Bug

I had so much fun with this georgous girl. She is amazing. And the best part? Her heart is beautiful too! Yeah, she's a Jesus Girl.

Fabric Pumpkin Tutorial

This is my first tutorial so please forgive any neophyte mistakes.

What you will need:

• fabric (I think prints look best.)
• scissors
• needle & thread
• rice
• fiber-fill
• twig
• hot glue gun (a girl's BEST friend)
• silk leaf (autumnal colors of course)
• large plate

Step 1

Lay plate on fabric and cut about 1" from edge. (This is a 12" serving plate, resulting in a 14" circle.)

Step 2 

Sew a loose running stitch 1/2" from edge of fabric. Leave needle attached and gather fabric to form a bowl. (I know I should have used a dark thread for the tutorial, but I am going to keep this pumpkin and I didn't want to have to sew it twice.)

Step 3  

 Pour a 1/2 cup of rice into bowl.

Step 4 

 Add fiber-fill.

Step 5

Hot glue twig (at an angle looks FAB) and cinch opening.

Sew closed. Make sure to hide your knot in a fold.

 Step 6

Glue silk leaf to stem or at the base of the stem where

it meets the pumpkin. I added a coil of green

florist wire to up the cute factor.

They are so easy to make, so you could have a whole patch of pumpkins in no time.

Hint: If you are using a thick fabric you will need to make your stitches long (farther apart). Otherwise you will end up with a LARGE opening after you've cinched it together. The opening will be better suited for a branch rather than a twig.

Bonus Hint: If you have an actual pumpkin stem that would be the BEST THING EVER! 

I hope you have as much fun making a patch of pumpkins as I did.

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Pumpkin Patch

My friend Heather sent a link for adorable pumpkins made from coffee filters. You can find the link here. The pumpkins are quite cute, but rather small. I think I will make them as place card holders for Thanksgiving dinner. Won't that be cute!

I started thinking about all the fabric I have in storage, and decided to go shopping through my own goodies. I just love that kind of shopping - it's FREE!

The large pumpkins are made from a circle with a 20" diameter. The small pumpkins are made from a circle with a 14" diameter. And there was total cheating with the circle cutting. I took the face off an oscillating fan, laid it on my fabric and cut about an inch away from the edge, ending up with a 20" circle.

The small circles were cut using the same method above but with a large serving plate. You get an idea of the size you end with if you look at the pumpkin sitting atop the teacup.

If you want I can take pictures of the next pumpkin in process and post a tutorial. That would be so exciting. It would be my first tutorial!

I Can Change it to T-A-U-M-A

I like my name. Really like it.




That hasn’t always been the case. I remember slamming the door after I had gotten home from the 2nd grade and yelling to my mother, “You just had to name me Tauna!”


You see, almost everyone in my class had their names printed on their stuff. All kinds of stuff –pencils, notebooks, bracelets, stuffed animals.


Guess who has NEVER found her name printed on mass-produced products?


Now I don’t care if I can’t find my name on a key chain. I like having a unique name. However,
 my name is proof that people do not listen to one another.


Here is a sampling of some of the names I’ve been called after being asked my name.


Shauna, Fauna, Lana, Hauna, Hannah, Tonya, Tanya, Taxna (I really think that person was drunk), Tuna, Tanna, Taupa, Tronna, Trina, and Connie (this one happens a lot!).


When giving my name for an official reason I first pronounce then spell my name. Even that doesn’t help. Nine times out of 10 people will spell my name however they feel like it. Unfortunately, that doesn’t cut it when the government is concerned. I’ve had to fight to get my name spelled correctly on checks and my first passport. Um, “little things” like that matter.


Today, I had to visit another government office and found myself on the “Tauna” merry-go-round. It’s a fun little ride in which you pronounce & spell, pronounce & spell, and pronounce & spell.


Here’s how it went.


Lady at Anonymous office: "How do you spell your name?"
Me: "T-A-U-N-A" (Said v e r y slowly.)
LAAO: "T-O-N..."
Me: "No. T like Thomas, A like apple, U like umbrella, N like Nancy, A like apple
LAAO: "Well I can't find you in our system."
Me: "How are you spelling it?"
LAAO: "T-A-N-Y-A"
Me: "Would you mind putting my name in your system?" (I was laughing, but she wasn’t.)
LAAO: "What's your name?" (I spelled it TWO more times.)
LAAO: "What's your address?" (I gave her the information.)
LAAO: "I found it, but someone spelled your name wrong in our computer. That's why I couldn't find you."
Me: "How was it spelled in the computer?"
LAAO: "It’s spelled T-A-U-N-A, but I can change it to T-A-U-M-A."
Me: "No, no, let's leave it the way it is. I think it will be easier if I start spelling my name T-A-U-N-A."


I finally convinced her that T-A-U-N-A was correct, but I may find out next year that I'm really Tauma.

Fresh Tears for Worn Memories

The worst day of my life, to date, happened 17 years ago. I lost someone dear to me, and my heart stopped beating.

Not the physical heart that supplies life giving blood. It was my loving heart that renders and receives life dependent commitment. For a while I felt numb. Heavy. I thought my chest would collapse from the pressure. I begged God for sleep so I wouldn't have to feel the vacuous pit that engulfed me. Everything was black.

Soon my heart began to drum with such raw force I thought I would collapse.

But I didn't.

It pounded so hard I felt bruised inside- tender and so fragile. My heart and my mind wanted to escape.

But I couldn't.

Someone was holding me in place. Holding my heart. Hiding me in the still blackness. Clutching the pain that I couldn't contain as it seeped from me.

How could I have endured without Him? What would have become of me? How could I have survived without my Jesus?

And never did I ask, "Why?" I'm not sure how that is. Maybe He shushed my heart with His love to the point of understanding. Not understanding why such things happen, but understanding that He is in control of all things.

It has taken 17 years for me to attempt words about what that day was to me. My heart has healed. Well, mostly. There will always be some acreage dedicated to the love and memory of Andy.

I told my sweet friend Jennifer that as I am now in my 40s, I wonder if I will ever have the impact on this world that Andy had in his 22 years here. Oh what a heart that boy had. And wise beyond his days. It was always amusing to him that men, many years his senior, often sought him out for coffee and study time. He was so in love with Jesus. His faith was infectious. If you didn't know Jesus before Andy said hello, you had been introduced to Him by the time Andy said goodbye.

He was my iron, and he kept me sharp. He was my encourager, and he made me try harder. He was my clown, and he made me LAUGH! He was my friend, and he made me love.

I miss Andy, and I'm jealous of him. He has met our LORD face to face. Nothing compares to that. And truth be told, I'm a little jealous of God too. He has our Andy.

This Day Keeps Getting Better

I haven't even delved into my quiet time of  Bible study and meditation, but God is already speaking! I love it when He does that.

(SMILE!)

So far He has encouraged me with His word and several words from others. I am bathed in love and hope.

Then, as if my day wasn't already beautiful despite SEVERAL things, He added another sparkle! Remember a post from a few weeks ago titled I Can't Be Bothered? Well I think I may be winning that person over! And by I, I mean God. The best part is that I'm not trying to win said someone over. I have just been acting the same.

Isn't God FAB!

This person has extended an invitation to teach me something I have long wanted to learn. There could be some sweet bonding time in our future.

So Much Love

You are so amazing. The capacity of your heart is astounding. More people need to love like you. My life has exploded with blessing since you entered it. Oh, how I can't wait for Heaven so I will be able to tell you what you are to me, because our words aren't worthy.

You need to know that your heart is precious to me. If I could hold it and protect it I would. Anytime you need comforting you MUST come to me. And never think that I can't handle it. I have amazing sister shoulders on which you can lean. I'm practically Popeye in that category!

If you need someone to laugh with, you know there is no one better. We share a humor that only sisters could understand. Being silly with you is one of the greatest joys in this world. We laugh so hard that we can no longer speak and yet we continue to communicate with snorts, hiccups, nods, and flailing hands. And we know exactly what the other means, even if we've forgotten what was funny in the first place!

When you hurt my heart breaks. When you smile my heart soars. When we giggle I stop breathing.

I love you.

Wuv, Twu Wuv

I was going to post these pictures on my parent's anniversary, September 19th. Instead, I'm taking my own advice, and I'm not going to wait. I love you Mama. I love you Daddy.

Why Wait?

We've all heard "Save the best for last." My question is why?

I must confess that I've long held a subscription to this line of thinking. If I'm eating fresh fruit salad, I will make sure to save one of my favorite pieces for the last bite. It's nice to end on a good note...er, bite. If I have errands or chores I try to get the most unpleasant ones out of the way first. But does that really make sense?

Just today a friend posted on fb that she ate dessert before lunch. HURRAY! You go K! I'm proud of you.

A couple of days ago I was eating an enormous slice of watermelon. I had cut the melon away from the rind and filled a large bowl (hee hee hee... yay for me!). The first piece I forked wasn't from the sweeter, succulent center portion. It was from the outer section. As I took that bite, I realized that if I stayed true to form I ran the risk of filling up before I could eat the sweetest bits. I changed my tactic and dived into the middle.

What a GREAT decision. (Yes silly, little decisions can be GREAT.) I didn't finish the bowl of watermelon, but I finished the best part.

So why do we wait for the good stuff? This is not the waiting we do in relation to hearing God speak. Sometimes we know what lies before us but we choose to wait on our own accord. Why?

Even my 15 year-old niece gets it. See for yourself here and here. As my blue-eyed Bug reminds us, "...only God knows if there's going to be a later." Pretty good wisdom from a teenager, huh?

So if you hear God speaking, calling you to action, don't hesitate.

And eat the center of the melon first.

Topher

It was Christopher's turn to sit in front of the camera for me. I'm still working on my quality, but I think I captured some pretty cool shots of this amazing kid.

If Chris looks a little too serious in the shot above there is a reason. There was a pile of poo about 9" from his left foot (I pulled up a large weed to cover it.) Additionally, there was an oozing dumpster about 30 yards behind Christopher. It was starting to get hot by this time, and the air was circulating between the buildings enhancing the eau de dumpster. Chris looked at me and said, "I'm not enjoying this breeze right now." I bent over with laughter. He was laughing too, but he couldn't bend over because there was poo!

Two kiddos down and two to go! This is so much fun! YaY for ME! (Yes, that's 3 exclamation marks.)

What's in Your Well?

I like colloquialisms, especially southernisms. (One of my favorites is "garbage in, garbage out." It's SO TRUE.) My daddy is famous for spouting some of the neatest things during a conversation. It is especially fun when I hear a new phrase -at least new to me.

Last Sunday at church the message was on effective communication. The scripture used was Ephesians 4: 29-32. I've been a big fan of E4:29 ever since I read Silver Boxes by Florence Littauer. The Message puts it this way, "Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift." Greg Addison's blog for more. It also has amazing food from Proverbs included. Mmmm, good stuff.
Unfortunately I tend to forget things and need reminders as life goes along. If you would like a great reminder you can visit

Later, sitting in class, several people were discussing what we had just heard from the pastor. We talked about Matthew 15:18 (But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart...). One of the teachers said that reminded him of something his grandmother used to say, "What's down in the well comes up in the bucket."

That's a new one on me.

And I like it!

There's a whole lot of truth in that country sayin'. It sure makes you look inward.

So what are you filling your well with? And how is it going to sound, look, smell, and feel when it comes back out?

If this is what is in our well, the world will see it when it makes its way out.

We may not have complete control over the thoughts or images that enter our minds, but we can control how long they linger. I do NOT have to entertain unwelcome visitors. Philippians 4:8 is a good guideline for keeping our hearts and minds on track. It says, "Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - thing about such things."

It's a moment by moment decision to keep our hearts and minds pure. Will we ever win? Not here, not now. But we still fight. And my heart and mind are worth fighting for!


This is what I want coming up in my bucket.

So what's down in your well?

Morning with Matthew

Last Tuesday morning my nephew Matt let me take some photos. Here are a few shots from downtown Little Rock. Forgive the quality. I'm going to work on that during our next session. 

The shots in the alley and this one are my favorites.