The First Breath After Drowning

Disclaimer…not for the faint of heart.  I just started writing.  My heart is heavy and full all at the same time.  I hope this does not come across as insensitive.  Anyone who knows me knows that my greatest strength and weakness is sensitivity.  I feel other’s pain as deeply as possible without living it...blessing and a curse.  So this may bring tears, but I hope the end brings relief like…

 

The First Breath After  Drowning

I’ve never drowned

I’ve never lost someone I love to the water

But I know some who have

And I’ve seen ones who have

And I’ve spent the last few days seeing

And feeling the weight of those who have

And I ache inside for them

I hold my breath as they fight for theirs

I sigh with relief when they take one

I fill with pride for my fellow men and women

 

Who braved the treacherous waters

To lessen the drowning

To give more seconds, or minutes, or days, or hours, or years

To those they pull from the water

I watch in heartbreaking disbelief

A whole city, several cities, a region

Slip into cold muddy water

Hours and years spent building houses

And minutes and hours and days and years

Lived in homes that will never be the same

Memories washed away in the current

Photos, treasures, collections, family keepsakes

…Things

Under inches and feet of RAINDROPS

And to those who swam to shores that were once highways

Or drifted to dry land at the water’s edge

Or lifted into helicopters in baskets

Or dragged into flat-bottom boats

Or floated on refrigerators and mattresses

Or clung to stop signs and telephone poles

The lucky ones whose heavy hearts didn’t sink them

They may never feel dried of the floodwaters again

But they have another chance to take another breath

To live another life

A better life

To find more joy because of the pain they will carry

To share the courage and strength that was shared with them

With others during their storms

I pray that the water on their souls that may never dry

Only brings them a greater purpose

A reason to fight harder than the current

A reason to love deeper than the floodwaters

A reason to flow as peacefully as the receding tide

A reason to speak words that were once muffled

A reason to swim the rocky waters



Not all were gifted with the dramatic rescue

The crowd of those left behind were blessed with something

FAR GREATER

Their first breath after drowning was heavenly

It was perfection

And will be forevermore

The muddy waters were instantly dried

They were met with instant warmth from the cold

Infinite joy abounded

Their party wasn’t a heavyhearted celebration

But a never-ending fiesta

They weren’t yanked ashore by rescuers

But ushered in by a shepherd

Who led them to STILL WATERS

Refreshing to their soul

Their first warm meal

Was a banquet

They needed no blanket to warm cold bones

They were wrapped in clouds of grace

And arms of love

And joy abounding

And waves of mercy

And waves of grace

Their first breath after drowning

Was weightless!

What a blessing that will be.

What I'm Listening to...Wednesday

Sometimes when I can't hear God speaking, I hear him sing over me.  Sometimes I have a hard time putting into words what my heart is saying.  So I sing to him words others have sang to him before.  Sometimes I hurt for the world and become numb to the stories on the news.  And it takes somber songs to help me feel again. 

Just to give you a peek into my day at school...here is what it looks like.  Our school has 5 classes a day.  When I don't have paperwork stacked up to my neck...which is the case most days...here is what my schedule is supposed to look like:
1st Block-I go into an English 10 or English 11 classroom, and provide a helping hand to students who need a little extra time.
2nd Block-Sometimes English 11 and sometimes working on paperwork in my classroom.  This is a classroom that is shared with another teacher.  She teaches 10 students an online math course.  So this paperwork I have to complete must be completed with 10 restless chatty teenagers in my room. 
3rd Block-I teach a reading and writing intervention class.  However, oftentimes this becomes a homework help session.  Frequently, my lessons are replaced with another teacher's lesson.  But hey, they have to pass their other classes too.
4th Block-This is my "planning" block.  Most days, other teachers send their students my way during this time to read their tests to them.  This is part of my job, so no complaints here.  Somewhere during this block I also have to find time to eat.  Most of the time this is bites between test questions. 
5th Block-English 10...helping out the teachers and kiddos.

Second block on paperwork days is my time to drown out the noise (and the students' not so quiet voices of not so pleasant conversations).  So I flip on my Jesus station on Pandora and let it pick what song I want to hear.  But today I had a feeling it was God picking my songs, not some random computer program.

The first song that caught my attention was "This, Too Shall Be Made Right" by Derek Webb
I recently wrote another blog post about this song, but up it popped again.  If you would like to read that post, click here.

"People love you the most for the things you hate
And hate you for loving the things you can't keep straight
People judge you on a curve
And tell you you're getting what you deserve
And this too shall be made right

Children cannot learn when children cannot eat
Stack them like lumber when children cannot sleep
Children dream of wishing wells
Who's waters quench all the fires of hell
And this too shall be made right

The earth and the sky and the sea are all holding their breath
Wars and abuses have nature growing with death
You say we're just trying to stay alive
It looks so much more like a way to die

And this too shall be made right

Yes, there's a time for peace, there is a time for war
There's a time to forgive and a time to settle the score
A time for babies to lose their lives
A time for hunger and genocide
And this too shall be made right

Oh, I don't know the sufferings of people outside my front door
And I join the oppressors of those I choose to ignore
I'm trading comfort for human life
And that's not just murder, it's suicide
And this too shall be made right"

This hit way too close to home.  It seems that this world of darkness and hate and pain are closing in.  They are getting way too close to home.  I try not to watch the news.  I know, as a teacher, I should stay up to date on current events.  I could really care less.  I would rather tuck my head in my turtle shell and stay in my happy bubble with my amazing husband who I adore and adores me,

and our entertaining "why"-asking two-year-old,

 and our newly-giggling three-month-old.





 But despite the fact that I rarely turn on the evening news, I know...
-Twenty men were arrested in Chattanooga for involvement in child sex trafficking.
-Gang violence in downtown Chattanooga has increased to the point that the Chattanooga Times Free Press has created a database of individuals murdered there since 2011.  And all that people seem to be focusing on is the fact that Mohammed Abdulazeez found his way on to that list.  He is on a list of "justified murders."  I am pretty sure murder isn't the right word for that situation, but people seem to be missing the point.  That list is HUGE...currently at 113, with 22 of the murders happening just in the last 10 months!  That's the point.  The point is that we should shed tears over the massive number of lives lost, most at the hands of gang violence.
-An unidentified body was found in my town.
-There was a shooter at the little league park in my hometown where my little brother used to play baseball.
-School shootings are STILL happening.
-College sports recruiters are paying for strippers and sex for recruits to help draw potential athletes to their program.
-Smoking, that had recently become less widespread, has become more popular and excepted among a whole new generation of teenagers.
-Drugs are rampant.

Then came the song "Wedding Dress," also by Derek Webb.  This song was written to his maker.

If you could love me as a wife
And for my wedding gift your life

           God gave his life as our wedding gift.  It doesn't get much better than that.
Should that be all Ill ever need
Or is there more I'm looking for

And should I read between the lines
And look for blessings in disguise
To make me handsome, rich and wise
Is that really what you want

'Cause I am a whore, I do confess
I put you on just like a wedding dress
And I run down the aisle
I run down the aisle

Or Im a prodigal with no way home
I put you on just like a ring of gold
And I run down the aisle
I run down the aisle to you

          That's what we do, I guess I can only speak for myself. That's what I do.  I am so excited be his bride. I can't wait to get down the aisle and jump into his arms.  I am excited to be his.  Then I turn to other lovers.  My eyes stray and my feet wander.  I lose my way.  Then I throw on my white dress (it's white because he washed it) and run to him again.

So could you love this bastard child

          And each time I run to him, I run to him slower.  I go to him ashamed.  I am weighted down by my sin and think, "how could he still love me?"  But he does.  And he marries me all over again.  We were never divorced.  But in my heart I feel that way.  So we renew our vows.  He makes the same unbroken promises all over again.  And I make promises we both know I will break. 
Though I dont trust you to provide

          He always provides.  But I still get scared.
 With one hand in a pot of gold
And with the other in your side

'Cause I am so easily satisfied
By the call of lovers so less wild

          I get content with the beautiful earthly things he has given me and forget the masterpiece I can find in him.

But money cannot buy
A husbands jealous eye

          "He is jealous for me.  His love's like a hurricane.  I am a tree bending beneath the weight of his love and mercy."  I want to run down the aisle and not let go of his hand.  It's not quite as easy as it sounds.

Both these songs were heavy.  Bittersweet.  Honest.  Raw.

And God knew what I needed when the next two songs came on..."My Beloved," by Kari Jobe.

You're my beloved, you're my bride
To sing over you is my delight
Come away with me my love

Under my mercy come and wait
Till we are standing face to face
I see no stain on you my child

          He thinks I'm perfect just the way I am.

You're beautiful to me
So beautiful to me

I sing over you my song of peace

          First he played me songs that left me with pain and bitterness and shame and fear and sadness.  Then he SANG OVER me his song of PEACE.  He played in like a lion and serenaded out like a lamb.
Cast all your care down at my feet
Come and find your rest in me

          REST...

I'll breathe my life inside of you
I'll bear you up on eagle's wings
And hide you in the shadow of my strength

I'll take you to my quiet waters

          QUIET...
 I'll restore your soul

          RESTORATION...
Come rest in me and be made whole

You're my beloved, you're my bride
To sing over you is my delight
Come away with me my love

First he sang to me truth, then he revealed to me my sin, then he sang over me peace and forgiveness and love, then he danced with me...the dance in the kitchen in your socks kind of dance.

At the end of the block my students got to see me with headphones stuck in my ears rocking out to this Jesus song...this time I was smiling.  "Lay Em Down," by Needtobreathe

Come down to the river
Come and let yourself in
Make good on a promise
To never hurt again
If you're lost and lonely
You're broken down
Bring all of your troubles
Come lay 'em down

All you sinners
And the weak at heart
All you helpless
On the boulevard
Wherever you are now
Whatever evil you've found
Bring all of your troubles
come lay 'em down

We're all tied to the same old failings
Finding shelter in things we know
We're all dirty like corrupted small towns
Bring our troubles
Bring our troubles
And Lay 'em down

All you rich men
And the high above
All those with and without love
All you burdened, broken down
Bring all of your troubles
Come lay 'em down
 

Thank Jesus for speaking to me through my headphones this morning.

I'm laying em down.

Feel Good Friday

It is pretty shocking just how far a few nice words can go. There are times in life where we all feel unappreciated, unnoticed, inefficient, degraded, disrespected, useless, unimportant, or ignored. Sometimes it goes beyond that. Sometimes we check out. We harden our hearts so they don't get broken. We disconnect, because "what's the point?" We give up because "what's the use in trying?" We stop caring because it seems we are the only one who does. We stop trying because we have felt the pain of falling short.
We begin to give just enough because no one seems to see when we go above and beyond the call of duty. We begin to just show up because we think no one would even notice if we were gone. We begin to crawl into our shell because at least there we are safe. We begin to close our eyes in fear of what we may see.
As soon as we close our eyes we lose sight of the bigger picture. The world disappears as we try to run from it. The target begins to blur. The image gets fuzzy. The result seems dark. But then something reminds us the picture isn't developed yet. We forget we are still in the darkroom.
...Then someone opens the door and shows us the picture we have created. They remind us of our purpose. They tell us "you ARE appreciated, you DO belong, you are here for a reason, I see you."
And those words of encouragement come just in time.
And we give it another shot.
So today I am paying it forward.
YOU MATTER.
YOU BELONG.
DON'T GIVE UP.
IT'S WORTH ALL THE EFFORT.
SOMEONE NOTICES.
SOMEONE NEEDS YOU.
THERE IS A REASON FOR ALL OF THIS.
SOMEDAY YOU WILL SEE IT.
KEEP ON KEEPING ON.
JUST KEEP SWIMMING.
JUST DO IT.
JUST DO YOU AND BE YOU.
And in the words of my philosophical, hysterical, handsome, rapper of a husband, "God's got chu, guuuurl!"
       ....or guy.
Don't give up.
PS-Thanks for being there just when I needed you, with just what I needed to hear. Just do you-"forget" what they have to say.
Insert verb of choice.
You're a rockstar in my book. You know who you are.

Today is Just Tuesday

Today is just Tuesday

Today I have no plan or significant words To share with whoever is interested

Or bored

Or needing inspiration 

I don't blog or write out of habit

Or necessity

I don't feel the need to post every day

Or every week

Or month for that matter

I am not making profit per view of my site

But if someone would like to teach me

I'm game for that 

I normally only write when I am inspired

Or angry

Or excited

Or hurt 

But today I am none of those things

Today is just Tuesday 

And for some reason I was compelled 

To share this nothingness with whoever

And something tells me 

Someone needs to read it

Maybe it's you

Or maybe it isn't

Today was nothing special

Nothing extraordinary 

Today I just taught

I just was

There were no breakthroughs

I didn't have all of their attention

I didn't have one of those

"That's why I'm a teacher" moments

No one made me lose my temper today

I didn't cry over someone else's pain

I didn't feel like teacher of the year

(Even though I had my day planned out

And an essential question on the board

Which is a miracle in itself)

But I don't feel like I failed them either

I picked up my boys

Hit the good ole Soddy Daisy Wal Mart 

For some blue and gray yarn

For my next afghan order

Got some seizure meds from Walgreens

Watched my son play catch

Read him a book or two

Fed my other son a bottle or two 

And wrote up this blog for you 

Maybe, or not

All this to say

Today was just Tuesday

And that is okay with me

I lived to love another day

Maybe tomorrow will be

More than just Wednesday

Or maybe not

Maybe it will be wordless

Or maybe filled with thoughts

Maybe I will be inspired

But tonight this is all I've got

But, I must say this guy is mighty cute.

...And this guy

Flashback Friday...a shoutout to teachers and the students we love

A new year is upon us, my fellow teacher friends.  These words are for you...The teachers taking care of my 2 little ones in daycare aka "Base Camp" teaching them to share and go potty and talk nice to their friends...the ones teaching little people to count and sing their ABCs...the ones teaching life skills to special friends who need a little extra attention...the ones teaching kiddos how to read or study or work out word problems or interpret literature or write research papers...and the ones like me teaching teenagers how to be men and women ready to take on the world.  I know this is long but if you are one of those people, I promise this is worth the read. Often we have to be their moms and their dads and their teachers all at the same time.  On top of that, we have papers to grade and parents to call and data to collect and paperwork to complete and fires to put out.  We not only hand out assignments but we hand out advice and hugs and snacks and clothes, because in many cases we are the only ones doing so.

All that to say, our jobs aren't easy.  Our jobs aren't always fun.  Often we do not see immediate fruits of our labor, the progress from our stress, the growth from our teachings, the effort from our pep talks, or the respect from our love.  I never thought in a million years I would be teaching high school.  I thought I would be teaching young kids how to sit quietly in their seats and tie their shoes and sort things into boxes and communicate their emotions and control their anger.  I never thought I would have to tell a student to hand over their dip or put out their ciggarett or stop cussing in the hallway or stop hanging on their boyfriend or stop judging people based on the color of their skin.  I never thought I would have to spend an hour trying to convince a parent their child was capable of going to college. I never thought I would have to tell a student they were working too many hours after school only to be told they had to help pay the light bill.  I never thought my current students would be ringing me up when grocery shopping on the weekend.  I never thought I would have to tell my students to stop speeding out of the parking lot or stay out of jail.  

I never thought I would have the pleasure of seeing little kids just out of middle school four years later present senior projects about things they were passionate about.  I never thought I would watch minds change and hearts melt and eyes open to the prejudices so deeply rooted inside them.  I never thought I would watch a student convince a depressed friend that life was worth living.  I never thought I would see my students' talents lead them into promising careers just months after I was their teacher.  I never thought I would see my students start families of their own.  But I have.  And what a blessing it has been.

It took four years for me to figure out why I ended up teaching high school.  And I think one of those reasons is so I can encourage those of you who don't teach high school, and remind those who do why we do.  I stumbled upon this letter that I wrote after my fourth year of teaching. And it came just in time.  I did not come into this year extremely motivated or excited.  I had forgotten the purpose behind all that we do.  But this letter written by my former self to my graduating seniors reminded me why the heck I put up with these precious little boogers.

"Hello friend.  You may not know this, but you are part of a very special group to me.  What better time for me to show my appreciation for you than now?  You are ending one chapter of your life to begin another.  You are one of the few students that were in the first class I ever taught in.  I was 21 and fresh out of college and you were my guinea pigs.  I was thrown back into a world I had just left 4 years earlier...high school.  I was beginning my second adventure in high school and you were beginning your first.  I was just as scared of this place as you were.  But we got through it together.  Here we are, four years later, still alive and kicking.  We did it!

At times I have wondered why in the world I got into this profession.  Why would I put up with crazy kids all day?  Why would I bother waking up sleeping students or fussing at them in the hallways during class?  Why would I lecture my class about doing their best and studying hard when it seems they would much rather text on their phones or talk about cars?  

This is why!  You guys are why!  Because no matter what happened along the way, you have persevered and fought to get where you are.  You did this on your own.  You earned this.  I can't take any of the credit.  But I feel so honored to have been a piece of the puzzle in your high school career.  I have enjoyed...most of the time...watching you get here.  Seeing students walk across the stage at graduation to begin the next phase of their lives is so rewarding.  It is such a great reminder of why I am here.  So as you walk across the stage, know your success is driving me to start another year.  I will remember your smiles of pride and confidence on graduation day when I start to think, "what am I doing here?"  You guys are the reason I am a teacher.  You are why I will continue to do what I do.  Seeing you succeed shows me that my effort and time and love are worth it.  

And that is what it is...love.  You may not know this, but I love you.  All of you have played a part in my journey as a teacher.  And for that I thank you.  I will remember all of the smiles and the frustrations and the study sessions and the lectures and the laughs.  This is what makes me love my job.  

I can't wait to see you guys one day after graduation.  Don't avoid eye contact.  Smile.  Say hi.  Give me a hug.  Tell me all of the wonderful things you are doing with your life.  Fill me in.  Catch me up.  Come meet my family and introduce me to yours.  Make me proud.  You are the first ones I will share that moment with.  Hopefully many more will follow.  But you will always hold a special place in my heart.  

I don't think I could tell you this while I was your teacher, but I will tell you now.  I have been and will be praying for you.  I pray you become all God intends you to be.  I pray life gives you more smiles than tears.  I pray you create a life better than you dream.  

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 and praiseworthy---think about such things.  Philippians 4:8"

...so those teachers of you from preschool and up, know you are all part of this journey.  "A person's a person no matter how small."  Know that eventually those little stinkers of yours will go out into the world and do their thing.  And when life brings them success, remember you were a part of the road that got them there.  Your puzzle piece matters.  

And in the words of my beloved Dr. Seuss..."Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better.  It's not"

So keep on caring.  You may be the only one who does.

Inspire Me Monday-Monika soon-to-be Patel

So normally my Inspire Me Monday posts are about artists and crafters that inspire me with their work.  But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that my inspiration has come from other places lately...most recently from my dear friend, Monika.

This past month has been my most creative month in a while.  I think I can attribute that to lots of things.  First, I would have to say that I have made more things because I have had more orders than I normally do.  I am grateful for that.  It will keep me busy after school gets out for the summer.  My last day of school this year is May 22.  I don't know who is more excited, me or the students.  I like teaching, and I like my kids, but I am glad that school isn't year-round.  All that to say I am glad I have something to keep me busy this summer besides just my little boy and my hubby...who I am super looking forward to spending more time with really soon.

  :)   This is the longest list of orders I have ever had outside of the holiday season.

1. 4 Mermaid Tail Blanket Wraps-DONE...This is where I can say that inspiration came from a friend.  Blakely, one of my husband's co-workers posted a link to mermaid tail patterns on my Facebook and within a day I had people requesting I make them.  They were really fun to make and I hope I get to make more in the near future.
   
   
   
2. 2 T-shirt Quilts-DONE
   One is not pictured because it is a surprise.
3. Heart Quilt-DONE
   
4. Secret Special Surprise for my LITTLE brother who is graduating from high school in 2 weeks-WIP (work in progress)
   
5. Onezie Quilts for twins-one boy and one girl-WIP
   
6. Crocheted Football Headbands-To-do list
7. Newborn Crocheted Elephant Hat and Diaper Cover-WIP
8. Teddy Bear Quilt-waiting on fabric to arrive from Etsy
   
   
9. T-shirt Quilt Order-waiting on shirts
10. Quilt for my dear friend and her Hubby-to-be!-DONE
    
    

This dear friend of mine, Monika, has been an inspiration to me since we were roommates and teammates on the track and cross-country team at UTC. 

She is a jack-of-all trades, that woman.  I am inspired by her ambition and ability to throw her whole heart into a variety of hobbies and callings and passions and be a rockstar at all of them.  If this tells you anything about her, her wedding is next Saturday and she spent literally all day yesterday preparing for her physical therapy final today.  Next year she will be graduating from PT school.  So yesterday her only break was catching up on life with me over some Crust Pizza.  I felt special.  As I pulled up to her house to park my car, I was greeted by a giant community garden that Monika created herself.  It has brought the people of the community together and is a source of food and fun for the neighborhood.  And she made it on her own.  No one asked her to or paid her to or praised her for it.  She just saw a need in the community and an empty lifeless space owned by a neighborhood church and she asked them if she could give it life.  Look at it now.  It used to be a lot overrun with weeds and now it is a beautiful garden.

I am so excited about the new adventure she is soon embarking on with a great man.  I just pray that her marriage is as much of a treasure and light in her life as mine has been.  I pray they continue to make each-other's hearts happy and inspire each-other to more wonderful things.  I can't wait to see what the Patel team does.  Here is a testament to Monika's awesomeness and Pranav's love for her...proof that these two will do more for the world together than they ever would apart.  This is what Pranav said of Monika on their wedding website.

Why I chose Monika

Her determination, honesty, and humility are magnetic. She maintains an active, yet simple lifestyle, helping others and contributing to our community. She's adaptable and all-accepting.  She has an unconditional giving nature in every act.  She's in sync with nature, reads often, and has not missed a single day of journaling since the age of six, which shows discipline, commitment to one life principle. Mark Twain, one of Monika's favorite authors, made a statement when announcing his engagement, and nothing could ring more true for my feelings toward her:

"I am not worrying about whether you will love my future wife or not—if you know her twenty-four hours & then don’t love her, you will accomplish what nobody else has ever succeeded in doing since she was born. She just naturally drops into everybody’s affections that comes across her."


So I have concluded that if Monika can do it all, I can do it all, too.  I can't wait until her wedding next weekend.  It is going to be a blast.

This was her on my wedding day RAPPING...yes RAPPING a "speech" at my reception.  I won't be rapping but I do plan on returning the favor as creatively as possible. ;)

I can't wait to share in her special day in 6 days! Eek!

Finished Project Friday

I know the blog has been collecting a little dust lately.  Sorry for that.  I did notice, however, that it has been getting quite a large number of views!  Yay for Scrap Stash Studio!  But no comments...so if you read, respond.  Let me know who you are and what got you here.  A LOT has changed since my last post.  First of all, I am happy to announce that my family is growing.  The Strauss house will be one boy busier in July.  Patten Turner Strauss will be baby number 2 for the Strauss family!  Yay for children.  I am truly thankful to be blessed with the gift of motherhood and look forward to all that is to come with my house full of boys.  :)

That being said, the studio has been on the back burner lately.  This is due, in part, to the frigid temperatures and lack of sufficient heat in that old brick building lovingly known as Scrap Stash Studio.  But the sun has come out and soon I will sling open those doors and welcome in Scrappy Crafters. 
I am also so excited to announce that I will have new friends joining me in the building.  Andrea Smith is amazing.  She has an organization called Operation Santa that she has been going strong running for quite a number of years.  She collects items throughout the year to give to less-fortunate children at Christmas.  Her operation has outgrown her house and she needed a donation station.  So she will be collecting items throughout the year to prepare for the holidays.  Along with that, she will also be running a thrift store of sorts to help offset rent costs and raise money for purchases at the holidays.  So donate away my friends!  You can donate any type of item you wish.  She will also hold frequent yard sales at the "Studio/Op-drop."  I will post updates as they come available.  I believe her first yard sale will be the first Saturday in May.
I have a few craft class/party ideas floating in my head and will soon get them on the calendar. 
1.  T-shirt scrap rag rugs- $10...rag base and t-shirt scraps provided but you are welcome to bring your own shirts too.

2. Custom Planners from books...I have done this class before but would like to try it again.  I made one out of the children's book Peter Pan and have used it all school year.  The class will be $10.  Cost includes needed supplies and binding rings.  Bring your own book or purchase one for just a little extra from my collection.

3. Etsy Craft Party-this project is a mystery to me.  I believe it is some sort of paper-crafting.  Etsy will send me info on what this project entails and educate me on how to educate you.  Tentative date will be June 5th or 6th.  More details to come.  Price, date, and time are to be determined.
4. Sewing Party-$5 for studio usage.  I plan on this just being a hang out for my sewing friends and wannabe sewing friends.  I am new to the sewing world...self-taught.  This is something I am proud of but also would love to learn from my veteran stitching friends.  Bring your machines or needles or come empty-handed and we can share materials and knowledge.  We could even do a fabric swap and exchange scraps.  I think this would be super fun and I would love to pick your brains.  Varner, Turner, Kim, and Ms. Mary...you all come to mind.  So be there or be square!  :)
Please let me know your level of interest in these projects.  Heck, even throw out some dates that you think may work well for you and I will try to make them happen.  My life is sort of in plan as I go mode at the moment so I will let you know as things materialize.  As always, suggestions are welcome for future class ideas.
I am also Thankful for the orders that have been piling up.  My sewing machine and crochet hooks have stayed busy lately.  In the past month, I have:
*...Crocheted an afghan for baby Patten.

*...Completed a quilt for a dear family member who has a little one on the way.

*...Crocheted 3 mermaid tail blankets.  They all turned out super cute.  You can order one if you would like.  Adult size $60, Child size $50, Toddler size $40, and Baby size $30. 

*...Completed 2 t-shirt quilts. One quilt was for one of my best friends from high-school's little sister.  It was a lot of shirts...the biggest quilt I have ever made.  All of the shirts were from events and teams from my hometown so quilting it brought back a lot of memories. 

One quilt is a surprise that has not yet been revealed to its future owner so I will have to show it off later.
*...Cut all the squares out for my 3 upcoming quilts.  One quilt is for one of my dear friends who is getting married next weekend and her hubby-to-be.  The fabric combination is even prettier than the inspiration photo that she sent me:

(This is the inspiration photo...not her quilt.)  Hers is going to be even cooler!  I can't wait to get started on it.  The other 2 quilts are for twins!  How cool is that?  A former student of mine has one-year-old twins, a boy and a girl.  What makes this project even cooler is that I am using all of the onezies from their first holidays...first New Years, first Valentines, first Easter, first Halloween, first Thanksgiving, first Christmas.  They are going to be coordinating quilts.  Eeeek!

*...Made my first overseas purchase of fabric for a special baby quilt.  Who knew it would be hard to track down cotton fabric with teddy bears on it?  I never would have thought.  But my package should be arriving in the next few days.  I can't wait to see it!

Inspire Me Monday

I wrote this last Monday but forgot to publish it...enjoy!

Hello there, friends!

I've got a bad case of the Mondays.  This is not a complaint.  I am just sharing information.  I am a teacher, and it is the Monday after Spring Break.  Enough said.

My break was fantastic and restful and packed with fun!  My husband and I went to California to see his family and it was very refreshing.  We had a blast.  We started the week with a baseball game that went 13 innnings.  My almost 1 year old stayed up for the WHOLE GAME!!!  About 4 hours past his bedtime.  An avid sports fan like his daddy.

So on to Inspire Me Monday...
I am inspired by Cathe Holden.  She has created her dream arts and crafts studio and is bringing in the public   to create things together.  This is very close to what I am envisioning for Scrap Stash Studio.  The vibe in her studio is along the lines of what I am going for.  It is jam packed with all things crafty and it is bright and cheerful.  I picture my studio being a little bit more of a color explosion than her very color coordinated pretty green room, but I do love it.  I am inspired that she didn't just dream it, she made it happen.  And that is what I am planning to do as well.  Here is what she's got going on.  I am a bit jealous, but I guess I am on my way, too.

http://justsomethingimade.com/2014/03/cathe-holden-inspired-barn-workshop-studio-tour/

Here is her before and after.

And look what happened.  She created this place.  Then people came to create with her.

That is my plan.  And I am in the process of making that happen.  I am still not announcing the location yet, but it looks like everything is finally on track.  Before and after pictures and location announcement coming soon.  Get excited!

In the meantime, all of you Chattanoogans can come visit my booth at the downtown YMCA on Saturday.  I will be there all day selling my fun crocheted goodies.  I would love to see all of your smiley faces.

Inspire Me Monday: What I Be Project

The following came from a website I stumbled on while scrolling through my newsfeed on Facebook (go like the studio page...click here). This is called the "What I Be Project." But really it's more of a what I'm not project. It requires you to lay your insecurities, your fears, and your mistakes right there on the table. You literally write them all over your face. Then you are photographed in your most vulnerable state. It forces you to put yourself out there and hope people love you anyways. And guess what, they do. There was not one photo that left me hating a person or thinking they were weird or judging them. It showed me that honesty is more attractive than the masks we often put on before society. I hope that by seeing these you are inspired, as I was, to be content in the skin you are in...inspired to be yourself...inspired to see your weaknesses only make you human...inspire you to see others for who they are...inspired to love them anyways.  Here are a few of my favorites. But don't just check out these. Go to his website and see others. This project amazes me. Www.whatibeproject.com 

She is not her body image.

*I am not my body image either. As a former collegiate runner, I never had to worry about my body image before. I was always confident in the body I trained hard to have. Now, however, my confidence in it has faded. Carrying my now 9 month old baby had its affect on my body...stretch marks, extra pounds, and a bit rounder around the middle. But I need to see it as a body I worked hard to receive too. Because nine months with a person growing inside of you is hard work enough. I AM NOT MY STRETCH MARKS.

She is not her meds.

*I am not my meds either. I will need to stay medicated the rest of my life. I have a seizure disorder. The meds control it for the most part. I don't have the grand mal seizures anymore, or shaking seizures as some people call them. The rare times I have a seizure I just kind of space out. I am there but not there. I can hear and understand. I just can't move or respond. My brain is working but my body isn't listening. It normally doesn't last long. And I almost always know when it's coming. So it doesn't have a huge impact on my everyday life. But every now and then I have misfires in my brain that make me confused or forget names or say counter when I mean chair or forget why I went to the kitchen or the last thing someone asked me to do. It's not a big deal but it is something I am sometimes ashamed of and frustrated by. But I am not my epilepsy.

What are your strengths and weaknesses and fears and insecurities that keep you from being you? Just be you.

On a lighter note...everything is really coming together now. Like really. It looks like I may have a studio starting in February and will be able to start getting ready for all of YOU! Not going to announce the location until papers are signed and keys are in hand but that may be happening very soon. God is good.

The end.