Blackberry Jelly

Today, my mom sister and I made 15 batches of blackberry jelly, which equals 56 jars.  We started working at 10am and finished at 7.  I all tuckered out but feel so blessed to have been able to do this!  I have longed for this day for more years that I can recollect.  It was a delight to do and the hard work was worth it.  I may have only gotten to keep 19 of the jars but...I am still grateful.  We won't be eating store bought jelly for a while.  I may try my hand at it one more time!  We shall see.  There isn't that much summer left and there is so much to do! ! !

Journaling

I have already mentioned here before how Jason has a special story time with the kids.  I am bringing up again tonight because I just wanted to mention that because of his story time it has helped me set a time away each evening to blog.  It is nice to have a set time when the house is quiet and my day is coming to an end before I am too tired to see straight.  I recently started another blog but this one is just for me.  It is kind of like a diary of sorts.  It is so nice to have a place to lay down my thoughts and record where God is taking us.  Unfortunately, I am not always able to mention all the details here.  So when it is a time that I need to remember the day privately I take it there.

Quilt (s)

A few months back...ok several months back I began making a quilt.  When I started it I was still very much struggling figuring things out and reading, see me if you want more details.  So needless to say I made an error or two along the way.  I made up the pattern and just picked out fabrics I liked and didn't think about the quilt as a whole until I started trying to put it together.  This works for some people but for me...not so much!

I began experiencing some panic about it because I realize the quilt wasn't really 'me' and I was investing a lot of money and time into it.  I wanted it to be 'me' especially if it was going to be on MY bed.

About 3 weeks ago I was approaching what I thought was the end when...a fatal mistake was discovered.  And no I am NOT being too dramatic.  My mom graciously had drawn out the pattern I came up with for me and told me she only drew it until it started repeating.  I didn't put this info in the part of my brain that can be accessed easily so...I didn't remember.  I made the quilt all the way up to the first repeat which is about a 1/3 of the size it needed to be.  This would have been fine if I had enough fabric to make it but I didn't, ahhhhhh.

I contemplated making into a twin size for Mel but the pattern would have run the wrong way and the fabrics I chose weren't pre-teen material.  So...I am making three baby quilts out of my 1/3 of a queen, haha.  Truth be told they are much nicer as baby quilt than it would have ever been as a queen.

Isn't that how God works.  We head in one direction thinking we are doing one thing and disaster strikes and something better is made of it than we could have ever figured out in the first place.  I have about a dozen expectant mom's in my life, no joke, and I have been trying to make a gift for each one.  These quilts are going to be a nicer gift than a pair of baby booties any day.  At least I think so.    NOW

Grateful For This Time

On Monday Jason took the day off work and we ripped up the floors and I painted.  So all week...ok...three days we have been living with particle board floors and exposed tack strips.  It has felt like living in a construction zone.  I have even more empathy for my friends who have lived in a 'work in progress' much longer than I have.  Our routine is all off and it has led to sleepless nights for me.  Weird I know, but what can I say, I'm weird.

This evening we got the most exciting call, I have received all week, that our carpet will be installed in the MORNING.  No more dining in the living room at a card table.I think the kids will be kind of sad to have things back to normal because they have enjoyed having things all mixed up for a while.  Me...not so much.  

However, I am over the moon thrilled to be privileged enough to have the opportunity to be able to do some home improvement projects.  God has richly blessed us with a home and the ability to make it a little more 'us'.  We've waited many years to be in a construction zone, so I am grateful for this time.

'Blog Worthy' or 'Not' That Was The Un~Asked Question

Ok...I haven't been able to figure out why I haven't felt good about anything I have blogged recently and I finally figured out why.  I have gotten so used to facebook this blog has turned into a glorified facebook.  I will make a concerted effort into making my blog post more 'blog worthy'.

In Church

This morning in church I was struck with the thought that I haven't captured a picture of Buddy cuddling with the family.  He cuddles with everyone especially if they have bare skin showing.  He loves to lay against bare arms and legs.  This morning he was sucking his thumb and had his arms wrapped around Megan's legs while playing with a sticker book on the floor during the sermon at church.  This was only my first attempt at many to capture him snuggling the family.  He moves so fast and I want a candid shot.  My strong desire to capture this is because I know it isn't going to last forever.  Just like I know he won't be sucking his thumb forever either.  So hopefully soon I will have a post of him cuddling with someone.  :)

Being Silly