Rest!

Today I feel really overwhelmed! It's not really a bad kind of overwhelmed and I'm not letting it affect my good mood--I just feel that feeling that there's just a lot more to process right now than I'm willing to give attention to!

It probably has a lot to do with the fact that life is getting back to normal after a crazy couple of weeks surrounding Liam's birth. I think I'm finally having time to decompress and I'm trying to filter out what can be ignored from what needs attention.

I was reminded today that I need to rest! I'm not talking about sleep--that thought is just a cruel joke right now with baby Liam wanting to eat at all hours! I'm talking about that stillness we're supposed to experience with God. That "Sabbathing".

God, himself, gave us the example of the Sabbath or "rest" day in Genesis 2:3: "Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made." We know our God didn't need a day of rest, but he knew we would need one---in fact, we would need many!

There are some who practice a strict Sabbath day once a week (usually on Saturday), where they do no work, no cooking, no entertainment---actually, I'm not really sure what they DO, but I know the Sabbath is, for them, a specific day with specific "rules" that is and are unchangeable.

While I don't think God intends for us to be that legalistic about the specific day or numbers of hours spent doing nothing, I can see how planning for and taking this day can be a peaceful and restful thing to look forward to!

The way I see it is that God wants us to have many "Sabbath days"...even "Sabbath hours"! One of the many similar definitions for "Sabbath" is "to rest". Feeling sick? Take a Sabbath. Want to contemplate God's many blessings on your life? Take a Sabbath. Feeling overwhelmed by absolutely nothing? (Why, yes I am!) Take a Sabbath!

I'm physically tired but I don't necessarily need a physical nap. Let's face it, I've got seven children---one of them a two week old little boy---and all of them 10 years old and younger. I'm not going to get that nap! What I need is time to rest in God. I need to meditate on verses like Proverbs 18:10: "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe." I need to memorize promises like 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

There's a quote that says, "Don't be so much a 'human doing' as a 'human being'." There's no reason to overload myself with either thoughts or activities. When I feel this overwhelmed feeling coming on (especially when I don't know why!!), the best thing I can do is cast all my cares upon Him because He cares for me (1 Peter 5:7)...and rest!

Sewing Beautiful Things: Favorite Things Friday

It's Favorite Things Friday over at Jessica's blog, A Few of My Favorite Things.

One of my favorite things is making beautiful dresses and nightgowns for my daughters. Here is a dress I made a couple years ago for Lynzie when my husband, Jamie, took her to her first Daddy Daughter Dance.

We've since made it a tradition for Daddy to go pick out the pattern and fabric and me to make the dress. They went to the dance two years in a row but this year we had just moved so Daddy took her to the Broadway play Annie in Seattle instead.

Lynzie looked, and felt, like a princess that night. I had a lot of fun making the dress. In fact, me and that dress got to be real good friends since I had to take it apart and put it back together several times!

Little sister Selah wanted something special too so I made her this little nightgown from some pretty pink rosebud flannel. She was pretty excited and proud of herself!






This past year at Christmas, I finally got to live one of my dreams...making matching dresses for my three daughters. The girls each had a unique style and pattern but the colors and trim were all matching. Here they are together before church on the last Sunday before Christmas


Maybe this year I'll get really brave and make my boys some matching shirts! Join us for more Favorite Things Friday!

Kewpie Baby: Vintage Thingie Thursday

This is my fourth time participating in Vintage Thingie Thursday and I have to say that the last month of participating has been a very informative one! I've been inspired by so many creative bloggers and, therefore, have a new vision and excitement about making my home a cozy and beautiful place! Thank you to every single one of you bloggers who take the time to feature unique and special posts each week! I'm afraid I've become sort of a blogging junkie lately...but there are worse addictions out there!

Today I scrounged up $3 in change to go visit the thrift store next door. (Yes, lucky me, I've got a thrift store LITERALLY next door!!) I was telling my husband yesterday how it's actually kind of fun to give myself a low budget when I go out thrifting because it makes me be more choosy about what I buy and my purchase seems more special to me that way. While I'd usually like to take along a little more than three bucks, I was able to find a few neat things on today's pocket change!

My favorite find today was this adorable Kewpie doll with a handmade bonnet and blankey. I just fell in love with it and had to have it! Lucky for me, it was half price so I was also able to pick up some vintage ribbons and a couple cute decorative diaper pins that I plan to use for scrapbooking.

I imagine some talented Granny made this for her granddaughter...wish I had a Granny around to knit or sew for me! I'll just need to learn on my own, I 'spose!

There are many fun and talented participants today in Vintage Thingie Thursday so take some time to check them out here!