I've Moved!

Literally physically moved. . . from the sailboat ⛵ to an apartment. . 
And moved all my blog posts (except what I still need to move from Patreon) to www.whatifweallcared.wordpress.com 
Stop by and see what's new!! We are on an incredible new adventure that unfolds daily in miraculous ways!! 

Changes Coming!!

Hi! Welcome back and come on in . . take your shoes off and let's share a pot of coffee while we chat. I am planning some changes to my blog and want to give you a quick peek at what I'm thinking . . First, I am planning to move my blog again. Yes, again. Unfortunately. I used Blogger for so many years and many of you have watched me grow there, in my writing as well as my spiritual maturity. But . . it lacked things I needed . . I really wanted to be able to add videos . . and it was quite glitchy . . so I moved to Patreon . . and I've loved the new opportunities it has given me .. But . . I'm lacking reader feedback and I think that may be due to the paid posts . . to me it presents as a 'gimme money' blog and I don't want that! I need a site where I can see what my traffic looks like, engage my readers and get some discussions going, post videos periodically and have the opportunity to also make money from my writing. I feel WordPress is that site and will be working diligently this week to relocate. I will move all the posts from both blog sites to WordPress then add new posts from there. Don't worry!! I'll notify you way ahead so you don't miss anything.

Joy Dare August 28-29, 2017

28th~ 3 gifts long-awaited . . 
   ☁ answer 
    📋 plan 
     📖 guidance 

29th~ A gift one, two, three . .  
         🍔 fasting 
           🙇 praying 
              📖 His Word 

Live Aboard Veggie Garden

Hey, remember the seeds I planted? Here are the tiny sprouts!! 

Quilting while Matt Studies

This has turned into a really nice way to spend my mornings!!

Gaps in Posts . .

Hey there . . just wanted to let you know that this morning, 1.5.19, I found I have a patron at www.patreon.com/karenjoyce. . . so I am, for now, going to pause deleting posts from that site and moving them here.  . . although I may switch to copy/paste . .  probably will in time . . For now, though, I need to focus on getting posts on that blog also . . and get back to regular posts here.
@Morgaine620 ~ 🤗 Huge hugs 😘 for being my patron . .   You Rock❣️

KJV Bible. Deuteronomy 8:18

[18]But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
        Lord, I pray this verse over my future husband . . keep him mindful of You all day.

"Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast"

☁ the blessing of His answer 
☎ direct line to God 
🍔 fasting is fun and opens locked doors 
🙇 prayer changes things 
⛵ sailing homestead 
👪 having a complete happy family 

Palestrina Knot Stitch

One more patch, this one from James' dress coat lining. This puts me at 75.5 total hours invested.

1st Day of School!!!

Good morning!! Here we sit in the clubhouse . . Matt's in his Modern U.S. History class and I'm quilting . . a pleasant group of gentlemen are across the room drinking coffee and chatting . . Matt's already finished his Math, Physical Science and English classes!! It's been drizzling off/on . . my laundry's in the dryer and my coffee (32oz) is almost gone . . I am thinking a caffeine-desperate mouse raids my cup every time I go check laundry!! 😉

Corned Beef Hash and Rice a la Matt!!

Yes, once again I am so spoiled . . And yes, I was served supper in bed!!!

Joy Dare 🌎 August 23-26, 2017

23rd~ 3 gifts old. . .
   * lessons from their history
    * lives well-lived
     * His sacrifice
24th~ 3 gifts moving . . .
   * changes He's making in me
     * progress
       * waves as I fall asleep
25th~ 3 gifts fragile. .
     * balance
       * status
         * dreams
26th~ a gift cut, sewn, buttoned . .
      * stress
       * new plan
        * hope in Him

Happy Monday Morning!!

Something about a Monday morning started with time with my Heavenly Father! Waking before Matt needed to rise for school gave me time to pray and seek His Will . . then, after Matt went up to the clubhouse to begin his first day at OHDELA (tell you about the miracle they are to us later!), I realized why the cabin lights had little to no power . . when Matt put the shelf back over the inboard motor he accidentally unplugged the battery recharger!! Thank you Jesus for showing me as I'd figured I needed to buy new marine batteries (again) and a new charger . . 💰💰💰 God really watches over the two (2) of us every minute and is making every step of obedience to Him a greater blessing than the last!!!

Hey there!! Welcome back. Yes, now that my Hope quilt is finished I am working on this quilt for my Mom.
Today I finished this patch and feel like I've mastered the Palestrina Knot Stitch.
This patch places me at 74 total hours invested. But, more than that, this quilt is a great way to work through the loss of my brother.

He is the Author of Everything!!

KJV Bible. 2 Esdras 6:1-6 "[1]And he said unto me, In the beginning, when the earth was made, before the borders of the world stood, or ever the winds blew, [2]Before it thundered and lightened, or ever the foundations of paradise were laid, [3]Before the fair flowers were seen, or ever the moveable powers were established, before the innumerable multitude of angels were gathered together, [4]Or ever the heights of the air were lifted up, before the measures of the firmament were named, or ever the chimneys in Sion were hot, [5]And ere the present years were sought out, and or ever the inventions of them that now sin were turned, before they were sealed that have gathered faith for a treasure: [6]Then did I consider these things, and they all were made through me alone, and through none other: by me also they shall be ended, and by none other." We can count our days on earth but we cannot know for certain when He will call us home. We can study His Word but only He will know ahead the date of Jesus return. Before we become too inflated with our accomplishments it's good to step back and remember Who made this all possible~ only Jesus!!

Joy Dare 🛶 August 22, 2017

 3 gifts in light . . .
🌞 sun between cloud bursts
         ☔ beautiful rain to wash the flowers clean
         📋 revealing review of my work

Live Aboard Garden!!

Hey there! How's your live aboard diet? Eating a lot of sprouts?
     I can see that this won't work for sailing on the ocean as salt water spray will kill the plants . .
       A shallow tub with fresh potting soil. . a few veggie seeds and a healthy future awaits . .
    I can see this as a seriously sustainable prospect for freshwater live aboards!!
  Imagine fresh squash, lettuce and chives every day!!

My New Ship's Log Book

Hi and welcome back!! Do you keep a log book for boat? I've known since before I bought Elan in March that I needed to organize some sort of a means of keeping track of voyages and maintenance. We all know how crazy my life has been since March 12, 2017 (the miraculous day I bought Elan) and how many planned and surprising changes we've had since then. . . so not having this done until now may be understandable . . possibly. 😉 

Any-who. . I was sorting out some things in my locker and came upon this binder I bought years ago for some  project I no longer remember. This will be perfect for my ship's log for Elan!! 

I have a basic plan for this, my first ship's log. I did a bit of online research and have a general idea of what records I need to keep. We only make ''voyages' to the gas dock to pump out the black water tank for now so I'm doing more of a daily log. I plan to track weather data, wildlife seen, meals cooked,  and BVYC events attended.

 I'll post what all else I'm charting in a future post so stay tuned!!

Corned Beef Hash and Rice a la Matt

Yes, once again I am so spoiled . . And yes, I was served supper in bed!!!

Have a Great Evening!!

Water @ BVYC ~ 8.22.17

Yes, there is algae . . and, yes, I decided to take my pics at this spot from now on as it will be easier to access if I decide to do this post all winter. 

My understanding is that this is not the notorious ''toxic algae' plaguing Lake Erie. I'm not sure how this particular algae impacts the aquatic life . . I really have to study up on this!!

👪 "Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast . . " 🍳

👫 complete restoration of my marriage 
⛵ sailing Elan
💉 helping addicts find Jesus
🙇 raising Matt to be a pastor
🌱 sailing homestead 
🐔 live aboard chickens

Love Dare

Knowing many would turn away from a failed marriage I am still working at restoration. Beginning Day 27 and praying he finds God's path for his life. Praying for a marriage that ended in divorce in 2002 may seem futile to many but I will keep persevering. It would be so easy to walk away again, but I know God's plan isn't for divorce or 'serial monogamy'. His plan is for a lifetime commitment . . yes, we abandoned our responsibility before God, but together we can fix that. It's all about making a commitment to each other and following through in love based on a strong commitment to Him and His plan for our lives!!

Being Deliberately Single

Praying and waiting for restoration of my marriage . . .

Day 125/365

1611 KJV Bible. Exodus 19:1-6

"[1]In the third moneth when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wildernesse of Sinai.
[2]For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wildernesse, and there Israel camped before the mount.
[3]And Moses went vp vnto God: and the Lord called vnto him out of the mountaine, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Iacob, and tell the children of Israel:
[4]Ye haue seene what I did vnto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on Eagles wings, and brought you vnto my selfe.
[5]Now therfore if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keepe my couenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure vnto me aboue all people: for all the earth is mine.
[6]And ye shall be vnto me a kingdome of Priestes, and an holy nation. These are the wordes which thou shalt speake vnto the children of Israel."

Yes, we are saved by grace, but . . we are still to obey His Word . .
It will be great to be in heaven . .
How much better to arrive having done our best to follow the rules He so carefully laid out for believers in the New Testament!!

Cloudscaping a la God

1611 KJV Bible ~ Exodus 17:6-7

"[6]Behold, I will stand before thee there, vpon the rocke in Horeb, and thou shalt smite the rocke, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drinke. And Moses did so, in the sight of the Elders of Israel.
[7]And hee called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, Is the Lord amongst vs, or not?" 

There is so much quiet comfort in knowing that God is always there and will always provide. 

Day 104/365

Day 102/365

Day 101/365

Cloudscaping over Joliet, IL

Near West Joliet, IL

Wildewood Subdivision

"Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast . ."

1. the immeasurable scope of God's love for His children
2. restoration
3. naps
4. blessings in obedience
5. safety and security
6. peace of a quiet walk in the woods

Day 98/365

Joy Dare ~ April 17, 2017

3 gifts woven together . .

 * location
* perspective
 * renewed hope

Legacy Paintball Park Scenery

This park is so beautiful!! Please come out and explore it.

Day 98/365

Campsites at Legacy Paintball Park

This is a really nice paintball park in Lockport, IL. It's part of the Lockport Park District and, I believe, also a part of Dellwood Park.