Don and I made new friends this past week. We go camping (trailering actually - NO TENTS) occasionally and sometimes we take other people's children with us. That sounds a little creepy, somehow, but we really just like to let the kids get away for a few days and give the parents a rest, too. And they keep Don and Maggie (the dog) occupied while we are camping so I can just sit and do my "thing". We took three siblings with us this time and had a great time! We have recently joined their church so we are having a good time getting to know lots of new people. We drank a lot of hot chocolate and ate s'mores. The flies were really awful but we had lots of action with the swatter. We played cribbage at night and did crafts and bike riding in the day. We had a great time and BOY, am I tired! The kids were wonderful and their parents should be proud of them.
Along that line of thought, one of the girls had a birthday yesterday and her mom made a wisdom scrapbook as a gift. I started looking at it but I couldn't read most of it because it made me cry. I grew up in a broken home atmosphere where my mother worked a lot, sometimes three jobs when I was young, just to support 4 kids. It was not a Christian home by any stretch of the imagination but my mom tried to teach us how to be "good" people and for the most part we were "good kids" and didn't get in trouble too much. I was 16 when I came to know Christ as my Savior. I married a young man from a Christian background when I was 19. My mom died when I was 21 years old and I had been away from home for 2 years. I never really got to know her as an adult because I was gone so quickly and I truly regret that. As I was trying to read the scrapbook last night I realized how very special it was, how much thought and time the mom put into creating it. I could also see throughout the book that their lives were Christ centered, I couldn't help but notice how very much this was true. And that it wasn't just a quick, off the cuff thing but a true and abiding way of life. I felt a twinge of longing for the feelings expressed to the daughter by the mother and other relatives and friends who where giving so freely of their wisdom to the birthday girl who just turned 18 years old. I couldn't finish reading through the book because of the emotions it solicited, but I hope to read it through some day when I have lots of time and can read every word. I was pleased to see that the daughter recognized the meaning of the scrapbook, also, and would cherish it over the years.
I had two jewelry shows this summer and both were successful enough to make me continue selling. I was able to help someone in need with some of the proceeds so I thank God that the sales were made. My jewelry is completed over several short sessions so I don't produce it in huge quantities. I doubt I will be doing a show every other weekend or anything even near that often. Right now I am planning on doing just 4 shows next year. I do have a shop on Etsy now. You can visit it at www.rosevinedesign.etsy.com. More items will be added regularly so check back often!
I will be teaching Stitched With Love Sewing Class at our church starting in November so I am gearing up for that. If you are in the Arnold/Festus, Missouri area and wish to attend a free beginner's sewing class please contact me at artistdf@sbcglobal.net and use the subject Sewing Class. It is going to be fun!
My other new project is downsizing my "hoarded possessions", as I refer to them. Don said, "Can I get an amen?" or something to that effect. He is a patient man.
My favorite verse today is:
Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
No comments:
Post a Comment