Life is a journey.
Always taking the scenic route--and sewing along the way
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Mahanaim
From my front window in Colorado
Mahanaim--it's a Hebrew word meaning Double Camp. What a journey I've traveled since this word, Mahanaim, came my way! This is a long blog, I know; and I have no idea if anyone will take the time to read it. However, I do need to write it.
From my front window in UB, Mongolia
A year ago I was agonizing over what I should do with myself and where in the world I should do it. I was frustrated. I am a nester at heart. My home in Colorado was soon to be empty what with my daughter and family moving into their own place and my husband was/is happily consumed with his work in Mongolia. Barb, a dear Aussie sister in Mongolia, looked at me during a verbal spew and said, "Well, it sounds like you just need to make two homes." Stunned silence. Of course! Bless you, Barb, wherever you are. Days later, I came across Mahanaim in Gen 32:2 --it seemed to reinforce Barb's counsel. Now, I am basically an either/or - all/or nothing person, so this idea was appealing yet scary. How God has stretched me way beyond this kind of thinking!
So, last summer I set to updating the house in Colorado. It was very consuming, very challenging; and very, very good for me in so many ways. After some furniture and belongings returned from Mongolia, I was on a plane back to Mongolia. Hmm. It seemed to be a law of nature that wherever my stuff was, I was somewhere else.
Fast forward to January, 2011. I am HOME. I'll still be doing lots of travel to meet up with Randy in Mongolia and other places, but my base will be here in Colorado. ...and I am enjoying a foretaste of what heaven surely must be in the form of home.
Is it the Stuff? Yes, but only in that there are so many memories and so much good family history in the things that have survived my many purges of the last 7 years. Before I went to Mongolia, I had accumulated waaay too much Stuff. Now what is left is Meaningful and/or Useful --or simply Beautiful--and I am enjoying it all with a grateful heart. Stuff is only important because of the people dear to us, past and present, who have used and enjoyed it--and continue to do so. I love it when my grandchildren make themselves at home here and that they are making memories here, too.
4 generations of Myers have been rocked in this chair :) The little table was brought from Japan by my Aunt in the 1950's
My Home and Heart now seem to reflect many places but especially the US and Mongolia. But you know what? Ultimately, my dwelling place is in the Lord--and I believe that He puts the longing for home in our hearts, wanting us to realize that our hearts are only at home in Him.
LORD, You have been our dwelling place
for all generations.
Ps 90:1
So, I am living in Mahanaim. In December we took a 2-week trip to Israel; and lo and behold, Mahanaim was mentioned in the guidebook--it's actually a place on the map! It was a reminder and confirmation to me. My home is certainly in 2 places; UB and Colorado. With lots of travel to places in between. I hope you will stay tuned for updates along the Scenic Route that God is guiding me along.
Follow my blog with Bloglovin Follow my blog with Bloglovin Let's give this blogging thing another go, shall we? I recently listened to podcast #18 at Clothes Making Mavens featuring Barbara Imodi of Sewing on the Edge that was SO encouraging. So on we go with my pretty bad photos featuring real me and my real life. We're back in Mongolia for 90 days with Randy's work. I've been tracking that over on Instagram and Facebook . Anyway, my official sewing enabler, husband Randy, made sure that I immediately acquired a second-hand machine and set up my Happy Place. Our furnished apartment has one picture on the wall and dinnerware for 6, but I have a sewing machine! I do have my priorities right. I have to say I've never been a Singer fan. That said, this little guy has really, really surprised me. There is a Singer store here in UB that is the only game in town. I got this Singer 323...
Last spring I chucked my 20-year-old bathrobe, giving me no choice but to replace it come winter. Granted, I never took it to Mongolia, so it only got worn when I was home in the US. But still. For summer I made several light weight robes, but I knew I liked the style of my old RTW one. When I saw reviews for Vogue 9232--on PR (all 3 of them), I knew I'd found my pattern. Interestingly enough, the pattern is actually for a caftan-type dress; but all 3 reviews were done up as a robe. Sham's review in particular had great tips. On a trip to Colorado Fabrics in early summer I spotted a beeeuuutiful pink sweatshirt type fabric. The outside is more like a thick knit and inside is dreamy soft. And it's baby pink! Which is hard to tell in the pics as we in Colorado have had lots of rain and no sunshine. And OK, I'm no photographer. But seriously, this is like stepping into a pink cloud. ...
Today I went to the grand opening of the New Life Quilting Centre here in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Selenge (in picture #2) began this work 5 years ago in an effort to help Mongolian women find a creative outlet for relaxation as well as create community for them. Selenge, as a single mom herself, has also tried to help other single moms earn income (and self-respect) through the art of quilting. From humble beginnings in a yukky basement apartment (where the toilets above would often overflow into the Centre's space) to this wonderful new location, the Centre is a success in every way. The day drew a good crowd of foreign as well as local women--and TV cameras! I think the pictures speak for themselves! Below is the the Centre's workshop--looks like one of Santa's, eh? A better woman would have left her own stuff out...but not me! It's been so long since I shared my stuff, I cannot resist. Here are just a few of the projects I worked on in the past few months, several ...
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