A Normal Day

Today I'm celebrating a Normal Day with the Queen:

my Normal Day cake

Now, typical of a day where I just wanted to "make a cake," Something. Went. Wrong.

Don't know if you can see this sinkhole of a cake. It even "burped" all over the oven. I'm thinking maybe I used the wrong measuring spoon for the baking soda and baking powder?

I'm praising the Lord today for my end-of-a-cold, my out-o'-sight heating bill, and my kids' winter laziness. Because it is NORMAL.

Go on over and rejoice with the Queen, and thank the Lord your days are normal.

A Dreadful Anniversary

This is the thirty-sixth anniversary of the infamous Roe v. Wade decision. I was a senior in a Catholic high school when this decision came down. We had been so sure that God would never allow such a heinous decision. I think it was my first taste of "legislating from the bench," the now-common practice of *creating* laws through judicial decisions.

I also think it's strange that Justice Blackmun (who wrote the decision) used the Fourteenth Amendment's due process clause, in forming his opinion. This is the same amendment that Congress used to legislatively overturn the Dred Scott decision [saying that blacks, American Indians, and other "foreigners" were not citizens (read: "humans") and therefore not eligible for rights under the law.]

As the years went by, we wrote letters, marched, prayed. I was a counselor in a crisis pregnancy center for a few years. (There were no such places when I got pregnant at nineteen. I went to the Planned Parenthood place for a free pregnancy test. The woman asked my first name, and then asked, "are you planning to terminate this pregnancy?" I was shocked. I answered, "I don't even know yet if I'm pregnant!" She asked again, "if you are pregnant, are you planning to terminate?" GOD BLESS THE CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTERS. ) And, most of us were very sure we would not still be fighting this fight in 2009.

Now we have a president who, by all appearances, is not friendly to pre-born life. He has already pledged to fight for legislation to strengthen abortion "rights." He will, in all likelihood, be appointing one or more Supreme Court justices, as well as other federal judges. Things don't look very positive, looking from an earthly perspective.

So, we still pray. And, we fight for each baby, one mother at a time. We tear down the brick wall she thinks gives her no choice. We line those bricks up in a line--anybody can step over one brick at a time. We pray for God to send a revival--if God changes hearts, the need for even discussing this issue will be greatly diminished.

Lord, have mercy on us for this abomination. Forgive me for considering, even for a few hours, this awful thing. Thank you that you let my boyfriend (Charming) and me see it for what it was, and bring that baby to term (that's Violet!) Let the women who have made this agonizing decision find forgiveness and healing. Lord, heal our nation.

Fresh Start for Monday

Go check out my post today at Monday Mommies.

And check Monday Mommies (linked on my sidebar) every Monday for a new devotional to help you through your week!

Pajama-Rama Update

Wow. It's only been six days since I blogged about my new project. I have dug out a total of five large rubbermaid tubs, and reduced all of the scraps of flannel pj pants I have made over the last dozen years (or more!) to 4 1/2-inch squares.

Fortunately, the last two tubs contained mostly uncut flannel pieces, that I can use in the future for grandkid pjs. And--there are still flannel scraps out there *somewhere* that I am sure I will have to deal with later.

Drum roll please.

My new total of 4 1/2-inch squares is: 4586. Since it takes 396 squares to make a 72x88-inch quilt, I have enough for more than eleven quilts.

More than enough, I think, is Quite Enough.

The great news is that I get to put them away for awhile. But, when I'm ready later this year, the pieces are already cut! Lily has agreed to help me put them in some kind of pretty order for the quilts. The favorite quilt I've ever made for any of my children is Johnny Tremain's flannel quilt, now almost threadbare. So, I think this will be a popular project!

Pajama-Rama

I've been making my family flannel pj pants for Christmas for years.

YEARS.

Over the last dozen or so years, I have been collecting the leftovers in three large rubbermaid bins:
That one was much fuller to begin with. I saved all of these, planning to make some quilts. Since my "stash" wasn't getting any smaller, I decided after Christmas just to cut all of the scraps into 4.5 inch squares. Here is a photo of what I've done this past week:

How many do you think? 1701. That is, one Thousand, seven Hundred, one. And I still have to finish the bin you saw above, and another bin stuffed to the rafters. I was beginning to think there would be no end, except I fer sure don't want this hanging around another year, waiting to be done, right? So I'll keep on, keepin' on. I think I'll put a little blurb on the sidebar with my progress.

By the way, a 72x88-inch quilt will take 396 squares. That means I already have more than enough for four quilts already.

I think I should have done this a few years ago, dude.

Update: I found two MORE rubbermaid tubs filled with flannel scraps. I have no idea how long it will take me now, to work my way through them!