What A SUMMER it was and Now it is FREEZING FALL

So much has happened..... I miss Vovo when I hear myself mutter something she would have said... when my kids ask me if I like rice pudding... well nobody has ever made it like she did... or when I look at my daughter's little tiny hands and remember my own baby hands tucked warm in Vovo's grip.

This summer I wasn't excessively creative or productive, but we did have a wonderful few months at the beach and at the lake. I plan to step it up for fall; I just made seven more jars of plum jam.

Dear Lord, help me to be just like my Vovo, loving You, loving children and loving to make everyone feel special. In Jesus' Name... amen.

Moving Right Along

It is a crisp Wednesday, May 4, 2011. Well good morning... I had a little accident and haven't blogged in several weeks. Apparently all of this commotion is caused by a sprained ankle. Really??? I remember falling down my friend Diana's stairs and 'spraining my wrist' and Vovo simply put an ace bandage around it and set me up with a sling. That lasted all of three days maybe.  I now have what is called a severe grade sprain on my ankle. It happened five weeks and two days ago and I am still in a giant robot cast/boot. This is not pretty. My biggest complaint would be not being able to drive. I have to ask for help, and since we all hate asking for help, usually I just go without. The biggest blessings???  I would say love and support from my church family. They have blessed us with meals over the weeks, rides, house cleaning and just talking to me. I will have an MRI this week and hopefully that will give some direction as to how to best rehab this monster.

I would like to take off this boot and use my sewing machine. I tried a couple weeks ago and it was still too painful. I have been doing some knitting and scrapbooking... and of course my usual artistic daydreaming.

One thing that has not been put on hold over this silly ankle is the constant growth and changes in the lives of my children. From toddler to teenager, they are close by to ask sweet questions or share a poignant adolescent moment. I pray for my kids that they will cling closely to the Lord as they navigate through school, friendships and puberty. My friend Marie always tells me: "little kids, little problems, bigger kids, bigger problems" ---- hmmm. I don't really see their issues as drastically problematic; they just weigh on my heart. God hates it when people are mean to his children. Well so do I. It is perhaps the toughest part of living a life of ministry. It is one thing to die to my own needs - it is another to watch my kids suffer. All glory to my King Jesus who hears every word and has felt every pain known to man.

I send my prayers to everyone reading this.. may you put your hands to the task of serving our great Lord. Are you carrying a heavy load?? Give it to the One with strong arms.

10 weeks old now!!! Playing in the Snow.... Call 760.249.3320 to take your new puppy home!!

Road To California Quilt Show

Oh that was simply amazing. As my friend Beth told me, quilting has taken a turn for the embroidery and applique direction....no more simple block quilting, all machine quilting now.....

Very fun... and I am exhausted... there were thousands of people and hundreds of quilts.

~Amleht

Another Year Flew By

Highlights of this year:

Finalization of our daughter's adoption in October!!!! (we waited two years and 4 months)
Conversations with my mother about my Vovo
Sewing, Scrapping, Crocheting and Quilting with my friends
Scrapbooking Retreat in November
Weeks at the beach with my awesome Husband and 6 kids
Carol Ruvolo Bible Study with the women in my Church family
10 Standard Poodle puppies born on December 10th.
Going to the BirdMart with Pegi
Cookie Day in December
Reading Christian Historical Fiction with my daughter
Long walks on the Coast with my Husband, little coffee shops along the way
Camping with our good friends and family throughout the summer
Seeing how much my kids have grown in home schooling and music lessons
Getting closer to Jesus by attending to the excellent preaching at our church
Watching God gently bless my friends that are close to Him

God bless you everyone; may you all have a wonderful 2011 and may you taste and see that He is good.
~Amleht

Did I mention we have a new litter of AKC Standard Poodle Puppies?

My Dumpster Is Coming!!!

OOH I just cannot wait for the dumpster to arrive. I have so many things I want to throw away ( to hopefully make more room for my increasingly eclectic and creative lifestyle)!!!!!! Goodbye old textbooks, home school stuff, pillows, clothes, yada yada. Hello more simplicity and focus on the many wonderful things I love like scrapbooking, knitting, sewing and painting... I am planning on this being more liberating than exhausting. If you are reading this and you have faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior and King of everything, please pray for me because I am handicapped and it is hard for me to do lots of physical work, but I desire a home that is a little more simple and pleasing to Him. I have so many things I want to accomplish while I am still mobile.... a bucket list if you will. I love to create things, and for so long I have kept everything so as to always have it at my disposal  - for example "oh - I might use this one day, or I can't throw away this shirt because that is good quilt material" yes pray that my brain expands.... I saw the Hoarders show and I thought oh boy, I can see my own pathology in those people. Don't worry I am not that bad. lol.

As we plow through the season of stress, family, baking and endless parties, my encouragement to you is to take time every day to be at the feet of Jesus and as Psalm 46:10 tells us: be still and know that He is God. Forgive others as He has forgiven you.... Visit the widows and orphans.... Serve at your local church... Meditate on the Ten Commandments... Love God with all of your heart..... as Christians we will give account for the way we live our lives...