Grow Your Blog ... And a Giveaway!

 

A warm welcome to the 3rd annual Grow Your Blog Hop!  May I start by (1) welcoming you and (2) THANKING Vicki of 2 Bags Full for organizing such an awesome event!  I can only imagine the work she put into helping bloggers connect.  While she and I have never personally met, I am quite sure she has a beautiful heart!

I'm Jennifer, and I am a complete newbie when it comes to blogging.  I only got mine up about 2 weeks ago!  I really just wanted a way to document the quilts I was making because I forget what I've made once I'm on to a new quilt.  I don't know about you, but as I age, I forget things so easily. 

I don't have some grand goal of making money from my blog or becoming the next Molly.  I've got different priorities; one awesome hubby, 2 beautiful, growing-like-weeds kiddos, 5 dogs, 60+ chickens and 20 families who rent from us who all take my time each day.

Here you'll find tips and pictures on quilting, recipes that my family enjoys and that I may have made as an aspiring pastry chef, and all those things that are being lost to young ladies nowadays.  I am the Home-Ec Mama, after all.  Why don't we still offer Home Ec in school?  We've gotten so advanced in our technology that the next generations won't know how to grill a hamburger or sew a button!  I guess if I have one "professional" goal it would be to open a little shop where I teach small groups of ladies and gents how to sew and quilt and bake bread and good food.  You never know where God will lead you, so we'll see.

What I do know, is that I want my voice to be a voice for Christ.  I want to be an example on this blog of the light that Christ is and was.  He's called us to love each other.  To help each other.  To build each other up to be better.   I want to help however many readers happen to stop by home-ec-mama to feel better that they've spent time here.  We've all got limited time to spend and I don't want one second of yours to be wasted while you're here!

I live in Oklahoma.  I grew up here, left to be an exchange student in Germany my senior year in high school, came back to attend the University of Tulsa where I met hubby.  We left for Los Angeles so he could attend law school and stayed there 12 years until baby #1 was born.  We moved to Houston during September 11th (2001).  I just remember staring at the TV thinking that our country's innocence was gone.  Horrific!  Baby #2 was born in Houston, and she still considers herself a Texan even though we returned to Oklahoma so Baby #1 could start kindergarten.

We get to travel a bit.  I'll probably blog about our trips.  We like to visit Germany (my family from when I was an exchange student) and Brugge, Belgium.  But, our favorite, is our yearly trip to New Hampshire to hike the White Mountains to see the waterfalls.  It never gets old.

Beautiful Brugge

Just one of many waterfalls we visit

I am a very blessed mama.  I've been married nearly 24 years, our family is healthy, we have time to be together daily; we get to work and play together.  Our kids school at home so I get to challenge them to think rather than memorize topics for a given test, only to have those items forgotten.  They're both politically minded and look to our leadership to change their ways to help our country.  You might find comments every now and then that show my pride in being born in America.  I do believe we are the best country EVER and that God created us to do good. 

I pray that you'll find something of value (over time) on this blog.  Something that either makes you smile, think or learn something.  If I'm able to do that, then I will have succeeded!

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GIVEAWAY TIME

One randomly selected reader who leaves me a comment will receive a Monkey Mates fat quarter bundle + one yard of the Monkey Mates Multi in brown.  The material would make a fab-o quilt for a little boy.  It's so colorful and playful.  There are no requirements to qualify for this giveaway other than leave me a comment and include your email address so I am able to contact you on February 15th. That's when I'll notify the lucky winner!

Monkey Mates fq & 1 yard

Pattern may be provided if winner is interested - Quilt obviously not included :)

Here's a pic of a baby quilt I did not too long ago, and if the winner likes it, I'll include a copy of the pattern! Then, the winner can use the Monkey Mates fq. and yardage to make their own quilt!

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I'll close with one of my favorite verses.  God's way is unerring, The Lord's promise is tried & true; He is a shield for all who trust in Him.  Psalm 18:31  Doesn't it give you a sense of peace to know that God doesn't make mistakes, that His promises to you He will keep and He will protect us if we trust Him? 
Thanks for visiting!  Enjoy the Hop!