Bondage or Freedom

"Tina,  keep your chin up and do not be ashamed of who you are and the place the Lord has put you at this or any moment in time."

I was struggling with that very thing today.

When I woke up.

As I was getting ready for the farmers market.

My walk there.

Sitting at my table.

Chatting with those around me.

Walking home.

Most of the day.

I was struggling to get my mind focused on being thankful for the person I am even with my zillions of quirks, oddities, dorkiness.

I was struggling to remember that I (me, Tina, the awkward, ugly duckling) was a person God handcrafted himself and thought valuable enough to die for.

It is easy to see why God has placed value on others.

Not always so easy to see it in myself.

It could be because I know my sin personally.

The ugly depth of my own sin.

I know the things that so easily entangle me.

I forget that Christ has set me free from my sin so I can love and follow Christ with wild abandon.

I forget that Christ has set me free from my sin so I could freely pour my life out as a drink offering to him.

Anyway, I am not sure if most noticed today but there was a war in my mind between bondage and freedom.

Bondage would be believing a lie.

Freedom is choosing to stand firmly on God's truth.

I would look at my over baked bread. My average sewing talent with average fabric. My very (I mean very) awkward communication style. My silly wagon. The outfit I wear almost every day because blue is my favorite color.

The war raged in my head.

My baked bread,  my average sewing talent with average fabric, my awkward communication style, my silly wagon, even wearing my outfit...

This was my offering to my Lord today.

It was not much.

It was not fancy.

It was what I had to give.

I was embarrassed by what I had to offer.

The war was between bondage or freedom.

I have to say bondage won out in the end.

How quickly I make everything about me and my drama and insecurities.

Oh Tina, how quickly you forget and abandon the truth.


It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery

    Galatians 5:1


So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

     John 8:36

The nice thing is although bondage won for the moment, the battle quickly turns.

I took a nap and wrestled with my thoughts, looked to the Lord for renewed encouragement.

The battle in my mind is turning quickly.


And then she adds pictures...

My snickerdoodles

My bread

My awesome tin that I keep change in.

My table

My wagon display

My mini cake plate so cutely holding the snickerdoodles

I just love this!

A cat that I see most Saturdays on the way to and from the farmers market.

"Hello sweet kitty."

Warmly, A Dragonfrye Mom

To Ghana He Is Going!!

I thought those of you who are interested in Grant's trip to Ghana would enjoy this video.

It is very exciting that Grant will be a part of all this in just over a month!!

Thank you

to all who are praying and supporting him and the rest of the mission team!!!





Warmly, A Dragonfrye Mom

What's Up With This?

Remember my mention of making a few Halloween princess dresses to sell at the farmer's market?

~sigh~

After laboring at the sewing machine this evening I came to a few conclusions.

The first is that dreamy ideas should not be thought of standing in the fabric isle of Walmart. They should be thought of well in advance.

The second is some ideas should stay dreamy ideas.

The third is I should not sew when I have a headache.

My final conclusion is that I really, I mean really, really do not like sewing silky thin fabric. Maybe that was the source of my headache.

I sew certain things well but this princess dress, this monstrosity looks pretty much like a small child (perhaps a toddler) got into mom's sewing bins...

and silky fabric like this is not kind in hiding even minor sewing mistakes.

Against my better judgement

and

Because like the quote I shared yesterday,

"I risk humiliation because I have a genuine interest in participating."

Here goes.

Gee, the silly dress did not even have the kindness to look princess-y or even photograph well.

Do not ask why I thought the yellow ribbon would look good. It must have been that enchanted way the fabric at Walmart called out to me, entranced me, impairing my better judgement.

I will let you know this is the only dress of this silky kind I will ever make and it will not be making an appearance at the farmer's market this Saturday or ever.

It is not an item I desire to perfect.

I do know Lily will like it.

So if you see her out and about Waseca with this beauty chuckle quietly please.


Warmly, A Dragonfrye Mom

Grant's Ghana Fundraising Update

I would like to thank everyone who has stopped by my farmer's market table to say hello and to help raise money for Grant's Ghana trip.

As well as everyone who has responded to Grant's Ghana fundraising letter!!!!

He is getting closer!

I think he has about $1,100 left to raise out of the original $3,700 amount.

Not bad at all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you would like to help with Grant's trip I included a donation button. This is my regular Paypal account and the donations would be non tax deductible but I promise it all will go to Grant's trip. If you would like to donate directly to ASON on Grant's behalf instead of Paypal leave me a comment with your email address and I will send you the info. Either way THANK YOU!!!!

Back to the farmer's market fundraiser!

I have five or six more Saturdays before Farmer's Market season comes to an end.

I have only missed two Saturdays since the beginning of June and I walked up with my wagon every time!!

The wagon only flipped twice.

I was stared at a few more times than that,though...

I think I was pointed at...

And pretty sure I was laughed at.

Could not be sure on the last one because I was 'burning wagon rubber' down the street.

Laughs and car noise kind of sound the same in this mom's early morning mental fog.

Anyway!

Pretty impressive for not being fond of early mornings or good at baking.

I usually make 18 loaves of various breads in the zucchini, banana, apple, and pumpkin variety.

I usually have one or two extra loaves that I do not sell. One Saturday I sold all 18 and I was very excited!

The breads that go first are usually my 'hybred' breads. Those are the breads with banana, chocolate chips, and blueberries (yes! All three in one loaf!! Yum!!) or apple (or zucchini) bread with pineapple and coconut. A close second is anything with chocolate chips in it, third would be banana or zucchini with walnuts.

I find the men who buy my bread lean towards the non traditional combinations. Women seem to stick with more traditional breads. But of course, there are always exceptions!

I have my bread baking down pretty well. It takes between 3 to 4 hours to make 18 loaves. If I am not distracted.

I also have been selling some of my sewing items at my table to help Grant along on his fundraising.

Here is a peek at a few things that sold so far.

I hope to start making a few princess Halloween dresses to bring to the farmer's market to sell on Saturday. If I get them finished I will let you have the first peek!


Warmly, A Dragonfrye Mom

How Cool is This??!!

Guess what we have?!!!!

We have our very own Internet!!!!

Yes!!!

No more 'borrowing' from others.

No more trips to McDonald's

Well, that is if I had my laptop which I don't.

*sigh*

I miss you laptop...

No more not blogging!!

So what should my first post be about using our very own Internet

after a month of no posts??

It should be something spectacular.

Something worth the long absence.

How sad of me.

I seriously only took these few pictures the whole month.

Seriously.

Lame.

But the blogging must go on!


A bowl of bean soup.

It was pretty tasty.

Ok, these are cute.

Lily helping me make bread to sell at our local farmer's market.

This is a fun picture ,too.

Josiah's football game.

Josiah is #22.

Those are my pictures.

I have a little time so want to ramble together?

Here is one of my ultimate favorite quotes of all time.

It sums up my life, my motives.

It explains a whole lot about me.

I would like to be the best at everything, but that is not possible. I risk humiliation because I have a genuine interest in participating.

~ Steve Fossett

Love it.

Here is a little trivia.

Who is on the $500 dollar bill?


Warmly, A Dragonfrye Mommy