Some days, you can hear him snoring, but today he sleeps quietly. We wake up, throw on some warm pants and a jacket and head out, so Awlee can do his business...and find a stick. Awlee gets distracted easily and will pick up the closest stick in sight, which is pretty easy with the woods right behind the apartment. It doesn't matter the size of the stick, as long as he has one in his mouth to show off to anyone interested.


Awlee's biggest stick yet; He could hardly walk with it!


Awlee is our newest edition to the family. Joel and I were wanting a dog, but weren't sure if it was the right time. We've had two other dogs in the past, but had to find other homes for them since we couldn't have them in our last apartment building. Awlee found us at the Animal House, a city run pet-adoption agency. We looked at a few other dogs before him, but realized he would fit perfectly in our new home.
It has been an adventure since we've had him. He came home with what we thought were panic attacks, but found out, after taking him to the vet, it was probably bronchitis. (that is a story in itself that I will have to share later!)  He also came home with a "wonderful" smelling odor :) we're still working on getting rid of. Other than that, he is a precious little doggie for Joel and I.




He helps out when possible.



After our morning outing, things get really exciting because it's....BREAKFAST TIME!!!! Awlee leaps for joy and spins in circles as I prepare his bowl of dog food. Soon after, it's usually nap time for the little guy. Since I am seeking employment currently, Awlee and I get to spend all day together. We go for walks through-out the day to find sticks, get the mail, and visit my mom, who works very close-by.



He gets super excited about his treats from my mom







He is one smart little guy. Thankfully when we got him, he

was already house trained! He is learning to sit and lay on command and when Awlee gets super excited, he does lots of rolls on the carpet.

I look forward to sharing more adventures with curious Awlee.



His favorite chew toy, that is, after I took my phone
charger away from him that he happened to chew in half





Getting a little office work done

Nice and Cozy