Let's Chat!!

From my last post, ya'll know about my recent struggles. I posted that thinking, "We'll see if anyone says anything" But instead I got a phenomenal response! (for me at least) And I realized, it's not just me, or one or two. There's lots of us, going through the same thing.







So why don't we get to know each other a little better! In a place where we could truly chat.

Picture from Pinterest

Would any of you be interested in a FB page? What about a forum?







And of course we'd keep our lovely blog going, and try to keep it full of encouraging articles and maybe a fun giveaway or two! :D







There'll be a poll in the sidebar here in a minute, just let me know if you're interested!

Lately I've been discouraged.

Yup it's true, I admit it. Perhaps it's not elegant in Cranford, but I said it. You would think that with one of the oldest and most revered occupations it would be easy to learn about and be accepted.

But alas in this "Age of Equality" It isn't....

I keep watching people, and their reactions. I Watch how people act on an everyday basis and laugh at how they screw up their faces when I tell them my reasonings for being a stay-at-home-daughter, and someday, wife.

Here are some things I've heard;

• 
  An eight year old girl asked me why I was still living at home if I was 20...
  


• A matron in my church told me I had to go to colledge because if I didn't my husband would leave me for being un-educated.
  


• "Why don't you just date that boy? What does marriage have to do with it?"
  


• A french guy told me if I went to colledge I could go to Europe whenever I wanted.
  


• "I think a girl should wear what she wants, if you've got it flaunt it! Besides my underwear match my skirt, it's all good."
  

And many more.. trust me..

After a while it gets really old. Why can't people just accept me. That's supposed to be part of this modern mantra isn't it? Acceptance?

Or does that not include Biblical womanhood?

So here I sit discouraged..

"What's the point" Has entered my mental vocabulary a lot now. Usually as I give up and slide into a pair of tight jeans, or turn from my sewing machine to lose myself in a computer game. (my computer is in the same room) Or even when I go to type up a blog post.

So what IS the point. ...


For the first time in a while I picked up my Oswald Chambers Devotional this morning and this is what I read;

The viewpoint of a worker for God must not be as near the highest as he can get, it must be the highest. Be careful to maintain strenuously God's point of view, it has to be done every day, bit by bit; don't think on the finite. No outside power can touch the viewpoint.

The viewpoint to maintain is that we are here for one purpose only, viz., to be captives in the train of Christ's triumphs. We are not in God's Showroom, we are here to exhibit one thing- the absolute captivity of our lives to Jesus Christ. How small the other points of view are- I am standing alone battling for Jesus; I have to maintain the cause of Christ and hold this fort for Him....

..."For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ." We are enwheeled with the odour of Jesus, and wherever we go we are a wonderful refreshment to God.

So what is our point? Keep going. So that when God looks down and sees the same things we are, and is just as discouraged, He can look at us and say, "Ahah! There's one who's still striving for Me."

If God can look at us and smile, can't we keep going? One day at a time?

I think so.

As a side note though, To those of you who read my blog that are not stay at home daughters, please encourage those you see. We struggle daily against the wiles of this world. Being us is harder than it looks. Especially when we live in an area where being a stay at home daughter is virtually non-existant.

We've chosen this path for a purpose, and begging us to go elsewise is just painful.

Keep up the Faith Girls!!
~Meggie

Stay At Home Sunday: He Is Always Near

Sometimes when everything around me seems to be falling apart at the seams, I tend to forget that I have a friend who will help me to repair those seams & put the pieces back together or just plain start anew.
When the day is long & I am worn through, my friend will be there to uplift me & give me strength to continue. My friend will stick by me closer than a brother ever could.
Who is this friend?
My loving Redeemer, Savior, & Friend, Jesus Christ. He will always be near my side through thick & through thin, for He said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. I know that my Lord never will lie & that His Word is true. So when I need a shoulder to lean on, He is always near.
My Mother loves the poem Footprints in the Sand, which I think is very true.




God bless & have wonderful weekend,
Sarah Grace

Fall In Love With The 1930's

A few weeks ago I did a post on 1940's styles that would be lovely for autumn & I know that the styles of the 1930's would be lovely for this time of year also. So below I have a few photos of the fall/winter styles that I think would be wonderful to recreate.


A simple, yet lovely frock with an equally lovely coat. Very nice if made up in a tropical weight wool for the frock & a medium or coat weight for the coat. The frock would be nice made in a silk for a special occasion gown, just lengthen the hem to floor-length.



This photo is from a catalog, showcasing some of their wool fabrics for winter. The colors are wonderful. It helps to understand what colors were considered fashionable at that time (not to mention that the two coats shown are simply elegant).


This frock would be a great fall/winter or even spring/summer piece, depending upon what fabric was chosen. The neckline is something I think would be very flattering & would draw the attention upwards to the face. A great addition to the wardrobe.



Another frock that would be a great staple in the wardrobe, perhaps the new Little Black Dress. If you were to add different accessories it could be made to look like an entirely different frock.



This coat is called the Swagger coat. I would assume because when you wear it, it makes you feel so smart & stylish that you swagger about,:). A wonderful coat to wear with casual or dressy outfits.



If I ever would want a nightgown that was form fitting, then I would make this clingy creation. Make it up in silk for luxuriousness, cotton or linen for practicality & constant use. It is a very flattering cut.



This coat is very stylish for the 1933-36 time range. The wonderful thing about this coat is the full sleeve with fitted cuff. The brown fur collar & matching muff are eyecatching.



A nautical inspired lounge or beach wear ensemble that would be great for the lady who wears slacks. Made in linen it would last for ages & stay cool during the heat of the summer.



A bias-cut 1932-34 frock with fabulous shaping by the use of the piecing. Lovely done in a medium linen or tropical wool. Lengthen the sleeves for truly frigid areas.



The green frock in this photo is my favorite of the two. The contrast of the white & the green is striking. When a white collar & cuffs are added it really sets an outfit off. I have a piece of fabric that would be perfect to reproduce the green frock. Maybe someday I will have the time to attempt it:).



This last photo is a good example of the transitioning of the style of the 1930's into what became the 1940's. With the double-breasted buttons on the blue it reflects military styling, but also is slimming. Worn with warm leggings, it could be an attractive fall frock.

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend & enjoys the changing of the seasons.
God bless,
Sarah Grace

Fall Fashion Ala The 1940s

I think it is always interesting to look at the clothing that was worn in different periods for the changing seasons, so this post is a compilation of a few of the 1940s autumnal fashions.

Myrna Loy, who happens to be one of my favorite female actresses from the Golden Era (1930s-1940s), is wearing a lovely suit ensemble with an adorable chapeau.


This Simplicity pattern is a fine example of the lounging suit, perfect for the cold evenings when all you want to do is curl up with a captivating book & a cup of steaming hot tea.



The title says it all, accessorization is key to making a small wardrobe seem endless.


A photo I found online taken of a young woman entering her freshman year at university. Her outfit is comfortable, while still be in style.


A very flattering style with the gathering on the bodice & the pointed waistband. Lengthening the sleeves & making it from a tropical weight wool would easily carry this lovely frock into the blistering cold months of winter.


The newly popular, but not yet widely worn, pant suit. Pants were questionable for women still, even in the 1940s (some question them even now). I personally don't wear pants, but I thought it might be of some inspiration to others that do.


An adorable mother-daughter matching sweater set! I simply love the color & the sleeve length. A wonder way to add warmth when there is a slight nip to the air.


A fabulous coat that would serve many age levels & could double as a maternity coat. The styling is timeless & could easily be worn with modern attire. Would be great made from a wool outer & a silk lining.


Do any of these coats look familiar? The styles & lines are very similar to some of the coats today, which are advertised as a NEW style. LOL! It just goes to prove that the fashions of the past will repeat themselves again & again.


If you owned all of the pieces in this image, you could mix & match to make dozens of ensembles. With three jacket/skirt combos, one blouse/skirt, & a vest/skirt the possibilities are endless.


I hope you were all inspired to try something new that might have been old :), for your upcoming fall/winter wardrobes.
I plan to do another post on 1930s fall/winter garments soon.

God bless & have a wonderful weekend.
Sarah Grace

Remembrance of Our Soldiers, Past & Present

I apologize for how late this post is, almost a week past the date, but I have not been well as of late, so I failed to post anything on Sunday. A friend emailed me the below story & I think it is very touching. I would also like to apologize for the lack of photos of any sort, as my computer will not allow me to load them at present.



Sack Lunches

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned

seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I will

get a short nap,' I thought.

Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats,

totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation.

'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me. 'Petawawa.

We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan.

After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for

five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch

would help pass the time...

As I reached for my wallet, I overheard a soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch.

‘No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks.

I'll wait till we get to base.

His friend agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch.

I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all

those soldiers.'

She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a

soldier in Iraq ; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'

Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my

seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?' 'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she

asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first

class.

'This is your thanks.'

After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man

stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five

dollars. Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at

the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the

numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand

and said, 'I want to shake your hand.' Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the

Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once,

someone bought me a lunch.

It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the

passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six

rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in

my palm.

When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to deplane.

Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something

in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another

twenty-five dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base.

I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars.

It will take you some time to reach the base.

It will be about time for a sandwich.

God Bless You.'

Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers.

As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These

soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of

meals. It seemed so little...


A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made

payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and

including my life.'

That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.'

Psalm 23:1-6: The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Have a blessed week,
Sarah Grace

Independence Day

Tomorrow is Independence Day, the 4th of July, & for me this day means spending time with my family & sometimes friends, partaking in delicious food, enjoying each others company, & then after the evening has come, watching the brightly shining fireworks display that flashes over the corn fields near my Grandfather's home. But Independence Day means so much more. It represents the past, present, & the future of our nation. The trials & the joys we have persevered to overcome through the years. The pains & sorrows that have been brought to families to retain the freedom we so cherish & desire. Our past defines our future. Mr. Winston Churchill once said: "The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see." I believe he was entirely correct. If we do not know of our past, then we are not prepared for the future.
Below are two pieces, one of poetry, the other of music, that speak very well in my opinion of Independence Day.
Thou, too, sail on, O Ship of State!
Sail on, O Union, strong and great!
Humanity with all its fears,
With all the hopes of future years,
Is hanging breathless on the fate!
We know what Master laid the keel,
What Workmen wrought thy ribs of steel,
Who made each mast, and sail, and rope,
What anvils rang, what hammers beat,
In what forge and what a heat
Were shaped the anchors of thy hope!
Fear not each sudden sound and shock,
'Tis of the wave and not the rock;
'Tis but the flapping of the sail,
And not a rent made by the gale!
In spite of rock and tempest's roar,
In spite of false lights on the shore,
Sail on, nor fear to breast the sea!
Our hearts, our hopes, are all with thee,
Our hearts, our hopes, our prayers, our tears,
Our faith triumphant o'er our fears,
Are all with thee, - are all with thee!

From The Republic from "The Building of the Ship"
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I have heard how Christians long ago
Were brought before a tyrant's throne
And they were told that he would spare their lives
If they would renounce the name of Christ
But one by one they chose to die
The Son of God they would not deny
Like a great angelic choir sings
I can almost hear their voices ring

I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
With all my strength
With all I am
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb

Now the years have come and the years have gone
But the cause of Jesus still goes on
And now our time has come to count the cost
To reject this world, to embrace the cross
And one by one let us live our lives
For the One who died to give us life
Till the trumpet sounds on the final day
Let us proudly stand and boldly say

I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
With all my strength
With all I am
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb

To the Lamb of God who bore my pain
Who took my place, who wore my shame
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb

Lyrics from I Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb.


God bless to everyone & their families,
Sarah Grace

My Most Humble Apologies...

I wish to apologize for the rather long absence. I unexpectedly spent some time at my Grandfather's house, helping with laundry, cooking meals, cleaning house, etc. while my uncles, with my Grandfather's supervision, planted the fields. I had a great time, but he unfortunately does not believe the internet to be something of any value. He believes it to be one of the evils of modern invention, LOL. I pray everyone has a wonderful week before Independence Day arrives. Summer is an excellent time to rejoice & marvel in God's stunning creations of life. As a new passion & hobby, I have planted a somewhat small garden, with several heirloom seed varieties: Tomatoes, pole beans, bush beans, black-eyed peas, bush peas, spinach, red beets, turnips, kohlrabi, carrots, acorn squash, golden zucchini, cushaw squash, garlic, & sweet potatoes. I pray daily for a bumper crop. I hope everyone has a fabulous Independence Day with their family & friends.

God bless,
Sarah Grace

Stay At Home Sunday: Thank You Mama

Today is Mother's Day, a day to stop & thank our mothers for all of the selfless acts they perform for us throughout our daily lives. I think sometimes we take our mothers for granted, I know I have. So, not only today but even on ordinary days, stop & show your appreciation for your mother just being there for you through thick & thin. Tell her you love & appreciate her, make her a card , cook breakfast, or just give her a hug to show her how much you care.

Proverbs 31:28 & 31: Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.
Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

God bless to all & have a lovely Mother's Day,
Sarah Grace

Jesus Is The Reason For The Season

There is a song that the group Avalon have on their Christmas CD called We Are The Reason. I know that it is on a Christmas CD, but I believe that the message holds true for Easter even more so. Jesus truly is the reason for our lives, our very existence. Below are the words of the song. As you read them, remember what Christ Jesus went through for us all, that we might have eternal life in heaven with Him.

As little children we would dream of Christmas morn
Of all the gifts and toys we knew we'd find
But we never realized a baby born one blessed night
Gave us the greatest gift of our lives

We were the reason that He gave His life
We were the reason that He suffered and died
To a world that was lost, He gave all He could give
To show us the reason to live

As the years went by we learned more about gifts
The giving of ourselves and what that means
On a dark and cloudy day, a man hung crying in the rain
All because of love, all because of love

And we were the reason that He gave His life
We were the reason that He suffered and died
To a world that was lost, He gave all He could give
To show us the reason to live

I've finally found the reason for living
It's in giving every part of my heart to Him
In all that I do, every word that I say
I'll be giving my all just for Him, for Him

And we are the reason that He gave His life
We are the reason that He suffered and died
To a world that was lost, He gave all He could give
To show us the reason to live
He is our reason to live

Don't You know that you are the reason
That He came oh, He came to save us
When He gave His life for us, He suffered and died

To a world that was lost He gave
Everything that He had He gave
To show us the reason to live

Don't you know that you are the reason
That He came oh He came to save us
When He gave His life for us, He suffered and died

To a world that was lost He gave
Everything that He had He gave
To show us the reason to live

Don't you know that you are the reason
That He came oh He came to save us
When He gave His life for us, He suffered and died

To a world that was lost He gave
Everything that He had He gave
To show us the reason to live

I hope you all have a blessed Easter week with all of your families.

God bless,
Sarah Grace

Stay At Home Sunday: 1930s Style

It's hard to believe that Easter is only two weeks away. The year seems as though it has barely begun, but we have already reached April & springtime.
I personally am planning on sewing an Easter dress for this year & so I began looking through many of the images I have squirreled away (too many to count!) & found quite a few from the 1930s, so I thought I might share them with you.
Below is a copy of the post I did on my blog Reliving A Legacy. I hope you enjoy it.



I really like the idea of a Blast From The Past post twice a month or maybe once a week, as I have so many vintage images that I think should be shared with others. Below are eight lovely 1930s period images from patterns, magazines, etc. that I have collected over several years. I hope you enjoy them & can use them for inspiration for future projects.

This photo is of a lovely hairstyle of the early to mid 1930s & very flattering to the facial shape of the model, known as the Debutante Wave, a style seen in many films of the era.




The below pattern is from the Hollywood Pattern line that was very popular during the 1930s & 1940s, from what I can tell. This particular one is modeled after a dress that Claudette Colbert ( Love the sound of her name) & is a day dress that could be worn for visiting, shopping, or even tea, with a front bodice insert & a yoked skirt, it is simple & could be worn even for a business outfit for modern if done in a solid fabric. By the by, Miss Colbert is sporting a very chic style for the early 1930s.


Another Hollywood Pattern, this one with Ginger Rogers, a very talented singer/dancer/actress of the 30s & 40s. The style of dress is very popular for 1933-35ish & is made with a yoked, button front bodice,an option of either short puffed or somewhat full bishop sleeves, central panel skirt that has side pockets & opens down the back. It would make a fun summer dress, if made up with the short puffed sleeve option.


This is a Simplicity pattern from 1936-38ish, beginning to show the transition to the styles of the forthcoming 1940s, with shorter skirts. The style for this pattern is the start of the shirtwaist dress which was worn abundantly in the 1940s & even 50s & 60s. It has a fitted bodice, short cuffed sleeves, slightly narrow skirt, & is front opening. Would make a stylish house or work dress.


This pattern & the one below would be great for church, town, etc. They would also make wonderful summer dresses, with the interesting details that each possesses.


This dress or the one above would also make lovely Easter Sunday dresses.


This pattern is for an evening/bridesmaid gown & a stunningly simple wedding gown. Either would be fabulous done in a silk satin, charmuese, or duchess satin. The simple lines cut on the bias would be perfect for a woman who wished to use rich fabrics & keep the dress relatively low on frills & furbelows.


A lovely mid 1930s nightgown that would be lovely in cotton, silk, or linen for summer.



Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart & lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him & He shall direct thy paths.

God bless & have a joyous Sunday,
Sarah Grace

Stay At Home Sunday: Keeping Thy Hands Active

I will be the first to admit, that on more than one occasion, I have neglected to put a purpose on my day. Some may wonder, what do I mean by "put a purpose on a day". Simply to set forth tasks that need to be done on that day & accomplish them.
Others might know it as a To Do list, a list of chores, etc. No matter what you call it, it is some specific item that you have set your mind to do for that day, & you strive to finish it.
The list might be things as everyday as washing the dishes, doing laundry, sweeping the floor, etc. or perhaps it is something that you might do for others to encourage them, such as, Speak more kindly to my brother or Send a note or give a hug to someone you know who needs cheering up. Whatever the task is, do it with a cheerful heart & a joyous spirit, as unto the Lord.



Give your day a purpose, no matter how small it might seem at the time nor even if you are thanked for the effort, since you will receive your reward from Father God for giving willingly of yourself to others. It might seem that what you do goes unnoticed by those around you, but He sees your heart & your actions. He has a plan for each & every one of our futures, whether it be as a wife, mother, or some other ministry He has in store for us.
In the meantime, we should do all we can to prepare for the future as well as give of ourselves to aide those around us in need of assistance. God loves a cheerful giver, which doesn't just mean of our tithe, but of our time, love, hearts, etc. to those He wishes us to minister to.



So the next time you see someone you might help or you are asked to do a task, proceed with a cheerful heart & know that by your charitable actions, you are furthering the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8: But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.

Colossians 3:15: And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Colossians 3:17: And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Colossians 3:23-24: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Have a blessed Sunday,
Sarah Grace

Praying for Japan

As this is my first official post on the SAHDF blog, I would like to take a moment & say Hello to everyone! I am very pleased to have such an opportunity to write for this blog. It is an inspiration to many like myself, who are following Christ while preparing for what He has planned for their futures. You might have read the description I wrote of myself, which tells a little about me & who I am. I hope that I will be as much of an encouragement to you as Meggie has been to me.

On another subject, I would like to bring to the attention of those who might not know, about the disaster in Japan. After the earthquake & subsequent tsunamai last Friday, many lost their homes, their families, & even their own lives, wiped out within a matter of a couple minutes. Because of the tsunamai, nuclear reactors in Japan are damaged & leaking radioactive particles. The reports have been stating that unless the reactors are cooled & the damage repaired, they could explode, possibly causing worldwide radiation exposure. I believe that now is the time to pray. Pray for comfort for those who have lost everything. Pray for wisdom for the officials & the people trying to give aide. Pray for protection for Japan & the world from the radiation. Most importantly though, pray that Japan, its inhabitants, & the world, find the one true Comforter, Jesus Christ. Please pray for all & whatever else God might put on your heart.

I know that this might not be the most joyful of posts, but I believe that now is the time to pray for those that have lost & those that are lost. I pray that soon the reports will be those of good news instead of bad.

1 Thessalonians 5:17: Pray without ceasing.

Philippians 6:18: Praying always with all prayer & supplication in the Spirit, & watching thereunto with all perseverance & supplication for all saints.

Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; & lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, & He shall direct thy paths.

God bless,
Sarah Grace

New Contributor!

I would like you all to give a warm welcome to miss Sarah Grace! It's been an absolute joy getting to know her this past little while. I can't wait to let you get to know her yourself. Please do check out her blog at Reliving a Legacy. So without further ado, here is a little from her about herself. :D

My name is Sarah Grace Kuhlman & I hail from Ohio, a place that is quite lovely with it's natural beauty. I have been raised in a Christian household with my two younger brothers. My brother, Josh, & I are homeschool graduates & my other brother Matt will graduate in a few years. I assist my Mother with the duties of teaching Matt & enjoy it thoroughly. I plan to homeschool my own children (if God blesses me with such a gift). I am an active member in my home church & I do such jobs as, singing as part of the Worship team, teach Children's Church, tend to babies in the nursery, write plays for Christmas & Easter programs, teach ASL (American Sign Language) to a group in the church, choreograph Christian Interpretive dances for the above programs, & always try to be of help to anyone in need. I adore writing, history, historic fashions, sewing (especially period clothing), historic & vintage films, reading (my Mother calls me a bookworm ), cooking, cleaning, learning about new things that might improve me, my Grandfather's farm, & my pets (cats, dogs, & rabbits), just to name a few. But most importantly, I wish to serve my Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ with all of my being. Someday I wish to be a wife & mother, but I plan to do all I can to be a witness for Him, no matter what the plans He has for me.

If you would like to contribute, there is more information in the sidebar. :D

What Would Grandmother Do?

My Grandmother and me when I was about 4. :D

What would Grandmoter do?

Three years ago I was sixteen and Fabulous! I had just conquered a depressive illness that had trapped me in the house for two years! But that's a story for another day.... The point was, I was free. I could do anything I wanted, Go anywhere, wear anything. My parents have always been relaxed with their rules on this only child. So long as Jesus was okay with it, I could do anything.

So that Christmas, While surfing the net, I found the prettiest dress I had ever seen. I immediately called my aunt and had her pick it up. It was red and white with a tulle underskirt, a sleeveless halter. Back then, needless to say, modesty was NOT my goal. It was seriously low cut, but what did I care?I was covered, and hey, I looked HOT! I cried when my parents made me pin it up an inch.

But I still got to wear it. I could walk in to my Uncle's house Christmas eve and WOW everyone. I mean the last time they saw me I looked horrid, tee-shirt and shorts trapped to a frozen gatorade bottle. So here was my chance to shine! I was so excited, all dressed up and flashy, I walked through the door with a swagger to my step. The first thing I did was walk over to my then 81 year old grandmother and give her a loving hug. I was excited, what will Grandmother say about my new dress? "Oh!" She said "You look..." She pause and mentally I inserted, "Fabulous, wonderful, How about Beautiful?"

"Cold"

Yup... She couldn't say anything bad.. but she sure was thinking it...

You'd think I was crushed, isn't that how the story goes? But no, I got my compliments from the rest of the family and was properly "Worshiped" I even wore the dress again several times.

This year I stood in the fitting room with a low cut sleeveless and stared at the mirror. Since then my ideals have changed. a lot. I slipped in to that sexy black dress and all I could think of was my Grandmother's words. I looked gorgeous, like a model, but all I could feel was... cold...

Needless to say I didn't buy it.

So now you're thinking, "Oh, another Modesty post" But no, that's not what this is about. Modesty is your own choice. I chose a higher neckline because I got tired of people seeing me for my flesh and not who I was. But what you wear is between you and God.

You've heard the Phrase "What would Jesus do" and as Christians we use it all the time. But there's a lot of times we just don't follow it. I know I don't. Sometimes it's hard to apply what a Man did two thousand years ago,perfect though he was, to what we young women do today. So here's something, take the example of someone who's a good 40 to 80 years closer in age to Jesus, and know Him a lot better than we do.

Our Grandmothers.

My Grandmother is now 85 and still bright and chipper as ever. But she's tired and ready to go "Home." Right now is the time to learn from them. Every facet of their lives that they are willing to tell you. Pick up every strength in their faith. Seeing their steadfastness in Christ makes it a whole lot easier to follow him ourselves.

One of my Grandmother's Wedding Photos (They Eloped. :D )

My Grandmother was born in the early 20's, can you imagine what she's come through? From living in the mountains through the thirties, deffinately a "Walk to school up hill both ways" type life, to cell phones and Ipods? Not long after she married, my Grandad went off to fight in the pacific. She had her first child and raised her for a year by herself. There was so much more to her life, things she has and hasn't told me. Can you imagine the strength in these women?


So whenever you just can't figure out what Jesus would do, Ask yourself what "Grandmother" would do. If she's still here, ask her personally. She knows a lot more than you do, trust her judgement. :D

Stay at Home Sunday

Alrighty, Let's see if I can get this going again!

Spring is officially... well Springing....

At least here in Tennessee it is! The Crocusses and Dafodils are peeping out of their wintering holes, preparing to bloom.

The air is crisp and sweet, and filled with birdsong, and soon the evening cicadas will begin their lullabies.

How's the whether where you are? Are you getting ready for spring planting? We sure are! Our house is a- flutter with seed catalogues and dirt! :D

What do you plant? What companies do you buy from?

Enjoy this whether!!
~Meggie

Ps, I've only had a few pictures for the new header, please keep sending! Even if you've already sent one!!

Go out and PLAY!

I don't know about you, but in my Victorianist mind, and even in today's society, play ends at 13-14. At the latest. When you "Grow up" You put away the dolls and come indoors to learn to be an adult. At least that's what happened to me. I'm an only child so I was shy, and never very active anyways.

Now we come to it. I've lived a rather unhealthy, sedentary life style. and with all this snow, I have a serious case of cabin fever! And all those Christmas goodies are sitting on my middle, taking my 33" waist up to a 34"...

I thought about bringing out the exercise bike... But it's old and is rather hard on one's bum.
I thought about going for a walk, but I never can seem to get up enough speed, or go far enough, to really burn anything.

The other day, I got and email from my 70+ year old "adoptive" Nana. She's originaly from Florida and absolutely LOVES snow. She told me she had made a snowman, which I expected, We had done it together many times when I was little. But then she told me she planned on going sledding! To me the thought of my Nana Flying down a hill on a piece of plastic was a little more than strange. But then I thought, why not?

I had slipped and slid down my long steep driveway all week, it being a solid sheet of ice. So today I followed Nana's lead and got my dad's old steerable sled out and set it on top of the ice. A kick of the feet and I was off, flying down the hill, then running back up. A few times of that and I had my heart rate up.

Guess what? It was the best exercise I'd had in a long time!

Though we don't like to say it, some of us do have new years resolutions to lose weight or get in shape. No matter how you put it, no matter what music you put behind it, Working out is not fun... It's monotonous, and that's why people quit on it so easily. So here's my advise. Go play!

If you have little brothers and sisters, get out in the yard once or twice a week and have a rousing game of tag! Or any other game. If you don't have Siblings, play chase or fetch with your dog. If you have neither, go on a hike or a bike ride, just something to get you active, But make it fun!

Don't go by yourself if you can help it. Don't "Diet and exercise" Eat better and play!

Life can get awful monotonous if we never allow ourselves to have any rambunctious, get-up-and-go fun, so find gather some friends and get out and get moving! You'll be surprised how many memories you'll make, and how healthy and in shape you become!

Here are some sites with all kinds of fun old time games.

http://www.nyfolklore.org/pubs/voic30-1-2/oldgames.html

http://www.earthskids.com/games&songs.htm

Stephanie Ann wrote recently on how to play a great game called "Blind Mans Bluff" Here

http://worldturndupsidedown.blogspot.com/2011/01/colonial-games-how-to-play-blindmans.html

Enjoy the fun!
Meggie,
Ps, blog about what you do and leave a link in a comment, I'd love to see what fun things you come up with!

Written Jan 14 2010

Contributors aka HELP!

All right... with Christmas over and done, maybe it will be easier for me to get here and post. But it seems internet is still going to be a ways off...

So I need some help!

Would any of you be interested in becoming a full time contributor? The post would last for six months, but if at any time, you felt life was holding you back, then you could stop.

Your duties would include writing at least one inspiring post a month (On anything you like so long as it stays within the bounds of the scripture) , and perhaps taking over "Stay at home Sunday" for me once in a while. So, not too hard.

To apply please send an email to "Stayathomedaughtersfellowship[@]gmail[.]com" (Remove brackets), and tell me a bit about yourself along with your blog link, and a link to any post of yours that you believe truly shows your writing style.

If you are chosen you would be given access to the blog and you could simply post whenever you like! You wouldn't have to go through me.

Though I would have final say, if I feel a topic is too controversial or mean I may remove it. But I trust you as good Christian girls that you wouldn't make me have to do that, ;D

This DOES NOT mean I wont accept guest posts from any of you who feel they can't become a full time Contributer. You may continue to mail your posts to me at the address mentioned above.

This would be a great help to me in times when my hands are tied and I can't post, and it would truly get things goin here.

I hope to hear from you soon!!

~Meggie

P.S. don't be discouraged if you aren't chosen. This is a temporary post so keep trying and keep writing! There's always a chance you will get it next time, and you can always send your posts to me instead. :D

New Header!!

First off I want to thank Lady Weaver for creating our Temp, isn't it cute??

It seems I've Made a mistake on some copyright laws. I get all my photos from "Weheartit.com" Which I will warn you if you decide to use it, sometimes you have to sift through a lot of crap to find anything good.

But anyways, I never realized our old header belonged to someone until they brought it to my attention recently. So if any of you used it on your blog, please go ahead and take it down.

Now, Lets make up for it and make a header we can be SURE belongs to us.

So here's the deal, I want to make a whole new header using pictures of you! I want you to mail me pictures of you sewing, or washing dished, gardening or cooking, pictures of you and your sisters, or in old fashioned clothes, send me anything you feel is homey or "Old fashioned"

I've created a new email specifically for this blog so make sure when you contribute from now on that you email this to Stayathomedaughtersfellowship@gmail.com

S please send as many as you like!

And don't be discouraged if your photo isn't used, I will archive all of them and I'll change tham out every once in a while, so keep sending them and keep your eye out!

And happy "Shooting"!

~Meggie