Sew Good to Me

Have I mentioned this week how blessed I am? My first inclination is to call myself "lucky," but I am mercifully at a point in my life where I know without a doubt that there is no such thing as luck-- every single good thing in my life is a direct result of the Father's love for me and by no mere coincidence.

I was emphatically reminded of my rich blessings this week by none other than my earthly father.

For the past 11 years, my dad has been the sole male in the house with my mother and me (even our pets are female). And for all of these years, he has worked tirelessly to keep us happy. I have watched him in his years of retirement vacuum and dust so that my mother comes home from work to a clean house, and once in a blue moon he will even cook dinner (although, admittedly, he needs a solid recipe to follow before he sets out on such a task... and sometimes he just turns the oven on in time to ask me for "help," but it's the thought that counts). For Christmas this year, he built me a small chest by hand that I will surely cherish for always. And just this past week, I got in my car one night to find that my dad had cleaned and polished my car inside and out while I'd been out with friends earlier that day. And to top it all off, I came home from work Wednesday to find this:

Many of you know my desire to be a Domestic Goddess. This year I had one item on my wish list: a sewing machine. Projects swirl through my brain just thinking of the possibilities: a Halloween costume for a friend, sweet gifts for my coming "niece," Anthropologie-inspired aprons... a quilt made of my favorite high school t-shirts, perhaps? I got my sewing machine for Christmas, but I've found it far more intimidating than I'd imagined. This week I came home to find my very own sewing center set up in my room, just the encouragement I needed to get set off on my journey to domestic deity. Next up: a run to Wilson's Fabric store.

Did I mention the lake view?

Jealous much? :)