Mercy

At around 6:00 pm, my patience is in tatters, my ears are ringing, my brain is buzzing (I really have that sensation, anyone else?), and my tolerance for little ones hanging on my legs as I walk between fridge and stove getting dinner finished is really gone. I am so grateful that bedtime is close, so close...and repentant for my ingratitude...for scolding and snapping and grumbling.

I'm reading John Piper's, A Godward Life, during Lent this year. I'm not very far in, but I would recommend it already. The reading for today was based on Matthew 6:34: "Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

"The manna in the wilderness was given one day at a time. There was no storing up. That is the way we must depend on God's mercy. You do not receive today the strength to bear tomorrow's burdens. You are given mercies for today's troubles. Tomorrow the mercies will be new." (Piper 26)

We have a faithful God, one who gives us enough mercy and grace for today. I think of two things when I consider this:

1) A reminder that losing my temper and speaking harshly to my children or husband is not an option. This life is not 'too much' for me, no matter how crazy it might feel in the moment. He has already provided me with grace to choose joy and love no matter how I feel right now.

2) There will be new mercies tomorrow. We get to sleep and wake up rested (some days) and our God will provide whatever we need for that day.

I sometimes get caught up in a wave of anxiety about my childrens' futures. What kind of society will they grow up in? Will they know Jesus? Will they make devastating choices? Regardless of the answers to any of these questions: God will give me mercy and grace to deal with the future. One day at a time.

Present grace and future grace: our God is good.

Frozen

It's been a frozen winter...weeks of snow and ice and subzero temperatures. Thanks, Disney, for predicting the worst and producing a movie and soundtrack to get us through... I think everyone has had an "Olaf" or two this year.

While I am not thrilled with all the time indoors, I have put it to good use. You may notice a bit of a theme here, an obsession with staying warm, perhaps?)

1) A twin sized quilt. Love it! I made it to match the one already on P's bed (the last photo below). In the next few months we will set up another bed in his room for V, but I know when the great weather sets in I won't be motivated to spend it inside piecing and quilting! I used the same pattern (Dot Party from Jaybird Quilts) but I added more prints (more gray and navy, less red) and quilted it a bit differently--horizontally and vertically on each side of every seam then diagonally across the squares.

2) A baby afghan (can't show it yet because it's a gift), I used Purl Bee's great tutorial HERE like the one I made for baby V two years ago. How can it be two years!?!

3) A baby quilt (again, gift, but I will show pics soon). I absolutely love it, I got to use all my favorite scraps and it's my first attempt at piecing very small triangles. It was so much fun and I think it will be much loved! Here's a peek at the back :) Lots of pressing seams open, but it's worth it!

4) Half of a crocheted throw, a knock off Hudson Bay blanket. I love the boyish/campground feel, but they are soo expensive! The pic below is from Purl Bee, my version is similar, but larger and I'm crocheting and using worsted weight cotton.

I also have a little list of projects in mind for the next few months: 

1) Get ready! Pirate Costumes. My Peter Pan Costume Tutorial is pretty popular (about 900 views per month). I think it's time for another costume! P, at three and a half, is much more interested in dressing up and imaginative play. That's very fun for me and I want to encourage the creativity!

2) Spring/Summer clothes for the boys. Shorts/overalls, etc...

3) Applique T's. They're everywhere and it's so simple and inexpensive to embellish a T. Check these out HERE and HERE and HERE.