Little Dresses for Africa and More!

When we meet with the Maxwells in Tennessee next month to talk about African missions, I want to give them something for the children in Mozambique. I found an amazing website that has a simple, simple pattern for making dresses out of pillowcases. I spent a dollar at the thrift store, pulled out my boxes of elastic and trims, sewed for 45 minutes, and.......made 2 precious little dresses! And don't you just love my two little models :) I will hopefully be able to make 10 more dresses before our trip.

Mason's sweater is growing (slowly), and I now know that I LOVE wool yarn - sigh.... I also won (bought) 10 skeins of sari and wool yarn on Ebay. It came in the mail yesterday, and I am in love again - sigh... It is made with end pieces of Indian sari silk woven with soft wool. Don't tell anyone, but I am making bags with the sari yarn to give at Christmas to two grown girls I love very much. Missy and Nana, pretend you didn't read that!

Mason was a little disappointed that I didn't have a dress for him to model, so I took a picture of him with the sweatiest, smelliest hair ever - lol!!! Be glad that this blog doesn't have a "smell" feature :) After a week of fall weather, our weekend temps have been in the 90's. Tomorrow fall will return again, and we hope it decides to stay for awhile.

Have a blessed week sweet friends and family!

You Know You Are Tired When.....

When you fall asleep sitting up! The cool weather and shorter days are making all of us a little sleepy in the afternoons. I fell asleep while knitting on Mason's new sweater this afternoon, and Madelyn fell asleep sitting up at my feet. I love this time of year :)

We disassembled the garden this weekend and pulled up everything except the pumpkin vines and one melon plant that has taken up a huge section of the garden but has only produced one melon. I refuse to give up. We are going to eat that melon!

We are going to Tennessee in October to meet with a missionary couple from Africa! They are home for the birth of a grandchild, but they graciously agreed to meet with us to answer some of our zillions of questions. We are praying that this meeting confirms some of the things God has been speaking to us about future mission work in Africa.

Homeschooling is zipping along, and Mason still loves his new school and hearing aids. Everyday is blessedly busy and joyful. I am more than thankful.

New Season For Mason!

Our precious Mason finally got his new hearing aids yesterday, and that boy is soooooo excited! He is excited about hearing and the fact that they are blue :) He also had his first Upwards soccer game of the season this morning. He told me that I could come and yell for him, but I needed to sit down for this game. Last year, I would run around the field so that he could see me sign to him while he played. It is much more relaxing to yell from my chair - lol!

Enjoy the pictures. He is such a cutie!

Thinking of Africa

As we feel our family stepping closer and closer to moving to Africa for full-time missions, we are starting to prepare for the big change. The girls and I have been reading a fun series of books about a little boy named Akimbo who helps his father care for African animals. Molly and Madelyn are making lap books about Africa and today made elephant and lion masks. Later this week we are going to cook some Teff, Injeri and Wat - otherwise known as grain, pancakes and stew :) We will leave the chicken plucking and goat skinning for another week - lol!

The most important thing that we can do is allow God to work in us now so that He can work through us in Mozambique or wherever He places us. Part of that process is allowing Him to reveal every yucky part of me so that I can have a heart that is pure and wants to do His will and not my own. What a painful process! A lot of grumpy things in my heart have bubbled to the surface this week, but I am thankful that God wants them exposed and dealt with. He is good to never leave us the same if we are willing to allow every hidden thing to be exposed and brought into the light. He is good everyday and everywhere.

Wherever you are, have a blessed week and allow God to love you deeply.