Early Works coming soon

Can't believe July is almost over!

So I'm getting something "fallish" ready for my
 Early Works shoppe -
Goes live  TONIGHT!

Click Here for MY EARLY WORKS SHOPPE

Ok... here's a little peek...

and....

Vacation Bible School

Our church just finished up 3 days of VBS this last week and it was awesome!

It was the first VBS for our church too and so it was quite the learning experience. 

How many kiddos will show?

Can we get enough volunteers to help?

Will we have enough stuff? etc...

With a lot of prayer and stepping out in faith... we all pulled it off and it was a great success!

We've only been going to this church for maybe 4 years and there's never been a VBS. I've helped with them before at our previous church... but was a tad reluctant to mention VBS because, well, someone always says... "Great idea! YOU run it!"  YIKES!

When there was an all-call for this a few months ago... I felt God tugging me to jump in. I volunteered right off the bat.  Before our first meeting I kept praying God would put me where HE wanted me to serve. I wasn't sure about the teaching but was thinking about the snack part. :o) 

Low and behold.. guess where I ended up -  

organizing the CRAFTS!  hahaha

Another prim crafter,...

  Allison of Sew Many Girls

 also goes to this church and we ended up doing crafts together, along with the help of several other wonderful ladies! We ended up needing every single one of these awesome gals! We had quite a few kiddos and more every night!

We had a great time and I loved all the songs, games, etc.,  and you could feel and  see God working in these little one's and in the adults! 

The theme was the SonSurf Beach Bash. One short video showed a young guy talking...Dr. Cool. Have you ever watched Finding Nemo? This guy talked exactly like the big 'ol turtles! hawhawhaw.  Kids caught on to that too and loved it!

  It was a lot of work and planning, but I know I'll volunteer next year! 
Again, thanks for all the gals that helped and it was awe inspiring to see God working!
I'd highly suggest sending your kids or even helping with a VBS! 
It's not just for the little one's... YOU benefit too!

Have a blessed day my friends!

Surf's Up!

3 Legged Cat

Have I told you the story of the three legged cat?  Well, sit back and listen to something that is pretty amazing --- to me anyway.

Last Fall, we came home from church and someone noticed a cat perched on top of one of the back fences by the barn. We wondered why this little guy didn't run off and very quickly, it became apparent he was in quite the bind.

His back right leg was stuck down in the fence slat and he was pulling and spinning (yes! spinning!) with all his might trying to free himself. Lord knows how long the poor little guy was up there! My husband grabbed the long gloves and a crowbar, spread the fence and he took off like a shot toward the woods. Well we figured that would be the last of him and we felt pretty bad that he had suffered so.

Now jump forward about 2 months... I'm outside and I see this black cat hopping!  I'm like.. no way! But yes folks, it's the same tough little cat minus one leg. (It may be hard to make out, but in the picture above, his right back leg is gone, oh , about where a knee would be).

I'm thinking, wow, if this little guy is that tough, I'm gonna help him through the winter. There are feral cats that come around off and on through our 20 years in this house, but I've never fed them. This guy is an exception. I felt so bad for him. And also figured he had one tough will to live!

So I started leaving food and water out for him and he made it through a pretty tough winter.

Sometime around late Winter/early Spring or so, I started noticing another black cat, a little bigger and pretty sure it's male.  The male has a messed up eye and he's teamed up with little 3 legs. I guess these two misfits had paired up. Then I didn't see 3 legger around for a bit and next thing ya know... her SHE comes with 1 little black kitten.  Now, I'm pretty sure cats usually have more than one, but this is all that's around. You have to be vewy vewy quiet to try to snap a pic of these leary guys, but that's what keeps 'em alive. Here's ma and baby enjoying a little breakfast.

I figure the good Lord must have sent these critters my way at just the right time.  If any of you read my blog, back in February, out 18 year old Simba cat passed... and I truly feel that tending to these local misfits, helped me through that grief some.

Well that's the story...I still can't hardly believe it myself, but I've seen this 3 legged 'lil mama run/hop so fast she beat a dog under the deck to safety. It was a truly amazing sight how she could fly like that!

* I said stay hidden until I tell you to come out! *

* Always on the look out *

I know we all have a purpose and we may not always know what it is... but next time you're having a bad day... think of the life of a wild 3 legged cat with an little one to care for... wow... makes a pity party run a lot shorter.. for me anyway! ;o)

Blessings my friends!

Happy 4th of July!

Stay safe my friends and have a wonderful day!

Gramma Memories

She was born in 1904.

She's the child with the huge grin and long braid.

She's in the next to last row, third from right.

She was my gramma.

She's been gone 11 years today, she was 98...but it feel like just yesterday when I'd  call her up to yak or ask a question. She taught me so much... how to grow and can produce...all the little shortcuts and such that takes a lifetime to learn. All the home remedies from treating  sunburn and bug bites, to keeping those pests off your veggies 'n flowers! She taught me a lot about cooking and baking. To this day I'll look at recipes and try to find the words:  

"A little of this, a touch of that, oh a heaping tablespoon and a little more...etc" 

She was a young married woman through the depression and learned how to "make do" and make "somethin' outta nuthin' ".  This she also passed on to me. My children never went hungry through our lean times either! The only way to explain it is by the grace of God and remembering what gramma said.
Her sewing info was and still is invaluable.
Patience was taught in all her lessons.
I wonder if she even knew she was teaching because I sure didn't realize I was learning until much later! 

There can be so much more I can say, but the main thing is...

Gramma I miss you and love you and will see you again someday!


Enjoy your pre-4th of July day my friends!

Early Works

 New Early Works goods

Click Here for MY EARLY WORKS SHOPPE