Shabbat Shalom

Today for Shabbat the rest of my family--not including Dad and Gregory--went to fellowship and I've stayed home to rest and recover from my oral surgery. I had two lower impacted wisdom teeth that were causing quite a bit of trouble...so I went and had them cut out. God really blessed me in that, I was only born with my bottom two wisdom teeth and they had not yet formed roots. It was a really quick procedure, maybe about 15 min. They had to do some bone drilling because the teeth could not come through and were laying totally flat. It's been nearly three days since. I have some swelling still and discomfort, but other than that my mouth is healing nicely!

 I would like to thank everyone for commenting on my last blog post and filling my mind with wonderful ideas of what to add to my hope chest! Since my last blog post, I have marked a few things off my 'Hope Chest List.' I hope to begin posting pictures of things that I'm making or have collected for my hope chest.

I've been trying to add special little things to my projects. I am currently working on pillow cases for my hope chest. They will be embroidered and have lace--from my other Great Grandmother, also om Moms side--on the edges.

  I was recently invited to a tea party at the home of  Nancy Campbell from Above Rubies magazine. I had decided to design and make my dress, but needed some help and guidance as I had never made anything on this scale before. So I prayed about it and afterwards found out that a friend (Melody)--who is also an amazing seamstress--would be moving to the farm. Melody was also invited to the party and agreed that it would be fun if we made our dresses together. So not only did I get the help I needed, but she also taught me how to do it without a pattern. I think mom and I agree that this pattern (and maybe even the colors) will be the one used for my bridesmaids dresses!

  Making this dress with Melody was a lot of fun. We stayed up until 2 a.m working on our dresses the night before and crazy enough, we literally finished five min. before we had to leave for the tea party! Honestly though, that made it all the more an adventure!
  I am an avid tea drinker so I have to add that I had some of the best tea ever at the tea party! They had a few different kinds there. One of my favorites happens to be Rooibos tea (The other is Mint). One of the Zions Sake guys bought some in South Africa and brought it back....it was really good, very flavorful! I might see if I can order some online...

   I was recently having a time of reflection. I thought about everything that the Father has been teaching me over the course of the past few years of my life. One of the things that He has been teaching and perfecting in me --over the course of the last two years living on the RV--is contentment.  Paul says in Philippians 4:11-13:

  "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all this through him who gives me strength."

 God has really taught me to be content and I am incredibly thankful. I have learned what it is to be truly content and to really rely on God to be my strength. The older I get it seams like everything in life becomes about waiting for something.... in this God showed me that I should be completely content not only in what I have or what situation I'm in, but also in every season of my life. Everyone is in a different season and it has been an amazing encouragement to have a handful of friends to walk with who are walking in the same season of life as I am. There are so many spiritual parallels to the season of life that I am in right now. I am preparing, watching, and waiting for the young man that the Father will bring into my life; but even so I am preparing, watching, and waiting for my Messiah.  I have never seen my Messiah and yet I wait, prepare, and believe in his coming. I think it really comes down to faith. Hebrews 11:1 says

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." 

 God is a faithful God and we just have to be willing to trust in Him and know that He is our strength and as we wait on Him he becomes our peace, our joy, our contentment and all we have to do is have faith in Him and go where he tells us to go and do what He tells us to do; He always, every single time, works out all the details and uses us in big ways. Honestly I can't imagine not living for God. Life would be so boring if He wasn't the one writing the story of our every day.


 Below is a scripture verse that I read today, one that spoke to my heart.

^" In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness^, and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us." ~Titus 2:7-8