Monday Morning Meanderings...

G'morning, my friends! It's the last day of February (gulp)! Where ever does time go??

Here's an inspiration from my cousins, Chris & Janelle. I just have to share with you...

God loves you with an everlasting love...
Nothing is deeper than that!
He watches over you with tender mercies...
Nothing is kinder than that!
He upholds you with His right hand...
Nothing is stronger than that!
Roy Lessin

And other random topics...

I'm thinking of sewing a garment bag for myself - long enough and strong enough! I don't usually use a garment bag. For flying-travelling I like to roll my dresses, so I really have no idea why I feel compelled at this point in my life to sew a garment bag. I think I like the challenge. :)

Also, I'm partaking of a big fat cup of Coffee Crisp hot chocolate. I haven't allowed myself that indulgence for a long time... my reasons are too complicated to divulge at this time but I do want you to know I'm enjoying it. No guilt.

And I'm planning another sewing day for tomorrow. Bren and Val and Kaitlyn are coming to sew and hopefully most of the men show up for supper.

And now that it's long past morning and I soon need to leave for afternoon busing, I'll send this on it's way... my littlest boy is feeling fierce and strong again about being a man and being in charge. It's a battle. He doesn't need to listen to his mom because he's a man. And he's in charge. And I hear about it until I'm weary and cranky.

The end.

{WW} Devotions

{WW} Devotions – free write

It’s such a personal thing. I have a difficult time writing about something so personal. I don’t know why. Maybe I feel like I fall so short. Maybe I want to write something that will inspire someone else and I really don’t know how or where to start. I have a very hard time (as in never) getting up and having devotions before I start my day. I sometimes kneel by my bed when I get up and ask God to help me. I most often pray when I wake up, lying in bed. The day’s duties and tasks and fights (children’s) are not yet commenced. I’m free. For a moment. And I pray. And think. I like to take quiet time right after lunch when I put Wyatt down for a nap and everyone else is at school or work. I like my alone time. I sometimes read the Messenger, or a devotional book and way too often I spend a lot of this quiet time reading my friends blogs or other blogs about quilting and home décor. Writing this down, I’m quite sure I’ve ‘snacked’ too often and not ‘eaten well’ at Jesus’ table. I love to sing and often keep a songbook open in my kitchen. I love the outdoors and I always feel close to God when I go for a walk or eat snow with my children or examine a snowflake closely. I like to think that all the little things in life, all the moments of directing back to God are a form of worship and praise. But I need a reminder of how frail and human and selfish I really am. I need to think about devotions and where I’m actually feeding my soul.

{WW} Compliment

{WW} compliment

It was one of those snowy, blowy, wintery December days, the kind that blows you in the door with snowflakes on your hair, leaving you shivering even though you’re dressed in warm coat, boots and gloves. I stamped my feet a couple times and headed through the turnstile at Canadian Tire. The greeter, a beautiful young Paki lady with long hair gave me a huge smile. “You’re beautiful!” she said, “You just have this aura about you!” My cheeks grew hot. “Thank-you,” I said, smiling at her, as she grabbed my arms and hugged me. We exchanged Merry Christmas’s and I commenced to do my shopping. I’ve pondered this compliment for a long time. What did this lady see? I am certainly not a physically beautiful person, but I long so much to share Jesus with others. I pray that the aura I have about me is Him.

Thursday Thoughts

Hello, my friends!

It's a gorgeous Saskatchewan wintry day; some wind, big fluffy flakes of snow and -10C (colder than most of our winter has been).

I'm having a home day with only one small interruption so far when my neighbour friend, Alice Kearnan, came for coffee. She's older, lost her husband a couple years ago and loves to bring me fabric and get me to sew random things for her. Today it was a skirt (to sew for her) and MANY seriously amazing and outdated pieces of fabric that I ruthlessly sorted through. She loves to discuss it all and so we talked about what this old green denim could be used for and what kind of dress this white satin and crepe would have made. We even found cross-stitch fabric and an old house-robe pulled apart. Then we sat together and had hot tea while Wyatt climbed the cupboards and measured the couches with his measuring tape.

Yesterday I had a shopping day (with a rather trying 3-year-old) which included a stop at Periwinkle's Quilting Fabrics down on Broadway. I lovety-love that store. They even have a little room with toys where Wyatt contentedly occupied himself. It was heavenly.

Now I'm thinking of making supper: cheeseburger soup and butter-dips.

I'm also contemplating how to unplug the toilet (Gah!! This doesn't go with supper thoughts!!) on main floor where Wyatt unrolled a {WHOLE} roll of toilet paper and then went {STINKS} on top. It's horrific. I have all the candles lit that I can find. The bad thing is that this is the {SECOND} time he's done this! He has really been trying me out lately. Maybe you don't understand the full implications of that thought. What I mean is, Wyatt has been completely IMPOSSIBLE lately. The other night he got up every hour or two all night, no fever, no sickness, no nothing that I could figure out. When we talked about it the next day and I told him that could not happen again or I would 'help' him, he slept all night. He is so very very strong-willed. Oh, deary me! Will he ever manage as a normal human citizen?

What's going on in your realm?

{WW} Outdated

{WW} outdated

I was sorting through some storage boxes in my basement, looking for the elusive sewing home-ec book of mine from bygone days. I’ve promised to teach the grades 7, 8 & 9 girls sewing this year and thus the search for the book.

Four boxes into my stack, I found it, in all its outdated 90’s glory. It was just a paper folder that we each decorated with fabric. Mine was covered with a huge blue and white floral/fruity print. It had a three-inch wide ruffle in a plain coordinating royal blue all the way around and narrow royal ribbons tied on the side. I used the same royal blue cotton to cut out the letters S-E-W in my own girlish curly cursive writing. It was priceless.

I stood there, paging through it, laughing and with a small catch in my throat. Here were all my fabric samples: T-shirt knitting in the funky florals we loved, 100% rayon in rich jewel tones (I’m sure I wore that to church long ago!), 100% cotton (a scrap of the dress I sewed in class!), flannelette, tricot, denim and floral denim (oh, those were the days!) 100% polyester (the piece my sisters and I wore to my folks 25^th anniversary!) (My nose felt plugged and my eyes were wet), more polys and cottons…

I couldn’t resist paging through it all. All those seam practices: a straight seam, a spiral, iron-on interfacing, mending with stitch witchery, a dart, a taped seam, a graded seam, tucks, serging, zippers and stitching in the ditch, collars, necklines and buttonholes. (I snorted out loud. I keenly remembered sewing that neckline and laughing hysterically with Arnie about the shape of it!) Don’t worry, there was more: elastic casing, zigged elastic, blind-hem, top-stitched hem and hand hem and last but not least my measurements!

I sat thinking about my long-ago home-ec dress with its puffy sleeves, big pointed collar and hard belt, its pastel roses in purples, pinks and blues. I didn’t really like that dress, probably because it was from a sewing class. I thought about the dress we’re going to get the girls here to make; not-super-stretchy, invisible zipper, princess seams. They’ll probably feel just the same about their dresses some day and just as thankful for an old outdated book about it all.

Heart Sister Evening

Setting: Lana's basement, windy wintry evening in January, 

Characters: all the Swanson Mennonite women who joined the heart sister deal this last year (four didn't join) Pat's mom was missing

Theme: the grand unveiling of who had who

Décor: aqua tablecloths, wide burlap runners, mason jars painted aqua, blue and coral - some used for candles and some for vases of stunning coral roses and greenery, a couple long tables for the array of appetizers that everyone brought

Appetizers: Dips with chips, tortilla rollups, fruit skewers, fruit salsa with cinnamon and sugared tortilla chips, veggies and dip, mini squares (variety), stuffed mushrooms, crackers n cheeseball, mini fruit pizzas, mini heart shaped veggie pizzas, party bread, mini cheeseballs with a pretzel handle, chocolate dipped peanut butter balls, party mix and more!

Drink: Coffee with cream and sugar, frozen coloured juice cubes with sprite poured over

Gifts: Cookbooks! The ladies in charge got a list going so everyone could write down a couple they were interested in. I got the Bredenbury cookbook (pretty popular one for the evening) and I saw Pioneer Woman Cooks 2 & 4, Mennonite Women Can Cook, Meals Around the World, H & H Cookbook and many more! Our men should be faring very well the next while!!

How we actually found each other: When we arrived we each wrote our names and our heart sister’s name on a pretty piece of aqua cardstock that had a saying written on the back (in two parts). We cut it in half, kept our own and they handed out our other name (who had us). Then we read off the half of our saying, table by table, and went searching for a match. It worked really well and we had many good laughs.

Kudos: to Paula, Lana and Cindy Dueck for all the hard work and time and money!! It was a well-spent year and evening! We are truly blessed!

My heart sister: Chris Goodnough

From her paper she filled out:

                   Address:

                   Birthday: March 27/53

                   Anniversary: August 1/70

                   Favourites:

                             Colours: all except brown, grey

                             Kitchen colours: none

                             Bedroom colours: neutral

                             Candies or chocolates: Peanut butter choc’s

Hobbies: drawing, reading, poetry, jigsaw puzzles, Sudoku, word games, artificial flower arrangements

                    Any dislikes? Overly scented things make my eyes run

                    *Baking always welcome!

Who had me: Audrey Hiebert! I sure never guessed and I got many lovely thoughtful gifts from her!!

Encouragements: If you haven’t tried this in your congregation, do!!! It’s a bonding thing to do together! This is our second round. We did it three years ago, like, our revealing was ten days before Wyatt was born. J That time everyone gave fabric at the end. It’s a wonderful thing! (Yup, fabric too!)

{WW} Tell how one small positive thought in the morning can change your entire day

Winter mornings on the northern prairies are dark and chilly, with the sun rising around 9am and the temperatures averaging between -9C (16F) and -19C (-2F). After the morning rush of breakfast, lunches and the skates and hockey stick scramble I’m delighted to look out my kitchen window to the south-east and watch the sun slowly makes its glorious emergence. I am awed every morning with God’s splendid flamboyant demonstration; this time deepest royal blue against lacy black trees, next time florescent magenta and fuchsia swirled with charcoals and blacks, and of course the wintry frost-whitened look of ‘rose quartz’ and ‘serenity’ (pantone’s colours of the year 2016) depict the perfect wintry prairie sunrise. Every morning I’m awed with this colourful caress from my omnipotent God. I delight in colour.

Happy February!

Good morning! Here's one more soup recipe for you. These wintry mornings, falling snow and cozy firesides, always make me think 'soup' for meal-planning.

9-Bean Soup

1 cup 9-bean mixture (Costco)
2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion - diced
4 cloves garlic - minced
1 cup carrot - diced
1 cup potato - diced
1 cup celery - diced
2 tsp salt
6 tbsp tomato paste
1/2 tbsp chili powder
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp cumin
8 cups stock or water (I used ham stock and cut out the salt)

Soak bean mixture in 6 cups cold water for at least 6 hours or overnight. Discard water and rinse thoroughly. Set aside. Saute onion and garlic in oil for 3-5 minutes over medium heat until onions are soft. Stir in remaining ingredients, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer. Cook on low for 1 - 1 1/2 hours.

Serves 8

Three

Three

Today (Jan 28) Wyatt Benjamin Esau is three years old! It’s a common thing to hear him say “I’m a man!” On our way home from town the other day we all were saying what we were thankful for. He said, “I’m thankful for God!” He loves listening to My Bible Friends and is often heard repeating parts like “Captain Naaman is a terrible man!” (because he said he would not listen to the prophet) and “Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna!” or “Uncle Jehoida! Uncle Jehoida!” He loves the book Go Dogs Go and the other day in town he said, “Go dogs, go! The light is green now!” I don’t think he knows his colours or his numbers but he has a very keen memory and perception! He’s a slim little boy. He weighs 34 lbs and measures 39” tall. He’s completely potty-trained, sleeps in his crib-turned-toddler-bed and wears size three pants and shirts and size 8 shoes. He loves to sing. He told me the other day “Mom, you and I like to sing songs.” Before Wyatt was born I was worried that another little boy 8.5 years later would be wimpy and spoiled. I need never have worried! Wyatt is 2 going on 15. He wants to do whatever the other men do and be included in everything. If Pat is taking the others shopping for bikes he wants to go too. And if Pat takes the others sledding he is by all means going along too! I think he is a little spoiled but certainly not wimpy. He’s a very agile child. He can climb straight up the walls. He scales the fridge/freezer, stands inside and fills his cup, gets down and shuts the door, all without spilling a drop. Not that I’m proud of it but it certainly is a feat. Wyatt’s Uncle Rennie and Grandpa Dean continue to be his most admired people. He adores them. He chose a shirt the other day (to go to Uncle Rennie’s) that ‘is like Uncle Rennie’ he said. Every cow and horse and bale is like Uncle Rennie’s. And he told Pat the other day “I’m going to get a peter-car like you.” Wyatt has darker hair that’s a bit wavy, long black eye-lashes and hazel eyes. He has fine features, beautiful oval-shaped head and little stick-out ears. Another thing, Wyatt has had asthma for a lot of his life and this winter I’ve been taking him to the chiropractor and he hasn’t needed his puffers at all!! One time I gave him his blue puffer because he was getting pretty wheezy but that day I took him in to Dr. Stacey and he very shortly got better! I’m so very grateful for that! So, in twenty years what will I want to read about this dear little 3-year-old? He loves his blankets and teddies and playing Lego with his brothers. He plays and plays with the toy kitchen his Grandma Lois left here for while they are in Windowrock. He loves to play church and lead songs like Grandpa.  He tries to stand on his head and turn summersaults like Zach. He and Zach fight and fight and fight! He’s very helpful. He helps clean out the dishwasher, set the table, puts things away in different rooms, etc. Not perfectly, of course, but amazingly well. We’re pretty proud of our littlest man.

A Bit of Wood-Work

Our boys are in need of work. Jobs. More than swishing toilets and vacuuming floors every afternoon. Winter cuts out the mowing, weeding, trimming, and all that. So, we came up with a bit of a plan. We have some wood-working tools, not very much space in the garage and a few things the boys could try building.

Last Friday we took the family to town and bought all the supplies for this bed from ana-white.com:

Well, the next day, Saturday, we spent the day working in the garage together. And they FINISHED that bed!! Now what?! I mean, I am so very proud of them! It looks awesome! They did a good job. But we are never going to be able to make that much stuff! And they are so enthused, it seems a shame to shut them down. We are a little stumped.

Anybody else need to keep teenage boys busy? What are your ideas? This is why we wanted a shop on our yard! They need a place to go to just be boys...

They do need to sand and paint it yet so I guess it's not quite done. :)