Photo Challenge Week 19: Still Life

~Liv

P.s. Don't forget Mother's Day tomorrow! Because the woman who grew you for nine months, changed your diaper for two years, and put up with your fingerprints on her fridge for much longer - deserves some sort of hug, kiss and thank you!

We don't know what we would do without you, Moms!

For the last few months I have been frustrated by the seemingly endless blogs that portray motherhood as this perfection of duty.  This seeming striving for perfection that is exhausting, physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually.  A striving that forgets God's grace.  I have started and restarted a post to somehow express the truth and honesty I feel is important for all women and aspiring wives and mothers to read about, but just haven't been able to organize my thoughts well enough.

I was thinking it would be a fitting mother's day weekend post to finally formulate my thoughts. However, I read Ann Voskamp's latest post here: http://www.aholyexperience.com/2013/05/why-mothers-day-is-for-the-birds/ and it basically said everything I wanted to say and more.  If you are a mother...if you hope to be a mother someday...read this.  And just rest in God's grace today and who He has made you to be.
  Much love,
        -Abigail xx

Nothing Nicer

There is nothing nicer than sewing for a new baby! I had the fun of it this winter - and I found some great tutorials along the way.

First and Foremost - Burp Cloths. (Sorry Millie)...but what else do you call them?

I used a towel for the back which was stiff, but should be absorbant.

Tutorial here: http://www.danamadeit.com/2012/04/celebrate-baby-tutorial-burp-cloth-gift-sets.html

Quilts are pretty much the ultimate gift to anyone - anytime, anywhere. (In my opinion.) But with super-soft minky on the back? Perfect for baby.

Quilt Pattern found here: http://aquiltisnice.blogspot.ca/2008/09/zig-zag-quilt-kit-tutorial.html

And I know not everyone is into nursing covers - but if you are - this tutorial was very quick and easy!

http://www.prudentbaby.com/2010/01/diy-nursing-cover.html

That's all for now!

~Liv

Photo Challenge Week 18: Fiesta or Siesta?

With babies, this is always the question...

Fiesta?

Or Siesta?

~Liv

This Weekend.

So...I heard there was this thing starting tonight, called a weekend.

They say it's that couple of days when you stroll the farmer's market, have naps and dine on the patio in elegance.

Huh. I think I might try that someday. Care to join me?

In the meantime, lets make weekend hay while the sun shines!

If you're working, wear a smile. If you're cooking for the church potluck, crank the music up. If you've got kids around, let them go barefoot in the mud. If you're cranky, let it go sweetheart. Do you drink coffee? Great - have another cup!

Let's live it up the next few days - right in the middle of commitments and dirty bathrooms and Sunday morning service.

This life you have right now, is where the good things are.

Look hard for them this weekend and give thanks.

 It makes the sunshine sweeter.

~Liv

Trusting Christ

This morning's quiet time blessed me with Luke 12:22 "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on."

With each of the largely broadcasting calamities of late, I have seen more and more comments on social media like this: "The last days are here!" "This is seeming a lot like the last days."

 Yes...we are in the last days and have been since the ascension of our Lord.  There is trouble, there is strife, there is hunger, famine, gluttony and greed, there is death and sickness.  Amid all of this, it becomes easy to lose focus on Life.  I'm so guilty of this.  We are in the process of an international adoption...I worry about lawyer fees and other related expenses, I worry about my husband's job security, I worry about healthcare and I worry about today's very sad food industry.  But it's wrong.  While we shouldn't turn a blind eye and neglect to stand firmly for what is right and we believe in, to worry about it, to fixate on it in an unhealthy way is wrong.

 Matthew Henry says, "An eager, anxious pursuit of the things of this world, even necessary things, does not become the disciple of Christ.  Fears must not prevail; when we frighten ourselves with the thoughts of evil to come, and put ourselves upon needless cares how to avoid it."

 Let's focus on Life, let's glorify God with gladness, let's set about our daily lives equipping our souls, by grace in Christ, and the souls of our children for the evils that are to come. Let's not fixate so much on the physical that we lose sight of the reason why God has created us.
                                             -Abigail xx

Funny

Funny how we ask God

why there's sin,

and bombings, and miscarriages

and cancer;

how we ask God

"Why" about these things

as if we should expect better.

But we never ask God

Why there's music

and a baby's first smile

and daffodils in spring.

Funny how we never ask God

why these things exist;

because we deserve far worse.

Funny that.

- Millie