January 10, 2018 “Naming my New Puppy”
After experiencing a heart attack in November of 2017, I decided to get a puppy.  I figured a puppy would not only give me something to love and take care of, but it would also get me out of the house and force me to exercise.  A puppy requires attention.  It requires the owner to take time to train it, to love it, to walk it, and to water and feed it.  A puppy would give me hope, love, and a reason to live.  So, I chose this little angel online.  She is a miniature golden doodle, which is part golden retriever, and part miniature poodle.  The father is a full bred miniature black poodle, so she picked up the curly black hair and miniature size of her father.  She won’t be ready to be adopted until the end of January, so I have had some time to think about what I should name her.  I began searching for an appropriate name for my little life-giving companion.  What is in a name?  The Bible tells us that Jesus is the name above all names, and that at His name, every knee in heaven and earth should bow at his name. “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11) KJV. The Bible also tells us that a good name name is important. “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.” (Proverbs 22:1) KJV

So, what should I name this little angel puppy that will help restore me back to health? I first thought the name “Pepper” would be good, as she is solid black, and so is pepper.  Then, I thought about the name Midnight Song, as she would most likely keeping me up late at night, but Paul and Silas sang praises at midnight while they were in prison, so that would be a good name for her, but decided that it was too long of a name for a puppy.  I spoke to several different people about it, and everyone wanted me to name her after them.  My mother wanted me to call her “Emma”, but since Mother is coming to visit, it might confuse the puppy when I call my mother Emma also.  So that name is out.  I have a list that I have going through my head:
Coco- She would make me think of the dark chocolate that I am NOT eating!  LOL
Roxy-Short for Roxann.  One of the dearest women in the world to me was named Roxann, but she would not allow me to call her Roxy. That always struck me as funny.  Roxy is a playful and fun name.
Lady- Lady was a beautiful cocker spaniel in the Disney movie, “Lady and the Tramp”, and my previous dog was a chocolate colored cocker spaniel.  Lady is a proper name.
I still have a few weeks to land on a good name for my little puppy.  She was born at Thanksgiving, right after I had my heart attack, so I thought about God’s goodness and grace on my life, and the fact that He gave me a second chance at life.  Should I name her Gracie, or Chance?  I want to stay in God’s will for my life, so should I call her Wilma?  She is going to be like an angel coming to rescue my lonely heart, so should I call her Angel?  The collar that she is wearing now is peach colored, so should I call her Peaches?  I will bring her home in two weeks. She will be named, and she will be loved, and those two things are better than great riches, silver and gold.
I haven’t decided yet what her name will be, but I know it will be a good name, and I know that I love her already.

Christmas Left-overs

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

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

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