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.

Starting This New Semester

Matt, Josiah and I got back from our vacation and it has taken me a few days to get back into the swing of things.

More to come on our vacation later....but we loved Arkansas. It was a time of refreshment as we went to see the beautiful mountains, lakes and trees that the Lord created. Our first family vacation was filled with mornings full of family devotions, cooking meals, and yes, even getting lost in the back roads of Arkansas. But I'll be writing more about that in the next post.

Matt and I are gearing up for this fall. You know how they say that busy people will always be busy people? Well, that's us. Matt and I, along with another woman from church are teaching the children's discipleship class at our church and we have been busy (and so excited!) getting the curriculum written out and supplies together. We desire children to hear good bible doctrine and are excited to aid parents and our church in this.  Not many think that doctrine or theology are fun to learn, but we are hoping to make it that way to the elementary students at our church. We'll see how it goes!

Josiah's Laughing Fit

Josiah was so loopy one night that we were able to catch his giggles while playing with "Mr. Bear"

Enjoy!

Happy 6 months!

My little man is 6 months old today!
Look at all his big boy accomplishments:
He's helping mommy cook and garden....

He has just begun to eat some big people food (mushed bananas and rice cereal) And since we've been feeding him out of a bottle more lately.... He can hold up his own bottle now!

 He has just started sitting by himself....

 He loves his daddy! Its the highlight of his day when his daddy comes home to make him laugh!

So wonderful to serve a God who is good. In fact He's the only good there is. If it were not for my God...this little man's life would mean nothing. Praise the Lord that He alone is the joy of my heart!

And His portion is my delight...

Psalm 24

Click on this link: Psalm 24 by Sons of Korah to listen to one of my favorite songs. I can usually be found singing this at the top of my lungs when no one else is around.

Let me know if you like it too!