Free-time Crafts

I love creating things and making things new. The Lord has given me much joy in sewing and crafting, especially when I can take ordinary things(even trash!) and make them special. 
The Bible speaks about how the Lord has done this with his people. Ezekiel 16 is a clear picture of how on our own, we are dead in sin, covered in filth. But it goes on to tell how the Lord takes a person, cleans them and clothes them in wonderful fabric, jewels and perfumes. 

In these recent projects, may these be honoring to the Lord as I remember how He has taken me and made me into something useful for Himself!

Here are some recent projects that I have been working on:

Matt gave me a Kindle for Mothers day and I wanted to make my own cover for it

It used to have a string that looped around the button to keep it closed. I used some leftover chipboard from an old 3-ring binder and sewed the boards into the orange fabric. It can even stand up by itself!

 I have stainless steel pans with handles that heat up along with the pan itself. Very frustrating to use potholders every time I want to move the pan while it's still hot. Not very practical for young kids in the house either. So I made a small potholder with some scrap fabric and then sewed it in a cylinder. It has been very helpful the past couple of weeks. 

This is one of the new pillows I have made for our living room, with many more to come. I'm hoping to also find some fabric for drapes and other projects.

I've also made a few reusable covers for my swiffer mop, made from old dishtowels. (not pictured)

Many more sewing and craft projects to come!

8 months and balloons!

Josiah turned 8 months old last week.

Highlights: He has 4 teeth now and can crawl and pull up onto things!

I blew up some balloons for Matt's birthday (really so Josiah could play with them)

The Backroads of Akansas

Arky-Arky Arkansas!
Our family loved our vacation to the state of Arkansas. Here are some snapshots of our vacation.

As we drove through AR, there were many place that were photo worthy. Here's a family photo!

We were able to have family devotion time every morning on our trip---something we only get on the weekends at home. So refreshing to spend extended time every morning as a couple reading God's word and soaking in the truth of who He is. This picture is Matt checking out a spot along our walk one morning in Hot Springs.

Matt on top of some random steps on the outskirts of the city. Kinda like old ruins!

We drove into Little Rock one day and at at a cool restaurant downtown.

Josiah handled all the driving well.....He slept better in the car than he did at night. He's been such a great sleeper since month 1, but the trip was a bumpy time. 

Matt see's a "DANGER---HIGH CLIFF" sign. So what does he do? He walks down the path....

Matt and I made it up to Mount Magazine (the tallest point in AR). We didn't actually make it to the literal highest point, but we enjoyed the view at this great spot.

We stayed at this great B&B the last half of our time in AR. The keepers were believers and it was great to talk with them in the mornings. The accommodations weren't fancy, but it was a place I would want to return to each year if we were closer!

This was one of the prettiest places we visited (Lake Fort Smith)

Best story of the week:
On our way to AR the first day, we stopped at a gas station to get something to drink, found out they had Baskin-Robbins! I get a scoop of Rainbow sherbet (one of my favorites ever), and picture me eating an ice cream cone, all the while holding a wide-eyed 8 month old. So being a "nubie" mom, I thought giving Josiah a taste would be harmless. Wrong. A tiny bit smudged into his mouth, but it created a monster. I could barely contain his efforts to get at the ice cream cone after that, until Matt took him(now picture Josiah going after his daddy's coffee ice cream). I had to hide my ice cream until I was done, even then Josiah was very upset that he couldn't have any more. Now we know....don't let Josiah even hear the word ice-cream, or his Mr. Hyde personality will come out.