Trial and Error

Sewing is something I can do that helps me to feel productive, while staying off my feet. So, it seems I've become a bit of a short order seamstress:). Can you make this mom? I like this material and it can be a bandana, pillow, doll outfit, etc... I'm actually enjoying it, although a lot of it is free hand sewing and not following any set pattern. I really should start taking pictures to post, but haven't thus far. I've been making different things and putting them away for gifts or surprises on a "snowy" day. There are doll clothes(skirts, pajamas), pillow cases, gift bags, headbands, doll sleeping bags and purses. There are pillows that we stuffed with "ugly scraps of material:)", washcloths, hot pads, etc... So, I'm pretty sure that I've gone overboard, but it's all been free so far. A lady in our church gave me a dufflebag full of fabric last year and I really didn't have much time to use it before now. I'd done a couple of small projects, but I've been on a mission to use as much of it as possible. I've found that doll skirts and pajamas are quite easy to make, but I'm a complete failure with the dresses and shirts. Mostly because it's so hard to do the arm and neck hole stuff:(. My mother in law gave me some nice flannel material and I have several pairs of pajamas for the kids almost completed. I just need to get to the store to buy some more elastic. I used up my supply and I'm slowly working through my velcro supply to close the doll skirts and things.

We've not been neglecting school, since it's something I can also help the kids with, while off my feet. They're looking forward to me being back to normal for baking day, but we're postponing that for another week or two. Then we'll start making the Christmas cookies to deliver to the Police and Fire Station. I try to do theirs a bit earlier so that it doesn't get forgotten in the busyness when the company comes. This year our community supper is going to be more of a ministry to shut ins and we're praying that there is a good response. We've got several people that really want to be a blessing with this outreach, but we've found that there's not a lot of willingness,from those that could use it, to call and let us know about the need. I think part of it is that they do have Meals on Wheels available in town, but maybe we'll have more of a response with our early ad in the paper. It should help that it's free:). We're also looking forward to our turn at the Salvation Army table next month. Our favorite year was when Addie was a baby. Lots of people came over just to look at her and ended up giving quite a bit of money. I think they were able to buy over 60 turkeys for families in the area last year, which is quite good for our size of community. We've tried quite a few different outreach ideas in the "almost" five years we've been here and find that people are hesitant to come out for anything, unless it's a holiday or they are invited by a friend. I'm not sure if that's the norm for these days, but we're just praying that the Lord will use us to be a blessing all year round to all those we come in contact with.

I'm quite excited about tomorrow. Number one-I get to go to church! Number 2- We have missionaries to Liberia this weekend! Number 3- I'm just excited to get to go to church again:). The past two weeks have seemed extremely long and I look forward to the preaching and fellowship with other brothers and sisters in Christ. It's a blessing to be able to watch or listen to services online, but it's just not the same thing as being in the House of the Lord.

Have A Blessed Sunday!