Little tidbits of my life

Calling all fabric collectors...HELP!!!

If anyone has a remnant of this fabric in the pic and would like to sell me a little bit of it, please let me know.  The fabric is dark green with little red roses on it and sprigs of a tiny white flower w/light brown leaves...ANSTON PRINT WORKS is on the edge, but I think that it might mean CRANSTON PRINT WORKS.

My family has a special friend who is fast approaching 100 years old.  She's a dear, sweet woman of whom my parents have sort of taken under their wing as a mother figure.  She often gives me little bags of sewing projects that are unfinished.  Most recently, she gave me 20 squares that will make a LOVELY log cabin quilt.  The catch is that it is missing approximately 16 strips of fabric to complete the squares!  I can't find an alternate fabric that would work, so that's why I'm here, pleading for your help

I do not need much of the fabric, just 1/2 yard should be plenty.

Thanks!

Teresa

How to make custom curtains and custom buttons

I have included pics and a tutorial for the custom curtains I just made for my bathroom.

Project:  Custom Curtains

Estimated Time:  6-8 hours???

As I've mentioned before in my blogs, I have fibromyalgia so severely that I no longer work outside the home and I had to close my part-time home business "Stitches by Teresa" a few months ago. 

WELL, my new rheumatologist has changed some of my meds and for the first time in many months, I felt like sewing last saturday!!!!  SO, I decided to make curtains for my bathroom, a LONG overdue project. 

I finished up the curtains today and also took pics so I could add it here as a tutorial for making your own custom curtains.  This window is one of those that look like cubes.  My hubby and I purchased a Palm Harbor pre-fabricated home 4 years ago after we lost our home to a fire.  That was devastating, but God has really blessed us in our new home.  I am very greatful for my home and I feel SO BLESSED.

Don't you just love my model?   My cat Charlie jumped up there as soon as he saw the camera!  He's a sweetie.

Before I make a custom project, I graph out my idea on graph paper and do the necessary calculations for the amount of fabric I will need, including seam allowances.  I count each graph block as 2 inches.

In this project, I decided to use a tension rod to hang my curtains, so I only needed to measure the length and width of the inside of my window.  My window is 34 inches x 34 inches square.  I decided to make two curtain panels total for the space, so I divided the same measurements by 2.  (= 17 x 34 inches)

I decided I wanted to hang the curtains with tabs, so I changed my calculations for the final curtain panel each to be 17 x 32 inches. 

top seam allowance = 1 inch...bottom seam allowance = 3 inches

LENGTH = 17 + 1 + 3 = 21        

side seam allowances = 2 inches each

WIDTH = 32 + 2 + 2 = 36 

CUT 2 CURTAIN PANELS: 21 inches width x 36 inch length

If you plan to wash your curtains in a washing machine, you will need to either add more seam allowance so you can turn the raw edge under, or you can either zig zag or use an overlock stitch to finish the edge.  I chose to leave my edges raw since my curtains are not going to be very big, and they will not be laundered in the washing machine.

For a swag, I wanted my finished piece to be 8.5 inches long and 20.5 inches wide.

Since my material was EXTREMELY lightweight, I decided it will be easier to work with the material if it was doubled.  SO I cut my swag the following measurements:

CUT 2 SWAGS:  18 inches long and 21 inches wide

I set the swags aside until a later step.

I took my curtain panels and folded the seam allowances over toward the back of the material.  I pinned the seam allowances in place.  Depending on the fabric choice, you might want to iron the seams at this point. 

I do not like bulky corners because it causes the corners to form odd angles and not look professional.  Therefore, I sewed the corners together to look like this on the wrong side of the fabric:

I began on a corner with seam allowance 3 inches by 2 inches.

I used a fabric marker and drew a line on the RIGHT side of the fabric...from the corner to the inside where the seam should end...

I drew a mark on the fabric below before unpinning and marking the second seam. 

NOTE:  THESE ARE SEAM LINES, NOT CUTTING LINES

Once the two seamlines are drawn, unpin the corner far enough to lay  the corner flat.  You should have a straight line across the corner as illustrated below: 

To double check my markings, I measured from the corner mark to make sure it was 3 inches by 2 inches where the corner was marked.

NOW mark the fabric 1/4 inch on the outside of the drawn line...TOWARD the corner...with a dotted line

CUT on the 1/4 inch dotted line you just made.

You can now unpin the adjacent corner and fold this corner onto it since it is a mirror image...

BEFORE cutting, you will need to mark the seam line at each end because you will need to match the seam line when folding it together to sew...

You should now have 2 corners cut.

Now you can mark and cut the same corners on the 2nd curtain panel...

after it is cut, fold the corner right sides together and line up the dots on the end...because the seam allowances are two different lengths, the sides will not meet up exact at the end, this is why you will rely on the DOTS to line it up correctly...I took a pic to show this...THIS IS NORMAL and CORRECT...PIN in preparation to sew

Now repeat the entire process for the corners with a 1 inch x 2 inch seam allowance.

You are now ready to sew your corners. 

Place the needle in the "down" position directly into your marked dot.  Remember, you marked a 1/4 inch seam, so this is your seam allowance now.  It's a bit hard to see in the pic, but you can see where my 1/4 inch seam allowance is marked on my needle plate.

Once you have sewn the corner, first clip the corner, then turn right side out.

Push the seam allowance toward the larger seam for further ease of bulk in the corner.  (I'm sorry and please disregard my raw thumb...excema that I can't seem to get rid of)

Now sew the seams down on all sides of the curtain.  I actually sewed mine from the back side because my fabric was woven and thick enough to not look obvious on the front that it was the bobbin thread.  I used the raw edge as my guide from the LEFT side of my foot.  When I got to a corner, I stopped IN the corner seam, lifted foot with needle still down, and pivoted the machine  CURTAIN PANEL 90 degrees into the next seam.  I then just continued sewing from there.  I started sewing from the top down so that my start/stop seams would be hidden by the tabs.

I then ironed my finished seams before going to the next step.

Now for the tabs...I decided to make 3 per panel, so 6 total.  I cut 6 tabs 2 inches by 4 inches.  Depending on your curtain rod size, you may need to make your tabs longer than 4 inches.  My curtain rod is pretty small, so I just added the 2 inches that I left off the curtains and doubled it to total 4 inches long since it would be folded over the rod.  I chose 2 inch width just because I knew that would be large enough minus seams to accomodate my custom buttons.

I then folded over the edges as shown below on the top row, middle tab.

Next, I folded over the end tip as shown, and pinned in place.

NOTE...I plan to add buttons on my tabs, so I chose NOT to cut the excess material on the back of each tab because it will serve as extra support when I sew on the button.

NEXT, I sewed a 1/8 inch seam on the sides and a 1/4 inch seam on the v-section of the tab as shown below:

NOTE:  Cut excess strings as you go along for a neater finished product.

Now you need to pin your tabs to the top of each panel.  Find the center of each tab and place a tab there...place the other two tabs approximately 1/4 inch from the edge of the finished seam. 

Sew the tabs in place...follow up w/a zig zag seam for added support, and to make the tab lay flat against the panel.  The tab should be pointed away from the panel and you should see the right side of the tab, and the back side of the panel until you add the swag and buttons.

I had sewn my tabs down, then flipped them over and zig-zagged across the finished edge...HOWEVER, I could have eliminated the first step...just didnt notice till I had already sewn all 6 tabs on there...either way works fine, though.

ALMOST FINISHED...just add swag and buttons...

To make the swag, fold swag material lengthwise to make a 9 inch by 21 inch rectangle. 

Sew around three sides, leaving a small hole to turn inside out.

Clip corners and then turn swag out to right side. 

Slip stitch the hole closed and repeat entire process for 2nd swag.

Pin swag to front of curtain panel in three places, as far down as you want the buttons to be, matching center and 1/4 inch from finished edges.

Tack in place with a couple stitches and reinforce (either by machine or hand is fine). 

Now apply buttons.  I made my buttons from leftover material that was used to make my shower curtain in this same bathroom.  This is what unified my overall design in the bathroom.

If you do not know how to make your own buttons, I will now explain this process (directions are also included when you buy button kits).  I purchased my kit at Walmart, but you can find them in fabric stores and online, as well.  I bought three packs because each kit contained 2 buttons.

For my particular project, my shower curtain was partially transparent, so I added a piece of white fabric behind each piece of shower liner.  This step is not normally needed w/normal fabric.

Cut material twice the size of the button cover.

Now place the white fabric/curtain liner over the metal button and push fabric side down into the white gadget on a hard, flat surface.  The blue gadget makes this process easier.

Push fabric edges toward center, then press back of button in place.

Now just sew the 6 buttons onto the tabs, going all the way through to the back of the curtain panel.

CLOSE UP:

Matching Shower Curtain...hanging above our shower. 

The area is an irregular size, with a slanted ceiling...SO I measured the height from end to end of the area above the shower, then I laid out a shower curtain on my kitchen island with the finished edge included in measurement.  I cut the curtain marking each side based on the height of each edge plus a seam allowance.  I then cut a curtain liner the same size.  I sewed the liner to the shower curtain at the top only, right sides together, then flipped it over and sewed a rod pocket into the top large enough for my curtain rod...works great to hold the moist heat in our shower! 

I used the excess shower curtain material to make my buttons for the window curtain panels.

Our master bathroom is the coldest room in our house.  This is what inspired me to do these 2 projects.  Adding the shower curtain above the shower traps the moist heat into the shower instead of dissipating out into the cold room.  Additionally, adding the curtain to the window and closing it during cold months should also help keep cold air out, warm air in.  UNFORTUNATELY, even though I bought all the materials in winter, I didnt get the project completed till mid-spring, so I won't know how well my idea worked till next fall/winter!.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.  If you have questions or comments, feel free to ask away.  I do not claim to know everything, I am only giving you examples of how I have learned to make things.  There may be simpler ways out there, so please feel free to share this knowledge with me!!!!!

This is a pic of some more custom curtains I made...I did not match up the corners like I did in this tutorial.  I noticed they stick out a little when I first saw the pic, but I didnt notice when I made them, or hung them up.  They were still cute. (for a child's play room...was a very large window and I made a bench cushion cover to go just under it):

Below is a rooster themed curtain I made for someone...I just draped it over my cabinet doors, so doesnt look as good as it did in her kitchen...I just forgot to take my camera with me when I delivered the curtain!  DUH

Have a wonderful week!

Teresa

May - Flowers in my Garden

I took a few pics to share what is coming up in my front yard flower gardens so far...please disregard any weeds :o)

Hummingbird

Ladybug in the Roses

Red Hot Pokers

(butterfly bushes and large crepe myrtle in the background)

(wild roses in the background overtaking my deck...but I'm not going to cut them until after they bloom)

Yarrow...both yellow and light purple

Lamb's Ear

Bee Balm

Hostas, gladiolas coming up, and a couple balloon flower plants in the bottom right corner of pic

Cleomes beginning to sprout

One of three miniature Crepe Myrtles (sp?)...blooms light purple...supposed to only get 2 ft tall/wide, but fast approaching four foot this year!!! 

Lantanas starting to come up

Daylilies and the beginnings of the Hibiscus

Shrub Rose...blooms bright pink

I tried to get a big pic of butterfly bushes and all, but didnt realize how dark it'd gotten!

I still have lots of work to do, weedeating and weeding in general...these are from part of my front yard flower beds...I still need to work on my Rose of Sharons in my larger front yard flower bed and cut down limbs from last year...my father is going to come over soon and plow my garden area for me...then I'll also try to get my backyard flowerbeds in order...just a few oriental lilies and whatnot...

Vanilla Beans for homemade Extract

Do you make your own vanilla extract???

I had recently read a blog here about making Vanilla Extract from scattertheseeds...I was SO EXCITED to find a GREAT and unique Christmas gift idea!  I've been thinking about ways to use my Starbucks frappucino bottles and I think this is going to be it!  Thank you "scattertheseeds"!

I went to "Fresh Market", a store in Chattanooga, Tennessee to purchase the vanilla beans.  I had no idea they were SO EXPENSIVE!!!  I paid about $3.99 per bean!!!!  SO, after researching the homemade extract options online, I came across an ebay store that sells vanilla beans in bulk CLICK HERE to go to Vanilla Products USA. 

I am looking forward to receiving my beans in the mail soon!!!  ALSO, if you buy them at this particular ebay store, they have a sale right now that if you buy over $25 worth of merchandise, you get an extra 1 lb of vanilla beans free (that's ALOT of beans!).  I only purchased 40 beans for now (@4.99 for 20).  I think that will be plenty.  There was also a $1 discount on shipping when I checked out (instead of $5, it was $4) b/c I am in the USA.  Total spent was just a little less than $14...close to the same price I paid at a retail store for only 4 beans!!!

As far as the recipe, I have researched several options.  I think I am going to use vodka as my base b/c I read that it is neutral in taste, and I will just add about a Tablespoon of a dark rum to each bottle.  I read that the rum can be overpowering if used for the entire bottle, but that adding just a little can enhance the flavor. 

HOW MANY BEANS PER BOTTLE???

I've read several opinions on ratio of beans to liquid.  I think I will go with 2 beans to every 1/2 cup of liquid and then I can add more liquid or beans in a few weeks depending on my preference for strength.  I will slice the beans open lengthwise before putting them in the bottle.

Once the liquid is added, store in cabinet w/tight lid for approx. 6 weeks before using...shake the bottle frequently during the 6 weeks. 

TIPS REGARDING ADDING THE BEAN:

Some folks suggest scraping the inside of the bean into the bottle...some suggest cutting up the entire bean into tiny pieces or even 1/2 inch pieces and adding...no matter what method you choose, when you are ready to put it in a jar to give away, you can either syphen it through a filter of some sort (like a coffee filter or tea filter) if you want to remove the bean...or just leave the bean.  Who doesn't like vanilla bean ice cream w/the bits of bean all in it??? 

Several opinions suggested using the entire bean sliced open, then remove it after 6 weeks, let it dry out, then put it in a sugar bowl w/sugar...then you'll have VANILLA SUGAR!!!  YUM

I hope all is well with you today and that you are enjoying this beautiful day (at least it is beautiful here in N. Georgia today!).  I love to hear the birds outside and watch the squirrels play now that they can't get into my bird feeder!  At least some of the birds give them crumbs.

God bless you!

Teresa 

Prayer Request...Sad News

I just received news this weekend that a friend of mine was found dead friday.  His name is Brian Ramsey and he is close to my age (I'm 34), so still quite young.  Since hearing the news, I've found out he evidently overdosed on methadone pills...and also, his bride is now expecting their first child!  I call her his bride b/c they've only been married a year or so.

I'm just so sad to have heard this news of him.  He was in my youth group when I was a teen/early 20s.  We were all VERY close, spent every single weekend together.  We'd have bible study, supper, swim together, take crazy rides, make home movies, just all kinds of fun things and we all bonded.  As we each got married and started living separate lives, we all lost touch.  I still consider them all lifetime friends, though and I am just so sad for his bride.

Please pray for his bride and family as I just can't imagine the sorrow and pain she is going through. 

UPDATE ON ME

Some folks here have written to see why I haven't posted lately.  I've not posted much lately b/c I've been sleeping alot and don't have much to share.  My rheumatologist had changed some meds, so it's causing me to sleep much more than usual, but the pain hasnt been as bad.  I was pretty bad a couple days ago and last night, though.  I think it was from the storm front coming through friday...not sure...I came home from church today and could barely stand from the fatigue.  My hubby put me to bed and I woke up 6 hours later!  I'm still tired, but not hurting now.  ANYWAY, I have a checkup appointment this week w/the rheumatologist and will probably get more test results.

Thank you for your prayers!

Teresa

Life lesson with my Peace Lily

Peace Lily Blessing...

This peace lily may not look like anything to brag about, but I was SO BLESSED by it.  A little over two years ago I had to have a total hysterectomy.  My wonderful friend Sheila brought me a little peace lily.  It fit in a drinking cup, that is how small it was.  I have never had many house plants, but I really wanted to treat this lily with care and watch it grow. 

After about a year, my peace lily was big enough to re-pot.  I re-potted it and placed it back on my mantle where it was out of reach of the cats.  It was really beautiful, but NEVER bloomed!  I could not understand it.  I had done all I thought I was supposed to do.  It had indirect sunlight, so I had thought that might help it to bloom.  I will mention here that I also have a table runner stretched across my mantle...My 15 lb cat "Buster" became fixated on this plant and COULD NOT get it off his mind.  He just HAD to reach it.  Well it took him a few months, but he is a VERY smart cat.  One day I heard a horrible noise and saw Buster flying through the house to hide.  OF COURSE, he had figured out a way to get onto the mantle AND he, with his 15 lb of momentum, slid on the table runner and knocked down almost everything that was on the mantle, including my PEACE LILY!!! 

Through tearful eyes and a broken heart, I repotted the peace lily FOR A SECOND TIME, cleaned up all the dirt and continued trying to baby the plant.  When I get upset, Buster also gets upset...he NEVER tried to get on the mantle again.  For the next year, my peace lily got bigger, but still WOULD NOT BLOOM!  WELL I was at my friend's house one day and I noticed she had a peace lily on the floor, beautiful...her cats never bothered it.  She told me they do not seem to like it and so for the first time, I considered displaying my plants in a more pleasant way.  

I bought a Rod-iron baker's rack that fits in a corner and displayed my plants in my kitchen/dining room.  I realized the lily was too big for the rack, so I put a rod-iron plant stand beside the baker's rack and used it to display my peace lily. I figured it would be high enough that the cats would not notice...

THEY NOTICED!!!  Before I could stop them, all three cats were attacking the leaves because the leaves were bouncy, kinda' like Tigger.  The cats had mowed down half my plant before I could get them away from it.  They did not eat the leaves.  They spit them out.  Evidently it was bitter.  SO now my BEAUTIFUL peace lily was RUINED.  Leaves were spread across the floor. 

Seeing my plant destroyed hurt me much worse than it normally should.  I think it is because I related it to my own healing process of getting over the fact that I had to have a hysterectomy.  I was in Walmart a week or so later, around Easter time...and saw a HUGE peace lily for ONLY $10!!!  It just made me sick all pretty and blooming!  I DID NOT BUY IT. 

When I got home from Walmart, I walked over to my pitiful looking plant and I was debating just throwing it out.  I was SO upset.  BUT all of a sudden, I noticed something WHITE coming up from one of the broken stems!  I was SO SHOCKED...I checked it EVERY day.  Within a few weeks, it opened up and was a BEAUTIFUL BLOOM!!!  So there was my pitiful broken plant with such a magnificent "PERFECT" bloom.

I will not lie to you, it made me cry.  This bloom was focusing on the light coming from the sliding door.  I thought about how amazing God is.  HE knew I needed this special blessing.  He supplies all our needs.  He treats us even better than our earthly parents!  He understands the self-pity, but He also expects our grieving to only be for a season.  We have to stay focused.  We MUST keep our eyes on HIM.  HE knows when the time is right.  He has prepared me for a new turning point.  I have entered a new season of my life, one where I will claim VICTORY through Christ Jesus.  I am on the WINNING SIDE! 

Just like gold that has been tried by fire and the impurities are taken away...This beautiful bloom was raised up out of the broken leaves and came forth shiny and new.  That is when I realized that this bloom is just like me!  I am ready for the next phase of my life and look forward to serving God and witnessing all God has in store for me to do for Him! 

Incidently, the cats have not touched the peace lily since that attack!

Have a Blessed Day!

Teresa

What kind of flower are you???

Homemade Bread...a few tips...and random ramblings!

FINALLY, I made some homemade wheat bread good enough to eat!  I have a bread machine which I love, but lately I CANNOT get a good loaf out of it!  I was about fed up when the last loaf looked more like the inside of a softball than a loaf of bread, but I gave it one last try.  Now just WHY I know what the inside of a softball looks like, I can't remember, but I DO recall nonetheless, that it looks like the bread I attempted to bake last week...spitting image!!!  I've been pretty sick, so my hubby took me to Walmart to find some OTC medicine.  While there, I said I also wanted to get a new bag of bread flour.  My hubby said "PLEASE, let's just buy a loaf, it's not going to work!!!"...that sounded kinda like a challenge to me, so I doggedly marched to the flour aisle and got my bread flour, and some new yeast, and a little box of gluten...and marched PAST the bread aisle, without stopping, to the checkout!!!  I was DETERMINED...When I got home, I planned my strategy...when in doubt, READ THE DIRECTIONS...I read BOTH my bread cookbooks from cover to cover.  After a little while, I had alot of new ammo to take w/me to the bread machine.  I learned the following:

1.  because I'm at least 1000 ft above sea level (actually a little over 2,000 I think) that I should have added just a little more liquid than recipe shows.  According to my cook book, the atmospheric pressure drops the higher the altitude, thus causing drier flour.

2.  the altitude also causes the yeast to react different, too...suggestion to decrease yeast in 1/4 tsp increments each time bread is made till it looks like it rises correctly. 

3.  I also included 4 tsp of gluten this time to help make the crust softer...

4.  if the dough in the bread machine forms separate little balls of dough, then it's an indication that more water is needed...several little chunks were flying everywhere, so I decided water MUST be the secret to success here in my N. GA mountain home. 

SO after adding water and adding water AND ADDING WATER, I still had to pause the machine and knead it by hand w/just a little more b/c the machine had already reached the end of the road for kneading...

BUT my persistance paid off!  It turned out PERFECT!  I forgot to take a pic when I first got it out, so the pic below is only about 1/2 the loaf as the rest of it is already history!  I've had bread w/every meal for a day and a half, so I MUST start rationing myself!!!  I cut super-thick pieces when I just want to add a little melted butter and eat plain bread...I cut it thinner for sandwich slices.

I've had a tough time w/widespread pain from fibromyalgia and I have bronchitis again, so I haven't posted in awhile, BUT some things going on at my home are as follows:

1.  I MADE WHEAT BREAD...oh yeah, already mentioned :o)

2.  I FINALLY saw my first hummingbird for 2008 this evening!  He was one of the pretty little ruby throated varieties that are popular in my area.  He flew to my deck and looked at me as if to say "HOP TO IT, I'VE FLOWN A LONG WAY AND SUPPER IS NOT WAITING ON ME!!!..."  SO, I immediately got the feeders cleaned up and loaded them up w/some nice syrupy water.  I hope he gives me another chance!  I LOVE this time of year.  Several varieties that do not live here all summer often stop by for a sip during this time of year.  I hope to notice a few other varieties during this time period.  I like to try to get a quilt up on my stand and open all my window blinds and quilt while watching the hummingbirds play.  They love to come to my window and watch our cats watching them.  They also tend to look over my quilt.  These are some might inquisitive little creatures! 

3.  My hubby is trying every way he can think of to "con" me out of my "George Bush" money, so he has agreed to and is now in the process of PAINTING my living room and dining room...PLUS he likes the color SO much now that it's on the wall that he's mentioned painting our hallway and den as well!!!  MIRACLE...it's been STARK white since the day we moved in 4 years ago and has driven me CRAZY!!!...I am not able to paint b/c of FM, so he is doing all the work by himself...so NOW my living room is between a green and dark tan...called pinecone hill...earth friendly paint from Home Depot..NO ODOR, NO HARMFUL CHEMICALS..can't even smell it!!!  I will post pics once he finishes.  I remembered to take "BEFORE" pics, but I took the curtains down before the pic, so not a TRUE BEFORE...he has asked for a cheesecake since I was able to accomplish a successful loaf of bread...I normally don't bake on FM days, but I told him I'd bake a cheesecake AFTER the painting is finished, a celebration cake...SO now he has my "George Bush" money to look forward to, PLUS MAYBE a cheesecake!  BTW, he wants my money to go toward the purchase of yet another gun of some sort.  He is notorious for buying a gun he just HAS to have, THEN after taking it apart and customizing it by bedding it himself, refinishing stock, or whatever...then he ends up not happy w/his finished work and sells it at local gun shop on consignment for LESS than we paid...ANYWAY, rambling here...moving on...

4.  I got my piano tuned today, the one we purchased at an estate sale last month.  I haven't been able to play it b/c some keys were not working properly...SO the piano guy and I found out today that there is NOTHING wrong w/it...it was b/c of MICE!!!!  YIKES...while he had the piano apart, I asked him to let me vacuum out the keys since I couldnt reach them easily when I cleaned up the piano...I vacuumed out a MOUSE!!!  YIKES AND GROSS to the 10th power!!!  It was more like a little fossil of a mouse, but STILL, how gross that a mouse was under the keys and was the reason the keys would stick!!!!!  We were BOTH a little freaked out, BUT now the mouse is gone and my piano plays like a dream!  I also found out I got a great deal!  He said the piano would sell for around $1,295 in a piano shop.  I paid $500 for the piano, $215 for delivery and tuning...so total spent $715 PLUS they gave me a brass piano lamp for free!!!  As I said, though, I purchased it from a friend who had lost her mother-in-law.  She wanted me to have it and would have given it to me for free if she hadnt been left w/debt to pay off for her mother-in-law.  I look forward to telling her how great it has turned out!!!  I was quite happy w/my find.  I had to do ALOT to clean it up to make it presentable, scrubbed every surface w/wood cleaner and used "mean green" to clean the piano keys, but now it is just wonderful to have a piano to play in my home again!  I've played the piano for a little over 20 years now and I am SO HAPPY to have a good one again!!! 

5.  I got a tiny little greenhouse started on my front porch a couple weeks ago...I put an old plate warmer in the bottom of it on a brick to help keep it warm...I've planted a few herb seeds and peppers both sweet and hot for now.  I also am trying to grow lantana from seeds in the greenhouse, but is only an experiment as I usually just toss them in the soil and they spring up wherever.  I want to try to get them started now and plan out where I put them this year...who knows if it'll work???  If not, I will have plenty that will come back anyway.

6.  I FINALLY got to see a rheumatologist last week!  I was having a really tough time that day.  They had a cancellation, so they called me 2 hours prior.  I hadnt slept a wink the night before, so I really looked a mess!!  He seems to be a VERY thorough doctor and I know he's an answer to my prayers.  I have felt a HUGE sense of relief since meeting him.  He is going to try very hard to help me.  He said I'm WAY UNDER-medicated, which was a shock!  I take Lyrica, which is the only FDA approved med for FM, but I take 150/day.  He is increasing it to 300/day and thinks that will be a good STARTING point for some relief.  He also is switching my Lexapro (anti-depressant) to Cymbalta.  He said FDA is in the process of approving Cymbalta for FM patients.  He said the lexapro is not a good thing to combine w/Ultram pain pills.  He is keeping me on Ultram for pain, and the Cymbalta should bring further pain relief from what I understand.  SO, that's where I am physically right now.  He did some x-rays and bloodwork and suspects arthritis, too, but I'll know more in May.  Now I'm just fighting bronchitis and sinusitis, so once it clears I hope to try to do SOMETHING outside if nothing but sit and eat breakfast!  BUT hopefully I can work on my springing up Spring flowers.  

Well my friends, God is so good to us and I am THANKFUL to be able to give an update that includes God's answers to prayers.  I am just SO AMAZED every day at His goodness and how in the world HE could love me!  Astounding!  I am bubbling over this evening w/joy and hope for the future and for God's Will to prevail for us all.

Love in Christ!

Teresa

A giveaway from my friend Chas!

My friend Chas has a giveaway!  You can visit her blog w/the info...

Click here to visit Chas's giveaway blog!

A wonderful, wonderful book.
**Excerpt **Pull up a chair, dust off the cookie crumbs, and join Jennie Chancey and Stacy McDonald as they lay aside stereotypes like the “Stepford wife” and dispel such myths as the 1950s “perfect homemaker.” Laughter and tears will flow, and hopefully you will be infused with a renewed vision for victory as a wife and mother. Discover what it means to be a passionate housewife “desperate” for God alone!

Help from the crafty ones??? What can I do w/these cute bottles???

I must confess I have an addiction...every week when I go to my fiddle lesson, I have been stopping by Starbucks and buying a nearly $5 Peppermint Mocha Espresso!!!  WELL, I've been thinking about it alot regarding how much this drink costs and wondering why I just "HAVE" to have one each week...during this thought process, I came across a NEW 4 pack of Starbucks Dark Chocolate Peppermint Mocha Frappacino at the grocery stores!  I realized I can now buy 4 for the price I've been paying for 1!!!  SO I stocked up b/c the sign said "limited time only"...NOW if I want a hot drink, I pour this in a coffee cup and heat it in the microwave...OR I can drink it straight from the fridge cold...is VERY Good either way and MUCH cheaper than my previous once a week addiction! 

SO I said all that to say this:

I have been saving the little bottles b/c they are SO cute.  They remind me of old timey milk bottles, but much smaller.  I want to do something crafty with them, but need ideas from folks here...BTW, the stickers do come off, so that's not a problem...help me out please!  I've included a pic of the bottles above to give you a visual...and YES, I do probably drink more than one a week now  as I have come up w/quite a collection already...

Homemade Laundry Detergent...what went wrong???

HELP!!! 

I finally made some homemade laundry detergent, but something tells me I did something wrong...

Shouldn't it be really smooth?  There are big clumps of gel-like substance, but seem too hard to be the right consistency, and then it's all just kinda floating in a not quite water-like base.   I used the following recipe:

3 pints water; 1/3 bar Fels Naptha Soap grated; 1/2 cup Arm & Hammer Washing Soda NOT baking soda; 1/2 cup 20 Mule Team Borax; 2 Gallon bucket to mix it in; 1 Quart Hot Water; Hot Water

Mix the grated Fels Naptha soap in a saucepan with 3 pints hot water and heat on low until dissolved.  Stir in Arm & Hammer Washing Soda and 20 Mule Team Borax.  Stir until completely dissolved and remove from heat.  Add 1 Quart  Hot Water to 2 gallon Bucket.  Add soap mixture and mix well.  Fill bucket with hot water and mix well.  Set aside for 24 hours, or until mixture thickens.  Use 1/2 cup of mixture per load.

I followed the directions exactly...so what do you think based on your experience and how yours looks when completed?  What did I do wrong???

BTW, www.soapsgonebuy.com has a kit of all ingredients for $24.95...I figured it was a good deal b/c I didnt have to go anywhere and it was hand-delivered to my living room!  I havent done the math yet to see how many batches I could make w/the kit, but at this rate, it's probably a good thing I have so much!

Thanks!

Teresa

Sewing and Quilting Room Ideas

I would like to invite you to view my sewing room.  It is featured on Donna Poster's website.   

Click here to view my sewing room and to go to Donna Poster's website

Donna Poster makes quilt patterns, teaches quilting, and also encourages others to teach quilting.  She has published a few books, too.  I first met Donna at her lecture at the Nashville AQS show 2 years ago.  In one of her newsletters, she had mentioned a subscriber trying to decide how to make a sewing room out of a small bedroom.  I told her my sewing room is approximately 8' x 10' and that I had all kinds of things crammed in there, EVEN a design wall!  SO after she viewed my pics, she asked if she could add them to her website.  I was flattered and of course I said "yes!".  So it took me about a WEEK to clean up my sewing room before I took the pics, but I finally gave up and took the pics anyway!  I'm sure you all know what I mean!  LOL 

I hope you enjoy.  Be sure to check out Donna's other pages, too!  Sign up for her newsletter while you are there. 

Click here quiltwithdonna.com

Spring Flowers

I was so excited to get to take a pic of my daffodils to show you...

that is until my mother sent me pics of my dad's flowerbeds!  (The above pic is my daffodils...I'm almost ashamed to show you now)...

ALL the pics below are my dad's beautiful flowerbeds.  He has done an amazing job.  He laid all the rock, poured all the walkways, planted every flower, pulled all the weeds...all by himself.  The only thing he lets mom do is help water the flowers when it is really hot!  LOL...he is a perfectionist, so mom just lets him do what he wants.  It is SO beautiful all around their property.  I will try to remember to show you pics again once his summer plants are in bloom.  The hummingbirds just swarm the place! A friend of the family teases us and says "don't stand still too long in your dad's yard, you may turn into a rock statue" b/c dad has laid SO MANY rocks!  He's the ROCK MAN!  LOL.  I hope you enjoy. 

Fibromyalgia and my cat Charlie

Okay, I am not sure how many folks on here have fibromyalgia, but I decided to share my FM experiences in hopes I can be of some help to others who suffer from this.  I take Lyrica now to help.  It is the only prescription drug approved for FM pain...the Lyrica helped alot at first, but I think my body builds up an intolerance to it...my dr has increased the dosage twice and each time, I have relief for a couple weeks, then it hits me again.  Well this past week of almost NO pain for 7 days straight was a TRUE BLESSING.  It's the first time I've had this much relief w/o  an increase in lyrica being the cause.  I felt so good that I had really forgotten what a flare up is like until last night...

Well last night, the pain started coming back.  First, it felt like I had spranged my ankle even though I knew I hadn't...then the pain was also in my knee of same leg...I was limping and could hardly move my ankle...I propped it up, but it was just throbbing, just worse by the minute...I took pain med (1st time in 7 days! woohoo), but within an hour, the pain just swept over me in waves, all over, back, shoulders, arms, legs, feet...and even my face...I realized (duh) I was in a fibromyalgia flare up...I just could not get relief...my hubby came in at about 4:30 am (night shift) and I was propped up on the couch just not knowing what to do.  He rubbed my arms for me, which I must say this was very out of the ordinary for him to do this b/c he does NOT give massages, absolutely hates to...but he did it b/c I was so bad.  I was so greatful for his attention to me.  It made me feel good inside.  I told him I guess there was going to be a major storm b/c my storm detector had just started its warning signal...he said it was lightning the whole drive home...Sure enough on the Weather Channel, the barometric pressure was dropping...that seems to be my BIGGEST trigger.  My hubby got my "Bio-Freeze" for me...it is good for sore muscles...you can buy it at any physical therapy office...mostly menthol, so very good product and not damaging in any way.  It is available in a roll-on which I LOVE b/c I can reach areas on my back w/o straining or getting someone else to do it for me...well I was still in awful pain.  I can take up to 2 pain pills, but I already had severe heartburn from the first one I had taken, so I really didnt want to take a 2nd one...so then I remembered I hadnt taken a muscle relaxer in awhile b/c I hadnt been in pain for a week...so I took one of those.  Finally about an hour later I fell asleep and didnt wake up till about 6 pm this evening.  

I had mentioned in earlier blog that my orange tabby cat Charlie is a "cat healer", he senses where the pain is and lays over the worst places...WELL when I woke up, I was on my side and he was stretched out to his full length laying against my entire back!  He is such an amazing cat.  He knew my back hurt!!!  It's almost uncanny, though...LOL.  I know God paved the way for this cat to be in our household b/c He knew I'd need him!

This video is a clip of Charlie not looking too wise!  LOL...DOUBLE CLICK it to view (it is through photobucket.com)...be sure to have your sound on as I added music to it!

RELIEF...the pain has subsided. 

THANKS TO THE LORD!!!!

Prayer Request for me...health related

I just wanted to ask my new friends to pray for me.  I've been having these spells, I am trying to think how to describe...weak spells, sometimes shaking, dizzy...sometimes not...it kinda feels like the muscles along the sides of my neck are restricted some???...I get pretty thirsty when it happens, too...the spells is one of the symptoms my dr (internist) has been trying to diagnose.  He doesnt seem to think it is related to my fibromyalgia diagnosis.  It happens almost every afternoon/evening when I've been active at all.  We've determined it is not sugar related b/c I was already on medicine for insulin resistance and checking my blood sugar levels every day.  At the time these occur, my sugar has always tested in the normal range...my dr had told me he doesnt think it's sugar related, but he hasnt told me what it might be.  He's just been ordering more bloodwork.  He also took me off the meds for insulin resistance and so far my sugar is doing well w/o the meds.  I had originally been put on avandia about 4 years ago b/c I had PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and it is caused by insulin resistance...ANYWAY Lately b/c my widespread pain was worse, my internist has focused more on that than these spells.  I've laid around more b/c of pain meds, and then I had about 6 days of almost no pain this week, so I haven't been taking the strong pain meds and I've been up moving around more and cleaning.  During this time of increased activity this week, I've noticed these spells are EVERY single day.  I  guess I didnt notice them while in pain b/c of effects of both the pain and meds...I did well this evening at church, but for the past hour, I have felt really odd...kinda woosy, just dont feel right...

I'm going to lay down and read and try to relax enough to sleep, but I knew I could count on you to pray for me, so I felt led to ask you to do so.

ANYWAY, at least I  have a praise, too!  I praise the Lord that I've had about 6 days now with very little fibromyalgia related pain!  I am just so relieved to get a break from it.  I think it is somehow related to barometric pressures for me.  I tend to be very sensitive to the pressure dropping in our area.  I don't know, I'm just glad the suffering has eased for a few days!  Now if I could just stop having these spells!!!

Apron material...what fabric is best???

Hi to all!

I have made MANY things in my sewing room.  BUT I am ashamed to say I do not have an apron in my kitchen AND I have never tried to make myself an apron!  I actually bought some industrial aprons for church and am in the process of embroidering (by machine) on them for our new church kitchen.  I bought them ONLY b/c I just could not figure out what kind of material is best to make one from scratch.

Any suggestions?  What do most folks use for a pretty "handmade" apron? 

Thanks!

Teresa

A week at my sister's house...AND I HAVE A PIANO AGAIN!!!!

My LONG week started with babysitting this little 6 month old chihuahua below posing with her best friend, the teddy bear:

Yes, this little dog is VERY cute and sweet...BUT looks can be deceiving!!!  WOW AM I TIRED!!!  This little chihuahua, named Ladybird, belongs to my oldest sister Tina and her dh Brian.  They have raised her from about a week or so old.  My BIL Brian bottle fed her and carried her around in his shirt pocket at work (Ace Hardware) the first few weeks. 

My sister Tina is a professor at a local college, so she and BIL went on a little vacation to Cocoa Beach, FL last week during Spring Break.  I had this BRIGHT idea to babysit her chihuahua for her at her house b/c my dh is currently working 90 minutes away from our home on 12 hour shifts.  My sister lives about 40 minutes away from this job, so I thought if my DH and I stay at her house, my DH could get much needed rest by sleeping an extra hour each day.  Well apparently this chihuahua had forgotten we were there for REST!  She thought I was her newest chew toy.  She was SO EXCITED for us NEW folks to stay there that she kept me up all night wanting to play.  She was TOO excited to sleep for about 18 hours! 

By the 2nd morning, I called my mom who lives beside my sister and I asked her to come get the little dog for just a few hours while I took a nap...DID I MENTION MY DH IS ALSO ON NIGHT SHIFT???  Yes...AND DID I MENTION she had pushed open the bedroom door TWICE the first day while he was sleeping and jumped on him AGAIN AND AGAIN until he woke up???  SO when he woke up that 2nd day around 4:30 pm after getting a full day's rest w/o chihuahua interruptions, he asked me what had happened to the chihuahua...I told him I KILLED HER!!!  LOL...he actually didnt even look surprised!  Well, I had gotten a much needed nap and I felt better, so I decided to bring the little rascal back home.  My poor mom was now worn out and looked about as rough as I did when she had first come to get the dog!  This dog was absolutely wearing us out!  Now despite all the things I have said about her, I just love this little bundle of energy, and I enjoy learning things about her b/c she is VERY smart.  She was finally ready to sleep, though b/c she had been up for 2 days/nights already! 

I wanted to also take this opportunity at my sister's house to do something special for her and BIL...I ADMIT I WATCH WAY TOO MUCH HGTV AND LOVE THE SURPRISE HOME MAKEOVER SHOWS...I organized my sister's and BIL's closet from top to bottom...WELL let me say, I began this process...4 DAYS LATER, I finally finished the project with only hours to spare before I had to pick Tina and Brian up at the airport!  I was actually nervous I wouldnt get their bedroom back in order BEFORE they got back.  I have a degree in organizational management, which I must say, I never thought I'd need to use it for closets! 

I found out my sister owned over 30 pairs of shoes!  I stopped counting at 30!!!  3 pair were all EXACTLY ALIKE!  Did I mention this might be a good sign the closet had NEEDED organization?  I found some shoe organizers at Dollar General for $3 that hold 10 pair!  This was a great find, so I bought 2 of these, and put the other shoes on shelves and along the wall...I realized quickly she was in SHORT supply of hangers...over 100 hangers LATER, I was happy to see I had finally gotten everything on hangers and in decent order.  I found a clothes basket buried in there, too.  It was torn pretty bad and looked like a safety hazard, so I found a round one the same size for $2 at Dollar General and I threw the old one away (I found out later that this old one was their FIRST clothes basket as a married couple from 1991 and had sentimental value...LOL...I told her she'd have to dig her sentimental value out of the garbage b/c it was long gone!)  My BIL is also a preacher.  He has collected ties for years...he often gets ties from others as gifts...he has LOTS AND LOTS of ties!  I found probably 30 more ties that were buried in the closet besides the ones hanging up on organizers...I just love his ties and so I wanted to display them for him in a way that he can easily find what he wants to wear...I started categorizing them...about 4 hours later, I had finally gotten all his ties back in the closet...he had some BEAUTIFUL eagle ties, probably about 20 or more of various eagle scenes...lots of paisleys, some beautiful bible story themed ties, Christmas themed ties, all kinds of wild looking ties, frog ties, and even a HOT PINK tie which I personally have NEVER seen him wear!  Hmmm...anyway, I would not be surprised if he had over 100 ties!  I didn't bother counting them.  I found bags and bags of ball caps/various mens hats, so I found a good deal on some handbag/hat holders that mount on the back of closet door.  (The holders held 16 hats/handbags and were $9.95).  I managed to get most of his hats on here so he could actually see what he has and wear them.  I was so pleased to finally complete this project.  This was pretty much all I got accomplished the whole week besides withholding the temptation to harm the chihuahua in any manner...JUST KIDDING, I really did get attached to the little rascal!

Tina has always been so wonderful to me and such a great influence.  She is like a second mom.  As I mentioned in earlier blogs, she always took me to church and has always been a prayer warrior for me.  She has worked so hard for MANY years and FINALLY got her PhD last year.  She is now officially Dr. Cannon, a professor!  She is 43 years old and has literally been in school her entire life!  She always seems just a bit tired to me, so I just wanted to do something to make her life a little easier and to surprise her. 

Now I do not want you to get the impression that my sister does not keep a clean house.  She has a beautiful home.  I loved my stay there.  It is very inviting and comfy.  She has decorated it beautifully and really it was hard to leave it!  My dad had made her an amazing mountain stone fireplace that covers almost one entire wall of her great room.  She designed the houseplans herself, and she has an aquarium in the wall of her great room.  She also has a saltwater aquarium that holds all kinds of surprises.  They love the outdoors, so the room makes me want to go fishing, or just camping or something!  She has mostly hardwood floors and tile throughout.  Her kitchen has roosters from one end to the other (not alive, though!) .  They are just so pretty!  The home is located in the middle of her 5 acre plot and her land is surrounded by fields and woods.  They raise a huge garden every year on her property, too.  They had to put a 10 ft fence around the garden spot b/c the deer also love her home!  The deer actually come right up to her back porch!  I saw a total of 7 during the week, but I am sure there were many more as the CHIHUAHUA barked quite often w/hair standing on end at night (SCARING ME ALONG WITH HER!!!)...

Well after the week came to a conclusion w/me picking up my sister and BIL at the airport, I went home and slept ALL DAY AND NIGHT Friday and ALL DAY Saturday!  I finally got up saturday evening around 5:30 pm.  I suddenly remembered I was supposed to go to an estate sale that morning to look at a piano.  I called my friend who was having the sale (her MIL had passed away) and made sure the piano was still available.  I managed to get there about 6:30 pm with 30 min. to spare before the sale was closed for the day!  I got to spend a wonderful supper w/my friend and her DH as they told me about her MIL's last moments here on earth.  Please pray for Rob and Karen.  Rob is an only child, so this is especially tough for him.  They are both just so worn out now from taking care of her, then the funeral, and now the estate sale.  They were left with some debt, so that is why they have to sell most everything in the home.  They were so glad to know the piano would go to my home.  I was so pleased with the piano.  It was in mint condition!  It sounded GREAT(and I am VERY picky about pianos!).  I have played for probably 25 years now and I lost my antique baby grand 4 years ago in our house fire.  I am so glad to have a piano again!  This piano is a console and is just beautiful.  My DH will not be able to move it home for me till he gets laid off next friday, but I have that to look forward to, now! 

Well, after a relaxing supper w/my wonderful friends Karen and Rob, I came home and played my fiddle for a few hours b/c for the first time in months, I wasnt having any pain from fibromyalgia!  Actually, for 3 days now!...I remembered the time would change that night, so I reset my clocks and went back to bed AGAIN around 3 am based on the new time.  I slept most of the night and SLEPT THROUGH 2 ALARMS this morning and MISSED CHURCH ALL-TOGETHER!  This really upset me, especially since I am a SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER!  I have chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, though, so I am not surprised that something different in my routine as simple as keeping sweet little Ladybird could cause such a "sleeping beauty" moment. 

I am finally awake now and looking forward to having lunch with my DH when he wakes up this afternoon.  I hope I can stay awake long enough to spend some time w/him!  It's weird how I need SO MUCH SLEEP at times!  My DH finally gets a day off, bless his heart! 

I was so pleased when DH said he'd buy the piano for me.  I am not used to asking permission for things like spending money.  I have always worked and had my own money since I was 15.  Now that I can not work due to FM, I am fully at my DH's mercy when it comes to big items like pianos!  I am still in shock that I am getting it!  WHOOHOO!  I thank my Lord for His many blessings.  He knows what we need and He also blesses us with wonderful musical instruments.  He gave me the talent to play the piano at a young age after I earnestly asked him to give me this gift to know how to play and I would use it for Him...He took me at my word and I love to play for His Glory.  I started writing songs in the mid 90s, but have not written one in years.  I look forward to start writing songs again now that I will have a piano again!  The Lord is so good to us and I am amazed every day at the surprise blessings He bestows on us. 

This was lengthy, but I was just bubbling over and havent gotten to share w/too many folks since I've been asleep for so long!

Have a wonderful Sunday my dear new friends!

Love in Christ,

Teresa

Honor your father and mother...

This post is a bit lengthy, but I felt the need to really dive into some scripture and express how it can be applied to daily life and how it will affect life for years to come:

Ephesians 6:1-4

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.  2 HONOUR THY FATHER AND MOTHER; which is the first commandment with promise; 3 THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH THEE AND THOU MAYEST LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH 4 and, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Something I have come to understand more as I get older is that the reason God gives us these instructions is not because it is easy to do.  If it were easy to do, He would not have to tell us to do it.  I have also come to understand that His instructions are for our own good and assist us in furthering His kingdom as we live faithfully and heed His Word.  His instructions are NECESSARY in helping us to GROW as Christians, to MATURE as Christians.  When we live it, we become living testimonies to others.  God has given children instructions to heed and He has given parents instructions to heed.  Neither are based on the other...honour thy father and mother is unconditional...fathers, provoke not your children to wrath...is unconditional, regardless of how the child acts...I am responsible for MY actions regardless of the wrongs done to me!  Jesus loves us unconditionally, regardless of how we treat Him.  How much more so, should we love others regardless?

I will mainly focus on the verses where instruction is given to the children in this blog:

I think every one of us can say that our "childhood" and adolescent years were less than perfect.  Some may have grown up in foster homes, some may have been raised by relatives other than their natural parents, some may have grown up in single parent homes, some may have grown up in alcoholic or physically abusive homes, some may have grown up in verbally abusive homes, I could go on and on with the situations...BUT something that is very important here is "how do I live MY life as a Christian...DO I HEED God's Word regardless of my circumstance?...am I a living testimony to others in my household???...do I think more of worldly things, or spiritual things?...am I claiming VICTORY through Jesus???...and so forth, and so on...

I, too grew up in a less than perfect home.  As I said, I think we all can say that.  I am careful to talk about it because I want to honour my parents.  I am NOT perfect.  Many times I have failed the Lord in the way I responded to situations growing up.  HOWEVER, I have also been careful to realize the mistakes I have made and to ask forgiveness when I am wrong in handling things in an unGODly manner.  As long as I have breath, I can ask for forgiveness and for mistakes I have made.

My parents did not go to church as I grew up.  HOWEVER, my oldest sister became a Christian at a very young age because my Granny faithfully took her to church.  My Granny passed away when I was very young, but my sister then took on the responsibility to get myself and my middle sister out of bed every sunday morning and march us to church.  She made sure we never missed a service.  She is 9 years older than me.  We often walked to our church (about 1/4 mile).  She was just a kid herself, but she quickly learned to heed God's Word and she made sure that she did her part to get her two little sisters into church.  My parents saw her faithfulness and although they never said anything through the years, it made an impression on them.  I am sure they were very amazed by her faithfulness.  Because of my sister's faithfulness, regardless of our homelife, I came to know the Lord as well and I became a Christian, too. 

My dad really has watched us as we became teenagers and he always noticed the few times we did NOT go to church.  He immediately asked me why I was not going to church ANY time I did not go.  I used to get aggrevated at this because I would think "who is he to ask me that when he never goes"...but my anger would never last long because God would convict me to just let it go and it also helped me to always be faithful in going to church because I knew it was important that I go AND I knew my dad was watching. 

My parents, like all married folks, had their problems.  As children, we often are too self-involved to have concern for what makes our parents act or do what they do.  We are too young to analyze their lives and to see what happened in their past to mold them into who they are as parents.  We just see the results of their journey to this point in life.  Situations were often tense and I did not know why.  I would find myself getting bitterly angry toward my dad in the way he handled things.  I was 17 years old when I realized just how cold-hearted I had become.  I was talking with a Christian friend about it and he gave me some wise advice.  He told me to pray for unconditional love for my dad.  He explained that Satan likes for me to be bitter and he wants me to have hatred for my dad because it keeps me from praying for him.  This hit me like a ton of bricks.  If I do not pray for my dad, who will?  SO immediately I was convicted to pray for UNCONDITIONAL LOVE for my dad.  This was one of the rare times in my life that my prayers were answered immediately and overwhelmingly.  I have been able to pray for my dad ever since this day and to truly love him and to be concerned about his wellbeing.  I LOVE my dad with all my heart.  After praying so earnestly, I became truly interested in what has happened to mold my dad into who he became as an adult.  I started praying that God would take away his anger and bitterness and to replace it with love for God and for my mom and us.  I learned to just accept my dad, imperfections and all and to just do what I could to honour him as the bible instructs me to do.  He is going to be 70 years old next month and his health has declined significantly in the past 10 years.  It really hurts me to know how he suffers.  I am so glad God has not given up on him.  I realize that if God can help me to love my dad this much, how much more so must GOD love my dad?  I truly believe the Lord has not given up on my dad.

As this time passed, the Lord also has really watched over my mom and helped her to provide as much stability as possible in our lives in spite of circumstances that were out of her control.  She has always tried to take good care of us.  She always taught us to love our dad and to not spread "tales" about our family, but to just simply go to the Lord with our worries and hurts.  She has taught us not to lay blame on others, but to always look in our own lives to realize what WE have done to cause a bad situation and for us to ask forgiveness when it is needed.  She is the one who taught me to read my bible every day and to pray to the Lord.  She recently told me that all these years, she mainly has prayed for peace in her home and for her home to be a tranquil place where God's love is found.  She is a very humble person.  She is so worried about my father's physical condition.  She ministers to him as much as she can to help ease his pain.  She practically ALWAYS has the "deep heating" cream with her in case it is needed...she rubs his feet, warms blankets for him, whatever is needed...I have never once heard her complain.  She is a very strong lady and she has really grown as a christian since all her "chickies" have flown the coop.  Somehow having this "empty nest" has helped her to turn to the Lord more than ever and she now faithfully goes to the same church that my sister used to march us to every week.  I have told her for many years how much she would enjoy the ladies sunday school class that is for her age group, but she never would reply much.  BUT that is now the very class she LOVES!  The same people there who helped us grow as Christians have now started encouraging my mom.  I am so thankful for our "home" church.  I now live about an hour away from this church and I belong to a church near my home, but I will always be thankful for the Lord's wisdom in leading me and my sisters to this little country church.  The people there have been a huge influence in our family.  I still pray that my dad will re-dedicate his life and live out his days in contentment with my mom as they are now both retired and spend practically every waking minute together.  What a perfect time for them both to fall "in-love" with the Lord.  What a perfect time for God to REALLY help them to fall "in-love" again with each other.  They already both minister to others' needs, such as shopping for this sweet lady who is in her late 90s.  They care for her as if she was their mother now that their mothers have gone on to be with the Lord.  They both have very giving hearts toward others.  Mom cooks food to help others out, dad gives out his flowers to help brighten other folks' yards, they already have giving hearts.  I just look forward to God really being involved in their marriage and opening their eyes to the beauty HE has put into their lives and the love he has given them to share with each other.  This is my prayer for my parents.

I mentioned earlier that if it were easy to honour our parents, then God would not have needed to command this in His Word.  Through the years, I have always tried to be there for my parents whenever they needed me.  I have so many fond memories of helping my dad build dog lots for his beagles, or helping pick strawberries and tend his wonderful many gardens through the years, or just taking walks in the woods with him and being very quiet.  He also taught me how to fish and I think he tried a couple times to teach me to swim, but that was a disaster .  I always loved when my mom taught me how to sew.  She taught me how to cook so many wonderful meals and desserts.  We have worked on a few projects together in the past couple of years, too and I actually got to help her brush up on her quilting skills.  I see now, as an adult, that even in horrible, horrible circumstances, God has still blessed my family so MUCH during my early years.  There is a rainbow after the storms!

HOW CAN I HONOUR MY PARENTS???

I should be careful to not do anything to provoke anger.  If I feel a tense moment coming on, I should back away.  I have to let go of PRIDE and not get the last word.  I have to bite my tongue and not say the quick mean retort that so easily forms in my mind.  I always worked hard when chores came.  I have always been an encourager, so I try to always lift my family members up and help them to know how important they are and how much I love them.  As they get older, I try to meet the new needs that arise with age.  When they built their retirement home, I let my parents move in with me for 7 months.  I took time off work to care for my mom during surgery, this list could go on and on...this is not a "brag about me" list...this is an "HONOUR THY FATHER AND MOTHER" list...

HOW HAVE THESE VERSES HELPED ME AS AN ADULT???

Now that I, too am married, all these things I learned growing up to help promote harmony in our home and to just plain ole live for the Lord as best as I can, now come full circle in my new home with my hubby.  WOW, just when I thought I had it all figured out on how to try so hard to get along with my family, NOW I have a new person to adapt to.  I sure have failed miserably here...I have found it harder than ever to let go of pride, to heed my words, to not let my anger just BURST out of me.   Guess what I had to do AGAIN???  I prayed for unconditional love for my husband!!!  Why did I pray this?  Because it did not come naturally.  Once the "honeymoon" phase was over, love should become an action verb...something I must CHOOSE, not just "feel" like flutters in my belly...I must work hard to love, even when I do NOT think he deserves it...I must remember that I am not perfect, either!  If the Lord can love me, imperfections and all, then I must learn to love in the same manner.  AGAIN, this is not a conditional command...the bible does not teach to do to others as they have done to me...it teaches to do unto others as I would have them do unto me...in other words, treat them like I would like to be treated...

I do not have children, so I do not pretend to have infinite wisdom on how parents can obey God's Word in raising and training their children.  I only want to say to parents to PLEASE be QUICK TO LOVE, and SLOW TO WRATH...remember how you wanted to be treated as a child and then treat your children in this manner...always be grounded in the Word and teach your children what God instructs you to teach them.  Let this time as parents really make you reflect on your own parents and to see them as God sees them, imperfections and all.  None of us are righteous, NO NOT ONE...! 

I know this is long, but I really felt impressed to write this in its entirety.  It helps me to focus on how much I need to work hard to love my husband as this is one of the greatest areas of ministry I personally am called to do at this "season" in my life.  This blog is something I felt God wanted me to write.  I hope it helps you in your Christian walk whether you are the child, the parent, or the grandparent, or the wife, or the husband, or the sister, or the brother, etc, etc.

Love in Christ!

Teresa

Bone Scan Results...

The nurse called today regarding the bone scan I had last monday.  She told me the tests showed normal.  I asked if this means I do not have arthritis.  She said it means I do not have bone cancer!  I had not realized that my doctor was checking for cancer.  For some reason, I just assumed he suspected arthritis.  SO, I was VERY relieved to hear it was normal.  My grandmother had died from bone cancer, so this has been a concern of several family members.  The nurse suggested that the fibromyalgia could be getting more debilitating at this point as an explation of the worse pain I have recently experienced. 

I have prayed for clarity of this situation and this did somewhat settle the issue for me of the diagnosis of FM. 

Thank you so much for your prayers and concern. 

Love in Christ,

Teresa

Birds at my feeder

This afternoon, I opened a blind in our den so the cats could watch the birds at the feeder.  The wind was really reeking havoc, but the birds were determined not to miss their meal.  I guess they knew there was snow coming tonight (who knows if it'll be there in the morning)...so here is a pic of the birds waiting for their turn:

I also got a pic of my alert Sassy cat just after she had been looking out the window at the birds.  It is VERY hard to get a good photo of her, so I was happy to get this cute little pose...enjoy!