Scrappy

 Inspired by a trip to the Harford County Fair a couple months ago, I made a quilt.

Using left over scraps, I sewed three layers of raw edges, backed with baby fleece, criss-crossed it together and bound with some polka-dot cotton. I really like the way all the colors came together. Girly, but not frouffy.

It was an experiment and has it's share of mistakes, but I'm happy with the result. More than likely, it will be making it's way to some little girl at Birthright Pregnancy Center. Hopefully, it'll meet a need for a new mama and her girl.

Let me show you, child...

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger...

James 1:19

I have long read this verse, reread it, meditated on it, prayed over it and sought to make it a part of me. It's so good, so simple, so practical.

And So. Very. Hard.

I don't listen well - I do that think where I try to be quiet long enough for someone to finish (sometimes), all the while planning what I'll say while I'm waiting to make my point. I'm not slow to speak - I'm impulsive, blurting things out. It would seem the my mouth is large enough to accommodate my foot. Slow to anger...are you kidding? I often feel like it's one of my defining characteristics.

So, how?? How do I do these things? I want God to change me, to fix this part of my nature and take it from me. As yet, not so much, but He did show me this:

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger

Proverbs 15:1

I've always read this and thought it's a tool of peacemaking and handling conflict. It is that, but I think that more immediately, it's a means of responding to my own conflict and bringing peace to my own soul. When I am mindful of the need to speak a "soft word" every time I open my mouth, I am slower to respond in anger. Likewise, my own harsh words or tones stir up irritability and anger within me.

I'm starting to see the fruit of this - it's amazing. I am beginning to recognize triggers that would often lead to my losing my temper and can pray in the moment that God would give me words that would honor Him. I am more able to think carefully about my words and avoid sarcastic or impatient replies. It's wonderful!

How kind of God to, answer my prayer, to remind me that I need His help to accomplish the task He has given, and to provide that help by showing me how to apply His Word. Beautiful.

The Man Preaches

To hear Toby preach on oaths from the Sermon on the Mount: go here, click on "Tools for Growth" and download the message "Hold to Your Word, Hold to the Gospel".

I may be biased (and I should be), but it's good.

Have you seen these?

Classical Kids CDs - an intro into classical music that is so fun! Each CD tells a story about the composer set to his own music. They can be expensive to buy as a set, but that's what birthdays and libraries are for! This link will take you to my favorite to date - Handel.

MilkShare - for those nursing mothers who have an abundant supply, you can now share your milk directly with a family who needs it. For the moms that are struggling with supply or other nursing issues and don't want formula, you can get the good stuff direct from another nursing mom.

The cough is moving around our house at the moment, which means the kids are getting the Vicks' Treatment: smear Vicks' Vapor Rub on the soles of their feet and cover with socks. Do this as they head to bed and I'm tellin' ya, they sleep much better. This doesn't seem to work for adults, I've found. For men, they seem to need the Man Cold Treatment. Women...well, we just take a Sudafed and get on with things, don't we?

Multitude Mondays

Like most people on the East Coast, Sunday was clean up day, following the visit we had from Irene. Though things didn't go as planned, we still have much to be thankful for...

• a night and a day in Baltimore on Friday to celebrate our anniversary, complete with great food and an almost complete visit to the Walters. The wing I most wanted to see was closed, but we will just have to visit again!
• my mom being able to look after the kids, even when it seemed like traffic wasn't going to let her through. She made it home safe, too.
• No trees down or any structural damage to the house.
• Though the basement flooded, it wasn't because the sump pump broke, but because it was working so hard that a joint popped. Quickly mended, the pump continues to work, as does all of our electricity.
• Getting the last air dryer rental to dry out carpets.
• Other than wet floors, nothing was damaged. Amazing. The only thing we'll have to throw out was some computer paper that got wet.
• All the little branches in the yard that will make great kindling.
• All the policemen patiently directing traffic with so many traffic lights out.
• The loan of a dehumidifier, and the kind friend that brought it over to us.
• The knowledge that He is sovereign, and He is good. I need not fear anything that ultimately comes under the control of a good and mighty God. 

Twirly, Tiered Skirts

Such a fun thing to make. So easy and gratifying to make something useful out of so little fabric.

All done with scrap quilting cotton.

To make your own and validate the need for algebra, visit here.

Great books - for kids

*PLOT SPOILER*

I am a book snob

Okay, now we've got that out of the way...

As Abigail and Anna were entering the second and third grades, I began to find it very difficult to find good reading books for them. They were in this really weird place where the books that were at their age/grade level were just lame - cartoon characters with bright colors that were more pictures than plot, not to mention the questionable attitudes of the characters. On the flip side, the books that I wanted them to get into were a little too long and thus daunting, with enough difficult words that made it more work than pleasure.

Wandering through Barnes & Noble's kids' section, I had the impression that if you could pick up a pencil and string a sentence together, you could get a book deal. Not encouraging. So, with the help of Veritas Press and Sonlight Curriculum, I have found a selection of great books for my kids! Here are some:

Baby Island

The Boxcar Children

The Cabin Faced West

A Lion to Guard Us

Owls in the Family

The Dragon of Lonely Island

Homer Price

Misty of Chincoteague

Some we've read in previous years, some we are reading this year. All are a reasonable length, nothing really questionable in terms of attitudes or situations, all engaging stories that are well written.

It's hardly an exhaustive list, though - I'm sure I'm missing some gems. Please chip in with something I've forgotten/never heard of!

Multitude Mondays

I found this quote at the weekend, and everything in me simply resounded with "yes!":

"Five good children are an immense luxury, and to deny one's self other luxuries in order to raise them is not self-denial at all, but merely an intelligent choice of investment."

--Edward Sandford Martin, The Luxury of Children (1904)

My five children are a luxury - one that many will neither enjoy or understand. So, with that in mind...

the hands that wave goodbye * the lips that give messy kisses * the crooked-toothed smile * girls whispering in bed * when the big ones help the little ones * graham-cracker breath * ticklish legs * the white-blond hair * the badly-cut hair * a little voice sounding out words * a young voice reading the Word * many fingers making music on the piano * knowing that my house may be messy, but my harvest will be great * knowing we are each fearfully and wonderfully made * knowing that they are not a burden/a trial/a punishment, but a reward from a God who gives only good

Quick Tip - in the kitchen

Did you know that you can poach eggs in the microwave? Stick 'em in, one egg at a time, for about 30 seconds. You'll hear a pop around second 26 - that's just air releasing from under the egg, not the yolk exploding. If you like them a little more "done", open the microwave after 20 seconds or so, slide a spoon underneath to release any air, and pop it back in for another 10 seconds. If you want it really well done, you're on your own - I've never cooked them longer than 20 seconds, so I have no idea what might happen! 

Covering up

I had never seen a nursing cover before Noah was born.

I learned to make them, for myself and others, when Eleanor was born. What a help! How nice to feed a fidgety baby with some modesty!

Now, they are available, for you, in the shop. You're welcome.