Jendi’s Journal

The challenge: Make 3 pairs of culottes for my 3 yo, 2yo, and I with 3 yards of material.

The verdict: After an hour and a half of trying 3 different patterns…and lots of sighing…it just couldn’t be done.

The resolution: Make a skirt for me and culottes for the girls.

We wore them a week ago and I only had one pocket sewn on each one. This time we have two pockets each.

I actually sewed my 3 year old’s pocket to the side and it hung funny. I didn’t realize it until we were 2 1/2 hours away at my aunt’s house! Grandma and a seam ripper to the rescue.

I’d like to include a special thank you to my wonderful husband you took time out of working on his remote control airplane - on a holiday even - to snap these pictures. Isn’t he wonderful!

Hope all you Americans have a great Independence Day! Hope all you others just have a great day!

Thankful Thursday is hosted by Iris at Sting My Heart.

I’m Thankful…

1. that the final text of the Declaration of Independence was ratified on July 4, 1776.
2. that John Adams said this about the fourth, “I believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival… it ought to be celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other…”
3. that Congress officially made the Fourth of July a legal holiday in 1941. Another reason to get off work!
4. that I have friends to celebrate with.
5. for fireworks and eyes to see them with!
6. that America is a free nation and I was born free like Paul. [Acts 22:28 And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.]
7. that God is in control of the leaders of this country. [Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.]

America, Why I Love Her read by John Wayne.

Other sites about the Fourth of July:

Origins of the Fourth
Stuff for Kids
Pretty Slideshows
Numbers
About.com
Dictionary.com

I’ll let you in on one of my secret wishes. Well, not so secret, but it sounds more fun that way.

I would love to have a home page when you go to jendisjournal.com with links to this blog, my Jendi Jean Bags, a future garden blog, and possibly farther in the future a review blog.

I dream big.

So I’ve entered Kailani at An Island Life’s contest for a new blog design by The Diva. This post enables me to get another entry.

She is a very new designer, but a couple things caught my attention.

1. She’s looking for Wordpress users. That’s me!
2. She did a page with links to her blog, portfolio, etc.

Wish me luck!

I will say of the LORD,
He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
Psalm 91:2-6

For more Wordless Wednesday Participants visit the Headquarters or 5 Minutes for Mom.

Six more baby ducklings! This Mommy Duck likes us better than the other one. More info in another post.

Tags: ducks

While my in-laws were away working at our church camp I painted their stairway from the garage to the kitchen.

After a complete coat of white paint I decided to put some color on the block wall at the bottom.

Then I turned around and oh, no! Look at the wall!

Not really. I dipped my kids hands in the paint on purpose, and boy was I nervous.

It turned out good; better than I expected. I’m also glad that my in-laws like it and don’t want me to re-paint it plain white.

I saw a wreath that some crafty mother had made with hand cut-outs so I decided to try it while their hands were messy.

When I babysat or taught I never really got the big deal of making handprints for the mothers. Now as the mother of 3 I look at a great set of little handprints and feel all warm and fuzzy.

It did take over a week for the kids to stop admiring “their” work. Plus, I had to stop them from putting their hands on each painted print whenever they used the stairs. At least the painted handprints will help to hide the dirty handprints.

Tags: painting

Finally today I will take my kiddos into the “big” pool instead of just their little pool.

I solemnly promise to work on blog posts for the rest of the week - later this evening.

The pool has been open for a week and a half. Whenever we had time to go in it was too cold. So I’ve been feeling half guilty, but only half.

It’s quite a big deal to get the stuff ready for the pool. I need the…

• Swimming clothes for four. Check.
• Floaties, rings, or whatever you call those things. Check.
• Goggles. Check.
• Swim Diaper for the baby. Check.
• Towels. Check.

Ok, just about ready but it seems like I’m forgetting something….

Oh yeah, the kids!

I’m outta here.

“What is God like, and where does He live?
Does He always listen to those who pray?”
If she asks these questions, oh, never give
A casual glance, or impatiently say,
“You’ll understand when you’re older, dear,”
Or “We’ll talk about that some other day.”

But smile and set aside any chore,
Then, holding her close in a gentle way,
Answer each query that she may know
A deepening peace on every road
Of the slowly passing years, and go
Unconquerable and unafraid.

by Grace V. Watkins

My 5 year old son asked me, “Mommy, do we marry sisters?”

I hesitantly replied, “No, we do not.” All the while wondering what brought that up.

Then he turned to his three year old sister and said, “Sorry, A– you’ll have to find somebody else. I don’t marry sisters.”

Remember the ducklings that wouldn’t stay in the fence, had to fight the black birds for food, and loved to play in the water?

They are free to wander in the day now. We still shut them up at night.

This morning they woke my husband and I up at 6:45am. The Mama had flown out and the babies were searching for her. Reminds me of the other day when my husband and I went outside to talk. Five minutes later all 3 kids came running out, “Found you, Mommy!”

I don’t mind them using the truck as shade. I did mind them using our kiddie pool.

It is funny when they are chasing bugs. Sometimes they run/waddle 6 feet with their neck stuck out as far as possible.

We won’t need a bug zapper this summer!

Tags: ducks

Thankful Thursday is hosted by Iris at Sting My Heart.

My list for this week includes, but is not limited to the following:

1. Two more towel racks in the bathroom. [Can you ever have too many towel racks?]
2. The fragrance and taste of wild honeysuckle.
3. A new toaster. [I was getting quite adept at holding the lever down with one hand while pouring milk & cereal with the other hand.]
4. Books and libraries.
5. A healthy family. [Back in flu season it seemed like never again would we all be healthy at one time.]
6. My maidservants otherwise known as Ms. Washer and Ms. Dryer.
7. For God’s comfort that the righteous will not go hungry. Psalm 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.