Okay, it is January 10th...and I have a question, "What in the world do I do with all my Christmas left-overs"?
I have left-over cleaning, left-over decorations, left-over scrapbooking, left-over presents, left-over sewing, left-over baking supplies....and the list goes on. If we would have been home during the holidays, I might have had left-over food in the refrigerator, but we were gone through most of the holiday season, so the refrigerator is empty of left-overs, and alas, there is no left-over money in my bank account!
You should know that I am trying desperately to loose the left-over pounds of many Christmas pasts. Tonight I am scheduled to work-out with the PT at the gym. My sore muscles have barely recovered from the last work-out session! I promise you that I have muscles that I never knew that I had...I know this because they HURT! The PT tells me that muscle burns more calories, so the more muscle I build, the more calories they will burn...wooohooo!
I am also trying really hard to stay off the couch on the evenings that I do not go to the gym. I don't know what I was thinking when I had my laundry room placed in the basement of our house when we had it built. The builder tried to convince me that I would regret it, but I was young at that time, and knew everything.
Well, now it takes a trip down and back up the stairs for EVERY load of laundry. It has always taken that, but when I was young, I just flew up and down the steps and they weren't a source of pain for my legs and my hips and all the muscles, bones and joints in-between; and I never counted the times I had to go up and down the steps. Now that I am over 50 and over-weight, those steps hate me and my Christmas left-overs, and the laundry will pile up in the basement until I give in and tackle the stairway, and the pain. I've heard it said, "No pain, no gain", but I am here to tell you that my motto is, " NO PAIN, NO PAIN"!!!!!! So, last night I tried to catch up on my never-ending source of pain...my laundry and going up and down the steps...and I think I got a pretty good work-out by just doing the stairs to and from the laundry room!
My mother reminded me this morning (for the kazillianth time) that anything worth doing is worth doing right. So, tonight I will head to the gym for my pain-session with the PT, and give my all in an effort to rid myself of a few more Christmas left-overs. Then I will come home and plant myself on the couch for a rest and some quilt therapy. Under a comforting quilt, I will smile while my sore and newly forming muscles burn more of the Christmas left-overs away.
Your Sew Happy Quilter
Pam
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Friday, January 6, 2012
A Dove's Heart
Well, all of you must know about the story of the dove in Genesis. But something jumped out at me this week in my Bible reading that I never noticed before. Before Noah sent the dove out of the ark to search for land...he sent a raven. The raven stayed away and never returned to the ark. Then the dove was sent out of the ark to look for land. The dove came back because she was weary, and Noah pulled her back in for a rest. The dove was sent out again and came back again with an olive leaf and more rest. When the dove was sent out from the ark a third time, it never returned. Here is the story for your background reading pleasure:
(Genesis 8: 6-12, KJV)
[6] And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made:
[7] And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth.
[8] Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground;
[9] But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark.
[10] And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark;
[11] And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.
[12] And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more.
As I read this story, my heart was encouraged. So many people are like the raven. They begin in the safety of the ark and are sent out into the world...and never return. Others are like the dove. They begin in the safety of the ark, and return to rest, then are sent out again into the world. In Genesis, the dove finally did find a home in the world, along with the rest of the people that were in the ark, but the little nugget that jumped out from this reading is that the dove came back to the ark to rest. Wow.
When my soul is weary, and I need rest, I need to have a dove's heart and go back to the ark...the safety of God's Word, the church and the fellowship of other Christians. We never hear what happened to the raven, only that it never returned to the ark. Most likely, the raven was drowned in the waters when it weakened from flying too far from the ark. Much in the same way, when I stray too far into the world, and leave the safety of God's Word, the church and the fellowship other Christians, I become weak in my spiritual flight, and begin to drown in the worries and cares of life.
May this thought encourage you today to have a dove's heart, and stay close to the ark...the Word of God, the church and the fellowship of other Christians. And if you are currently safe in the ark and see a weary dove needing rest, be the one that pulls her back into safety. Be an encouragement to a weary soul needing rest, and God bless you in your journey.
Your Sew Happy Quilter,
Pam
(Genesis 8: 6-12, KJV)
[6] And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made:
[7] And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth.
[8] Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground;
[9] But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark.
[10] And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark;
[11] And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.
[12] And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more.
As I read this story, my heart was encouraged. So many people are like the raven. They begin in the safety of the ark and are sent out into the world...and never return. Others are like the dove. They begin in the safety of the ark, and return to rest, then are sent out again into the world. In Genesis, the dove finally did find a home in the world, along with the rest of the people that were in the ark, but the little nugget that jumped out from this reading is that the dove came back to the ark to rest. Wow.
When my soul is weary, and I need rest, I need to have a dove's heart and go back to the ark...the safety of God's Word, the church and the fellowship of other Christians. We never hear what happened to the raven, only that it never returned to the ark. Most likely, the raven was drowned in the waters when it weakened from flying too far from the ark. Much in the same way, when I stray too far into the world, and leave the safety of God's Word, the church and the fellowship other Christians, I become weak in my spiritual flight, and begin to drown in the worries and cares of life.
May this thought encourage you today to have a dove's heart, and stay close to the ark...the Word of God, the church and the fellowship of other Christians. And if you are currently safe in the ark and see a weary dove needing rest, be the one that pulls her back into safety. Be an encouragement to a weary soul needing rest, and God bless you in your journey.
Your Sew Happy Quilter,
Pam
Thursday, January 5, 2012
New Beginnings
I love the New Year, don't you? There is just something about new beginnings that energizes me and gives me hope for a better day.
Speaking of new beginnings, I've started my annual goal of reading through the Bible in one year. It is not really a lofty goal when you love to read as much as I do. No matter how much I read the Bible I find something good to lift my spirits. The more I read the Bible, the more my spirit is lifted. There is not another person or thing that has the ability to help me rise above life quite like the Bible does!
My wonderful son-in-love, Andy, added a KJV Bible app to my new Kindle Fire, which makes reading more enjoyable than EVER! Genesis begins with "In the beginning", so I love to start there! Genesis reminds me that the reason that I love new beginnings and love to create things is because I was created by God in His image...and He created the beginning to begin with!
I've also decided to get "fit" this year! I've had resolutions in past years to lose weight, but those goals soon fizzled out in every New Year! The thing that I have done differently this year, is that I hope to lose weight as a direct result of my goal to get "fit". So, I hired a personal trainer and signed a contract with a commitment to "work-out" with her three times a week for the next twelve months. She is helping me be accountable for my exercise goals, which in turn will lead to weight loss...at least I HOPE SO!
In addition, I just purchased a "sweet" little embroidery machine. My embroidery machine has not earned a name yet, as I have barely gotten to know her! For those of you who know me, you know that I have a pet name for my car. My car is named "Lola". Inside "Lola" sits "Leroy", a stuffed teddy bear that reminds me of my sweetheart...Ed. Don't ask me why I named my teddy bear "Leroy" instead of Ed...for that is another story! Anyway, "Leroy" keeps me company on my commute back and forth to work every day, and since we spend at least ten hours a week together, I've grown to love him as a special soft traveling companion that makes me feel like a child again!
So, I will be deciding on a name for my new little embroidery machine soon...and will keep you posted. Do you have any suggestions? She is a "Brother" Embroidery Machine, but I want to give her a girl's name. Even though "Brother Machines" are allowed in my sewing/quilting room (aka "happy place") BOYS in general are NOT allowed in my sewing/quilting room (aka "happy place")...well, except for my grandson, Jack. Jack is five and just this past summer I helped him sew his very first "rag quilt". He sat/stood in front of my lap at my sewing machine and guided the fabric and pressed the foot-feed. He did much of the sewing completely on his own, with just a little help from me...and therefore earned the right to be in my happy place...as long as I am with him there!
So, Happy New Year to my family and friends! I hope you will follow me on my weight-loss and get-fit journey, and hope also to encourage you to live each day to the fullest and enjoy life!
Your Sew Happy Quilter!
Pam
Speaking of new beginnings, I've started my annual goal of reading through the Bible in one year. It is not really a lofty goal when you love to read as much as I do. No matter how much I read the Bible I find something good to lift my spirits. The more I read the Bible, the more my spirit is lifted. There is not another person or thing that has the ability to help me rise above life quite like the Bible does!
My wonderful son-in-love, Andy, added a KJV Bible app to my new Kindle Fire, which makes reading more enjoyable than EVER! Genesis begins with "In the beginning", so I love to start there! Genesis reminds me that the reason that I love new beginnings and love to create things is because I was created by God in His image...and He created the beginning to begin with!
I've also decided to get "fit" this year! I've had resolutions in past years to lose weight, but those goals soon fizzled out in every New Year! The thing that I have done differently this year, is that I hope to lose weight as a direct result of my goal to get "fit". So, I hired a personal trainer and signed a contract with a commitment to "work-out" with her three times a week for the next twelve months. She is helping me be accountable for my exercise goals, which in turn will lead to weight loss...at least I HOPE SO!
In addition, I just purchased a "sweet" little embroidery machine. My embroidery machine has not earned a name yet, as I have barely gotten to know her! For those of you who know me, you know that I have a pet name for my car. My car is named "Lola". Inside "Lola" sits "Leroy", a stuffed teddy bear that reminds me of my sweetheart...Ed. Don't ask me why I named my teddy bear "Leroy" instead of Ed...for that is another story! Anyway, "Leroy" keeps me company on my commute back and forth to work every day, and since we spend at least ten hours a week together, I've grown to love him as a special soft traveling companion that makes me feel like a child again!
So, I will be deciding on a name for my new little embroidery machine soon...and will keep you posted. Do you have any suggestions? She is a "Brother" Embroidery Machine, but I want to give her a girl's name. Even though "Brother Machines" are allowed in my sewing/quilting room (aka "happy place") BOYS in general are NOT allowed in my sewing/quilting room (aka "happy place")...well, except for my grandson, Jack. Jack is five and just this past summer I helped him sew his very first "rag quilt". He sat/stood in front of my lap at my sewing machine and guided the fabric and pressed the foot-feed. He did much of the sewing completely on his own, with just a little help from me...and therefore earned the right to be in my happy place...as long as I am with him there!
So, Happy New Year to my family and friends! I hope you will follow me on my weight-loss and get-fit journey, and hope also to encourage you to live each day to the fullest and enjoy life!
Your Sew Happy Quilter!
Pam
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