I'm thinking about Judas

So in the spirit of Easter and the resurrection I have decided to reread the accounts of the last supper-resurrection in all four gospels.  Not a bad or hard thing to do I've probably read it at least ten times and heard sermons and lessons on it a million times but isn't it funny that when you read scripture things you never noticed just pop out (maybe that's why they call it the living word which always makes me picture a breathing some what scary looking book).  I've started in Mark (because most scholars believe this was the first gospel to be written) and read chapter 14 I'm cruising through trying to stay focused and imagine what is smelled like, looked like, sounded like etc when "bam!" verse 44 hits me like a ton of bricks "Now His betrayer had given them a signal, saying, 'Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him and lead Him away safely.'" (emphasis) mine.  Now maybe you've always known this and it doesn't give you pause but that one little word "safely" really struck me and forced me to think "who was Judas anyway?"  I've always pictured him as the dark angry looking fellow from Davinci's Last Supper painting.  In my mind he's bitter towards Jesus about something, stealing from the coffers (he was in charge of the finances and he did skim off the top see John 12:6) and I honestly don't know why he's still tagging along with the disciples.  But why then did he care if Jesus were safe?  He didn't want Jesus hurt for some reason and that makes me think there was more there then just pure hatred there.

Maybe he thought he could move things along.  You know put Jesus in a position where he would have to take over as an earthly king, over throw Rome and they could all start participating in this new and better-than-David's Israel.  And maybe he was thinking that and clearly not understanding that Jesus' kingdom is a spiritual kingdom was a little miffed when Mary poured all that oil out on Jesus feet and Jesus scolded him for scolding her; maybe that little reprimand along with his love of money pushed him over the edge and he decided to get things moving his way.  Maybe he's thinking God won't care that he "betrayes" Jesus because it's the ends that justify the means right? (I'm saying this could be what's going on in his mind not that it's what actually was or that it's correct thinking; a professor once told me your not suppose to analyze dead people but I can't help it).

So if your still tracking with me and you can imagine that this might be what was happening it sort of makes you feel bad for him doesn't it?  I mean how many of us have totally missed the mark of what God was trying to get us to do or totally jumped in front of him while he was leading only to swerve way way off course.  It makes you realize that the ends don't justify the means no matter what your government or peers tell you, integrity always matters (you could also ask Dr. Baltar from Battle Star Galactica that but he's not real and I know I'm obsessed.) And that we have to be so so careful that we are truly searching for God's will and that we're willing to wait.  We so often get into trouble because God tells us something but we're not willing to wait for His timing and then we get in there and try to push things along which never works.  The ironic thing about Judas is that by trying to do things his way he actually was playing an instrumental role in God's real plan, that Jesus had to die and rise again, it's nice to know we can't thwart God's ultimate goal but we sure can make a mess of things for ourselves and those around us (that's free will for you).  And if I now have you thinking maybe Judas didn't have a choice he was predestined to do all of this, well, I don't think so, we always have a choice.  Really the priests and rulers would have found a way they didn't ultimately need one of his disciples in order to arrest him, it just made it a bit more convenient for them.

The saddest thing about Judas is that when he realizes what he's done he kills himself.  That's it game over but there is another disciple that betrays Jesus with a different outcome, Peter denies him (and not just a "who are you talking about" deny but he swears and oath that he doesn't know who Jesus is) and is forgiven and becomes one of the founding fathers of the church.  It's never too late for us no matter what we've done, thought, or ruined there is forgiveness and redemption for us that is the entire reason that Jesus did die so that we could come back to him; even after the worst betrayal we are welcomed back into the family of God.  Let's be careful of what we say and do "in the name of Jesus" but let's also be forgiving of those who do and say things in His name that shouldn't be; we've all been there.

poosplosion

Continental Bakery Never disappoints

This is BEFORE the sugar rush!

So Conner's birthday party went very well, his birthday outfit was cute and received rave reviews.  The cake was adorable (although mom and I ordered it I hope it doesn't send him to therapy one day "my mom made my brother's cakes but not mine!") the circus theme was hit my sister and mom helped with the decorations it was so cute!  We had popcorn, chips, and corn dogs... and Conner ate it all, he did not disappoint with his cute cake covered face (he shoved it in and went "MMMMMM" almost shaking with glee with each bite) and has now gone on strike with baby food eating real grown up food but last night his tiny little intestinal track had had too much.  I heard him in his crib talking at four am and went in to give him his pacifier . . . Oh the horror!! The humanity!! The gut wrenching smell!!  There was poop every where; poop up his back, poop up his front, poop in his hair, poop in his bed.  And there he sits all covered in poop smiling his biggest happiest smile "hey mom isn't this great, we're both up and it's so early imagine all we can get done today!"  So daddy gave Conner a bath and I changed sheets and started laundry and wiped down walls and thought to myself "well that took care of my baby fever."  We had a good chuckle over it as we went back to bed for a couple of hours and today he took his first two steps with out support.  Steps toward childhood, independence, marriage, children of his own, but most importantly steps towards being able to use the toilet instead of his bed.  Having children is a lot of work but man it's also a lot of laughs!

Some one turned one!

Yesterday was Conner's birthday and I just don't know how that happened, I mean he was just born!  Wasn't he?  I did not have a hard time with Hunter turning one (at least that I can remember) but with Conner it has been a lot harder.  I'm not sure why because I love this stage when they're moving around and getting a personality and in general just being really funny (not to mention we're finally sleeping all night most of the time).  And I was happy to ween him and be done nursing forever on our way to a diaperless existence. . . at least I thought I was until he turned one and I suddenly realized no more tiny babies and little beanies, no more of those little tiny piggy noises and baby slings.  My aunt tells me I'll get over it and I'm pretty sure she's right because I have enjoyed all the stages of mother hood, but for now I'm going to feel a little melancholy and wonder innocently how is it that I've only lost five pounds in a whole year.

we had cupcakes.

he liked them

Hunter, Maddie and I made Conner birthday cards.  Conner really appreciated them.

So Sew

So I am sewing a birthday outfit for Conner and my vision and what is actually taking form do not exactly agree.  Now I'm not shocked at this turn of events by any means I'm more surprised when something does turn out the way I wanted (and the very occasionally better then I had imagined) but still it's disappointing.  It's not that it's not sewn well or that the fabric isn't cute (it is sooo cute) but that together every thing is coming together looking more like pajamas instead of a cute summery sailorish outfit.  And not only did I envision this as an outfit and put a lot more work into it then jammys warrant the material was too expensive for baby pj's.  I suppose if I pair the shirt with jeans and the pants with a different shirt it may be ok but darn that is not what I pictured in my head.  Maybe if I take some of the matching trim off, but ugg that will take forever.  I should have used the material to make a one piece romper but too late for that now.  I suppose this is what happens when you make things yourself they don't always turn out the way you thought they would and it's not finished yet maybe something miraculous will happen and it will end up looking awesome but what I really need a second opinion some one that will tell me what they really think, I need...my mom, or sister!!

feel free to give me some helpful comments quick before I ruin the entire thing!

SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW...

Oh I have had it with snow.  I know God must role his eyes at me since if you look at some Nov. posts I'm sure you'll see me going on and on about snow and the magic of the season but now it's the end of February and the magic has long since fled leaving us house bound, bored, and cranky.  Oh how I dream of soft spring breezes and that smell of mud that seems to waft through the air in April, carrying with it so many exciting expectations.  This year I want to try my hand at strawberries, and I've discovered a park where raspberries grow wild that any one can pick.  Oh how I yearn for spring!!!  I did take the kids out side to play in the snow for the first time and Hunter hated it!!! He whined and cried and quite frankly the snow totally freaked him out.  He kept shaking his mitten and saying "there is snow on my mitten." and getting stuck in the deep deep snow.  Well I think he'll appreciate it when he's older and can make snow forts and such but for now I know how he feels, "There is snow on my mitten!!!"

Too much snow even for me

A Dream to Own My Own Business?

Yesterday I was sewing most of the day.  I made my own bias tape and started putting together some little baby jackets and well I thoroughly enjoyed myself, every last minute of it.  It helps that Brian was here taking care of the kids (that's how he provides something to "give") and it helps that I'm finally getting to a place where I'm not constantly ripping out seams and redoing things, but it was something else... I love this kind of work, I love when I find that really cool fabric and I love deciding what to do with said cool fabric I love finding notions and buttons and trims and I like the puzzle of deciding what to make to go with what.  I love vintage looking things and now that I've found a website full of fabrics like that I just feel so joyous.  Is it stupid to find something like this so fulfilling and exciting?  Probably.  Could it be a passing phase attributed to things like Project Runway?  More then likely but then again maybe not.

I have come to a place where the cookie cutter products in your cookie cutter mall stores don't interest me any more.  I don't like giving a gift to someone that cost me only money I want it to have part of me in it (not literally although that does happen quite a bit, tears, actual blood from poking myself etc.)  Also I have only boys and well boy clothes leave a lot and I do mean A LOT to be desired so maybe that's why working with baby and child prints has started to bring me so much joy; I'm beginning to see the possibilities of what could be for my children, my friends children my nieces and nephews and maybe even stranger's children.

I don't think I want an actual brick and mortar store that sounds like a lot of work and not much time for actual creating but an internet store and blog most definitely.  When the kids are older and I'm better and faster at sewing and crocheting I feel like I might be able to make a little money at all of this and if I like doing it then how cool would that be?  My store, or maybe line of goods is a better way to put it, would be called "Sew Vintage" and the children's line would either be called "Bugaloo" because that my pet name for my baby or "Lambie Pie" because that was and is my Grammy's pet name for me.  I will sell aprons, maybe some ladies clothing, unique jewelry, linens, crocheted hats, scarves, and gloves, vintage inspired baby and children's clothing with lots of options for boys.  As long as we're dreaming let's say it really takes off and I have to have stuff made from my ideas I will start a factory in India where the women are paid a living wage and taught to read, write and do math, so that they can escape from a life of prostitution and we'll be part of the Fair Trade (it means my stuff will be a little bit more expensive than wal-mart but I think it'll be well worth it).

Of course to get to that place some things have to change; more ideas, better skills, a little more time and a permanent place to set up my sewing machine.  But for now I'm happy with my little home made gifts and little blue (my sewing machine.)

My little "who" who inspires me and keeps me from sewing all at the same time!

Granny Squares

So It's been a couple of weeks full of sick children, being snowed in the house, too much laundry and tons of crocheting.  The crocheting I don't mind, actually, I'm getting pretty quick and am happy to report that I have over 30 granny squares completed but have 50 left to go and I've run out of yarn.  I'm not sure how that happened as I followed the directions in buying the yarn and my squares are measuring the same size as the pattern but oh well that just means I get to go back to the yarn store!!  Problem with that is that I'll walk in and get ideas to make other things with other different colored yarns since true to form I will be really excited about something new on the horizon while I still have a ton to do on this particular project.  What I'm excited about?  Well my crocheting friend Beki just finished a really cool pair of fingerless gloves which I have been wanting since the beginning of the winter when I read about some on Posie Get's Cozy's blog and so now I'm thinking matching hats, gloves, and scarves for christmas gifts?  If I start soon maybe just maybe I'll get some done for every one but I'm sure I'll be bored with that and on to something else by the time December rolls around, oh the travesty of my limited attention span.

I've also discovered a great website that sells super cool vintagy fabrics and notions (link on left) and so that got me jonesing to start some sewing projects including a summer dress that My friend Megan bought me the pattern to last year.  I'd really like to have the dress done for my trip to Main in May.  So what ends up happening is that I have so many ideas I just run around accomplishing nothing... slow down brain ok now be mature and make a plan; three granny squares a day, cut out dress pattern while waiting for fabric to come in mail, wash fabric, jerry rig broken sewing machine, make some cookies... oooh birds out the window I'll stop and watch them for a while, now what was I doing again...