Creating Me

http://lesscakemorefrosting.blogspot.com/2011/05/creating-mea-mothering-day-post.htm
As I was reading one the many blogs I follow, this link was one I came across and absolutely LOVED! (I'm sharing it with you so that you can get the free download as well.)
For several weeks now, I've been trying to figure out which way to go with my blog, my etsy store, my quilting, my aprons.  I get emails from the etsy team weekly that give you ideas on how to grow your business and how to market your business and one of the consistent things they tell you to do is to "blog".  I started this blog initially as a way to keep people updated on my son, Jordan's, progress with gastric bypass surgery.  Also as a way to share what God has done, and is doing, in my own life.  I went back and forth as to whether to keep it as the one I would use to link my business to, but have finally decided that one: I don't have time to do more than one blog and two: that my business and my life are all about what God is doing!!  I don't know if anyone really cares what I have to say.  I certainly don't think that by posting pictures of what I am working on is going have people following so they can learn something from me...except maybe how NOT to do your seams, etc. that way!!  But there is a huge community of quilting blogs and I, myself, have learned so much from them, so maybe through my links or what's on my site, more people will find them as well.  And I will always share what the Lord has been showing me, because really, that's the most important thing to me when it all comes down to it.
I have two etsy shops now...my Tea 'N Treasures where I sell the tea and aprons and my new one, Little Flock Quilts.  The name of this shop is based on Psalms 91:4 "He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings."  I obtained a new sewing machine in December and knew that with that blessing, I wanted to use it for ministry, so with the help of my daughter, Meghan, I came up with the idea to make quilts for Foster Children.  I will use proceeds from both etsy shops to fund this venture for the most part, but already the bible study I attend has purchased material for both a boys and a girls quilt that I have made for a ministry at our church called "PB&J" that works with the homeless.  It is a huge blessing to me to be able to give of the talents I have been given.
So, I continue to be "created"...it's really amazing how you think you know the direction your life is going, and then something else comes along and you see a path you had never envisioned.  I really do take one day at a time.  Who knows what tomorrow will bring??

Piece N Quilt a quilt blog by Natalia Bonner: Block of the Month Week 1 {Friendship Star}

Piece N Quilt a quilt blog by Natalia Bonner: Block of the Month Week 1 {Friendship Star}

Pressing On

"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Phillipians 3:14

Happy New Year! Hard to believe another year has come and gone! As I read all the Facebook posts, so many people are hoping for a "better year" in 2011. I think it is so easy for us to look back over the year and think about all the difficult things we dealt with, but I guarantee that if we take each one of those difficult circumstances, we can surely find many blessings embedded in each one!

Our year consisted of a home with black mold; moving; my hand surgery; Jordan's gastric bypass and the usual culprits of car troubles, appliance outages and the all consuming FINANCES! But out of each one, there have been positive changes made and lessons learned.

One of our most positive is the success of Jordan's surgery!! At this date, he has lost 127 lbs and has dropped his BMI 15 points!! His surgeon believes that this is a record for his patients that are four months out!! Most importantly, he feels better and is able to do so much more! Which translates for me: he is in a better mood and does more for me around the house! It was a long, long process, but so worth the time that it took because he was ready for the changes that came with it!

I love the way the Lord uses what we think are "delays" as one of the most important times in our lives. After a long recovery from hand surgery, I began to put my sewing business together with an etsy store and doing more custom aprons. I was so excited about what the Lord was speaking to me about where it was going! For several years now, my love of quilting has grown and my desire is to use that in ways if sharing the love of the Father. I was presented with the God-given opportunity the first of December to purchase a previously owned quilting/sewing machine that I had only dreamed of owning! After much prayer, I took the leap and signed the agreement believing that God would use it for His purpose in moving forward in this dream. Two days after bringing it home, I received a call from my Dr. who had done a routine colonoscopy the prior week telling me that they had found cancer in my colon. The next week consisted of tests to see if it had spread (PRAISE God, it has not!), appointments with surgeons and many, many questions. My initial reaction was peace. Okay, this is what I have to deal with, another bump in this crazy road of life I've been on. But other thoughts crept in as I began to deal with the issue of surgery (January 3 at 10am) and the removing of that section of colon and the surrounding lymph nodes. The "what if's" would begin to swirl. But through the years of the many trials I have been dealt, I have learned that when these "what if's" start, we must replace them with the precious promises of God. The Lord has given me so, so many promises and many, for what I believe is the restoration of what "the locusts have eaten."

“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten— the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm — my great army that I sent among you." Joel 2:25

I will not tell you that I haven't had my moments of fear. That would be a lie (and I don't lie ;)). But I do have such a peace about the outcome of this surgery. I'm not looking forward to it, it's going to hurt! But I'm going to trust that the Lord WILL work all things together for His good and that there will be blessings abounding even as I am pushing that pain-killing medicine button!! Not that I'll lose as much weight as Jordan, but losing a few pounds could definitely be one of the blessings!

Mostly during that time, I am going to spend time with the Lord and dream about where He will lead me with this business and how I can further His kingdom through it. And then, when the pain is gone (sooner, rather than later I hope!) and I am healed, I am going to PRESS ON into the future that He has for me!! And a really, really GREAT New Year!!