Forgive My Foolishness

So, the purpose of this post is for me to put in words my own arrogance and to remember His sacrifice.  I pray God uses my own words to continue to convict me : )

Happy Easter, everyone! 

Easter, Easter, Easter!  It's everywhere!  Bunnies, chicks, eggs, pastels, baskets, and Easter dresses! 

I must admit that our family doesn't do all the Easter hoop-lah.  However, I've always wanted them to have Easter dresses for church on Sunday. 

Those Easter dresses have been the death of me!  This is the first time (in my very short time as a seamstress) I have started a sewing project totally excited and ended by hating even the sight of the fabric!  Four yards of fabric, two sewing machines, and lots of tears later, I can now say, 'It is well with my soul'.  I have learned how humbly sewing can be.

A few months ago, I found the perfect peasant dress pattern and immediately knew it was going to be their Easter dresses.  Then I found the cutest pink fabric in the clearance bin for $3.00 a yard and became extremely excited!  I came home and set to work! 

I worked one night for a couple of hours and things went very well.  I got the dresses almost pieced together.  A few days later I started to finish the necklines, sleeves, and hems and that's when things took a turn for the worse.  The only machine that I had at the time started messing up and I could not get it under control.  My wonderful husband calmed me down and told me he would take me to buy a new machine over the weekend.  I thought that would be great.  I would then have all of this past week to work on them.

So, we got the new machine and brought it home.  Nothing!  I couldn't get it to sew a good stitch for anything!  Tuesday night I sat down and messed and messed with that machine.  Only after tears did I separate myself from it and turn in for the night.  The fact that I had only 4 nights to work on these dresses and I didn't have a machine to use really saddened me. 

The next day, I texted a friend and asked for help.  The next evening she came over and adjusted the tension on the new machine and within (literally) 50-60 seconds she said, "It's working fine!"  I was so excited!!!  I had big plans with that sewing machine once the girls were all in bed.  I still had to finish the older two girls' dresses and START the baby's dress. 

So, after putting my sweetnesses to bed, I start back on the dresses.  Machine is working perfectly!  I finish the two necklines, hem the sleeves, hem the bottom of the dress, and add Ric-Rac at the bottom.  I had plans to shir the sleeves as well but wanted to start the baby's dress first.

I get out the pieces to the baby's dress and start on them.  That's when it goes completely bonkers on me again!!  Machine went whack-o!  More frustration, more tears, and more bad attitude.  Completely overwhelmed, I turned the machine off and went to bed. 

So, last night I sat in front of that machine for an hour or so doing test-stitch after test-stitch...still...nothing.  Then I spent 30-45 minutes on the computer, reading up on tension settings.  Then back to the machine for another long while...

My sewing area (can't you see what I've been through???)

I was very dissappointed that there are only two dresses that are assembled, but the sleeves are not complete.  At least they are wearable, as-is.

My sweet 11 month old will not have a dress that matches her older sisters.  It's still in pieces...

But, you know...it's ok.

I woke up this morning, it hit me, and I thought, "How sinful of me?"  I am not of this world.  How could I even put my cares of 'Easter dresses' so far on my priority list that I would cry and have a nasty attitude over them??  Easter dresses.  Easter dresses.  That's all they are. 

"But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal." Matthew 6:20

So, what should my treasures be?  It would be so tempting to say my treasures should be my husband and my children.  Oh, that is so tempting. But not even my family can I allow to be my treasures. 

I can't allow anything of this fleeting life to be my treasure.  As much as my earthly body wants them to be.  My treasures must be in the Son of God, the Crucified Christ, the Risen Savior. 

The One whom the high priest spoke to and demanded (Matthew 26:63-64), "I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God!"  My Jesus said, "It is as you said..."

The One whom they spat in His face and beat Him; and struck Him with the palms of their hands. (Matthew 26:67)

The One whom not only Peter, but myself as well, denied.  (Matthew 26:69-75)

The One whom Judas later regretted betraying and therefore, hung himself.  (Matthew 27:3-5)

The One whom the people choose to keep captive while Barabbas, a 'notorious prisoner', was set free. (Matthew 27:15-21)

The One whom they wanted to be murdered by crucifixion. (Matthew 27:22)

The One whom they scourged, mocked, beat, and spat upon. (Matthew 27:26-44)

The One who still asked the Holy Father to 'forgive them, for they do not know what they do.' (Luke 23:34)

The One who as he yielded up His spirit, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. (Matthew 27:50-53)

The One whom the centurion feared after seeing this and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!". (Matthew 27:54)

My treasure must be, I pray it will be, in the living Son of God.

The One whom was spoken of: "But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.  Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus." (Luke 24:2-3)  And, the One whom the angel spoke of, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?  He is not here, but is risen!  Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.'"  (Luke 24:5-7)

Oh, how foolish I've been to ever set the things of this world above my Lord.  Tonight, I repent to my Father for storing up treasures in this fleeting life.

I know it sounds so cliche to say, "Remember the Reason for the Season!"  But I do pray that my readers will seek Him.  I pray that you will cry out to Him for mercy and grace.  I pray that this Easter weekend you will set time aside to pray to Him, seek His word, and cherish the life of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

A Continual Dripping

"A continual dripping on a very rainy day

And a contentious woman are alike;

Whoever restrains her restrains the wind,

And grasps oil with his right hand."

Proverbs 27:15-16

So, I read these verses this morning and I started thinking.  In what ways am I a continual dripping to my husband, my family, and those that I come in contact with? 

First, I need to fully understand what a continual dripping is.  Continual...never ceasing, right?  Wow, that in itself is convicting.  When I think about a dripping, leaky roof, I think the noise alone is annoying.  But you also have to think, if it is continual, there are going to be some after effects.  Such as, a roof that needs to be mended, possibly a bad odor, or even a floor that has to be replaced.  So, the continual dripping isn't just an annoying noise, it causes problems in other areas.  If I am a continual dripping, it's going to affect more than the person I am directing it at.  It's going to overflow to others.  Consequently, affecting everyone in my home.

A lot of things cross my mind when I actually stop and ponder in what ways I am a continual dripping: nagging my husband, giving my children things to keep them busy instead of playing or reading with them, or even talking over others in a converstaion instead of listening to what they have to say.  I pray that God will help me to not be a contentious woman.  It doesn't seem easy to live with a continual dripping or a contentious woman, and I want my family to enjoy being around me. 

Whoever restrains her restrains the wind, and grasps oil with his right hand.  Impossible.  It is impossible to grasp wind.  It is also impossible to grasp oil with your hand.  Oh goodness...I pray that I am not so hard to live with or be around that there is no restraining my contentiousness. 

I pray to be a more pleasant person.

"She watches over the ways of her household,

And does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her childen rise up and call her blessed;

Her husband also, and he praises her:

'Many daughters have done well,

But you excel them all.'

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,

But a woman who fears the Lord,

she shall be praised."

Proverbs 31:27-30



May God help me to be more humble and selfless.



Sophee's Turning 4!

If it was Leap Year, she would have been born on February 29th.  But, thank goodness, she was born on March 1st and I can avoid the whole explanation of why her birthday isn't but every four years...

I was due February 28th, and that's the day I started having contractions. 

Mom came up to keep big sister and we headed to the hospital.  Little Sophee Girl made her debut at 3:03 a.m. on March 1st, weighing in as by biggest baby yet, 8lbs 14oz.  How sweet she was! 

That first year, as we all know, flew by!  I can barely remember it. If it wasn't for all my pictures, I may not at all...Her first birthday arrived!

What a sweetie she had become!  From then on, she has grown so, so quickly!  She decided on her 2nd, and 3rd, birthdays, that she wanted to have a Dora party in the park.




Sophee's 2nd birthday - Dora party in the park



Sophee's 3rd birthday - Another Dora party in the park!!

So, this year, I shed a tear, or two, or many, because my fun-spirited, quirky, sneaky, thumb sucking three-year-old has all of the sudden become my four-year-old.  I love you, my Sophee girl : )

Sophee is 4 (Notice the pink lipstick on thanks to Big Sister!)

Just had to...love the face : )