The Introduction is Worth It

Now, I don't know about you, but a lot of times, when I pick up a book, I don't read the forward, or the introduction, or anything like that.   I just want to jump into the book.  However, last week I got a new book, and for one reason or another (divine intervention perhaps? ;) I read the introduction.

The book?

  I can't remember where I first saw this, but honestly I may have snickered at the title...and then I read the subtitle, "Establishing and ENJOYING a Peaceful Home."  That caught my attention.  And THEN I saw that Ginger Plowman wrote it.  I LOVE her book Don't Make Me Count to Three (and highly recommend it!) so I used some of the Amazon gift cards I had earned through Swagbucks and bought it.

But, back to the introduction.  As I was reading it these words jumped out at me. "It will be tempting to read this book with the mindset of, 'What steps must I take in order to have a peaceful home? How can I be a happier more fulfilled Christian?' I urge you to read this book with the mindset of, 'Although there is nothing I can do to earn righteousness and acceptance, how can I radiate the peace of Christ so that his character might be glorified in and through me? How can I bless God in the way I treat my family?  How can my mind be transformed that I might become more pleasing to Jesus?"

How I needed to read those words!  You see, when I'm pregnant, I don't really get sick, or even have to many crazy mood swings.  I just get mean.  Impatient.  I struggle to survive my children rather than enjoying them.  Basically I feel like I'm PMS'ing for 9 months.  But that is not at excuse.  It's a reason to cling to Christ and his grace and mercy.  It's a way for Him to very visibly sanctify me every minute of everyday...but far too often I don't allow that to happen.  I just wallow in my sin.  So these words were both convicting and encouraging to me.  Focus on CHRIST.  That's all I need to be doing...the rest will follow.

Catching Up

So I thought, let's just jump back in!  I saw on my husband's blog feed that it's been FIFTY-FIVE days since I've blogged.  Umm....oops?  Not gonna lie though, it was nice.  I'm almost out of my first trimester with little one #4 and I think I'm FINALLY starting to get a bit more energy back.  I had NO extra energy...even to blog.

So what HAVE we been doing?

Hiding in cabinets....

Going to pumpkin patches...

and of course, sewing too!  

He might look like he's grimacing but I swear he picked up Fiona and wanted in the picture when I was trying to photograph a new doll dress!  lol

And now I'm off to watch the rest of Parenthood and find a bedtime snack.  Night night!

Comparisons

We all fall prey to them don't we?  They're ugly things.
It doesn't matter if we're the ones doing it or if someone else is.
It doesn't matter if we come out on the good end of the comparison...or a little bit lower on the list.

In one case we end up belittling others and becoming prideful.
In the other case we end up missing out on the gifts God has blessed US with and envying someone else.

We do it all the time.  We envy how quickly she can work, or how clean her house always is, or how well behaved her kids are, or how good her photography is, or, or, or.  The list goes on and on and the more we compare the less satisfied we are.  Often it doesn't even spur us on to work harder or seek out help in becoming more like the characteristics we envy.  It just makes us bitter.  And gets us down.

I'm reminded of Galatians 6:3-5 which says, "If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.  Each one should test his own actions.  Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load."  In my bible from highschool and college I have written under these verses, "we should compare ourselves to no one but Christ that we may see how miserably short we fall.  That's helpful if we're getting prideful, but I was also reflecting tonight that if we are looking constantly to Christ we won't get caught up in the whole comparison thing to begin with.  We will simply be seeking after Him fully, trying to glorify HIM in all work, all play, all business, all cleaning, all training, all discipline.

Life really is so much more simple when we forget the world and seek first Him who can satisfy completely.

and because no post is complete without some eye candy....

"We're Triplets" Photo Shoot

Let me preface this photo share by saying, #1 - it was very last minute, #2 - I am (OBVIOUSLY) not a professional model and finally, #3 - I should have taken the time to put in my contacts...but since I didn't just ignore the scruntchy face I'm making in most of these!  lol

The We're Triplets Skirts are pretty much only a custom made item because trying to get three skirts all the right sizes for someone to buy just by chance...is pretty hard!  lol but since they are a custom item I talk to you, the customer, about what you like and don't like and then show you fabrics to choose from before I ever start the skirt.  For this item I often even special order fabric.

Ok, enough nitty gritty, let's get on with the show!

and there ya have it!  (and let me just say, this skirt...SOOOOOOOOO comfy!!!!)

Real Life Sunday (Posted on Monday)

My house is a wreck.  I've ALMOST given up on all of it being clean at the same time.  I was telling my husband last night that at least once a day the whole house looks pretty good...and it last for a split second before someone pulls out 5 or 10 books...or spills some juice...or...or...or.... but as I stood in my terribly messy kitchen, washing dishes, trying to get it clean enough to mess up again by fixing dinner I was reminded of something I read a while back on Money Saving Mom and I started thinking about what all the messes in our house MEAN.

For instance, the dirty dishes and messy kitchen mean that our family has gathered together and had plenty to eat.

The books littered all over every room in the house mean that learning is taking place (by ALL of us!)

The toys mean that God has blessed us with three amazing children who are able to play and enjoy in a safe environment surrounded by their parents and sibling who love them.

The material all over the playing/sewing room floor are a sign of all the business that God has blessed me with so that I might contribute to our family finances and also buy some "extras."

All in all...when I look at it this way, the mess isn't so overwhelming, or depressing for that matter.  Instead each mess reminds me of a reason to praise my awesome God!

A Bubble Dress...Tutorial?

Well this isn't really a tutorial, more like a walk through or something.  And it might be completely lame.  If it is, please tell me so I can never do it again!  lol

Kessa's been asking me for quite a while if I would make her a dress with the above Tink shirt, so yesterday while I was waiting to hear back from a customer about the item I was working on I thought I'd try making her a bubble dress with this.  

So I dug through all my knits and picked out some other fabrics that coordinated well with this shirt.

Then I just start cutting.  I cut out squares and rectangles and lay them all out on top of my pattern to get a general idea of how many pieces I need (except I didn't have a pattern for this style!  lol)

After I've got what looks like will probably be enough cut out I start sewing them together.  

Once I got to this point I decided I wanted it a little longer so I sifted through my stack of scraps and found enough to make another strip at the bottom.  

After I added that I measured my bottom band and started sewing it on...only to discover that I measured incorrectly and it was, in fact, too small.  So then I added a little bit more to it (but didn't measure this time...) and it ended up too big!  lol.  I tried it on Kessa and it really does need fixed...so I'll post pictures of the final product after it look more normal!  ;)  

And now...I'm off to see what else I can get sewn whilest the littles sleep.  

Happy Thursday!!!  

Celebrate Good Times, Come On! (part 3)

It's only a few days late...not too bad for me!  lol

(not a great picture, but the expression on her face is just pure love for me!!)

(this is the "turtle cake" we had on Sunday at my parent's house.  Mom made it all out of cupcakes, pretty cute huh?!  Now you know where I get my crafty genes. ;)

and finally...because I got busted for not showing you how messy Grace REALLY got with her cake....

and that concludes the parties!  Promise I'll start posting some "normal" stuff again next week!  lol

Happy Friday!!!