September 26

Wow, it's hard to believe it's been two years since the day Kyle asked me to marry him! What an indescribably joyful day, and how many joyful days have followed! I never cease to be thankful for this most wise decision.

Naturally enough, Kyle and I have been thinking and talking about making wise decisions about marriage. Since many of our good friends are currently single, it might be worth while to put up a few factors that we see as important in making this big decision. (We love you guys and are praying for you!)

1. Unity of Vision. While you don't have to agree on everything (Yes Kyle, I must admit that your choice of color for the kitchen floor was indeed better than mine!) you do need to be of one mind on the big ones = basic doctrine, child training and education, lifestyle choices, etc. There are things that can be flexible and there are convictions that should not be changed, and you need to know the difference and be together on the big stuff! As Solomon the Wise said, "How can two walk together unless they agree?"

2. Don't expect change. Don't go into marriage hoping that he or she will change. Let me say it again. Don't get married if the other person still needs to make some changes to make your marriage work. You'd better be happy with them exactly the way they are before you think about getting married. (See point #1)

3. Someone once said that the person you marry should bring you closer to Christ. Do they, by their life, challenge and inspire you to love Jesus and surrender more areas of life to His control? (This is good.) Do they belittle, make fun of, want you to give up or compromise on convictions and things the Lord has taught you? (This is bad.) Your spouse should be someone who encourages you to more steadfast love, more conformity to the Word, deeper levels of obedience.

4. Wise counsel. It seems like single people who are trying to live a godly life are often told things like "You're an adult now, you need to make up your own mind." What this seems to mean in application is that you need to be living in rebellion or ignore all advice and make foolish decisions in order to prove that you're a mature, thinking adult! But Proverbs tells us over and again that only a wise person will actually listen to good advice! Parents, mature siblings and godly mentors know us well, love us, are not easily beguiled, and usually are the reasoned, impartial observers that we would like to think we are.

I know these seem pretty basic, but it can be hard to follow common sense if your eyes are full of star dust. Just remember that with a wise decision, the star dust need not melt away! ;-)

Happy Engagement Day, Beloved!

The Project

Sorry to have kept everyone in such suspense. No torture was intended, and I'll try to make up for it today with a nice, long post. For those of you who guessed I was making costumes - Bing! You are correct!

Oakland is the sight of the only legal trial in which Lincoln represented a slave owner, and last weekend a wonderful event was held in town commemorating the trial, the people involved, and what seems to have been a turning point in Lincoln's life. The event itself featured first person interpreters at historic locations, a short lecture on Lincoln, an 1847 style meal, and a play about the trial. That's where my part came in, as I was in charge of the costumes.

I wish I could go into the story more (it's really quite fascinating) but since I don't have time to explain it all here, matson1847.blogspot.com has links to articles with some pictures, more about the event and story, and a copy of the article about the costumes.

All of the costumes for the interpreters and actors were rented for this year, except for three 1840s dresses. I made two of them, and Katrina (one of the actresses) made her own. When I had finished the dress pictured above, we discovered that the original beige fabric (what you saw in my last post) was too bright onstage, so . . .

. . . Katrina dyed all the fabric! We were a bit nervous about dying the completed dress, but that and the un-sewn fabric all turned out a lovely shade of grayish lavender - much less conspicuous onstage.

Alaina was my supervisor, attending all the fittings, picking up my fabric scraps, and providing motivation for me to make sure that EVERY SINGLE PIN was present and accounted for in the pincushion and out of reach!

The second dress. Both were great fun to make, and fairly easy, although it took a lot of time. Kyle tried to get me to guess at the number of hours it would take, but I really don't have a clue. I was too busy doing all I could before Alaina woke up to keep track of my time!

Ta da! L-R Katrina Bohn (who made her own dress and dyed all of the fabric), April Lee and Stephanie Borntreger.

The cast at the first dress rehearsal. Once we had everyone's measurements, I got to select all the costumes! That made for a very fun afternoon.

Kyle and I got to attend on Saturday night, but unfortunately, we forgot the camera! :-( I would have loved to post some pictures of the different interpreters and locations. Oh well.

It was a very fun project and well run event!

Over the weekend we also had Keller family over. Ron is a Lincoln scholar and was in town for Trial and Tribulations where he did several presentations on Lincoln. Kyle and Ron used to teach together, and I got to meet the family when they put us up in their lovely home a couple months ago. We had great fun with Cindy and the kids (Ethan, Anna Grace and Josiah).

Alaina was thoroughly entertained the whole time playing with and watching the children. Anna Grace was especially attentive and interested in everything Alaina did.

It was great to have you guys!


There you have it. :-)

Soon . . .

Things are a bit crazy around here with a big sewing project. More details (and posts) coming soon!

Quote of the Week: Launching Out

Many of us in our Christian lives have been wallowing around in shallow waters, assuming it to be safer there—no need for miracles. But one of the divine paradoxes I’ve learned over the years is that, contrary to normal expectations, it can be much riskier, much costlier, to stay in the shallow water rather than to trust the Lord and launch out into the deep. - Arthur DeMoss

Teeth!

Yep, that's right. Two little teeth were discovered over the weekend.

You can't see them in these pictures (or much in real life either), but the bottom front chompers seem to have come in together.

No wonder she could bite on her spoon, and it suddenly didn't slip out anymore! I thought it was just good jaw muscles.

Silly mom!

Towel Baby

My kind of rubber ducky!

Just out of our bath.

Look at that wild hair!

Getting lotion on can be a trying experience.

Like my sense of style?

All done!

Quote of the Week: Nursemaids?

I'm currently reading Amy Carmichael of Dohnavur by Frank L. Houghton. Amy was a single woman used by God to rescue hundreds of children who were going to be sold into prostitution (still a huge issue today), and there have been many things about her life that have surprised or challenged me.

Here is a passage I enjoyed.

Sometimes she was tempted to question her guidance. As she lifted up her eyes, and looked on the fields, and as calls began to come from South India, "could it be right to turn from so much that might be of profit and become just nursemaids?" It was then that she read the words from John 13, how the Lord of glory "took a towel and girded Himself". . . never again did she question whether her gifts were being wasted. She knew that the Master never wastes the servant's time.

See what happens . . .

. . . when Daddy dresses me?
That's better!

Guess where we've been . . .

Having fun with Mimi!

Happy September everyone!