Friendship Brunch

This past Saturday was our church's annual Friendship Brunch. It's a wonderful event that I've come to cherish and look forward to every spring!

This year I co-hosted a table with my friend Meredith. (The previous two years I worked registration for the Friendship Brunch and was unable to host.) The hostess(es) are responsible for bringing the china, serving ware, and table decorations. It's amazing to see the variety of tables and themes!

Meredith and I chose to go simple this year. It was her first Friendship Brunch and I was flying back from Atlanta on Friday when we needed to go setup our table. We definitely had the best table though. ;-)

Our speaker was author and blogger Leigh McElroy. She spoke about how God is real to us today. She referred a lot to John, which was wonderful since that's what we are currently studying in WOW.

The sanctuary was full with amazing ladies and gorgeous tables!

Here's our fabulous table!

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Family Dinner

On and off since 2009, we've been attending Family Dinner with a group of friends. Each Monday night we rotate who hosts and everyone contributes something to the table. It's a fun gathering that Jason and I are blessed to finally be a part of regularly! 

In the past, we've been sporadic attending for a number of reasons - driving distance (we are the only ones outside the Beltway), class (Jason's had classes on Monday nights multiple semesters), or time commitment (when you have obligations two or three other weeknights it's hard to add another). 

We've made a better effort to attend this past fall and spring and we are so glad we did. This group is fun, supportive, and encouraging! We always have a blast at dinner and it's a great way to start each new work week.

Here is everyone at our Thanksgiving dinner this past fall - (Eric, the one in red on the far left, started Family Dinner, but has since moved to Colorado. Dustin was kind enough to photoshop him in for the picture. ;-) )

Huy is one of our "family" members. He is also a fraternity brother of Jason and was a groomsmen in our wedding. Sadly, this last weekend was his last in Houston for awhile. :-( He is moving to Saudi Arabia for a great work opportunity. We celebrated his going away with an amazing Vietnamese dinner this past weekend.

 

Here is Jason, Huy, and Dustin - Sigma Nu fraternity brothers from the Colorado School of Mines.

We are going to miss you Huy!!

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Soon to be Sewing Time

At one time I knew how to sew... I even made boxers and a matching scrunchie in middle school! I still wear those boxers... but I retired the scrunchie after the '90s. Thankfully. 

I needed to acquire a few things to gain back this skill set - first, a sewing machine. Fortunately, I have an amazing mama who kept not only her sewing machine, but it's manual. From 1976. (This explains so much to those who know me and how I keep things... Not pack-rat like, but very organized. You will not see me on hoarders. Promise...)

She graciously took this baby to a shop where it was cleaned, inspected, and greased. She drove down from Oklahoma City last summer and brought me the machine and her sewing cabinet. I have heard that the older sewing machines are more advantageous than newer ones - better quality, longer lasting, etc. so I am thrilled at my mom's generosity! 

The sewing cabinet is an amazing gift as well. These gems can cost upwards of $500 for an all-wood, quality cabinet. I love how it conveniently holds everything you need!

Second, I needed guidance. There is a sewing class in Houston that one of my friends had taken and highly recommended. I liked the idea of having resources to answer questions, help to illustrate difficult techniques, etc. more than trying to tackle a new skill all on my own.

I signed up last fall to take the course and since then four of my friends have signed up as well. We have all been anxiously looking forward to this upcoming Wednesday when our class starts!

Lastly, I need projects. (Please note the tense changed just from past to present. I still need to decide on projects...) During the 12-week class we work on projects of our own choosing. I have so many things I want to make, I am not sure where to begin! I want to make Christmas stockings like my friend Chelsea did (she is an amazing seamstress!) as well as skirts, and possibly an apron, maybe a dress, and eventually, a quilt of all my old Pi Phi shirts. However, I want to start with something easier so I am leaning towards the skirt or the apron...

In my restlessness for the class to start, I decided to test out my new (old) machine by making a small mouse toy for CeCe. I filled it with stuffing and cat nip. Let's just say it's a good thing I am taking the class... and a good thing CeCe isn't above playing with lopsided mice! 

The materials - as you can tell CeCe is already attacking the cat nip...

   

The finished products! I made two different mice. One out of regular material and the other out of an old dish towel (in hopes that it will hold up longer to claws...)

CeCe playing with her mouse.

I also got video of her attacking one. I think she likes them!! :-)

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