Sew Saturday: Remove Replacers

I've had this idea going around in my head since I first made tea wallets and then heard the term "remove, replace."  You can see my tea wallet tutorial HERE...and the remove, replace part is based on 2 Corinthians 10:5..."we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

So, recently when a dear friend was diagnosed with breast cancer...I put my idea to work.  Then as my friends showed need for reminders of God's Word in tough times I again made them...prayed over them...cried over them. 

Right now I'm making the biggest batch I've made at one time...for each of the ladies in my life group because I figure if you commit to pray for someone at that level you learn their deepest struggles...and it's good to encourage each other in taking thoughts captive and being obedient to God.

I decided to share about these nifty Remove Replacers...because I want people to be inspired to make them for their own friends.  Write down verses on God's peace...power...comfort...tuck them in and give them to a friend.  Ingredients Include:  2 pieces 8" X 22", 1 piece 8"X 22" interfacing, 4 pieces 2.5" X 8", velcro, embellishments.  Perhaps I will take time to put a tute together for it at a later date...or if demand demands.

Happy Sewing!!

Fitness Friday!

Well, it's happened.  Loverbrains and I have cracked down on our eating.  We are generally pretty consistent following along a Low Glycemic index diet around here...but as with all good habits we'd been rather polluted with sweets and carbs...we needed to cleanse out.  

Sooo...we're doing a 10 day boot camp...

The purpose of Boot Camp is to minimize or

eliminate “Insulin Resistance” that occurs by

eating too many bad (High Glycemic Index

foods). Most of these are refined carbohydrates—

the foods that are located in the

center aisles of the grocery store. Insulin

resistance is an inability of some of the cells of

the body to respond to insulin. It is the beginning

of the body not dealing well with sugar (and

remember that all carbohydrates break down

into sugar in our bodies). Insulin resistance

promotes weight gain. So a vicious cycle can be

set up with insulin resistance promoting weight

gain, which promotes more insulin resistance....

Sooo...Daily exercise, No Sugar, No pastries, No breads/pastas, No potatoes, No rice, Only water (rations 2 c. black coffee). 3 meals, 3 snacks a day.

About four days in...the awfulness is passing...and we're feeling great.  And...

...with wonderful produce from our local Aldi (cheap cheap, happy happy)...we're eating well!

*Pause for cuteness...*

Yum....I feel good...nana nana nana na...I knew that I would...nana nana nana na....

Thoughtful Thursday...Mirror or Window?

That hard, prickly, annoying, person...she is like looking in a mirror...a reflection...quite a bit like you.

She is you...5, 10 years ago...

Her attempt at showing spiritual growth comes off as condescending...

She hasn't figured nice ways to live her roles...with herself...anyone else...or most importantly God.

And it rankles something terrible because it's so the you that you've wished, hoped, tried to mature. 

Yes, tried...so often striving instead of resting in God's love.  Instead of trusting Him.

Yup, it sure hurts to see yourself in the mirror. 

So often this happens when you pray for an "enemy"...you see...yourself.  Your ugly self.

So, I'm moving forward...giving grace and getting some...love covering a multitude of attitudes...

and ignorances...sins.

Trying to be a window so Christ is seen...Not a mirror to my old self.

Memorial Hodgepodge

1. What news story are you following right now?
I keep following the Malaysia flight story.  It sort of intrigues me.  I think about what is Loverbrains disappeared on a flight like this...  I think about all sorts of gov't conspiracy theories...

2. What's the last thing you wanted but didn't get?
I looked at cloth woven hammocks at the store...actually put it in my cart...then decided I didn't need it and took it out.  I have a rope one...I just like the woven ones cuz they remind me of the Brazilian ones my Grandma has hanging in her A-frame.

3. May 28th is National Hamburger Day...when did you last have a hamburger? Other than your own kitchen or BBQ grill, where is your favorite place to go for a hamburger?And for all you non-meat eaters out there...when you're invited to a cookout what is the one side dish you hope is on the menu?
I last had a hamburger last night...courtesy of our home grill.  The only place I order hamburgers is when we go out with the kids to Steak 'n Shake.  I usually order the guacamole burger with jalepenos and chipolte sauce.  Yum.

4. How have your priorities changed over time?
Family comes first...over housecleaning and organized cabinets and closets.  God comes very first...even if it means giving up sleep.  Loverbrains comes first...money spent on date nights is well-budgeted.  

5. What's a favorite memory with your grandparents?
I spent every summer with my paternal grandparents.  I swam, hiked and read...a lot!  I also visited my maternal grandparents...and have great memories of playing in a huge tent my grandpa would set up for the cousins to romp in.  

6. On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being fantastic!), how good are you at multitasking? Share an example.
I think I'm about an 8-9...right now I'm doing laundry, blogging, cooking, and drying my toenails all at the same time.  Hehehe!!  Seriously though, I think that this question fits with number four about priorities.  When I have my priorities right than my multitasking flows smoothly and I'm not all frazzled and crrrrazee!

7. How would you summarize your highs and lows for the month of May?
Lows--There were a few busy weeks of routine things ending...and a lot of hard health diagnosis for a few friends of mine.  Highs--Spring finally arrived...the world turned green...the flowers bloomed...and vacation like activities began.  Smores!!!

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
More thoughts on the priorites thang...I think I'm a lot better at being Holy Spirit led than I used to be.  For example, I hadn't planned on it...but while out doing errands today...I decided to call a dear friend and have an impromtu lunch date with her.  I guess I've learned to "never be to busy" for some things.  And that's a big lesson for me!  She's one of those friends who builds me up...and encourages me in every way.  So glad I put friends into the top priorities for today.

Fun Weekend Part 2

Our family also visited the Creation Museum.  In case you can't tell...Emmer-bean did NOT like the animatronic technology...hahaha!

There was ALOT of interesting things to see and read.

Our kids did very well...being the beginning readers that they are.  That being said...I wish they'd been a little bit older maybe.  Or...that could have just been me feeling rushed.  It was CROWDED...and I really felt like I couldn't read and enjoy certain parts because we had to keep moving, moving, moving...or be trampled.

The mood changed when we went outside to eat lunch.  We were all tired from the day before and a lot of familial allergies/mild cold...So, it was a collective AHHHH to go outside after learning and being reminded of God's awesomeness.

We laughed and horsed around a bit...

Then we took a lovely walk through the gardens...on the floating bridge, suspension bridge, arched bridge...you get the idea.

Loverbrains thought making MomE nervous on the bridges was sooo funny.  Humph.

There's my little sweetness over the bog.

There are my Sweet Boobah's....awww!

We asked a stranger to take our picture.  She cut the dinosaur's head and tail off.  Hahaha...oh well.

It was a great day...but phew...we were tired.  We sat in the shade and watched the zip-liners go...and chatted with a nice lady from Memphis.   Then we were glad to go home to Indiana.

Fun Weekend Part 1

 Our beautiful family visited the Cincinnati Zoo! It was a gorgeous sunny day!!

 Ca-lubby was brave and pet a boa that a handler was telling about.  Very pretty!

 MomE and the Sweet Boobahs looked at money island together.

 Emmer-bean and Lubby show how tiny their hands are in comparison to the gorilla's hand.  Wow!

 This peacock was on the roof of the animal babies...and squawked and scared the bajeebers out of us!

 Here's Emma with her favorite animal...the zebra.

 The two Sweet Boobahs did some alligator wrestling too!

 Mama gorilla McKenzie brought out baby Gladys to play...she was cute!

We had a hard time getting this picture at the entrance on our way out...cuz another little blondie kept trying to get in the shot...hahaha!  Lubby's favorite thing was the Kamono dragons...so, he got a "dragon"...and named him Smoke.  Emmer-bean got a lovely turtle necklace that changes colors with the temperature.  There was a GIANT snapping turtle, among others at this zoo.

A great time was had by all...Then we went out to Papadeaux and had alligator tail, frog legs, and some of the best sea food I've ever had.  A...mazing.  Then we visited Jungle Jim briefly...and bought special fun candy for dessert.  We missed living in Cinci a tiny bit...except for the traffic and construction.  Yup...I love me some Hoosier hospitality.

Sew Saturday...

As a starter...my children are hot blooded and over excited for sprinkler season...so we decided to start summer officially a bit early around here.

I have been sewing like a crrrazzzy woman lately.  I just finished four baby quilts in less than four months (complete start to complete finished delivery)...that's a lot for me.  I don't make them for everyone...I couldn't possibly.  I got myself into a bit of a funk about this recently...someone snidely pointed out that if they got burp clothes from me they knew they were second class friends...or some such fiddle faddle.  

And...well...I guess if you want to look at it that way then have at it.  It's not really true.  I'd like to think that I'm pretty Holy Spirit led when it comes to such things...my time and my friends both.  After that comment though...I kind of worried and grumped and thought about not making anyone anymore anything.  *sigh....

But...I'll just go back to letting God direct me...and try to rest in knowing my heart intentions...quilt or burp cloth...is nothing but love.  This quilt is a small one...for Caleb's Kindergarten teacher's baby.  It's the very first I ever quilted on a long arm all by myself.  (Thank you teacher Tammy!!)  I'll be honest...I never would have started this one if I'd known about the three others coming along...but it was fast (an enlarged broken dishes block)...and ended up pretty cute.

The other three...I won't blog about.  They are going to close friends who can share their own baby stories in their own ways.  My favorite part...I love praying over what I sew...it's pretty neat.  Can't wait to hold the scrunchie babies I've been praying for too!

Thankful Thursday...

I'm thankful that I'm clumsy and trip over my toes and the cracks in the sidewalk with a good measure of wit and cheerfulness...  So that when her steps drag and her body is working hard...I have relieved a burden by offering grace in humility through my own non perfection and my honest friendship.

I am thankful that I have an ear for speech...foreign languages....accents....and God's love for people...  So that when when her speech is slurred and mixed with her beautiful New England accent...I can still listen and understand without frustrating her with constant repeating and explaining.  

I am thankful for the morning time I used to count as wasted and a personal void...me found wanting...  So that while she can still walk and talk I can be with her...I am available...with open arms and no rush about me.

I am thankful for a time of being broken, depressed, humbled and hurt.  So that God can comfort, heal and build me up...and show me that I am so very blessed and have much left to give.  When I am weak...He is strong. 

 

Happy Hodgepodge!

1. Under what circumstances do you do your best thinking?
Usually while mopping or scrubbing toilets or in the shower...all places where it's hard to write down those great thoughts.  But, all good places to cry and work things out inside with no one watching.
2. Are you a risk taker? What's one big risk you've taken?
No, I'm not known for spontaneous risk taking...quite the contrary.  Getting to know new people feels pretty risky to me these days.  Call me chicken.  I'm feeling like keeping everyone at arms length..thankyouverymuch.
3. Some of the most common phobias according to the National Institute for Mental Health are-fear of spiders (arachnaphobia), snakes (ophidiophobia), heights (acrophobia), fear of spaces from which escape is difficult (agoraphobia), fear of thunder and lightening (astrophobia), fear of dogs (cynophobia), injections (trypanophobia), social situations, flying (pteromerhanophobia) and fear of germs and dirt (mysophobia). True phobias affect only about 10% of adults, but of those listed which would you rate as your greatest fear?
Of those listed...acrophobia.  Which isn't exactly correct.  I'm afraid of FALLING from heights.  I am very happy strapped into rollercoasters.  Go figure?
4. Are you settled or do you feel the need to move somewhere new?
I feel settled in this house...maybe not in life all the time.  I love this quote lately..."Jesus unsettles the comfortable and comforts the unsettled."  ~Ann VosKamp
5. What is something you find annoying when dining in a restaurant?
Light shining in my eyes, music on repeat, having to serve myself (I don't do buffets), and oh, wait you said one thing!  HA!
6. Daffodil yellow, sunset orange, spring green, or sky blue...your favorite color this time of year?
Daffodil yellow!
7. If you were going to take a holiday all by yourself, where would you go?
All by myself?!  A private beach cottage....that sounds nice.
8.  Insert your own random thought here.
I'm going to memorize Romans 12 this summer.  It's long...but good...and something I need stored inside.  I am also not allowing myself to watch any TV during the week...that should give me NO excuses for time to memorize.  Any tips ya'll'd like to share for memorization?  What I'm eagerly anticipating is the way you see the Scripture everywhere and learn it deeply when you meditate enough to memorize!

 

Tune Tuesday: Doxology

Monday Musings...

On my fridge right now is THIS...from the flourishing abode.  Cuz we all need reminders...

Sorry for the gap in blogging again...I've had so much in my brain and not enough time or inclination to write it all down.  And...that's probably a good thing.  But, here's to me blog blogging along again...

I've really enjoyed these printable verses and such...

ishareprintables.com/

bloglovin.com

the 36th avenue

After an interesting and convicting Sunday sermon...I'm going to put more parameters on social media.  It's not the time wasted I found most convicting...it's the validation seeking...the voyeurism...that cut me to the quick and made my heart bleed.  Interestingly, blogging has been a pretty positive media tool...probably because I have few followers...hahaha...and because I'm pretty careful about what I share and don't share.  I didn't say I'm going to stop media entirely...just put some boundaries on it so it's not taking the place that God should have, is not making me a man (or woman) pleaser, and is simply a tool, not a controller.  I think such things should probably be re-evaluated and Spring cleaned periodically.