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Giving Thanks [3]

November 3, 2012 by April

Day 3 of Giving Thanks.

Today I am Giving Thanks for: Children. Time. Childhood

Children: I am so thankful for my children. They are indeed a heritage from the Lord. As hard as being a single mom is, I’m glad I have them. Last night was just me. That doesn’t happen very often {maybe 5 or 6 times}; it was quiet. I didn’t watch a movie or even have music with words. But I’m ready to have them back today. I can’t imagine having split custody. I know my growth has happened because I am a mom and just had to keep going. No matter what I felt like.

Time: I have had lots of time with my daughter this week. Unexpectedly we had three days. at home. {sigh}  Not only did the non-moving pace do me wonders, we had time to just be. Vince had several opportunities come up, since Wednesday morning he has been here for 12 hours – 9:30pm to 9:30am on Thursday. But it’s been good. He got friend time and Christine & I had some good connect time. We needed that time after the brutal week last week – honestly, since she turned 12 it’s not been that great. The last several days felt normal – as in before she turned 12 – it was awesome! {See below for more about my thankfulness for time this week}

Childhood: I ache for children to get to have an innocent childhood. Our culture, society, is rushing them to grow up so fast. I often feel like a stick-in-the-mud for saying ‘no’ to so much of what today expects is normal. I don’t believe we need to be on the go constantly. I see so many kids who are just tired. and not able to appreciate whatever event they are because they’re focused on the next. No matter how much they forward to something, it’s all about the next event. plan. place they have to be.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Because we got to stay home {the time I mentioned above in Giving Thanks} the last 3 days I got to sew. Christine had asked me to make her a quilt for her bed. In 20 mins she picked out all the material – over 2 months ago. She has been waiting patiently. When she picked the material I really didn’t like it. I kept thinking ‘Ick! these don’t go together’, but it was all material she really wanted. So I got it. I don’t usually start with a pattern, only an idea. So there weren’t right or wrong quantities to get of each – just is there enough or not?

It started out as being a quilt for her bed. She wanted a disappearing 9 patch. then a quilt to curl up in. then just a “big blanket to cover everything, including my toes.” {I’ve made her two other quilts – one for her crib, one for the toddler bed. neither are quite big enough}.

But I love it! She did an amazing job with colors and patterns. She just grabbed and didn’t have a favorite — it takes me f.o.r.e.v.e.r. to pick material and then I’m tired of it before I finish.

My sets of 3 strips sewn together and cut to make the 9 patch. About here I decided I didn’t like 9 patch blocks after all. {I’ve mentioned loving flowers….never noticed all the flowers around the head of my bed. 3 in frames, on the lamp, and the wood box says ‘petite fleurs’. and yes, my iron has turquoise duct tape holding the handle together :-)}

At this point, I really didn’t like 9 patches. But my points were lining up — love my new machine! Also, I thought why on earth am I going to cut these apart to make the disappearing 9 patch?!  But I did for several. Until I was sick of trying to turn them the right way – what a pain! I sewed many together wrong. I did not pick them out & re-sew, I just kept going! Have to admit I’m appreciating shedding the perfectionist in me. I get things done quicker when I let go a bit… 

When I started this not-twin size disappearing 9 patch quilt…. I made the 9 patch blocks then started cutting them apart & re-sewing together. Decided I didn’t like doing that any more. so there are 9 patch blocks in the center, outlined in a tone-on-tone print brown {from material I had here at home – good thing I had it too! Even though I don’t remember what I actually bought it for.}, then the disappearing 9 patch blocks, with more of the brown to fill in the spaces….

The finished result of all my “mistakes”…My points don’t match, I didn’t measure – which is why there are brown chunks…also noticing I goofed the left corner spacing up. uh, duh.  oh well. Personally, I think the materials are a bit too busy for the disappearing 9 patch. around the edges they are fine, but I think the whole top would have been gaggy.

For the back I used one piece of material. Of course, I didn’t measure, it wasn’t wide enough, so I added 3″ strips on both sides. I did not do a binding. I sewed inside out and flipped it. then sewed around the edges. I stitched in the ditch around the center brown piece and did blanket ties for the rest.

This is a close up of the backside flipped over to the front. The curvy is what I stitched around the outside edge after flipping it right side out. The straight stitch in the ditch is what I did around the center brown square.

So what is it? it isn’t all quilted. it isn’t all tied. there is no outer binding. does that make it a quilt or a blanket? Who knows, but it covers all of her! It is mismatched and she loves it. She is 12 and wanted a blanket to wrap up in, made by mom. She wanted it in time for the lock-in she went to last night. Score – I had it tied, folded, and in the bag 3 hours before she left. Nailed it!

StudioJRU

I’m linking up for the first time with Studio JRU for ‘in the studio…sneak peek friday‘. The intent is to share what we’ve created during the week and encourage others who are creating too.

**I sent my camera off last night. I’m hoping they are able to fix it to be the way so many talk about their D3100’s or deem it unfixable and give me the money so I can start all over with purchasing one. I really hope this is not a camera I can’t ever trust – or do anything about.**

31 Days {Five Minute Friday: Look}

October 19, 2012 by April

I’m so amazed! It is day 19 of 31 Days and time for Five Minute Friday with Lisa-Jo – already!!

 

5 Min Friday button1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

Oh and Ahem, if you would take pity and turn off comment verification, it would make leaving some love on your post that much easier for folks!

OK, are you ready? Won’t you please give me your best five minutes on:

Today’s 5MinFriday word:

LOOK…

GO

Look – what do you see? Do you see the whole picture in front of you?

When you take a walk, do you see just the path and trees or houses along the side? OR do you see all the plants and leaves? I tend to see flowers, berries, the small things – but I’ll miss the new house being built.

Often we tell someone “I’ll look at it” – does this mean you’ll just look at it? OR do you stop read it, absorb it, think about what it means?

I find the more busy I am, the more rushed I feel, the more I get behind AND the more I look but don’t see.

I want to see. See what God has provided. What He has created.

I want to see my children. Their hearts. Them – each day. I want them to know I see them, not just look at (or past) them.

I am choosing to slow down, so I can LOOK and see that the Lord is good. It’s all there, I just have to look. Lately, I have been very guilty of looking, but not seeing. Kind of like hearing, but not listening. Just going through the motions, but not being present.

STOP

Story of the picture: This would be an example of my looking on a hike…. This purple flower is no taller than my pinkie finger is long, which is not even 2″; it was on a mountainside with a magnificent view! The bulk of my pictures from that hike? The tundra, flowers in the tundra, berries in the tundra, and the dew drops… A mountain taller than the bump you see in the picture below :-D.

Linking up with Lisa-Jo for Five Minute Friday. Come join us in writing for 5 Minutes.

31 Days {God’s Love}

October 15, 2012 by April

31 Days of Life: God’s Love. I realized this weekend I have become too progress oriented in life – part of my difficulty in dealing with life lately. I’m not seeing enough results for the day in and day out life that has been going.

I didn’t end up sewing yesterday, but I did get misc little puttering, putting away clutter, cleaning done. Then I got to have my niece all.to.my.self! For an hour and a half. Vince went to the high school youth group retreat (gone Fri afternoon – Sun afternoon) and Christine went to a friend’s house for a few hours. it was weird. really weird. Both of my parents were gone too – it really was just totally me, by myself here at the house.

Throughout the process of the day I realized how difficult of a time I had with not really getting anything specific done. But I couldn’t really muster up the energy to care. I didn’t even realize how badly I needed the mental break from all I’ve been trying to figure out. I pretty much mentally shut down. Spent time in tears. Plus, I’ve been reading Grace for the Good Girl….ugh! she so totally describes me and I’m so guilty of thinking my doing things right is somehow better or more righteous. {sigh} I know I say it often, but it’s so true – I’m so indescribably thankful for a Heavenly Father who freely forgives and extends grace over. and over. and over again.

To prove it, my bro & sis-in-law asked if I was available to watch Ali for them to go out on a date – I jumped on the chance to have Ali all to me. I wasn’t sure how she would take it – she normally/totally interacts with Vince; and if he’s not here, it’s all Christine. I don’t usually get more than a hug when she comes & leaves. But.it.was.wonderful! She sat in my lap & we did a sticker book (Fancy Nancy, of course) for an hour!!! My love tank went from parched to feeling full. {So.so.so. Love having littles around. So, totally, and completely just what I needed.} Christine came home while Ali & I were eating dinner, she played with Christine a bit, got jammies on; then she sat in my lap for another hour while we watched (she watched, I dozed on/off) Peter Rabbit. Again, blissful for this auntie. Who was so aching for some little arms/body in my lap.

So, we’ve been going through the book of Jude at church. It has been really good – of course. Today was Jude 17-23. Here are just a few of the many notes I jotted down.

I want to remember to choose to live by this knowledge.

This morning totally went with the needed reset on my thinking – I can’t do enough to make anything with ‘my’ life in the Lord better.  He already did it all. On the cross. My God, my Heavenly Father, gave His Son, Jesus, to die (in my place, for my sins) on the cross, then raised Him up so I could have eternal salvation. I need to quit stressing about everything and enjoy the life He has given. This is what I heard for me this morning, I hope and pray it can help someone else as well.

God’s love is all the good His heart desires for me. Specific to me. It may not look the same for me as for another. We can walk away, but it’s best if we don’t. Stay where He wants us, in the safe harbor of His love. Our experiences will be different, but He’s provided the safety for us to use.

Then, a little later, as our Pastor was describing praying, he said it was a lot like riding a bike. No matter how much reading you do, you have to feel the balance to keep the bike up and going. No one can do it for you. It is a different experience for each.

Then, a little later yet – how best to keep up communication with our Heavenly Father:

  1. Scripture – Spend time in the Scriptures, reading them consistently. daily.
  2. Speak – preferably out loud while praying. This keeps us on task, reminds us we are praying. Otherwise our praying tends to become more wishful thinking or worrying. Neither of those are praying, communing with our Heavenly Father in Jesus’ name.
  3. Time – slow down, allow the necessary time to pray. Again, pray slower. saying the words out loud.  or in a whisper. or just moving your lips. but NOT just thinking our prayers.

So, ya…pretty much hit with the 2×4 to slow down. Rest in His love for me. His provision. His protection. His plan. His will. Enjoy life. Quit worrying about getting it all right the first time. How about you? Do you struggle with the un-ending to-do list getting the better of you or your attitude? What do you find is the best way to make yourself slow down, but not lose momentum? 

Eye candy: This from June 2011, and this beautiful tree is in Steamboat, Colorado.  This is from the amazing trip we had last summer, we were at my cousin’s magazine photo shoot! AWESOME!!!  It was such an amazing day – warm. went to a Botanical Garden. kids got to be in an outdoor swimming pool [for hours] while my uncle supervised. then mom & I got to go see the ending of a for-real-life-magazine-photo-shoot in an over-the-top-amazing house. The photo was taken with my point-and-shoot Sony that is w.o.r.n out… so glad I didn’t have my ‘new’ camera (which I can soon change out!)…. 

Our week

March 24, 2012 by April

I had big plans this week.  Then the week started, or maybe I should say last week continued.  My kids were both feeling lousy last week and were just finally both over it on Tuesday.  Then I woke up on Wednesday morning.  End of story, at last count I have taken three (or is it four now?) naps today…following the exact same pattern they did.  Ugh.

I was planning to participate in Project Simplify with Simple Mom.  This week would have been drawers & closet….I want to cheat and just link to a recent organization of my closet, but that isn’t spring cleaning so I won’t.  And for drawers — I have two in my house.  One holds my 2 hot pads and 6 dishtowels, and the other our silverware…not much going on there.

Instead, we had a couple sledding outings, LOTS of moose in our yard, and many hours of work.  We were having Ali withdrawal’s on Wednesday, so I checked with my sister-in-law and requested her yesterday.  We love our Ali, she is such a sweetie.  My kids absolutely love having her come; I am adult on duty, but otherwise un-neccesary when she comes.  She loves to see moose, she thinks we can beckon them on command.

The following are pictures from the last week.  None of them are cleaning, organizing, or crafting.  But they are all about loving children.  Which is really what my job is.  This week I have made deliberate effort to get priorities more defined and straightened out.  It’s been a good week.

Getting ready for a race down the driveway.
Sledboarding
 Looking for moose down in the garden.
 Ali loves coming to our house, but she has a special love and devotion to Vince.
We actually did have to come in the house because there were two moose in the garden,
just beyond the snowbank we were looking over.
 Ali was very proud to be wearing the same green ‘Alaska Grown’ shirt as Vince.
 We finally got Hickory into his kennel, and us inside.  Can you see the two moose?
They are small ones – but they are HUGE.  The whole time we were watching the moose, Ali kept saying “moooshe, moooshe.  April, see moooshe”.
{notice the attire addition — pink is her favorite.}
She got to stand on top of my bookshelf under the window for 15-20 min watching “the moooshe”.  Just to the right and down from her sweet little hand, you will see Hickory.
He.is.so.stupid!Would not stop barking!!
So the moose started to run, it ran towards the house, then turned and charged towards the kennel.  The moose are not new to Hickory, and Hickory is not new to the moose.
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Jeremiah 29:11

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