A Look into the Past & 200th Post Give~Away!

Over the past nearly seven years, I've journaled 200 posts on this blog about my life, travels, ministry, interests and family.  I enjoy going back and reading about my life years ago, as memories fade and experience blurs together.  Some things stand out in my mind.  There have been many monumental moments that have brought me to where I am today.  But many things need refreshing.

I think back to my first post.  For a long time, I could not look back at 19 year old me and see a kid.  Now I can.  Goodness I was young.  Living in Mexico taught me so much.  It molded me so much.  It prepared me for more than I could have ever imagined.  I am so thankful we had that foundation for our marriage.  We owned nearly nothing.  It was just the two of us.  We saw a lot of things which influenced our desires for our future.  Because of that time, we were able to settle into our plan to be nomads and not get bogged down by stuff.  We saw ministry being done by the local church and we loved it.  We caught the vision for training up replacements and leaving the work to the local people.  That was monumental in leading us to where we are now.

During our transition from Mexico to Africa, we were able to live nearby my folks.  After marrying so young, it felt like we were on borrowed time living close together again.  I don't regret marrying when I did.  I was ready.  But it was such a treat to be back near my family for those two years.  My parents adopted my youngest brother during that time, and I will always cherish being able to build a relationship with him before moving far away again.  Being near them helped us conquer support raising for Africa.  They also lent me a much needed hand during my crazy sick pregnant days with Ellee.

I've welcomed all three of my babies, Kyle, Ellee, and Sadie Kate, onto this blog.  I've journaled pregnancy highs and lows.  Recently as I was chatting with a group of South Africans who were here for a visit, I realized how often I start by saying, "When I was pregnant with ____."  I've been pregnant a lot over the past seven years.  It hasn't all been easy, that's for sure, but it's all been worth it.  As any mother knows, the journey to children, whether it be through pregnancy and childbirth or through adoption, is a refining one.

Moving to Africa has changed me forever.  It is now a part of who I am.  Wherever the Lord leads us from here, I know I will always cherish these rural years which have smoothed my edges.  They have stretched me beyond what I thought I could handle.  Some days are so long and hard.  Some days are so exciting and rewarding.  Some things I see differently now.  Other things I want to change but cannot.  It is such a different world here.  At the same time, people are still the same.  They have great joys and great sorrows, of which we share both.  We laugh often and we cry at times.  We exchange stories and points of view.  I have so much to learn from people who have walked different roads than I.  Some are cautious of outsiders while others are interested and welcoming.  We have been grafted into the family here in our little corner of Mokhotlong and, in many ways, it feels like home.  I see the Church more clearly now.  We are a body.  We may not agree on every last thing.  We certainly don't all come from the same backgrounds.  But there is a sense of family when we meet a fellow believer.  I've met Christians from more countries than I can remember; I cherish knowing I'll see them all again one day.

I've made blog entries from five different countries : Mexico, America, Kenya, Lesotho and South Africa.  Over the past years, I've spent significant time in all those places.  These places which to me have been home for some time :

Mexico

America

Kenya

Lesotho

South Africa

To recognize my 200th post, I'd like to do a give away.  I haven't made the purchase yet, but I can promise it'll be something special.  It'll take a few weeks to get there after I mail it, so if the winner is in America, one can't expect to see anything real soon.  If you'd like to enter, please leave a comment on here or on Facebook saying something you have gleaned from reading this blog.  Maybe it's a story that impacted you or a recipe you use often.  Maybe it's something you've learned about cross-cultural living or missionary life.  Whatever it is, comment and I'll enter you into a drawing!

~Abby

Happy Tuesday (Give-Away)!

Personally, I like Mondays.  Mondays around here mean a clean house, washed laundry and date night with my husband.  However, I’ve noticed a lot of people who down Monday.  Sometimes I feel bad for Monday.  And honestly, I meant to post this yesterday on Monday but it got away from me and now I find myself in Tuesday.  Thus, Happy Tuesday!

When my mom came a few months ago, she brought me four coasters as my birthday present.  I always struggle trying to figure out what to request as a special occasion gift.  Christmas and birthdays and anniversaries are fun, but I always find I don’t need a single thing.  A little thoughtful gift is more satisfying to me than anything expensive or extravagant.  Unless it was a trip to an exotic island, then I’d be totally game.  If someone wants to give me one of those, please go right ahead.  But I digress.  When I saw the photos she picked for these, I couldn’t help but tear up.  My favorite places from home all of which I miss and can’t wait to visit again.  

The first is the most beautiful street in my home town.  I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t love this road.  It’s also where we had some of our wedding party pictures taken.  Gorgeous!

The second is the view from the porch of my grandparents' beach condo.  All my life I have enjoyed visiting their NC beach.  It is quiet, calm and relaxing.  As a kid, I used to watch my grandmother fish and we used to beg my granddad to take us to the hot tub.  I remember watching my granddad prepare the freshly caught fish and enjoying it home fried by my grandmother.  I have such fond memories of visiting there.

The third is a beautiful photo from our family vacation in Blue Ridge.  We have gone twice now to a cabin as a giant family.  Autumn is my favorite season.  The rainbow of changing leaves and the smell of bonfires is something I truly miss here.  Our third visit is already scheduled for early next year.  With a family as big as ours, we need a giant place to all stay under one roof.  Being together is such a special thing.  We enjoy cooking, game playing and sightseeing together.  

The last is a photo of my grandparents’ house in North Georgia.  I always look forward to going to their house and swinging on the front porch swing.  I know their 50 acres well from countless walks through the woods.  When we were kids, we used to climb trees, play hide and seek, and have three-legged races in the yard.  Their log cabin is homey and welcoming and I love visiting there.

I use my coasters for tea time.  Whenever I set my mug down, I decide where I’m going to have tea that day.  The beach?  The mountains?  At home?  My new favorite tea is this chai rooibos my mom found while she was here.  I’ve always enjoyed the smell of chai tea but I had never had it because I don’t drink caffeinated drinks.  However, the rooibos chai is decaf!  It is great with a bit of milk and sugar.

If you’d like to receive some chai rooibos along with some genuine english toffees, just comment on the blog or on the link and tell me your favorite place to relax.  The beach?  The mountains?  With family?  At home?  I’ll do a random drawing and post the winner soon.  Then I’ll walk to the Mokhotlong post office and mail out your package.  We’ll cross our fingers that it will have a safe and successful journey across the pond!  Happy tea time!

~Abby

Giving Thanks and We Have a Winner!

True to my love for fall, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  If I could chose where I would spend this day every year, it would be in the heart of New England.  Of course, my family would be there too, and we would be stuffing our faces with pie.  Even though I'm not in my perfect fall setting, I'm still spending turkey day with my family.  And pie is heavily involved.

This year I am especially thankful for my son.  Oftentimes I ponder how I could possibly love someone else like I love him.  He is a sweet treat throughout my day.  Truthfully, motherhood is more difficult than I expected it to be.  Understanding what he needs seems impossible at times.  He is teaching me patience;  I still have a long ways to go.  I am thankful for his smiles and giggles.  Daily he is changing before me and at times my eyes fill with tears as I watch him reach new milestones.  I love that he breathes heavily as he quickly crawls across the floor.  He is taking baby steps along the furniture now that he has learn to pull himself up and I can barely imagine him walking towards me.  It even melts me when he crawls up to me, yanks on my pants or slobbers on my leg as he wails, "Pick me up, Mommy!" in not so many words.

Watching Jonathan become a father this year has been one of the greatest joys of my life.  His patience puts mine to shame.  His adoration for his son is noticed by people everywhere - the grocery store, restaurants, gas stations to name a few.  He is a faithful leader, provider, husband and friend to me.  Plus, he's cute!  I couldn't be more thankful for him.

For the first time in our married life together, I have had a place of "my own" to make a home for my little family.  I am thankful for my little place to decorate, cook in and clean.

God has blessed me in more ways than I have space to write here.  He has grown me in my faith, love for Jesus and dependence on Him.  We thank Him daily for the life He has given us, the family and friends we share it with, and the opportunity to serve Him with it!

As promised, a winner has been selected for these Christmas coasters.  I am so excited about decorating for Christmas, I just might start this evening.  If my turkey slumber doesn't set in before I get to it, that is.  Oh yeah, the winner.  I put my pint-sized assistant (or is he quart-sized now?) to work after he woke up from his nap......

 

I handed him a basket holding the names of all you lovely ladies....

.....Which he eventually narrowed down to one.....

And the winner is......

Hannah Collins! Yours is the first one he pulled out!  I'll message you soon to get your mailing address!  I hope you have a fantastic holiday season full of love, joy and peace!

Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours! 

~Abby

First Ever Blog Give-Away

Can you believe I've been doing this blog for nearly two years and have yet to give anything away? I've thought about it, but I never knew what to give!  So, the other day a light bulb flipped on.  Actually, it flipped for my mom so you can thank her if you win.

On my coffee table, which I found at the Goodwill for $8 (it is solid maple *proud*), sit four fabric coasters.  Begging for a warm mug of something sweet or a glass of iced water with lemon, they remind me of a place I am very fond of visiting.  I found them in one of my favorite shops to browse, Parson's General Store in Morehead City, NC.  Never been there?  I bet most people haven't.  But, it is a quaint ocean side town I've visited often.  My grandparents vacation there and we are always happy to join them.  The general store is an old, two-story home filled with country goodies.  There is a whole room of candles, and we've already established how much I love candles.  For the littles, there is a room of toys, trinkets, games, candy..... They sell hand dipped ice cream, local chocolates, homemade sauces, muffin and scone mixes, hand towels made of plaids and ginghams, Beanie Babies.....  Upstairs is a room filled with Christmas decorations year round.  Another room offers beachy trinkets, dishes, signs, bags and towels.  There are tons of signs with witty quotes, and in a bin nearby, I found these coasters.  I loved visiting this century old home turned country gift shop a couple weeks ago when we went to NC to play beach bums for a few days.  Picking up a few Christmas things was one of the highlights of my time there.

Oh yeah, I should show you the coasters, shouldn't I?

In case you missed my last sewing post, I have taken on learning to sew as my newest hobby.  So far, I have hemmed a few things, made some mini-aprons, smocked an insert for an outfit Lollee made for Kyle and now....

....With Christmas lurking just around the corner, I thought I'd make a few of these coasters in festive fabrics.  I sewed a set for me and a set for someone special out there.   Wouldn't these look nice in your home?  I hope so.

In leu of sassy sayings, I decided to write lyrics from my favorite Christmas carols.  On both sets, I wrote my very favorite carol stanza:

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee,

Born this happy morning...

 If you want a chance at winning the give-away, leave me a comment on here, on Facebook, in my email... and tell me your favorite line from a Christmas song.  I'll draw on Thanksgiving so you'll have ample time to enjoy them during the holiday season!

I hope you win!

And in case you don't, you can make a couple for your own coffee table like this:

To begin, cut a 4.5 inch square of patterned fabric, batting and a coordinating piece of backing fabric.  I obviously used a creamy white so I could write on mine.  But, if you want to skip the writing, you can just use two pieces of colorful fabric and switch them up a bit!

Before you begin sewing, make sure your three pieces are stacked with the white on the bottom, batting in the middle and the patterned piece UPSIDE DOWN on the top.  Then, just sew around all four sides 1/4 inch from the edge, leaving yourself an inch and a half or so in the middle of your forth side.

 Try not to get distracted by the adorable baby sitting at your feet playing with a measuring tape.

Your square should end up looking something like this, with the opening at the top.  Simply cut the edges off the corners, which will make the fabric lay smoother on the inside once you pull it through.

Turn your coaster right-side out.  Iron it flat, tuck the edge in where you left it unstitched, and sew around the the whole thing again a little less than 1/4 inch from the edge.

And there you have it, my friends, a cozy Christmas coaster.  But, you don't have to go to all that trouble.  Just enter to win the giveaway and you might just have four of these on your coffee table before the Christmas tree is up!

 ~Abby