Thursday, August 18, 2011

To Everthing...A Season

I love to sew.
I have loved sewing Flitterbugs. Every step, from choosing fabrics, drafting patterns, cutting out and constructing dresses, packaging and shipping.....and finally seeing a little one in a Flitterbug has been my joy and delight. Flitterbugs greatly helped in funding the adoption of our twins, and has opened up the door to many beautiful friendships and relationships made along the way.
It has been a sweet season of life....a blessing. I thank each and everyone of you who have been a part of this season!
 Sewing has always been a love of mine, and from the time I was in high school and began smocking and heirloom sewing for customers.....it has been a large part of my days.
 I have now come to a very different season of life. A beautiful, blessed season which involves holding teething babies, teaching phonics and watching little eyes light up when it all makes sense, science experiments and read alouds, bread to bake and warm meals to serve, kissing boo-boos and calming quarrels, laughing with my husband and asking about his days.....
a good, beautiful season. One which I would not trade for anything.
For the past 2 years I have been able to balance and blend the needs of my family with sewing, but that season has come to an end, for the time being. After finalizing our adoption I had envisioned sewing for others on the adoption journey, hurting friends or Christian ministries close to our hearts.
 However, there are only 24 hours in each day, and it is too easy for me to set the demands of sewing  ahead of training and instructing our 5 precious gifts and the needs of my home and husband. Those of you who know me know that 5 years ago I came dangerously close to loosing my life after a miscarriage and "freak" massive internal bleeding. That scare was a gift of the Lord....it has caused me on numerous occasions to stop and consider how I am using my life and spending my days.....as I realize how quickly it can all be taken.
 Pouring into the lives the Lord has brought into mine is of far greater value than any garment I could ever sew!
 For this season of life...
~Raising 5 littles
~Encouraging my husband as he plants a church
~Homeschooling
....and focusing on those He has brought into our lives...
I need to lay down my love of sewing and close that chapter for awhile.
 I need to focus on these precious little ones and my responsibility to them, because in a blink this season of life will pass....and I can never get it back.
 If the Lord blesses our family to once again pursue an adoption...when that time comes, I know He will provide the strength and perseverance to once again enter a season of sewing to help bring a little one home.

Until that time, I must give my days to this blessed season!
I am going to continue the Fundraiser for the Browns adoption through this weekend.
Next week, I plan to post a large stash of dresses I have been working on for a sale....plus have a sell on any orders placed to help clear out the lovely fabrics piled high around my house:)
After that, I will not be taking order for...I'm not sure how long. I may occasionally post garments I have made for sale on facebook......there are lovely, rainy days which are perfect for gathering the kids up to listen to a book on tape....sewing machine humming throughout:)
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So, if you would like to order one last Flitterbug.....you have this week and next to do so! After that.....sewing is going where the smocking, tatting, knitting, crocheting, heirloom handwork and scrap booking have gone.....on the back burner:)
Thank you all for your support and encouragement in our Flitterbugs season of life!

7 comments:

  1. Good for you, Julie! Each season is a precious blessing and being fully present in it is so important. Hope you'll keep posting an occasional pic or two of your littles!

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  2. Julie, I got chills reading this post. Its a hard decision...and then...its not a hard decision. Thank you for following God's lead to raise your children and be the help meet to your hubby that you were created to be. God has blessed you with such treasures, and in a blink they will be grown, treasure these days!!! I know your sewing gifts will always be used for God's kingdom...it will just look different for a season!

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  3. I am so thankful for your beautiful heart and I know many were blessed by your season of Flitterbugs.
    Love ya,
    Amy

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  4. I am so thankful for you. I don't know if you remember me telling you or not, but it was your story that prompted us to pray about a boy and a girl. We had said yes to twin boys, but not to a girl. The day after I saw your blog , we called Covenant Care and told them we would take boy/girl twins. A few days later was when we found out about our babies in Uganda. You have a very special place in my heart and I am so thankful for your servants heart. Thank you for serving us through this fundraiser and I am very excited for this new chapter that God has for you.

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  5. Julie, You are such an awesome, wise woman as well as a wonderful writer! Your Family is just precious too. I hope the church plant is going well. Sometimes it is difficult when seasons in our lives change, I am thankful that you are embracing the season that God has for you right now.
    Janet C.

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  6. Love the photos of your precious family! I know my daughter enjoys the gorgeous Flitterbug dress she has and I may have to add just one more to the collection :) Good luck on your journey and all the best! I will be watching Facebook for new posts too!

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    ReplyDelete

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