This Old Dog...

My daughter, Sara, called the other day. She wanted to know how much I loved my granddaughter, Ella Cate. Silly question. I love all my grandkids bunches and bunches.

The outfit I made for Ella Cate to go from the hospital in.

Sara couldn't find an Easter dress she liked for her sweet little girl. Could I make one? Sure. I'd give it a whirl. I'd made prom dresses, a wedding dress, lots of baby and toddler clothes for the girls, and quilts. I assumed (one should never do that) we'd go to the fabric store and purchase a pattern. Nope. It's not what young moms do anymore. Instead, she went on Etsy and purchased a downloadable pattern.

What? I have to download the pattern and print it. Not to mention make sure the 1" square is exactly 1", because that's how you know the sizing is accurate, follow the forty-nine pages of directions to tape the pattern together, cut out the fabric and sew it, and figure out how to improvise the parts that require a serger. (I don't have one, and I think I'd like a hem better, anyway.)

The pattern's printed. I've read the directions. As soon as we have a chance, Sara and I will take Ella Cate to pick out fabric. Can't wait.

Am I challenged? Yes. Will I do it? Yes. This old dog can still learn a new trick or two.

I'll post a pic when the project is finished.

Have you learned something new recently? What was it?

True Love

1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

February the month of Love

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

Tim and I married on October 31, 1992. Over twenty-two year ago, we combined our families— my three daughters and his son and daughter, ages ranged eight to fifteen. One year from March to July, all five were teenagers. With lots of love for each other and for each child, we rejoiced with them, high school and college graduations, weddings, and babies, plus all the daily joys. We protected them the best we could and comforted them in heartbreak and injury. We trusted them to make good decisions and hoped for the best. Our love persevered. Now with eight grandchildren in the mix, we experience more love than we imagined.

God feels the same way about his children. When we choose truth, he rejoices. Through his Spirit he protects us and in free will he trusts us to make the best choices. The hope he gave us outweighs all hope. Through Jesus we look forward to eternal life. God’s love perseveres. His love never, ever fails. On Valentine’s Day we send messages to the people we love. Buy flowers and chocolate. This day I want to send a prayer of thanks to the Father who loves me. Praise God for true love.

Wednesday Wisdom

Writer off the Leash: Growing in the Writing Craft

Of all the writing books I've read, and I've read a lot, this is the best one. I wish I’d had it when I first started writing fiction. Michelle's sense of humor makes the book fun to read. Her great explanations and advice make the book a keeper. I’ll refer to it over and over again. She doesn’t just give the nuts and bolts of writing fiction, she gets to the heart of why a writer writes and has the reader ask themselves questions that reveal whether they have a heart for writing. If you have any interest in or already write fiction, buy this book. Seriously, buy this book.

When Love Disintegrates

1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

February, the month of love.

Love does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

As people milled around the exhibits at the zoo, a couple of peacocks strutted about. They dragged their multi-colored tails behind them, then stopped to impress the crowd. The tail feathers fanned out into a beautiful array of iridescent blue and green. You could say… they were proud as a peacock. Male peacocks show off their tails to win a peahen’s heart. God created the birds to show their feathers.

Can you imagine people strutting around with prideful, feathered tails? When people throw pride, envy, and selfishness into a relationship the bonds of trust are broken, abuse happens, and love disintegrates. Paul tells us in Corinthians to turn from selfishness. Instead of envy, appreciate. Instead of boasting, encourage. Instead of luxuriating in pride, be humble. Show honor, be selfless, let go of anger, and throw grudges aside. Follow Jesus example of love and put others first. He gave his life. Praise God for his love.

Patient and Kind

1 Corinthians 13: 4-8
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

February, the month of love. I’ll admit I enjoy a good Hallmark movie that spirals around romance. I like contemporary romance books and am trying my hand at writing them. One of my favorite genres is a good cozy mystery with, yes—a dash of romance. Hmmm…love and mystery. Love is a mystery or is love a mystery? God paints a pretty clear picture in 1 Corinthians that covers not only romance, but all types of love. And that’s where I’m going to dwell for the month of February.

Love is patient, love is kind.

Today, I had the opportunity to take care of my seven-month old granddaughter all day. What a joy! She’s a sweet little one who’s easy to love. But I was reminded of the amount of patience a baby requires. She’s learning to eat baby food and as one spoon full goes in, half of it comes back out because she’s still developing her skills. So I’d feed her some pears then scoop them off her little chin and try again. Eventually we finished the task, and she laid her head on my shoulder and napped. That’s love.

While I took care of Ella Cate, my husband went to watch two grandsons play basketball. While five year old Max had his first game, his big brother, Aiden, stood in the end zone cheering him on. Aiden could have been playing with his friend, instead he encouraged his brother. That’s kindness.

Days are filled with opportunities to show patience and kindness. Waiting in traffic, a turn in the bathroom (once upon a time we shared one bathroom with three daughters), a spouse to get ready, a child to put on their shoes, a coworker to complete a project and on and on. Paul, the author of Corinthians, reminds us to pour out patience and kindness because they reflect love. Not just good advice, but an excellent way to live life. 

He'll Give You Rest

Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Exhausted, fatigued, sapped, spent, drained—ever felt like that? Yes? Then you know what it’s like to be weary. Not just physically tired, where a good night’s sleep revives the energy in your body. But, weary. Exhausted right down to the soul. Your heart hurts, your heads aches, your spirit sags. Life’s been sucked out. This kind of life draining experience often occurs with stress, loss, when the same frustrating situation occurs over and over again or when hope is lost. You’re so spiritually beaten down, you want to crawl under the covers and hibernate like a bear. Or sleep the day away like my dogs. And sometimes physical rest is part of the process that refreshes a hurting soul. But there’s more.

Jesus offers to take the burden, carry the stress, and restore the spirit. Anytime I’ve taken my weariness, my burdens, my stress and anxieties to him, I find hope and peace. Not only do I give him my burdens, I take on his ways and pray his gentle spirit and humble heart will fill me. Spending time in prayer and reading the Bible relieve me of the weariness the world brings. Asking others to pray with me and for me gives me encouragement. For me being outside surrounded by God’s creation restores my soul. I’m thankful Jesus loves me enough to carry my burdens and give me rest. Praise God for his son!