No bones about it!

I was blessed to go to a massage therapist yesterday for some work on my back. While she worked on various muscles she explained their connection. As she worked on what seemed an obscure area, I asked her how it was connected to my actual area of pain. She explained that there is a muscle under the arm on the ribcage that gets tight and adheres itself to the bone. This muscle directly affects the muscles under my shoulder blade next to my spine. I had no idea. Here I thought she should be going after the sore spot directly. But it turned out that that little spot is actually a big culprit to my discomfort. When I was done and ready to leave, I stood looking at the diagram on the wall of the human bodies muscular system, and thinking about how interconnected and combined all of the muscles are. And how those are connected to the bones, and how the nerves and blood vessels connect. How intricate!

Today I reflect on that and think about the body of Christ-

14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many.
15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.
16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?

18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.

19 If all were a single member, where would the body be?

20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."
22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty,
24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it,

25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.

26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
1st Corinthians 12:14-26 ESV

"If one member suffers, all suffer together;
If one member is honored, all rejoice together"

The body of Christ, individuals with specific purposes, each with intrinsic value, seen and unseen. Tied together whether we think about it or not. Intricately connected like the human body is- connected like muscle, tissue, nerves, blood vessels, bones, guts, skin, hands, feet. Perhaps more striking if you break it down further. I may or may not be taking liberty here...but connected like cells, DNA. All connected, all extremely unique.

"that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another"

The implications of this just keep multiplying in my mind. The application of this hits on so many areas.

I want to ask you to take up where I am leaving off, and tell me how this applies to you, to me, to Christ followers. Tell me what it stirs in your mind and heart...


- just megs

Burdens and Strong Shoulders

From Tuesday's prayer journal-

Father God, thank you for your grace today. Thank you for helping me and lifting the weight of my burden that I have carried these past few weeks off of me. Thank you for making my burden bearable. For shouldering my load with me.

You say "come to me all who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light." I don't think I've ever really experienced that before. It's incredible. I still have the things that have been troubling me, but the impact of them is lessened, the extreme weight of them is lifted. In my mind I have a picture of myself under a heavy cross, and you come alongside of me, and take the principal of the weight onto your stronger, taller shoulders, and we continue on together. How gracious you are.

Another way I have witnessed your grace in this, is that you have allowed me a significant amount of time to get used to the changes that I need to live out, the daily adjustments that must be made. I've seen that I can do it, and I've been able to let go of the importance I previously placed on food related things. Thank you for your tenderness Lord.
.....................................................
Part of my struggle has been with food allergies and the knowledge that an IgE allergy to soy has a pretty far reaching impact...it is EVERYWHERE. Along with almond, hazelnut, and who knows what else as I wait on my test results. I also have had some pretty intense back/back muscle pain and a headache every single day. I awoke with the same problems Tuesday, and spent time praying in the shower for help. Somewhere between the shower and breakfast, my burden lightened to be bearable. It didn't happen in an instant that I recognized. I just realized at one point that my headache was gone, my back was FAR less sore, and my emotions were more under control. I just wanted to give a frame of reference for you. :)
.....................................................

I share this because I feel led to, and I pray that somehow it helps you today. I don't know how the Lord would choose to use it, but I trust He will.

The Lord is truly our strength. May you experience his help as you bear your cross today, knowing that he comes beside you and lifts the brunt of your burden off of your shoulders.

I love you, O LORD, my strength.
Psalm 18:1

- just megs

{ take courage }

But You, Take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.
2 Chronicles 15:7

My husband gave this verse to me and it really impacted my heart. The surrounding story is about a prophet telling a king to take courage and do what the Lord told him. So the king "took courage" and removed the idols from the nations, and the Israelites made a covenant to search for God with all their desire and find him. And they did, and he was found by them.

This scripture stirs my heart for several reasons. First of, just verse 7, "take courage!" Most of the time I don't feel courageous. I feel worried or overwhelmed or afraid. And this is not about natural human courage, because that only goes so far, until something scares it out of you! No, my courage can only come from the choice to believe that the Lord is all powerful, in complete control, and loving. Courage from faith in a God that is bigger than my mind can conceive. Courage from the knowledge that he holds me in the palm of his hand. Courage because his grace has covered me, I need not fear his judgement, and I can be me, with all my uniquenesses, fearfully and wonderfully made. Courage to go wherever He sends me and speak whatever He tells me to. Courage to step out, to release my kids to God. Sometimes I just need courage to make it through the morning, let alone the day or week!

"Do not let your hands be weak", stand up and keep going, apply myself even when I feel sick or fatigued. "For your work shall be rewarded"

In my English Standard Version Bible, the phrase take courage is found in several other places. The ones which grab me are:


Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!
Psalm 27:14

Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD!
Psalm 31:24

But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded."
2 Chronicles 15:7

...take courage...
{ take courage }

And here is a summary of the story in Chronicles:


and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, "Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: The LORD is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.
2 Chronicles 15:2
7 But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded."
8 As soon as Asa heard these words, the prophecy of Azariah the son of Oded, he took courage and put away the detestable idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities that he had taken in the hill country of Ephraim, and he repaired the altar of the LORD that was in front of the vestibule of the house of the LORD.
2 Chronicles 15:8


(you know what the tattoo guy said to me as he prepared to start and I closed my eyes? Yep. Take courage. Ha!)

Blessings and courage be with you!

- just megs

Transparency and Grace

I am LOVING the book "The Grace Awakening" by Charles Swindoll right now. I've almost finished it, and it is a powerful, yet easy, read.

I feel the Lord is creating such a unique perspective for me, a unique view of life. David Platt's book "Radical" is exactly what it's title states. The Lord spoke to me a lot through that book. But combining those teachings with Chuck Swindoll's Grace Awakening is a whole different flavor.

Isn't it interesting the journeys God takes us on?

I'm going to try to be more transparent here on my blog. I sometimes avoid posting because I don't know what to say or am afraid to share the dirt of real life. But that's what life is, it's real! Too real sometimes! :)

I don't know if you remember how I wrote about a time of sickness in 2009, and how the Lord very graciously healed me, and then in His love, blessed us with a healthy pregnancy and child. All glory goes to him for that. Because of that time of healing I was able to carry and birth baby MnM. Praise the Lord!

Well, here is my transparency today...ever since I had our little one my stomach problems have been coming back and getting worse again. I am afraid to tell people because I feel like I have to defend God, because he DID heal me in 2009, or sound like a quack. But I don't have to defend God, do I? He is God, for heavens sake! He can defend himself! I giggle at myself for my knee-jerk reaction of defending God. If He felt the need to step in and stand up for himself, I am sure he would!

So, here I am. Blessed abundantly with darling MnM, LaLa, and Dear Son. Confident in the work the Lord did in 2009, and not quite understanding why we are walking through a similar scenario. But I am so grateful that I get to start where I left off before, with a depth of relationship with the Lord that was cultivated during a very hard time, and I know that He holds me and guides me. And loves me!

I'm going to be posting some of my prayer journal entries on here as the days go by, because I feel led to share and be transparent with whoever reads this, trusting that God will use it as He wants to.

Do you struggle with transparency?

Ugh. Ok, here we go. I have these stomach issues that seem to be food related. (I am an information nut, and have researched them like crazy, gone to the Dr, allergist, and am seeing a naturopath) I can't seem to make it through the day without ending up nauseous and bloated (like, I look like I'm pregnant bloated), with, ahem, other issues also. It can discourage me and make me feel defeated at times. I try to stand strong, and to watch what I eat, trying to minimize the impact of food. But, some days a girl just needs SOMETHING, and a craving for something normal gets me, I eat it, and my issues get way worse. So then I get in this cycle of defeat. Bah.

Here is what I do know right now as I am waiting on some test results that will tell me more...I know I am allergic, with a genuine allergy to soy, almonds, hazelnut, and cherries. These are somehow commonly connected to various springtime airborne allergies. But these affect my stomach big time. I am also avoiding gluten because it gives me major problems. That cuts out the majority of food out there!

That is just my basic rundown for ya, I'm not going to bore you with more, because honestly, I could write a book on it. But I don't wanna. Humph.

I am just giving a little foundation for this transparency thing, because a lot of what I share will stem from this situation.

I am thankful for it though. It brings me to my knees and into the arms of God, it drives me to seek Him more, to search for Him, to find Him. It makes me realize how much I want to KNOW Him. Really truly. Not just to be a well behaved Christian. Not even to stop at spending time daily with Him and in the Bible. I. Want. Him. I want total immersion. I want life abundant. I want...everything.

So, here is my entry today, as I sit on my bed and gather my thoughts.
.........
Sunday 8:32pm

Heavenly Father, you know I am in a place of utter weakness right now. You know today was a hard day. Please forgive me for my short temper, loud voice, immature words and wrong choices. I thank you that my sins are wiped away, and that right now, I am clean. I am not judged by my shortcomings or failings, in fact, you can't even see them on me. You see me as I am made to be, you see me clothed in righteousness and success. You see beauty and strength, courage and faith, goodness and ability.
...........

I don't really get how He sees me like that, but that is what His word says, so I plan on figuring it out and letting it seep into me and transform my view of myself!

Thanks for sticking with me in this post today. I'm going to tack a picture on the end here just to say hi.

Hi!!!! :) that's me with baby MnM all moby wrapped and snuggly early in January. Alright, baby fussing (she has a cold) and bedtime calling.

Till tomorrow!
- just megs

I have been eating far too many cookies lately...

Not quite like these, this picture is one I took in Venice this last year. What a year it was!! My husband and I got to travel to Italy for 8 days, I was pregnant with, and gave birth to our 3rd child, and we saw the Lord do great things in our lives!

I'm excited to watch the new year unfold. I have not idea what it will bring, but I trust that God has extraordinary things planned for me and for you!

And I'm sure that there will be many more cookies also...

Happy New Year!
- just megs

6 Months...Oy!

Yes, it's me! I had the baby, she's a doll, and is 3.5 months old. I rarely get on my laptop (hence the blogging lack) but my new iPad is rather handy (my husband loves me and gave me an extravagant gift) and I find it much more accessible for blogging!

I plan to redecorate a bit, it may take me a little time. I'd like my blog to reflect where I am in life. I'm afraid that I don't have much extra time to craft or sew...but I do find time to think and ponder and write.

This is my hello after too long an absence, and I hope you had a BLESSED Christmas!

Signing off with simplicity,

- just megs

If only I could grasp this...

From my prayer journal today:

Thank you that You love and care for us so tenderly. I'm amazed that you love each person on this earth with depth, tenderness, and passion. With love that surpasses understanding- deeper than any love I'll ever be able to feel in my human heart. A God-Sized love.

Thank you that you love the dirty, the stinky, the odd looking, the deformed, the disabled, those involved in religions of deception, those involved in the ugliest of sins, the homosexuals, the prostitutes, the murderers...my heart can't even fully grasp a smidgen of such overwhelming, overshadowing, otherworldly love.

I ask that through the power of your Holy Spirit you would infuse my heart, spirit, mind, and soul with some sort of comprehension and resemblance of this love, and that you would love the world through me, that they would know your Spirit. Change my heart to Your heart, that my first reaction to these people wouldn't be to flinch, ignore, or turn away; but that it would feel YOUR compassion, weep with Your heart, and reach out in Your love.

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:14-21

Getting Radical

Jesus is up to something...and it's radical. There is a change happening in hearts around America, and mine is just one of them.

It's simple and yet it is hard to wrap your mind around.

I recommend this book to you, and challenge you to read it. Read it ALL. Even the parts that make you uncomfortable. Digest it. If you disagree, take time to let it settle in, and then re-think it.

There are a number of circumstances in my life right now causing a radical change in my heart, and this book is only a part of it. I'm excited and passionate about this transformation.

It centers around one thing. It's all about the simplicity of Jesus and His good news in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. His commands to us as His disciples. The truth of the Gospel. And the life found therein.

One portion of this can be found here:

25 "If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body.

26 Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.

27 "Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? 28 All this time and money wasted on fashion - do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, 29 but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.

30 "If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers - most of which are never even seen - don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?

31 What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. 32 People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works.

33 Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

34 "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

Matthew 6:25-34

God-Reality. That's what I want.

Great Conversation Starters

We have mastered the art of small talk at our house. Really, you should use some of our examples at your next dinner party or social event. I guarantee you will make an impression (although it may not be the impression you want to leave) and you will not be forgotten (again, in ways you might rather HAVE forgotten)...But it's always worth a try if you are stuck without anything to say!

Small talk with a 2 and 4 year old 101:

Arguments:

Dear Son: "Excuse me, I tooted!"
Lala: "I tooty!!!"
Dear Son: "NO! I tooted!"
Lala: "I tooty too!"
Dear Son: "No you didn't!! I DID!!"
Lala: "No I tooty!"
ME: "Stop arguing about who tooted!"

On strength:

Dear Son: "I'm really strong"
Me: "Mmmmhmmm?"
Dear Son: "Yeah, I'm stronger than an elephant!"

Important life changing questions:

Dear Son: "How does God make dirt?"
Me: "Ummm...let me think about that and tell you later"

Dear Son: "How do ant's move?"
Me: "Ummm...ask Daddy."


More to follow, I'm sure.
-Megan

The one with a {winner}, some dancing princesses, and good baby smells.

{Theme music playing...} And now the winner of the cute little palm tree t-shirt is....

--------------------------------------------------------------
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:

6
Timestamp: 2010-05-27 19:56:39 UTC
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(Forgive my lapse of brainpower, but what is UTC time anyways? And if asking that made me sound incredibly dumb, I blame it on pregnancy. Henceforth, anything I say that makes me sound lacking in the smart area will be blamed on this also.)


Comment number 6 is Anita from Castles Crowns and Cottages! Oh dear me. This wonderful lady's blog is FULL of beautiful whimsical images that just make the little princess inside of me dance. You have to go see her. Your little princess will dance too. And if you think you don't HAVE a little princess, you will discover that YES, you DO, and she's a better dancer than you would have thought.


Anita, I hope you enjoy my humble offering of this little t-shirt, and I'm sure you know a little hula princess that can wear it!


I had so much fun visiting the newborn baby pictured in my last post yesterday. Sigh. What a doll. How am I supposed to wait until September to hold MINE? And will this be my last? I do NOT handle pregnancy gracefully. Oh how I wish I did. I wish I were one of those women who either waltzed through pregnancy without a hitch, or who loved pregnancy in spite of it's discomforts.


I'm NOT. Not not not. First 19 weeks? Nausea, ALL THE TIME. Makes me grumpy the dwarf. Makes me feel like I can't live each day, they are all so hard. Second half? My hips give out. After 3pm walking is hard, sitting is hard, standing is hard. Blech. My hiney hurts. Normal things make my hips go crazy on me. Two nights ago I lunged after the dog as he tried to eat my sons dropped pizza, and the whole night and next day were spent sitting on my heating pad. (Not to mention the two days camped out on it after making Baby MnM's quilt...)



See? I'm such a complainer! But babies? Infants? Tiny sweet soft things that I can hold constantly and kiss and smell and hold some more?


HEAVEN.


Oh my babies. I love other peoples babies, yes, but nothing compares to your own precious newborn. The crying and up-all-night-ness doesn't really bother me. Now, don't misunderstand me. I get tired and have my mom moments. But my babies are worth every one. And every pregnancy discomfort.


But you see, if I have another one after this, 4 other people in the household will have to suffer with me. My dear husband who does the dishes and laundry and puts the kids to bed when I think I will die, my energetic little son who wants to play and doesn't get why mama gets grumpy, my sweet daughter who wants mommy time, and then this baby girl...


I'm not making any decisions right now or anytime soon! I just realize that this quite possibly could be my last newborn to snuggle and cherish from her first SECOND of life in this world. Oh little one, I will never put you down! My dishes will pile up (oh wait, they already do), my laundry will try to eat my house (ummm...isn't that what it is doing NOW??), and the dog hair will have to wait to be vacuumed from the carpet (ok, I'm so not even going there with that one...).


I can't wait to smell your head, and hold you close. For that first moment when they put you in my arms and I really meet YOU. I love your little kicks right now, that will only grow stronger as I grow bigger. (Would you mind NOT making me crave Mexican food anymore though? I'm turning into a balloon from all that sodium. Just askin...)


Your big brother tells me every couple of days about what he will teach you. Your big sister is not ever going to stop kissing you, she loves babies so much!



I didn't even know I was going here when I started this post. But I will end by saying, we can't wait to see you!!

Now you all need to go find an infant to smell.

Dreaming of baby bundles,
Megan

{New Life}

Today I was blessed to meet my dear friends new little one...

Precious new life, only hours old...

Welcome to the world little one! May the Lord bless each day of your life.

You are already more deeply loved than you will ever be able to fully grasp. Your parents are wonderful people who will cherish you every day and every moment they have with you. I am blessed to know them and you! (And your big sissy too.)

Love,

Megan

Kids Couture T-shirt Tutorial

And now for a Tutorial that you all have been waiting for...with baited breath I'm sure. ;) These instructions will work for for kids shirts, adults shirts, baby clothes, baby onesies, the possibilities are limitless! They make excellent, original gifts, and special clothing items for your own children or yourself.



How to make a Child's Boutique T-shirt:

Materials needed:

Iron on transfer paper, available at your local craft or fabric store.

Iron

Scissors

Thread (A matching or contrasting color for the top stitch, and white for the bobbin)

Fabric (or fabricS) of choice

Sewing Machine

Kids T, Onesie, or desired item to embellish (purse, blanket, ect...)



1) Take your transfer paper and choice of fabric, and iron the fabric onto the transfer paper. I usually cut a small piece of fabric and iron it on, just the size I need for my design. Don't accidentally move your iron OFF of the fabric, or the transfer paper will goo your iron. Icky.


2) I like to cut out the portion that I'm working with. Consider your design to determine the size of fabric needed.

3) Generally, anything you could make a basic outline of is easy to create. You can get more detailed and do something like an animal and layer on its eyes ect. Your choice. I copied the palm tree on this fabric free hand. I like to save the paper backing when I'm done as a future stencil in my stash of design ideas. Draw your design onto the paper backing on the prepped fabric.

4) Proceed to cut out your design

5) Eat your oatmeal (or preferred lunch) while you are working. Because the kids are napping and this is your chance to eat in peace. Plus if you are like me you enjoy doing a million things at once. And if you are like me, it's generally a compulsion that can't be ignored, even if it adds stress to your life, rather than relieves it. I'm referring to multitasking, not eating. Although eating is a compulsion not to be ignored either...

6) Design ready! PEEL OFF PAPER BACKING. Ah the mature voice of experience. I've forgotten this step while distracted or doing multiple shirts, and have ended up ironing longer than needed and wondering WHY the thing won't stick? Oh Duh. (Do you like that use of verbage? Duh? Takes you back to elementary school doesn't it. Again with the maturity here.) Duh duh duh. It can't stick, the paper is still there.

7) Lay out image onto shirt however you want to place it. Centered because you like precision? Go for it. To the side because you like things a little artsy? Sure! Upside down....well...just because you're weird? Why not. I'm not stopping you. Be you. I'm not judging.

8) Iron on according to the instructions on your transfer paper. Although generally I find mine need higher heat and the regular steam setting even if it isn't recommended. But do start by following the instructions first and working from there.

Now, you don't HAVE to do this next step, but don't be scared to try. If you take your time and are careful you CAN do this. If you don't sew your design it will begin to peel after only a few washes. It is worth the time and effort.

9)Top stitch the applique to give it that finished look, and also to hold down the applique during its many washes. If you are new to sewing, take your time, take it easy, and try to sew moderately close to the edges.

The edges will probably fray a tiny bit in the future, which actually looks very cute and vintage-y. If you HATE the thought of that, you can buy a little bottle of Fray-Check at your craft store, and use it around the edges to keep them from fraying at all.

And there you have it! Your own fancy little T! Wal-Mart is an excellent place to find plain t-shirts for a low price. I bought these white ones over a year and a half ago on clearance and got an amazing deal!

Don't forget about my GIVEAWAY for this shirt in a size 4T!! It closes Tuesday night. To enter, comment on the Giveaway post, and for an extra entry mention it when you blog and link to it! (And leave me a comment so that I know you did). =)

Happy creating to you!

=)

Megan