Friday, December 31, 2004

Here it is, December 31, 2004

I am having trouble realizing that this really is the last day of the year. As I've mentioned before, it's been quite an eventful year. At least I can look back and see that I have grown a lot, learned several new skills (including blogging-thanks again, Amie, for all your help! You've been great!) I've stretched myself in many areas of my life and that feels good! I'm slowly letting my grip on procrastination loose, I'm much better at just jumping in and getting something done.

I've passed on my love/addiction of knitting to my daughter. I've become more free in my own knitting. After 20 years of knitting, I'm not letting the pattern rule me and I'm getting more comfortable with color!

I've enjoyed getting to know folks on the internet, something I avoided for quite awhile. It forced me to be well read, to reawaken my research skills and to really think about my positions and reasons for those positions.

I've been blessed by the Lord to take part in a phenomenal women's retreat! I watched women release pain and condemnation. I watched them wake to their potential to serve others.

I was truly blessed to take part in the most wonderful wedding (besides my own) that I have experienced to date. This young couple waited until their wedding day to share their first kiss and it was amazing! We are so excited now, they announced they are expecting their first child late next summer!

I've been blessed with the most special friendships that I have ever had at any time in my life! Being an only child, I've always longed for someone that I could truly be real with and I've found several of those!

I've been blessed by the struggles and trials in my life. They have made me search deep in God's Word and in myself. They've made me deal with sin in my life and look at how I deal with other's sin. God's Word has proven faithful (as it always does)-trials develop perseverance and perseverance must finish it's work so that I can be mature!

I've been blessed by my children-good times and tough times! I've been blessed by my husband! His willingness to just be beside me during the most intense times is more than I could ever ask for! His willingness to pray for myself and the kids is wonderful!

I truly am blessed! I pray that I can be a blessing to others. So, as we end 2004 and begin 2005,

"The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn His face toward you
and give you peace."
Numbers 6:24-26
Happy New Year!!

Thursday, December 30, 2004

Still icky!

Okay, things have improved a little, I've gotten quite a bit done today, none of which was knitted! Maybe this evening. It's been a really warm day here, but the skies have been very gray and dreary.

I have been reflecting on this past year quite a bit. It really has been quite a year of ups and downs. Lots of negative, quite a bit of positive. I've decided not to dwell on it for very long, Paul tells us to forget what is behind and push on towards the end of the race. I'm ready to push on into 2005. Between now and the end of July, I know of 14 babies that will join us! How exciting! Most of them are the babies of close friends or grandbaby's of close friends. I guess I'd better get knitting those baby sweaters!

I get to teach a friend of mine how to knit this weekend, since she got herself into an odd bind and now has to have a pair of socks done by January 14. Thankfully, she's a quick learner-I think she'll do fine. My daughter was asked to teach a young friend of ours today, as well. Nothing like spreading the joy!

Oh, I suppose I should finish working on my missionary update sheet so that I can get to my baby sweater! (Daughter is doing wonderfully on her poncho-I'm so proud!!)

Wednesday, December 29, 2004

Icky...ugh...

That's how I'm feeling today! I am not motivated at all. I've done some bookwork-icky! I've worked a little on laundry-ugh! I haven't knit at all. I was hoping that this week between Christmas and New Year's would be relaxing and reflective-ha! I've been pretty busy. I do have the house to myself for awhile this afternoon, so I'm going to go take a bath, put in a movie and knit for awhile.


Tuesday, December 28, 2004

Washing, washing, washing...

The new washing machine is happily working hard on a load of dirty blue jeans. It is a tad bit more complicated than the old one, so it took us awhile to get it figured out last night. I think I've got it, I hope so.

We got the yarn for my daughter's poncho yesterday, as well. We didn't want to make a huge investment, since it's her first time shaping and cabling, so we bought Encore. I like Encore. I know it's mainly acrylic, but my girl is hard on her clothes, so we thought it best to do something durable. We picked out some pretty cool colors. I'll post a photo when I get a little more energy.

We're hoping to take down the Christmas stuff today, get the house back to normal.

Monday, December 27, 2004

Wow, the final week of 2004

In many ways I thought this year would never come to an end, but here it is. I'm so thankful that even though I don't know what's coming in 2005, I have a wonderful God who is in control and He will walk through each day with me!

I hope to reflect on this year throughout the week, hopefully it won't be to depressing.

I'd really just like to be knitting today. I've started my friend's sweater for her very soon to be born baby girl. She's been to the hospital twice since Thursday, but things just stop. Maybe today! Alas, knitting isn't in the cards until this evening-we've got to go buy a new washing machine, make a visit to the D.O.T., and do some shopping at the yarn shop.

My washing machine died the other day as my daughter was felting the purse she made for my niece. She had to take it to my moms to finish. The machine was over 22 years old, so I guess it's about time. I knew it had been slowly giving out, but I thought I had a little more time.

We are going to the yarn shop to get my daughter yarn for a poncho. She loved the knitting bag/tools/needles that she got for Christmas and now wants to get started on a poncho she saw in the holiday Vogue Knitting. I have no doubt she'll do a wonderful job. She'll be learning some new techniques-it's a good thing. I'd love to buy some yarn, but I have enough to get through several of my projects that need to be done. Maybe, I'll get another Addi Turbo to add to my collection!

Well, better get moving.

Saturday, December 25, 2004

Merry Christmas!!

A Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year to all who may be reading! I pray that God would make His face to shine upon you and give you peace.

We have had a wonderful holiday, but I'm thankful that it is winding down. The kids were excited with their gifts-and my daughter now has her own little arsenol of knitting tools and needles! My oldest loved that she received a leather purse and watch and a beautiful necklace. It's hard to buy for an 18-year-old, but she seems quite happy!

My husband and two youngest children kept a good secret from me for 4 weeks-hubby got me an anniversary ring and put it in my stocking. It's beautiful and just the one I wanted.

The highlight of my weekend, though, was giving hubby's 90-year-old grandmother the scrapbook that I had done for her commemorating her surprise 90th birthday this past June. She really seemed to enjoy it and that's what it's all about!

God Bless!

Friday, December 24, 2004

My story...

After reading the Christian Webring topic on KR last night, I decided that it was time to share my story. There are so many misconceptions of "being born again" or about having some magical experience. What most people don't understand is that it is not of yourself, it is entirely of the Lord. Of course, until you have accepted what Jesus did for you, you can't understand that. I know, seems strange, but God's ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts. That being said, here is my story.

I was not brought up going to church, although there was always a picture of Jesus hanging in my mother's bedroom. She talked of His forgiveness and told me about Him, but the only one that went to church on a regular basis was my grandmother. My other grandmother was very new age before it was cool. She was into astrology and did my chart (and everyone else's). She believed that she and her mother were clairvoyant, another story for another time. Anyway, from an early point in my life, I remember being drawn to the Bible. I enjoyed reading the Psalms and Proverbs, but I didn't get much out of it. I attended VBS, occasionally Sunday school, but had no formal church teaching. I had a friend in 5th grade who told me I would go to hell if I didn't accept Jesus. That just made me mad.

My new age grandmother had taught me that God was in everyone, that we were all God's children, that I could worship Him how I chose, especially through nature. So, I began to let my heart harden. I didn't want to hear about Christianity. There was a fear there. I remember being 10 or 12 and lying in bed-I was thinking about the fact that I knew Jesus would one day return to this earth. I thought about how I didn't really know who He was, but I knew that He was important and that when He did come back, I was doomed. I had no idea how to be saved.

Years went by, "evangelical Christians" ticked my off. They seemed so unenlightened. Surely God would change with the times, surely He understood the difficulties of our world. I was enlightened, I enjoyed learning about pagan religions, stepping into the "other world" occasionally. I was socially progressive, pro-choice, etc.. But, there was still an inner tugging I didn't understand.

In my early twenties, I made several big mistakes-so big they wrecked families. It was horrible but life went on. By the time I was 29, I had three young children, a marriage, a home, but I was scared to death. I still had this distinct fear of Christ's return.

Finally, the pastor from my mother-in-law's church started visiting. We talked about King Arthur and medieval history, we talked about upstate New York. He visited three times before he ever brought up spiritual things. So, during his third visit here he asked me, "If Jesus were to return today, would you go to heaven with Him?" I was shocked. How could he possibly know I was fearful of just that thing. I was also appalled-how dare he question my "relationship" with God. God knew I was a good person, He and I had made peace about my earlier sin. Blah, blah, blah! By the time he left, I was livid. Then things started to happen.

I had ordered a couple of books from my book club, when I received them, both were by Christians and told me the same thing the pastor had-you must believe in your heart that Jesus died for your sins and that God raised Him from the dead and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord. I still didn't understand. We went out for dinner that weekend, the table across from us was talking about sharing Christ with people on the death beds and they were so sincere-it was like the only agenda they had was people's eternal future. I was also drawn to the Bible-I couldn't put it down. The house was falling down around us, but I had to be reading that book. It was slowly coming together. I was beginning to understand who Jesus was and what He had done for me.

Finally, a newspaper arrived in the mail. It was a paper about Christians. These people were so sincere, so happy. How could I have that? I wanted freedom from my fear, I wanted peace in my heart. There was a little paragraph at the bottom of one of the pages. It had a prayer written there for accepting Jesus. It went something like this: "Dear God, I know that I am a sinner. That I am in need of a Savior. Lord, I believe that Jesus died on the cross for me. Jesus come into my heart and make your home there. In Jesus name, Amen". I read that over several times and then went into my bedroom and closed the door. I knelt beside my bed and prayed that prayer.

No tears, no lightning bolts, nothing-it seemed. I got up and went about the rest of my day. The next morning, I knew immediately from deep in my soul, I could never support abortion again. I knew that the Bible was the Word of God, was the authority.

None of this was from me, it went against every part of my being, so I knew that it was real. God had moved into my heart. That was almost 12 years ago. He continues to probe the depths of my soul, changing me, challenging me, testing me. He has proven Himself faithful through everything. He always keeps His promises. He can't do otherwise.

Being born again has nothing to do with some momentous experience, it is entirely of God. It is most often simply a willingness to listening to the still, small voice of God, to listen to His knocking and to open the door. God wants no one to perish, but all to come to a saving knowledge. I have peace now, I have freedom.

My knitted beaded brooch pin for my mother-in-law. Pretty adorable. Posted by Hello

Thursday, December 23, 2004


A little bit closer Posted by Hello

Jo's scarf made with Starz-the picture doesn't do the colors justice ll  Posted by Hello

Finally...

New York Daily News - Home - Lloyd Grove's Lowdown: We'll never have Paris again

I'm so excited by this. It's about time someone stepped up and said they're not going to take it anymore. This country is in celebrity meltdown! These people with no real claim to fame are put up on pedestals and the "little people" are expected to thrive on it. Unfortunately, Paris is not the only one, there are many, many "celebrities" out there with no real talent, nothing positive in their lives, nothing redeeming in their character. Maybe this will be the start of a new trend! One can only hope!

On a knitting note, my last scarf is almost complete and I got my Stitch & Motif Maker in the mail!

Making progress!

Yesterday was productive! I finished two scarves, started the last one, got groceries, delivered some Christmas gifts, wrapped about 25% of the gifts I need to wrap and organized the rest. Even felt relaxed enough to go to Bible study. So, today, finish the scarf, start Mom's socks, finish wrapping, clean! Icky!

Wednesday, December 22, 2004

I'm getting there...

Hubby had to get up early (5:00 am) for a load this morning, so I decided to stay up and get a few things done. I got my neice's Maverick scarf done. Thank goodness! I didn't particularly enjoy knitting it, but I know that she'll love it-it's done in her school colors. I was also able to make headway on the Boa Cardinal scarf. I want to get that one done so that I can get to my Pastor's wife's scarf-a fun, fluffy, colorful scarf to go with her new black coat.

Everyone is somewhat grumpy around here. It's very cold (4 below) this morning and everyone keeps forgetting things or neglecting things. I don't like it when we spend so much time snapping at each other. I'm still waiting for the results of my recheck pap from last Monday. It's been 9 days, I hope I hear today. I'm not worried about it, it's just that it's one more thing on my mind.

Back to work!

Tuesday, December 21, 2004

Woo hoo!!

Yeah!! The stockings are knitted and the machine is back in the basement! Now I can relax a bit and watch the Amazing Race.

Pictures...

Well, here are a few pictures of current and past projects. Hopefully I'll be able to figure out how to post them all at once without having breaks in between. I'm slowing figuring a few things out. I'd still like to know how to change my font color for my W'sIP and how to align them left-everything I tried today didn't work. I really need to get back to my knitting-3 machine knit stockings to go and those lovely scarves.

Felted bag daughter knit for 3-year-old's Christmas gift. Twin sister got a pink one just like it. Posted by Hello

Soon to be completed Sirdar Funky Fur baby girl sweater. I love that yarn! Posted by Hello

Anne by Shaeffer yarn for Mom's socks-much prettier in person Posted by Hello

Cardinal & Mustang scarves-Christmas gifts Posted by Hello

My Trekking XXL socks with tiny mock cable Posted by Hello

My Opal Handpaint socks Posted by Hello

I survived!

It was a long day, but I survived the shopping/traffic frenzy. I was able to get everything that I needed, now I just have to finish all the stuff here at home and get the house clean and make Christmas Eve dinner and do the laundry and pay the bills and get the groceries...oh, I've got to stop!

I went to my yarn shop yesterday (which was packed wall-to-wall with customers) and one of the ladies asked me if I was ready for Christmas-knittingwise. I had to laugh! I have one scarf 2/3 done, one scarf 1/4 done, one scarf not even on the needles, my mom's socks are still not on the needles, and I need to make a beaded bag pin for my mother-in-law. Still have those 3 1/2 knitted stockings to finish, too. Ugh!! I'm hoping to upload a few pictures later today.

I'm pretty tired of plain knitting, I'm ready to work on something with a little more technique. When we get through Christmas, I'm going to make myself a cabled scarf and I've got a slew of baby sweaters to make, mostly for boys, so I always picture cables for them. I like to design them myself with my Sweater Wizard, either that or I use Dale of Norway patterns. I'm excited, though, I should be getting my Stitch & Motif Wizard any day now and I'll be able to chart out my own cables.

Back to Christmas shopping...I want to figure something else out. Either I need to be better prepared or we need to make some serious changes. I feel like all I did was spend money for the sake of spending money. I hope there is meaning in the gifts that I chose, but I don't know. We've turned into a society that just goes and buys what it wants any time, so I'm finding it quite hard to find things that are meaningful and that bring that "Oh, how cool" or "how wonderful" response. I know that I get that most from those things that are handmade, but I didn't plan well enough this year and so I'm wasting my time shopping. You know, it's not really about the reaction I receive, but it is about the blessing that it gives. Last year, hubby grandma had mentioned how nice it would be to have a beaded bag she could wear as a brooch. My mind started working and I ordered the kit from Patternworks. Anyway, at Christmas we always let the youngest open their gifts first with everyone watching and we work our way up to Grandma (who celebrated her 90th birthday this summer and has a better social life than I do). Anyway, the little box with the pin had been on the top of her pile and she had peeked!!! Just like a little kid! She had it pinned to her sweater and it made her tear up. That's what makes it more blessed to give than to receive! This year, I don't know, I doubt that anything will excite anyone to much.

Time to get to work on the laundry, those Christmas stockings, and whatever else may come up.

Monday, December 20, 2004

Ohh, Monday!

Final push towards Christmas! I was able to get 3 1/2 stockings done yesterday and I'll finish the 4th in a few minutes. Then I have to head to the big city (Des Moines) to finish my Christmas shopping and pick up some parts for hubby. I'm hoping that the malls aren't to busy, hopefully folks wore themselves out over the weekend. The weather might get a bit dicey, but it shouldn't be to bad!

I'm hoping to get pictures uploaded soon!

Sunday, December 19, 2004

I did it...

With many thanks to RosebyAny, I think I'm starting to get this!! It's pretty cool! I guess I'll go public now!

Isn't my puppy gorgeous! She's half golden lab, half gordan setter, smart as all get out, and the most expressive dog I've ever had. She'll be two in February and we love her dearly.

This morning sermon got me to thinking. People always ask how we can believe/know that the Word of God is true. Well, it's like the story in Luke 2. One angel comes to tell the shepherds about the birth of Jesus, then a multitude appear to affirm the testimony of the one. Then the shepherds search for the truth, find the child, accept the truth and go away changed! They return to their job as shepherds, but they are changed-they testify, they praise God, and they glorify Him. That's what happens when we accept the truth of Jesus Christ-the multitudes of believers, past and present, testify to the truth-they were changed and when I believed, I was changed!

Well, I've played around long enough, I'd better get the other 6 stockings done on the machine that I need to do so that I can find my dining room table again!

My beauty, Liberty! Posted by Hello

Saturday, December 18, 2004

Praise God!!

The ladies brunch went very well! We based it off of "Mary, Did you Know" and I just read Scripture that correlated with each verse of the song. Just Scripture, nothing else! Then my daughter did a power point slideshow to the song and by the time it was done, many were pretty teary! It really was a lovely time at the Lord's feet.

Now, I've got to get motivated and get some things done!

Getting down to the wire...

Finally, our Ladies Christmas Brunch is this morning. I hope that it will be a refreshing time for all the ladies, a time to sit at Jesus feet and be renewed for the busy week ahead. I know that I am feeling some pressure, most of it of my own making, I'm such a procrastinator! I have a couple of scarves to finish and I still need to (at least) get my mom's socks on the needles! I'm hoping to get the body of the machine knit Christmas stockings done this afternoon and I have some beaded bags I'd like to make. Oh...to much to think about (plus, throw in finishing up Christmas shopping and taking the time to be organized about said shopping, wrapping ALL my gifts, baking, and delivering goodies to neighbors and Bible study friends!!). It will get done! I just may have to really limit my time on this silly box and at KR!

Thursday, December 16, 2004

Born again...

There has been quite a discussion on KR about being born again and what that means. I hope that I concisely explained it. I use to think that it was some crazy idea that wacked-out people believed, but after coming to know the Lord personally, it makes perfect sense. "The old is gone, the new is come". The old me died, the new me had rebirth through Jesus Christ. Hallelujah!

For quite a few years now (at least 15), I've been making Christmas stockings on my knitting machine for several families. When their families grew, they called me and asked me to make more. Well, I knew that one of these days, the machine would give out and it seems that we have reached that point. Actually, the machine is working okay, it's the computer that has decided to act up. It will only knit every row of the design, but only on every other row. I think it's in the switches, my husband thinks it's in the connections-he's probably right, he knows more about that stuff than me. So, I had to call everyone today and tell them that they'll have to wait. I can still knit the stockings on the machine, I'll just have to duplicate stitch the designs and names in. I don't mind doing that, I like to duplicate stitch and that's something I can do a little bit at a time. I really do hate disappointing people, though. I'm a people pleaser and this doesn't fit into my plan! But, it did free me up. I was beginning to feel pressure and I have a women's ministry thing to prepare for this Saturday, so it really is a blessing.

I still have two scarves to finish and at least get my mom's socks on the needles. She's always pretty patient. Thankfully! I ended up spending most of today making Bible bookmarks with several ribbons in them to go in the gift bags for our ladies brunch. My best friend came out and helped and we got a chance to chat!!

Hubby got called away on a load late this afternoon, so I have all evening to finish the bookmarks, work on my blog, maybe knit a couple of those stockings, and relax.

Monday, December 06, 2004

Christmas shopping...

Went Christmas shopping today. Ugh! I'm so thankful for the internet, much of what I really want to get folks will be ordered via the internet, shipped directly to my door! I really didn't get many new ideas today. There is a lot of junk out there, useless stuff. I've spent so much time dejunking my house that the idea of junking up someone else's turns me off.

Sometimes I wish we could get out from under the commercial aspects of the holiday. Everyone seems to just get what they want all through the year anymore, it's hard to be creative and get someone something that they really want! I don't think ahead well enough to come up with creative ideas. I need to work on that!

Time to go knit, I've still got plenty to get done!

Sunday, December 05, 2004

Fear...?

I've been thinking about my fear issues. I have a recheck on a medical test next week, and even though everything that I have read, and other's reassurance, I still tend to head for the "what if's". Why? Why waste time with that kind of emotion.

God's Word tells me:

Phil. 4:6 through Phil. 4:8 (NIV) Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

I really need to spend time thinking on the good things. A friend of mine just had to do a retake of a mammogram, but she made the choice not to worry about it before having anything to really worry about. That's what I must do. And, really, what would be the big deal if we had to deal with more? God is faithful, is He not? So, I would trust.

Fear really does waste time. I have way to much to do to spend time worrying about "what if".

Time to go watch the NASCAR awards!!

Saturday, December 04, 2004

Catching up!

Let's see, politics...

I'm so glad the election is over. I am amazed at the liberals lack of understanding and that they really believe that they can just start saying "moral" things and are quoting Scripture and that we will be so gullible, we'll believe that they have really changed. Huh? That's how they lost the election. People are tired of the crap, tired of having their immorality crammed down our throats, thrust at us from everywhere. We're really beginning to see that good intentions don't really matter, results do. Throwing money at things doesn't do one thing to make positive changes, sometimes negatives have to happen in order to make positive happen and they couldn't possibly be involved in anything that might damage someones self-esteem!!

So, now we sit back and watch as President Bush does his thing. I'm so thankful that he's cleaning house!

Church...

We had an amazing Women's Retreat. Our first ever, hopefully there will be more. Women rededicated themselves to the Lord, are starting their own Bible studies, grew! How exciting to watch the Lord work, when we just follow His promptings and His timing, the results are entirely His!! I'm looking forward to our upcoming Ladies Christmas Brunch, praying that it will be a continuation of our retreat. I will be speaking on Mary treasuring up the things of Jesus in His heart and how she sat at His feet as He was crucified.

Knitting...

Wow! I've been knitting my fingers off. Unfortunately, none of it has been terribly challenging. Mitten ornaments for the tree, Christmas stockings, garter stitch scarves. I'm ready to get back to my baby sweaters (10 to make in the next 6 months). I'd also like to make a complex pair of mittens, make myself a cabled scarf, work on my socks, finish my shawl.

Friday, December 03, 2004

Starting Over...

I know it's been way to long, I'm starting over. Can't write much tonight, but I will bring this thing up to date tomorrow!!