Tori's little crafting project!

I mentioned that Tori had made something really cute the other day, and that I'd share pictures. Here it is!

Any guesses?

It was a little tutu skirt for the outfit that we bought just in case the baby is a girl... we also have one for if it's a boy, just without the skirt ;). Those outfits have been sitting in Mommy's room, in the cradle, for months, and we've all been asking "Which one do you think we'll use?" :).

To make it you had to have the elastic stretched while
you attached the tulle. Andrew thought this was really
funny: "Your decorating a STOOL?!!!"

Haha, don't ask... because I'm not sure! Tori makes faces
like this all the time... she's really fun to watch
when she does something new ;)!

The onesie, now with a skirt instead of pants! Isn't it cute?!

Now Tori's working on making herself a nightgown... and, since I am "sooo experienced" (haha, NOT! I've made one nightgown... with mixed consequences, although the finished product was alright :)... ), I've been helping her, as Mommy helps me ;). So far she's done well... but we did have to take out a whole seam due to... me. I had her sew the wrong pieces together :P!

I had a thought the other night.

Jesus was a big brother.
I mean, I always knew that he had siblings. I know that he had four brothers and at least two sisters. But, although I knew he had siblings, I never really thought of the fact that he was a big brother. I know he would have been the perfect big brother- the kind of older sibling that I want to be. He was perfect in every way.
I got this picture... Jesus, dandling a baby, a toddler, on his lap after helping his Father in the fields all day. I know he had a love for children- after all, he said "do not forbid them".
Or maybe romping with his brothers. Or defending his sisters from some rough animal or something. Really, it's a precious thought to think of how Jesus must have been as a big brother!
I know I need to change in so many ways. I know that I am far from perfect!!! But, by God's grace, I hope to become a better image for the world as to what Christ was like... even in the area of older sibling.

Hidden Treasures...

My Grandma and Aunts came over on Saturday. It was a lot of fun! They brought with them this little kit, to show the little ones how much work it really takes to get gems and rocks. There were going to be eleven gems and/or rocks in all of this hard powdery encasement (a lot like Plaster of Paris). After lunch, we headed outside to go "dig for gems".
Smack, smack, smack... Hit, hit, hit... Whack, whack, whack...
We were about a fourth of the way through the brick when Aunt Tessa, who was helping Bethani dig at the moment, called out that she thought that they had found something. It turned out to be some dis-colored, hard "sand". Back to smack, hit, and whack! ("Wouldn't it be funny if they were all in a little bag in the middle?" Grandma laughed. "I wonder if all the gems will be on the other end?" (haha, yep!))
We were about halfway through breaking up the brick full of stuff, when we found it! Andrew did, anyway. We were so excited! After that, I think everybody hit harder (haha!), because after that we found them much quicker! (Actually, I think we should have just started at the other end- the gems were all in the last half, heehee!!!). Soon Bethi found one, then I found two at once, then Tori found one. After this, Andrew whacked the whole thing apart, and found four at once, haha! I think Tori and Bethi found the other two, but I'm not positive, because at this point I was helping look for them somewhere else! After Andrew broke the block open, Abbi came running through (she had got bored of this whole exciting experience after her first turn hitting at it- picking flowers was much more fun to her!) and knocked the paper we were putting them on, while Aunt Amber determined what they were, into the grass. We lost four gems/rocks to the grass. Grandma found three ("Grandma, we need help! We really can't find the fourth. Where did you find the others again?"), but the rose quartz is still out there somewhere ( "For someone to find later when they least expect it"). It should be interesting to see if we ever do find it ;)! We decided not to spent to much time on it after all the gems were gotten from the rock, because we still had ten- one more then we have family members!- and Aunt Amber said that the one we were looking for was clear :P! Also, Grandma and Aunt Tessa and Aunt Amber had to leave about that time (it took longer than we thought it would!). And we even tried to speed it up by using a hammer and nails and screwdrivers instead of the little wooden tools that came in the kit! But it was really fun, (and we only cracked and lost one, despite the metal tools and running children (who had a blast running around with magnifying glasses and safety goggles)!...) :)! And we think they were real gems just like the box said, haha! (Some of us started to wonder, after Aunt Amber called out "Tessa! Can you get that? One of them just blew behind you.". But, even though Aunt Tessa couldn't believe that it had actually blown, we think they are real, just really small :)...)
Anyway, I got to thinking...
People will work so hard for gems- earthly treasure. They are beautiful! And they are costly.
What would you do if someone handed you the world's largest gem and said "This is for you. It is a free gift. But, you must wash it everyday, and guard it carefully."
Jesus did this for you. He gives you, for free, the greatest gem there is- eternal life with him. For free. Not because it cost nothing for him- it cost everything for him. He had to leave heaven, where he was the highest, the most powerful, the King of Kings... and come to earth to be born to a poor family. As a helpless baby. Not as a King. And die the most un-desirable death- the death of the cross- to pay for our sins- every sin, even the grumpy thoughts! But he now lives again, to care for you, love you, and welcome you into his arms!
No, it is free, not because you deserve it, as all we deserve is hell because of our sin, and not because it was cheap, but because... he loves you. And he is waiting for us to come to him, to love him like the greatest gem, the best of Kings, the most loving of Father's... and the only true God, the King of Kings. To believe on him and live for him.
But once we do, it can't be something that we just set on a shelf and leave. No, if it was a earthly gem, you would care for it, guard it, tell the giver how thankful you were over and over, and tell others what this person had done. Which is exactly what God wants you to do. Guard against the Devil with Christ's help, be careful to do only what the Lord wants, tell him over and over how thankful you are, and share this wonderful news with others, so that they, too, can receive this beautiful gift! Because it truly is the most beautiful gift!
It isn't easy to stay on the right path, but with Jesus help, it can be done, and life with him brings wonderful rewards!!!! After all, all gems require work. But when that work is done for Jesus and with Jesus' help, not to earn your salvation, but to thank God for that salvation, I think it's worth it :)!

Happy Resurrection!!!

May this be a wonderful day for you as we celebrate the fact that our Lord conquered- conquered sin, conquered death, conquered Satan- and now lives in heaven preparing a place for us to live with him if we will believe!!!
Here's a little clip for you to watch of Bethi sing a hymn to our Lord a couple years ago about his victory! (Isn't she cute? She used to ALWAYS stand on her tip toes when she said that last "arose" :)...)
Have a blessed Resurrection Sunday!!!!

Crafting updates:

In one of my posts the other day, I mentioned the fact that Mommy had bought a new sewing machine, and Tori and I will be aloud to use it. I mentioned that I hoped that this one would obey me better than the last one liked to. Guess what? It did! I mended eight nightgowns yesterday, and all that went wrong was my thread snapping once! That was a blessing ;)!!!
And, my tangled yarn? Well, it is now untangled and I have been able to work on the baby blanket, I got about three inches done yesterday I think. I have three more inches and then I'll be half done :P!
As for crafting that is not being done by me...
Tori made something really cute yesterday... I'll have to upload pictures and show it to you :)!
And Mommy, in the past two days, has made two rag quilts, two burp clothes, and sewn skirts to nine onesies to make dresses (just in case the baby is a girl :)!). They are really extremely cute :)!

Acts 16:25-34

"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm to yourself, for we are all here". And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." And they spoke the word of God to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them in the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God."
After saving a woman with a "spirit of divination" from this spirit, which caused her masters to loss "much gain", which made them angry enough to have them arrested- Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns!!! And this was definitely a way to minister to the other prisoners, because the bible tells us that they were listening. And, after God sent the earthquake, Paul and his companion didn't leave! And they didn't allow the jailer who was in charge of keeping them in prison to kill himself when he supposed that he had failed his job, either. Instead, they offered him comfort that they, and all the other prisoners, were still there.
Through this, the jailer was led to inquire into the way to be saved, and instead of bargaining with him ("We'll tell if you get us out!") or being angry ("This town has treated us awful, we will do no favors for anyone in it!"), the two men used this time of tribulation for the work God had for them right then and there- telling this man about Christ! And not just the jailer, but his whole family, and any visitors at his home, listened and learned.
Out of thankfulness to these two men for giving him the best news in the world, the jailer washed their wounds they had received at the orders of the magistrates, and asked to be baptized, and his family joined him!!! Then he brought them to his own house, and fed them. And he and his family "rejoiced that he had believed in God"!
A lot of people think that God will only give them good things. The rest is from Satan. But have you ever thought about the story of Job? Satan couldn't do ANYTHING to Job that God did not tell him to do. In fact, God was the one who brought up the conversation about Job that led to the testing of Job! So it can't be that Satan is the one in charge of the bad... God has ALL THINGS in control!
So, why does God allow any of these things to happen? Well, do you think that Paul and Silas thought that being put in prison was the best thing that ever happened to them? Probably not! But still, they had joy in the Lord, and ministered to many, many prisoners with the outflow of this joy. Singing hymns and praying... we don't know what they were praying for, but I'm sure it included those who had wronged them, and maybe even those around them! And, it turned out that it was most definitely God's plan- we're not sure how many people were in this family that got saved, but Paul and Silas were used to do it, and this couldn't have happened this way without the circumstances they were in. I'm sure they were thankful that the Lord could use them in this way! Of course, God could still have saved them if he had wanted, but really, don't you think that God had a reason for it to happen this way? God has a reason for everything!!!
So, although it can be hard, lets strive to live for Christ, knowing that he is in control of ALL the areas in our life- he is an amazing God, do we really think that he is too weak to stop Satan from doing evil? No. God allows the evil, to bring about his perfect plan... and THAT is WONDERFUL!

Thankful Thursday

I thought that it would be neat to have a weekly "thankful post" (although I doubt it comes weekly, or at least not on Thursday. I am sure to remember on Wednesday and forget on Thursday, then remember again on Friday... haha!)- I love reading other people's, as they often remind you to be thankful over something you have never thought of before, and it will be a great way to count my blessings! Anyways...
This week I am thankful to God for...
~A loving Savior who dead for me!!!
~Alarm clocks, haha!
~Sleeping baby giggles :).
~Being able to read the Bible freely (to get a better idea of how special this is, you could read "Mary Jones and Her Bible", a true story about a girl who worked for years just to OWN a Bible!)
~ Owning good cook books.
~A knowledge of cooking.
~A new sewing machine that I will get to use (I just hope it obeys me better than the old one did, haha!)
~That everyone is really starting to feel better after being sick for almost two weeks!
~Little ones who always want to "help" ;).
~Paper plates, heehee...
~A clean kitchen.
~Getting warm water at the turn of a knob instead of having to boil it all!
~Kitchen clean-up buddies.
~Windows to view God's creations from and let in the sunshine.
~The fact that I got some pictures of a couple Pearly Crescent butterflies yesterday (they got trapped in the screened porch- I let them go when I was done photographing!).
~Little voices praising the Lord :)!
~Knitting needles (which I really should go use, but my yarn is tangled... I guess I should be thankful that I get to practice my 'yarn de-tangling skills", haha!)
~Little ones reading to littler ones.
~A twenty-two month old who asks me to read her the Bible :)!
~For God's goodness,
~And for God's love :)!
And so much more :)!!!

"Oh give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good:
for his steadfast love endures forever!"

~Psalms 181:1

"Before You Meet Prince Charming" by Sarah Mally

This was a great book on the subject of purity!
In between bits of a story about a princess waiting in the Lord for her "Prince Charming", Miss Sarah Mally encourages young ladies to live for the Lord, trusting him to direct your path- even if this means that he never brings you to marriage.
In each chapter she includes a "suggested scripture memorization", and a "suggested assignment". I'll admit that I read the book too quickly to go into much detail with the assignments while I read the book :(, but I did work on the scripture memorization, and am now working through the assignments, which has (so far as I have done it) been great- I think you could really take a week with each assignment if you do each of the things you find to study that stem off of each thing :)!
There are also many testimonies in the book from young ladies in all sorts of situations.
All in all, I thought it was a really good book on the subject (almost as good as "It's (Not That) Complicated". That was the best book I have read so far about living only for Christ, even in the area of marriage/dreams/etc....). I do think this would be more suited for younger girls then "It's (Not That) Complicated, just because it is written in an easier to follow manner. Miss Sarah encourages girls to fall in love with God, allow her parents to know and guide her, to use your single years wisely, and much more :)!
Miss Sarah Mally is one of the Authors of "Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends", which she wrote with her brother and sister as a sibling project :).

A regular post...

Need I mention that this is "another scatter-brained post"? That's all I post, right :)? Haha!
We had a great time at the "Teach Them Diligently" conference in Spartanburg a couple weeks ago! We got to hear Mr. Voddie Baucham, Mr. Ken Ham, Mr. Doug Phillips, and the Mally children. I got to talk to Miss Sarah Mally while Daddy paid for a couple of their books, and to Miss Grace Mally when my friend Kaitlyn introduced me to her- Kaitlyn had helped them pass out tracts the day before :). And Daddy was able to talk to Mr. Voddie Baucham :). We visited our Grandparents while we were down there, and then headed home. It seems that we picked some cold up while we were gone, but we are doing much better now... just coughs left.
Since then, we have been getting ready for the baby (due next Saturday!). I still have to finish the second baby blanket... It is taking longer than I thought it would at first, and I'm running out of time!!! And I still want to make some little froggie booties to go with it :)...
Speaking of frogs, our winter was so warm this year (although we did get hail the other day!!!?), that the frogs have already started coming to sit on our window at night (they do this every spring/summer- we live right beside a retention pond that is full of them!). They don't usually start until May or June!!! Abbi is so excited, and she has got Emmi pretty excited, too :)...
Anyway... that is a bit of what we have been doing since I last posted (and we do have a couple of posts up on our new blog since we started it... only a couple... but, hey, at least a couple!!!). Hopefully I'll get to posting more regularly again soon :)!

Long time no see!

(...Okay, sorry... Family greeting, heehee, :)!... I'm tired of posts titled things like "I'm back"... this one seemed a bit more exciting, haha!)
I know it has been forever since I posted anything here...
The baby blanket I mentioned I was making is done. It took sooo much yarn, haha! But, it is ready for Mommy to use when the baby gets here! Now I have three sets of booties and a special blanket for the baby to keep that I want to finish before April seventh (before would be better... but we don't expect the baby to be too early, after 4 late babies... two of them 17 days late! Mommy wants to keep the blanket that I made to match her doll blanket, and I think I have time to finish the simple but cute knit blanket I found so that the baby can keep one, too.
Mommy has been sewing a lot lately- she is also trying to get a lot of baby items done before baby comes :)!
Other than that, things have been kind of "calm" around here... heehee. Aside for the trip we took to Brattonsville three weeks ago, and the trip to the South Carolina State Museum two weeks ago. Those trips were so fun :)!
Tori and I have been learning sign language the past couple weeks, usually accompanied by Bethani. And, we did something today that we have thought about for a while... post coming later ;)!