EtaYa's Xanga

Bar Sues Church

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 14:49:48 GMT

In a small Texas town, a man started constructing a building to open up a new bar. The local church started a campaign to block the bar from opening, with petitions and prayers. Work progressed, however, right up till the week before opening, when a lightening strike hit the bar and it burned to the ground.

The church folks were rather smug in their outlook after that, 'til the bar owner sued the church on the grounds that the church was ultimately responsible for the demise of his building, either through direct or indirect actions or means. The church vehemently denied all responsibility or any connection to the buildings demise in its reply to the court.

The judge looked over the paperwork, and at the hearing he commented, “I don't know how I'm going to decide this, but as it appears from the paperwork, we have a bar owner who believes in the power of prayer, and an entire church congregation that doesn't.”

I don't know if this story is true or not... but that isn't the point...

Do YOU believe in the power of prayer to the One True God?! Do I?

Changes...

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:31:50 GMT

Yes. So many changes...

I don't know which one is bigger...

My applying to New Tribes Bible Institute in Jackson, Michigan (to start in January 2009)...

...or my brother Lee getting engaged to Christina W...

Both are big and exciting events...

...both bring changes...

Yes- the engagement is probably bigger.

We are all excited for Lee and Christina...

It will be fun when we get ALL of the sisters together... Christina's the oldest of 7 kids- she has 3 younger sisters (ages 16, 13 & 11- or close to that- close to Ruth, Jeremiah and a little older than Mary)... And there are the 10 kids in our family... So, when you get the 17 of us kids together there will be a total of 9 girls- ages 28 (me) to 4 (Anna- she'll be 5 next week, though!)... There will also be the 8 boys... Plus Christina's brother's girlfriend... Yeah- it'll be lots of fun... Especially knowing the younger girls- a real bunch of giggles and laughter!!! And sometime we'll have to add in Christina's cousins... That will be too many giggly girls to count!!! Everyone is just so happy and excited for them!!!

Wildflowers at Sonora Pass

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:32:45 GMT

July 5th, 2008

Wildflowers at Sonora Pass (el. 9,624 ft.)... Enjoy!

Monday, August 04, 2008

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:07:59 GMT

Pictures coming later...

YAY!!!

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 14:56:28 GMT

My brother is getting MARRIED!!!!!

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 22:06:29 GMT

In addition to sewing lately, I've also been knitting. This blanket became a gift for a family...

Mary just loves her kitty 'Myrtle'... I don't know if she gets to keep it, or not, though... Does anyone need a kitten?! We have 5... They are really, really cute- and friendly, too!

Anna was really excited to wrap a gift for Sailor's birthday party! And when I talked to her on the phone this afternoon she was still all happy and silly and bubbly telling me about the party! (and the cupcakes!)

Here's Anna talking on the phone to John... who's in Columbus!

Amy and Mary were given a sewing machine from my Aunt. I guess that it was her's when she was little. It's really small and cute. It's a Singer- I think made in Great Britain. It's all metal and completely child safe. There's no way to get a finger- even a little one- under the needle! You sew my turning the crank on the right... Really cute.

Mary started a big project last night of cutting out 3 aprons. She'll sew them (on the regular sewing machine!) and sell them...

Monday, July 14, 2008

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:41:00 GMT

Yes... it was a special weekend...

Wow!

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:49:52 GMT

What a busy last week I have had! Haven't gotten to bed before 11pm since last week Sunday night... and haven't slept past 6:45 any of those mornings, either! Got to bed past midnight at least twice... and up before 5 at least twice, too...

But it was all worth it!

More Projects...

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:28:51 GMT

Last week I was able to do a bunch of sewing. Actually, the last couple of weeks. It's been fun.

Let's see... I don't even remember what I did first... I think that it was the blue blouse that I wore to church yesterday. I had bought the fabric (on sale) last month and finally got to it. I had fun altering the sleeves to make them different. It was a challenge that took hours... but I'm really glad that I did it. I made the blouse a couple of weeks ago, but didn't get the buttons until last Monday. Then I didn't get them sewn on until Friday. It was fun wearing it yesterday...

Then (or maybe it was before the blue blouse- I can't remember!), I made a "drawstring neck" blouse. Or, as the girls that I borrowed the pattern from call it, a "frisbee shirt"! It was a pattern that I couldn't find in the stores, so I was so thankful to be able to find a pattern that I could borrow. Thanks K & K! The fabric for that shirt was a gift. Thanks! It's a very fun and comfy shirt...

After that, I made a skirt for Amy. That was really quick and simple. Actually I didn't finish it, though. I wasn't sure how long to make it, so Mom ended up hemming it last week.

Last week on Monday night I went fabric shopping. I had decided that I needed one more blouse... and a white one for the conference that we are going to next week... So I set out after work. Armed with dreams and desires... a list... and coupons!

First I went to Home Fabrics- the thought being that they have the best prices on cotton prints- only $2.50/yard! And they are the closest. But I didn't find what I wanted. So on to Wal-Mart- the next best prices (though no coupons apply there), and also the next closest. Again I didn't find any fabrics, or the buttons that I needed for the blue blouse. I did get a few other things that we needed, though... So... on to Jo-Ann's! The farthest away and also the priciest... But I was loaded down with their sale flier (lots of sales!) and coupons (40% and 50% off!). I got there at 7pm- I hadn't eaten supper yet... And I left there after 8:30... Hungry... Tired... Tired of Shopping... but very thankful for the good deals and fabric and notions that I believe that God helped me to find.

I was able to find buttons (50% off!) for the blue blouse and the white one, and also for the other fabrics that I bought. I was also able to find a white fabric for a blouse- which I was able to work on on Friday and Saturday and this morning. All I have left now is to sew the buttons on. Again I spent more hours on it, but was able to change a few parts to make it more special. Challenging! But I really like the result.

I really had fun when I was in their "Red Tag" fabric section. This section is their clearance- prices are marked down to $2-$6/yard... Then they were also 50% off! At first I didn't think that I would find anything... Then I prayed that God would help me to find what HE wanted me to get... I ended up with a really nice khaki twill for a skirt... I sewed it yesterday and am really enjoying it!

I found some other fabrics and the notions that I needed, too... And between the sales and the coupons- EVERYTHING that I got was between 30% and 50% off! Thank You, Lord!

But on Saturday when sewing the white blouse I realized that we didn't have a stash of white thread like normal... Oops! We always have white thread on hand! So I went to Home Fabrics on the way to meet a friend for supper that night... And they didn't have ANY white thread! Uh-oh! So after supper I went to WalMart and bought 2 spools of white thread... And some $1/yard brown fabric (I needed a new brown skirt!) and some brown thread...

...As I said last week- I love projects!

Projects...

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:28:07 GMT

I am very much a "project person". I love projects...

   On Sunday we went to my Aunt's in Fresno. Most of the extended family was there (Mom's side). My aunt took us girls to her room where she had something to show us... Her bed was covered with Boxes and Bags of Yarn and Knitting Needles and Crochet Hooks!!! WOW!!! Her friend's elderly Mother had passed away and no one else had wanted these potential treasures... It was like Christmas! We were able to pick out whatever- and as much as- we wanted! I picked out a lot of worsted weight yarn in many assorted colors...
   My Grandma B and a group of ladies from her church have been knitting hats for probably nearly 2 years and have been sending them to Afganistan to children in a Refugee Camp via a contact that works for the UN... I have also been knitting hats, so this bed full of yarn just looked to me like a lot of Hats! Now I just have to live with another Big Bag of Yarn in my room (poor Ruth... good thing that she likes yarn, too, though!)... Until I get the hats made... Then I get to live with more bags of hats...
   You see, I've knitted a Lot of Hats over the past year and a half. Some have gone to babies and other friends. But most of them are waiting.. Waiting for the perfect avenue to get to Cold and Needy Heads. I'd rather send my hats through a Christian group to Somewhere in the World... But I don't know Where yet. I also don't yet know through Who... I want to make sure that the ones that are distributing them are also sharing God's Love that can warm the Hearts and Souls of the ones with the Cold and Needy Heads... I also want to make sure that they won't just sit in a Warehouse... I want them to Get to the Cold and Needy Heads...

So, if You know of a Christian ministry or person that knows of a need for Warm Hats for Children... Let me know! And if you want to learn to knit Hats... I'd be GLAD to teach YOU!!!

And then last night I went Fabric Shopping... I just LOVE sales!!!!