GIRLS' QUILT

Special thanks to the members of Support4HomeSchool email list who talked me step by step through this project. I can now share a "bit". Krista mentioned that she wanted a "blanket" for Christmas...not a problem at all...Walmart is right down the road. Then she commented that she wanted "Mom and Arielle to make it"....THIS was a problem. I don't sew.

{excerpt history of our family boycott on Walmart - SHS can SKIP }
We began the odysey with a trip to Walmart to buy supplies and ask questions. When I told the clerk, "we have a few questions" she said, and I quote, "Oh GOD, what do you WANNNT?" I told her we'd buy our supplies and ask our questions at Hancock fabrics. A few minutes later, in another part of the store another clerk yelled at Arielle and I for smelling some cologne that Arielle wanted to buy for Mike. I DID write a comment card with date, time and clerk's names and quotes. I left my phone number, name and address and said that we'd not be back until after Christmas without an apology. After a week Mike thought I should contact the manager and make sure she had seen the comments. She had. She told me it was against her policy to "contact customers and apologize for the clerks, I'll deal with it." I decided it was against my policy to give my money to businesses with rude customer support. SO....all through this season we have explored our other options in our new homeplace....and we've found that other stores in town have GREAT customer service and that online shopping is WAY cheaper because we don't have sales tax, impulse buying or shipping in most cases. Not having walmart as an option caused us all to be much more thoughtful about what gifts we wanted to purchase...instead of roaming the aisle looking for things that cost $10. {grin}

{Quilt story resumes}
We headed to Hancock and found friendly clerks, better fabric selections and answers to our "how to" questions. Through this project I learned to thread a machine, sew a somewhat straight seam, wind a bobbin, replace a machine needle (3), adjust tension and how to stretch a 45" piece of fabric to a 90" blanket. It was good.

The quilts were from Mom and Dad and Arielle. They were both in the same box and it was funny that they each reached for their quilt immediately....Krista purple and Bre pink. These blankets, and the ones we made my parents, are "prayer blankets". Each time we tied either fleece or yarn we offered a prayer for the receiver of the gift. We told them that we wanted them to be reminded that they were covered with their family's prayers whenever they used them. As Arielle said...after we had finished tying one said of Grandpa's no sew quilt...."that's a LOT of prayers for Grandpa, I think I've run out of prayers". {big grin}

The daughter who started the project...

Bre thinks the blanket will make a nice travel companion....

My Shocking Christmas

We have an ongoing joke in our family about Mike's Christmas Eve shopping for "moi". We also have a budget....$50 per person. I told Mike all I wanted was a well thought out gift...not the "what's left at Walmart" spree. {grin} A little joke for those of you who know that THIS year we aren't shopping at walmart - which has led to much more thought going into our gifts.

Imagine my shock....when I dumped my stocking and THIS fell out....it was a gold chain with a heart pendant with rubies and diamonds....considerably more than the budget. THEN Mike told me that he made plans for me to go and order my CHINA HUTCH tomorrow. This is one that I've been saving for...I have about 1/3 of the purchase price saved...and it's also considerably over budget. I was shocked...and I teased him about going over budget. His answer: there was no budget set for stocking stuffers. He stayed within the $50 budget for gifts with a wonderfully warm new pair of slippers and a cleaning apron from The Clean Team. {grin}

BTW HE got his GPS today (25 Dec) and loved it. I showed that I can match Mike in creative budgeting by taking the $ saved from not doing the pj thing for Christmas Eve and putting it towards a gift for him. {grin}

Stacia isn't sure what all the excitement is about but she enjoys being in the center of the family gathering.

Sites from Christmas Eve - Day 4 of Vacation

Bre admires the book mark that Arielle picked out for her....

Sister time.....Stacia watches the nail routine.....

Josiah Big Brother Extradonaire









Late night for Zander.....He loves having Krista home

Stacia's First Christmas (Eve)

She no sooner had her darling red Christmas outfit on than she spit up all over it....so we went with Plan B....4th of July...well not really...it had red and stars...that's Christmas. Stacia now belly laughs, rolls over and tries desperately to catch up with the other children.

Christmas Picture.....

More to follow as I have time....

The Family 2005

We can only maintain SOOOOO long!

Note that Stacia isn't smiling in any of the normal pictures...it appears she is more at home with the craziness....wonder WHY?

My Christmas Prayer for You

Yes, I’ve been up since 3 a.m. – and with the exception of Stacia the children are still asleep. Christmas continues to fill me with awe and excitement. The amazing thing being that Christmas is an attitude of heart to be celebrated year round. It’s my tradition to leave a piece of Christmas out year round to remind our family of this fact (some years its been a strand of lights around the kitchen sink, or picture ornaments hung from the piano, or a wreath left on a bedroom door). Our hearts should constantly be welcoming the gift of Christ’s presence to our lives.

I’ve been thinking of a “Christmas Wish” and early this a.m. it hit me…this is my Christmas PRAYER for my family and friends.

“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness, which comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.”
Phil 1:9-11 (NASB)



I could type on and on. In fact, I believe I HAVE spoken for an hour on these verses. I suspect they are most powerful standing alone…but let me share a couple thoughts….a few things that I’m praying for my friends and family.

May your love abound!!!! May you have eyes-wide-open with knowledge and discernment (so very badly needed in our time) and STILL LOVE….this will lead you to approve the excellent things of our Father. It will lead you to be pure, sincere, maturing in your walk with Him…..and may you be filled to overflowing with the fruit of righteousness, the fruit of the Spirit, the fruit that will only develop as you are in close and constant, abiding relationship with Jesus Christ.

May we all bring glory and praise to the Father’s name this year! Merry CHRISTmas!!!

Fourth Day of Vacation – 24 December

We have spent this day simply reconnecting and fellowshipping with those we love most….our family.

Mike and I have thrilled to hear the girls speak of the work God is doing IN their lives at Master’s Commission and THROUGH their lives as they learn to step out of the way and step up to the plate (my summary ).

Bre made us some “Rocky Road” treat that her host mom makes. Krista helped me make “White Chocolate Tic Tac Toe”. Grandma and Grandpa continue to play with all the children. Krista helped me dip truffles for tomorrow’s snacking. Hmmm….I do see a chocolate theme here!

I had to run to the store and Krista and Mom graciously came with me….I needed to buy only one item…Oreos to make an Andes Mint Cheesecake.

The evening found us at chapel worshipping with our new family. Ch. Steve did a wonderful job of planning the service. The message was excellent….by my favorite pastor in the world (MIKE).

We came home and opened our Christmas stockings. THEN….being a big kid at heart I pulled out the “PJs”. We always give each person new Christmas PJ’s but this year I did the math. It’s over $240 for me to outfit this crew in pj’s….old t-shirts will work just fine. Instead I bought a Garmen etrex GPS and a book about geocaching for the family this year. They were excited….and THEN I had to pull out the new, real Bibles for Nolan and Arielle….because they aren’t really Christmas gifts after all but “school tradition”. When the kids can read they get a real Bible as opposed to a story book Bible. THEN I was reminded that if I didn’t stop we’d open all our gifts tonight. That wouldn’t do.

Pictures are on the camera in a room of sleeping folks…so I’ll have to upload those later.