Birthday's and Sewing :-)

We had two birthday's this month...my Mom's and my younger brother's. We had many special treats to celebrate...sugar cookies with sprinkles, red grapes, fudge ice cream cups, mixed nuts, fudge, and cheese with crackers. Mmmmm! ;-)






We also had a delicious angel food cake (Mom's favorite) that my Grandma brought, and chocolate marble cupcakes. We displayed the cupcakes on a cupcake stand and then my Mom, younger brothers, and two cousins each blew out a candle. :-)









Our church has a Banquet for the youth (7th-12th grade) and their parents annually. We normally dress up, are served a fancy meal by the alumni (those who have already graduated) and those of the youth who would like to share a few scriptures, a piano piece, sing a song etc. that had been encouraging to them (in the Lord) , can present it during the evening. We also have a guest speaker.
Well, since it is a dressy occasion, my Mom was so kind as to make a dress for me, which turned out very nice and my Grandma crocheted a cape/stole to go with it! Thank you both sooo much!

Here, on the left, is the pattern we chose to use this year. We decided to make the one on the far left with the exception of the bow (Mom made a satin rose to go on one side of the dropped waistline instead) and we added sleeves and lengthened the skirt.

We found some nice satin material, trim, thread, zipper etc. and after making some minor adjustments were soon at the pinning and cutting out stage. Mom used tissue paper to add to the length of the skirt.

And here it is all done! Mom took this picture right before we left for the Banquet! It was a good time! :-)

"The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him."

Exodus 15:2

Happy New Year!

Greetings!
Well, with the new month (and year :-) ) we have taken down our Christmas decorations and are thinking about what we should use to decorate for January! :-) The snowman, pictured on the left, will be a part of our wintry theme. Isn't he cute? :-)

Also, we have been making paper snowflakes for our windows. :-)
Yesterday evening I put the finishing touches on two of the snowmen coasters that are for our dining table. :-) Those have been lots of fun to make!

We discovered some blue sheer fabric with snowflakes on it at the store the other day and we thought that it might be useful for something. Hmmmm.....we'll have to see. :-)

Over Christmas I was given a knitting kit and a crochet kit! I have really enjoyed exploring both of them. The yellow washcloth was crocheted by my Mom with my Grandma (her mom) finishing the edges and the pink scarf (or scarf to be) ;-) is what I have been working on. I was having a little difficulty figuring out just how to knit from the book, so we called a friend of ours that knows how to, and we were able to go over to her house and she showed me how to do it! :-) It's been sooooo much fun to do. I like to learn new skills! :-)


And here is a picture of the sunset we had tonight. A little earlier my Mom, younger brother and I took a walk down our driveway and I was thinking about how large the sky is and the Maker of it. How each blade of grass is so very detailed, our pine trees and their needles....the bright moon and stars...and I was reminded of the latter part of this verse...

"I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well."

Psalm 139:14

Praise be the Lord!

My Dad and older brother have gotten to be home quite a bit more during "Winter Break" and we have really enjoyed and have been blessed by the extra family time. :-)

On New Years Eve our church had a time of singing. Along with the group singing there were certain ones in the congregation that had prepared a song or songs to share. Some of my friends and I sang "Breath of God" and "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel". It was a good time of worship and we were encouraged to be filled with the Spirit.

Well, guess I better go for now.

Don't lose heart!

~Chloe~ :-)