STAWBERRY JAM

Thursday was a fun and eventful day of jammin! My dear friend Crystal and her son Caleb came over for the fun. We spent the day cleaning, mashing and making some yummy homemade freezer jam. Let me tell you it is the easiest thing on earth and I feel so domestic! It is the best on toast, PBJ's, waffles, cottage cheese, ice cream, in your milk shakes and the list goes on and on.

It had been 4 years since I made this yummy treat and my Hubby was sooooo glad that I made it this summer. Here is the link to the Sure-jell recipe I used. ENJOY!!! http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/recipes/30-minutes-homemade-surejell-50137.aspx

You will LOVE the end result...I promise!!!

Seattle's Farmers Market

So sorry I have not posted for the last 5 days! I went on vacation and we had NO Internet. It was great to have a break but I missed you guys terribly too! On our vacation we went to Widbey Island and stayed in Oak Harbor for the 4Th with friends. (right off the Puget Sound) We saw such a wonderful display of fireworks and had great food & fellowship with friends. We also went hiking, kayaking, shopping, etc...what FUN!

Then on the way home we stayed in Seattle for the night and had a BLAST! We went to visit the Farmers Market and I absolutely LOVED it! There were so many amazing things from fresh fish, produce, jewelry, flowers, homemade bags, gifts, etc... I had a blast looking through everything!

I LOVE flowers soooo much and I wanted to buy a bouquet to take home with me, but instead I just took pictures of them. (That way I can enjoy them longer than a week!)

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I couldn't believe how many vendors there were and how many levels of the market there were! It was HUGE! I have totally been inspired to check out the Saturday Market in Portland...can you believe I have never been there??? Anyway, I also have a SUPER SMALL Saturday market in my little town too! I'll have to check that out too. There is just nothing like local produce and all the fun stuff you can find at your local Saturday market. Which reminds me...I have to buy some flats of strawberries before they are outta season. Looks like I am making homemade freezer jam this week! YAY!

Sew Happy!!!

Growing up I have VERY fond memories of my Grandmother sewing in her sewing room. She always made me Barbie doll clothes and regular doll clothes. I LOVED them and I knew I was the only girl who had these exact outfit for my dolls. She also made me a matching set of Raggedy Ann & Andy dolls. Unfortunately I don't have ANY of them to pass down, but I do have her quilt that she made me! There is nothing like wrapping my self up in her quilt knowing that my Grandmother put this together with love so I could snuggle up and enjoy it on the couch with coffee & a good book.

 
So It got me thinking a lot about sewing myself. I have dabbled in it here and there for the past 4 years. But it wasn't until about a year ago that I really took off! I have a Baby quilt with the top part finished but still in the making and I have truly enjoyed all the fun crafts you can whip up. Having access to the Internet has opened a whole new door for me. I have learned so many things from fellow sewer and crafters who are gifted and willing to share with others! There are videos & tutorials galore and it has inspired me all over again! The purpose of Sew What!?!? is to share what I have learned with my friends so then they can go out and learn or make it them selves! We are all learning and we are all teaching!
So, I figure since it's in my blood, I always want to know more and I am very interested in making all the cute baby items, crafts, blankets, quilts, etc... What a fun way to share something special with my Grandmother even though she is no longer with us. It just makes me feel close to her when I am sitting at the machine. I can't believe how relaxing it is to be sewing while my munchkins are down for their nap. There is nothing like some good quiet Mama time! Now I can make sweet things to give to my kids as well as family & friends so they can one day wrap that blanket of love around them and think of me & how much I love and care for them! HAPPY SEWING!!!

Finding yourself in Christ

Psalm 139:14 will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

I don't know about you, but there are times in my life that I feel so lost. Just looking for that woman I want to be. I see these Godly women in my life that I greatly admire and I wanna be just like them! But then I realize that each one of us are so different and that God allows that for a reason. It's really easy for me to get hung up on all the things that I am not...organized, skinny, good time manager, disciplined, and the list can go on and on! My excuse was always..."Well, I was raised this way." but just recently God has shown me that with Him all thing ARE possible! I always knew that, but it's such a blessing to see it personally.

I have some VERY close friends who have been such great examples and have REALLY taught me how to have an amazing personal relationship with God. I was thinking about the woman I was a year ago compared to today (don't get me wrong...I still have a LONG way to go) and I was so excited to see what God has done in my life. Since last year I have become a Mother, a Friend, a servant, an Aunt, a role model, a Sunday School teacher, and even a "better" organized & loving wife. I have truly found the things in life that I LOVE!!! Some of my favorite things are: Reading, the Beach, Sewing, Scrapbooking, teaching, cooking, my son, & organizing...gasp! And so many other things. I know it's because God has given me the examples I needed in my life as well as the strength and confidence to accomplish these things.

If you would have asked me a year ago if I would ever grow in these areas I would have said yes...but in my heart I felt that it was a lost cause! It's funny to me how we can allow Satan's lies to affect our outlook and thoughts on life. We are truly capable of ANYTHING with Christ and some elbow grease! ;) So I am happy to report that even though my house is a mess right now and I have to go grocery shopping...I am VERY happy with the women I am becoming. He is molding me and shaping me every single day! God is so good!

Psalm 139:14 "will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well."