While going through some patterns at my aunt's home one day, I came across this pattern for a doll made out of a pillowcase. I instantly fell in love with the simplistic beauty of it. I needed a gift for a baby shower and decided to make a keepsake gift for the mother-to-be. It turned out beautiful!
After seeing the finished doll, my aunt shared with me that she had some pillowcases that were my grandmother's and her intention was to make these dolls out of them and present them to my grandma's 2 daughter-in-laws, my sister and myself (the only 2 granddaughters) and also 1 for my aunt.
So that Christmas, about 8 years ago, I made 5 of these dolls. I actually 
enjoyed making them and it was so much fun presenting them to our family members.
That's it for my Show & Tell today. To read more stories, you can visit Kelli over at No Place Like Home.
Cliff was in the Navy when I first met him. He aspired to see the world and retire from the Navy but his plans didn't include meeting a girl in NY and falling in love. He did, however, serve his country for 4 years. 
uns. In fact, every July 4, he loves to shoot off large fireworks as it reminds him of those days!
We attended Bill's funeral today. Was it sad? Yes. He was 52. It was sad watching his 3 sons say goodbye to him.
My dad officiated the service which was beautiful. He told of a conversation between Bill and Hope that took place at the beginning of this week. They were talking about Heaven and Hope assured Bill she would join him there when her time came. He said, "OK, then I'll leave the light on for you." I can hardly write that without tearing up. First of all, it's so sweet and tells of the kind of person that Bill was. Second, it brought up memories of when I was a kid and we would travel through the night to my grandparent's home. We'd arrive in the early pre-dawn morning hours and be so tired. I remember pulling into the driveway and seeing the porch light on for us. I'd always be so relieved to see that light so I could rest and wake up to see my family!!
Bill was remembered by two things: His Love for the Lord and his love for his family. He was such a kind and gentle man. I envision that as he entered into heaven, my Grandpa Adrian (who was Bill's pastor for years) was waiting to welcome him.
This poem was read at the service today and I thought it was so good. Thanks for all who have prayed for Bill and his family. If you happen to think of it during the days ahead, continue to pray for his family.
During the days of planning my wedding, one of the most excited people was my Grandma Adrian.
One day a small package came in the mail addressed to me. It was from my Grandma. She wanted to send me a little "just for you" gift. It wasn't for the wedding or for my married life. It was just a small token from her to let me know how happy she was for me and how much she loved me. It was this make-up bag. I have used this bag every day ever since the day I received it. Although a little tattered around the edges, it's held up quite well, considering I have now been married 23 years!
Cliff and I were married in November of that year and my Grandma was able to attend the wedding. (She had been battling cancer) She was so excited to come. I remember how important it was to her to chose just the right dress.
By March, I found out I was expecting our first child. She was excited about the baby (I have a letter from her during this time also). The last time I saw her was in early May. I was able to spend a Sunday morning at home with her (she was too sick to go to church) while everyone else went to church. What a wonderful time it was singing hymns and sharing the Scriptures. She passed away two weeks later.
Thanks so much for reading the story of my little makeup bag today. For more stories, you can visit Kelli over at No Place Like Home.
Within the last 3 weeks, we have replaced a sump pump, a hot water heater, all the piping to both of these, a lawn mower, a bathroom floor, and a car engine! It has been interesting to say the least. In the next two weeks, I will be replacing a pair of glasses and a stove burner. Hopefully that will be the end of this cycle we've been in!!
My Grandma Adrian had only one sister. Her name was Verna. We called her Aunt Verna. Aunt Verna never married and as long as I could remember, she was a missionary nurse to Africa. I'm guessing that Verna loved children because she treated my grandmother's 6 grandchildren as her own.
I remember when I was a little girl, living in New Yo
rk and Aunt Verna would be home on furlough. It was a very exciting thing when she would come and visit us!! I remember crying and crying when she left. I love her so much.
Yep, you guessed it...the unknown use for Pepto-Bismol!!!! When the pink stuff did not aleviate the stomach problems, the father-to-be called the grandfather-to-be. I can imagine the conversation went something like this:
Young Father: "Dad, mother-to-be has a bad stomach ache and the Pepto isn't helping. What do I do??"
Grandfather: Son, have you looked at your wife lately???? Her stomach ache isn't going to go away until there's a baby!! Get her to the HOSPITAL!!!!
So off they went and just a few (and I mean very few) short hours laters, they became the proud parents of a beautiful baby girl!!
Have you ever gone through a period in your life where nothing seems to work out or go the way you thought it would? I'm currently going through one right now. It's been going on for the better part of 2 weeks. I've learned these kinds of times are cycles...that's just the way life is; sometimes you're up, sometimes you're down, sometimes things go great and perfect and other times nothing goes right. I've been reminding myself that this is all just temporary but the past 2 days I've started getting a little stressed and feeling like my candle is burning at both ends. I'm a little overwhelmed right now!!
Ecclesiastes 3:1
This time of year, I have alot of thoughts and memories of my Grandpa Adrian. He passed away 4 years ago yesterday. I was so excited when we decided to move to KS because it would allow me to have a relationship with my grandfather I'd not been able to have before. It was so nice to see him every Sunday in church. In fact, the other Sunday, we sang a song that was one of his favorites. I could hear him in my mind, singing at the top of his voice, "Christ is all I need."
Grandpa also LOVED kids. In the past few years of his life, the family would gather at his house on July 4th. His last July 4th, the entire family was able to come. He was so excited. He couldn't wait for all our kids to come. He borrowed a trailer from a neighbor and hooked it up to his riding mower and took the kids for rides. I'm not sure who enjoyed it more...Grandpa or the kids.
He went into the hospital several days before his death. He had been having some trouble breathing. They put him into a drug-induced coma to allow his lungs time to heal. When they went to wake him up, he didn't respond like he should have. They think he had a stroke. The decision was made to let nature take its course. I was not going to go to the hospital to say goodbye. I did not want to see him like that. He had always been so strong even in his 80's. On Sunday night, I almost panicked with the realization that if I didn't go up there, I'd never see him alive again. I went up to see him on Monday evening and God made it so that no one else was there. Saying goodbye to him was the most intense, grief-filled thing I have ever done. I held his hand and it was still so strong. The next day, early in the morning, Grandpa passed from this life into the next. It just so happened I had a camera with me that morning as I dropped the kids off at school. I went over to his house, sat in his garden and remembered both he and my grandmother and said my goodbye to my days of going to my grandparent's. I took a picture of his last garden. His rows as straight as ever. 
One of the most ironic things about Josh attending Bethel College is that it is a Mennonite College. He didn't choose Bethel because it is Mennonite but the irony is that our family ancestry on my father's side is Mennonite. Because of this Mennonite connection, Josh had a stop in South Dakota on a recent choir trip. The choir sang in a Mennonite church that cousins of my dad attend. After the concert, Josh had a chance to visit with our extended family members. I'm guessing the topic of family history came up (Josh is a history buff) and a couple weeks later, they sent Joshua a copy of our family history (which I have) and a copy of this incredible book. It's full of family trees, old family pictures, pictures of family heirlooms, and copies of old documents. It was so
kind of them to send it to him and when we saw him last month, he had to show it to me right away. Of course, I had to borrow it so I could take the time to get a really good look at it. The book also documents the story of our ancestor's migration to America from Russia. They came over for Religious freedom. I think this is just an incredible thing for him to own.
On the pages below, there is a copy of a notebook of one of our ancesters. It's full of her handwriting all in German and someone began translating it as the English words are written above the German words. This document is dated 1872!
Thanks for reading today and check out Kelli at No Place Like Home for more Show & Tell.
Two of the five prizes I won in the Bloggy Carnival arrived this week. There were almost 1000 drawings!! I lost count of how many I entered. I told Cliff I doubted I'd win anything this time around. How surprised I was to check my email Monday morning!! Here's what I found:If I read correctly, the carnival will come around again in July. If you haven't gotten in on it yet, you'll have to join in the fun!!
