skirts on a mission

Saturday was our deadline...

Sunday, we had the privilege of unpacking, sorting, and matching up skirts and tops. It was so amazing to see a skirt from one side of the country - match up perfectly (size and color) with a shirt from the other side. That gives me assurance that the women and girls that receive them - will be perfect matches as well. The response has been huge! We had two banquet tables piled over a foot high!

Thank you so much to all that have contributed! Please continue to pray for those that will receive these skirts - that their spiritual needs as well as their physical needs will be met.

just a little update

It's been pretty quiet.

Everybody's behaving themselves.

No mayhem to speak of.

Little Erasmus isn't so little anymore...

He's still awfully cute though.

The only mayhem around here has been cat related.

Well, you've heard about the neighbor's infamous cat.

Truth is, he's only 1/3 of the story.

He has two friends.

All three of them now call this place home.

I don't mind this one.

She's a little sweetie.

I've never seen a cat with such beautiful green eyes.

The bad news about her?

She's about to multiply...

Then there's this one.

I call him the Fiddler.

He's always fiddling around.

Plus he likes sitting on the woodshed roof.

There's nothing like having your own

personal little fiddler on a roof.

His middle name is Audacity.

au.dac.i.ty -

noun: 1. the willingness to make bold risks

2. rude or disrespectful behavior; impudence

They both apply, but especially the last one.

Impudent.

Anybody want a cat?

Give me Liberty

On March 23, 1775

Patrick Henry stood before the Virginia House of Burgesses,

and gave his famous speech.

This is the 235th anniversary.

The day Obama-care was signed into law.

Kind of ironic.

In honor of the day-

I encourage you to read Patrick Henry's speech

if you haven't before.

"give me liberty, or give me death."

Deadline...

Just a reminder...

The deadline is rapidly approaching!

March 27

Contact me at:

goodnessandmayhem@gmail.com

if you have any questions.

a sure sign

A dear friend brought us a lovely gift yesterday.

Tulips.

A sure sign,

...that Spring must almost be here.

Memories for Breakfast

We were so blessed to get to spend this past weekend with my Dad's mom. It was a fun couple of days with aunts, cousins, and Grandma.

Saturday morning, she got up bright and early, to make us her breakfast specialty -

Cinnamon Rolls.

Cinnamon Rolls that she has been making for as long as I can remember; (As long as my Dad can remember...) Cinnamon Rolls that don't have a recipe to speak of; unless you're speaking of the "recipe" Grandma knows by heart.

A few handfuls of flour, a splash of buttermilk;

plenty of drizzled butter;

and lots of sugar and cinnamon.

Only Grandma knows just how much.

And they're always perfect.

Oozing with caramel-y goodness when they're hot,

and turning into sweet sugary chewiness as they cool.

We always eat them with a glass of milk;

and lots of memories.

Progress!

Skirts for Haiti is coming along well. Thank you to all that have responded! It's amazing to see how God is working out the little (and big!) providential details. If you want to know more about the group that is taking the skirts - check out the Haiti Blog. They now have an entire page dedicated to this project! They also have videos from the past trip - and updates on the current trip.

God is doing exciting things there!

My Favorite

If you aren't on orange cat overload yet; you will be... But I feel guilty - because my very Favorite orange cat has barely been mentioned on this blog so far. He's destined to always be my Favorite cat - because that's his name. I don't know what possessed me to call the poor cat Favorite; but hey - I was nine years old - it could have been a lot worse.

That was 10 years ago - and there's still no arguing the fact with me that this is indeed the very best kitty in the whole world. His square-ish shaped eyes make me smile.

Most curious and heartwarming of all - has to be the way he manages to wrinkle his little nose when he meows. I guess I can't really call it meowing though... (It sounds more like a cross between "rant-rant" and a duck quacking, with a cat-like accent.) When he wants attention - he will persist in following me and ranting and quacking, until I give in and pick him up.

Then he's very happy; and purrs like a baby rattle; and drools... Cats really shouldn't do that, but this one does. It's one downside to his happiness I guess.

But I can put up with it, because he's my Favorite cat.

(I won't have computer access for a few days, so if your comments aren't getting published - don't panic. I'll be back soon.)

Helping Haiti

Just this past week, I came across Sewing Seeds, a project that basically includes sewing beautiful handmade skirts - and sending them to the little girls in Haiti. I was so inspired by this idea (coupled with the fact that I had a little extra time, and lots of extra fabric...) I excitedly made a few to send before her quickly approaching deadline - (March 12.)

Meanwhile, mom and I started talking about it... There is a man that goes to our church who is in Haiti right now (on his second trip since the earthquake) and planning to take a third trip the end of this month. During his first trip - he took video footage, and put together a short movie. In the movie - he visits a "shanty town" - a temporary village of tarps and tents, where people are doing their best to keep living. We asked this man and his wife - what they thought about doing a similar "skirt drive". They were very enthusiastic about the idea - and have agreed to take any skirts we can gather - and personally deliver them to the people they met in the shanty town.

It began as a project for the ladies of our church, but as we know the need is great, the idea has grown to include as many as are interested in contributing. That's why I'm telling you! We are very excited about this, not only because it is a wonderful project for moms and daughters to do together, it's also a way that we can bless and encourage women and girls in modesty and femininity - - as far away as Haiti. Women and girls whose hearts are hurting, and whose eyes are longing for beauty and hope. It's also exciting - because it is very important to the man that is taking them - that we not just give gifts in the name of charity - but that we fulfill their physical needs in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and make sure the people know that.

We are gathering homemade skirts - ranging from ladies - all the way down to the littlest sizes - whatever the Lord lays on your heart to do. Any simple skirt pattern would work - as long as it has plenty of length, and preferably an elastic or drawstring waist to simplify sizing. Make them - keeping in mind - that they will likely receive a lot of wear and tear, so double-stitch the seams - and pay extra attention to making them sturdy. Don't forget to pray over those who will wear them as you work - that the Lord will use them to bless and bring souls to him.

If you are interested in being a part of this - let me know, and I will answer any questions you have - and get you an address for where to ship finished skirts. The tentative deadline at this point is Saturday March 27. I also suggest you check out Sewing Seeds (link above) for more detailed information, (pictures of skirts, links to tutorials etc.).

Copy Cat

Remember the neighbor's cat?

Well; we have a copy cat on our hands.

There are no limits to this cat's absurdity. Evidently.

I guess this means Fiffen is the new attack cat.

numbering our days

Remember when you were little; and time crawled? When a day literally seemed like a thousand years? When twenty years was an archaic amount of time? Getting old changes things doesn't it? I find myself begging time to slow down a little these days. Spring is just around the corner. I can smell it in the melting snow, and hear it in the voices of the bickering Robins in the orchard as they have their little tiffs over nesting locations. I usually cannot wait for spring; but it snuck up on me this year. I'm so shocked to realize - my twentieth winter is almost over - and it was the shortest winter for me yet.

I get a little nostalgic when it comes to time - and how quickly it moves on; and rushes past; and drags us with it whether we'd like to come or not.

It brings to memory part of the scripture verse I chose for 2010.

"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom."

Psalms 90:12

That's what I'm doing; numbering my days, rejoicing in the approaching Spring, feeling the weight of passing time, asking the Lord what is profitable and what is not - as I spend what remains of these years of youth. Taking time to notice and inspect the little things in life.

"And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it."

Psalms 90:17

May the Lord establish the work of your hands as this new Spring approaches.

(The little hand full of shells belongs to my nephew Wes.)

Rioting Sheep

Sorry for the lack of posts lately...

We're getting things back under control.