Get involved.

Recently during the small group I attend threw out a challenge. I believe I mentioned one in an earlier post involving an egg. To update the 2 to 4 people who read my blog I must confess. I, personally, did nothing with the egg! {gasp} HOWEVER! My husband did! So...I mean...it counts, right? Don't you believe in that whole "two become one" thing??? :)

I had thought and thought about what in the world to do with this egg I was given. I googled egg crafts, talked to others about it, and looked up recipes. Unfortunately, for me and the egg this past weekend was daylight saving...and the beginning of the week was a little rough, so Tuesday night came more quickly than I thought it would!

Enter The Hubs! My hero! He grabbed a bag of Betty Crocker chocolate chip cookie mix, the hand mixer, my egg and a few other things and whipped up a batch of cookies!! Isn't he amazing? I mean really - he HATES baking. Come to think of it I am pretty sure he will never ever ever bake again. The oven is strictly used for pizza, pizza rolls, or anything else related to dinner...but NEVER for baking. (as far as he's concerned)

But he knew I needed something to take, so he set his hate aside for me. That's love you know? Challenge met! I had something to bring to small group!

This week the challenge is a bit more involved. Thanks Lina. We are tasked with making a difference in our own community.

So, I called the Village and after being transferred around a few different times I found the right voicemail. Turns out they have special events at most Townships where they need volunteers to set up/tear down and help direct traffic on most holidays. Sounds pretty cool.

They have one coming up where they invite families/kids to make easter baskets. Sounds interesting, so I'm hoping to find a few friends and help out! If all else fails and I find no one then I will go grocery shopping and donate to the food pantry in our Village. That's the least I can do. I'm sure it's been hit hard in the last couple years.

Well - that's all for now.

Decisions decisions....

At this point in my blogging 'career' so to speak I wish I had more followers so I could draw on their opinions. I know a few more than 2 people check this from time to time, so hopefully I can get some opinions! If all else fails I will shamelessly send a link to my family and close friends and get their opinions! Well, at least I know my grandmother will check and she will give me her opinion! HA!

Well, I'm going to post pictures of the invitations (for my sis-in-law-to-be) for the bridal shower. I really need to narrow things down a bit! All of these invites are designed by a seller on Etsy. To check more out click here. The 1st one is probably my favorite...and the 2nd is my 2nd favorite...I think?? I should just stop right there, but they're so cute!!!


I'm considering the last two because she has a cherry blossom tattoo that was recently completed. I do have kind-of a french theme going on, but perhaps I will down-play that and focus more on the 'girly' aspect of the whole thing. I am still waiting on a quote from the French Cafe, so hopefully I will hear from them this week!

So...comment and tell me what you like. Even if I only get 2 comments...it's better than nothing!

Bittersweet

I'm so excited!!! I just finished my first project using material from an old (slightly used) bridesmaid dress! I think it turned out great!

My friend Sarah graciously donated the bridesmaid dress she wore in her brother's wedding. She mentioned that it would be fun to have a cosmetic bag made out of the pink sash material, so I went home last night after work and put one together! The sweet part of all this is being able to make something out of a dress that no one is going to use again. AND being able to give a unique 'good-bye' gift to a friend. The bitter part of all this...is the good-bye part. This friend used to sit by me at work and now is moving on to bigger and better things. I will miss her.

I had downloaded a Keyka Lou pattern with the intent of making a cute little clutch anyway, so last night was the perfect opportunity to try it out!

I wish I would have documented my journey through making this little gem! It wasn't easy because my machine was not cooperating! I ended up bending a sewing machine needle and calling the place where I purchased the machine in a panic...hoping that I didn't have to take it in to have it fixed. The nice, calm lady on the phone (Laura) guided me through the steps to see if anything was truly wrong. Fortunately, there wasn't! Back to sewing - YES!

The little wristlet wasn't much different than some other purses I've made, however it did take quite a bit more effort. I'm not sure you can tell the difference, but this little bag is thicker than what I'm used to making. I actually like the feel and look of this one better, so I'm going to try it again next week some time.

This weekend I plan on working on my baby girl quilt. I already have a boy one complete...maybe I will actually post pictures of that soon! HA! I would like one of each completed, so I can have them on hand. It would be wonderful if I could have a small inventory of them and show them at a craft fair...but I think that is a ways away.

I haven't figured out what to do with the egg from small group. I think I may just make some kind of baked good out of it and call it a day. I'm sure that's what people would most enjoy anyway.

Ok, well I'm going to wrap this up so I can get working on my next project!

test

My own use of talents

For the past few months I have been going to a Tuesday night Bible Study (or small group). One could find out more about that here.

Each week we are tasked with doing a daily devotional, memory verse, and a "live it out" challenge. I have become increasingly better at doing the daily devotional and have occasionally stepped up to the challenge of memorizing the weekly Bible verse. The one thing that I really have yet to really take a hold of is this "live it out" challenge. First of all, it's located on the very last page of the little devotional book for the week. This means that I see this challenge approximately 24 hours before our next meeting. At one point I resolved to just be a week behind, so at least I'd be doing them...but even then I seldom remembered. I need another strategy. Well this week, last night, I was in luck! Our fearless leader, Lina, has made it nearly impossible to forget the "live it out" challenge.

We are studying the whole book Luke and walking through Jesus's life chapter by chapter. One thing He was known for was the parables he would teach the people as He went from city to city. One such parable is in Luke 19. He tells of a master that entrusts some servants with "talents" or "minas" then leaves for a while. The servants are then evaluated by the master when he returns. Two of the three return with more than what they were given. The one remaining returns what he was originally given because he was afraid to do anything with it. The master is outraged that this servant wouldn't even put this money in the bank to gain interest.

This parable always gets me thinking anyway, but Lina took it a step further and gave us all eggs. Well, each of us received one single egg as our "talent". What in the world am I going to do with an egg? Make brownies? I thought of the grade school project where we had to create some type of protective casing to assure the egg would remain unharmed if thrown into the air and not caught. My egg did not break, by the way...it turns out a box of strategically wrapped kleenex, tissue paper, and a simple gift box does the trick...but I digress...

What to do with this egg? More to come when I've had time to think...

Another thing that has captured my thoughts is the bridesmaid dress I received this week. A friend of mine, who I work with, no longer needed this beauty and I quickly snatched it up! Here is a picture of this project-in-waiting. I love the dress itself, so it was difficult to rip it up! But really - who is going to wear a BM dress again?

My goal is to make something from this dress this week. I most likely use the bright pink sash because what a lovely color!

Ideally, I would make a simple cosmetic bag for my friend who gave this to me...but can I get it done before her last day working with me?

So much to do, so little time...isn't that always the case? I have all these plans, dreams, hopes, goals, however so much of my time is sucked up by obligations. Working, sleeping, eating, cleaning...these things all take precious time! I am by no means complaining that I have a good job, safe home, and good food to eat, but I really wish we were coming up on a 3 day weekend so I could really sink my teeth into a few projects!

It was bound to happen.

So, I'm sick.

bummer.

Better new first though. Brian is back from his watch training and seems very excited about all the amazing things he learned. How refreshing! It's always cool when you get to travel for your job...well...it's cool if it's not a regular part of your job, I guess.

I greatly enjoyed the time I had to myself while he was gone, however I might have been just a little too busy and not had enough rest because by the time he was back I was sick with whatever I have now.

Being sick is humbling...and annoying. There's nothing more annoying that the person who can't stop coughing. That person is ME right now! I don't even want to sleep with myself, I'm sure the hubs is not thrilled with my occasional coughing fits. It's a little ridiculous how quickly and viciously they attack! Dry, constant, annoying cough cough cough. Sometimes it even sounds like I'm choking as I'm gasping for air mid-cough. Crazy.

I went to the doctor yesterday and told him of my woes. He's sympathetic. I like that in a doctor. Bedside manner is nearly everything with me. I'm pretty sure anyone could put on a lab coat and pretend to be a doctor and as long as I felt like he/she was nice and wanted to help me, I would listen. Fortunately, my doctor IS a real doctor and not just pretending. Dr. Jay - he prescribed some decongestant...so we will see what that does.

I have been on this medicine for a whole day now and can definitely tell a difference, however it has not helped one slight thing. My right ear is ringing. Constantly ringing. I can only hear it if the room is quiet (like at bedtime when I'm trying to sleep) or if I plug my ear. Weird, huh! My doc is hoping this will subside with the cold, but we will see. Nothing has changed so far, but I feel worse today than I did yesterday.

I think it's so lame that you can do absolutely nothing all day and be worn out. What's up with that? I've literally done nothing but take a shower today and I feel like I've run a marathon. I've never actually run a marathon, but a few close friends have, so I'm pretty sure they felt like this when they were done with the marathon.

So, I will close by saying that I hope no one gets this cold. It's no fun. Even though I didn't have to go grocery shopping or cook last night - I would still rather be well!

God at Work: Bob Zielinski

A few weeks ago we were at church and they shared a video during service. This video was about Bob. The minute Bob was on the screen he captured my heart's attention. I absolutely melt when I see little loveable older gentlemen...I mean everything about them just says, "hug me" Who doesn't want a hug from a grandpa???

Anyway, I wanted to share this because it really touched my heart.

Enjoy.

Weekends

Weekends are such a wonderful thing. I'm always so happy to see them come and quickly sad to see them go. I suppose I wouldn't really enjoy the weekend for what it is unless I had a week of work to journey through, but still I always find myself wishing there was just 1 more weekend day!

Yesterday was such a lovely day, actually this weekend was wonderful. Friday after work the hubs and I watched Red (interesting movie...can't say I'd watch it again, but I did like it.) I think I have generally liked any more with Bruce Willis in it...I feel as though you just can't go wrong with him. I might even have a school-girl crush on Mr. Willis, but that's another story...

Saturday I got almost all my laundry done and did a quick cleaning of the house. It's not completely spotless, but I'm going for a "close enough"! My friend Kate came over and we attempted to make soft pretzels. What an adventure we were in for! Who knew it was so involved? We certainly didn't! We mixed a simple assortment of ingredients, let the dough rise...then came back and fought and fought with it! Brian did NOT have high expectations for the pretzels tasting anywhere close to good...however once pulled out of the oven...they were delicious! Our hard work paid off! I wish I had pictures to post. Silly me...we were so wrapped up in the making that I didn't document. Oh well...maybe next time. We also decided that beer cheese dip and a few pretzels covered in cinnamon and sugar would be delightful as well. Overall it was a success! Yum!

We then curled up on the couch and watched "The Town". Interesting movie. Again - good movie, but not one I want to view again. I just can't stand when they throw in a gratuitous sex scene...I mean - REALLY NO reason at all...it's just SO incredibly awkward to be sitting there with the hubs and friend...staring...just agonizing on when this scene is going to be over. It lasted so long that we actually had a conversation around how awkward it was. Oh - the reason I won't watch it again was that it was a relatively simple movie...not because of the ridiculous scene(s).

I've made it to Sunday now. It's almost 3:30 right now and I have to make it to church by 4:15. Jr High youth group meets today! I believe we're a little short handed because of the high school winter camp. What a wonderful Jr. High team we have this year! It's so exciting to be a part of this group. I can't wait to see what comes of the remaining year...so great to serve along side such great people...an honor really.

Well -that's about it! Tomorrow starts another week - and this week my bosses are in town! I'm sure it will be a busy one! I'm already looking forward to next weekend!