Mama

I just love it when Julianne calls me "mama". It is endearing and reaches my heart each time she says it.

Silly as a name is, it truly conveys a deeper truth. When the boys say "mom", it also touches me - it means something.

We take for granted what this simple word can mean - to us and to the person saying it. It shows a certain knowledge of something, that is personal and intimate.

I have no relatives who call me "JoAnn" or "Mrs. Tolentino" - that would be a strike in the face - instead, endearing terms are for those who you have a special relationship with.

I don't know why I got on this tangent - it is just because Julianne just called me "Mama" and my heart warmed a few degrees.

Today, please call your mom's and say hello - using "mom", "mama", or whatever you use. It will warm their hearts.

Trust and Obey

At my mom's church Sunday we sang this old hymn. We both realized that words like this are timeless - unchanged truth - untainted by culture, relativism, or what man may try to do with the Bible.

Is life easy? Any fool knows the answer to that - regardless of your religious persuasion. The fool dismisses the Bible as being the infallible rule of God. A believer knows that the words contained in the Scriptures are the Words of God, and that "all Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness". People who dismiss this truth want nothing to do with the Author of Scripture.

Most people apart from God know what trust is - but obey...NO WAY...don't even go there. This great hymn reminds us that the two VERBS are inseparable.

Take a few moments to meditate on this great song.

Trust and Obey
by John H. Sammis and Marc Hedlin - Copyright ©

When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His Word
What glory He sheds on our way
While we do His good will
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

chorus:
Trust and obey,
For there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise,
Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt nor a fear,
Not a sigh nor a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
(chorus)

But we never can prove
The delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows,
And the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
(chorus)

Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet,
Or we'll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do,
Where He sends we will go,
Never fear only trust and obey.
(chorus)

Hats - to Flowers - to Cocoons!

Really now - this yarn needs to be used up. Kate O'Connell, who just had her second baby, sent me a picture of what she wants me to knit for her new baby Ruby.

Oh my goodness! These things are adorable, practical, and the sky is the limit to the creativity one can embark on.

SO, of course, I rely on my one-handed mom to be my mentor for knitting. I spent the weekend there, and we made 3 sets! I love these! I made one for Ruby, one for Olivia D'Haiti, and my mom made one for her new great grand baby Ali Jacobson....AND I just found out that my niece Dolly is pregnant with #4! Oh babies, babies, babies! What a blessing from God!

Done with Hats

We are moving on - well I am. Susie is still making hats, on account of her future move to Alaska. For me, hats are just not very useful in Seattle. However, we have been frequenting JoAnn Fabrics - like way way way too much. We roll and bounce from one creative idea to another, playing off of each other's brilliant ideas. We decided that we are TWO BIG CUBES ROLLING DOWN A HILL. Think about that. Think hard. Have you ever seen a cube roll?




So after making about 30 hats,I am pretty much finished with hats. BUT I have all of this yarn that needs to be used. Of COURSE, we will now make yarn flowers! Oh! We can put BEADS on them too! We need more beads! Wait! We need that sparkly yarn!!!







Now don't the centers just SCREAM for sparkling beads?



















































Oh my goodness...anyone want a flower pin for your hat?

Change Change Changlings

Happy New Year! Change seems to be the theme so far.

Change - NOT brought on by myself. Change out of my control. Change, I know I can trust God.

In 2009, I went from a household of 7 people and two dogs to 3 people and no dogs.

Two sons are now homeowners, one son is moving from one state to another.

Husbands job is moving to Pennsylvania!

Change - out of my control - excited to see what God is going to do. The only hope for the future is the fact that I KNOW He is sovereign.

I remember younger years when most change was brought on by my choices - change like those are understandable.

I pray that these changes will bring honor to God.

New Years Eve 2009

Good conversation...
Food....
Catch Phrase, of course

I love little munchkins - the future of tomorrow - all gathered in my basement, squished in like tiny sproutlings

The countdown to the atomic clock was too much
So we tried to distract the wait


Fun time - I love these people!