coaster conundrum

so you know i'm gearing up for the Indie Craft Parade. I want to sell some coasters. Here is my first attempt, which i like:



there is something satisfying to me about placing the round bottom of a glass on a matching circle. and i like the swirl. i have a matching one where the fabrics are switched (the green on bottom with a blue circle) but i tried these out today and i think i like them too:



so i need help. decide for me. i can't do both. i just need a single track for this. my brain is already overwhelmed with fabric and options. i'm kind of leaning towards the second one... what do you think?

space

You've seen my beautiful craft table- next to our giant window- so consistently covered in yellow light. i love it. space is such a luxury. square feet are costly. and i'm so blessed to have a space of my own.

and i got to help my sister create a space for herself this weekend. her sweet husband gave her a desk set for mother's day. she's been trying to paint it (black, with light blue on the back of the bookshelves). little nap times here, a half hour of evening there. and so it sat in her garage when we arrived. the top of the desk painted with one patchy coat. so we undertook.

and here is where the picture that i didn't take should go. i know.

we finished it. the night before we left, there was a bookshelf, a lovely fabric covered bulletin board, a wide and deep smooth table and a lamp shedding soft light onto her own quiet space. and the sweet girl got a little teary looking at it all set up and inviting.

the sun was setting outside. the children were quiet in their beds and she had a space. a whole table top of space. and it was so satisfying to stand there with her and take it in.

and i'm missing her today. longing to hop in my car again and start north.

what a gift space is. in all its forms. we need it, can be selfish about it, can be lost in it and can absolutely thrive in it. and i'm so glad she has her own little corner.

family

Stepping away and out of our daily lives always brings brighter light. Our lives and hearts are so frequently just a little bit changed when we are allowed the outside view. We can look across the country into our little southern life and things are a bit clearer. and God was faithful to rejuvenate and revive us once again.

we had days filled with summer fun and small mischief. these cousins... so good to see them play together.









and we sometimes-grown ups frequently joined the party.







we took dusk walks downtown to get icecream-- little ones on bikes and in strollers. picked flowers on the way home to put in the white pitcher on the dining room table.



we went to the best deli ever. (Zingermans)





but mostly we just marveled. marveled at the cuteness, and His goodness.









Bri and I are tight. We call each other many times throughout the day. But there are so many things you miss when you don't LIVE together. There are things I miss out on, and things she can't see over the phone. So we were able to talk those things out. She was able to say, "Dude, I see this in your life and it has got to change." Praise the Lord for the family of God!! I can't stop saying it: community is one of my favorite gifts. and i feel like an inadequate participant sometimes, but He is patient and kind, and has made a community out of messed up people. i'd be worse without it.





Our time was littered with talk of the future and the gifts we hope He continues to give. We were able to look back and examine the now and see that He has changed places we thought would never change. He truly can raise up a garden in the desert. And community helps us see those places more clearly. What a blessing.

i know you've guessed this already, but, we had such a wonderful time. Filled with His good good gifts. He's such a good Giver.

back

we arrived early early this morning from a not-as-long-as-it-could-have-been drive from michigan. we had such a sweet time with little munchkins and heart-soothing talks. we sat on lawn chairs in the afternoon sun, letting the little ones jump and play, and conversation was easy.

I will try to post more about the whole thing soon, but had to put up this photo of our guest room at Bri's house. it is consistently filled with sunshine and the bed is more comfortable than ours. it is my favorite place in her house and the thought of it just fills me with peace. this, right here, incapsulates so much of our weekend. oh, friends-- such sweet time.

michigan

we are leaving today for my sister's house in michigan. we are so jazzed up over here.
we'll be back mid-next week. wishing you all a special weekend filled with all the family He has provided.

more community

we got to go to the farm.



the Stevens had our shepherding group (small group) to the farm. Larry and Carol have 6 children (and i have no idea on the total of grandchildren) and all of them are now in the same state for some much-needed together and celebration time. Dan and Jennifer Koenig are missionaries to Ecuador (Jennifer is Larry and Carol's daughter) and they were at the farm and we gathered to hear from them.

There was a feast of hot dogs, beans, potato salad, peaches (yum) and sweet tea. the kids found kittens





and wandered in the setting sun light.



it was so refreshing to be with our 'family' again this week. what a blessing-- when brothers dwell together in unity.





God is doing great and mighty things in Ecuador. and as I sat and listened to the stories of God's work, i was so thankful that, even though i do not know Dan and Jennifer, they are my family. My family gets to take part in the awesome moving of the Spirit. I can feel so purposeless and small. But as I daily ask Him to take all that I have and do His work in and through me, He is working out His great plan. and I am taking part in this incredible family-work He has going on in every corner. even if i am blind to my seemingly small part.



a night of true fellowship and rejoicing. with people unknown and known. and we have everything in common. everything.

craft work

This is what my sewing table looks like right now:



a bit of a mess. pretty bits here and there, but, to say the least, a mess. i was so grateful to jason for offering and giving me my own corner of our small living room for my crafting process. and i will continue to be grateful. cause it feels small right now. but it could be SOOOO much smaller.

So i've been diving in regularly and just attacking whatever fabric hits my fingers first. and it's been so nice. i love creating. such magic happens when you take several materials and bring them together to make something new. and i love fabric. added some flowers to this fabric for pillows:



i'm in love with this fabric, people. i want to wear it. sleep under it. all of it. i'm in love.

this close to finishing this pillow:



and got to put those coasters 'away' today as they are finished (!). i'm hoping to make a couple more of those flower pillows with different backgrounds. blue and fuchsia.

but of course there is still the stack on the edge of the table.



the beckoning stack of beautiful fibers. i know you all know about juggling time, prioritizing your energy, etc. it is a struggle, isn't it? so much crowds the mind and the days. it's been hard for me lately to not succumb to the beckoning all the time. life is so fun. all the things God provides us to put our hands to-- just marvelous.

witnesses

my dear friend beth is leaving for haiti on tuesday. she'll be nursing the recovering and shining the light of Christ into the rubble of buildings, tents and lives. i got to join in prayer for her tonight and i was again reminded of community. as she goes, she has no guarantees that God will provide much physical spiritual family where she will be serving. and as i prayed, i was reminded of the cloud of witnesses that have gone before us, the Spirit of God (the actual Spirit of God!!) that lives within each of us, and the reality that as our brothers and sisters hold us up in prayer, remember us, hold us close, we are never alone. we are surrounded with God's great community. what an awesome, wonderful and magical thing He has made.

I've also been again about how much I need community. how it keeps me pressing on, keeps sharpening me and keeps me running to the truth. there are many days in my history where i would have chosen solitude and He gave me people. people to speak, to sit, to laugh and cry with. what good blessings He gives. without me knowing what i need, He provides.

__________________

i don't think i've allowed kate the same kinds of freedoms that i allowed samuel at this age. so i let her wash dishes today. oh she is my joyful handful.

just dripping with water and joy.

good morning.

i decided to dive in and grab some fabric and just start making things. i'm on ornament prototype #3 and on to #4, but i've got a good feeling about this one. it's going to be a winner. i am going to post photos soon of stuff i've been working on, but haven't gotten it together enough to that.

i'm praising the Lord this morning because as I looked at pictures from this week, I see so many times God stopped me in my tracks to enjoy my little ones.

our tent. such a hit. samuel brought me lemons yesterday and asked if we could make lemonade. how can ya say no?

blessings on your weekend playing.

looking for hearts

I had a wonderful lunch yesterday with 4 other moms. and as our children ran under our feet, dropped pizza on the floor, fell down and got back up-- we laughed and talked. and through our edifying conversation, i was reminded again that i sometimes don't really look at my kids. when i scan my home, i see the spiderweb in the corner, the dishes on the table, the fabric beckoning me and the laundry pile. but so often i don't really see the golden heads right below me. i don't really listen to them call my name and ask me for something.

oh i want to really see them. i want to take time to look deep into their eyes and ask my Father to help me see their hearts. when i stop-- of course their hearts are so much of my world-- so very important! how can they be so easy to bypass in my daily tasks? how can i put the floor being swept above getting down on the floor and knowing them better?

Father, help me see. i want to take time this afternoon to play-- really play. disperse my many annoyances and frustrations, oh God. replace them with Your good and laughter.

Thank you, girls, for reminding me yesterday. community rocks.

ornaments and summer

so i need help. i want to have a Christmas ornament for sale at this craft fair. so far, i'm not 100% inspired by anything i've made. i've got these two, so far, but i've waiting for one of them to shout out loud, 'i'm awesome-- people just love me!'

i'm not feeling it. what do you think?

i would add mattress stitch around the outside of the star here, and i'm thinking i would need to add buttons in some form to this one and i would use different fabrics-- a bit brighter:

help me, please. do you like one more than the other? should i keep trying? you can tell me. i can take it.

__________

i had to share these photos of summer. i'm so so so glad we started this garden. its lush beauty every morning and evening is such a treat to see. those huge orange squash blossoms and the round gorgeous red of the tomatoes peeking out from more green.

so satisfying. and a bit more summer to close-- (the lips. i can't take it):

the answer.

my arms are so tired. tired from sitting idle at this desk. heavy with confusion and misdirection. where to look...? the future looms a bit once again and i'm not sure where to look. i know that He is the answer to every question and my future is Him. but He said He has a plan. He has given a purpose- a hope- a future. which way is it?

there are so few verses in Jeremiah i really know. the one about the future and the hope and then the one i remember when i think of what i want for my kids. and the only other one i know is just so important and i think answers my question once again today.

He is who He says He is. He is the answer. So here's today's task:

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart (29:13)

well things did not turn out as i'd hoped. they so rarely do, right? i splayed out the fabric and i got some good music going. and then everything i tried seemed not good enough. things didn't work the way i thought and i got, well, mildly frustrated.

we had our last day leading worship at a church in anderson yesterday morning. we've only been doing it since the beginning of May, but it was still sad to say goodbye to kind people. but we also received confirmation that not continuing there was a good decision. God does things so differently than i would.

and when i think things are not working well at all, He's usually just getting started on making things more beautiful. when will i adjust and expect His process instead of relying on my fail-safe emotion: frustration?

and then i'm reminded of my impatience. i will strive to turn my face to the Lord and smile in the light of His care and glory.

and perhaps i can continue the trivial parallel here and try to do the same at my sewing table. maybe some beauty will emerge soon. i will post photos of those results when they happen.

work

there is so much to be done. i now have piles of fabric-- piles. beautiful silks and cottons. ready to be sewn into so many different things.



and i'm feeling overwhelmed. what fabrics did i think would go well together? what am i making? why am i doing this again? all this is in preparation for the Indie Craft Parade coming up in September.

I'm hoping to sit down tonight, splay the fabric all out before me and then-- genius will strike. right? yeah. i'm sure that's exactly what will happen.

the blessings

oh the food. the food and the babes. and the many many good gifts that He gives.





a gorgeous arboretum. oh so beautiful. God makes such amazing stuff!



erica and i did cartwheels. in this huge green lawn. something about being together, with your parents- we were girls again.



did i mention that erica was there?



oh it was so good to be with her. we went on a couple of errands just the two of us and talked about our hearts and lives. we did crosswords on the porch with the sunrise and early coffee. and we went to Central Market. oh Central Market. it is so pretty there.







jason and i got to go out on a little date to Jamba Juice. and it was one of those dates where it takes you the whole date to really come together. we argued and misunderstood each other the whole time. and we pulled into my parent's garage and finally really saw each other. and finally really actually shared our hearts. we really needed the whole process, but it was so hard. but i'm grateful. praying that God continues to teach us about honesty in difficult times. i so badly want us to truly be one person. but we're frequently two. marriage is so mysterious, though. God does mighty things.

we also got to sit down with mom and dad and have a great chat about our future and plans. so good to get some wisdom and help. and just talk things out with other people. i'm sure i'll say it hundreds of times in this space, but it doesn't stop being true: community rocks.

so here are a few more bits of cuteness from our trip:







jason and dad took samuel to Forth Worth- otherwise known as Cow Town. lil cowboy cutie.



best shot of the trip:



my sweet little man. looking just like his sweet daddy. so good to be together as a foursome. behind my back, God does mighty things. i turn around and it's done- we're changed. just a little bit different. He does it. He wound us more tightly together this trip, through ways i still can't quite see. He takes such good care.