Blanket Palooza

Thank you for all of your sweet comments about my last post! I am finally mailing Olivia's blanket tomorrow. I mentioned a few other blankets I am currently working on, so check it out...

The Andersons are having twins - a boy and a girl. This is the baby girl blanket (just the top) and I am adding a border in that pink/white polka dot fabric:

Since they are twins I am using the same quilt pattern for the baby boy quilt, but obviously in little boy fabrics:

Could that top fabric with the little blue foot prints be a little more precious??? Uh yeah, I think not!!! 

So when I want to watch TV and do something (like when I get a new Desperate Housewives disk from NetFlix) I crochet. I can crochet and watch TV, but I can't quilt a straight line and watch TV. Any-who this post is not about my short comings, but the projects you all are so very interested in, so without further ado, this is my afghan (that's right I am making something for me):

It is about 40% complete... it is SUPER soft, super fluffy, and super wonderful. As my dear friend and partner in Domestic Diva Day (that's what we call Saturdays spent quilting or in search of fabric), Lisa, would say... it is the tallest afghan ever! I have good reason... I have a long body... I wouldn't marry anyone who didn't have a long body and I plan on keeping this thing for a very long time... 'nough said?  ;) 

Baby Blankets Abound

Is there anything more precious and sweet than a baby? Nope! The DeVizia's are having one!! Actually I think everyone is pregnant, but this blanket is for little baby DeVizia! Congratulations Adam and Olivia.

Actually making baby blankets is pretty much all I've been doing lately... that and reading the Bible... and working... I picked a pattern for the Anderson twins' blankets. Same pattern, but one in pink and one in blue (because they are having one of each!). I finished the top of the girl's quilt and I think I'll pick fabric for the boy's tomorrow. 

I'll write more about the reading tomorrow... but we're in 1 Kings people --- 1/4 of the way through! 

Reading Recap...

I posted ever so briefly that I finished Joshua, Judges, and Ruth (I'm close on 1 Samuel!), but I wanted to share some things with you:

JOSHUA

"O sun, stand still over Gibeon,

O moon, over the valley of Aijalon.

So the sun stood still,

and the moon stopped" (10:12-13)

God listens to prayers of sincerity. I don't like to take things out of context, so I should point out that it goes on to say there has not been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to man. I am confident it means listens to a command from man in that way. Anyway, He listens to prayers from your heart. Then. Now. Always. Other than the gift of salvation I'm not sure there is anything more comforting to know. 

JUDGES

I enjoyed Judges. Honestly, I'm a little surprised people don't reference it more! I think it is pretty clear that all the verses referencing "In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit." is a VERY accurate description of the mindset at the time. Poor Israel... what where you thinking? Or maybe all the years this book covers are like the choices we make every day. Rebel, punishment, wander back to God, happiness.... rebellion, pain, God, happiness. When will we ever get the point??? 

Deborah's song. Not my thing, but this is a good excerpt: 

"...may they who love You be like the sun,

when it rises in its strength" (5:31)

Jephthah - why don't more people know who he is? I can honestly say, even if it is with a certain amount of shame, I had NO IDEA who he was... not a single stinking clue. Jephthah was an underdog turned warrior who baled Israel out (who didn't have to do that)... BUT Jephthah makes a vow to the Lord... "If you give the Ammonites into my hands, what comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the Lord's, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering" (11:30-31). Can anyone see where this is dangerous?? Are you with me on the gravity of this?? So when Jephthah returns home what should greet him but is one and only child, his precious daughter. His precious virgin, unmarried daughter. Jephthah is heartbroken and tells Mizpah (the daughter) about his vow. Mizpah not only understands, but comforts her father! She makes a request to hang out in the mountains for 2 months with her friends crying about dying an unmarried virgin (can you blame her??) and then returns to become a burnt offering. Now that's a commitment to doing the right thing!! More people need to study this woman. 

RUTH

Oh the book of Ruth. Women love this book. It is almost as close to the heart of a woman as Esther or Proverbs 31. The book of Ruth is the first book I ever read in the Bible, and I've read it several times since. She is a woman of character, so much so Boaz had heard about her - not her beauty, not her body, not her brain - her character long before he met her. Let me share some different insights with you that what we normally talk about... 

1. Ruth was a Moabite. If you're read any of the books prior to Ruth you know who the Israelites were told NOT to hang out with... not just the surrounding pagan peoples, but often, specifically not the Moabites. Naomi's sons married Moabite women, against God's command I might add, but when Naomi is rendered a sonless widow, who sticks with her? Ruth, the Moabite. And what sacrifices does Ruth make? Her people, her life, her gods. A Moabite gave up her entire life to follow her mother-in-law to a God she didn't know. Now, a few of you have mother-in-laws, the rest of us have interactions with someone else's mother that made us know why there are mother-in-law jokes... she followed her mother-in-law... whew, praise Jesus for that commitment! Anyway, the thing that really struck me was this - although God clearly chose Israel and set them apart, even warned them about the pagan Moabites, He not loved Ruth for her faithfulness, character, and commitment, but blessed her to the point of putting her in the lineage of Jesus! Why is this important? To me, it is one of the first signs that God would send Jesus for the Gentiles as much as the Jews.... because He loves us. And because He loves us, no one is outside of salvation as long as they are willing to give up their life and follow God. 

2. Redeeming. Boaz knows there is a kinsman redeemer closer to Ruth and it is the LAW that he has first rights to her. The law reigned supreme in those days, so you bet Boaz was going to respect that. Long story short, the kinsmen redeemer can't put his family line at risk by "redeeming" Ruth so Boaz does. Why is this important??? Because dear children, just like everything else in the Christian life... you will NEVER be redeemed by the law, you will only be redeemed by Christ! That is so beautiful to me. I can't even tell you what a special place that thought has in my heart. Nothing you or I or the law can ever do will save you, will redeem you, only the Lord can do that. Let that soak in! 

Joshua, Judges, Ruth

Stand back... I'm on a roll. 

I also finished the top for a baby quilt (I'll post pictures when I finish quilting it) and almost finished another. My friend Lisa and I had Domestic Diva Saturday. We are the only people who are awake before 8am on a Saturday and decided to put that time to good use... quilting and talking! 

Deuteronomy

I chose this picture because:

1. I took it...

2. It is just another example of what God does in His "free time"

3. It reminds me of the Promised Land

Speaking of which... I did it... I finished the Pentateuch (first five books of the Old Testament)! So, let's do a quick recap:

• Genesis - I have always LOVED this book. This is easily one of my favorites. I learn something new each time
• Exodus - As long as I live I will always get shivers when I read the words, "let my people go"
• Leviticus - Lord, this was purely an act of faithfulness, and that's ok! 
• Numbers - most people don't enjoy this book much, but I enjoyed it SO much!!! Ok, the census was a little wordy, but I thoroughly enjoyed the "stories".
• Deuteronomy - I was just so excited about learning more about God and being in the Word that it flew by! 

Now I am SO excited about Joshua! I know you're all tired of hearing this, but one more time: one of my favorite things about God is that He ALWAYS works things out in a way so that you know it is Him working!!! So Joshua always immediately makes me think about God stilling the sun in the sky... whoa... I wouldn't even think of that as an option! Isn't it amazing how God works??? 

 

4th of July in Missouri

A special thanks to Natalie and Frank (and Tug) for letting me visit them this past weekend! We were able to see one of the best fireworks shows of all time. It was so amazing!! I happen to think the Fourth of July is right up there with Christmas - easily my two favorite holidays. This year was particularly wonderful! I was able to share it with Natalie and her family. They are all such wonderful people (I just love that little Cooper!). My dear friend Ashley came to visit too! We all got to share something even more amazing than the fireworks show though... we were all present when many many souls came to know Jesus at the I Love America festival. Mmmm mmmm, is there anything better than knowing the Kingdom grew?? I think not!

Here is a picture of myself and my dearest friend, Natalie:

It was SO kind of her to allow me to come to the station and watch her tape live on Friday morning. Not only was it wonderful to see her, but I learned so much! That lady works HARD! Don't let her effortless beauty and style fool you - she may have been born for this job, but I promise you, she's professional! 

Now here's a picture of my favorite married couple:

Better people you have never met. When I arrived late Thursday Frank was kind enough to stay up and chat with me for a while. I have always said that I won't marry anyone who can't pass the Frank and Natalie test, and boy do I mean that! 

I got to see Natalie's sweet Momma too. I am so proud of her!! She has had to be very very brave lately and has taken it all very well. Spending time with Natalie's nieces and nephews was so special, they are just loads of fun.

All in all I would say it was an AMAZING weekend! To top it off - on my journey back to the South I stopped at an antique store...

Back Story: I've been wanting a coffee table but I wanted wood and glass. Apparently if a coffee table is wood, there is not glass, or if it has a glass top it is made of iron. I took matters into my own hands... I turned this window:

into this table....

Is it good? I hope everyone out there had an equally wonderful (and blessed!) holiday! 

Nat VanGogh

This is Natalie, Natalie is one of my favorite people in the history of the world. Seriously. Guess what I get to do this weekend? I get to see Natalie - actually even better, I get to hang out with Natalie and her fabulous husband Frank, and the cutest bulldog on the block... Tug! 

In other news... I started week one of my new Beth Moore Bible study... Living Beyond Yourself: Exploring the Fruit of the Spirit. It is a 10 week study, but I'm only doing a week's worth at the first of the month and then focusing on the fruit for the rest of the month. 

Also, I got a random message from a friend I haven't talked to in over a year... HUGE blessing! I've missed talking to this person, so yay! The Lord works in the most mysterious ways... =) 

In other news... after talking to three separate people today I should say this: 

• I am SO blessed to have people who care about me so much
• I am SO blessed to hear the following things today: 

::phone ringing::

H: Hey girl!

M: You better be reading your Bible- stat - I'm just saying there is nothing wrong with speed reading - like NOW!

C: You know, there is a loophole in this covenant you've made. I'll let you know if you're interested...

N: You better be reading if you ever want to date again.

• Haha-- I love you guys because I know they were all meant to help and uplift - or just to make me laugh!!! =) 

So, yeah the reading is going well! Thanks for the concern - haha. I love you guys! 

Oh and Natalie's last name is VanGogh because we took Art I Honors together in high school. Well, it wasn't really an honors class so much as just Art I and the room was too small for everyone to paint so we got moved to a classroom where Art IV was being taught. So, we decided that made our little group an Honors course. Makes sense, right? Remind me and I'll post a picture of Natalie and I with our paintings - I have on in my room =)