Thursday Thirteen ~ "J"

Time for a Thursday Thirteen post! Missed a few weeks but we'll pick up where we left off by listing thirteen things in my life that begin with the letter "J". I like to think of them as thirteen blessings~ so here goes:

1. John - the BEST dad in the world's name ~ mine! Isn't it funny how we all think ours is the best? ;) John is also Benji's first name and his paternal great-grandfather's name.

2. Jack - the funniest and most spoiled donkey that ever lived. He was my Papa's pet and they made quite the pair.

3.January - the month of my birth.

4.Jesus - my VERY BEST FRIEND, my Saviour and soon coming King!

5. Joy - "I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart! Down in my heart to stay!"

6. Juice - guava is my favorite but I enjoy just about any fruit juice.

7. Jigsaw puzzle - it's such a fun challenge to put them together.

8. Job- my favorite is the one I hold now - wife and mother. I've been a receptionist in an orthodontist office, nanny, governess, teller, department manager, clerk, store owner, and Sunday School teacher but the one with the greatest outcome is mother and I LOVE it!

9. Jam - Strawberry Freezer Jam! Mmmmm! I'm getting quite the crop of strawberries this year from my garden and we're enjoying the best strawberry jam!

10.Johnny Jump-ups, Jonquils and Jasmine- Such lovely flowers God's given us to enjoy!

11.Jazz - I REALLY enjoy some easy jazz music - especially sax. OOOOO!

12. Jet - Now I can really get into flying! I longed to be a stewardess when I was a little girl so I could fly all over, all the time!

13.James - both my husband and my oldest son's middle name. My husband was named for his maternal grandfather, James Albight.

What would I do without all these delightful blessings?

Isn't God good!

He's so graciously poured out so many extras for our enjoyment!

May you enjoy a jubilant and joyous day in Jesus!

Happy Birthday, Elijah Phillip Dickinson!

Little Elijah is four weeks old today! Lorna and I were the privileged ones that got to take him and his mommy home from the hospital. His dear, loving daddy was in Columbia taking care of necessary business and little Elijah thought he'd go ahead and make his entrance into the world while daddy was on the other side of the equator! His mommy was so brave to go through this time without her hubby. I'm sure she's VERY glad to be holding Elijah in her arms instead of carrying him around in her tummy.

"I Remember Laura" Blog-a-Thon Week 1

Another fun Blog-a-Thon to partipate in! This one promises to be as exciting as the last as it centers around one of my very favorite childhood memories - that of reading "The Little House on the Prairie" books. I believe it was Karla's mom , that sent the complete set to our family when we were in Africa. Either way, the set is incredibly dogeared after four girls reading and re-reading and re-reading them over and over again!

Miss Sandy at Quill Cottage is hosting this blog-a-thon with this weeks feature being quilts or quilting.

Laura and her sister, Mary were started in the needle arts at very young ages and were required to work on quilt squares working them into the nine patch pattern. In memory of this, Miss Sandy wants us to share our quilts or quilt related items and share their stories.




This is the only quilt I've ever made and it's made out of the very popular double knit in the Flower Garden pattern. I love this quilt not only because of the bright cheerful colors but of all the memories it preserves. All the fabrics were scraps of clothing items my mom made for either herself or us girls on her Singer Treadle Sewing machine. This beautiful machine still sews a perfect stitch and I believe she plans to use it to make the bridesmaids dresses for her first grand daughters wedding this summer! Pretty incredible when you realize she was given this machine by her pastors wife who sewed all the clothes for her four boys on it before she gave it to my mom!


Back to the quilt - I was only nine years old when I cut out ALL these shapes for this quilt. If you've ever cut double knit , you have a real appreciation for this endeavor. After pinning the pieces together, I worked the treadle while my mom guided the needle on the machine. Having had three nine year olds now, I realize how great the desire must have been to have this quilt for my "Holly Hobby" bedroom! I can't imagine my kids sticking with a task this momentous! Because of all of Mommy's duties as a pastor's wife and mother, there wasn't time to hand quilt it so we took the quilt top to a lady that did machine quilting. She sweetly put a beautiful pink sheet for the backing- because you see, even then I LOVED pink!


My great-grandmother Somerville quilted and Grandma Fair did too. I have a baby quilt that she made using patches that she had had her nine children embroider as children(including the boys)! It's very fragile and is packed away.

Thursday's Thought

"You are as much serving God in looking after your own children and training them up in God's fear, and minding your house and making your household a church for God, as you would be if you had been called to lead an army to battle for the Lord of Hosts."

- Charles Surgeon