Well I had a challenge . . .

Have I been frustrating the grace of God that is available?  Relax, receive it and let God's grace do for me what I cannot do for myself.

Love Out Loud -- Joyce Meyer

I'm making a real simple top that has a cross over front and empire waist, something I thought I could get done in a couple of sewing sessions  I think it's a New Look pattern. I had already cut out all the pink fabric when I realized that it was see through.  Ok, that's no big deal, I'll just add a lining to it.  The pattern has gathered cap sleeves that are 1/2 way around the arm hole. The pattern shows a bias binding around the neckline and sleeves but the lining will give a much nicer finish to the edges.  So last night I stitch together the bodice and lining and atttached the two together and went to turn it. But the more I tried to turn right side out the more of a knot I tied my creation in.  Now I know this should work - it's how lined vests are done.  I decided to put it down and work on it later. I mulled over the situation in the back of my mind all day today with no result.  On the way home a friend call me - a sewing friend.   The first question she asks me was if I like my new embroidery machine.  I'd  gotten a Brother PE-770 that has a 5 x 7 stitching area several weeks ago.  I had to admit that it is still in the box but I have moved the box from inside my door to my sewing room so I am making progress. Then we started chit chatting about what project she's completed -- a fashion forward Vogue dress made out of a nice knit that will look great on her daughter.  I admire her bravery of working with knits, I still shy away from them even though I've been sewing for almost 30 yerars. I then brought up the dilemma I'm having with my bodice & the turning fiasco and what do you know -- the Lord provided me the answer.  Debbie reminded me that the side seams can't be sewn until after turning.  So today when I got home I went to work ripping out the side seams of the bodice & lining.  Geez, I forgot how much trouble removing serged seams are.  I never seem to find the "magic" thread that just unravels it all.  Once I accomplished this, the bodice turn like a charm. The Lord cares about the small things too. :)  I didn't get to resew the side seams and press it.  That's tomorrow night's session.  But I will say that the lining give the bodice a very nice finished look.  I'll post pics after I sew the side seams & it's pressed.  Having sewing friends is such a blessing.. 

Orange Frosting? So Good!

Well, I didn't get to work on my bucket list today.  Since I was completely lazy yesterday - recouping from the week today was spent getting my cleaning done, laundry and having to catch up on work.  But I did get to fit some extra stuff in.  I baked blueberry bread and I tried the new Ducan Hines Frosting Creations.  I baked a yellow cake and used the orange frosting.  It's not the prettiest cake I've made but it sure is good. The one thing I did find was that the directions said to add the flavoring to the container with the frosting and mix it up.  I found that mixing the flavor in that way didn't work too well so I put it into a bowl and that worked better.  I also had to add some extra confectioner's sugar cause the frosting was kind of runny.  Once I had that taken care of all went well.   I'm going to be trying some more of these.  I was thinking chocolate cake with white chocolate raspberry frosting.  Sounds like an interesting combination.  I'll let you know how that works.

Hetic week . . .

Thank You, Lord, for creating me to be different from everyone else and for making me special on purpose!

Loving Out Loud -- Joyce Meyer

I've really not been able to work on any projects this week or even post this week other than Monday morning.  The week started out as a regular week until mid-morning on Monday.  Around 11am I was asked if I would go home & then come back that night at 6pm and work night shift.  That gave me about 3 hours sleep in about a 30 hour time frame.  So Tuesday I was basically comatose.  Then Wednesday is my work from home day but that got interrupted. Around 1130am I was asked to come to work and be out in the field.  Where I was sent was a good 2 hours away and by the time I got there the contractor was almost finished because of restrictions on the road.  Thursday and Friday I was back out to the same location.  During the week I've been dragging since I didn't recover from the Monday fiasco,.  I still feel as if I have lead in my behind right now and I went to sleep last night around 7pm.  I switched from the contractor side of construction to inspecting side so I didn't have to do these schedule flip-flops!  I am going to have to do some work this weekend to catch up on my responsibilities since I was covering for someone else but I get to do that from home so it's all good. Ok I'm done venting.  I'm really not complaining because I do love my job.  We must be able to go with the flow and take the good with the "bad".  And my "bad" really isn't bad.  :)  

I'm working on getting the lead out and I'm going to start working on my project list.  It's already the end of the second week of August and I've not gotten any of my "bucket list" done.  I need to get a move on or I won't have even one project done.  Life sure can get in the way sometimes but it's preferable to the alternative.  Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Lord, I commit to continually asking, seeking and knocking.

Loving Out Loud -- Joyce Meyer

I have been listening to an audiobook call "Friday Night Knitting Club". I don't remember who the author is but there is a website of walkeranddaughter.com.  It's a wonderful book.  Every time I listen to it on my way to and from work I would end up with the desire to pick up a set of knitting needles and give it a go.  I have done some hand knitting but not a lot.  I did end up grabbing my needles this weekend and start with my test swatch.  My thought was I'd start with a small project such as a dish cloth.  Let's just say that I'll need to practice on several test sections before I even get close to being proficient enough to start that dish cloth.  Oh well, that gives me something to do when watching the my favorite tv shows.  I know this isn't on my list of projects for the month but that's ok.  It's my list to make & change as I want. :)

Lord, help me not to disregard or compete with others in an effort to be number one. I pray for opportunities to show love to others by helping others get ahead and reach their goals in life.

Love Out Loud -- Joyce Meyer

I found the blog site "Eileen's Machine Embroidery Blog" last night.  She had an interesting article called "The Embroiderer's Bucket List".  What caught my attention was the statment she made -- "You’ll find if you write it down, you’re apt to tackle some of those easy-to-put-off complicated embroidery projects. And once you do, you’ll probably discover that they were way easier than you imagined."  What a great idea that is.  So I decided to create my own bucket list but it's going to contain not just the embroidery projects I want to do but other type of projects as well. 

My bucket list for August --

1. Finish pink flowered top
2. Make bed caddy
3. Finish Advent Calendar
4. Make pink lemonade cupcakes
5. Scrapbook Cake Pop Baking page
6. Do journaling for 6 scrapbook pages completed
7. Grayson's car stack embroidered t-shirt
8. June's dragonfly stack embroidered t-shrit
9. Make spice cake balls
10. My clothesline flip-flop t-shirt
11. Make taco cups

I'm keeping my list short so I don't get overwhelmed.  I tend to "bite off more than I can chew" and make a long list then feel bad when I don't complete it.  Any projects I don't complete this month will roll over to next month. Of course I always have more projects I want to do so I won't have any problems coming up with another list for September. I think that list will consist mostly of the projects I want to do as Christmas gifts.  So I'm off to start working on my bucket list. I'll let you know how it goes.

The lightbulb popped on . . .

Lord, I declare that I love myself because You love me.  The more I love myself, the more I can love others.

Loving Out Loud -- Joyce Meyers

I've not written for the last several days simply because this week has been tiring - but in a good way.  Monday through Wednesday I was out in the field on a asphalt project.  Since for the last year I've been working on a construction project or in the residency and have basically had set hours, working 10 to 12 hours a day then making my over an hour drive home (thank God for audiobooks) was a shock to my system.  Sleeping hasn't been an issue for me this week.  Then yesterday was spent in the office playing catch up on all the work that I wasn't able to do while not in the office.  But I love what I do so it's no hardship - God blessed me with a wonderful job and I thank Him for it everyday.

Yesterday morning I was doing my usual - drinking my tea and writing in my journal.  Usually that's when I have my "Ah Ha" moments.  The last month or so I've had several conversations with different people I know about being alone and doing things on my own. The audiobook I started listening to turned out to be about single women who live in NYC and doing things on their own.  When God is trying to get His point across, He doesn't mess around.   I've got a list that I made of things I want to go do by myself.  I've had the list for years and haven't done anything with it but add too it.  I've been waiting to get "brave" enough to take the plunge.  So far bravery hasn't been  knocking on my door.  Although I didn't realize it, I've really been waiting to meet someone "special" and go do these things with. 

Yesterday the light bulb over my head went off and it almost blinded me.  The Lord revealed to me that I'm in my current situation because He wants me to become comfortable being alone, to get to know myself, fall in love with myself (not in a selfish way), to enjoy my own company and go and do the things I like on my own.  That I don't need to have bravery knock on my door, He's already given me the strength to do it.  The Lord showed me that by my learning the above  I will become stronger in who I am and in my faith.  That I will no longer do what I've done in the past which is to compromise the things that are important to me -- such as my belief and faith -- to keep peace in my relationship because I'm afraid I won't have anyone to do things with and not have someone to keep me company.  To learn that I can enjoy being alone in all areas of my life with Him as the best company that I can have. Learning these things will help me not to stay in a relationship long after I should be gone because I won't have the fear of being alone. The Lord showed me that I will have difficulty maintaining any relationship until I have overcome the fear I have.  However, I will say there are many aspects to being single that I already do love and enjoy -- not having to fight over the remote to the tv is one.  :) 

So anyway,  I'm going to start with baby steps and do some small things on my own.  Stuff close to home to begin with.  There's several parks close by that have trails. I think I may start by going to one of those and doing some hiking.  Or maybe go berry picking so I can make some jam.  I'm sure if anyone does read this will think that I'm such a baby for not being able to do things by myself but since I've never really been completely alone, it's new to me.  I don't want my life to consist of the only time I go do anything is when I go to work or do my household errands.  I want to live and enjoy life.  I want to become one of the confident women I see who feel the fear and do it anyway.  I heard a saying once that you can eat an elephant one bite at a time -- being afraid to go out & do things by myself is my elephant and it's time I start eating.

Something to think about . . .

There is a difference in a person's "who" and their "do".  God may not always be happy with what you do, but He is always pleased with who you are.  Remember, God always loves your "who" even when your "do" could use some improvement. 

Love Out Loud - Joyce Meyer