March 2010 in Review

Recapping the month of March (quickly -- I need to go to bed!):

My husband's parents came for a week-long visit early in the month.  It was wonderful.  Those two are tireless givers of time and personal attention, and we enjoyed them so much.  A trip to AZ must include a few hikes, so Daddy and Papa and Nana and the girls made several good ones.  Poor me, there wasn't room in the van for me, so I stayed home all sad and alone.  They hiked up canyons and over rocks and into caves, played in desert water and even surprised some wild burros.

It's always so hard when attentive grandparents leave.  There's nothing to do, no one to listen to your chatter, and no one to buy treats.  It's a blessing that we have big sisters here to cheer us up.

It was time to make a trip to our favorite park, the one with grass (on the Nevada side, where lo$ers pay for all the nice stuff).  Our friend, Mackenzie, came along.  She is always full of ideas.  These girls are skating for a film crew. Nothing lasts long in the desert, especially if it is made of plastic or elastic.  Our protective pads have lost all their elasticity, so we tie them on -- probably not the most comfortable way to wear them, but a little bit of discomfort is worth it for this much fun!

Bad Betsy rode into town and held us up.

But she was kind enough to allow her sister, Amy, to experiment with the camera.  That Amy is starting to take some pretty nice shots.

And, speaking of Amy, that girl has been sewing, gluing, magnetizing, building, exploding... anything you can think of that sounds constructive or destructive.  She only exploded one thing: that was a film canister filled with water and an Alka Seltzer tablet, capped quickly and shot with the camera.  The camera was too slow, so no pictures, but it was lots of fun and excitement.  Added to her craft collection we now have more pin cushions, a birthday hat, a hair band with interchangeable flowers, a jar topper, and the cutest little bag you ever did see.  It looks just like one of those Brach's neapolitain chewy candies. (See her blog for more photos of her creations!)

Alison is working hard on her world history, physical science, and hateful geometry.  She is such a good kid.  I know that while these things interest her (sort of), she would rather not do them.  But she doesn't complain.  Emily, while suffering the post-grandparent throes, sweet talked her big sister into playing Tiny Dreams with her.  Very unusual for Alie to be found "pretending".  What a nice sister.

For those of you who don't know, or don't remember (that would be me), we have been participating in a public speaking co-op this year.  My, what a change has come over this child of mine.  We started this activity with many tears, much anguish, accusations (I heard one daughter in this house say that her mother was wicked for making her do this! ), and pleas for mercy.  I said, NO, we are not quitting!  Now I am thanking God for helping me to stick this one out!  Elisabeth has really blossomed.  Last week she put together a Sunday School lesson for my class of 3-11 year olds, on how even the small things that children can do for Jesus can have big consequences.  She was well organized, articulate, and very poised.  It wasn't all that long ago that an opportunity like this would have had her hiding under her chair.  Today was our last day of speech co-op, and when it was all over, Betsy told me she can't decide whether she is relieved that speech is over, or disappointed -- did you see that?  DISAPPOINTED!!!

Math class.  Sometimes you just need your own space so you can concentrate!

Earlier in the month my mom asked me to whip up a jewelry bag for a friend's birthday.  Here is what I came up with, using my stash of virtually free upholstery samples (ew, sorry, the color is not very good here!):

Well, then I was on a roll.  Using online tutorials, I have now made four or five more jewelry bags and several cosmetic bags of various sizes, even one with a clear side, to prevent having to dig for something elusive.  (Made that one out of a fabric I don't like, in case it didn't work out.) Everything is still in experimental stages; not one thing has turned out perfect, but there is definitely potential.

OH yes, and a wallet!  It's too fat -- next time I won't interface it.  But it was fun to make.

And last but not least, my little protegé, still begging daily for me to allow her to use the pedal.  Ah, no.  Patience, child.  Today Emily made a little pillow, all by herself.  I love this.  It must be very educational, for it requires lots of critical thinking, sorting, sequencing, and all that good stuff. Alison was this age when she made herself a shirt out of an old sheet, and sewed it all together by hand.  She wanted to wear it to church that Sunday... I don't remember how I talked her out of that one, lol.

Thanking the Lord for his goodness to my family and me this month, and praising him for his wonderful plan of redemption for sinners like me.

And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
But now is Christ risen from the dead...
1 Corinthians 15:14-20