"YOU DO ALL THINGS WELL"

Mountain maker
Ocean tamer
Glimpses of You
Burn in my eyes
The worship of heaven
Fills up the skies

You made it all
Said, "let there be"
And there was
All that we see
The sound of Your voice
The works of Your hands
You do all things well
You do all things well
You do all things well

Star creator
Wind breather
The strokes of Your beauty
Brushed through the clouds
Light from the heavens
Touching the ground

Imagination runs wild
And breathes the breath of life
Across the fields
Across the miles

By Chris Tomlin

Have a wonderful Sunday!

I'm hosting a swap. Come play :)

I swap with Swap-bot!
I'm hosting a swap on swapbot. If you like sewing, come give this a try. We are going to be making zippered pouches to send to a partner some where in the universe! It's lots of fun. The 2009 version of a penpal...that is a sewing penpal.

Tea Time!

A little tea party last week with a few neighbors and friends. There is something so soothing and civilized about tea...the gentle clinky of the tea cups and the antique linens. I wish that I took the time weekly to relax and touch base with loved ones...but time just gets away from me. Stuff crowds in and my perspective loses it's way.

Maybe next week will be different. I'm still working on this growing up, getting things in order thing. Trying to grow up this Jesus girl!

At Christmas i try to have a large tea party. This year 40ish friends gathered over scones, a roaring fire and some great fellowship. The goody bags (yes...adults need goody bags too) contained this poem. Enjoy!

Dear Potter, We realize we have been jarred by life, causing brokeness. Some of us feel like shards of china instead of the exquisite and intriguing vessels that we want to be. We want to be pots that, when poured, tipped, dropped, or spilled, issue forth streams of life. Please, You who rework clay to repair damage, mend us. In Jesus' restorative name, Amen
(From TEA WITH PATSY CLAIRMONT)

Have a wonderful weekend!
Shelia

Ever have one of THOSE days?

She is too cute! My new & only grandbaby Emerson. Just thought you...and well..everyone should see her :)

And how is YOUR day?

It is well with my soul

It's a double blog day!
Last night when i went to bed (2:30, i might add) and started to pray, this song came to my heart and would not leave. So i thought i'd share. In these times it is good to remember that He is in control. When we believe and trust in Him it will be ...

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

Refrain

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

Refrain

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

Refrain

But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!

Refrain

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Refrain

Just a reminder. This was written by Horatio Spafford after two major traumas in his life. The first was the great Chicago Fire of October in 1871, which ruined him financially. Shortly afterward, while crossing the Atlantic, all four of Spafford's daughters died in a collision with another ship. His wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, "Saved alone."
Several weeks later, as Spafford's own ship passed near the spot where his daughters died, the Holy Spirit inspired the words. They speak to the eternal hope that all believers have, no matter what pain and grief befall them. We are blessed!

He is God. He is our Lord. And it IS well with my soul!

Purse & keepin it clean

A new project ready to go in the mail today! This purse was designed for a swapping partner in Pennsylvania. According to her bio she likes all things vintage. I scoured the local antique store and came up with a really pretty pillow case. Used her favorite colors in the purse main fabric and viola! What do you think?

To add to yesterday cleaning supplies...here is recipes for the laundry! The second recipe is for HE washers. I've used both and like both!

Ingredients
1 bar bath soap, grated (your favorite brand, fels naptha is great)
1 cup arm & hammer super washing soda laundry detergent (a laundry booster)
1/2 cup borax
hot water
Directions
Place grated soap in a pot.
Cover with water and simmer over medium heat until all soap is melted, stirring occasionally.
Pour into 5 gallon bucket.
Add washing soda and borax.
Add enough hot water to fill the bucket.
Stir (I use a long measuring stick, but any long stick will work).
Let sit overnight to gel.
Use 1 cup per load.
(You can pour this into old detergent containers or leave in the bucket. (make sure its covered to keep out the critters and little ones. (same difference i guess :)

For HE machines (this recipe from UNLESS THE LORD)
1 bar Fels Naptha Soap, grated
1 c. Borax
1c. Super Washing Soda (not Baking Soda)
1/2 c oxy-clean

Mix all together, and use 2 tablespoons per load

Tracey @ UNLESS THE LORD also suggest mixing half and half, liquid softener and vinegar if your having trouble with static cling. I haven't had any trouble using just straight vinegar. And NO your laundry does NOT smell like vinegar :)
Have a great day!

Time for Spring Cleaning

Or maybe time just to write about it!
I guess when you like to create things...you like creating ALL kinds of things. On the Dugger show (you know the family with 18+ kids) they were making clothes detergent and that sparked my interest. So i zoomed around blog land and have compiled and tweaked some recipes for those of you who like to clean with healthy, cheaper cleansers or those of you who just like to make things (that would be me).

A great blog to check out to clean your home and for encouragement in things of the heart is http://tkcdeanna.blogspot.com/. The following couple of recipes are from her blog.

All Purpose Cleaner

2T.white vinegar (only distilled white vinegar)
1 t Borax
Hot water
a few drops of a mild dish detergent
5 drops of essential oil, optional
In a 16 spray bottle put vinegar, borax and hot water. Swish around until borax has dissolved. Add the drops of dish detergent and fill the rest of the bottle with water. Add the essential oil (I like using orange or lavender).

Homemade Window Cleaner
½ t mild dish detergent
3T. white vinegar
2 cups water
Put all these ingredients into a spray bottle. Shake this up some and use it just like the commercial variety. Wash the windows when the sun is not shining on them and they will not streak.

I love using distilled white vinegar for cleaning and there are so many ways it can be used . See the link below. A little bit of essential oils will cut the vinegar smell but I don't use the oils when cleaning windows.http://www.vinegartips.com/cleaning/

Soft Scrub Cleanser
For homemade soft scrub cleanser, mix 1/2 cup of baking soda with enough liquid detergent to make a cleansing liquid. You can apply the cleanser and scrub with a sponge to clean. This works very well in sinks or the bathtubs. Simply rinse it off when you are done cleaning and it washes off easily and will not leave any grit behind.

Also-try tipnut. Lots of good recipes
http://tipnut.com/10-homemade-laundry-soap-detergent-recipes/

As for the dishwasher:
1 cup Baking Soda
1 cup Borax

Mix thoroughly and store in a plastic container, use approximately 2 TBS per load.
Use vinegar in the rinse compartment as a rinse agent to help prevent residue
Try adding 2-3 drops essential oil

Things i've learned along the way:

Buy vinegar in the LARGEST container possible. It seems to be great for everything.
In fact my daughter who had suffered from acid reflux has been basically cured using vinegar. She is not using distilled vinegar but organic apple vinegar. Really worth a try..a takes a teaspoon every morning and pain GONE!(orginally i got this idea from the book THE MAKERS DIET by Jordan Rubin.

All this talk about cleaning...well its kind of inspiring. You know...throw open the windows, get the clean rags and get going. On the other hand...kind of makes me feel like i already did my share --writing all this :) Just kidding. On to cleaning! I love the way the house smells when your finished. And since I'm making my own cleansers...everything is going to be smelling like LAVENDER. Its lavender love!!!!!