The sewing machine and I are not friends. In fact, the only reason I have a sewing machine is because I got tired of paying someone else to sew on my boys' Boy Scout patches and badges. I shouldn't feel this way.
Growing up, I loved to sew. In fact, I was known to make a few of my own clothes as a pre-teenager. In high school, I actually made dresses for a couple of girls and made some money at the same time.
Sometime, between then and now, I lost my sewing prowess. In fact, sewing anything that anybody is actually going to wear scares me to death.
Four years ago, when I was in the depths of back pain, I lost my mind, bought a pattern for a Halloween costume and even bought yards and yards of fabric. Johannah wanted to be an Egyptian princess. The fabric was the shiny, metallic looking stuff--not your average cotton percale.
I would think that I could do the same thing that I always did. Follow the pattern, and voila, a costume! You would think...
This year, Johannah was invited to her best friend's sweet 16 birthday party, and seeing as it was Halloween weekend, it was a costume party. The idea was to come as a "pair" with someone else. Rachel had asked Johannah to be her "pair". Unfortunately, Rachel decided that she wanted to be anything that had "sexy" in front of it. Sexy cop, sexy mail carrier, sexy nurse. Johannah tried and tried to tell her that it wasn't going to work for her (for Johannah). As their older brothers constantly remind them, Johannah and Glo know that "modest is hottest".
Finally, Rachel ditched Hannah so that she could be a sexy biker chick, and Johannah was left to her own devices. Out came the costume that I had been unable to sew four years earlier due to back surgery.
A Greek goddess. I warned Hannah that it probably wasn't going to work. Hannah had all confidence in me. She didn't have confidence in the party.
Because of that, she called up the most tried and true person--Cathryn (Mark's girlie)--and asked her to come with her. Cathryn's response? Absolutely. Toga? No problem.
I couldn't help but make the connection between the two experiences: sewing, and friends. I should be able to create something beautiful by just following a pattern. I have all the materials.
Johannah's best friend should be that. They have grown up together. Rachel should be making the good choices that Hannah is.
But as I've discovered, what "used to be" isn't always "what is" now. Fortunately for Hannah, the pattern turned out okay. It wasn't perfect, but she looked stunning for the night. Unfortunately for Hannah, her friend, Rachel, isn't going down the path of "okay". As Cathryn put it, the party was shady, full of smoking kids and lacking parents, and the two of them left soon after they had arrived.
As I tell my kids day in and day out, you can't go wrong with the pattern of the gospel. I'm thankful for people like Cathryn, and Johannah, and Mark, and Glo and Ethan, and Anna who constantly stay within the lines. They do what they know is right. They are happy, great people.
Growing up, I loved to sew. In fact, I was known to make a few of my own clothes as a pre-teenager. In high school, I actually made dresses for a couple of girls and made some money at the same time.
Sometime, between then and now, I lost my sewing prowess. In fact, sewing anything that anybody is actually going to wear scares me to death.
Four years ago, when I was in the depths of back pain, I lost my mind, bought a pattern for a Halloween costume and even bought yards and yards of fabric. Johannah wanted to be an Egyptian princess. The fabric was the shiny, metallic looking stuff--not your average cotton percale.
I would think that I could do the same thing that I always did. Follow the pattern, and voila, a costume! You would think...
This year, Johannah was invited to her best friend's sweet 16 birthday party, and seeing as it was Halloween weekend, it was a costume party. The idea was to come as a "pair" with someone else. Rachel had asked Johannah to be her "pair". Unfortunately, Rachel decided that she wanted to be anything that had "sexy" in front of it. Sexy cop, sexy mail carrier, sexy nurse. Johannah tried and tried to tell her that it wasn't going to work for her (for Johannah). As their older brothers constantly remind them, Johannah and Glo know that "modest is hottest".
Finally, Rachel ditched Hannah so that she could be a sexy biker chick, and Johannah was left to her own devices. Out came the costume that I had been unable to sew four years earlier due to back surgery.
Because of that, she called up the most tried and true person--Cathryn (Mark's girlie)--and asked her to come with her. Cathryn's response? Absolutely. Toga? No problem.
I couldn't help but make the connection between the two experiences: sewing, and friends. I should be able to create something beautiful by just following a pattern. I have all the materials.
Johannah's best friend should be that. They have grown up together. Rachel should be making the good choices that Hannah is.
But as I've discovered, what "used to be" isn't always "what is" now. Fortunately for Hannah, the pattern turned out okay. It wasn't perfect, but she looked stunning for the night. Unfortunately for Hannah, her friend, Rachel, isn't going down the path of "okay". As Cathryn put it, the party was shady, full of smoking kids and lacking parents, and the two of them left soon after they had arrived.
As I tell my kids day in and day out, you can't go wrong with the pattern of the gospel. I'm thankful for people like Cathryn, and Johannah, and Mark, and Glo and Ethan, and Anna who constantly stay within the lines. They do what they know is right. They are happy, great people.
I think it is so wonderful that Johannah is such a beautiful person, inside and out. Oh, and your sewing skills are amazing! Shiny, slippery fabric is tricky and her costume looks great. Once again, you impress me with your skills! xoxo
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