THE WINNER

Today is the day to draw for the winner of this give-a-way. Thanks to all of you that commented. I hope you will stop back by for a visit. I would love to hear from you again. I had my husband to pull out a name and here is what he came up with. He loves to draw. Names that is! These little gifts come from the heart. I hope the winner enjoys using them as much as I did making them. The winner is Barbara at bakinnbitsbarbara@blogspot.com Barbara, send me your address so I can get these in the mail. Thanks for following my blog. Hope this might brighten your day.

Patience

Don't you like to get quotes from the old time preachers? This one is easy to say and read. But to put into pratice ~well, t'aint so easy. I think sometimes we just grin amd bear whatever is trying our patience. We sometimes don't even think of singing. We are kind of like the Israelites when they were in Babylon. They hung their harps on the willows and when they were ask to sing they said,"How can we sing a song in a strange land?" Seems like they were grinning and bearing it!

Are you in a strange land today? Are you laden down with a burden?

Pick up you harp and sing! Sing praises to our Lord and King. Sing the doxology. You might be surprised how much better you feel. Sing and bear it. T'is better you will feel.

Sue Bonnet

I have the center of the quilt sewed and striped. It is the one that I shared with you back couple blogs. The pieces my Mom had cut out and it took awhile to figure it out as there were only 3 pieces. My husband is holding the strip up for me. I am almost through with putting the stitching around each block. Then I will add to this. It will be big enough for a queen size bed. I have a dilemna, though. I don't have quilting frames and I do not want to do it on the machine. I think I will put my husband to work and try and make some. Anyway, I will let you know how it all goes. And when I get through I will show it all to you. Remember the give a way! Check back a few blogs or go to the sidebar bar click on it. I will pull a name on April 28th. Get you name in the hat.

MY PRAYER

Several years ago as I was meditating and reading the Bible in Philippians 3 - I read the passage in verse 10 that says may know him, "That I and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death." Just a few verses before Paul , in verse 8 said, " Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ." I started thinking and meditating on these scripture and thinking about those that had given their lives for the sake of the gospel. If you have ever read Foxes Book of Martyr's you will read of some who were willing to suffer and give their lives for the cause of Christ. I went to prayer with my Bible as I like to do and as I prayed God's Presense was very near. I remember praying, "Lord, I really do want to know You and the power of Your ressurection and the fellowship of Your suffering. I want to be made more like You." I don't think we will ever know what Jesus went through for us. Not even in our wildest imagination can we really know what He suffered for us. Nor what those that went before us suffered to preserve the "Old Paths" that we might have a heritage. I thank God for a Godly heritage! Neither did I know what I was praying. God sometimes takes you at your word. It was not long until things began to happen in our life that I did not understand. We lost my husbands' father, six months later we lost my Dad, then six weeks later we lost my Husband's Mother. Seem all the Godly influence in our life was be taken one by one. I felt void! Other things happened that I wont go into - but we felt we were in the fire. This went on for several years. Then God began to deal with us about leaving the denomination we were in. It took awhile, for that was all we had ever known. But finally, circumstances came about that we knew we had to take a stand. We did, and lost all our friends of 40 years. Friends we had as teenagers no longer wanted anything to do with us. I won't go into all that happened, but I can say the way got mighty dark. In my distress I penned these words and called it My Prayer.

MY PRAYER Lord, I need strength -- I feel all strength is gone. I cannot feel your nearness and I am so alone. So many things have come to seemingly pierce my heart, But Love above, You promised that You would never depart. I need sunshine, also. It seems there's so many clouds. My life has been darkened by what comes near to doubt. It seems I'm in the shadows and it is almost night. But, Father Dear, I know You will eventually make the darkness light. Another thing I need, Dear Lord, is just a restful peace. A healing balm for all the pain would give me such relief. All around the storms beat high with such a fierceful blow. But I'm confident when the storm is o'er - perfect peace I'll know. So, Father, do what you must do--Whatever You see best, To help me reach that Home above where there is perfect rest. For I know You'll not send me more than I can bear. With each storm You'll guide me through, for You are always there. So lead me, Lord, from day to day as feelings come and go. Please hear my prayer and help me face each storm as you deem so. (Amen) I was reading through some of my writings and came across this poem and what lead up to it. I wrote it probably 25 years ago. It blessed my heart to know that He will never lead us without His eye being right on us. He knew what we were going through. As in so many of your lives I'm sure you can testify that in the darkness hours of your life is when you drew closer to Him. My husband and I found in those hours, also, that we were drawn closer to each other. No, I don't like the test and trials that come but I know I am not alone. God has blessed us tremendously and can I say that He has given us brand new friends and a church family that cares. He has blessed us beyond measure. I thank Him for that. I still cannot say that I know what the Lord went through for us, but I do know that I still want to be more like Him. The little chorus goes: I want more of Jesus - more and more and more. I want more of Jesus , more than I had before, I want more of Jesus so rich, so full, so free. I want more of Jesus - so I'll give me more of me."

I posted this when I first starting blogging ~so if you it seems familiar you were reading my blog then. And my God is still in charge. I'm glad He is on His throne making intercessons for us. I just praise Him today!

Don't forget to go several blogs back and check out my Give-a-way!!

Bonnet Girl Blocks

A few blogs back I showed you the Bonnet Girl quilt pieces that my Mom had left and after she was gone and things were being cleaned out ~ I came across a box that I thought was old cards. In the bottom were quilt pieces. It turned out to be a Bonnet Girl Pattern except Mom had cut her own. I wanted to do something with them but could not figure it out without a lot of trouble. I brought it with me to my sister-in-laws when we went to Arkansas last week and we worked with it. The sleeves that I thought were shoes was the problem.

Finally she took a sleeve and trimmed it down some and tah-da! We then cut little boots and put a little lace and we were on the way. I started heating and bonding until I have 25 squares that we needed. They is a variety of colors. I will strip them and then quilt them. Hopefully! I

always dreaded quilting but now that I am into it I am almost obessed with it. I need to go to the store and fine something to strip it with and get the lining and the batting. I know they don't look like a pattern I have but Mom cut these and I wanted to do it her way. I will let you know later how it comes out. Hey! Quilting is fun! I guess! I have not actually started quilting - but I know I am already hooked.

Be sure and go back and look at the give a way I have!

GIVE-A-WAY

Does this look like a good give-a-way? I have never done this before and thought it was time. It is my 2 year blogaversary and close to two hundred blogs. The wash cloths are nice ones that I crocheted around. Two varigated blue, two varigated pinks and two greens. The dish cloth and pot holder to match is made from cotton yarn. The hen is a pot holder, also. Then there will be a crocheted jar top with ribbon in it for you to put on your favorite jar. Just leave a comment and let me know you want your name in the hat, post my give-a-way on your blog for others to see and get back to me to let me know what you did. You can get another chance by following my blog. That is three chances you can get if you do it all. I don't know how long I am going to let this run. I was thinking April 28 since that is my birthday. Maybe longer. Depends on the response.