Preparing

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Bus preparations continue as our time approaches for departure! Many things were accomplished this week: the old tag axle support taken out, other misc. maintenance done, the new tag axle support installed, bus valances/curtains cut out, sewn, and installed, other finishing work such as covering the ceilings, etc…

Mary and I worked together on the curtains. Wednesday, I cut six panels out (14' long!), and then Mary began hemming, and I did 3" pleats across the entire length.
Sewing.
Joseph does an excellent job on our finish carpentry. He has quite an eye for detail, and he's been working a lot this past week on more finishing work for the front part of the bus. Here he was working with a board he eventually covered.
Stapling on the curtains.
It's amazing how they can fit back in behind the wheel area. You do have to be careful not to move quickly, as your head will come in contact with a non-moveable bus part!
The new part--ready to go in!
Putting it in.
Mary cut out Abby's flower girl dress yesterday.
Next will be bridesmaid's dresses.

We would appreciate your prayers over these next two weeks as we continue to prepare. We’ve been experiencing many, many challenges, which is no surprise. The Lord gives grace to meet each one!

Sarah for the rest

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).

17 thoughts on “Preparing”

  1. You guys are doing very well, getting ready for leaving! I’m excited about seeing you, Sarah, when you come to New Life Baptist here in Alabama. So, I suppose, Abby is going to be the flower girl, and Sarah, Anna, and Mary the bridesmaids? Plus Anna’s sister(s)….
    Katy
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    Katy, I’ll look forward to seeing you too! Yes, Abby will be the flower girl, and we three girls will be bridesmaids along with Gracie, Anna Marie’s sister…. Sarah
    ———-

  2. Oooh, I was so excited to see that comment under the photo about preparing bridesmaid’s dresses!

  3. We’ll be keeping you in prayer as you prepare for your travels, and also keeping all those coming to hear you all teach.

    Has a wedding location and date been set? So happy for Christopher and Anna.

    Blessings, Mrs. Mari
    ——
    Yes, October 23rd, and they’ve found a church :-). Sarah
    ——

  4. I am anxious to watch new dresses being constructed–one of my favorite hobbies! Haven’t sewn much in a while, so I’ll be glad to watch someone else’s progress! Blessings!

  6. You’ve all been so busy (as usual). It is great that you keep a photo journal of all you accomplish. My husband does this as well, on his iPhone. But I have to ask…what are those round things on the sewing pattern? I assume they are weights, used in lieu of straight pins, but how do they work? You don’t use as many as you would pins; do they keep the pattern stable? And do you immediately do your fabric marking, since the pattern becomes separated from the fabric when you lift them off the cutting mat? Thanks!
    ——
    Yes, they are weights. They can be purchased at a store like JoAnn’s. Instead of using pins, you just place the weights in several areas on top of your pattern piece, and they do work well! After a piece is cut out, you can then mark wherever you need to. I usually use a pin and poke it through the pattern piece and lift it up so I can see where to mark. It works well! Sarah
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  7. Thank you for sharing about your sewing projects! Mary’s pink jumper is really cute…is it a new/different pattern? I can’t wait to see the progress you make on the bridesmaid dresses! This is a very exciting time…I will be praying for your family as you face all these challenges. God is so good.

    P.S. I love your extra-large cutting board…did you get it at Joann’s? Do you find it helps significantly?

    P.P.S. My “job” yesterday was sewing curtains for a difficult window space and I was a bit unsure of my plan and feeling discouraged. But when I saw your post, you inspired me and I finished the project last night! Thank you!!!
    —–
    Yes, Mary finished that jumper recently; I really like it too. I’ll find the pattern # and post it as a comment. I did get the cutting board at JoAnn’s (using a 40% off coupon, or maybe it was 50%). I do like it: it has three different pieces that screw together. We have another large mat that was large and not easy to handle and was hard to store. This one is much easier! I’m glad it was an encouragement to help you finish up your sewing projects. They can be frustrating at times :-).
    Sarah
    —–

  8. Cute fabric Mary is wearing in both photos, but especially the flower girl fabric cutting photo. She looks so pretty in that pale pink!

  9. That’s great news! Glad that the bus work is going well!

    Can’t wait to see the progress made on the dresses! May the Lord bless and guide you in making them! Praying for your trip.

    God bless! Rebecca K.

    P.S.
    Greatly looking forward to the Kirksville conference in October!!!!!

  10. I noticed you were coming to New Life Baptist Church in Alabama. I attend New Life Baptist Church in Odenville, AL, wasn’t sure that was the church you will visiting?? Thanks. Have a great day.
    ——–
    Here’s the link to the conference info. This church is in Harvest, Alabama.
    Sarah
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  11. you guys are all so busy, with so many things all at once! hooray for getting ready for another conference tour as well as a wedding! are you all hopeful that nathan and melanie’s baby max holds off an appearance until you return home?! may the Lord bless your preparations….
    ——-
    Or maybe Baby Max will come before we leave :-)…. Sarah
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  12. You all sound so busy and have exciting things happening. šŸ™‚ Looking forward to seeing the sewing progress. šŸ™‚ Plus a new baby will be due very soon! Prayers are with you all!

    Blessings!!

  13. I am praying that you don’t have to miss the new Baby Max’s appearance but I am also praising the LORD for each day he/she stays in the womb! What a huge blessing this must be for Nathan and Melanie as well as for y’all.

    I was looking at your traveling schedule – y’all are going to be very busy with speaking and a wedding. Are you going out to Washington for the wedding while you are on the speaking tour?

    I am so very glad to know your family and am so blessed by your lives. Words can never express just how how blessed. =) May the Lord continue to bless you and yours.

    Blessings,
    Vania
    ——
    Yes, on the going out to WA while we’re on the speaking tour. Right now, though, we’ll have two weeks at home in between Birmingham and Kirksville, if nothing fills in.

    Life is exciting šŸ™‚ … and in the midst of trip preparations, full of challenges, which allows for many opportunities to learn the meaning of “resting in the Lord”!

    Sarah
    ——

  14. Exciting times for the Maxwell’s! I appreciate the updates on all that is going on. Continuing to pray for your family.

    “May the Lord bless you and keep you…………”

  16. Mrs. Jill,
    Sorry for the delay! Mary’s pattern is Simplicity #4173. The jumper was obviously lengthened–I’m not sure if she lengthened each tier or just the bottom tier? Anyway, enjoy! Sarah

  17. Thanks, Sarah! I’m glad you warned me about the lenthening of tiers…it looks like Mary may have shortened the first tier as well. Please tell her that I’m impressed! She is getting to be quite a seasoned seamstress the way she alters patterns and gets such good results (both modest and attractive)! Thank you again for taking time to look this up.
    Jill
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    I’ll tell her :-). She’s doing a wonderful job on Abby’s flower girl dress at the moment, and working with the silky fabric isn’t the easiest thing! Sarah
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