house-warming

There is really nothing better than walking into a home that smells warm. You know, like something wonderful has been baking. . . the smell of cinnamon and cloves. Well I love to bake, but it doesn't happen everyday. But that doesn't mean that my house can't smell that way! My mother-in-law showed me this wonderfully easy way to warm up my home, and I have used it every year since. :) You can use any large pot and fill it 3/4 up with warm water. Add orange or apple slices, a handful of whole cloves, whole allspice and a couple of cinnamon sticks. Then just turn the range on low and soon your house will smell and feel fantastic.

The other awesome benefit to this is that it will add some moisture to the air, which is really nice when the air gets so dry.

And this is December 2nd, 23 more days until Christmas! Our little activity today is to re-read Luke 1:26-32 and then talk about how Mary might have felt after the angel told her what was going to happen. And we didn't work on the lyrics to O Holy Night, last night, but I am hopeful that we will today. :)

Have a great day!

~Larissa

countdown. . .

"December the first to Christmas
Is the longest day of the year.
Santa dear old Santa
Never will appear.

How many days 'till Christmas?
It's mighty hard to count
So this little candy ribbon
Will tell you the exact amount.

Untie a candy every night
While the sandman casts his spell
And Christmas Eve will be here
By the time you reach the bell!"

This little countdown calendar is something that my grandmother gave to me when I was a small child. I don't know if she made or bought it, but it is something that I've always cherished. Of course when I was little, I loved the idea of getting a candy every day and thinking about Christmas day getting closer. . . but I had no idea of what I was missing.
As an adult, and a lover of tradition, I really would like to hang this treasure up and have my boys "countdown" the days. . . but I just can't. It is very important to us that the boys really understand why Christmas is so exciting. And, even though it's sometimes hard for me to grasp, we want to dwell on what really happened that night. So this year we are using a little Advent Calendar that they brought home from Sunday School last week. I'll be sharing what we are doing each day to show you how easy it is, and to keep us accountable the following this through with our boys. Tonight is simply to read Luke 1:26-32 of Mary's encounter with the angel. :) I'm also hoping to teach them the words to O Holy Night so that we can sing it together. .
I would love to hear what you all are doing with your families to count down the to birth of Christ this year!

First verse of O Holy Night (so powerful!!!!)

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night, Of our dear Savior's birth.
Long lay the world, in sin and error pining.
'Til He appeared, and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks, a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
Oh, night divine! Oh, night when Christ was born!
Oh, night divine! Oh, night, Oh night divine!

Not really Vacation

I clicked on a button on Etsy this morning that said Vacation Mode. This settting puts your shop in a mode where no one can see your items, buy from you, or convo you. How I wish that I were clicking on this setting because I was going on some fabulous vacation. The fact is that I need time to be Mom right now.
I will still be sewing, but just not on such a large scale. Sewing has really become such an outlet of creativity for me. I can't imagine ever stopping now. I also am loving the idea of getting together with other ladies to sew and learn from each other. More to come on that. . :)
But for now I am just going to be finishing up my remaining Etsy orders, prepare for some shows that are coming up, begin packing up my studio, and then embracing for this new chapter in my life. whoohoo.

Open House!

Here is a link to the event page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rejoice-Bags/46677104397?ref=ts#/event.php?eid=167782092783&ref=mf

I will have my studio open from 10am until 9pm on October 16th. There will be bags on display and available to purchase. You'll also be able to get information about my new sewing classes and home parties! :)

7408 Morris

Riverside, CA 92503

(it's off Van Buren by the golf course and Riverside Airport)

Hope to see you there!

~Larissa

New Opening Date!

Because of some scheduling issues, we are changing the Studio Opening date from October 9th, to the 16th.

Once again, more information will be coming, but please plan on coming! :)

a year later

For some reason I've been thinking about this time last year, all morning. This time last year, we were at the peak of financial distress as Tim had been without a job for at least 7 months. We had depleted our savings/tax refund money. The food on our table was coming from the church's food pantry. Bill collectors were calling 50million times a day. It was possibly the lowest time of my life. Little did we know that a few weeks later, Tim would be working at a ministry!
Maybe the Lord is reminding me of His faithfulness today. He carried us through that awful time, and He will continue to carry us now.
We all have so much going on right now. Here's what I'm clinging onto right now:

"For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. . . " 2 Corinthians 4:15-17

and, as always:

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5-16-18

Please let me know if there's any way that I can be praying for you this week. :)

~Larissa

gettin' there

Well, this is the end of week 2 of working at the studio! Things are definately getting easier as the days go by. I am starting to develop a new routine, and I am getting used to having no "kid noise" around. :)
The #1 motivator for me right now is getting ready for my studio opening party happening on the 9th of October! Lots of bags to make, and I've got to finish decorating this place! Start marking your calendars, and I'll be posting more information about the opening in the coming weeks.
Have a great day everyone!

~Larissa