Streetwalker

I saw this slushee as I was driving home from work.  I don't know why but I always find these guys so amusing. 

Bottles

I had really good intentions of blogging extensively about my trip to Michigan, such good intentions.  But the weeks keep creeping by and I keep ignoring this blog because those posts are so long.  I think I need to post random stuff and throw in a little Michigan here and there.  I told myself that it is okay if this blog is not chronological.  It's okay. 

So here is random for you:  I love glass bottles.  I love glass in general, I don't really know why.  I think because it is so sturdy and so delicate all at the same time.  I like the way light shines through colored glass.  I also like to collect things.  Michael and Colleen both call me a magpie, and glass bottles are a very cheap thing to collect.  When I lived in Saratoga, I had a nice little glass bottle collection in the corner of my craft room.  Here is a cute picture of Katya with the bottles in the background.

Here is a not cute picture of me with a better view of the bottles (a little blurry, but you get the idea). 

Now I am living in a small apartment, which means not a lot of room for knick knacky things.  I also don't want to spend any money on decorating (even though I LOVE to decorate) because I know this is a temporary dwelling.  So, here is my cheap, fun, decorating in the kitchen. 

I think these Izze bottles are so cool.  I love the big, twinkly, sticker and the bold colors. 

Also, check out our awesome old-school stove. 

Glass bottles = twinkly happiness.  Yay!

West Michigan

I crammed a lot of events into my trip to Michigan, so I will try to break it down a little bit into a number of posts.  I spent the most amount of time at my sister's house, so I will start there. (Please note her awesome decorating in the background.)  Plus, she has a new baby who hasn't yet been properly introduced on this blog.  So without further ado, here is my nephew Henry:

Isn't he a cute little pea pod? We bonded.

I love this shot of my dad and Henry. 

Proud Grandpappy.

Henry was baptized on Sunday.  That was a pretty special day. 

Most of my Schmidt family came.  That was really awesome because there is nothing I love more in the world than Schmidt family fun.

It usually involves lots of card playing and my Uncle Ron acting lovably goofy. 

My Aunt Pam was unable to be there, but I did spy one of her great knitted objects. (Aunt Pam is my crafty hero.)  Check out this sweet koala bear in his little brown sweater. 

She also made this lovely quilt that Emily and I used to showcase Henry's baptismal gown.

Other fun events included having Emily wake me up with breakfast in bed...

Hanging out with Louie and finding him snoozing in my suitcase...

Conversing with Reuben...

And  hearing the church bells ring from my brother-in-law's church, which is across the street from Emily and Andrew's house. 

The rest of the pictures are from a walk that Emily and I took in the rain.  I love Michigan in the springtime!

Away

Hello out there, I have not forgotten about this blog.  I'm currently in Michigan visiting my family.  It's been an eventful week.  Sadly, I attended a funeral for my uncle on Friday.  This was very sad, and yet, as is usually the case with funerals, it was great to see so many family members (many who I hadn't seen in years).  Sunday was my sister's baby's baptism.  It was wonderful to welcome little Henry into the family of believers, and see more family.  The rest of week promises to be a little more relaxing, with lots of visits with friends.  I plan to post more when I've returned home. Until, then I'll be living it up in my favorite state (don't be sad, Colorado, I like you too, one just never forgets their home state.)

All Will Be Made New

This song, by JJ Heller, goes perfectly with my last post. 

Good Earth Day?

Today is a day that's pulling double duty.  April 22 is, every year, Earth Day.  But because Easter this year falls on April 24, today is also Good Friday. 

I was feeling kind of torn about that.  I love Earth Day, I'm one of the earth-friendliest people I know: I recycle, use canvas bags, compost, dine with cloth napkins, and even occasionally bring my own Tupperware to restaurants so I don't have to use a disposable styrofoam container.  I kinda feel that Earth Day was invented for people like me.

But today is also Good Friday.  It's the day where Christians recall Christ's death on the cross, as atonement for our sins.  It's heavy and dark and somber.  It's a day for repentance and reflection.

Christians often have to straddle a fine line when it comes to the intersection of the holy and the secular.  Many Christian holidays are often mixed with ideas and images entirely non-religious.  Every Christian is aware of the struggle between this and this: 

This and this:

But Earth Day verses Good Friday, that is one I've never had to reconcile before, because they usually don't share a day.  I wanted to be happy and plant flowers and go to Starbucks and get free coffee with my reusable mug, but that seemed too trite for Good Friday.  It seemed like the soldiers obliviously casting lots for Jesus' cloths, indifferent to the world changing event happening right by them.  I even changed my facebook status from "Happy Earth Day" to "A good Good Friday" because really, Christ's death on the cross should take preeminence today. 

This is happy and fun: 

This is not:

But the more I thought about it, the more I realized the two days can find some common ground.  Why did Earth Day come about in the first place?  Because people realized that our world is hurting, and they wanted to see things get better.  I'm sure the founders of Earth Day weren't looking at things from a Christian perspective, and I'm by no means claiming that it's a Christian "observance", but the Bible does speak of creation being under the same weight of sin as us humans.  "For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now."  Romans 8:22

Recycling and composting and picking up trash on the side of the road is all good.  It's very good in my opinion, but it's not good enough.  It never will be.  As much as I want to preserve the beautiful places of this world, there will always be pollution, destruction, and death.  But here is what is good enough: Christ defeating death by dying on the cross and rising again.  His resurrection was the start of pushing back the grip sin has on creation.  And the best part is, when He returns again, all things will be made new.  Romans 8:18-24 expands this thought even more: "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.  For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.  For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.  For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.  And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies, For in this hope we were saved."

God has promised us that when Jesus returns, all things will be made new.  "But according to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells." 2 Peter 3:13  This is talking about the actual earth.  It will be restored and perfect, like the Garden of Eden, only better.  (Take a peek at Revelation if you want to see more of what the new earth will look like.)

So Earth Day is a good day.  But Good Friday is the day that ensures that all the hopes of Earth Day will, one day, come true. 

 

The wolf shall dwell with the Lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. 

Shop Hop!

Friday and Saturday, the store where I work (The Sewing Circle) participated in the Springtime in the Rockies Quilt Show.  It was held at the fairgrounds and it was lots o' fun.  Most of the quilting and sewing stores in Northern Colorado and Southern Wyoming had a booth and two days were spent with lots of happy quilters hopping from shop to shop. 

Here was our booth: 

Melissa and Sally and I manned the fort and had fun mingling with all the customers.

Melissa spent the days demo-ing like crazy.  She had the crowds enthralled with her tricks of the trade.

One of the funnest parts of the show for me was seeing some of the quilts I'd made hanging in the booth.  This one was made from a pack of Tonga Treats. 

I made this one from a moda jelly roll.  I love all the little tickets. 

I made this one specifically for the show. 

I love it!

Here is a close up of the pattern. 

All the center blocks are made first.  Two colored blocks are sewed to the white blocks, and then you cut off the corners.  The trimmed corners are then used to make the borders.  I love patterns without any waste :-) 

Katie did a great job making the fall version of the quilt.  It's so interesting to see how a change in fabric changes the flavor of the quilt, even with the same pattern.

 Here was my other favorite booth.  I loved visiting with those gals.

So, a fun time was had by all at the shop hop, especially by me.  I hope you are feeling inspired.  Oh yes, and I saw these guys as I was leaving the building.  Aren't they cool?

Happy hopping.