Is Something Around The Corner?

Can you ever just 'feel' something big is going to happen? You could not even guess what it is but there is something in the air...something just beyond your grasp or understanding but you know that it is there? That God is setting things in place right at this very moment in preparation for things to come? I have been feeling that way for a while. Something is around the corner but I can just not see it. I do not even know how far away the corner is but it is there...

Well,looking back I have had that feeling at different times in my life. It seemed in hind sight to precede big events in my life but not really realizing it at the time.I have been feeling that over the past four months or so. There is something in the future but I just do not know what. There are times that I get butterflies in my stomach and fear creeps in and then there are times like tonight that I feel like I am jumping out of my skin with excitement almost hyperventilating. I just wish I knew what our future held!! My mind spins around with guesses...a future pregnancy or adoption? Moving?Something all together different? What can it be?????

Anyway,I was thinking of the The Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) lately. I know that the parable is actually talking about the second coming of Christ but I was thinking about it in terms of God setting things up in my ( meaning mine and my family's) life because of a path (unknown to me right now) that he is going to lead us down.

Today, I had this thought that I have been more like the one of the foolish girls knowing there is something waiting for me (us) but not making daily choices to be ready for whatever it is God is leading us towards. Does that make sense?

The things I am thinking about might seem very simple and maybe stupid but in actuality they are very big (to me at least).Things like deciding to wash the pans when I really do not feel like it and knowing I could get Jeff or the kids to wash them instead. Letting a child use 15 envelopes to make gifts for the family knowing that the envelopes will end up being gobbled up and wasted never making it under the Christmas tree. Using the bad fork to eat from and letting someone else use the good fork,even if it is just Lily who would not care using the bad fork.Choosing to leave a little left on my plate (more if it is especially good) to share with someone because there will always be someone who is a little extra hungry. Stopping to kiss a child when I by nature am not a hugger or kissy kind of person.On and on I could go...These types of issues are silent things I struggle with every day.

I am not down on myself.I am just wanting God to have free reign over my life including my weaknesses.I want to be stretched during these quiet times so I will be ready when God needs me to be.I guess these verses explain my thought well.

Hebrews 12:1-3 & 12-13

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart...

Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees."Make level paths for your feet,"[b] so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

Anyway,this is probably just a jumble of goofy talk. It is clear as a bell in my mind,though.Being in my mind is kind of crazy at times!!

Here is The Parable of the Ten Virgins I was referring to:

Matthew 25:1-13

"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
"At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'

"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'

" 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'

"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

"Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!'

"But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'

"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Remember the scrappy Quilt in a Day Quarter Log Cabin blocks I was working on? I forgot to show you last week the finished blocks! I guess I was so focused on getting things ready for our caroling party I forgot.

I took them out this evening and laid the blocks on the floor to see what they would look like sewn together.

Not bad at all! I think these quilts will end up looking very cute! I think I will go ahead and add a solid border once I get the blocks sewn together. I will probably work on these after Christmas. I am thinking I need to start making a few boy quilts soon. Most all my scrap quilts are ending up looking very girlish these days.




I thought as long as I was in the living room taking pictures of my quilt blocks I thought I would show you just how lovely our living room is looking since I had to put all my sewing away. I just love our living room. We are not fancy people as you can see from out furniture but I do really like the things we have. By the way,that is not a rug on the floor in the middle of the living room. It is just my quilt squares I have not picked up yet. It would look neat to have a rug that looked like that,though.





I moved all of my light colored quilts into our glass cabinet



And put my winter/Christmas quilts out on my quilt racks.




Of course the dinning room table fills up very fast with stuff so it is not looking all clean like it was a few days ago.



"I love my house, I love my nest, in all the world my nest is best."

A Busy Weekend!

Sunday was our church's Children's Christmas Program. Anya,Cyrus,Nolan and Josh were in it. Anya was one of the choir of angels singing.Josh was one of the three wise men. Cyrus and Nolan had speaking parts as two of the shepherds. They all did a great job!

Here is a video clip of Cyrus and Nolan as shepherds. William S. was the other shepherd.They all did a great job with their lines.William S. is the shepherd on the left,Cyrus is in the middle,and Nolan is the shepherd on the right.



Here is a clip of the choir of angels singing.



Our camera was acting goofy so we only got a few non blurry pictures of our time at church.

A veiw of the play

Alan and Grant

Naomi,Odell,Lily, and Dad,

Joyce,Grace,Ekie,Naomi,Odell,and Dad

Elena and her friends

We spent the weekend cleaning for our 4th Annual Frye Caroling Party that we hosted Sunday afternoon. Those who missed it,you missed a fun afternoon of singing, eating, and chatting. We figured that over 55 adults and children came.It was a very fun afternoon. I only thought to bring the camera out at the end of the party so I did not get many pictures.I did make sure to get one of Elena and a few of her friends relaxing on the couch.




If I was not so fuzzy headed I could go on and on about my many pre-caroling party mishaps.There were SO many it was comical.The list ranged from leaky pipes to majorly burned chicken which gave our house a wonderful (disgusting odor)on party day and so much in between. I ended up staying up all night to re-cook a chicken (for soup) and clean the layer of gunk the burned chicken left throughout our house. I only had two semi-major melt downs but they came and went quickly. Jeff and the kids were the best with the cleaning help. They were just as great with the post party clean up too! What a great family I have!

Elena's Specialty

There are those great cooks out there who have that extra special thing they bring to a gathering and always get raves over. You know what I am talking about that special dish or dessert that everyone just seems to love. I always wished I was one of those special cooks but my items are the ones that usually end up discreetly under the napkin or accidentally fall on the floor. I was not blessed with a cook's thumb. I am thankful that most of my children can create terrific tasting things in the kitchen!!

Today, Elena and her helpers were hard at work making Elena's specialty.
Actually,Elena was not hard at work because she makes cooking look so easy.
She made two batches for her youth group and one for dad's Wednesday potluck at work.





I can not give away her secret recipe but I will give you a hint. It is from this great cookbook.

HAPPY 40ish Birthday TO..

The best husband and father

IN THE WHOLE WIDE

WORLD !!

Just because we love you
Each of us are glad you were born!
Fun to have around
Faithful to wash all the pans
Really good at diaper shots
Everyone thinks you are great
You sing very well

Dynamite as a father
Always dependable
Ready to jump in and serve
Reading statistics brings you delight
Enjoyable to talk to
Not much seems to bother you

Father of fourteen
Really really handsome and smart
Yells not at all
Exited to turn another year older!!


A few party pictures!


Fashion forward Lily waiting for daddy to come home




The birthday boy



The audiences



Lily and Elena



Grace and Lily



Joel sneaking seconds. He always seems to get caught...

Sunday December 13, 2009

Ekie putting away laundry the Liberian way.




I did not get any of the projects done (or even started) that I had planned for the weekend. I decided to focus on putting together a few quilt tops since I bought seven beautiful yards of Warm and Natural this weekend.

As I make my different baby blankets and quilt projects I cut my extra scrap fabric into 5 inch or 4 1/2 inch squares as well as 2 1/2 inch strips as I go along.I do not know why I do that. It is kind of a compulsive type of thing.

My plan is to start on a few more scrappy quilts.

I have three piles of 5 inch squares all ready to make three scrappy square quilts.These will be fast and easy to sew up.



With my 2 1/2 inch strips I am starting on a Quilt In A Day Quarter Log Cabin quilt.



Here is what I have so far of my quarter log cabin quilt squares. As long as I am already making one I might as well make three of this quilt at the same time.




Here is what the Quilt In A Day finished quilt looks like. My quarter log cabin quilts will end up looking very different. I am not even organizing lights and darks.I am just randomly sewing the strips on. I want a real scrappy look. I am planning on each quilt to be three blocks across and four down so there will not even be a deffinate pattern to the quilt like in the picture.I think I will include just one thin border around the outside maybe solid maybe not. I'm not sure yet. I think they will turn out very cute.



Today was Jeff's birthday but we are planning on celebrating it Monday night. The kids and I have a good meal planned. Lasagna...very tasty...with sausage even! I will be spending a little more time in the kitchen than I usually do. I hope I do not burn anything!

You Are Invited!

YOU ARE INVITED TO THE FRYE’S 4TH ANNUAL CAROLING PARTY

WHEN: Sunday, December 20 at 1:00 pm.

WHERE: The Frye’s House

WHAT TO BRING: A favorite Christmas treat to share.

We will be caroling around our town, so come dressed to be outside We will carol inside if it’s too cold.
All ages welcome!!!!!!!!!!

R.S.V.P: By leaving a comment

A Little Hair Washing and A Few Projects

My task today was to wash and braid a few heads of hair.

Oh, I do not want to disappoint you Lily, but today is not your hair washing day.

Ekie and Lily




Hmm...Lily decides to take her hair washing into her own hands. She does not take 'no' for an answer very well.

This is Odell's head in the sink.



Lily is hoping her cuteness changes my mind...



and it did. It is hard to say 'no' to such a cute little head.



Is it weird to use oil meant for cooking on African hair? So far it has worked out very well. I wash the girls' hair and use this coconut cooking oil for the conditioner.It does not smell very coconuty but it does make their hair very soft and easy to braid.



I might make these four blankets this weekend.



I also want to attempt a little washable diaper making this weekend. Looks a little hard. If I get to this point in my project making I will let you know how they turn out. If they work out well I plan to use them as nighttime diapers for a few of my older bed wetters.



Now these are cute!! I wonder how hard they are to make?

Yes, It's Finally Long Enough!

Lily's hair is finally long enough to pull back in a binder!!!!!

Congratulations,Lily!!!

The world of cute little girl hair styles has been opened up wide for you!!





How does it feel,Lily to walk through this new hair fashion door?