I was visiting my friend Anni's blog and this is what she had posted. It is so true

With less than 6 weeks before Christmas REMEMBER:

Jesus is Better than Santa

Santa lives at the North Pole.

JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh

JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year

JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies

JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited

JESUS stands at your door and knocks.. and then enters
your heart.

You have to stand in line to see Santa

JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap

JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi
little boy or girl, What's your name?"

JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know
our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He
even knows how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly

JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO

JESUS offers health, help and hope.

Santa says "You better not cry"

JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.

Santa's little helpers make toys

JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs
broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but

JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree

JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.

It's obvious there is really no comparison.

We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about.

We need to put Christ back in Christmas.

Jesus is still the reason for the season.

May the Lord Bless and Watch over you and your loved ones
this Christmas 2008

And may He prosper and bless the work of your hands in
the New Year.

I haven't had much time to blog but I thought I would show you what we have been up to. Lots of pictures. Oct 31 I took four of the kids to a local home whose family is doing pottery classes for the homeschooling community here. Mr and Mrs Currado here it their web page. This is what we did. While DD2 wrote out name tags Mr. Currado wrote on the board. God is the______ We are the______. We had a lesson on waking up clay and what can happen to it. How God shapes us. We made coil and pinch pots.Turns out that DD1 goes to Varsity Awana with their son and an other of their sons is the director for Varsity.(DD1 volunteered to stay at home and babysit DS2)This is what they completed when our class was over.We went back the next week to see if our stuff had made it through the first firing. All made it through so then they glazed their projects. Here we are recieving instrution on the colors.I will be picking up the finished product sometime this week. I have sceduled a new class for later in the month.

I finished 5 pairs of mittens. DD2 needed hers modified for PE class so she can still grab the ball. DD1 wants a modified pair as well.Here is the Breast Cancer Ribbon scraf I made for my mom for Christmas. I don't think she looks at this blog so I think I am save to post it. If not oh well mom you know what one of your gifts are. lolDS2 needed a new pair of shoes because he had out grown the pair I had made him last Christmas. I had made them too big so he didn't fit them till this summer and wore them constantly but he needed a new pari. DD4 wanted a pair too. Hers are too big for her now but hopefuly they will fit soon. I found DS1 taking a nap with his truckDog ran up to the front door, pushing carpet up and then proceeded to take her nap.

Well this is what I have been able to finish up this week. Getting ready for a craft fair tomorrow. I was able to finish up 12 Chalkboard placemats for girls.

12 chalkboard placemats for boys.

Really exciting....well for me at least. My friend Ali over at Skeins Her Way made a suggestion of a knitting reference book  called Vogue Knitting Quick Reference

Well it arrived today. Wow just browsing through it I am finding lots of stuff I will be able to use. I haven't been happy about how I have been adding stiches while making my mittens from Bridget's Nana's Mittens and saw a great way that I will try with my next pair.(By the way I have four and a half pairs done, one and a half to go to be finished for the kids) It shows how to attach a zipper which I am going to have to do for a jacket I sorta promised my brother in law I would make him. He is actually graciously being my genuie pig for making a man's jacket (oh did I mention we don't even live in the same state so trying it on to see if it is long enough is not an option) Brave man.  It is the Black Sheep Jacket from Knit Picks. Oh there is a treasure trove of stuff in this little book. I am dieing to try out. Thank you Ali for the suggestion.

Got my van back this morning after it had been in the shop for two weeks. Funny  part is this morning I go in to exchange the loaner van they gave me with my sprinter.(They gave me a loner van because I had already sat for three days..not consecutive....in their waiting room)  All was under warrenty but they couldn't find my keys. I was told I was just to wait and someone would be bring up my van. I held up the keys to the loaner and asked what I needed to do with them. With a blank look on their face they asked what those were. I told them their van. Panic started to show on their face and they proceeded to tell me they had know record of that van being loaned out. I told them I had had it for two weeks. Their paper work showed that I had returned it the day after I picked it up. LOL oh but it gets better. They bring my Sprinter around and tell me it is the only Fed Ex van out front and it is running so it can warm up. I think nothing of this due to people alway refuring to our van as a Fed Ex van, that is until I go out front and see a real FED EX van..logo and all waiting for me. I go back in to tell them that that van isn't mine. My Sprinter has the little pictures across the back with all my kids. More panic on their faces because the Fed Ex keys were with my paperwork, so now where are my keys. Oh I had a good laugh this morning. I did get my van back, it will have to go back again because they were missing a part and it was on back order. It is good to be driving my van again.

I think Shereen is still busy unpacking but I will post what I have been doing. I finished up several mama pads. Someone is looking into seeing if they can be shipped to other countries for missons. DD1 has been helping pick out prints that teens like her find fun.  Here are a few post pardum/overnights.And here is a couple post pardum/overnights a lady requested after seeing the lepord ones above.Progress on the kids mittens. DD3 and DS1 wore theirs to PE the other day. It is going to be in the 80's today, but this should be one of the last hot days for a while.Now here is a project I am working on and trying to get finished for a craft fair on Nov 1. Everything is cut out, I just need to sew them all together. I was able to get a hold of some chalkboard fabric through a coop over the summer so I thought I would make up some chalkboard placemats. This is my construction one which matches the pillow cases I made earlier.I wanted to show you the princess fabric which will have pink trim. Hopefully my next week I will have them all done.

Now I am off to go relax and knit for a little while my little ones are enjoying their quiet time.

Well it looks like Shereen and family are busy getting settled in so I don't think there will be a post to her blog but here is a little of what I have been doing.

I finished Septembers socks for the KAL. Was wondering if I would get them done. Life has just been rolling right along for this family.

Here is the pattern and yarn for October's KAL.

 I hope I can get to these. I have been busy with SOTS III and I am just starting Hint 7, Hint 9 just came out today. I have sold some of my diapers at the park during home school pe classes and I have been asked about making mama pads for a couple of people too.  Some one contacted me about getting some to send to Ecuador. So no pictures yet but in my "Free time" I have been busy sewwing. I should have pictures in a few days.

Oh I started knitting some mittens using Purityseekers pattern. I got it from her last year and didn't make any. This one is for my DS1. It is actually done and its match is about this far along. I will make another pair in this color for DS2 and I have pink for DD's 3 and 4. I had made DD's 1 and 2 wrist warmers the other year and they still fit so no need to make any new ones unless they want a different color. Maybe I will make myself a pair. DH go his for Christmas last year.

Ok I hope this works. Monday coming home from PE class, we came up a differnt road and this is what we heard and saw. Needless to say when it finished  we were all in stiches and every one asked if we could do it again. I took DH on this road yesterday while running errands and had him laughing. There is a line of cars now going down this road. You see everyone with a big smile on their faces and lots of U turns to go do it again. Enjoy!!!!  Look for the video on the side bar.

Hi all, I am still here. I have been reading all your blogs, but haven't had time to do any posting here. July/August we had a string of birthdays and September we have an other string of birthdays.

Working on trying to find out what is wrong with my oldest daughter. She will be going into work with Dad on Thursday do to the pedicatric surgens are all down at his work. She will have to bring school work to work on and maybe some knitting or cocheting. Kind of fun..they may take the train in or hubby may opt for driving in if he is taking her in.

School is off to a good start. I did work with the kids through the summer but not too much work assigned. Now we are back on track with all subjects and a couple of PE classes thrown in. I will see if my body can take it. Today they came back hungry and tired.Some opted to take a nap instead of eat lunch. Triple diget heat should only be here until the end of September and it will start cooling off. Anyone want to come sit the little ones for me while we are gone lol.

I am working on an other pair of socks, I have started but I am behind in the SOTS II KAL. I have that wonderful red coat pattern I am dieing to cast on for and my brother in law wants a cardigan knit up. He will be my guine pig with that one. I am making diapers and mama pads for special orders. That has been fun to put together for them. I have several cut out and needing to be sewn together. Those will be done as time allowes after school work and and household chores. Still helping Grandma, that I assume will go on until God calls her home. It is challanging though from so far away.

I am hoping for a time to upload some pictures and I can then post some more. Time is the key. I pray all your schooling is going well. Enjoy

Hi all its FRIDAY!!!!! Be sure to pop on over to Shereen's Blog to see what everyone is doing.

While waiting in the ER with DD1  and her hospital stay the other weekend I finished this crochet market bag. DD1 and I are Beta testing the pattern for a friend. I like it and planning to do up more.What is this you may ask...well this is a overnight/postpartum pad. Here I am assembling the pieces.This one show the size when completed.And her in my new stash!!!Why am I excited.... Because after 17 months I finally needed them!!!! Some of you would say it would be more exciting not to need them, but this means I am ovulating again and Lord will may be just maybe we can have an other blessing. Anyway, I must say these overnights are very comfortable and work well for the "pooling" one gets at night.

Here are some pads I made up for a order this week. An other friend was over and saw them and asked for an order for herself as well to give them a try. I will work on those this weekend.

DD1 saw the overnights and wanted some, only made one so far will have to make up a few more, but this is her color.Well thats it for this week. I have been knitting and spinning but no pictures of those and I did get this months sock yarn and pattern.This is what it will look like when knit up. I borrowed this picture from the sockamania blog site.

Children are calling and I have to pick up one from camp. Have a wonderful weekend.

As you may be aware, the Olympics this year are being held in China,and China is one of the world's greatest persecutors of Christians. Voice of the Martyrs are offering free wrist bands. This prayer band will remind you to pray for the Chinese who are suffering for their faith while the whole world is looking at China during the Olympics.

Click here to get your FREE band today and you can also order extras to give to your friends.

Well it has been very busy and eventfull here. DD1 has been in the doctors office 4 times, ER twice and hospitalized once. They have been able to rule out appendicitis but they are now trying to rule out Crohns.

Today we had the earthquake, nothing happend here execpt everyone blaming the other for shaking the table or chair they were sitting in. Lost our phones for a while but we were able to get a hold of family that was closer to the epicenter. Then DD2 went to go check on a neighbors dogs to make sure they hadn't spilled their water and found a guy walking out of their back yard. She asked what he was doing and he ignored her. She went and gave the puppies water and played with them for a while then came home and found the guy pacing our street and in an other neighbors yard. She asked him again what he was doing and he just stared at her until she went into the house. Needless to say we had the police here and checking out the neighborhood and taking statements. We had everyone on our street out and keeping eyes on everyone elses houses.

Now for some fun stuff. Anni who does the Sockamania KAL and live in the United Kingdom has a knitting blog Confessions of a Yarn Addict . I have enjoyed getting to know her this past year through emails. Well anyway I love her yarn and fiber she has been spinning and started looking into where she was ordering it from and found Yarn Goddess who is in the Bay Area of California. Now we are getting closer to home! Looking through her venders I found a name that caught my eye Frekle Face Fibers so I looked her up and found she lives in Leona Valley California....5 minutes from my house!!!! Whooo Hooo. My closest fiber store is about an hour away so now you know I am excited. I go look her up on Raverly and get in touch with her. I love to look and touch before I buy if at all possible and she comes to my house because she says she drives by my area 3 times a week! Come to find out she is a Home Schooling Mamma too!!!. Well needless to say I bought some fiber so here are some pictures

Gotta love the foot of DS2

Hand of DS2 on fiber DD2 picket out to learn to spin with.DD1's choose of fiber to spin.

Here are a couple of fibers I got from Dragon Fibers. The purple one is on my wheel now. No pictures yet.

Hey all Bridget over at Puriy Seekers is having a contest in celebration of her 2 year Aniversary blogging.  Go check out her rules of the contest and her new Etsy Store "Homegrown Beans". Bridget and her nieces make really wonderful things. I love the fabric food and her longies are so cute.

Ok, My head hurts now. I have been taking pictures of my stash of yarn all day. I thought hey I will upload this into my Stash on Raverly. I didn't know I had so much yarn. I haven't finished it all yet. I think I will stop for the day and do some knitting. I am working on a crochet market bag(beta testing) I am at a stand still till the lady who designed the pattern gets back to me to tell me what I am doing wrong. Finished July's Socks for Sockamania, I will post them for Sew Crafty Friday if I remember.

DS1 has been working on his Rod and Staff stuff trying to get it all done. I was unaware he was working on this today until he asked me to help him on something. He was flying through the book, unlike one of my girls who I had to explane everything on every page, he just goes Oh I know what I am doing and plows full steam ahead.

DD2 finished Epsilon yesterday and is starting in Zeta. It looks like she is starting to get it.

DD3 finished Pathways First Steps yesterday and is going into Days Go By. I think the excitement of the two older ones finishing up books and getting prizes out of my prize box for completing a book got my son all fired up. I fill up a box from stuff from the dollar store (note pads, stickers, boy stuff, girl stuff, pencils, erasers, coloring books, paints, chalk...stuff like that) these are exciting things for them, doesn't cost much and they are used up so they don't hang around the house very long.

Well it's not Friday, but I may not get a chance to post. This is VBS week so I am catching a little blog time while the others finish their lunch. Now what I am posting was not all done in one week. I have made them all sense my last post.  I may have to come back and finish this post at an other time. We have been doing a one subject summer for the kids. DD1 is continuing with her corrispondance courses, she finished drivers ed and has had her drivers permit for two weeks now. With the cost of gas we are not able to go out every day to practice but when I have errans she drives. That leaves DD2 to baby sit for me. DD2 is working on her math for the summer and is doing very well. I love Math-U-See. I use it for all my kids. DD3 is working on reading and I am using Pathways. I started with the Rod and Staff for pre school and loved it . Now using Pathways which to me seems very similar. I was given books by a friend that had douples of them so I figured I would use those and order the work books. It is really working nicely. DS1 is working on his math and I through in a little of reading here and there. I am also using a program on the internet called ClicknKids. I can use it will all my kids. I bought it when DD3 was starting to read and I can use it for her and her three younger siblings and as many others that may come along. If you are interested in signing up with them, you can get a discount if you use my email address for a referral.  kidsrgifts@verizon.net We have been reading the Left Behind series and are on book eight The Mark. DD1 decided to start reading the teen version of it and is fllying through the series. She has borrowed from friends, the library and one lady at church just lent her 28-40 to finish with. I am so happy that I found something to hold their intrest. I try to read a few hours a day...well they want me to read several hours a day, which is wonderful. It is soooo hot here, to hot to go out unless we are at a neighbors pool. I don't want them watching TV all day either and our reading several times a day goes into the evening hours as well.

Here is the youngest one getting a head on our reading while waiting for me to start.

How do you like my new drier Hubby got me. I love it! I do a load first thing in the morning and have it out by 6:30, it dries within 30 minutes but I leave it out longer to let the sun disinfect it real good.

Decided to reorganize my tupperware cupboard do to DS2 doing his own reorganizing.

Grandma gave me some aprocots off her tree so I thought I would cook them down and then purie them. It made a very tasty aprocot sauce that most of us love. It is also good on oatmeal. I didn't put any water in them, just put them in the pot, left a few pits(which I removed afterwards) and turn on the flame. Grandma says if you leave in a few pits, you get more flavor.

DD1 and I had picked 20lbs of cherries so I decided to cook up some of them as well. The rest that weren't eaten are frozen for later. YUM

I made a couple of dresses for DD4 and believe it or not she does actually keep them on for most of the day.

I also made a racerback tank for DS2Here is a skirt I made for myself. AAAahh it is so nice to have a compfy skirt again.I got this skein of Luscious Lace yarn from Annie over at  Yarn Addics on Etsy to make her Scrolls pattern

Hi everyone, It is Sew Crafty Friday, be sure to go visit Shereen's blog to check out what others have been working on.

Well I have a ton of pictures to show you. Now I didn't do all of this in one week, I just finished them this week. I had cut out the pieces one weekend for the wash cloths, two week ends for the diaper pieces. I put together the diapers this past week (20 diapers in all and 100 wash cloths) I just sent some off with a friend who is doing a craft fair down the hill from here and so graciously asked to take these things down to try and sell at the craft fair. If all goes well she will pick more up on Saturday. We are praying for a big response to the diapers and baby wipes/wash cloths. She wanted to put my name out there. I am so thankful to her for doing that for me. I don't have time right now to go to craft fairs so this is huge for me.

ducky wipes

Cloud wipes

Cow wipes

light blue wipes

checkered wipes

These are actually dark green but I couldn't get the color to come up

Gold diapers

Animal spots diapers

Fourth of July diapers

Tulip diapers

Shimmering Pink diapersGarden Patch diapers

And I finished a pair of socks. Now I need to find some lace weight yarn to start my Scrolls pattern crowl.

Woooo Hooo Ali over at Skiens Her Way is having an other knitting summer contest. It is because of her contest last year that I knit my first ever sweater and picked up my knitting needles again in earnest. Check it out

Ok My knitting goals for the summer

1. complete a pair of socks every month with Sockamania plus KAL

2. Make Anni's Scrolls Crowl

3. knit up some wool soakers

4. Cast on for this Knitpicks Mossy Diamons Coat and make some head way.

5. purchase the book "A Gathering of Lace" purchase 6 hanks of peppermint heather Alpaca Cloud Lace to start knitting the "Feather and Fan shawl. ha big undertaking seeing that I just knit my first lace stole in an other KAL, but it is so beautiful in the Knitpicks cataloge that I want to try. I love how soft Alpac is. I want to spin some Alpac one of these days but I should practice with what I have first.

I have tons of yarn that I am dieing to knit up. I just wish I knit fast enough to get it all done. LOL Well these are my Summer 2008 Goals... I am looking forward to see just how many I can get done. I love it  thank you to all who have inspired me in my knitting.

Be sure to check out Shereen's Blog for Sew Crafty Friday

Wow this week flew buy. I was busy sewing with my two older girls last weekend, took a break to take DD2 to urgent care to remore sewing machine needle from finger which went through the bone. She is doing fine and even went back to sewing one day. Finger hurts but it hasn't slowed her down. Signed oldest daughter up for drivers ed classes which start TOMORROW!! She will have four days in class instruction then 10 hrs behind the wheel with them. They actually come and pick her up here for her in car instruction, wooo hoo helps me out.

These are the curtians we were all working on.  This are the Library ones

The ones for the boys room

DD1 did hers all by herself

These are the ones for the girls room that DD2 helped put together.

A close up of the fabric

What are these you may ask?

Here is our model showing them off. She is due to go into heat in June. Last time I only had one and that was a challenge, after words I made a pattern out of the one I had and put these together. Nothing like waiting to the last week to get them done. ha ha

I cut out all this flannel and terry to make baby wipes/ wash clothes

Here they are some are done, some still in progress. I had a lady ask if I could put together some wipes/nuring pads/diapers and menstrual cloths  along with some business cards so she could take them with her next month to a craft fair in the next town over.  Wow I was blown away. She wants to get my name out there. I have some work to do these next few weeks. DD1 took one of my ducky cloths to use as a face cloth. She loves it. Wants more but I told her she needed to wait. Wouldn't do me any good if I sold them to my daughter. ha ha

Here are some Bambo Velour nursing pads I have cut out oooooo they are soooooo soft. I have to serge them together still

And for my knitting this week I finished one of the March's sock (the right one) now I need to knit the left one lol.Love my son's foot. He is very clingy latley...always wanting to nurse.

I feel I have been very productive today. I made three diapers for my son. Two large and on medium. I got this fabric in a goodie box through one of my fabric coops. I love how they turned out.

Check out the cow spots on the inside.I hope to start cutting out more fabric for custom orders in the next few weeks. I think if I had the pieces cut out for the different sizes then sew them together it will be easier. I will probable make more mediums because it seems that a baby will stay awhile in this size. They are adjustible and ride below the belly button. I will make up a few Premies, Newborns, smalls, Large, X Large, and XX Large but those will probable be more on a special order. I hope to make up quite a few over the summer and have them on hand to sell. I love putting these together, there are so many fun patterns out there. I also have solid colors.

I have been working on my May socks for this months KAL. I have one done and the other almost completed. I had to stop for a while for DS1 handed my a ball of yarn and asked if I could make him an other pair sense his were too small now. I had got a bunch of sock yarn for my birthday so I could make them for my kids. I made the mistake of telling my 5 year old to pick his colors and once he has something in his head it doesn't leave.

I think I have enough to make DS2 a pair also. I have a couple other colors to make the boys and some to make for the girls. I also have so dress/skirt patterns I want to make up for me and the girls. I had my two oldest daughters helping me sew today. After making the diapers I started on curtains for my office while instructing the girls to sew the curtians for their rooms. I then started working on curtains for the boys room. I am doing what ever I can to help keep this 103 dergree heat out of our house this summer. The black out curtains I made for downstairs have been helping keep it cool. I will have to post the curtian later.

Look I finished Aprils socks last night!!!

I have been reading the Left Behind series to my kids these last few weeks. I think we spend two or more hours reading everday, Every time I stop they beg for more. I has been a great motivator in getting school work and chores done. Grandma is home and is as fistie as ever. Pray for her health. She does not want to move out of her home. I don't know how long she can stay there and run things. Her mind is sharp. I am taking over paying her bills and I believe in a couple of months all the bumps and lumps will be worked out and running smoothly again.

Last week was my birthday ...41  Whoo Hooo. On Friday I went to my friends house for our play day. This is the other quiverfull family. There oldest was married a couple of weeks ago so they were down on child for the visit, but I tell you when you get 14 children to sing Happy Birthday (# 15 was taking a nap) It  was wonderful!!!! 14 children lustfully singing happy birthday to me, if you have never had that privallige let me tell it was a wonderful blessing you will have to expereance for yourself. One more blessing for quiverfull families... those of you who are quiverfull's understand what I mean.:)

Looking at my last blog a lot has happened. Later that day I recieved a call telling me a friend had died, I had just talked to him the night before. He had suffered a heart attack early Friday morning and died a few hours later in the hospital. He had been a close compainion to my Grandmother for 22 yrs. He was the one driving her everywhere, taking care of her properites, helping her with household chores and paying her bills. He passed away in the same hospital my Grandmother is in. Monday we all went down to see what we could do. First I had to change locks on a couple of house do to know one was sure where the keys were. Our friend had taken Grandma's keys when she went into the hospital so he could take care of her house and cat. We didn't know if the keys were still in his house or with his personal belongings and being that it was Easter weekend we couldn't get them. I have been on the phone every day trying to get things taken care of and trying to pay Grandma's bills.We don't know if she will be able to come home soon or not.  She needs help but wants to stay in her own home. Fortunatly she has been involved with the city where she lives and the police and other city officials have been keeping an eye on her home and other properties. Oh did I mention that she lives a good hour and a half to two hours away from us. This is making things a little challenging, but God has been working things out. We keep praying for His wisdom in all of this.

In the fields behind our house these poppies are growing wild. The wind is blewing so they are not open now but when the are it is just a huge splash of color. Peopele are even driving out on the weekends and picnicing in the fields (I wouldn't.. them thar is Rattle territory ). Last year the poppie reserve was closed do to no rain. This year we have had quite a bit of rain and God has colored our landscape with beautiful  hues of orange, purple and yellow. I think of Mathew 8:28-30 "So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: They neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not  arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is and tomorrow is thrown into the ovenm, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?    Isn't that wonderful!!!! How marvelous are His promises!!!!