Patching Up Jeans

I'm currently patching a pair of my hubby's Carhartt work jeans. They already have two layers of denim on the thighs, but here I am patching holes that have become so large, he can no longer wear them. He insists that all the guys he knows wear their jeans out just as fast. "Sometimes they catch on things,,, like the saw blades." "Please," I thought, I don't want to know, just give me the jeans, and I'll fix them!

They are of course his favorite, so here I am, attempting to patch them up. I'm doing a double zig zag seam to be extra sure. I have tried the iron on patches, but never had much success. I have heard that if you iron, then sew them on, that they actually last without falling off.

However, I have an old pair of denim jeans that I kept around, and it's a good thing because now I can cut them up for fabric (you never know when you just might need something) {smile}.

If I ever figure out how to post pictures on this thing (I'm technologically challenged), then I'll post a picture of my patching attempts. (Our computer is a Mac, and things seems to be a little different with these.)

Oregon Coast or bust!!!

Well, I am looking forward to what began as a family vacation, and has ended up being more like a family reunion coming up!

We will be gone for around a week, and some of my family is coming tomorrow to stay the night here. Then we'll pile some of the group in our Suburban to go to the coast, and the rest will come later. We live very near the coast already, so it wont be too far of a drive, but far enough to really get away!!

I asked dh to maybe plan something romantic for just the two of us on one of the nights. I can't remember the last time we got out, just he and I on a date (I know were really bad)!

Anyways, I can't wait, and as you can imagine, I'm busy packing, doing laundry, cleaning, etc. today. I like to try to come home from vacation to a clean house...if at all possible {smile}

The other thing is I'll be missing church while away; Youth Group, Wednesday Family Night and both Sunday Services! It feels really weird, but I am looking forward to some much needed rest for our whole family!!

Oregon coast or bust!!!

Anxious About Ministry

Ugh, I'm so tired.

Wednesday nights are a killer for me, and this wednesday especially.
There have been so many things to do lately. For one, trying to catch up on things from being gone for a week, combined with doing the usual routine and schedule. In addition to this, were getting ready to leave again for a family reunion at the end of August!

Of course dh is away right now. We had church this evening. I arrived tired, and I left even more tired. One of my little ones was hyped up from Pee Wee Club and playing with friends, my other baby was crabby.
When we got home, I was dragging to get them in clean diapers, PJ's and off to bed. Then dh came home for a minuet and then left again in the middle of them getting ready for bed. He had to drive the tractor somewhere...I thought that was strange it getting dark out, but I was too tired to say much about it.

It's one of those nights when I feel like I'm spinning my wheels and not really getting anywhere. I'm teaching Patch the Pirate and the numbers are so up and down. The kids act so spoiled sometimes and it gets very discouraging. Sometimes I think it would be better if I just didn't care about it that much, then it wouldn't be such a big deal.

I'm also starting up a Mom's Group and next week is our first meeting. The planning has seemed to go well so far. I guess I'm a little discouraged because one of the moms who I was hoping would be involved told me tonight that for now, she wont be able to. She was the one who's not really a part of the church yet, and who has a lot of friends in the community (she grew up here). So, I was kind of hoping she would want to come.
I don't know, I find myself feeling like I have to "sell" certain ministries sometimes, and I don't like it. I feel like I have to have to have a "three ringed circus" for some people, and thats still not enough to get them to come.
I just remember when God grabbed a hold of my heart, people didn't have to try to "sell" church or Jesus to me, I just wanted to be there because thats where I could learn more about Him.

I think I'm just feeling a little anxious about this Mom's Group. I think I'm afraid it will fail. I also feel very insecure about my ability to lead this group the right way. I'm not really leading, just more facilitating, but even that scares me. I don't want to come across wrong, either too dominating or too passive.

I guess I just have to wait on His perfect timing, and to trust that whoever He wants there, He will bring and whatever He wants to happen will happen...

Youth Camp

After church this morning, were taking 12 kids, 2 counselors and 4 vehicles for about a days ride out to Church Youth Camp!
We'll be gone for about a week...a week camping in the dust, where it's really hot, and where there's no computers!! So, to whoever reads this thing, be back soon!!
Youth Camp or Bust!

Who's Compelling...Mine or His?

A portion of Oswald Chamber's devotional today reads:

Naturally, our ambitions are our own; in the Christian life we have no aim of our own.
There is so much said to-day about our decisions for Christ, our determination to be Christians,
our decisions for this and that, but in the New Testament it is the aspect of God's compelling that is brought out.
"Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you."

I know there is no end to the fleshly desires my heart holds, it is what I call, "a bottomless pit." My Lord's hands deliver me daily from myself, and what the natural man in me desires.
This is my reminder today of God's leading, and total control of the Christian's life, of my life!
It is a mystery to me where God will lead me, but I know that I have no reason to fear, for I am in the same hands that delivered me from death, and eternal separation from Him.
Praise God, there's more to the Christian life than what we have as of yet, here on earth!
My hope can only be in my eternal future with our Father in Heaven...where my retirement lies...

Great Christian Women

I have done some reading on historical biographies of christian women lately.
The book, Great Christian Women of the Faith, by Edith Deen, was full of many stories of christian women, most who I had never heard of before. It's not really a book you read from front to back, but more of a reference type book. I've had it for a few years, and learn a new story about a model christian women every time I pick it up (very inspiring)!
Tonight, I found an article on Susanna Wesley, by Beverly Whitaker, MA, She tells of Susanna's life in a first-person style, as if Mrs. Wesley is telling the story herself (which really draws me in!).
Susanna Wesley was the mother of nineteen children of whom nine survived including John and Charles Wesley. Call me emotional, but I can barely read about all ten of her children dying, many as infants, without having a cry. She taught her children for six hours a day, six days a week! Her husband Samuel Wesley was a bit of what now-a-days we would call a "dead beat." She spent time with God for an hour every morning, and after her ninth child was born, for two hours every morning, (wow!)
I then read a little about a christian wife and mother, Anne Bradstreet. She was a Puritan woman who is known for being the first American poet. Her writings are wonderful, full of emotion and faith.
So, anyways, I feel like I've just discovered a chest full of gleaming treasures. I can't wait to read more stories that I never learned growing up, about great christian women.

Pastor's Wife Mussings

We just returned home from our church's Wednesday Family Night.
I am tired, in a good way.
Although, on Wednesdays I sometimes wish there were ten of me.
So many people need to talk to the Pastor's wife with concerns, prayer requests, needed instruction, etc.
I only wish I could address everyone the way they need. It's difficult to know that your not really pleasing anyone when there are so many needs to be met.
At one point today, I think I had three or more people trying to talk to me all at once. On top of this my toddler son is staring at me from across the room, trying to tell me about his Pee Wee Club, my baby girl is saying, "Up, up," from down at my feet, and I'm trying to clean up class after Patch the Pirate Club.
Sometimes, I think to myself, "it's good that your still young, and have the energy for all of this!"
Then I go home and go to bed!