Stepping Stones to My FAITH

I have been pondering an article (Link Listed Below) regarding God and how He at times  may have us "wait" on an answer to prayer.  During the "wait" He is building in us what
it is that we need first or it could be necessary for us to learn to pray and release to Him instead of trying to micro-manage.  

My sister-in-law once told me many years ago that I was "resilient".  I remember having to look up the meaning of  the word "resilient" because I wasn't sure if that was a good thing!!  I suppose I had to be resilient to a degree since I didn't possess good decision making skills at that time of my life.  But, in my thirties, I began being drawn to something that would be greater than an acquired skill of "resiliency".  I began learning of and yearning for a relationship with God, prayer, faith and reliance on Him.  During this time, I finally discovered my first ever signs of contentment in a small, yellow house on the corner ...this house became "my fortress" and God became my refuge.

There have been three times and prayers in my life where my faith in knowing "He makes all things work out for our good" carried me.  And, no.......those three prayers weren't answered quickly or a did they have a lack of "wait".  But, I can tell you that all three provided the STEPPING STONES to My FAITH and taught me so much about answers to prayers.  I learned, in looking back, it can become clear His answer can be in disguise all the while you thought your prayer wasn't heard.  Those times of waiting always brought what was happening to a better place eventually along with a peace while wiping off the dust and getting on with what He chose in His response.

Resilient???  Yes, I'd say I'm still resilient and probably more so. 

~Nana Rose

URL Link below for article titled When God Makes You Wait:

http://theprayingwoman.com/2015/03/06/when-god-makes-you-wait/

Cranberry Butter on My Biscuits

I came across this recipe for Cranberry Butter and know it is something I just HAVE to make this week to eat with some biscuits fresh out of the oven.  Crossing my fingers that I will still be able to find fresh cranberries since the holidays have passed.  I seriously enjoy warm, buttery biscuits and am pretty sure I could eat them as my three meals a day for a good run.....something about them just make my tummy feel good!  I recently learned from a hometown girl that using lard in place of shortening makes for an even better biscuit and she was absolutely right!  I now have a large tub of lard in my kitchen cupboard so that I am sure I will never be without.

Then there is this........I feel sure warm biscuits should be shared.  I've sent a pan of biscuits with my son when going on the road to another state to work, to my Dad and home with my daughter.  The pans come back empty so I'm convinced the love of biscuits runs in my family!

CRANBERRY BUTTER

1 lb. softened butter
1 cup fresh cranberries
1/3 cup honey (more if you like it sweeter)
Zest of 1 orange

Process the above ingredients in your food processor until smooth.  Spoon into half pint jars.  Makes 6 half pint jars.  Tie a pretty red gingham ribbon on a jar and it will make a great housewarming gift for a new neighbor or a nice "friendship" gift....heck, include a pan of homemade WARM BISCUITS!! 

It's been an exciting and busy few weeks working on quilt orders and seeing that what you've been working towards start growing.  To be able to share this endeavor with my daughter is going to be a blessing in so many ways.  I realize I am in the "middle" of where I started and where it's leading me and I'm so eager to take this journey!

To see the emotion in a person's eyes when they receive the quilt made from memories of their child's younger years or the finishing of a quilt top that's been left behind by a loved one is the most precious things I've had the pleasure of experiencing.  The picture below is a quilt I put together for a high school friend.  It was made from her daughter's baby clothes.  It was a great way to cherish those blessed years....

 

Quilted this lovely quilt top for a very kind man. This is one of three quilt tops his mother had made and wasn't able to finish...

 

 

Building Blocks

I didn't get to post this yesterday evening because I was busy finishing part of my first project. I am so happy to have the opportunity to share the joys of one of my creative abilities with someone who means the world to me. She may not share my love for all things bookish, but we have managed to find something that we can both be passionate about. It is truly a blessing that God has given me the opportunity to piece memories together with my mom. 

I was thrilled when she called to ask me if I wanted to take on this project. I'm sure that this one was just a small challenge to get me well on my way on this quilting adventure. I'm always up for a good challenge though. So, I turned on Grey's Anatomy and got to it. There's something about Grey's that sets the creative mood for me. Now almost three seasons later, I'm done with the first of two Lego quilt tops and have a good start on the second. I've only made three quilts in the past and looking forward to many, many more. 

Here is the first completed top ready for the batting and backing so that it can go onto the long arm machine tomorrow. Now that I have all of the little quirks of sizes and piecing, the next one will be a breeze to finish. And I'm sure there will be a couple of happy little boys in the near future.
~Saralyn

Introductions

Welcome to our new blog! My name is Saralyn and I've recently started helping my mom(Rose) with her quilting business. I've created this blog to share this wonderful opportunity that we have to work together doing something that we both enjoy. This also gives me a good reason to work on my blogging skills. It might be a little rough at first until we're able to get into a good routine, so just hang in there with us.

The main purpose of this blog will be about quilting, but also a little bit of everything along the way. You may find anything from posts about family, recipes (because we LOVE food!), to all things children. I may also be able to get my mom to make some random posts once I get this thing up and running!

 

My mom and I in the fall of 2012.

 

In the meantime, be looking out for new posts on this blog that will hopefully be all awe-inspiring hit in the blog world before long! God Bless!! :)