An Update Post

HOMEMAKING

The house is running smoothly. We have a nice routine here. My binder routines and schedules are memorized, so I rarely have to pull it out. Meals are simpler now with summer here. Lots of grilling out and salads and sandwiches.

QUILTINGThis update will be quite boring. I am still hand quilting the Hidden Star and NOT loving it. The fabrics are so busy that the stitches do not show. Like I said before, I think in the end the texture will be incredible. I want to get TJ's top done and in the hoop so I can switch back and forth....if I make myself quilt a block on the Hidden Star then I can reward myself with some sailboat quilting!! Emerson's quilt has been put on hold. If they reunite, there is no need to make her another quilt. 1 home, 1 quilt. 2 homes, 2 quilts. I am hoping for 1.

GARDENINGThe roses in Hope's Garden are blooming like crazy. I have to believe that is because she is there and God is blessing her spot! They are just gorgeous roses!

The vegetable garden is doing wonderfully also. The lettuce and onions are sprouting up and the pepper and tomato plants have blooms on them!Oops~there is a weed in there....I better get that!

SCHOOLWe are winding down our home school year. The kids have done well. Charlotte has an extra set of books to re-do. I won't go into that here, but suffice it to say, she is going to learn more than a social studies lesson! Zach wonders why he ever thought "add and carry was a drag". (can you tell he has "old" parents?) He passed his latest set of tests with flying colors. He starts in the Summer Day Camp once a week on the 9th. He will not be attending the private school next year...a decision Sweetheart and I made together....though Zach, Charlotte, and I will be very involved in the home school co-op next year.

KIDSThe shining light in our house came to me yesterday holding a fork above his head and asked, "What am I, Mom?" I guessed "The Statue of Liberty." "Nope", he said. "I am a fork lift!!!" That kid cracks me up!!!

FAMILYA HUGE congratulations to my niece Meghan! She graduated from Law School and will be taking her State Bar Exam very soon. This girl got a complete scholarship based on her academics. She was even given housing money. Her aspiration is to be a Judge. I know she will be a good one!!

SPIRITUALI have been in 1 Peter 1 for 3 days now. I read and meditate on it and will continue to until I feel released to move on. Words that pop out at me are, Mercy, Grace, Exile, Trials, Refining, Faith, Testing, and Holy. These 2 sections of scripture are especially meaningful for me right now:

"In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ" 1 Peter 1:6-7

and

"Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot." 1 Peter 13-19

"preparing your minds for action".....wow. Powerful stuff!

SASSYSassafras continues to grow (more wide than anything) and loves to watch out the window for bugs and birds.She plays hard and sleeps hard also! I can not imagine life with out Sass!Thanks for reading through my Update post. I love your comments, so please come out of lurkdom and let me know you are there and where you are from!