Robin's Egg Quilt

Here are the first two blocks for the quilt I am making for our freshly painted bedroom. These Denyse Schmidt fabrics are so fun. The line, Flea Market Fancy, came out two years ago. So I'm having a hard time finding more. I wanted this quilt to be random. Seeing how they are two different sizes, I would say I am succeeding. Hmmm... I want to float them in white so I guess I can make up the difference there. Any suggestions?

I have not forgotten about posting what the kids are sewing. The projects are changing from just a block to a doll blanket and pillow. So we have more work to do. I will share those photos soon.

The BOM

The Band of Misfits is growing! Yesterday Heath and Jamie called us from AR. Somebody gave them a van!! And I don't mean a run down old thing. A couple said God told them to give Heath and Jamie their 2003 Honda Odyssey. WOW! This meets a huge need for them. Just a few days ago Heath and Jamie had our family over for dinner. They could not have known what perfect timing their invitation was. Their friendship is such a blessing to us. They are always willing to give and share what they have. And look what God has done!

Band of Misfits

I was telling some friends tonight that I refer to our group as a band of misfits. Not because we are pathetic but because we are living contrary to culture. We are taking care of each other. We find ourselves in circumstances of need, testing, struggle. This is when alot of people feel isolated. But God seems to be pulling a group of people together with invisible string. Our various paths are converging in our common desire to be used of God.

What a gift this is! True friendship is a rare treasure in these busy days. It is strength giving and edifying to have these kinds of friends. To be so low in circumstance, I find I am lifted high by the prayers and outreach of people who care about me. God wants us to bear one another’s burdens. And that is what is taking place with us...granted I am on the receiving end alot these days. This current trial I am in is opening my eyes to the needs around me. God is giving me a Biblical view of money and teaching me to slow down and notice needs around me. He is also providing opportunities for me to meet a few needs. It is really fun to strengthen those who are strengthening me.

Have any of you heard Francis Chan’s message on The Church? I listened to this Monday. It is incredible. I told Danny, "This is what our group of friends is about." Hours later our mechanic called and said, “Your car is ready and someone has anonymously paid your bill.” A friend who knew we broke down on the side of the road made our problem his problem. When something like this happens, I hear God’s voice saying, “See I haven’t forgotten about you.”

How do you get friends like this? In the words of Corky, "You find them."

Great Sadness

My heart has been so heavy today for a homeschool family I do not know. Their 3 year old son passed away last night. I was forwarded an email that went throughout the homeschool community asking people to pray for Christian last night. Danny, Noah and I prayed together and hoped God would intervene. This morning the first thing I saw in my inbox was that he had passed. I have been sick with grief today since reading the outcome. My heart is breaking for the Drews family. I have cried and prayed as I looked at his pictures and read about him counting for his mom. I have a little blonde three year old son. He is also excited about doing school next week with his siblings. It is these similarities and the bond of being fellow a homeschool family that intensify this grief for a mom I have never met.

Please join me in praying for this family in the days and weeks ahead. Put a rock in your shoe or a string around your wrist to remind you throughout the day to call out their names before the Lord. They have to try to sleep at night. They have to relive all this the day they bury his little body. And this mom(Marsha) has to teach her other two sons in their home when school starts. She has to be happy, make school fun, comfort her boys. She needs our prayers! Christian's brothers (nicknamed Tank and Dash) need to feel peace from God for something that cannot make sense. And finally David, the dad, has to embrace his own grief while comforting the rest of his family. Surely God can give him the strength for this as he has also grieved the traffic loss of his Son. But he is God and we are human! From what I have read about them, I know they rejoice that Christian is with the Lord. But I know that doesn't lessen the pain. Please, please don't forget this family.

Sew Sweet

Tonight we had a little sewing class. My girls have been wanting to learn to sew by hand. So I traced some of their art onto muslin and gave a little instruction. I was so pleased with how well they could do the stem stitch. They were ecstatic! I read to them while they sewed and they just thought that was the greatest thing. Dovie said she felt like they were living the lives of Felicity and Elizabeth. Not to be outdone, Jett pulled up a chair. He got the lacing cards out and went to work. This is such an answer to prayer. I have wondered how he would do when we start our homeschool year. But over the past 4 weeks, he has been a different kid. He is focusing on toys, books and puzzles and playing well with the girls. He seems to be excited about learning. So I have some special "school" toys set aside for him for next week.

Tomorrow I will post a picture of the finished projects.

I'm Biased

At least my binding is. Thanks to Jean I was able to cut my quilt binding on the bias tonight. Now there will be a candy cane swirl around the edge of my Christmas quilt. Jean (far right) opens her shop late on a regular basis so quilters can work on their projects together. I go as often as possible because it is very motivating to see what others are doing. And Jean is so gracious to help us with our projects. She taught me an easy way to do binding this week that I think I can remember. There aren't many people in the world like Jean. She has a way of making each person who comes in feel like they are important, talented and worth her time. Even if that person puts the needle in their machine crooked...I can't imagine WHO would do that!!!

This is a unique bunch. If you don't believe me, you should see us at the quilt lock-in. We sew for about 30 hours with a Waffle House break for breakfast. It really is refreshing to spend time together as people from different walks of life who have this art as our common bond.

Bring a Friend Week

That is what it was at my house this week. I was thinking this would be the last week of summer break so I did all the things I wanted to do. I had lunch with Jamie and Anisa on Sunday. Monday night they came over with their families. Tuesday I started painting my room and went to a homeschool moms' night. Wednesday I finished painting and went to an Invisible Children United meeting with Candy. Thursday I had lunch with Tiffany (pictured here), my dear friend who just moved back from Italy. That night I went quilting at Sew Memorable. Friday I had coffee with Millie - a lady I met through CNL who I just love, took Noah and Andrew to the movies AND attended a charity function with Philip and Dacia. I cleaned all day today then Chad and Candy came for dinner as did our new friends, the Wills family. They are the coolest family! I met Paula Tuesday at the homeschool meeting. She and her family are preparing to go to Bangkok as missionaries. I liked her the minute I met her. Our families had a good time getting to know one another tonight.

Wow. Looks crazy when I type it all out. Who fed the kids this week? Thanks to Danny, I was able to go out, paint and sew.

Wish I had taken more pictures of my friends this week. Here is one of Chad entertaining Jett with his juggling and balancing act.

That was the fun part of my week. The bummer part is that tonight it sounds like our very old refrigerator is dying. And yesterday our suburban broke down on Hwy. 400 on the way to the charity dinner. But on the bright side, the nicest guy stopped and helped us when we were stranded. He was going the opposite direction on the highway and saw Danny trying to push that suburban onto the shoulder. He turned around and pulled us with a tow strap. He took us up to exit 13, onto hwy 9 and right into our mechanic's parking lot. How about that! Then Chad and Candy left their family dinner and brought us their car so we could go on with our plans for the evening. God sent has sent some caring people in our path! I am grateful.

A Time to Sew

I see a new quilt in my future. I ordered these great Denyse Schmidt fabrics two years ago. What a bummer that I waited til now to use them. I want more! But it's too late. I especially like the floral on top. I have searched online to no avail. That's ok. I will create something new for my bedroom with these. I painted our bedroom this week. Check out this great color. Candy looks like she dressed to match it! I think cleaning the room was a bigger deal than painting it. I am ashamed to say how long I have let papers pile up in here. But now it is clean and, thanks to Anisa's help choosing a color, it is relaxing. The FlyLady is right: clutter is stressful!

Happy Birthday Chad

Our buddy Chad is celebrating his birthday in a cool way this year. Check it out. This is one of the most creative ideas I have seen for reaching out to our world. Even if you don't know Chad, you can celebrate his birthday with me! It's a great cause. Chad and Candy have a heart for Ethiopia...so much so that they are going to have an Ethiopian baby! Follow along on their journey. It is just getting started.

Convoy of Hope

Yesterday Danny and I worked at Convoy of Hope. Our good buddy Philip was hosting this event. We really had a good time getting to know people..some who were helping and some who were attending. But I have to admit there was apart of me wondering, "What difference does all this really make?" Yes, I know it's hard to meet a person's spiritual needs if you do not first meet there physical needs. But I couldn't help wondering, whose life will be any different for attending today? Then God said, "That's right. Whose life will be different because they attended today?" When God asked the question it had an air of expectancy and excitement. Who? How many? Which ones? Anybody we talked to?

That is when it hit me that I didn't do this because I wanted to see God do a trick. I did it because it was important. And when I had asked my doubtful question, I was making this all about me! What did "I" see today? How can "I" gage if it was worth "my" time if "I" didn't see a miracle.

I think this is why we see so few Christians involved in social justice and outreach. We have grown so fond of instant gratification that if we don't see immediate results, we think our efforts were wasted. As I am chewing on all this, God gave me a little gift. He reminded me that I did see how the day positively affected one family. Here's the story...

If you read my post Impact Fulton Industrial, then you will remember my story about Billy. Well, yesterday I saw Billy's mom in the crowd. I got so excited that I followed her hoping to see Billy. I wanted to rush up and say, "I met your son at another charity event and he is so sweet." But I wanted a chance to sit down and talk to her. So I hung back and saw her pick a place to have lunch with her family. I got myself a hotdog and walked over to join them. Billy was leaning over the table resting his head on his arms. It was so hot outside. Instead of going straight to Billy, I talked to his mom.

Her name is Kim. And we had a wonderful conversation. She was so gracious when I told her how sweet Billy was when I met him. She remembered the event and reminded Billy where we had met. Kim and I talked for a long time. She told me about her difficulties with getting Billy into school and how they only have 21 days in the homeless shelter where they are currently staying. She said they have to be out of the shelter from early in the morning til dinner time. So her two children have to walk all over town with her while she tries to get an i.d., look for housing, etc. Kim said, "A day like this is all about them. They can play in the children's area and get some school supplies and they don't have to follow me." The kids were obviously exhausted from the heat. So having a shady place to relax was just what they needed that day. Thinking about this made me realize that God did show me how yesterday was important. I just hadn't recognized it.

I stole this...

from one of my favorite people in the whole wide world. I love you Candy!!

“You can tell you’ve created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.“

— Anne Lamott - Author of Grace (Eventually)