Have you ever noticed that when there is something to be done and the something you have to do is not your favorite thing, it seems like work! It may not be hard, it's just not something you want to do or like to do.
For instance... I told someone that I love very much that I would alter some clothes for them. I don't mind taking up a hem or two, or mending a seam, but these clothes all had tapered ends. That means cutting them off so that you don't end up with puckered material at the top of the hem. To roll it up would mean too much material and a heavy seam. I finally went down to my sewing area yesterday and worked on the ones that were really simple. That left just four items that I may have to fight with. Why do I dread doing this? It's a labor of love right? It feels like major work!
The biggest problem that I have is when something like this is in front of me... I will avoid the sewing area all together. I have had a box of patches that I cut out for a quilt top ready for over a month now and knowing that I had these alterations to do I have avoided the sewing area all together. I have a hard time justifying the quilt work when the other sewing needs to be done. I'd just rather be quilting. Maybe it's the creating thing that I like the most. I don't seem to mind doing simple patterns and making clothes. But I'm not a great seamstress, so the pattern needs to be really simple.
Well, I guess I've put off going down again. Sitting here writing on the blog instead of facing what needs to be done. I'm off to sew up some clothes and get them out of the way so that I can work on my new quilt top guilt free.
Blessing to you all ~ S
The Quilted YaYa
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Friday, January 7, 2011
Touching Lives
Earlier this week a lady that I don't even know passed away. She was a very young 36 year old with young children and a husband. She touched my life and she didn't even know me.
The way that she touched my life is through my sweet neighbors. This sweet Christian woman threw her stone in the lake of life and started a ripple effect that will probably go on for many generations to come. I heard my neighbors speak of her so often that I felt like I knew her. The encouragement that she gave to them was passed on to us and others around us. I have watched them grieve this week and their loss has broke my heart. I find myself crying for them and for this young Mama's children and husband. Her legacy of Love for Christ, family and friends will stay with us all in a very tangible way.
If you don't think that what you do for one person will make a difference, think again. What you do will forever touch a life. Good or bad, positive or negative. Be careful how you react to things. Yes, I know that it is easier said than done. But I think I will try even harder now to be more positive and more encouraging. When I am gone I hope that I have made an impact on others for Christ as this young Wife and Mama has done.
Blessings to all~ The Quilted YaYa
The way that she touched my life is through my sweet neighbors. This sweet Christian woman threw her stone in the lake of life and started a ripple effect that will probably go on for many generations to come. I heard my neighbors speak of her so often that I felt like I knew her. The encouragement that she gave to them was passed on to us and others around us. I have watched them grieve this week and their loss has broke my heart. I find myself crying for them and for this young Mama's children and husband. Her legacy of Love for Christ, family and friends will stay with us all in a very tangible way.
If you don't think that what you do for one person will make a difference, think again. What you do will forever touch a life. Good or bad, positive or negative. Be careful how you react to things. Yes, I know that it is easier said than done. But I think I will try even harder now to be more positive and more encouraging. When I am gone I hope that I have made an impact on others for Christ as this young Wife and Mama has done.
Blessings to all~ The Quilted YaYa
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Goodbye - Hello
Good bye to 2010. So many things happened in 2010. Good things, sad things, joyful things. Our family has been busier than we've ever been. God has shown me so much, shaped me and molded me more to His will. Some of it has hurt as He has smoothed out some of the rough edges. He has shown me how He has worked and is working in the lives of my beautiful children. He has given me encouragement through beautiful and precious friends and my wonderful church family. He has opened doors to areas of my life and shown me some things that I didn't know about my family and myself.
Things that I was thankful for in 2010...
That my family and I will have a hunger and thirst for our Saviour. That our hearts will be open and teachable. That He will give us the wisdom and strength that we need for each day. That He will bless my sweet Husband as he leads our family. I pray that our family will shine with His light and that we will bless others as He has blessed us. I pray also that He will place His hand on each of my children and that they will stay strong and pure for Him. In the name of our Saviour Jesus, Amen
Things that I was thankful for in 2010...
- God is in control.
- God's word is so full of surprises.
- Kelly made it through cosmetology school.
- I have been blessed with a wonderful family.
- My Church family.
- We had food on the table and in the pantry.
- Clean clothes
- Homeschooling
- Snow on Christmas day! First time ever since I've been in Alabama
- All of our bills were paid on time.
- Dear friends that help me with algebra, trig, and science.
- Our health.
- Salvation
- Love
That my family and I will have a hunger and thirst for our Saviour. That our hearts will be open and teachable. That He will give us the wisdom and strength that we need for each day. That He will bless my sweet Husband as he leads our family. I pray that our family will shine with His light and that we will bless others as He has blessed us. I pray also that He will place His hand on each of my children and that they will stay strong and pure for Him. In the name of our Saviour Jesus, Amen
Saturday, December 11, 2010
I'm a Teacher!
About four months ago, I started tutoring a young man in 3rd grade. We have been working on his reading skills.
When his Mom first asked if I would tutor him I questioned whether or not I could do this.
Yes, I know I've been teaching my own children for the past 19 years. And, while I had high expectations for my children, I questioned whether they were good enough for the public school system. My motives for teaching were and are from a different perspective than the public school system. I teach my children to read so that Gods word can be read and passed on. I teach math so that they won't get cheated or cheat someone. I teach science to show the wonder of Gods marvelous creation. etc...
I listened to this young man read on his first day at my home and my heart went out to him, and I became determined to help this young man. I love to read and I wanted him to be able to love it as much as I did.
Oh, He could read the words well enough, but while reading he stumbled over words and skipped some words all together. It sort of sounded like a spoken train wreck at first. The first thing that I noticed when he read was that he stabbed each word with his finger as he read it. I encouraged him to keep his finger on the page and glide from word to word. This helped some, and the first two weeks went by rather quickly. I started researching more on reading and talking to people that had taught for many more years than I have. I checked books out at the library about teaching reading, reading problems, and dyslexia. I've learned much in the last several weeks.
The more that I read the more that I started to think that this young man might be mildly dyslexic. So I introduced Scrabble cubes that I bought at the local thrift store from a game that had some pieces missing. I think that I'm going to go back and see if I can't find more. With encouragement from a dear friend and former teacher of mine, we used the game pieces to work on his word attack skills. I started showing him how to break down words phonetically and sound them out.
After three months I started seeing some improvement, but was still concerned because I had really wanted to see more. Soon I started integrating index cards and flashy games that I made up to help him along. His Mom told me that he had been moved up to the more advanced reading group at school. Yea! Big boost for my little student and it eased my concerns also.
Fast forward. It's been four months now and I am seeing more improvement. He's reading with much more fluidity and also sounding out tougher words. Yesterday, when his Mom came to pick him up, she told me that his teacher was impressed because he had sounded out two very large words without her help in the reading group. My heart jumped and I praised God for his guidance and grace in using me to teach this young man.
Oh yeah, I keep a verse sitting on the table in front of us the whole time as a reminder that with Christ, we can do everything! I can do everything with the help of Christ, who gives me the strength I need. Phil. 4:13 When we begin to doubt ourselves, start getting tired, or waiver just a little we read this verse and remind ourselves that He gives us the strength that we need to move on.
I'm very proud of my little student, I'm proud of my children. But mostly I'm praising God! Without Him I wouldn't be able to teach. I pray each day that I will be emptied out and that God's spirit will fill me and that He will teach the lessons that need to be taught.
Blessings and Merry Christmas to all, Sheryl ~ The Quilted YaYa
When his Mom first asked if I would tutor him I questioned whether or not I could do this.
Yes, I know I've been teaching my own children for the past 19 years. And, while I had high expectations for my children, I questioned whether they were good enough for the public school system. My motives for teaching were and are from a different perspective than the public school system. I teach my children to read so that Gods word can be read and passed on. I teach math so that they won't get cheated or cheat someone. I teach science to show the wonder of Gods marvelous creation. etc...
I listened to this young man read on his first day at my home and my heart went out to him, and I became determined to help this young man. I love to read and I wanted him to be able to love it as much as I did.
Oh, He could read the words well enough, but while reading he stumbled over words and skipped some words all together. It sort of sounded like a spoken train wreck at first. The first thing that I noticed when he read was that he stabbed each word with his finger as he read it. I encouraged him to keep his finger on the page and glide from word to word. This helped some, and the first two weeks went by rather quickly. I started researching more on reading and talking to people that had taught for many more years than I have. I checked books out at the library about teaching reading, reading problems, and dyslexia. I've learned much in the last several weeks.
The more that I read the more that I started to think that this young man might be mildly dyslexic. So I introduced Scrabble cubes that I bought at the local thrift store from a game that had some pieces missing. I think that I'm going to go back and see if I can't find more. With encouragement from a dear friend and former teacher of mine, we used the game pieces to work on his word attack skills. I started showing him how to break down words phonetically and sound them out.
After three months I started seeing some improvement, but was still concerned because I had really wanted to see more. Soon I started integrating index cards and flashy games that I made up to help him along. His Mom told me that he had been moved up to the more advanced reading group at school. Yea! Big boost for my little student and it eased my concerns also.
Fast forward. It's been four months now and I am seeing more improvement. He's reading with much more fluidity and also sounding out tougher words. Yesterday, when his Mom came to pick him up, she told me that his teacher was impressed because he had sounded out two very large words without her help in the reading group. My heart jumped and I praised God for his guidance and grace in using me to teach this young man.
Oh yeah, I keep a verse sitting on the table in front of us the whole time as a reminder that with Christ, we can do everything! I can do everything with the help of Christ, who gives me the strength I need. Phil. 4:13 When we begin to doubt ourselves, start getting tired, or waiver just a little we read this verse and remind ourselves that He gives us the strength that we need to move on.
I'm very proud of my little student, I'm proud of my children. But mostly I'm praising God! Without Him I wouldn't be able to teach. I pray each day that I will be emptied out and that God's spirit will fill me and that He will teach the lessons that need to be taught.
Blessings and Merry Christmas to all, Sheryl ~ The Quilted YaYa
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