Cotton Candy Schnibbles

Okay, that's not the name of this month's pattern, but that's what kept coming to mind as I was sewing this quilt. The pattern calls for an outer border of the same fabrics, but mine was so busy, I decided to keep it small and sweet and keep it the size for resting a tiny cherub cheek upon...

Somewhere in Time....

Sometimes it's just nice to travel back somewhere in time... 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgW2gAGwB_w

I found this to be a noteworthy quotation under the above video:

"This little sparrow and her beautiful voice just fills my heart and soul with joy....
Such a little woman, vulnerable... and still so strong...
Edith Piaf was a remarkable, amazing woman."

Since a portion of Proverbs 31:27 greeted me upon awakening, I thought how very

fitting the song, that comment, and Edith were! 

~ She looks well over the ways of her household ~

Darling little Edith made me smile as I listened to her beautiful song,

but that smile of hers, 

which seemed to emanate from deep within and float out with her music,

reminded me that one of the ways of looking well to the ways of our household is also taking care of our countenance - which means, our heart - 

the residence of joy in the Lord, contentment, and thankfulness.

Sour attitudes and discontentment can settle upon us as surely as dust lands on our furniture.

We do not allow dust to remain (unless we've chosen idleness); nor should we ignore anything

that covers the gleam of joy in our hearts.

Years ago, I learned that one of the ways to a man's heart is a happy wife

(well, and a fine cooked meal and a peaceful respite from the world's din).

We wives have such power to bless! I don't know about you, but I caught the joy contagion

and became happy as a lark just watching Edith's face.

Happiness is like that.

Can you imagine, then, how a husband would get through his 8- 12-hour workday 

and rush home to a happy, smiling wife?!

Not only that, but in a happy wife's smile, beaming at her beloved when he arrives safely home,

he sees hope, assurance, acceptance, and a heart that is happy with him!

Our smiles are like attaboys -  "You are the best husband!"

The beautiful wife greeting her husband with a sincere smile just might fill his heart and soul with joy.

Anyhoo, in the YouTube comment that writer mentioned Edith's vulnerability and strength. 

The Proverbs 31 woman has both... 

We may not be fully courageous or strong, but we trust the Lord to help us to daily be so.

Listen to what we read about that virtuous woman - 

* She does 

*She seeks

*She is

*She brings

*She rises

*She considers

*She girds

*She perceives

*She stretches

*She extends (uh... pretty sure this isn't talking about girth)

*She reaches

*She is not afraid

*She makes

*She opens

That woman is active in her pursuit of serving God, husband, family, others!!!

No wonder she has strength!

She is not sitting around gorging herself on the bread of idleness, 

but is working out those muscles of virtue!

She "does not eat the bread of idleness."

Wikipedia says that Édith Piaf was "universally regarded as France's greatest popular singer. Her singing reflected her life.."

This morning, travel back somewhere in time to the ancient paths of Proverbs 31,

and by the grace of God and the power of His Holy Spirit

may her character be reflected in our lives.

Amen and Yahoo!

Wedding Fever

Ok, it's a whole year away, May 7, 2011, but stilll.... wedding fever has taken me over. So... come on... been the mother-of-the-bride recently? Send me tips, quips, stories, decoration ideas, etc. This will be a fabulous wedding held in our very own backyard (God blessed us with us nice one, and we've already had one here, yay).

I'm waaaaiiiiting.....  :)

A 'Free' Day!

No calls came in to sub today and nothing pressing is on my calendar.

Yesterday, I moved madly around my house, cleaning and making it merry, I whipped up two batches or orange jam (which totally DID NOT set), and finished a very overdue newsletter. So, with all that scurrying, today is almost like a day of summer vacation! 

HOOOORAYYYYY! 

I love 'free' days!!!

Does this mean I will sit and eat bon-bons and watch TV with my extra hours?

Nope. 

She selects wool and flax
       and works with eager hands.  

She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.

Proverbs 31: 13, 17

Today I will sew April's projects and ponder what I could sew during the summer to sell on Etsy (I'll also have to learn how to do that...). Next, I'll juice the last of our lemons and freeze them in one-cup portions (summer's coming... homemade lemonade can't be beat: 1 cup lemon juice + 1 cup sugar (bet you could substitute Splenda) + 3 cups water + long spoon to stir it + thin slices of lemon to float in pitcher and glasses.)

And then, there are errands to run. This economy has me bustling over coupons again. It's time consuming, but money-saving! Still, you cannot believe how much I've saved by coupling store ads with clipped coupons - many items end up freeeeee.... like my day today!!!!  Yipppeee! 

After kissing Superman goodbye at 4:15a.m., I stayed awake at the computer, learning about e-coupons. These babies are coupons loaded from the net, right onto your market's card, like my Vons card. Then, when I purchase a couponed item, it comes right off my card (after I've swiped the card, of course). Can't wait to sign up and then go try it!

Just in case you have a 'free' day, too, here are a few links to get you started with coupons, deals, and freebies ... oh my!

SaveatHomeMommyhttp://www.saveathomemommy.com/getting-started/ points you weekly deals and coupons and tips and mommy advice and all kinds of things. When you subscribe to her free newsletter, you'll get emails with lots of great coupon deals, and at what stores. search her site, she has tons of wonderful stuff!

Click on this for her info about ecoupons...

DealSeekingMom

Coupons.comhttp://print.coupons.com/CouponWeb/Offers.aspx?pid=13306&zid=iq37&nid=10

CouponSavingGame

Have fun saving money! (Oh, for example... two weeks ago, I purchased $83 dollars of groceries for $30. That means that for my hour spent clipping coupons and figuring out the deals, I 'got paid' almost $53. Not a bad wage!)

OOOOOO-laaaaaaa-WEEEEEEeeeee

Yesterday, my friend Shannon and I drove into the little town of Exeter, California, and strolled into Monet's. Rustic like a cafe, elegant like a four-star restaurant, with a background serande that was perfect for relaxing the soul and making it happy. The food, I have been craving ever since we walked out the doors and stepped back into reality. This restaurant treasure was the perfect place to spill our guts and be refreshed and revived!

Truly, for me, the two hours of fellowshipping (and eating the most delicious salad and pannini ever) were the equivalent of an entire weekend retreat. 

God is good like that!

Right when you need encouragement the most, He chauffers you to the perfect spot where that need can be met. Talking and heart-to-heart sharing with my trusted BFF of 28.75 years was what the Lord knew I needed.

When King David and his men came to the city of Ziklag, the very spirit of their hearts dropped as they discovered the city burned and every inhabitant carried away by the evil-thinking Amalekites. David's own men, in their distressing grief, talked of stoning David. But David, but he "strengthened himself in the LORD his God" (1 Samuel 30).

No matter what you are facing today, turn to the Word and seek the face of God. In Him there is mercy and compassion, strength and grace, help and provision. Strengthen yourself in the Lord by believing in His promises - they are the only foundation on which to stand - in joyous times or sorrowful ones.

Ask Him to encourage your heart in the midst of the trial. God's faithfulness is great, and though He might tarry with the answer you seek, His grace and comfort are immediate. 

And who knows? Maybe, His answer will come through wisdom shared from your Best Pal, in a small, remote town, in a cozy corner of some fabulous cafe!

I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 

Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord!

Psalm 27:13-14

Exciting News This Morning!!!!!

Yesterday, Easter Sunday, Tom (Amy's boyfriend), rose up and told Mike and I 

he wanted to marry our only daughter!!!!!!!

The above pic is a re-enactment because it all happened so fast that I missed snapping the actual asking.  Hmmmm.... thus, the silliness factor! 

They thought I was the silly one taking pictures of the moment, but PULEEEZZZEEE! They just can't say the word 'SCRAPBOOK'!

(On the far right is my dad; he got to be there, too.)

And then.....

there's me!

(I couldn't stand I wasn't in the picture, so I took one of myself. LOL)

All the relatives were in our backyard celebrating with Easter games, 

and word quickly spread...

on the DL (down-low), as cousin Jayme said.

(Tim, youngest son, and I celebrating the secret. The first picture we took looked great but fuzzy, so this silly one had to do.) 

And then..... Tom popped the question this morning!

(He is a very smart man for choosing our daughter!!!!

She is a very smart woman to choose him right back!!!!) 

 

She said, "YES, oh, YES!"

We couldn't be happier!

Here's how it went down....

On Friday, April 2nd, Tom snuck into Amy's office on her day off.... 

and looky what he did....

                                                                                                   

When she walked into her office this morning, there it was...

and when she looked up...

there Tom was...

with the entire second floor coworkers...

and...

THE RIIIIIIINNNNNNNGGGGGG!

BLiNG BLiNG!

A BFF and I drove down there after the hoopla and took pictures and gave her engagement gifts, cuz that's the kinda gals we are!  :)

First, was Amy's engagement gift I made, sitting at my machine, sewing like a maniac. I forgot to take a picture of it before giving it to her, so the pic of the fabrics will have to work....

The Brighton charm bracelet and charms...

Our beautiful daughter; her Prince Charming!