Wednesday, December 26, 2007


by Henry van Dyke

It is a good thing to observe Christmas day. The mere marking of times and seasons, when men agree to stop work and make merry together, is a wise and wholesome custom. It helps one to feel the supremacy of the common life over the individual life. It reminds a man to set his own little watch, now and then, by the great clock of humanity which runs on sun time.
But there is a better thing than the observance of Christmas day, and that is keeping Christmas.
Are you willing to forget what you have done for other people, and to remember what other people have done for you; to ignore what the world owes you, and to think what you owe the world; to put your rights in the background, and your duties in the middle distance, and your chances to do a little more than your duty in the foreground; to see that your fellowmen are just as real as you are, and try to look behind their faces to their hearts hungry for you; to own that probably the only good reason for your existence is not what you are going to get out of life, but what you are going to give to life; to close your book of complaints against the management of the universe, and look around you for a place where you can sow a few seeds of happiness -- are you willing to do these things even for a day? Then you can keep Christmas.
Are you willing to stoop down and consider the needs and desires of little children; to remember the weakness and loneliness of people who are growing old; to stop asking how much your friends love you, and ask yourself whether you love them enough; to bear in mind the things that other people have to bear in their hearts; to try to understand what those who live in the same house with you really want, without waiting for them to tell you; to trim your lamp so that it will give more light and less smoke, and to carry it in front so that your shadow will fall behind you; to make a grave for your ugly thoughts and a garden for your kindly feelings, with the gate open -- are you willing to do these things even for a day? Then you can keep Christmas.
Are you willing to believe that love is the strongest thing in the world -- stronger than hate, stronger than evil, stronger than death -- and that the blessed life which began in Bethlehem nineteen hundred years ago is the image and brightness of Eternal Love? Then you can keep Christmas.

And if you can keep it for a day, why not always? But you can never keep it alone.
Sew Long for Now!

Thursday, December 20, 2007

5 Days until Christmas! I am oh so happy to be finishing up sewing for others and gifts to give! Below you will see one of the tea towels I embroidered for an Awana leader for Capt. Chaos. I have embroidered 10 tea towels for teacher gifts this week.



I also embroidered four cup gloves for our pastors. These go on those to go coffee cups like Starbucks. I am getting them Starbucks gift cards also. I will put these around an empty cup and put the gift cards in them.


I embroidered some altar clothes for another lady to give her priest. I still have two sweat shirts to embroidery and a coat to hem. If I have time I will make the table runner for my Momma, if not I will make one and give it to her for Mother's Day. Off to sew some more!

Sew Long for Now!

Monday, December 17, 2007

Ahhhh! All my little elves are home now. We went to VMI today and picked up Lt.Col. Cool. It is so nice to have them all here. Of course no sewing was done today. I did make gifts for Sunday School teachers Saturday and I will have to post a picture later. I am off on this chilly night to finish the pot of potato soup I am making for supper.

Sew Long for Now!





Saturday, December 15, 2007


For you Linda, a picture of my new curtains. The material had a border on both ends and I choose to use it as the bottom of the curtain. I finished hemming a pair of pants and embroidering a saying on cloth for some one to frame for a Christmas gift yesterday. Today I am working on gifts for my children's Sunday School teachers. According to Capt. Chaos, 10 days until Christmas!
Sew Long for Now!

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Yesterday I decided our bedroom needed cleaning. I am embarrased to say how long it has been since I gave it a good cleaning. While working on it I saw the material I bought in October to make a curtain for our window. I decided to finally finish that project. The curtain was easy to sew. Nothing fancy, just a rectangle with a rod pocket. Now the bedroom looks so complete with the new curtain and cleaned. I took a break from other sewing. Today I must make myself get some done. Twelve Days until Christmas, my presents are not all finished. Are yours?

Sew Long for Now!

Wednesday, December 12, 2007


The soldier costumes for the ballet are done. They took a lot longer than I anticipated. I forgot to take a picture of them before they were picked up yesterday. Now, onto the stack of sewing for other customers I have here. I also have Christmas sewing to do. Oh, yea there is only 2 weeks until Christmas. I wonder if I can get it all done? Sometimes I feel like the cat in the picture (Orion is his name). Trying to reach forward, but something blocking my way. I can do it if I back up and take another way around! I am trying to type with that cat laying across my lap and arms now. It is very hard you know. He has been very loving lately.
Sew Long for Now!

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

The cutting is finally complete. 112 pieces cut out on this part. Today I start the sewing. I need to finish them by Friday. Hmmm.... Can I do it. Only with God's help.

Sew Long for Now!

Monday, December 03, 2007

The evening has been spent cutting out costume pieces. I have more to do. I need to stop for tonight though. Supper to fix, time to spend with the family. Over the weekend I didn't do any sewing. I did go to our annual ASG chapters Christmas luncheon. It was nice. They had a fashion show which was filled with beautiful outfits. They also had a fashion show of aprons members had made. Oh, the ideas. The runway was raising and it was almost like being at a high fashion show!

Sew Long for Now!