Introducing.....

Miss Chamomile....better known as Cammy.
Sassafras is less than thrilled!

The Full Armour of God

I have learned a valuable lesson in the last 2 weeks. A life changing lesson. I have always...for many years anyway, understood the meaning of the Full Armour of God as described in Ephesians 6:13-17. Verse 12 of Ephesians 6 sets the stage for the reason behind needing the armour. It says, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." So...the armour. it is clearly described in the Word and can not be messed up...I don't think I have ever heard someone misinterpret this passage of scripture. It says...."
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
That is what the armour IS....somehow I have, unknowingly, put on a different kind of armour.
Here is what I have learned armour is NOT:
loins girt with your best friend,
the breastplate of your local church,
having your feet shod with your own understanding,
the shield of your pastor,
the helmet of your spouse,
and the sword of the special speaker who is gifted in the area of your problems.
Just my own life lesson....well learned.

I Surrender

I tried....really I did. I tried to explain to Sassafras that, even though we were getting a new baby, she would still be loved and cared for just the same. She could stay the Queen and how fun it would be to have another baby in the house. She did not look convinced. She will just have to learn, because this Friday our new baby comes home. He/She is the little calico getting the bath.
Life will be interesting for a while, for sure. ;)
Even without the new addition, it has been an interesting season here.
You all know how the focus around here is on Charlotte during the halloween season. Not this year. We are virtually ignoring the behaviors, which makes them of no effect, and my own personal focus is on my OWN walk with God. Ten and a half years of battles and just the daily life of dealing with a traumatized child has taken it's toll on me. I wish you all would have known me "when". When life was different. Not easy, as back "when", I dealt with a child who seizured 100+ times a day for 12 years. Still I was STRONG spiritually. My faith was HUGE....I walked the walk and talked the talk and my focus was NEVER on the negative, but always on what God's Word said about things....God's Word said, Kyle was healed by the stripes of Jesus, (Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 2:24) and that when those who were sick sought to touch Him, ALL were healed...not some but ALL (Luke 6:19) So I sought to touch Him for Kyle. You could NOT convince me, no matter how hard you tried, that Kyle would NOT be healed of seizures or that his hearing would not be restored. I heard others pray, "if it is God's will" and would rebuke those words inside myself and claim what God's Word said. "IF" shouts unbelief. God's Word said Kyle was healed, so that was what I said too!!!! Did he still seizure? For 2 years after my faith had been built to this point (through the hearing of the Word....cause faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God...Romans 10:17) I watched Kyle seizure....then one day they were gone. Professionals spoke unbelief and doubt into our lives and said he would never go more than 3 months. Sure enough 3 months later he had 3 little seizures. My faith did not fail me. I claimed God's Word in Nahum 1:9 which says affliction shall not rise up a second time! Those seizures stopped that same day! You see, you can find a promise in the Word concerning any thing you are going through. So where is that lady of faith??? She disappeared. It was such a slow process, I didn't even notice it happening. I gave place to the devil. My focus became on the enemy and what he was doing instead of what God says! In all of that, Kyle had a grand mal seizure. He had been seizure free for YEARS and all of a sudden BAM....and grand mal at that! How did I handle that? Fear. I was full of it! God was still, ever so, merciful and Kyle has not had a seizure since. Why did He allow it to happen in the first place? Maybe to wake my faith up! It didn't work. I was so mired down in my fear and Charlotte's trauma and the fact that my life was so messed up in all that, my faith stayed dormant.
So this season, instead of focusing on all the negative, I am focusing on God's Word and what He says about my life. What does He say? I am gathering promises everyday. He says I am more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37) and that no weapon formed against me will prosper (Isaiah 57:17)and that my battle is not against flesh and blood (Charlotte) but against the enemy and that God has given me the weapons of warfare. All I need is there for me. (Ephesians 6:11-13 and 2 Corinthians 10:3-5) and that NOTHING can separate me from His love (Romans 8:38-39). Building faith. We build our faith through His Word. That is where I am this season. Mountains are going to move around here....I can feel the ground shaking already!
Before I close this post, I had a visit from the grandkids this weekend. I looked out my window and saw little boys sitting still and knew something was amiss.....

Nope...just "connecting" with their games.This sweet little girl brightened the day like no one else could!It was a nice day and I look forward to having them for an overnight next Friday. THAT should be interesting....a new kitten AND grandkids! Faith is coming just in time! ;)
My new favorite picture......

Uncle Laddie

My Uncle Lad (my dad's brother) passed away this morning. He will be missed greatly by so many. He was a kind and good man who I loved very much. He never called me Brenda, and rarely Bren, but it was more often than not, Bunny. He helped me buy my first car and gave me a home for a while. He and my Aunt Pete were married almost 55 years. He died at home, outside in the sunshine, surrounded by fall leaves, exactly like he would have wanted to. Please keep my Aunt Pete in your prayers over the next weeks and months.

{pretty, happy, funny, real}

Seems like if it wasn't for {pretty, happy, funny, real} I wouldn't be posting much at all! It is a strange season here in my home. I feel "quiet". Well for this morning I will share...first the {pretty}....This trio of pumpkins holding pumpkin scented tea lights graces the kitchen table. It is much {pretty}-er in person, and I love the look on the table runner. Pumpkins make me {happy} and there have been plenty of pumpkins this week! I finished block 2 of Henrietta Whiskers. Even a crooked pumpkin makes me smile!As much as I like the look of pumpkins, I love the taste of them even more! Weight Watchers has had an impact on that. I am 17.6 pounds down and do not want to mess that up with pumpkin pie! I did find this, which made me very {happy}
...and it gives my coffee a "dessert" taste for 1 WW point! Also, there is a wonderful pumpkin dessert that is only 1 WW point per 2x2 inch square....1 box of angel food cake mix (the one step, just add water kind), 1 15 oz can of pumpkin, 2 tsp of pumpkin pie spice, and 1 cup of water. Mix and bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes. I top it with cool whip....my kids love it! It makes me VERY {happy}!
This is sad, but {funny} in a warped kinda way....she really did deserve it!Because of PTSD, this time of year is difficult for Charlie-girl. Use your imagination, but it is less than fun around here. My mother and I decided to go see the movie "The Help". We had both read the book and looked forward to seeing it. She (my mom) told me it was rated PG, so I thought I would take Charlotte along....I would not allow her to read the book, but we were assured the bad part was not in the movie....by the way, it is rated PG-13 for some language. Anyway, I told Charlotte to be ready to go by 3 pm on Tuesday. I did not tell her where we were going. Little did I know, a neighbor girl had told her "If your mom ever tells you she is taking you somewhere fun, and won't tell you where, she is taking you to BOOTCAMP." Are you cracking up?? Poor Charlotte thought I was taking her to bootcamp!!! Nope....just a girls day out to the movie theater!She cried so hard when we got to the parking lot, it freaked me out a little bit. We had to wait a minute before going in to meet Grandma! I don't care who you are...THAT IS {FUNNY}!
Now let's get {real} for a minute.....Life moves on. We all know that. Finally my son is putting on some much needed weight! He has gained 15 pounds in the last few months! What an answer to prayer that is. He is also starting to "see" someone. I do not know how serious it is, and I don't need to know. I am still the only one not "over" the divorce. It feels like a death still. I know life must go on, and that is {real}

For more {pretty, happy, funny, real} posts, visit Like Mother, Like Daughter by clicking on their button at the top of this post.

Homeschool Humor

{pretty, happy, funny, real}

{pretty}

I started the Henrietta Whiskers quilt. The first block turned out very {pretty}!{happy}

The Indian Summer made me {happy}...for a short time.Now I am just as {happy} to see it go and get back to our lovely fall temps!

{funny}

That cat is so {funny}!!! I laid out a sheet of freezer paper and began tracing my applique pieces, and she was sure I laid it all out just for her pleasure.She would bat at the pen every once in a while and kept her eye on it's every move!

{real}

Yes, that was a {real} kitten in my last post. It was from a litter of 3. A dear friend's cat, and she invited us out to see the babies. I would LOVE to have one, and am praying about it. The kids vote YES!, of course...Sweetheart will say no, and so will Sassy! Chances are, it won't happen....but there is always hope. Remember Hope? What a {real} imprint she made on our lives in such a short time.

For more {pretty, happy, funny, real} posts, visit Like Mother, Like Daughter.

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...the sun is shining, and it is beautiful!!!!

I am thinking...how quiet it is around here....hmmmmm

I am thankful...for this wonderful weather.

From the learning rooms...we have a half day of school today for Columbus Day.

In the kitchen...Spaghetti for dinner tonight.

I am wearing...a jean skirt and black long sleeved T. I am predictable.

I am creating...Applique blocks of squirrels and pumpkins and crows, and having a BLAST!

I am going...to meet a friend at Joann's to pass off the raffle quilt! WOOHOO

I am wondering...how long it will take to quilt it.

I am reading...The Duggars new book A Love That Multiplies"

I am hoping...to find some good deals tomorrow at Ross (it JUST opened)

I am looking forward to...seeing the grandkids this weekend. It will be a MONTH...I was mistaken about last weekend :(

I am hearing...the washer and dryer running and kids finally making some noise upstairs.

Around the house...things are up and down. This season is a double edged sword around here! Prayer is a focus of each day.

I am pondering...a new schedule.

One of my favorite things...Sassy's morning attitude. She is full of purrs and lovin! It all goes away after she gets her breakfast!

A few plans for the rest of the week:Bears game tonight, day out tomorrow with mom, preparing for Saturdays class...teaching a hand quilting class on Saturday, a meeting at Church on Saturday and again Sunday afternoon, GRANDKIDS!

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...
How do you think Sass will take the news????

Saturday Sewing

"Hey, Sassy!! How about a sewing day??" She was all for it. I had it planned so well, I went to the sewing room and cut everything I would need for today's projects.
I have several things in the works, but I plan to stay completely organized and have a VERY productive winter on the quilt front. The number one priority was to get the borders on the raffle quilt. It goes to the machine quilter on Monday, so I took it right down to the wire! Again it was too breezy to get a good pic outside..... This is one quilt that looks "nice" in photographs, but really beautiful in person. I think the quilting will really add to it, too. Get ready to take part in the selling of tickets....I am planning a contest, so stay tuned.
Let me tell you something about the piecing of this special quilt. There are blocks from approximately 30 quilters in this top. 6 of them are hand pieced and the rest machine pieced. All the fence rails were made by me....who is only accurate to my own piecing. I knew this would take patience and lots of coffee to put together. OMGOSH! Every. Single. Block. went together perfectly, with no fudging or problems at all. What precise quilters you all are!! Super cute blocks (like bees, and blueberries, and really girlie colors) were put aside to go into a little quilt for Isla to keep. I look forward to getting that together on my next sewing day.

Next on my Saturday sewing list was, the Blogger's BOM (Block of the Month)....see the link on my sidebar. The first block was September 25th, so I am not too late. I chose to do all these BOM's in Fall colors. Here is the first block.... That hunk of black fur in the corner is You-Know-Who!
My final Saturday sewing project, ended up being such fun! I am going to LOVE making this quilt! It is the Henrietta Whiskers Quilt. My friend Winona made it as a BOM and it was so dang cute, I HAD to make one too! It is a free pattern until December, so if you want it, grab it quick! I made the first 2 backgrounds......UGH! Well that was a picture of block number 2. I forgot block one, but here is a picture of the 2 of them together.....I love how they will blend together so nicely.........and the use of the different background fabrics in one blockNow I can get all the applique pieces prepped and ready to hand sew. I really needed a take along project. The UGRR Sampler does not travel well! LOL

So my winter projects will include, but are not limited to:

Hand quilting the UGRR Sampler

Putting together Henrietta Whiskers

The Monthly BOM

A Trip Around The World

and

Isla's little quilt, which is not really a "winter project", but is going to get done SOON.

That's it, now I am off to relax and get some hand quilting done.