AWANA Awards Night!

With another year of AWANA under their belts, the kids are ready for summer. All the same, it has been a fun year for them and they are sad the year went so fast.










Warmly,
A Patchwork Mommy

The Mission Started As Barretts

I was on a mission today to take pictures of the girls in their barrettes...



but then they were all so cute. Even the non barrette wearing kids



so I ditched the barrette photo theme



and changed my mission to Cute Kids themed photos

Quiz for my long time blog readers. Do you know which girl is Ekie and which is Odell?



What do you think? Any resemblance?




Warmly,
A Patchwork Mommy

Some Days I Feel

consumed with pride.

See, I have this desperate inner need to be noticed by important people and liked the best. I have this desperation to need control, to be the one who was right.

Doesn't that all sound so exhausting...

All of those needs I have are really the sin of pride.

Sometimes, I picture myself out there in the cold night building my own Tower of Babel...The Tower of Tina... If I build it all by myself then I can stand on the top for all to see how great I am. It is a silly mental picture but I think it is a pretty accurate picture.

Anyway,I have been struggling with those desperate thoughts this week.

Although I hate these inner struggles and am SO embarrassed that they show in my actions towards others (no hiding the yuck), I am glad that God cares enough about me to expose the sin in my life. I am SO thankful He forgives me, and very thankful he helps me grow more Christ like every day.

Here are three different passages from the Bible that have been turning around in my head this week.


Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Philippians 2:3

An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all—he is the greatest."

Luke 9:46-48


Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something.And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left,in your kingdom." Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?" They said to him, "We are able." He said to them,"You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been(K) prepared by my Father.
"And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said,"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,and whoever would be first among you must be your slave,even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Matthew 20:20-28


Warmly,
A Patchwork Mommy

Little Hands and Boats

The end goal is to help little ones to develop their writing skills but there is something so heart warming about watching little hands gripping the pencil so hard and with much effort writing their name like this. Soon writing his name will take no thought at all...I am cherishing these days,they grow so fast...



I found this picture on my son's camera chip. It was a picture he took of dad at grandpa and grandma Frye's house in Illinois last month. I wonder who Jeff is talking to? I bet one of his old schoolmates.

See the quilt in the back ground? The kids and I made that what seems like so long ago for Grandpa Bob's birthday. Could it have been when we just had six children? Maybe Joel was born so that would have made it seven children. I forget. Anyway, I sewed it all together but the kids each looked through my fabric scraps and chose their boat colors. It looks like we wrote our names on our squares even. I forgot what a fun quilt it was. I think I remember the quilt book it came from. I should dig it out again.



Warmly,
A Patchwork Mommy

A Few Pictures That Warm My Heart

and remind me this season in life is fleeting

A cat nap with the cat



The beauty of coloring crayons



Shoes on the table



A spring time bouquet



As well as a few random pictures!

A peek at my newest sewing project



A double yolk. Ok,this is just a cool picture. I have seen double yolks before but never hard boiled.



And now a few random picture-less thoughts!

The beautiful sound of bare toddler feet running across the driveway.

Two five year olds running across the neighbors yard after a wild rabbit they want as a pet and hear, "I know Grace,maybe if we get a bucket..."

My heart swelling with thankfulness as I watch my many children running towards me after their fun at the park. I think that they all look so small and vulnerable against the largeness of the park. Isn't it just beautiful they are running towards security,towards a mom and dad who love them so much,and then we take their hands and lead them towards the Lord.

I then wonder how many more fatherless and motherless children we can fit in our home. Surely, Lord we can fit six or seven,maybe eight...please use us as you see fit but my deep heart's desire is that you fill our home overflowing with little ones whose hearts are broken,who will need someone to wipe their tears,to get down in the muck and sit with them until they are strong enough.Please Make us fit for the task.

And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?
My hope is in you.

Psalm 39:7
Warmly,
A Patchwork Mommy

Something That has Been On My Mind

Tina "Allow nothing to keep you from looking with strong determination into the face of God regarding yourself..." Oswald Chambers

This set of verses below has been going through my mind for some time now.

Lord, I will finally stop and look...

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4: 1-3

What is this saying to me?

Tina, Tina, please hear me and take what I am telling you to heart.

I, the Lord, urge you to be the mom and wife that is worthy of the calling I set before you.

You need to be humble in dealing with your family.

You need to be gentle in dealing with them.

You need to be patient with them.

You need to love them even when they are hard to love.

You need to seek out peace with them, not hold grudges, or unforgiving thoughts

Understand Tina, I humble you so that I may then lift you up for my love for you is great.


Lord, I understand. I hear.

Let us know; let us (me) press on to know the Lord;
his going forth is as sure as the dawn;
he will come to us (me) as the showers,
as the spring rains that water the earth."

Hosea 6:3

Warmly,
A Patchwork Mommy

Let The Sun Shine!

Today was a freeze-pop kind of day.

Lily (2) Naomi (7)



Warmly,
A Patchwork Mommy

I Can't Believe I Did That!!

The evening started out good.

A tasty plate of Deviled Eggs. Mmmm!!



A little later in the evening I thought I would start on a bag I thought seemed fun to make.



I chose my fabric.

A very different look than the picture but I though a kind of retro look would be fun. My choice must have been influenced by the antique and flea market I was at yesterday.



As I was cutting my fabric I was in a deep conversation with Grant and Alan about the characters in Star Trek Voyager verses those in Star Trek:TNG.

Before I knew it I had made a HUGE cutting mistake ,I mean HUGE HUGE, that made my fabric useless in making this bag.

ARG!!!

After much fussing and then much thought, I decided to somehow find another way to use the fabric.

So I decided to make a smaller bag based on this bag pattern.



I have only cut the pieces out but it will look pretty cute when it is finished.



With the rest I am going to make a 30" x 30" baby blanket that will match the bag. One side will look like this:

(Sorry the picture is very bad. It is the same fabric as the bag)



and the other side I will have all jean fabric with red rick rack and applique flowers to match the bag. I will show the set when I finish it. I think I will end up being more pleased with this than the original bag!

While I was up trying to fix my cutting error,Grant was down in the basement working on a new ship.

Isn't this SO neat!

He used many odds and ends. A super ball,film,a paintbrush,pieces of a broken tape player and radio.

Very impressive!



Warmly,
A Patchwork Mommy

Antiquing

Today was a day I have been looking forward to for a few months.

There was the big antique and flea market at the Minnesota State Fair grounds. I used to go most every April until we moved down here to Waseca. What fun to go back! Elena spent the afternoon with her friends back in Waseca but Jeff dropped me off at the antique show while he took the rest of the family to Como zoo which was pretty close to the fair grounds. What a trouper Jeff is. We all had an enjoyable day.

I really did not need much. I was mostly looking fun vintage fabrics. I did not see many but I came back with a few goodies.




Warmly,
A Patchwork Mommy

Just The Swankiest

God make my life a little light
Within the world to glow;
A little flame that burneth bright,
Wherever I may go.

God make my life a little flower
That giveth joy to all,
Content to bloom in native bower,
Although the place be small.

God make my life a little song
That comforteth the sad
That helpeth others to be strong,
And makes the singer glad.

God make my life a little staff
Whereon the weak may rest,
That so what health and strength I have
May serve my neighbors best.

God make my life a little hymn
Of tenderness and praise,
Of faith, that never waxeth dim,
In all His wondrous ways.

~ Matilda Edwards

~~~~

Meet Sluggy the Buggy




Take a few cute mini notebooks,add some fun paper and maybe a little bling



and you get just the swankiest little gifts!




Warmly,
A Patchwork Mommy