Monday, April 28, 2008

Got up Saturday—6:30 am, after sleeping in (See wake up time in previous post!!). Checking my email, sipping my coffee when I get a phone call. It was Don announcing he’d be home early because he had to go back to work in the middle of the night. So I start running around like crazy doing the weekend cleaning for the place, because Don won’t sit around and just watch me clean. I pull the shades from my bedroom and look out into the garden. Time stands still for a moment because in the garden the tulips are coming up. Amidst the dried leaves and the brown dirt there is green.
The little fence protects the plants from the tiller when the remainder of the garden gets cultivated for planting. Though the winds howled all day. The skies were gloomy. It may have snowed in towns all around us…It was spring in my garden.

I finished the binding on my Blessings quilt – Blessings because the majority of the fabric is from the Fig Tree Collection—Yuletide Blessings.
The quilt is going on my bed, but the pillow shams haven’t been made so I have it in the entryway now. The remainder of the weekend was spent on my block of the month projects, keeping up to date on them. Mother’s day is just around the corner. I’ve been contemplating gifts for my Mom and MIL.

I had 11 kids in Sunday School. Chelsey and Cortney helped me as my regular assistant was out of town. We played ‘Pin Zacchaeus in the Tree’, as opposed to Pin the tail on the Donkey, each child answering a Bible story question before taking a turn. It was a review because this week’s story was the story of Cornelius, the Good Soldier that believed in God and yet did not know about Jesus and Salvation. How do you get a point like that across to four year olds???? My class in incredibly active—We pray for pets, fingernails, and toys that break. If I ask if they know of anyone who is sick—Half the class has a cold and needs prayers. To get a point across, I put Cade, a really outgoing kid in my lap. I asked the class---- give me some things you do every day that get you in trouble. I got answers like, hit my brother, take cookies out of the jar without asking, not sharing. Then I asked---“How are you punished?” I got responses like spankings, timeouts, sitting in the corner, having toys taken away. So then I responded, “Let’s say Mattea takes cookies she shouldn’t. This time--- Mattea is not going to get in trouble, we’ll let CADE take her spanking.” Then I went to the next child—“ When Micah doesn’t share his toys, We’ll let CADE get the time out.” All the while Cade’s eyes get bigger and bigger. The class laughed each time. Well, we went around the circle talking about sins, and each time Cade takes the rap for it. Finally Cade speaks up, “ But I didn’t do anything!!!”

BINGO!!! Exactly. And that’s just like Christ. He didn’t do anything either, but he took the punishment for us so that we could get to Heaven. So while there may not have been a great craft in yesterday’s class, there was an outstanding lesson…. I can’t wait until next Sunday….

18 comments:

KC Quilter said...

Precious Sunday School story! Also love the Blessings quilt--bet it will look so fantastic on your bed.

Pat said...

Your quilt is beautiful. A great lesson for the children. It must be so much fun!

Paula said...

You did a great job explaining the lesson to the children. It is a challenge teaching active little ones, but so worth it.

Stina Blomgren said...

Oh you are truly blessed...with words and quilting...
Great post!
Have a nice time...

Lori said...

I love the Sunday school lesson. I'll bet Cade went home with an interesting story about how he was punished for everyone else. :)
The quilt is beautiful too.

Libby said...

Yeah - for spring! I wish it would come back my way . . . we seem to have moved directly into summer!

Anonymous said...

Love the lesson you taught the kids. How clever! Your blessings quilt is so pretty, Mel! Enjoy some new, spring temperatures (hopefully soon anyway) and your tulips. :o)

Lindah said...

Wonderful SS lesson! Happy spring!

Caron at Michigan Quilts said...

What a super great lesson for your students. Sometimes we, as adults, need to hear things the way kids do... simplified!

Love your quilts, keep on posting!

Caron in Michigan
http://blog.caronmosey.com

Journeying said...

Doesn't it feel great when you are able to do what you did - really connect with the kids and get the point of the lesson across???!!!
And the coming of spring is truly wonderful . . . each little sign from the first bits of green to tight little buds to opening blossoms or opening leaves . . . the fact that every day as I go to work I see a few more shades of green on the tree-covered hillsides.
Your quilt is wonderful and seeing little vignettes in your house is lots of fun!

Anonymous said...

Great explanation for the Bible Story! Sounds like they got it and hopefully it will remain with them for life! We can only pray this for them!

First time here and your quilt is very pretty!!

Blessings from CA/USA

julieQ said...

Love your story and how true! Love your quilt in your entryway, it will look even prettier with your pillow shams!

Wendy said...

6:30am is alot better than 4:30am ...but only just..lol! Your blessings quilt is gorgeous. What a fun Sunday School lesson you had...it's always great when you see the light 'switch on' in childrens eyes!

Nicole said...

Oh, I love Yuletide Blessings! I started one last year, but of course I didn't finish it. I am now motivated to dig it out and work on it so I will have it for next Christmas!

Love Bears All Things said...

First, the colors in the quilt are beautiful, especially the red floral.
And what a beautiful way to tell the story of Jesus' sacrifice for us.
Mama Bear

Lea said...

Thank you for a great lesson.*S*
I love your Blessings quilt. It's so beautiful!
Also I love your pretty garden. It's very spring picture!

Chanda said...

Your quilt work is just beautiful. I was drawn to your picture of the ginger-breaded screen door. I have similar ones on my screened in porch. I am a country hair stylist and I saved my tips for a year and a half to buy my doors. I love them and I'm glad to meet a screened door kindred spirit. Your blog is very well put together. I'm still learning as I am a newbie blogger.

Carole said...

Congrads on finishing the quilt! It's lovely! Thanks for sharing the story!