I'm Not Sure I'm Ready

Lately I've been thinking that if I were a Bible publisher, I think I'd put the words "DON'T PANIC" in large, friendly letters on the cover. (1) Submitting to the will of God looks nothing at all like human nature. And sometimes it makes me feel like panicking. Take, for example, the impending departure of my daughter for the other side of the country. I know, I'll probably not get any sympathy from many, like my sister, whose own daughter has lived in India for years. But this will rock my little world. It's always been me and Steph. At least, it seems to me like always. When she was little, I had the overwhelming responsibility of being a single parent. That creates some strong bonding. And then as she grew up, we became fast friends. More bonding. Until now the farthest apart we've ever lived has been 45 minutes. That is soon to become 4.5 hours by plane or 22 hours by car. Gulp!



So, yeah, I feel a bit like panicking. But then I remember that Stephanie has spent a lot of time praying about this. Seeking God's direction. Listening for God's voice. God is in control.

Still, I have moments when I feel like panicking. I want to hold my daughter close, not let her go. But what challenges, growth and riches of experience that God has in store for her would I be robbing her of? What challenges, growth and experiences that God has in store for me would I be cheating myself of? I don't know. And knowing that I don't know excites me to want to be brave, selfless and submitted to God's will rather than my own.

I am thinking on three truths that Derek Prince encourages us to keep in mind when renouncing our own will and embracing the will of God:

First of all, God loves you more than you love yourself.

Second, God understands you better than you understand yourself.

And third, God wants only the best for you.

When you truly yield to God's will, you will discover that it is what the Bible says it is: "good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2) (2)

So DON'T PANIC.

[Credits: (1) The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams; (2) Secrets of a Prayer Warrior, Derek Prince]

The Buzz on Our Bee

Our Saturday sewing bee went really well. I'm so glad Kathy was willing to host us as her space was a great setup for the job. Here you can see our machines around her kitchen table and the huge island we used for cutting out. Just off the kitchen is her sunporch and since the day was unusually warm, we set the ironing board up out there with all the windows open for a breeze.


I was awake at 6:OO am and since the sunporch was such a lovely spot at that time of day, I set to work out there on another table cutting out the necessary tissue pieces and pressing them for use. Kathy was up not too long after that and fixed me some coffee. Yeah! Then Steph joined us and we set to work. I cut out all but the blue skirt, which Steph cut out and made completely on her own. She looks like a pro here...


And here is her finished project. She was the first one to complete anything that day. She looks pretty proud of herself.


I worked on the tunic. The fabric was a pale green linen that worked up really nicely.


Stephanie had selected a pretty trim in matching pale green. It's a satiny braid with a velvet ribbon running through it. We added it to the neckline and then she had the idea to add a swirl to each shoulder, as well.


Kathy worked on a skirt that was seven curved flounces done in a batik. It turned out really well. Here's is Stephanie in her completed outfit.


We had a great time working together and enjoying one another's company. The consensus was that it was much more fun to sew together than alone.

We're On the Eve of Construction

I want to start this post with a picture from a night or two ago... the sun was shining brightly from the west as a strong storm moved in with dark clouds from the East. It made for quite the contrast of light and dark.


So in preparation for the Sewing Bee tomorrow, I finished my scissors case so that I could safely transport these important tools. Valerie helped me with the design when she was here last December.


She also taught me the foundation piecing that makes for the colorful outside of the case.


So tomorrow Kathy, Stephanie and I are going to have an all day sew-a-thon in the the hopes of completing three skirts and two tops for Stephanie to add to her wardrobe before she moves in two and a half weeks. Last night Stephanie and I went shopping for fabric, today I washed and dried it all but I put off ironing until this evening after the sun went down. It was sizzling hot here, 90's in Evergreen - nearly unheard of - so what better arrangment for ironing than on the deck after dusk? You can see the moon right above the iron...


I do believe the tomato plants are approving of this rich coral colored linen.


And just what will be sewing up tomorrow?




Stephanie has selected the top with plain sleeves from pattern 4149, to be made out of pale green and coral linens.


Skirt A from pattern 2416 in the brown batik and another in view B from the pink and pale green batiks.


And finally, the skirt from 4149 in the lightweight cotton that looks like denim.


Looks like I'd better wrap up this post and get ready for all that construction!