Seventeen Dresses in Ten weeks!

I finally finished all of my Easter dresses for this year! 

What a relief to have them all done! 

#1: 

This one was for her 1st Birthday!

#2:

#3:

I LOVE this fabric!! So much so, that I have a wallet made out of it, except in blue!

#4: 

My first attempt at smocking kitties

#5: 

#6: 

#7:

Too cute!

#8: 

I made the next four dresses for four sisters! Such fun!
They wanted them to coordinate, but not match!

#9: 

Buttons, need I say more?

#10: 

I absolutely love the sleeves on this dress!

#11: 

This dress looks a whole lot cuter in person! Not sure what happened with the pictures!

#12: 

#13:

#14:

#15:

These next two were also for sisters!

#16: 

I love the "cheeriness" of these fabrics - they make me smile!

And #17: 

I had so much fun making dresses for all these sweet girls! 

Thank You for the Cross

"Once Again" by Matt Redman

Jesus Christ, I think upon Your sacrifice
You became nothing, poured out to death
Many times I've wondered at Your gift of life
And I'm in that place once again
I'm in that place once again


And once again I look upon the cross where You died
I'm humbled by Your mercy and I'm broken inside
Once again I thank You
Once again I pour out my life


Now You are exalted to the highest place
King of the heavens, where one day I'll bow
But for now, I marvel at Your saving grace
And I'm full of praise once again
I'm full of praise once again

Thank You for the cross
Thank You for the cross
Thank You for the cross, my Lord

China 2012

I finally received my China acceptance letter yesterday!! 

I am beyond excited to be returning to Beijing in July!!

My trip to China last summer was so amazing and I can't wait to see what God's going to do this summer!

115 Days to Go ...

Saying Goodbye to Dear Friends

I've been sewing like crazy the last few weeks for Easter! One of the wonderful things that has kept me sane during these long days has been Librivox. Volunteers record each chapter of an old book that no longer has a copyright and you can listen online for free! Last week I listened to Wives and Daughters. 'Tis quite a lovely invention!

Yes, I finished all sixty-two chapters! I loved when a new reader would come on and they had a particularly delicious British accent! It somehow made the story even sweeter! 

I absolutely adore the movie version of this book and couldn't help but be aggravated when the readers didn't say the lines the way the actors did in the movie! 

A few of my favorite lines: 

Squire Hamley: I'm not saying she was very silly, but one of us was silly and it wasn't me. 

 

Mr. Gibson: Women are queer, unreasoning creatures and just as likely as not to love a man who's been throwing his affection away.
Roger Hamley : Thank you sir, I see you mean to give me encouragement.
Mr. Gibson : My encouragement is neither here nor there, for if she can stomach ya, I dare say I can.

Cynthia Kirkpatrick: In short, Mama, the one man may steal a horse -
  the other musn't look over the hedge?
Claire Gibson: Oh, do be quiet child! All proverbs are vulgar, and I
  do believe that is the vulgarist of them all! I really think you're
  catching Roger Hamley's coarseness, Cynthia.

Squire Hamley:  “Did I ever say an engagement was an elephant, madam?” 

By the time I finish a book, I feel that I'm friends with the characters and I look forward to discovering more about them each day! I somehow feel that I'm saying goodbye to dear friends when I finish the final chapters of a lovely novel! 

Garlic Fever

 When I was putting NoraJane to bed the other night we had quite an interesting conversation! It went something like this ...

 NoraJane: Batoria!!!! I'm gonna have nightmares!

Me: No, you won't, Norey-girl. Just think about nice things! 

NoraJane: I'm gonna dream about fruit and lemonade and ...  and garlic bread! 

Me: Oooo, that sounds yummy! 

A few minutes later ... 

NoraJane: You have garlic fever!! 

Me: You mean scarlet fever? 

NoraJane: No, garlic fever!!


She still calls me Batoria even though she can say the "v" sound now! 
 

*These pictures are from a few years ago, but I found them the other day and couldn't believe how much she's grown! This nightgown now hits her mid-calf and her hair is all the way to her waist! 

Mary Jo's

 

What do you get when you spend seven hours in a fabric store??

Enough material for 13 dresses and 5 skirts!

If I'm M.I.A. for the next few weeks, you know why!

In the everday moments of life ...

I am continually amazed at how God uses ordinary circumstances in my life to draw me closer to Him!
My mom had surgery last week and has been out of commission for a bit. And because of this I've been helping out around the house and with the girls a little more than usual. All I can say is that I've learned a whole lot about myself this week! Growing up, many times I heard women say that you never realize what a selfish being you are until you have kids. I never really understood what they meant by this statement. Well, now I do!

A few days ago I got into an argument with one of the girls and lost my temper - I was being prideful and selfish in my expectations. I had forgotten that I was dealing with a little girl and shouldn't expect so much from her. It wasn't until after this argument that I realized the way I react to my sisters and the habits I'm developing now are preparing me for the future and how I will raise my own children someday! It caused me to rethink my motives on so many things! In the back of my mind, I've found myself thinking "I really don't have to put that much effort into how I help train my sisters; one day when I become a mommy, I'll get my act together and do things the right way, but I don't have to deal with that now 'cause they're my mom's kids, not mine! " I never really thought that much about the impact this area of my life has upon my little sisters. I would try to do things right for a few days (more like hours) at least until things quit going my way and I got frustrated with my own inadequacies. In the last few days my perspective on being an older sister has changed and I find myself thinking twice before I react to their silliness or aggravating-ness. I discussed this with my mom and as we were talking the words of Colossians 3 came to mind. I've been memorizing this passage for the last few months with our Sunday School class and it really hit home for me this week. I realized just how much practical application is crammed in this passage ...

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him - a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, Barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

 My life is still not a perfect reflection of the truths and principles in this passage; far from it! But I do know that my Lord is sanctifying me a little more each day, even if it is through helping to potty-train a three-year old or teaching a phonics lesson to a squirming 2nd grader. He is always faithful to teach me something even when I'm struggling to find time for a quiet Quiet Time!