Ball Pictures UPDATE: The is Cool!

March 29th, 2009

Click this link to enjoy over 100 ball photos in a slideshow format. Most of them are pretty high quality too, since I didn’t take them! :)

Flickr Slideshow

Video From the Ball

March 29th, 2009

Hey all!

Well, it was an EXTREMELY busy weekend, and the sewing went “down to the wire” – but we made it! Here are a couple videos for you to enjoy…. Pictures are coming soon. OR, if you don’t want to wait, check out the Greene Co Civil War Ball flickr photo pool.

(Note, if you receive these posts via email, you’ll have to visit the blog in your browser to watch the videos).

Making Progress…

March 27th, 2009

It’s down to the wire in the dressmaking shop (i.e. the contents of our newly discovered highly versatile vintage wardrobe and closet encroaching it’s girth over the once comfortable Willis living room; counters, table, chairs all hidden underneath the splendor. And also as well; Kasie’s and mine own chamber, as French and as pretty as ever has been transformed into a ~boudoir~ (or so it seems! ;-) )

I.define:boudoir
a. A lady’s bedroom or private sitting room (citing from the illustrious pen of Master Google Internet, Sr., and with regards to him deferentially and with good will to shoulder the responsibility of solving this, somewhat troubling to some, but elegant epithet for takes place in my boudoir ;-) )
b. Small, elegant, feminine sitting- room where the lady would retire to read, write, or entertain some intimate friends (Angie’s acquired notion, confirmed by experience and knowledge through real life, [heh heh, that would mean trials and testings for those of you who want to know] effectially alters every aspect of my normal existance! Which means…relating to the girls of the past and hopeful of our future, also lumps of lace, ribbons, bows, rich satins and taffeta sashes draped over every single stand-alone structure we own :-D )

I’m continually ruminating as the culmination of this week at the grand ball is right thereover the horizon (Just matter of hours so to speak!),  this what it was like for life in the old days for girls, maidens, the joyous wonder of the design of the Lord for womanhood. I’m experiencing a taste of it and it is more than covering my quiet moments alone with awe. Spending the bulk of the day preparing for the ball…girlish dreams… hope for the present and future…love continually pouring out from on high and turning around and pouring around to those around me… this is the theme that has been rippling through my mind, as I busily hum away trimming the dresses this entire week. I’m feeling “splendifourous” and I can’t ever think enough on, or sing praises enough for all God’s blessings to me. :-)
So I’m off to finish up! Things to do….places to sew…hmm…strike that! ;-)

~Angie
———
Oh she spins and she sways
To whatever song plays
Without a care in the world
And I’m sitting here wearing
The weight of the world on my shoulders

It’s been a long day
And there’s still work to do
She’s pulling at me
Saying “Dad, I need you

There’s a ball at the castle
And I’ve been invited
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?”

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
‘Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don’t want to miss even one song
‘Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she’ll be gone
-Steven Curtis Chapman
…………………………………

Two More Days…

March 26th, 2009

…’til our Civil War Ball! Huzzah!

And that’s the reason I haven’t posted anything lately (and probably won’t until after this weekend). :-) We’re still finishing up projects, putting our final touches on costumes and such. So far we have a headcount of 70 people who we are attending for sure… So yeah, it’s going to be an awesome time!

Cheerio! I must get back to work. God bless!

-Kasie

Pride and Prejudice…Facebook Style

March 23rd, 2009

For all you Pride and Prejudice fans out there, check this out! and enjoy a good laugh! :-D

-Kasie

New Yorkers Were Here!

March 20th, 2009

This week we were blessed to spend time with our dear friends from NY. It was so good to see Mrs. V and Brittany after so long an absence! The whole family couldn’t come down, but we sent them on with lots to tell everyone in NY.
We spent most of the two days we had together touring our town and surrounding areas, stopping by all of our favorite places and shops. We went practically everywhere! I think we’re trying to convince Mrs. V and her family to move to Tennessee or something. :-)

Amidst all our traveling around, we stopped into Mom’s favorite furniture store where she’s been checking in for pieces we can use in our house (i.e., we’re still on the lookout for a new dining room table and chairs). We didn’t find what we were originally looking for, but found this: perfect for sitting down to tie and untie your shoes!

bench

As you can see, it now has a home in our entryway, a gift Mrs. V made to us. Isn’t that sweet?

It was a wonderful time! Short, but sweet. We were able to catch up on everyone’s recent family and local news – I feel like I’m all caught up on what’s happening in NY. :-)

May God bless you guys on the rest of your journey! It was awesome to see you!

-Kasie

P.S. If any of our friends are in the area, please stop by! We’d love to see you. :-)

Thinking…Green?

March 17th, 2009

I had a slight dilemma this morning.

I wanted to write a short post honoring St. Patrick, but I also wanted to post some pictures of my sewing progress. There’s not enough time for both – what to do!

Then I came up with this amazing plan: combine the two! Many people associate St. Patrick’s Day with green, my ballgown is greenish, so… vuala! Brilliant! isn’t it? I’m a genius, I know. “I flatter myself…” :-P

Here are a couple of teaser pictures of my dress, which is almost done! All that’s left is to trim the bodice and put on sleeves. YES!!

dressbottom

~skirt bottom

rosette

To find out how to make the cutest rosettes ever, go here

buttondetail

~button details…

It’s all getting there! Perhaps later on this week I’ll post pictures of our other projects; the guys’ vests, Angie’s gown, and Mom’s.

Concerning St. Patrick, if all you know about this guy is Ireland and lucky clover, check out his incredible story! It’s amazing to see God’s hand of Providence on his life. Wow!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day y’all! There’s the end of yet another random post. :-) Cheerio!

-Kasie

Lessons in Revival from Josiah

March 13th, 2009

josiah_

1. Revival begins with seeking the Lord, and personal reformation.

2Ch 34:3a For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father:

We pray for revival, but we rarely take time to truly seek the Lord, and reform our own hearts. Yet, this is where it all began – A young man with a heart for God.

And not just any old “God”. It appears from these passages that true understanding of Jehovah was virtually extinct! This is why the writer of II Chronicles points out that Josiah “began to seek after the God of David, his father”.

2. Take action – radical action!

2Ch 34:3b And in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images.

2Ch 34:7 And when he had broken down the altars and the groves, and had beaten the graven images into powder, and cut down all the idols throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.

As king, Josiah had the unique opportunity to destroy all the pagan alters/groves in Israel. I might not be king but I do have areas under my influence – we all do. Family, work, friendships, etc.

Do not suffer or tolerate wickedness if you have the power to stop it. Fear not! Tear down those idols and alters.

3. Repair the house of God

2Ch 34:8 Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land, and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God.

Only after the first 2 steps are completed does Josiah move to point 3. It is here where he gathers faithful men together to repair the house of God, which had fallen into gross neglect.

There is so much I could say about this point. We see that this job is way bigger than one man, and requires many people from all walks of life and skills to get it done. We see that the workers were faithful in that precious work – which probably took a few years or more.

We see a return to the Word, and its ordinances and doctrines. We see a healthy fear of the Lord, and also his great mercy and kindness.

4. God worked revival and reformation in the hearts of His people.

Josiah was humble and obedient to the Lord. As a result, God worked a miracle in the hearts of the people of Israel. In one generation they went from “worse than the heathen” (2Chron 33:9) to “departing not from following the Lord, the God of their fathers” (2Chron 34:33).

Only God could do that!

They covenanted before the Lord to follow Him alone – and they kept it. They had the holiest, most joyful passover celebration that Israel had known since the days of Samuel!

Back on the Blog!

March 12th, 2009

Hmm…I have been absent from the blog for such a long time, it’s almost like I ought to introduce myself again ;-) . I am one of the more reclusive ones of The Willi (ahem, Nate,) but it was not for that reason which brought my posting to a standstill.

Of course I was busy (and still am) with lovely heaps of sewing projects (*sighs in rapture*). Once our CD was recorded in December, I foolishly set out in my mind everything I was to do in the next months, what I was going to get done, completely skipping over James 4:13-14. Well, God had other plans, much to my dismay at times.

I suffered a bout of fatigue that lasted for three months. I needed a nap everyday to  function, and even then dragged on like a sloth on sedatives. The fact that I couldn’t do what I knew had to get done was tragic to my busy-bee nature.

But stripped of my natural pride in accomplishments (and in a whole lot of other things) God revealed to me true dependence on Him in such a powerful way. I am so grateful for what He has done! I am so glad for the prayer during my rest times, the dwelling on His Word, and yes even the “bleh” days and tears, for it caused me to cry out all the more for Him to be my strength. May He receive all the glory and praise!

A little over a week ago, my strength and energy returned, praise God! My family is constantly saying to me, “It sure is nice to see you back,”, “Wow, like last month you would been wiped out after that…” and “You look like the Angie that I remember!” :-)

I thank God for healing, and the things He has taught me! And I want to say thank you to my family, who were so considerate of my health, and wouldn’t let me do too much, even against my will. I love all you guys so much.

I hope this has encouraged you, as it has encouraged me just writing it down! God bless you’all!

-A very thankful Angie

Random Pictures

March 11th, 2009

Life is “good”, as they say, but also very busy! I put together a few pictures of what’s been going on around here lately.

twelfthnight

~a performance of Twelfth Night at the local college~

usathallelujahacres

~at Hallelujah Acres last week~

talentshow

~performing music in our homeschool group Talent Show~

(not really seen in this picture are Nate, playing his bass, and our friend Jeremy on drums back there – thanks Jeremy!)

knittingparty2valeri2

evanandmika

~over at Valerie’s for a knitting party~

And by the way (BTW of cats, that is), you have to read this – it’s hilarious!

gardenwork

~garden work~

Not shown: pictures of Angie and I busily sewing away at our ballgowns and other costume – excuse me – period dress accessories.

What’s been going on in all y’all’s lives? (be assured, I never use that Southern phrase in real life) :-D

To God be the glory!

-Kasie