The whole quilt...finally finished!

Well, it has been years in the making, but I finally finished my 3rd quilt! I’m very proud. I don’t actually remember exactly when I started working on it…I finished the top awhile ago and then put it away for a long time. The pattern is a variation on the “Amish Star.” The quilt is quite large. Each block is 12 inches x 12 inches. It’s funny…as I look at the quilt now I think I would have placed some of the blocks differently than I did when I actually sewed it together a couple years ago. But overall, I think I am very pleased with how it turned out.

I cut and pieced the top myself using a machine. The quilting is also done by machine, but I did not do that part myself. I want to learn some day, but as of right now, I don’t have a machine with those capabilities. As always, the binding was the most difficult for me because it takes so much patience…especially the back which is done by hand!

A close up of one of the blocks. A variation on the "amish star"

I finished the final stitches of the binding on Friday evening. (Just in time!) I gave this quilt to my mother-in-law as a Mother’s Day Gift. Hopefully it will get lots of use. It feels good to finish a project that has been so long in the making. It’s one I’ve loved working on. It also feels good to know it went to a loving home.

Brisingr by Christopher Paolini

This is the third book in the Inheritance Cycle. I reread Eragon and Eldest in previous months, and read this book in an attempt to finally get to the last book in the cycle which Nathan had given me for Christmas. I had read Brisingr once before, and I was amazed how much I had forgotten about the book. I was very glad to reread it. (See more below)

Inheritance by Christopher Paolini

Finally! I made it to the end of the series. I was actually sad when I got to the end of the book. It was a very good set of four books. The scale of this fantasy series is very large, and the author doesn’t touch on everything possible. He definitely sets himself up for other series set in the same world. Although the series is technically “Young Adult,” I feel that it is a good enough read for adults too. There are exciting battles, moral/ethical dilemmas explored, good character development….I can’t decide if I liked the ending or not. I can’t really say anything without revealing important details for potential readers. I guess I’ll say…in some respects, the ending was “too happy,” but looked at in a different light, it was “too sad.” If that isn’t confusing enough for you, I don’t know what else I can say. I definitely recommend the series, though, and I’ll almost definitely read it many more times in my life time. I’m excited to share it with my son when he is old enough.

A Night to Remember by Walter Lord

I borrowed this book from my father-in-law when we visited in March 2011. I hadn’t read it yet, and we are returning to Indiana to visit at the end of May so I decided I had better read it…plus it was the anniversary of the Titanic’s sinking, so it was good timing. The book is a sort of minute by minute account of the last hours on the Titanic. I had never known that there was a ship so close…only a few miles away…that could have helped. The Titanic’s sinking is just a sad example of humankind’s hubris, miscalculation, and selfishness. Very awful indeed. A good read.

Sojourners Magazine – April 2012

Another excellent Sojourners issue. This one was focused on “banking for the rest of us” and how we can avoid the problems caused by big banks and their big profits. The highlight for me, though, was an article entitled The Innocence List. It highlighted the injustice caused by the death penalty, and interviewed members of the “Innocence List,” a list of people in the U.S. who had been sentenced to death with no physical evidence, and later were found to be innocent. One man served on death row for 18 years before being freed in 2002! These are stories that need to be heard by everyone.

I had forgotten the smell of sunshine. The baby sun screen and fresh cut grass. Meat cooking on a grill.

I had forgotten the sights of the warm days. The deep blue sky. Sweaty, curly hair sticking out from under his hat. Squinty eyes and glare off of windows. Green leaves everywhere, and colorful flowers too.

Ahh…it’s so good to have it back…if only for a few days!

The children

As a child ambassador for World Vision, a lot of what I do is just talk to individuals about child sponsorship. However, sometimes I will be having booths at events to get the word out about child sponsorship. Today was my first such event. I started at my own church…on my home turf so to speak…but I was still super nervous. I told myself that even if no children got sponsored, it was still worth all the work

My ten reasons for sponsoring a child!

because it probably planted some seeds about child sponsorship in people’s minds and hearts. I am happy that I took the risk of putting myself out there. It can only benefit the children and the people with whom I speak.

I am so excited because two children got sponsored! Two children will be given so much hope and love. Their communities and families will be better off with the help they receive. Each child sponsored breaks one more link in the long chain of poverty.

Another of my display boards.

There were quite a few other people who seemed interested with whom I’ll need to follow up in the next couple weeks. It was fun to speak with so many people in my church about this issue. Many have had lots of experience with child sponsorship or other ways of helping children in poverty. To others, it was completely new. I have included pictures of the displays I made in case anyone is interested!

The whole set up

]]> http://theattic.smithfam.info/archives/280/feed 1 http://theattic.smithfam.info/archives/276 http://theattic.smithfam.info/archives/276#comments Sun, 22 Apr 2012 22:08:38 +0000 kimberly http://theattic.smithfam.info/?p=276 Continue reading →]]> When a friend at church suggested that it was time for another Young Adults Group event, I decided I wanted to have a fondue party. I was super excited and relaxed about hosting a fondue party until about an hour before it happened when I realized that I had no idea what I was doing. Luckily, though, fondue is pretty easy. I made a really good Parmesan fondue and a milk chocolate one. Some friends brought a cheddar-bacon fondue, a dark chocolate fondue, and a dark chocolate with Irish cream. We had a whole bunch of good dipping items, and it went as well as I could have hoped. Auntie Kristy and Uncle Scott played with Elias at their house so we had a night of some adult fun. Thanks everyone for a fun evening!

Click on the picture to look at the detail in the coloring on the petals! It's like the sun itself.

Spring is here! I’m sure we’ll have many more grey, rainy days to come, but I’m trying to soak up and enjoy every ray of sunshine I can get. Saturday morning, my husband was out fishing so my son and I had the morning to ourselves. We went on a walk to the park. On the way we were looking at some of the beautiful flowers. It is amazing how detailed each flower is if you get up close and really look at it. Elias is really into feeling flowers and leaves right now. The different textures are fascinating to him. I was just happy to be able to enjoy creation on Easter weekend.

I almost can’t bear to think about it. The barrier around my heart breaks, and the tears start to pour out. Especially now as a mother I wonder…how could He bear to sacrifice His son?

And yet it is called Good Friday. Good?

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16

Good Friday is good because it shows God’s depth of love for us.

Yet that doesn’t entirely make my heart rest easy, for I am the one who needed saving. I am the one for whom the sacrifice was needed. I am the one for whom the blood was poured.

In a few days we will celebrate Easter. I don’t want to forget, though, the lessons of Good Friday amidst all the joy and celebration and feasting.

Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. -Luke 9:23

So the last will be first, and the first will be last. – Matthew 20:16

What would it be like to look your friends and companions in the eyes knowing that they will desert you that very night….and to still serve them supper? To raise the bread and the cup and to declare that it is your body, your blood, given for many for the forgiveness of sins?

What would it be like to sit next to your friend, Peter, and dine with him knowing that he would deny you three times?

What would it be like to see the people on the street…in the crowd…and know that they will condemn you to death…yet still be willing to endure the pain, the humiliation, the taunts and jeers so that they may be saved?

What a dark, horrible time this must have been for our savior. I am amazed at the strength of His love, His Faith, His sacrifice, His grace.

Holocaust Poetry compiled by Hilda Schiff

This book is a collection of poems written by holocaust survivors or about the holocaust. Some of the poems were very short, and a few a bit longer. The poems are organized into sections such as those about death, those about God, etc. Some of the poems were very moving, and others were almost too hard to read. I feel that poetry can be healing, and I’m glad that these poems were published in this way.

Mistborn  by Brandon Sanderson

My husband and I started a new tradition that we each get to choose the first book the other reads in March each year. For me he chose Mistborn. I had never read any Sanderson before this, but my husband loves his books. I have to say I was impressed. It was a fresh perspective on the fantasy genre for me. No elves or dwarves, but fantasy all the same. The book is the first in a trilogy so I look forward to reading the others someday soon.

Images of America: Shipwrecks of Coos County by H.S. Contino

This was just a for fun read I picked up off the library shelf. It was interesting to look at pictures of the New Carissa wreck. I vaguely remember that happening, but it doesn’t seem like the ship was around for so many years in my memory.

Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult

I’ve read every one of Picoult’s books except for Sing You Home. I started that one and just couldn’t read it due to my own miscarriage experience. I just had to quit…maybe I’ll come back to it some day when the wounds on my heart are more fully healed. Lone Wolf is Picoult’s newest novel. It’s definitely not among my favorites, but it was still a very good read. Two siblings must decide whether to keep their father alive on life support, or to pull the plug. It was classic Picoult: lots of suspense, character development, and a tough issue.

The Complete Tales of Winnie-the Pooh by A.A. Milne

Can you believe I had never read this book before? I knew some of the Pooh stories, but I was pleased to finally read all of the tales. I was surprised to find that Eeyore is a much different character than he appears in the Disney version of the stories. His comments are a bit bitter at times. He’s more than just a sad, pessimistic donkey.

Awakening the Heart by Georgia Heard

I had to read this book for the continuing education poetry class I took during the winter. I finally finished the class (and the book) in March. The main idea of the author is that every person is a poet. Poetry is all around us, and is a way for us to express the feelings of our heart. So many teachers focus only on the form of poetry, and kids craft poems at school that are empty…then they grow up disliking poetry. The book teaches techniques for teachers to “awaken the heart” of their students so that this does not happen. I recommend the book and I hope I get to try out some of the techniques and centers some day.

Sojourners Magazine, March 2012

There was an interesting article on immigration in this issue. There was an interview of some immigrants who work on a dairy farm in the U.S, and how they are treated unfairly even though they are working hard, doing work that is important, and doing work no one else wanted to do. One farm owner admitted that he had gone into town and asked unemployed U.S. citizens to work for him, and they refused because the work was too difficult…so he hired immigrants. I find it difficult to understand why a country of immigrants is so closed-minded about immigration today…but that is for another post.

The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning

Oh, what a wonderful book! Definitely one of my favorites in this genre. Some might think Manning’s view points a bit radical, but I think his view of the gospel is a good one. It is both a huge relief and a bit unsettling to think that there is nothing we can do to save ourselves. It is by the grace of God, and the sacrifice of His son that we are forgiven.

War Horse  by Michael Morpurgo

Here is another children’s book I’ve been wanting to read. I saw it on the New York Times best seller list, and thought I’d better read it so that I am prepared whenever I get back into the teaching field. The book is written from the perspective of a horse that gets sold into the army during World War I. A fun and interesting read.

A Lucky Child  by Thomas Buergenthal

This book is a memoir. The author survived Auschwitz and other concentration camp experiences as a child. It is remarkable that he survived as only a ten year old, as most children were killed immediately upon arrival at the camps. The memoir is a tale of loss and horror. I cannot imagine if my child had to go through these experiences. The book is odd in that it is mostly devoid of emotion. The author claims that it is just how he dealt with it over the years, and I do not blame him for it. We need as many voices crying out their stories as possible. This book deserves to be read.

“Mary sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was busy with all the things that had to be done. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, my sister has left me to do the work by myself. Don’t you care? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered. “You are worried and upset about many things. But only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better. And it will not be taken away from her.”

 - Luke 10: 39-42

This was a good reminder for me. How many times am I concerned with everything I have to do? With schedules and chores? With the to-do list? How many times have I let it all interfere with what is truly important? I guess that it was lent is about too, yes? Stopping the normal routine in order to make more room for God in our lives.

It feels so nice to have a clean house, but it feels even better to bask in the glory of God’s creation, or to listen for his voice in prayer.