Marriage and Sewing Freebies

I'm back! I've had lots of company, and then been away in Port Hardy, B.C. which all amounted to about the last 6 days. So I just haven't had an opportunity to post anything here for that time. Today I have some news for you, and some images for your projects. Hopefully they'll make up for being MIA.

First my HAPPY news!
My son Darren is officially engaged to his girlfriend Angela! He proposed to her in Port Hardy! So congratulations Darren and Angela! May you be blessed with a long and happy marriage, and may your "hoose" be blessed!  Love ya longtime!! :)

*Happy Dance*

Now for the images:

When two people get married, it can be symbolized by two pieces of fabric coming together to be made into one. First we need something to attach the two. This old sewing machine is like a marital contract. It's solid, well designed, and binding.

To keep a marriage together, we need love. We'll use these spools of thread to symbolize a love that binds the fabric of our lives together.

Eventually your love will get tested because things don't always go smoothly; which only proves that marriages are hard work that require nothing less than unconditional love.

Even so, love can feel like it's coming unraveled, and we need something to hold things together so that we can work it out. These pins symbolize forgiveness....because marriages require a lot of stubborn forgiveness without which marriages often fall apart.

It helps to look at all issues from not just yours, but your mates point of view as well! This requires tenderheartedness - worth its weight in gold!

Now that you are 'two as one' instead of just one, you may inevitably find yourselves having to give some things up. For this we'll need compromise, understanding, and the ability to put someone else before ourselves. It means cutting something out of our lives that is no longer appropriate, desirable or necessary. This might hurt a bit, but when done right it's usually worth it!

We know that no marriage is perfect, and no one is perfect; not your mate, not even you. When we are dealing with a difficult issue, we need to realize and accept the covering of God's grace and mercy until we're ready to extend it to our mate - that covering is symbolized by this thimble.

Obviously marriage is so much more than all of that, but I thought I'd have a little fun today.

What helps make a marriage work? 
An unconditional love that binds
Stubborn forgiveness
Tenderheartedness
Seeing things from both points of view
Compromise
Understanding
Putting each other first
Gods grace and mercy to cover you and your marriage.
If you can do this, it will enrich your marriage and make it fun, full and rewarding!

Hopefully this will make up for my absence! Sure hope these will come in handy!
Blessings,
Carmen