Pioneer Women

I have a fascination with the pioneer women who came west by covered wagons.  It started in the 8th grade when I made a scaled down replica of a pioneer's sod house for history class.  I couldn't even imagine what it would have been like to live in a house made of dirt.  From that point on, I devoured every book and article I came across that told the stories of these strong and courageous women.

There is something so raw and real about women of this time period that I was instantly drawn to their lives. Their stories are a contrast of hardship and hope.  They were coming out west with big dreams of land ownership and homesteads, and they sacrificed nearly everything to get the chance at a better life.

Could you imagine starting a new life with only the things that could fit in the back of your pick-up truck?  The pioneers left nearly all of their worldly possesions behind in order to start a new life.  Today, we have so much junk that clutters up our lives.  We spend hours every week cleaning our "stuff", organizing our "stuff" and working to make money to buy more "stuff".  We're a society addicted to "stuff".  It's like an idol that takes up our precious time. The pioneers didn't pack their junk.  They took tools, bedding, and food.  They let go of the rest of it so it wouldn't weigh them down while they traveled.

They also weren't obsessed with clothing like we are.  Women had a choring dress, a regular dress, and a Sunday dress.  I have an entire closet full of clothes, and still say, "I have nothing to wear" on Sunday mornings.  Pathetic.  I know.  Maybe if I had to hand- wash my clothes on a washboard with a bar of soap, I would seriously reconsider which outfits were important, and make a quilt...or 5 quilts out of the rest.  I already hate doing the laundry with a machine that does all of the work for me. If I had to wash my clothes all by hand, I would thin out the closet to one article of clothing, and hang it on a peg. 

In addition to their adventurous spirit, and their loose grip on worldly possessions, I love their tough resolve.  They define the terms "grit and gumption".  In reading the diaries of women on the trail, I gained a whole new level of understanding about the hardships they endured.  They lost husbands and children to sickness, drownings, and indian attacks while making their way west. Many times they would write an entire journal entry, and then at the very end, they would write a simple sentence about giving birth to a son that day.  One sentence.  Childbirth was one of the leading causes of death for women at that time, and some women had their babies in the back of a wagon, with no doctors and no assistance.  They didn't whine for months on end about the difficulties of being pregnant.  They pulled their weight...big belly and all.  And it was such a natural thing for them that they didn't even mention it in their daily musings. Incredible.

Pioneer women had some serious "skills" too.  They would cook anything their husbands brought in from the hunt, and utilize every part of the animal.  They could make entire meals on a campfire, sew the clothes for the entire family, and bake bread from scratch.  They could plant a garden that would sustain their family for the entire year. They were good with a gun, and great with an iron skillet.  They could do nearly anything a man could do....with a skirt on. :) We have machines to do nearly all of our chores for us, and stores to buy all of our food and clothing, and we still complain that we don't have enough hours in the day to "get it all done".  Maybe we're wasting all of our time cleaning our "stuff".

The thing I love best about these women of courage, was that many of them were also women of great faith.  Most brought along a family Bible on their journey west. They would memorize it, teach their children to read from it's pages, and keep a record of births and deaths in it. They treasured their Savior. Those women had a simple faith that would sustain them through unspeakable hardships, and times of uncertainty. 

Sometimes I wonder if the "junk" in my life holds me back.  I wonder if I'm missing out on God's best for me because I can't let go of the "stuff" that weighs me down.  I get too caught up with things of this world that don't matter. I need to re-prioritize....Sit in the back of my empty wagon, so to speak, and decide what things are crucial to the journey ahead.  Then I need to get rid of the rest of it.  I want to focus on "others" more, and "me" less.  Sometimes a person can get so wrapped up in their own drama, that they miss out on opportunities to serve those around them.  I want to keep my hands busy doing things that are productive, and helpful for my family.  I want to love God with all of my heart, and live out a simple faith.

That's why I'm so fascinated with pioneer women.  They are a snapshot of the Proverbs 31 woman.  They are everything I'm not...and it's humbling.  I always choose role models who are WAY out of my league.  Why not shoot for the stars?

How about you? What type of people inspire you?

Wordless Wednesday

"You cannot look at a sleeping cat and feel tense." - Jane Pauley

Eye Glass Case Tutorial

Materials:

2 pieces of coordinating fabric measuring 8"x9"

1 piece of thin  quilt batting measuring 8"x9"

Thread

pattern for sewing glass case can be printed off from the following link:

http://sewing.about.com/library/glasscaseattern.pdf

First, decide which piece of fabric that you want on the outside of the case, and which you would like for the inside.  Here's what I chose for the sake of this tutorial:

Cut the outside fabric and the batting with the pattern, then flip the pattern backwards to cut the inside fabric so that it will match the outside fabric when right sides are pressed together.

As you can see, my batting is very lightweight.  Thin felt works nicely as well.

Here are all three of my fabric pieces.

Here they are in relation to the pattern.  Note that the pink fabric has the curved edge facing the opposite direction.

Next, layer the pieces in the following order:

Bottom: batting

Middle: Top fabric with right side facing up

Top: Inside fabric with right side facing down.

(Hint: the two fabrics should be right sides together on top of batting.)

Using the edge of the presser foot as your guide, sew up the side, around the top curve, and down the other side of the three sandwiched layers.  LEAVE THE BOTTOM OPEN.

 After sewing the layers, trim the fabric close to the seam.

OK, here's where it gets tricky. Take the corner with the rounded edge(right side), and push the seam in so that it meets up with the seam on the left side which has the squared edge.

When the two seams are pushed together, it will form a tube with your inside fabric.  Make sure that the fabrics line up closely and as straight as possible all the way up the left hand seam.  You may want to pin it in place.

Here's what it will look like when it's in place. Now lay the tube flat so that it looks like the picture below.

Sew a seam all the way up the left side.  It will be close to the original seam.  Make sure your seam catches the fabric that you tucked in.

Next, you are going to open the tube of inside fabric, and flip the case so that the inside fabric is now showing on the outside.

Here's my tube, and I'm going to push my material through when I flip it.

Now, my glasses case is inside out, as shown in the picture below.

Notice that the bottom is open.  Sew a seam across the bottom.  I sewed two seams close together for good measure. :)  Next, trim the fabric close to the seam.

Now flip your eye glass case right side out, and you are finished!

 This is a quick and easy project that can be completed in under 30 minutes!

 Happy Sewing!



One Bite at a Time: Part II

"Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for Thou art my praise"  Jeremiah 17:14

No one is immune from various trials and suffering.  It is a universal struggle.  At some point in every life, there will be some circumstance that will shake you to the core. Yet, when we are in the midst of a trial, we often feel we're the only one on earth that is suffering. It helps to know that we serve a God that is well acquainted with suffering himself, and therefore able to sympathize with our plight.

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."- Hebrews 4:14

Hurts, trials, and suffering are sure to come our way at some point in our journey, and our response to these situations will have a lasting impact on our lives.  We can either choose to let the things of this world drag us down in defeat, or make us stronger.  They will either refine us or make us bitter. It's our choice, and it's in our hands.

"In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ" 1 Peter 1:6-8.

We must learn to see every trial as a refining process that will make us more like Christ. It is a test. We must decide to believe God and respond properly, or to live in the unbelief of our flesh.

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.  For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.  So death works in us, but life in you." 2 Corinthians 4:7-12

In Kay Arthur's book, "Lord Heal My Hurts", she addresses this topic further when she states, "Nothing can separate us from the love of God, according to Romans 8:35-39.  The tribulations, distresses, and persecutions that come into our lives are not meant to destroy us.  They are designed to drive us into His everlasting arms of love.  In His sovereignty, God has allowed suffering.  The One who sits upon the throne of thrones reigns supremely.  He does "according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth" (Daniel 4:35).  He holds you in His omnipotent hands.  God is love, and He loves you with an everlasting love.  Therefore, everything that comes into your life must be filtered through His fingers of love.  No one can touch, speak to you, look at you, or do anything to you without His permission (Isaiah 45:7)  And if it comes, it will work together for your good.  It will be used to conform you into His image."

So, when God allows tough things to enter our lives....when he serves us an elephant... he doesn't just leave us floundering about to fail.  He gives us the tools we need to get through the crisis.

First of all, he offers a healing balm. In the Old Testament, one of the names of God refers to his attribute of being The Great Physician: "Jehovah Rapha" The God who Heals.  The book of Jeremiah talks about the "balm of Gilead", a symbol of God's healing.  In chapter 8, Jeremiah was upset because the wounds of the Israelites were curable, but they rejected God's cure, the balm of Gilead. They turned everywhere else for healing, except to God. The balm of Gilead refers to the Word of God.

"He sent his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions." (Psalm 107:17-20)

This isn't the only place in the Bible that refers to "the Word" as a tool for conquering the hurts of this world.

Ephesians 6 talks about putting on the full armor of God.  It's a passage that I've been familiar with from childhood, yet I understand its implications for my life more today than I ever have before.  One of the pieces of the armor is the "sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (verse 17)    Not only is it capable of healing us, but it also delivers us in times of need. The Word of God is our only weapon to fight with. The rest of the armor is used for protection.  Here are the other pieces of armor that God equips us with: The belt of truth, the breast plate of righteousness, the shoes of the preparation of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith,  and the helmet of salvation.

So God has equipped us with all of these tools to overcome any trial that comes our way, but we must choose whether or not to use them.  It involves action!  When speaking about the full armor of God, Paul uses words like, "Put on the full armor of God....stand firm against the schemes of the devil...take up the shield of faith...take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit."  Armor does nothing to protect us if we go into battle without it!  We have to use the tools that God provides us with, or we will be defeated!

So many times, in the midst of life's storms we say, "God, where are you in all of this, and why didn't you help me?"  God is right there in the storm, suffering with us, and he gives us the tools for battle and healing.  We need to run to the shelter of his Word. He has not forsaken us!

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:35, 37-39).

In my last post, I made the analogy of our hurts, struggles, and sufferings as an elephant that God serves us.  It feels huge, overwhelming, and impossible to swallow, but when we turn to God for help he is faithful to rescue us in our time of need.  He gives us the tools we need to eat the elephant, one bite at a time.

He offers salvation, healing, truth, peace that surpasses all understanding, righteousness through Christ, and hope.  It's all there for the taking, but we must accept it as our own.  It requires action.  Will you walk through life wounded and defeated, or will you accept God's healing balm, and become stronger?  Through Christ, we have a glorious hope!

"One Bite at a Time"

Have you ever felt like God has handed you something so difficult, and so huge, that it seems like you couldn't possibly handle it?  Pardon the cliche', but it's like God served you an elephant on a platter, gave you a fork, and said, "Eat this".

Then you cry out to God,

"You've given me too much!"

"I can't handle this!"

"It's too big to swallow!"

Suddenly, you begin to realize that God doesn't expect you to eat the whole thing at once.  He wants you to take a very small bite and digest it thoroughly before you take the next bite.  Eventually, you know that it's going to be a very lengthy process but it is, indeed, possible to eat the elephant.

That's how I felt about my mom's death.  I was in a raging storm and I screamed, "GOD...I DON'T THINK I CAN GET THROUGH THIS!!"

But as the waves are starting to calm, I'm starting to strain my ears, and when I really listen, I begin to hear God's still, small voice speak to me. I Kings 19:11-12-

11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

I can't wrap my brain around the "big picture" yet because it's daunting.  What I can do is think about one bite...not even two or three bites...just one.  With each bite, God is right there beside me, and He's quietly revealing himself to me through his Word.  With each bite, He is sustaining me, and comforting me, and healing me.  With each bite, I'm learning to trust him more.

And because I "know that for those who love God all things work together for good"(Romans 8:28), I have to believe that eating the elephant is going to strengthen me.  It's going to somehow help conform me more to the image of God.

Sometimes when I serve my kids a big helping of veggies, or a tall glass of milk, they whine that I gave them too much.  They'd rather skip the veggies and go straight to dessert. In order to coax them into finishing their meal I firmly, but gently, remind them that eating their vegetables will help them grow super- hero muscles. I tell my girls that drinking their milk will give them shiny princess hair.  I want to have the grown-up version of these attributes after I eat my elephant.  I want to be stronger, polished, and  more Christ-like on the other side of this. Would my flesh rather skip the hard stuff, and go straight to the dessert? Absolutely.  But my spirit knows that it's the tough stuff that makes me grow. When God serves me up a big plate of something yucky, then I have to believe that he's allowing it for my own good. If not, then it's all for nothing.

God has given me every tool I need to eat the elephant.  I just have to pick up the fork and knife and use them.  I will share more about this in part II.

Wordless Wednesday

Paintball Paradise

 Saturday morning we got together with a big group of our good friends, and we drove to a supreme location for paintballing.  The ladies all made picnic lunches, threw some chairs and blankets into the back of the truck, and we converged on the forest for some paintball mania.

Here are some of the die-hard paintballers all ready to go.

It was a beautiful day to be out in the forest! We were at the bottom of a little canyon with a creek running through it, and the gals spent the day talking, and laughing, and soaking up the sun.

This old campground was a fun spot to play paintballing games. It has lots of hiding spots.

The guys are getting ready to choose teams, and select a game.  There are no fashion statements out here.  All of the guys have on multiple layers of clothing for protection, and the boys have on everything from snow pants to homemade duct tape chest protectors to take the sting out of getting shot. 

The first game is underway and there is a mix of sneakiness and strategy as the battle intensifies.

Here's my hubby and my boy doing some father/son teamwork.  Paintballing brings out the kid in all of the dads.  I think they enjoy it even more than the boys do.

The girls spent the day playing in the creek, and took a break for a picnic lunch.

Getting ready to take a shot at Daddy with big brother's gun.

Here, the men are making a plan and telling battle stories while they wait for the other team to hide.

I love the fact that these young boys, teenagers, and fathers all come together on a regular basis to spend the day playing games, bonding, and having good clean fun.

On Sunday morning, they had their usual post-game re-cap over coffee and donuts at church.  The fleshy battle scars were proudly exposed in true "show-and-tell" fashion, and the men got that far-away look in their eyes as they shared the tales of the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Another successful day of paintballing has come to an end, and the boys will dream of the next big battle.

P.S.- Click on the pic above to view the facebook page of the coolest new paintball and fireworks store around.  My husband recently bought a Tippmann "Alpha Black" paintball gun and some accessories there, and we were totally impressed. This is not a paid advertisement, we just really dig their stuff!