I began a new class at Meissner Sewing Center in Rocklin. There are only three women in the class, which is terrific! Our first project was making a pillow case. I love how we did it. The finished product looks so much nicer than I expected.
Beginner Sewing Class at Meissner
Mar 16th, 2013 by leigharev2
History Art Project
Mar 9th, 2013 by leigharev2
For the boys California History class this week, the boys painted wood beads as part of a lesson on decorative artwork in the missions. They have become decorative artwork for my car…
Spring-ish Day with New Friends
Mar 2nd, 2013 by leigharev2
A new family has just moved up from southern California and joined our homeschool group. Her kids hit it off with mine and she and I share many interests. She was kind to invite us to her house with a couple other friends of ours, and enjoy their lovely property, view, and company.
The kids practicing archery…incredible view. Blessed to call this area home.
Lego Quest
Mar 2nd, 2013 by leigharev2
While scrolling through Pinterest, I ran across a great idea for the boys. A mom created a Lego Quest, and designed 52 challenges for her kids. She posted these challenges and I thought the boys would get a kick out of doing them. I also thought this would be a fun activity for our homeschool group.
So, if you want to see the boys Lego creations, go to the Bayside Homeschool Network page, and follow the side navigation link for ‘Lego Quest Fun’. Each challenge is numbered and our boys initials are one their photos, as well as my name. We will stick with this until we have completed all 52 challenges.
Special thanks to the cool mom who thought this up. I am certainly buying her a cup of coffee via her site.
California History Class #2
Mar 2nd, 2013 by leigharev2
I did not stay for this class. I arrived at the end, and ‘A’ was up front, representing a Spanish explorer…
The boys made “Ojo de Dios”- ‘God’s Eye’
My Journey into Sewing
Mar 2nd, 2013 by leigharev2
About six months ago, I discovered some websites that inspired me to want to learn to sew. These sites focus on “refashioning”, taking old, dated clothing and transforming them into something cute and contemporary.
Before my mom died, she bought me a beautiful machine; one that has (almost) all the bells and whistles. We had planned on her teaching me while she was recuperating post-op at my place. Instead, I found a beginner class at Joann Fabrics.
For the first class, I made a drawstring bag. I had folded it wrong, so instead of a regular purse type bag, it turned out long and skinny. Ta da! Wine tote…
After the class, I bought a simple pattern for a tote bag, and some fabric and notions. I suffered through trying to figure out the pattern before committing and cutting. I butchered it and ended up having to go waaaayyyyy off pattern to try to complete something that looked like a bag. There is so many things wrong with this, it’s actually comical. I am saving it as my scrap bag to remember my humble beginnings.
The interior pocket was supposed t be on the outside. I could not figure out how to attach it on the outside, so I placed it on the inner lip instead, where most pockets are in bags. I then accidentally sewed the pocket SHUT! What you see is my attempt at salvage and I cut a hole into the pocket…:)
I bought more fabric and attempted this pattern again. Another epic fail and one not even worthy of capturing on film.
My third project was at a class to make a decorative pillow. For the most part, I am very happy with how it turned out and gave it to my girlfriend Michelle for her birthday…
I really liked the instructor who taught the pillow and was able to get some individual help on the tote pattern I was struggling with. She helped me fold, pin and cut the pieces. There is NO WAY I would have been able to figure it out on my own. She told me to stick with Simplicity patterns until I was advanced, and even then she rarely strays from Simplicity. (This one was NOT a Simplicity pattern).
So, now I am 3/4 of the way through my third attempt on the tote bag. Looking forward to sharing it with you when I am done.
BHN Valentine’s Party
Feb 17th, 2013 by leigharev2
A fun afternoon with friends, games, and lots of candy!
California History Class
Feb 17th, 2013 by leigharev2
Every Monday for the next five weeks, the boys are in a California History class. The first session covered California geography and topography, and a little bit on Native Californians.
Lecture time..
Gluing items onto a California map…
Each table had a cake and the boys got to decorate it. The green gumdrops represent the Redwood Forest, the blue sugar and Swedish Fish = the Pacific Ocean, the purple Nerds candy are the Napa Valley vineyards, the Hershey kisses are Mt. Shasta and Mt. Whitney. The brown sugar is Nevada and the desert, the green coconut is the Central Valley, the black licorice are oil wells, the red licorice is the Golden Gate Bridge, the orange gumdrops are the Orange groves, and the sugar cubes represent missions. It’s a given they enjoyed eating their masterpiece!
The teachers are teaching the kids a song about California history using hats. ‘R’ was chosen to wear the sombrero that represents the Mexican influence. ‘R’ was cute. When the instructor introduces him, he did a little dance…
A little dress up…yup yup…
Art Class: Chair
Feb 17th, 2013 by leigharev2
The boy’s newest art project….
The project was to paint a chair that represents your style. You should be able to look at it and immediately know who made it.
This is ‘R’s. He has an ‘Indiana Jones’ hat on top of the chair, with a pistol and a whip on the seat. The picture is of a hat.
‘A’ shows his love of music and singing with the music notes and microphone. The figures are Lego men.
Hold on to the Promises
Feb 12th, 2013 by leigharev2
As the crisis of “my mom is going to die any minute” extended from hours, to days, to weeks, my prayers began to shift. I went from prayers of praise and thanksgiving for the gift of time, to questioning God on this whole process. Why was He keeping my mom around when death was imminent? Was there still closure that she (or one of us) needed before passing? What lessons were still needed to learn this side of heaven? Why did He allow so much pain, both physical and emotional?
After three weeks of having the whole family together, my husband took our boys back home to California. My aunt and I became the primary caregivers. However, my mom had a wonderful group of friends that gave us a break and kept my mom feeling loved, encouraged, and treasured.
Being separated from my husband and boys was an additional stress on an already extremely stressful situation. I had to focus on God’s promises to keep from losing it…
Hold on to the Promises…
#1) I love my mom, but not as much as God does. I ran across this ‘Father’s Love Letter’. I think appropriately captures in scripture God’s love for each of us. He chose my mom, He created my mom, He knows the hairs on her head; she was fearfully and wonderfully made. Nothing is greater than God’s love for His children.
#2) God is Sovereign…. with a capital ‘S’. This journey with my mom was definitely a testing of my belief in God’s sovereignty. I had to become clear on if I believed God was who He said He was. I had to become clear that my ways (will, desires) are not necessarily His own. I had to become clear that He is all-present, all-powerful, and all-knowing. I had to trust that even if I did not agree with His timing or methods, He knows and He makes all things work together for good. (Rom. 8:28) If I trust in a sovereign Lord, I need not stress or worry about things to come. He’s got it.
#3) We are Not Promised a Tomorrow or That Life Will be Easy James 14:13-16 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”
#4) God is Here
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1
#5) A Supernatural Peace There were times that were really, really hard. Yet still through it all, there was a peace that surpassed all understanding. People would say to me that I was handling this well. I could only respond that it was not me; it was God. Philippians 4:6-7 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
#6) A Stronger Faith… This is going to sound a little crazy, but please bear with me. When people of faith go through times of trial, even though it is hard going through it, our faith is strengthened as we come to realize that God is with us, working through us, holding us up, giving us peace, solace, comfort, and rest. If we keep our hearts and mind aligned with His, we witness the Holy Spirit in ways we did not know prior to the crisis, challenge, trial, or temptation. I understand now when someone says, “God is good”, regardless of circumstance. Even amidst hardship, God is good. And our faith is strengthened as a result. As our faith grows, we can trust God to provide for ALL our needs during the next trial. And that is pure joy. James 1:2-4 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
I never would wish hardship for anyone, but I do pray for God to reveal Himself through the hardship in real, tangible ways and faith is strengthened as a result.
Video: Sanctus Real – Promises