Prayer Request Sunday

Welcome to Prayer Request Sunday!

Hi sweet friends, hope you are all well and enjoying the last day of the month of May. Though it may be May for another 30 days at my house. (read yesterday's post)

A piece of my heart:

Friday night I got to go to the rehearsal, for my oldest's baby's, Irish Step Dance recital. As I sat in the audience, with my cameras in hand, I found my eyes welling with tears. Not because she was dancing so well, but because she has been doing it for most of her childhood and this is her last official year as a student of Golden Harp. As I saw all of the littles in their tiny school costumes, doing their 3's and 7's the best they could manage...my mind swept back to when Bella was that age.

How quickly time passes.

How blessed that I have such a 'together' daughter, one whose heart is fixed on the Lord. She has been passionate about dance, enough that she spent her 16th birthday in Ireland with her father at a dance competition. Perhaps, next year she will continue to teach classes here, I guess September will come soon enough and we will see what path God selects for our sweet baby.

As I sat at the recital, next to my Knight, I looked down my row to see many of my daughters friends cheering her on. How blessed I am that God has given her such supportive and loving friends. How wonderful that my daughter's best friend, Emily sat next to me. I was able to whisper to sweet Emily through the performance and laugh out loud with her at the

funny spots.

In the row were some of Bella's guy friends too. How nice is that, that they would come and cheer her on in her dance. How grateful my Knight and I are that my daughter is not boy crazy. She made a vow with her father on her 16th birthday (actually she did it with God long before this) in Ireland, where he gave her a special ring he picked out in a jewelry store there. The ring is a purity promise, between her , God and her parents.

Perhaps someday her Knight will sit beside me, the one that God has chosen for her, the one that she waits for; I will lean over and whisper to him about how cute Bella is...we will laugh in agreement too.

Back to business...

Can I pray for you today? Leave me a comment and I will cover you in prayer.

My Beloved Ajuga

A Nosegay of Ajuga

Most would consider it a weed, but to me it is the sweetest of flowers. In my old home it grew rampant in the grass, in the far corner of our yard. I'd purposely allow it to grow free and tall, along with the grass it shared its space with. Often my old neighbor would stare at my lovely patch of Ajuga...obviously he didn't understand its true beauty. He'd cock his head as I'd kneel down to pick large bouquets to grace my home.

Oh, how I love May. Oh, how sad I will be to see it go. My sweet children know how I feel about the month of May (and Ajuga). They offered, with all seriousness, to pretend that June was really May still; how sweet to be so loved.

And yes, I planted some Ajuga in the grass here too. Also, in the garden where it wanders about, always looking for a new little corner to bless me in...oh and it does!

Sewing Seeds Project...two skirts to give!

Hi Friends!

I am so excited to share the two skirts I sewed yesterday! I never would have believed that I could manage two in one day. I didn't think Princess Mercy (13 months) would cooperate, but she did (with the help of siblings!)

What fun I had creating them...no pattern; just my heart.

I rummaged through my sewing stash and within a very short time came up with two darling skirts to give to children in Costa Rica. My mind was trying to picture 2 little girls trying on their colorful skirts, with big smiles on their faces. Twirling children, laughing children, blessed little ones, who in other moments walk with a heavy load. Doesn't this make you feel like jumping into this to plant seeds in their lives?

What a blessing it is to give...won't you join Randi too, in this Sewing Seeds Project. Sweet Randi has all the details, so pop on over and get sewing! (or buying ...as we could use some sturdy boy shorts too!)

a simple wrap skirt-
four pyramid shape panels, one waist band/tie and a button hole

Princess Sunshine and I thought it needs a little more....

*My oldest said it is a little on the heavily ornamented side...but I love it! I am sure some little one will love to fill that big pocket with her tiny found treasures!
Princess Giggles was happy to try on the finished skirt!

Thinking...maybe I have time for a couple more...

perhaps a wrap skirt that can be two skirts in one?

I am sure I have some more fabric in the barn!

Thoughts set to words

Adoption

As we sit on the mountain top,

soaking in the sun's warmth,

I look down through your tangle mass of dark lashes,

through to your immense dark eyes and all they hold.

For a moment I understand~

all that you have known since your birth,

in a matter of 12 months of life,

you have known:

Sorrow and Joy,

Tears and effervescent Laughter,

Loss and Gain,

Fear and Trust,

Loneliness and Bonding,

Lack and Abundance.

Your time in my arms has taught me;

God's amazing supernatural love,

His absolute faithfulness;

His favor~

which tastes like you sweet Ethiopian daughter.

Love your Mama

Prayer Request Sunday

Welcome to Prayer Request Sunday!

If you are new here, today is the day to let me know about your prayer requests. I will happily bring your requests before God, believing that He is waiting for us to come together with them.

Leave me a comment, or send me an email to let me know what we will be praying about this week.

Bless you my sweet friends!

And hey, did you read about our Sewing Seeds mission?

Sewing Seeds Project

My sweet, talented, thoughtful, friend Randi, I have to say,

has another sewing mission on her heart!

And bless my soul, she has asked my family and yours to come along side of her in it!

We have the opportunity to sew children's skirts or shorts and have my oldest bring them to Costa Rica, to bless those who her mission team will be ministering to.

Randi has links to skirt tutorials, if you want to join the fun (come on, you know you do!) If sewing isn't your 'thing,' then don't miss out on buying a pair (or two) of sturdy boys shorts, so that you can be a part of this blessing too.

"Sow the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of my love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you."---Hosea 10:12

Randi has all the details over at her wonderful blog...don't delay- we have to have them by June 29th, so they will be ready to get on the plane and be a HUGE blessing to those God would give them to.

Can't wait to see the loads and loads of skirts and shorts that we gather,

Oh~ be still my leaping heart!

Ready, set, SEW SEEDS!

***Hey, and feel free to spread the word,about Randi's Sewing Seeds project!***

Nearing Graduation...from homeschool

Once upon a time there was a wee pirate lass. She was homeschooled from the time of birth until time passed for her homeschool lessons to come to a close. Pirate Jacky learned a mess and began to blossom into a full fledged, well learned, rather joy-filled pirate (a beautiful one at that!) She grew in wisdom and knowledge with God's hand upon her life and days.

Oh how we love her, oh how proud we are of her.

You see, she is probably the only pirate who loves God with all of her heart. She has a servants heart and desires to get Kingdom business done here on earth.

I'd call that successful homeschooling. God is indeed good.

Prayer Request Sunday

Welcome to Prayer Request Sunday!

Can I pray for you?

Leave me a comment letting me know how I can stand with you in prayer or send me a private email. I'd love to partner with you in believing God for an answer to your prayers.

Don't be scared~really!

From out of the darkness, crept...

Capturing moving creatures in the low light

of the brand new 'being christened' firepit

Monsters of the night...

Monsters sitting down to enjoy the fire's warmth


Having too much fun, out of the deep dark forest

Dirty little Monsters...

Things that creep out of the woods to be nearer to the fire

Scary!

Really scary!

Yikes!

Silly giggling Monsters!

Oh, those eyes

Those eyes, those beautiful sweet dark Ethiopian eyes.

Oh, how I love them.

Have a wonderful weekend friends...with all those eyeball that you love ;-)

Entertainment, how we do it...

B is for Beauty~

Little Beauty wants to be entertained.

How blessed she is that we are ALL happy to oblige her

King Meemer soon realized he needed to build a

fortress to manage the blocks procession to 'castle.'

How he keeps Little Beauty from knocking down the castle

until he beacons her to,

"COME!"

The fortress is ready to be removed....

the invitation is heard and well received...

Here comes the wrecking crew!

Part of the entertainment...Princess Giggles is the sideshow,

as the blocks are creatively set back up for our Little Beauty

Ready for round....hmm, somehow in all of the fun we have lost count !

Joy will do that for you,

it puts you into a place, where time just isn't that important.

Hope you are having as much fun as we are...if not, then come on over.

We'll let you have a part in the entertaining joy too!

A recent photo shoot

What fun it is to shoot photos of this sweet baby of mine. In the process I am gathering moments of joy, slowly, slowly improving my skill as a photographer and filling my soul with thanksgiving.

Stop by my other blog, if you are interested in what I am capturing in hopes of gaining more skill in photography... Moments of Life.

Wise Words Monday

Welcome to Wise Word Monday!

Some thoughts on peace...

Often people go through life longing or searching for peace. As a young girl, I remember my mum saying 'I just want peace.' My mum was searching, she was lost, and without hope, at that time in my life.

Many search, looking to symbols for peace. Think of a symbol this world offers as peace: a cross upside-down broken , wrapped in a circle, two fingers held up in a v formation, a dove, an olive branch, a hand shake between prominent men... None of these truly deposit the peace that we as humans long for. No, for only One can give true, lasting peace.

His Name was prophesied as: The Prince of Peace.

Who is this Prince of Peace, who was hoped for in days of old?

It is the long awaited Messiah, my Jesus.

This week I am praying for a fresh revelation of His perfect Peace to be deposited in your spirit.

"[Jesus said]

'Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.

I do not give to you as the world gives.

Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.'" John 14:27

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, though whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand." Romans 5: 1-2

Let's approach His throne of grace and ask Him for that Peace that passes understanding.

Good stuff to think on.

Prayer Request Sunday

Welcome to Prayer Request Sunday!

• The primary purpose of prayer is not to get answers, but to deepen our friendship with God.

• God not only gives us answers to our prayers, but also deposits a piece of Himself as He does.

Can I pray for you this week?

If you stopped by today and you are afflicted with infertility.... I know how hard a day like Mother's Day can be. I know the tears that fall as you ponder why God isn't answering your prayers for pregnancy. I don't have all the answers, but I know the One who does. Cling to Him and don't let the enemy steal your joy, he can only do it if you let him. God can open a door in regards to how your children will come, if you first come to the end of yourself (and your control) and hand your fertility over to Him. He is faithful, my life is a testimony to that. I bless you and ask God to not only to bring you comfort, but a fresh vision as to where your children are.

And for those of you who are Mother's...may God bless you and give you wisdom as your train your children in the way they are to go.

I love you guys...have a wonderful spring day-filled with thankful hearts!

Matthew 6:10

Homeschool~ discovering customs of the world

Friday, as we were winding up our school week, I felt the urge to sit with the kids on the porch and look through one of our old children's encyclopedias (Childcraft-1969- Holidays and Customs, volume 5). We have been doing a study on India and according to the Guide, volume 5 had numerous pages related to India.

We started in the beginning of the book and searched page by page (Mama left the Guide on Princess Giggles dresser, where they live) for pages that would open up our unit study.

Often we stopped and read something interesting, not related to India, but fascinating just the same. Who would think that a old set of encyclopedias that had been rescued from a library book sale ten or more years ago, could now still bring so much delight.

I will share one such moment with you....

We learned that in Yugoslavia (when there was such a country...) two Sundays before Christmas, as the mother is sitting in her chair by the window (hmmm, Yugoslavia sounds lovely doesn't it?)...the children sneak up and tie her feet to the chair. (what?) Then they shout, "Mother's Day, Mother's Day, what will you pay to get away?"

Then the mother, (who is still tied to the chair) gives a gift to the children. When the children have received their gift, they untie Mother.

And by the way, the Sunday before Christmas is Father's Day in Yugoslavia, they do the same thing to their Papa.

My kid's thought this was the bomb. Let's say we are hiding the rope.

Have a lovely Saturday and my friends who are mother's, have a rope free Mother's Day with your children!