Proverbs 31: 25b

She can laugh at the days to come.

Top: Leah, Myself, Claire Bottom: Molly & Ryan

Where do I even begin? I’m laughing too hard, at my Easter portrait, to even write.

The hair, the eyes, the body positions, the missing husband, oh. my. word. Please laugh with me, not at me! Ah, the “perfect” family photo – so far from my grasp! You know you try to snap “the one for the wall” on Easter too, right? 

I just can’t help but laugh at my feeble attempt to capture the perfect moment.

When, really, I’d like to remember the simple little imperfect moments that happened on Easter.

• My resurrection rolls that popped open in the oven. I had to scoop out the marshmallows with a spoon while the kids weren’t looking, as to not confuse them by having “Jesus” still in the tomb.
• We ate jelly beans with breakfast.
• Witnessing several Baptisms at the Easter service – gives me joy every time I see one!
• Ryan ran around the farm (Pete’s Uncle’s house) in play clothes chasing chickens, getting dirty and hunting for garter snakes.
• Claire and Leah stayed in their Easter dresses all day without spit-up! My dress on the other hand…
• Molly loved to smack her lips with her new lip gloss from her Easter basket because it made her feel, “Fancy, Fancy!”

Laughing Daily,

Jess

Join Emily at Chatting at the Sky for Tuesdays Unwrapped

Proverbs 31: 26

She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction on her tongue.

She Speaks is an annual conference hosted by the Proverbs 31 Ministries organization.

But what is She Speaks 2010? It’s one weekend in North Carolina this summer, hundreds of women chasing their dreams, refining their talents and having a darn good time doing it.

psst…She Speaks 2011 planning folks. Can we have the conference in February next time for this Minnesota girl? Okay fine, maybe not. But hey, at least I can always see something positive. North Carolina Summers = Bottomless Pitchers of Sweet Tea.

Women flock to this conference for the multitude of opportunities to grow, connect and share about their ministry, writing and/or speaking projects.

I have yet to attend a She Speaks conference. I desire a chance to participate, so much so, I can feel the freezing meeting halls already. Seriously, y’all down South sure know how to crank the air conditioning.

Emily, from Chatting at the Sky, wrote a post on her blog about an awesome opportunity for a fortunate blogger -A Cecil Murphey SCHOLARSHIP from Lysa TerKeurst!

Author Lysa TerKeurst is hosting a linking party for her panel of judges to select one blogger to attend She Speaks 2010 Conference for free. I feel like I should be standing on my tip-toes, raising my hand extra high and waving it around as if to shout, “Pick Me! Pick Me!”

Yes, I’m raising my hand up from behind this computer screen, whispering pick me! But, who am I and what do I want with a Cec Murphey scholarship, you ask?

Well, let me break it down for y’all.

Who: My name is Jess. I write a home life blog called Just a Blink. I’m from Minnesota. I have 4 kids 5 years old and under. I have a passion for creating art, teaching children and telling stories.

What: The She Speaks 2010 writer’s track is calling my name! I want to be an author and create a children’s book series to inspire the next generation of girls.

Quick Peek: Dilly is an ordinary 9 year old girl that longs to become something more. Dilly finds herself in extraordinary, daring and virtuous adventures that lead her to find her own greatness and God’s goodness.

Where: I’ve got the joy of the Lord, Down in my heart! Where? Down in my heart! Where? Down in my heart to stay! Enough said.

Why: The She Speaks 2010 writer’s track will allow me to get a firm grasp on the ins and outs of writing, publishing and marketing books for children.

I want all the joy down in my heart to be spread, like a contagious smile, to young girls and all people reading the book.

When: July 30 – August 1st 2010

How: How,  is right!? With the help of Lysa’s scholarship giveaway, that’s how! The conference is very reasonably priced. However, my funds for an event of this magnitude are nil. {Everything we are able to save up is going to our medical bills and mini-van acquired from the birth of our twin baby girls.}

I do have frequent flyer miles to get to North Carolina and I can manage to gather up enough cash for the extra little traveling expenses. All I need is the ticket in the door!

*Lysa’s judges* Please allow my mind to be stimulated and my soul to be nourished at the She Speaks 2010 writer’s track!

Thanks a Bunch,
Jess

Day 3

My sister-in-law, Lisa, lent me her sewing machine. Bless her, she knew I was desperate and needy, she sent along a sewing basket with thread, pins and notions.

Presser Foot and Cord – Check

Instruction Booklet – Check

Value Buy sewing machine – Check

Bobbin spun and needle thread – Check

Ready. Set. Sew!

Like my ruffle? I sewed together two cheap paper streamers to form a ruffle. Ah, can you hear the pride in my tone? Well I am proud.

I have a long way to go before I’ll declare to the world “I am a sewer!” Like, knowing how to read a pattern, cut fabric and do anything cool. But, for now I am loving my little ruffle streamer.

I have plans for my ruffle streamer. Don’t worry, I’ll show you soon. I am going to link up to Living with Lindsay’s $5 Challenge on the 25th.

Thanks for cheering me on as I learned to use a sewing machine for my Proverbs 31 Hands On project.

Proverbs 31:19

¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers

Love,
Jess

Day 2:

Day 1 proved to be less than successful with my hand-me-down sewing machine failing on me even though I swear I heard her say she’d be there for me.

I had resolve. I would not let a little bump in the road throw off my sewing machine journey. I borrowed my mother-in-law’s  Viking sewing machine so I could attempt to reteach myself how to sew.

The Viking’s case was well seasoned. I felt a connection to the small metal latches as I popped them open. It seemed they could tell me a 100 old stories of the hands that had touched them.

The machine sat with authority in it’s metallic green-blue glory. No, arrow diagrams were engraved in the metal to inform a novice how to thread the needle. The bobbin winder had no guide to make sure the thread was evenly spun. It’s knobs were plentiful, yet they were almost entirely unmarked.

Ah, the Viking, heavy and dependable, mocked me as if to say,

“If you have to ask you might as well not be sewing with me.”

And so it was.

I sent the Viking back to the home of  the “sewer” that had touched it’s metal latches 100s of times before.

Love,

Jess