Being Crafty

So many of you will remember the superhero tshirt blanket that I made this summer for my nephew, Christian. If you need a little reminder, click here. I am so not crafty. I had never used a sewing machine before this project. However, I was determined to learn something new. And therefore I did. I will say that I was impressed with myself. While my projects are not perfect and I would not call myself a sewing expert, I am way more confident with my abilities now! Not only did I make a blanket for my nephew, Christian Brody, I also made two more for my nephews, Jack and Luke. Same process as before, but they turned out better than Christain's. Sorry Christian! I gave these blankets to Jack and Luke for Christmas. Here they are!

So not only did I make three superhero tshirt blankets, I also made a blanket for my nephew Wyatt who turned 9 months old on Christmas day. I knew he would not love a superhero blanket as much as his brother, I decided to make one a little easier. I unfortunately did not take pictures during the process for documentation, so I will give you a brief run down. I grabbed two different fabrics from Joann Fabrics, both a yard in length. I pinned them together right side out and cut off any excess then sewed all the way around. That was the easy part. Then I got this silk border and my mom helped me get it on all neatly and the corners in place. She is better at that stuff - making things look good. Then I sewed that down and called it good. It was a little trickier then it sounds, but it was my first blanket of this kind so I think the next time I do this.

 Here is one side - if you cannot see it well - those are multi-colored

circles on an off white/cream background with the blue silk border.

 The flip side is that fun fabric with the bubbles, if you will. I do

not know what it is really called...

This is what it looks like together.

So yes, now I am definitely more confident with a sewing machine and I actually enjoy using it. I am in no way an expert. Now I am definitely ready for the shooting range. Kory, you can help with this when I come back out the Ranch, right?

A Year Later

One year ago today at about this time, I was sitting in the Applebees in Redmond, Oregon with my dearest friends (and siblings) and their kids before they dropped me off at the airport with lots of tears on my end. It was the last thing I did before moving back to Virginia. The few weeks before I left had been such an emotionally heavy period of time and it was hard leaving the Canyon with all that was going on especially having my brother, Kory, still so busted from his accident and really having no clue what the Lord was trying to say or what He wanted the next phase in life to look like.

As I look back on this last year, I don't have a ton of answers for much. However I can say I have seen the Lord work and in some big ways - even in the last few days. Now more than ever, I can say that I am confident that Property Staff is where I am suppose to be. I also had a neat conversation last night with a dear friend about seeing and hearing the Lord through multiple, unrelated people with the same message - of being still before the Lord, letting the Lord give you peace, and becoming a Mary versus a Martha - which is always hard.

Something that I know that has remained a constant mantra for me this last year is the Lord is good. All the time. The Lord was good a year ago, 6 months ago when I left the Canyon after an amazing six week stay, He was good last week, today, tomorrow, next month, and next year.

In terms of my prayers for this next year (well preferably these next few weeks) I pray for complete healing for two sweet babies - Tucker and Ozzy and for complete healing for Kory so he can get back to work full time and life can be somewhat normal for him, Sara, and the kids. Also praying for a job in Property Staff. I would go anywhere if that is where the Lord wanted me, but if I could choose any camp, I would love more than anything to be back in the Canyon. I trust that the Lord has great things in store. Will y'all join me in prayer? 

Sad

Exactly one year ago this evening, I had a fantastic evening with four friends who taught me how to butcher an elk. It really was a great evening with lots of laughs, great music, and even better memories. So much has changed since that night. I had no clue that it would that change would start the next day.

That following morning my friend, Doug, and fellow "Canyonite" passed away. It was hard and sad. Doug's passing was the beginning of a long month that also included my brother, Kory's, fall from a ladder (to which he still hasn't fully healed) and a move 3000 miles away from that part of my family.

As excited as I am about up coming events like a weekend in Richmond with family and friends, my niece's birthday, my birthday, and Christmas, I also can't help be a little sad thinking of Doug's family and Kory and the rest of Browns. Also thinking about two sweet baby boys, Tucker and Ozzy, who are both in the hospital, one in Boston and one in Portland, who are both needing surgery. Both of these little boys have a Daddy who work for Young Life because they (and their Mommies) have a passion for high school and middle school kids to come to know the Lord. Both sets of parents are super heros in my eyes and they need prayer.

I know this post isn't super long or detailed, but I'm okay with that. But if you think about it, will you lift up these families in prayer?