When life gets hard, sometimes we can ask God why? But I believe if we hold fast to God during adversity, it really is a means of drawing us closer to God.
It’s like this apple on the stick. You’d think that when the stick is being pounded that the shaking would cause the apple to drop to the counter. But no, it climbs up. Let us all hold to God and climb closer to Him when adversity strikes in our lives.
In Numbers 32:23 it tells us that, “Be sure your sin will find you out.”
We think we can get away with our sins. It’s like the water that’s poured into the empty aluminum cans. No one sees it. We just continue on with life, assuming that everything’s fine. But God sometimes brings situations into our lives where the truth comes out, and we can be crushed by the sins that we’ve committed.
So often when we think about God dealing with our sins, we imagine a very harsh hand. But God tells us in Isaiah 42:3 that “a bruised reed He will not break”.
God desires to remove sins from our lives. I’m thankful that He doesn’t tackle everything at the same time. It’s often like this video where the yolks are removed one at a time with very gentle pressure. Sin can make a mess of our lives, even a little. Did you know that egg whites will not whip up correctly even with a little bit of the yolk left in it?
I can finally remember the names of the modes and the numbers.
What a crazy time we live in. But it’s given me lots of chances for sewing. NMSU Pride needed a bunch of bell covers so I sewed them and I will continue to make more for a couple of other groups. But thought that I’d just include the instructions here for whoever that need to make bell covers. These were quick and easy to make especially with a serger. I will probably come back later and update this post with some additional shortcuts that I used to make these. Do read up a bit on sewing strechy fabric, it is a bit different from sewing regular fabric.
Here are the quick instructions:
Materials needed:
Squares of fabric about 1”-2” larger than the diameter of the bell
Covering material: as required (I’ve tried cotton but most of what I’ve used is the same material as the backing fabric).
Backing fabric: Stretchy material (I used 80% Nylon and 20% spandex with 4 way stretch fabric) Basically a stretchy tshirt.
1. Measure the diameter of the bell that you’d like to cover. The above example is for a trumpet.
2. Draw a doughnut with the outer circle the size of the bell and inner circle about 1/2 the size of the outer circle.
3. Cut out the doughnut shape. This is your pattern for making the cover.
4. Trace the doughnut pattern onto the backing material and cut out the center circle.
5. Pin the backing piece to the covering piece(s). If there is a desired design to the cover fabric, pin the backing material onto the front. In the case of the Pride logo, I pinned the backing fabric such that I can see the logo through the cut out.
6. Serge around the outer circle (or if using sewing machine, use a zig-zag stich around the outer circle.
7. Turn it right side out. Done.
With COVID and mask wearing requirements it seem like live music has pretty much ceased. But with more groups starting up but requiring mask wearing, I’ve been scouring the internet for playing mask ideas. Unfortunately there really isn’t much there. So here’s the results of my attempt using one of my favorite 3D breathable mask pattern with a more or less self magnetic closure design.
Here’s the playing mask when not in use. There are three magnets across the opening so it is more or less sealed. And since the mask sits pretty well on my face and stays there, I’m satisfied. (The sketchy look on my face is me trying to figure out how to take a selfie)
Here’s me more or less playing with my saxophone (and trying to take a selfie) . Because it’s based off of a 3D mask, once the mouthpiece is in the mask, there’s nothing to get in the way between my lip and the reed. I was able to practice with it on, popping the saxophone in and out between songs. No problems breathing (after all, this is the mask design that I use for exercising). There was a learning curve though where I stood in front of the mirror trying to figure out the best way to insert the mouthpiece without messing up the reed.
And of course we’ve got to get the flute in. No I don’t play the flute either but I can make sound with the head joint with the mask on and Glorianna was able to play with this other mask. Why does flute have to be so different.
Anyway just thought that I’d share my mask solutions. May live music continue…
https://youtu.be/wy-ctEVcMIM BTW Here’s a quick video of me using the mask.
Have grassy dessert with the Marine for turning the dry trees into a freshwater forest.
Going across
1. The rude bee tried to rip off the pads on the toes of the MLB World Series players.
2. The turtle built a very safe fire in the middle of the baseball diamond.
3. The jay’s son was hatched behind the gate that was built with some major assistance.
4. The barrel goaded on the ox to perform a jazz piece with 100% gusto.
Down:
I. The ride bee was standing on a turtle who was trying to hatch an egg, jay’s son, that was sitting on top of a barrel.
II. The cold toe was covered with a pd and heated by a safe fire that was buring behind a gate tgat was sitting on an ox.
III. MLB World Series is played in a baseball diamond. No team can win without some major assistance, after which you celebrate with some jazz. 100% sure this is all true.😎
My boys have a chance to learn some Greek at church so I’ve decided to give them a head start on the Greek alphabet. Check out the memory aids here. Have fun.
I love easy paper crafts especially with VBS on the way. Here’s one that uses the basic concept of a stand up card.
YeeShallKnow 