It Is Safe To Trust

 

Every moment, every event, every happening. It's all in Christ and in Christ we are always safe.

 

When bridges seem to give way, we fall into Christ's safe arms, true bridge, and not into hopelessness. It is safe to trust!

 

We can be too weak to go on because His strength is made perfect in utter brokenness and nail-pierced hands help up. It is safe to trust!

 

 

We can give thanks in everything because there's a good God leading, working all things into good. It is safe to trust!

 

The million bridges behind us may seem flattened to the earthly eye, but all bridges ultimately hold, fastened by nails. It is safe to trust!

 

Each bridge I need cross, from one moment to moment the next, is wholly safe, each leading me deeper into Him and closer to Home.

 

Ann Voskamp

One Thousand Gifts

 

I'm Back (with some book recommendations too!!)

Ok, so it's been at  least 8 months since I last posted, and I'm feeling well and truly out of practice. I'm going to attempt to get back into the swing of blogging though.... 

 

 

So, for my first post back, I'm stealing my sister's idea and posting my list of books you should read before you die!

 

 





1. One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

 

 

This book has seriously changed my life like no other book written by a person has!! Ann Voskamp writes in a honest, refreshing way that totally speaks to me! If you want to find the joy in ALL situations, if you want to embrace all the messy, ugly parts of your life, (because we all have them!!)  then read this book! I doubt I'll ever meet Ann Voskamp in real life, but when I get to heaven, I want to give her a big hug and say thank you!!

 

 

2. Money, Possessions and Eternity by Randy Alcorn

 

This book is one that you definitely should not judge by its cover!! The cover may not be that exciting, but the words inside are full of hard-hitting truths from God's word that are hard to get around. I read this book about 2 years ago,  and I've never been able to view money in the same way since!! If you want to be shaken up and convicted in the area of your money, then read this book. It may be a bit uncomfortable, but when we get to heaven, I'm pretty sure all the discomfort will be worthwhile and it won't seem like discomfort at all.

 

3. Erasing Hell by Francis Chan

 

 

I love the way Francis Chan writes - easy to read, humorous, but at the same challenging and convicting. And this book is no exception!! Hell and eternity are scary, scary things for those who don't know God, and too often we sweep these issues under the rug. Very eye-opening!

 

4. Everyday Church by Tim Chester

 

 

I read this book last year during our church camp and nearly couldn't put it down. Very down to earth - just encouraging all of us to get alongside those around us and live "church" everyday and in everyplace. Living the life and talking the talk - it was brilliant!!

 

5. Humility by C. J.  Mahaney

 

 

I read this book for the first time only a couple of weeks ago and found it to be very convicting in the area of pride. I never realised how much my life was defined by pride until I read this book, and now  I'm seeing it in so many things that I do, think, and say!! Very hard-hitting - now just to ask God to use the words spoken and change my life by mortifying my pride! (Now that's a scary prayer...)

 

 

So, there you have it, my 5 books to read before you die. What would your list include??

 



 

Wedding Flowers #1

On the 29th of June I arranged wedding flowers for a friends wedding the next day. I made the bride's and the 5 bridesmaids' bouquets plus the buttonholes for groom, groomsmen, and parents. It was a long but fun day.

The bride had chosen purple and cream as the colours she wanted - I was very happy. I love those colours!

The flowers I used were roses, orchids, carnations, hyacinths, and early cheer.

The beautiful bride with her bouquet

A close up of the one of the bridesmaid's bouquets 

My sister took all these photos. She was an assistant photographer for the wedding. If you would like to see photos of the wedding not just the flowers, check out her blog.

Recent And Not So Recent Projects

I've been thinking about including appliqued Bonds growsuits/wondersuits in my etsy/madeit stores for a while. This week I bit the bullet and bought some. Yesterday I appliqued them and put them in my madeit store. The only thing I am unsure about is whether people would pay more for a Bonds growsuit just because it had applique on it. What do you think? Would you not bother? Or do you think it is a cool idea and likely to sell? You can generally buy a Bonds growsuit for $11 and I've priced mine at $18. Thoughts anyone???

Size 000 blue growsuit

Size 00 white growsuit

Size 000 pink growsuit

A couple of months back I appliqued this shirt as a 1st birthday present for a friend's little boy. Apparently he loves Giggle and Hoot, so I made a Hoot shirt. Tegan helped me design the Hoot. Then I cut him out and sewed him on.

A couple of days ago I bought this pattern by Make It Perfect to make this really cute little girl's coat.  I would probably use different colours, but I'm looking forward to giving it a go and make some coats for little girls I know. I can't wait for the pattern to arrive in the mail.

I have lots of flower photos to show you too, so after a couple of months silence, I'll be back with lots to show for it! :)

What I've Been Up To Over The Last Couple Of Months

I don't seem to blog that often, do I? So here's a snapshot of some of the ways I've been keeping busy over the last couple of months. I started back at CIT studying Certificate 3 in Floristry. We are doing wedding flowers this year which is what I love doing, so I am very happy!

These are some of the bouquets I've made....

I also made these monkeys for twin babies. I'm pretty sure the monkeys will be bigger than the babies at the moment....

And lastly I finished Emily's quilt. She wanted something bright and hot pink, and I think I fulfilled the criteria!! :)

So that's what I've been doing. What about you??

Daybook #6

Outside my window there's blue sky - it's a sunny day!


I have been listening to "Great Expectation" by Charles Dickens read by Martin Jarvis. This book isn't one of my personal favourites, but I'm trying to determine if it's the book I don't like or just the movie.

I have been wearing I'm not including this one anymore as I find it too hard not to repeat the same thing everytime! :)


I am thankful for my new nephew - he's such a cutie!!


I am pondering the start of another year with CIT - hopefully I'll learn lots!


I am reading this wonderful article by Danielle - this girl is a gem!


I am creating baby quilts as they're running quite low in my store.



I am hoping and praying that as I become re-engaged with our local church's prayer meeting, it will be a time of much encouragement!



I am looking forward to a birthday party this weekend, doing my first wedding flowers later in the year, and various other things too!


One of my favourite things is having my sewing machine set up all the time - it makes for more time spent sewing!


A picture thought I'm sharing is some beautiful flowers made by my florist :) from Dad to Mum (picture taken by Bethany)

Little Boy Blue

My first nephew made his appearance last

 Monday, and so I appliqued some growsuits as a present for him.

Two blue and two grey (though there's only 3 in these photos)

I machine appliqued, so they should stay on through all the washes.

I love this colour combination!

To see photos of the little lad himself, go to my sister's blog!