Monday, November 2, 2015

CATCH UP!

Well it's been a while since I have posted, and for the first time since I started blogging six years or so so ago now, I see how someone can just kind of drift away and not come back!  NOT that I want or even intend to throw in the towel and quit blogging, but I am just soo behind.  And I am behind everywhere right now.  Last year at this time I was SOOO much further along with my Christmas sewing by the second of Nov [EEK! the second of Nov??!]  that it is hard not to wonder how I came to be so behind this year.  But I will just press on and try not to stress [whatever is the point of stressing?] and keep my eyes on what's more important.  And it certainly isn't Christmas PJ'S or Christmas ornaments etc.

I have found myself quite busy with the new Bible study [that wasn't planned by me! lol] at my home on Wednesday mornings.  I have lead many a Bible study over the years, and several in my home, but honestly it has been a while, and I had forgotten how much extra time it takes to prepare and be ready to share and teach I guess in comparison to just attending and participating in one.  And it's another one of those things that with the older I've gotten I don't multi task the way I used to, lol.  And I have no doubt in my mind of all the things I do with my time, THIS is one of the most important, and I want to give it my all.  Don't get me wrong....I am LOVING every minute of it, and feel humbled and honored that the Lord has placed such a task in my hands, but I am still feeling a little overwhelmed and yes, behind.....in other areas, lol. I am mentoring a couple of the young girls as well and I feel soo grateful for the opportunity, and covet your prayers that the Lord might use me to help them begin to grow and mature in Him.  One of them is going to spend a couple of days this week with me and I am downright excited about it.  But I did warn her I will have to spend some time at least embroidering on my PJ's if I have any hope of all of finishing by Thanksgiving.

I guess you must have figured I decided to go ahead with the Christmas jammies after-all.  I debated not doing that this year as I have 12 grandchildren and it DOES take a good deal of time and yes unfornately money as well, lol.  But I did make a few changes in that I decided to eliminate the oldest three [got to draw the line somewhere and Christmas pj's to them probably doesn't hold the same appeal as they did in the past, lol] and I figured a way to make them MUCH less expensively.  I waited until I had a sixty percent off coupon [one of those is rare these days, lol] and then bought several yards of a rich plain red flannel, and am making them ALL out of that same fabric.  I had an additional 30 percent of my total purchase that day as well making it REALLY a bargain.  I of course still needed thread, some new patterns [they do keep growing, lol] elastic, buttons, and some interfacing, but it cut the cost SOOO much I felt really good about it.  But! I did decide to embroider some little Christmas something on the front of all the jammies just for a little extra fun with them.  I had to get all of their measurements so that I can hope to have them fit them as best I can, and even that part took some time to pull off.  I got started last week and have six out of the nine pairs almost done.  I want to get all nine pairs put together BEFORE I begin embroidering, and then the last step will be the buttons and buttonholes.  I did make nighties for Capri and Donatella though, so NO buttonholes needed there I guess, lol.  I am hoping to have ALL nine pairs COMPLETELY done by this Friday....not sure if I will pull that off though.  I still need to make one more Advent Calendar too though and it takes quite a bit of time as well.  And I need to organize my ornaments and decide if I have enough of all the kinds I need.  I guess one of the things that makes my sewing a little different is that I need to have MOST of it finished by Thanksgiving, not Christmas!, which considering it is around the corner is why I am feeling a little rushed.  I like them to have their new Christmas things by the first of December so that they can enjoy them for the whole month instead of just a couple of days AFTER Christmas.

So that's pretty much what I have been up too.  A movie here or there and some lunches and dinners with family and friends, and my grand daugher's Lindsey's final volleyball game of the season filled in the rest of the time.  I will share pics of the pj's when they are done, and for now will share some grandkid pics I can't resist being in my journals.  Hope you all are enjoying these Fall days, and your days are full of joy and blessings!  Debbie

OLDEST SON'S CREW WHO TRICK OR TREAT WITH MY SISTER'S GRANDS.  LOVE JEFFIE AS A BANANA...SOO CUTE!

MY YOUNGEST SONS GROUP.  WE HAVE AN ENGINEER, A PEACOCK, AND A COUPLE OF POKE-MAN CHARACTERS

AND MY DAUGHTERS FAMILY AS THE INCREDIBLE'S, LOL

ADORABLE ENGINEER....CUTEST VIDEO OF HIM YOU'VE EVER SEEN BUT I COULDN'T GET IT TO WORK.  IN THE PAST I'D HAVE PRESSED ON TILL I HAD IT BUT I NEED TO GET BUSY!

CLAIRE AS A KITTY TOO....LOVED THIS!

BOYS IN THEIR PUMPKIN SHIRTS

AND THIS WAS OF CLAIRE THIS MORNING....SITTING UP LIKE A BIG GIRL NOW.  SHE'S GROWN SOOOO MUCH SINCE GRANDMA HAS SEEN HER.  SOO EXCITED FOR THANKSGIVING TO GET MY HANDS ON HER!

DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER WHEN I MADE THIS LITTLE JACKET FOR CLAIRE, BUT THIS WAS HER FIRST TIME WEARING IT.  SHE LOOKS ADORABLE THIS GRANDMA IS THINKING!  AND I LOVE THE GREY AND CORAL COLORS ON HER!







10 comments:

  1. Good morning Debbie, as I was reading this I was reminded of Mary who chose to do what was most important as she sat at Jesus' feet, You dear friend have chosen to do what is most important, I will be praying for you as you teach the Bible study in your home, and as you mentor the young girls! What a great ministry!
    As always I love your family photos! a beautiful family you have, God has truly blessed you and your Dh with many blessings!
    Thank you for sharing, I have not been blogging very much lately, as I have so many things going on for now, one is I will be having eye surgery next Tuesday, please pray for me!.
    Hugs, from me,
    Sue

    ReplyDelete
  2. That is lovely. I am so impressed you are going to do all of those Christmas jammies. I really love the pictures of the kids.
    It looks so nice.
    I hope your week goes very nice and you get lots of work finished.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Nice to catch up with you! I think the Bible study is a nice break for the week...it sounds like fun. The grands are all adorable and growing fast, especially Claire.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Clever idea to make all of the PJ's out of the same fabric. I'm sure you will make each one special with your embroidery!
    All of the Trick or Treaters are adorable, Debbie. And blessings to you for your outreach to the young girls and the Bible study group-I'll say a prayer for you.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Debbie, I so understand. I don't know how I used to blog so often, just having trouble finding the time to sit down and do so. Funny it's something I love too, so I really don't get it.
    Those grands are so adorable, I know you are gonna love the holidays!!

    Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  6. All the costumes were great but that Banana is especially clever!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'd been wondering if you were ok, as it's not like you to be gone so long. But I know that my blog posts are becoming less and less frequent, so I certainly understand how sometimes we can just get too busy to get online very much. I ought to make Christmas PJs for my grands ... there are only 4 and the only sewing that I'd have to do would be the bottoms. My grands wear pajama pants with t-shirts for the tops. But the last time I tried garment sewing, I was so frustrated that I swore I wouldn't again. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm not in a women's study right now and miss it so much. I will add you and your group to my prayers, as I know it is time consuming but also an enormous blessing.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh, my goodness, you are such a busy, busy woman. And, there is no doubt that the Lord is using you mightly as you lead this Bible Study and in your home nonetheless. You do not worry about those ornaments you mentioned sending to me. My goodness, you have enough to do without adding that to your list. Blessings to you!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Claire has really gotten big and has the most beautiful eyes. I'm always amazed at how much you are able to accomplish, especially at the holidays. You make some lovely things, the jacket on Claire is adorable. Leading a group can be time consuming but what a blessing it can be as well.

    ReplyDelete

I am so glad that you would take the time to comment on my thoughts and feelings, it is such a blessing to me!