I spent an hour and a half this morning, completely cleaning the refrigerator.  The fact that it took that long shows just how filthy it was.  I just couldn’t believe the things I found in there.  It was hard work!

All done now…..and the bottom three drawers are almost empty!  (except for the 2 dozen eggs).

I threw everything away that made me hesitate (just how old is this?).

I combined four jars of pickles into two.

I gathered all the sandwich meat and cheese onto a plastic plate.

Kept the groups of mayo and mustard together, sauces, salad dressings, block cheeses, and jelly together.

I also determined:  to make the family actually eat the leftovers, label the date on half empties (like spaghetti sauce), wipe and clean the shelves more often, and try not to over crowd the fridge ever, ever again.

I finished another article of clothing last night, for baby Sarah. 

Mushroom dress with orange trim (size 9-12 months):

As I cleaned the fridge this morning, I was able to listen to part of a sermon on my IPOD.  May I recommend to you the preacher;  Albert N. Martin.  I listened to a sermon entitled, “How NOT to foul up Parenting”, and even though I only was able to hear 15 minutes, it was a deep blessing to me.  I hope to listen to the rest later on.  Please give him a try, I think you will be as spiritually blessed as I was, and as many of his other listeners have been, as well.  His are the sort of sermons that make your heart beat faster and your hands grab for your Bible, and the nearest pen and paper, to take notes. 

Yesterday, my husband gave me a quick call in the middle of the day to let me know that he had a physical done and that he is in excellent health.  His heart rate, his blood pressure, his weight, according to the doctor, are “perfect”.  When he told me these things, I was overwhelmed with gratitude to my heavenly Father.  I feel at times that His goodness is too good, I think about his abundant mercy and feel so humbled and totally unworthy.  I thought, “I want to DO SOMETHING, I wish I could give God something back, to show how thankful I am, but what could I possibly do?”

Then, the Holy Spirit reminded me of a verse that I had read in the past, that contained this phrase, “OFFER THE SACRIFICE OF PRAISE.” 

So I prayed throughout the day, and as I fell asleep last night, just telling God how wonderful He was, how much I praise and thank Him, with everything within me.  Halleluia, praise and glory, awesome, and mighty!

The words of my prayers seemed so inadequate, but how amazing it is to know that even the wordless sighs and feelings of our innermost heart and soul, the happiest of tears and smiles, are translated by God as sincere communication to Him.

“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”  Hebrews 13:15

I remembered that I had a book by the wonderful Charles H. Spurgeon, in which he writes so beautifully about The Practice of Praise.  So, I got the book off the shelf and began to read it again.  If you are looking for a blessing, a delight of a book, you might want to try reading it for yourself.

Some quotes:

“You cannot always be speaking His praise, but you can always be living His praise.  The heart once set on praising God will, like the stream which slips down the mountain’s side, continue still to flow in its chosen course.”

“A soul saturated with divine gratitude will continue to give forth the sacred aroma of praise.”

“When we see His works, when we read His Word, when we taste His grace, when we mark His providence, when we think upon His name, our spirits bow in the lowliest reverence before Him and magnify Him as the glorious Lord.   Let us abide continually in the spirit of adoration, for this is praise in its purest form.”

“Praise is heart-trust and heart-content with God.”

“Praise is heart-enjoyment, the indulgence of gratitude and wonder.”

“We should praise as much as we pray.  ‘I have no voice!’ says one.  Cultivate it until you have.  ‘But mine is a cracked voice!’  Ah, well!  It may be cracked to human ears and yet be melodious to God.  To Him the music lies in the heart, not in the sound.”

“Remember, every misery averted is a mercy bestowed.  Every sin forgiven is a favor granted.  Every duty performed is also a grace received.  The people of God have an inexhaustible treasury of good things provided for them by the infinite God.  For all we should overflow with praise for Him.  Let your praises be like the waters of fountains which are abundantly supplied.”

~Charles H. Spurgeon, The Practice of Praise

From start to finish I made something for Sarah today!

Rich took me to a fabric store and I bought everything I needed (except the pattern, which I already had, I ordered it online a few weeks ago). 

As you can see by the above photo, I found some really sweet fabric.  The first one I used today was the one under the top piece in the picture….a soft pretty flannel.  As soon as I got home, I washed and dried everything, the fabric and the bias tape.

I used this new but vintage 1950’s pattern to make a long kimono, I thought it looked so sweet modeled by the baby on the cover.

I had some little distractions, but because Rich is home today he was able to watch Seth for the last hour, so I could finish up my project without worrying that he would pull the iron onto his head or step in pins.

As soon as Grace noticed that I was sewing, she simply had to join me.  She is making a little stuffed bear for Sarah, out of the leftover flannel from the kimono.

We enjoyed spending time together, talking now and then.  She is so precious to me.  She asked me if Sarah could sleep in her room with her.  She asked me if I would make clothes for her babies someday.  She thought the piece I made today was so pretty, and said she couldn’t wait to see Sarah in it.  She’s in the bath now, but when I look over at my pincushion, I can see that she formed a letter “G” on it, out of pins.

We listened to music, and she began to get so sleepy in her chair as she stitched, she was so relaxed.

We lost track of time, really.

Step by step (this was the first sewing pattern I ever did by myself) I completed the directions, without any major mishaps.  The only thing I wish I had thought about, was buying thread that matched the bias tape, rather than the flannel.  I bought a soft beige color, not even thinking that I would be sewing over dark red for the majority of the project.

See the completed project:

I held it up so Ethan could take a picture. This is me, after sewing all afternoon with my daughter, for my next little daughter.  And I’ll tell you what, I’m tired out, and my lower back is hurting something fierce…I need to get a cushion for the chair in front of my machine!

I think my most useful little purchase today was a pincushion for my wrist.  So convenient!

*****

Jacob’s reaction: “Oh, now that looks great!  It looks…..sellable!”

Ethan’s reaction:  “It looks like something real!  That you would buy in a store!”

I had to laugh.