Free 8 Aprons Sewing Pattern eBook!

I just love aprons!  I feel so "June Cleaver" when I wear one!  It is also a very practical way to protect your clothes (especially when you are committed to living simply and having less!).

This great little eBook offers instructions for 8 different kinds of aprons - the possibilities are endless!  I especially like the "pillowcase apron".  It repurposes (hello? - that's what I'm all about!) a vintage pillowcase into a half apron with pockets.  This would be perfect, not only for the kitchen, but also for keeping your money and supplies handy when you do a tag sale (or a booth at a fair).  If the pillowcase isn't too delicate, you could use the completed apron to carry small household cleaning supplies (this is a suggestion just for you - you know I don't clean!  LOL)

This has me thinking I need to finish my "studio apron".  I've got all the supplies, and I think it's a great design (they always are when they're still in my head!) I just need to pull our the sewing machine and DO IT!

Thanks to Savings and Stewardship for passing this along!

21 Days: Day 11 (yep - 11. No, you didn't miss any - I just didn't blog!)

Did you miss the first post?

Since we've had all three kids at home, and are packing up the unnecessary items so we can put our house on the market, I haven't had much time to blog.  We also have not been doing devotionals every night, but we don't feel guilty about that.  Remember the first day, when we told the kid this was a privilege?  That means that you also aren't allowed to feel guilty or condemned when you didn't get it done!  (It's called grace, it's amazing!)

Last night we read John 11.  This is a familiar passage where Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead.  It also has everyone's favorite memory verse:

"Jesus wept".  John 11:35

I am proud to say that we all memorized it last night!  LOL

We have abandoned the provided devotional (sorry Pastor Zack!) and have just been discussing our favorite parts, the most interesting parts and if we learned anything new about Jesus.  We also keep a dictionary, concordance and Bible handbook nearby in case we need to delve in deeper (my favorite thing to do!)  It usually takes us about 15 minutes to read the chapter aloud, then we discuss for about 20-30 minutes, depending on how involved we are getting.  We always close in prayer.  I cannot tell you how amazing it is to read the Bible with your children!  When we get to the prayer time and are sharing needs, asking for help - it is clear once again that this is our primary "small group".  I have tears in my eyes right now, because I am so blessed to have this experience with my family!

We spent a little time discussing "Jesus wept", asking why He wept.  He had already told the disciples that Lazarus was only "asleep" and would be raised from the dead.  So He wasn't crying for Lazarus or for His own loss.  We speculated that it could be one (or all) of the following:

1. He was sad that Martha didn't have faith in Him
2. He was moved with compassion at their grief
3. He was empathizing with them
4. He was angry at the devil, since this was not the way it was supposed to be.  No one was supposed to die or grieve, but because of sin the world is broken, and it made Jesus mad and sad.

Whatever the reason was, we know that this is another place where we see Jesus' human emotions.  It is comforting to know that we have a God who is able to really understand our pain!

We also spent some time discussing the plot to kill Jesus (vs. 47 - 57).  This wasn't the first time Jesus had been in danger, but it was the first time that there was an organized, political plot to kill him.  To help the kids understand, we asked them what they would think if Pastor Zack didn't like another pastor in town because "he was performing many signs" and he was afraid that more people would go to his church.  (Just to be clear - we know this wouldn't ever happen - we love Pastor Zack!)  The kids thought that was pretty funny, especially Calvin!

One thing that is a bonus through this is that we are teaching our kids to pray on their own.  We've always done bedtime prayers and encouraged them to pray on their own, but this is the first time that we've consistently been having them pray aloud (other than meal time!)  The first night was a struggle, now they don't have any trouble!  We have them think of one thing (at least) for which they are thankful, then one thing they need God's help with.  We even had the opportunity to share:

Psalm 139:23-24 (New American Standard Bible)

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way.

When one of the kids couldn't think of anything they needed help with.  We encouraged them to ask for God to tell them if there was something they needed to work on.
If you aren't doing devotions with your family (don't panic!), I encourage you to start small, just read a passage or a chapter and discuss it.  Don't worry if you don't have all the answers, sometimes the questions are better than the answers anyway!  Look for these few things:  What did we learn about God?  What did we learn about man/ourselves?  What principle or character trait did we learn, and how can we show that better in our lives?
 
And - don't beat yourself up if it's not every night - just start again (and again!)

21 Days: Day 4

Did you miss the first post?

If you'd like to follow along with the short and easy devotionals, click here to download the .pdf

Today was John chapter 4.  It is a familiar passage about "the Samaritan Woman at the Well".  This woman was an outcast, going to the well in the hot afternoon to draw water.  This really rang true to me, since it was 105 yesterday!  I can't imagine having to walk miles to get my water, especially feeling so ostracized that I would be willing to do it in the hot part of the day just so I wouldn't have to endure the other women's looks and comments.  On a side note - isn't it sad that we (women) have that in our natural makeup?  We often judge one another, on so many different levels and for such silly things too!  God, please help us to reign in that cattyness!
 
What really stood out to me was the pure love that Jesus had for this woman.  It superceded all cultural boundaries (she was a Samaritan).  It crossed gender lines (she was a woman).  He looked past the situation and just saw the person.  I prayed and asked God to help me be better at that.  It's so easy to get caught up in propriety that we forget what is really at stake. 
 
Calvin's favorite part was in the end of the chapter when Jesus healed the nobelman's son.  He said that it was cool that Jesus could do a miracle so easily.
 
William had a migraine, so his participation was mostly just in presence and we didn't have  a lot of discussion.  Jordan is still at Nana's house, but they are reading there too :)
 
Looking forward to chapter 5 tonight!

21 Days: Day 2 (A wedding and a rant)

Did you miss the first post?

If you'd like to follow along with the short and easy devotionals, click here to download the .pdf

We missed each other last night, so we all got up before William went to work to do our devotional together.  It was nice!  Today we read John 2.  Before we started, I clarified a mistake I made: The gospel of John was not written by John the Baptist.  I did a little bit of research yesterday because I wasn't confident with that analysis.  Since it was written aproximately 69-90 AD, it could not have been written by John the Baptist, who was beheaded by Herod!  It is most likely authored by "John the Beloved" Jesus's disciple.  My family was very forgiving - hopefully you will be too!  ;)

In John chapter 2, we read of Jesus's first miracle, and possibly his most famous (not to mention controversial in Christian circles today!)  Turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana.  One of the things that struck me is that this was 3 days after Jesus had his first "converts" and not only was he invited to the wedding, but so were his disciples.  Having been a wedding planner for 10 years, I'm struck by the cultural differences - I mean, can you imagine a typical bride today including an extra 3 people just a few days before the wedding?  The caterer would have already gotten the totals!  Not to mention that it's an extra (insert outrageous price per head here, multiplied by 3)  And what about favors - would she have enough?  Would she have to rework her entire seating chart?  Oh the pressure - it might just make her go Bridezilla!

I don't know about you - but I'd love to return to a culture that throws open the welcome to new people, a concept of "the more the merrier"!  So anyway, back to the study :)

I am also intrigued by the way Jesus speaks to his mother, addressing her as "woman".  I have an 11 year old son - I can assure you if he addressed me as "woman", it would not bode well for him!  But Mary just turns and tells the servants "do what ever he tells you".  That's my kinda lady!

They took 6 vessels, holding 20-30 gallons and filled them with water.  Now my mind is perhaps a little too inquisitive, but I wondered what a 30 gallon container looked like:

the one on the right is a 30 gallon drum

These must have been strong servants, and it must have taken  them a while!  I wonder if they grumbled or if they just filled them quickly, wodnering what was going to happen next?  Anyway, the water was changed, the headwaiter was impressed and word began to spread about Jesus.

The next thing that is interesting is that Jesus and his Disciples went to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover.  The last meal they had together (3 years later) was also passover.  I think this shows that Jesus continued to practice the commands of the festivals, a tenet of the Jewish faith.  It makes me wonder, if Jesus did it, should we?  I have many friends who attend Passover Seders hosted by local Messianic Jewish congregations.  They are committed to honoring the "Jewish heart of Christianity".  At any rate, we should at least be more knowledgeable about the feasts (what, Old Testament relevance? LOL)

So back to the text :)  While Jerusalem was swollen with people, the Temple was ready for business.  They money changers and sellers were there, ready to accomodate those who came less than prepared or had lost their offering on the way.  At first glance, this seems like a good idea.  I mean, shouldn't everyone have a chance?  And some have said that the reason Jesus was so upset is because of gouging - they were charging too much and not giving a fair price.  I don't find that - He is very clear "stop making my Father's House a place of business!"  Ouch - I am instantly reminded of food courts and gift shops in some "mega-churches".  I know many of them donate the profits to missions or the hungry and the poor, but it still makes me wonder if we're following the heart of God.

Another thing that I've always loved about this passage is verse 15:

And He made a scourge of cords

Jesus was crafty!  OK, I know, He was a carpenter by trade, so obviously He was talented!  The thing about this is, it was not a "spur of the moment", "lost in passion" decision.  He made a scourge of cords. \He had to secure materials, put it together and return.  Even if this was done "quickly", it still would have taken some time.  This is further example of His "zeal"

–noun


fervor for a person, cause, or object; eager desire or endeavor; enthusiastic diligence; ardor.

In the devotional we are encouraged to seek a deeper zeal (or passion) for our church, our church family and the Gospel.  I asked Calvin if there was anything in his life that he had "zeal" for.  He replied "Karate."  When we prayed, he asked God to "help me find it in myself to have more zeal for church."  I love it!  We didn't even "talk to him" about this, just simply asked a question and let him ponder the verse and what his current passion was. 

We're off to do Day 3 - I'll talk to you tomorrow!

My Reading List

One of my goals this year was to read more, so I thought I'd just track it here!
Books I've read / I am reading this year:

          

I'll try to keep this updated, and if I get a chance to write a review of each, I'll link it up here!

Books I'd like to read:

        

Alltime Favorite Recommendations: