A mother's influence

A Mother's influence...

I took a peice of plastic clay
And idly fashioned it one day,
And as my fingers pressed it still,
it moved and yielded to my will.
I came again when days were passed;
The bit of clay was hard at last,
The form I gave it still it bore,
But I could change that form no more!

I touched a peice of living clay
And touched it gently day by day,
And molded it with my power and art
A young childs soft and yielding heart.
I came again when years were gone;
it was a man I looked upon;
That early impress still he wore,
And I could change that form no more.

Anon

it's the little things...

that can make an emerging seamstress so happy. I got these little things yesterday

A wrist pin cushion





And thread snippers ( I even bought the best quality pair)







There is something very relaxing and soothing about snipping all of those little loose ends off. Almost like a cleansing from imperfections.

Happy Wednesday!

it's ironic

I am passionate about both motherhood and sewing. I think I found my niche. The funny thing is that this is exactly the opposite of how I envisioned my life. For those of you that o not know, I was raised from the age of 11 on by my father, a single dad. I, as you can imagine, did not witness firsthand homemaking or mothering skills. During the time that my father was raising me, I had little if any contact from my own mother. Our relationship is healing and growing as an adult, but as a young woman, I was hurting. I was always searching for a mother, always. I think this lack of mothering impacted me greatly as a mother now. When my first daughter was born, my heart was heavy with the burden of being everything that I always longed for. My focus changed, as usually happens when people start having children. I sought out everything I could find on being the mother I was meant to be, passionately. I received a lot of mothering and council for my mother in law Becky, who I still get council from to this day. I purposed never to take my children for granted. Through my mothering them, I have received a lot of comfort. I feel like I am able to somehow make-up for all of my hurt and longing as a child.

In high school, I had big dreams to be famous, not really sure what for, famous for being famous I guess. I went into college with the mindset of becoming an anchor woman on CNN, or Fox news. I was going to be a cooperate woman. After a couple of semester in college I could not shake the the urge to switch to education. I fought it but finally surrendered to that calling. I finished up my degree in education, and still had big plans. I was looking into getting my masters, to move up the ladder. I was not just going to be a teacher, but a principal or superintendent. Well, then I had my first baby a little after I graduated. Like many moms, I did not want to leave her, and my husband was in total agreement. Since I surrendered to the idea of full time motherhood, I decided why not have another, and another and another. We now have four, and I can't say that it is easy, but I guess I did not expect it to be. I can say that I am passionate about motherhood, and I am willing to be everything that I am called to be for them.

So, to me it is very ironic, that a motherless young lady full of selfish ambition, is now happy and content to stay at home, and be a homemaker. With my own lack of direction in the art of homemaking I have been free to develop things and do things my own way. This sometimes works, and sometimes not...but life is learn as you go right?

Honesty in children, and peanut butter

I was reading some writings of Susana Wesley, and I learned a lot about effective mothering. You know Susana Wesley, mother of Methodism, mother to John and Charles Wesley, and several more blessed children. She home schooled her children in the early 1700's. Her method on teaching honesty and training little one's to tell the truth I have applied to my own family with much success. I tell my children if they tell me the truth they will not get in trouble, but if they lie to me they will get in trouble for said offense, and get in trouble for lying.
They always choose to tell the truth because the result is always pleasant.

On a lighter note yesterday we were watching Paula Dean cooking, and got inspired to grill up some peanut butter sandwiches of our own. Her method called for banana's, but we did not have any so we skipped that ingredient (we also skipped dipping them in sugar after were done) In a bowl mix peanut butter, honey, and cinnamon. Spread the mixture on the two slices of bread, buttered for a grill in'. Put them on the skillet, and then watch the yummy goodness come together. Does it look like a success?