This is our old farm truck. It has been sitting without it's engine for quite some time. Hubby and son decided that son needed the learning experience and so they spent much of the winter and summer rebuilding the engine and carb. Just a few minutes ago, son drove it into the driveway!! To many kids don't learn how to work or work with their hands these days, I'm thankful that mine is such a hard worker!

I haven't blogged in a very long time! It's not that life is boring, it's the opposite, and it's not because I didn't want to, it just seemed like every time I sat down to write, I forget everything I wanted to write!

It has been a very busy late summer, one filled with lots of change and challenges.

The biggest change was our church moving from our country building to a bigger building in town. We went from 3 services down to one. I'm praying that God will be glorified in this move and that we will follow His lead.

I'm so thankful for fall, though. I love fall! I love the cooler temperatures, the lack of humidity, the changing colors and football! It's not that I don't enjoy summer, I do, but everything changes in the summer and I enjoy getting back into a routine. We started our next Beth Moore study. That's exciting!! We have 30 women signed up for this one-Believing God. I know that He will work miracles as we learn to believe Him!

He's been driving home some points from several things that I've been studying! We are Abraham's spiritual heirs-it's all over the New Testament! I've often struggled with whether or not we could actually receive the blessings that God's Chosen People, the Jews, received, but we can! How exciting it is to watch God putting it all together! There has been so much more, but it's hard to put it into words. I just know that He is working!

I haven't gotten much substantial knitting done. I spent a couple of weeks knitting blue cords for all the Bible study ladies. Now that I'm done with that, I'm getting the lining in my felted bag, I've been working on some socks and need to get a baby sweater done.

Finally!!! This is my jacket! I started it on 8/5/05 and finished it today!! Of course, I wasn't working on it the entire time, it got put away for over a year, but I decided that I wanted it before fall and I was tired of unfinished things lying around. Now, it just needs to cool off!

Baby T's sweater is done! It's from the Leisure Arts booklet that goes with Debbie Macomber's "Back on Blossum Street". They did their's in pastels, but I had this Patons "Look At Me" variegated and decided to use that. It came out so cute!!

Finally, clue 1 of MS3 is finished!! I am enjoying knitting lace. I'm loving the challenge. It's something new and different and I like how the pattern is unfolding. Time for clue 2.

I wish I could figure out how to get past this "blogger block". All through the day I say to myself, "I should blog about that," then I sit down and NOTHING!!

It's so silly, because we've been having an interesting summer-at least, it's been interesting for me! God has been teaching me a ton of things and bringing freedom in areas that I had pretty much given up on. He's showing me what is sin in my life and how to eradicate it!

Hubby and I celebrated our 20th anniversary last weekend and baby boy turned 17!

I'm tired of politics, it's started way to early and I'm having trouble getting excited by the group that is running.

Anyway, there are dishes to do and things to knit!!

My first prayer shawl is finished and I'm praying that it will be very comforting to it's recipient. She is a dear friend who is facing a daunting trial with her health. I'm so thankful that this worked up quickly and I think it's gorgeous!

In Loving Memory of my step-dad, Kenny
He died 30 years ago today.

I'm also working on Retro Ribs from Interweave's newest sock book. I really like this pattern. I'm using one of my favorite colorways from Regia.

I also decided to join my first knitalong, Ms3. This is awesome. I've never done much lace-weight lace. It's challenging and I'm enjoying it. I chose black Merino Lace and I'm using beads, although they are not showing up very well. (If you click on the picture, it will come up bigger and you'll be able to see the beads.)

Well, despite the fact that I haven't had much time to blog, I have been getting a little knitting done! This is the first 70 rows of "Alix's Lace Prayer Shawl" from Knit Along With Debbie Macomber, Back on Blossom Street. I'm really enjoying this one! I'm using the lightweight Grandma's Flower Garden from Socks that Rock.

This week has been a good week. I was able to get my house clean and actually enjoyed doing it. I was the only one home that day and it made it go so much easier! Our knitting group met that night and we had a nice time. I'm enjoying getting to know the ladies involved. One lady (you know who you are!) brought her granddaughter to learn to knit and she picked it up like nobody's business and she's 8. I was way impressed!!

I was able to get some relaxation in for a couple of days which has just been wonderful. God began telling me on Monday that I needed to get rest and relaxtion and He drove the point home in a big way because the lesson from Breaking Free was on exactly that! She pointed out that if we don't get that rest, we are not in God's Will.

God has been tying so many things together for me lately, it's very exciting! He's using Breaking Free and the Lord's Table right now and I'm often amazed at how the lessons go together. Today's-for both-was on abiding in Christ! So cool!

God has also been educating me lately on "the least of these". He continues to open my eyes to the needs of the mentally ill, the brokenhearted, the captives, and the prisoners. Again, His timing is amazing!

I'm almost done with my sweater for myself, which is very exciting! I'm excited about my next project but I don't want to spoil it, it's a gift for a dear friend!

One more shot of the chopper! It's a nice bike, but I'm not to fond of the rear fender being all one piece with the seat mount. I'm also not to sure about the tank, but I'm looking forward to watching the show (sometime in October) to see the reasoning behind it.

I was pretty intent on the racing action-look at that gray hair!! Thankfully the weather couldn't have been better. They were calling for hot and sunny, but it only reached around 75 and was cloudy with a cool breeze.

Coming around for another green flag!

The winner was Dario Franchitti. He won the Indianapolis 500 this year, also and is Ashley Judd's husband (she was there too!)

This is the tank for the E85 chopper. The paint job was amazing!

Due to the looooonnnnnng line we had to sit in to get into the Iowa Corn Indy 250 today, we are some serious silliness going on amongst the kids! We were very excited to have this big race in our own back yard!

We got to see the unveiling of the Iowa Farm Bureau E85 chopper built by the Teutals of Orange County Choppers. I was thrilled! I love these guys!! They brought me back to my roots so to speak and helped me to understand that I can let my past be an important part of who I am!

Paul Sr took the bike for a ride around the Iowa Speedway.

We were right at the end of the 4th turn and it was exciting to see those cars coming out of that turn at around 180 miles per hour!!

The newest little one, Baby T.

Baby A's baby brother M. He's just adorable!!

Baby A at her 2nd birthday party!! I haven't given an update lately, but she is talking and growing like a weed!

The highlight of my last few weeks!! It's been a very trying, somewhat stressful, yet blessed couple of weeks, but last night was just pure fun and joy! My best friend gave her husband a hotair balloon ride for his 40th birthday. They were finally able to take it last night. We got to take part from beginning to end and really had a good time. They rode for about 50 minutes, but the whole process took about 2 hours 45 minutes.

God is truly doing amazing things in my life and in many of my friend's lives. He is teaching us so much about freedom in Him, obedience to Him, and serving Him.

I'm quite tired and sad. A friend and I were discussing how we can be on a mountaintop and in a valley at the same time. God is truly doing amazing things through the Bible studies I've been working on and the excitement is growing among all the women involved. They are so challenged and convicted and are allowing God to really break the chains that keep them from true freedom in Christ. God has led me to a new way of eating and He's blessed me with 3 pounds gone! He's helping me to come to terms with some things that are not His perfect will, but certainly not out from under His permissive will. He's breaking other women free from legalism, prejudice, judgmentalism and on and on. Oh the mountaintop!

But, the valley is sad right now. It was so hard to go to our family visitation for Grandma Betty. Grandpa Fred is so heartbroken right now. His beautiful bride no longer responds with joy when she sees him. Please pray for him.

In Loving Memory of my beautiful step-grandmother, Betty. She passed out of this world just after 4:00 am this morning. Please pray for her beloved husband of 60 years, Fred and for their children, grand-children, and on. She truly was a darling woman. When we joined their family 10 years ago, she greeted us with open arms.

Have you ever pondered just how many truly broken people there are in this world? You know, I spent many years dwelling on my own issues, my own fears, my own traumas, thinking "how could it be any worse?" Well, guess what, there is so much out there that is so much worse than our own condition.

Don't get me wrong, we are all sinners, we all start out in the fallen condition, but what is so sad is what that fallen condition can do to others. The Lord is opening my eyes to some horrible truths in this world. You know, when you turn on the news and you hear about the latest child being abused, tortured or murdered, you say a little prayer and you move on with your day. But, for those who do survive such horrific actions against their body, soul, and spirit, life is never the same.

Now, we live in a society that says "Live and let Live", "if it feels good, do it". Well, let me tell you, giving license like that to an already perverse world is insane. We've taken out the Bible, we've made morality relative and more and more people are being hurt by it. Looking back through the ages, perversions and abuse have always happened, but they weren't necessarily sanctioned by their society, now those perversions are sanctioned. Of course, many would argue that it will stop with homosexuality, but given the pedophilia out there, I'm sure they will be exherting their rights next.

Please pray for those that can't help themselves. Pray for those that are being abused in secret, carrying their shame and pain all alone. Pray for the adult survivors of horrific abuse and neglect, that they would find wholeness in Jesus Christ!

Well, my lack of posts should help you to understand just how very busy we have been for the past few weeks. It's been absolutely nuts. It's been fun, but exhausting. During the week, I've been studying-Bible study and counseling and psychology. During the weekends, we've been going from here to there!

We've had a wedding, two graduation receptions, two graduations, two birthday parties (on the same day). Things are going to slow down a bit. Next weekend is free, nothing on the calendar, but the following weekend I have my 25th High School Reunion and the following day we are going to see Jars of Clay and Third Day. The following weekend is our family reunion and the weekend after that we'll be taking in the Iowa Corn Indy 250. I'm really excited about that! Not only will we see all the Indy drivers, but Orange County Choppers is going to unveil the Farm Bureau bike. Since it's going to be our vacation for the year, I'm really looking forward to it.

I've been reading so much that I haven't gotten much knitting done, but I have been working on my jacket. It's pretty mindless knitting and that's what I'm in the mood for!

Okay, I haven't been rambling much according to a friend's comment, who shall remain nameless :) . I've been so busy reading and studying, I'm having trouble wrapping my thoughts around any one particular subject.

I'm getting so much out of the two Bible studies I'm doing, Breaking Free and Believing God, both by Beth Moore. They are awesome. I have a hunger and thirst for the Word of God that I haven't had for a long time. It's exciting.

On top of that, I'm still working with a lady on her Bible study and some other issues. This is proving to be one of the most thrilling and intense things I've done in quite some time. It has required me to be praying, seeking, studying. I'm reading books on all sorts of issues, taking notes, searching, and searching some more. I'm not sure where all this is headed, but I know it's not just to consume time. I'm excited to see where it goes.

I've been trying to finish up projects. I can work on MY sweater and read at the same time (with my handy book-mate--google it, you'll love it), so I've been doing most of my knitting on that. Mindless knitting can be such a blessing!!!

My beautiful niece ready for her senior prom. Baby C got to get all dressed up for the occasion too! We've been very blessed for all the kid's proms this year, the weather has been very nice!

J went to prom last night. I wasn't sure about the whole thing, but Dad was the final authority on the issue and I've just been praying it through. That being said, he looked great and was very gentlemanly.

What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. Galatians 4:1-2

In my Believing God study today, the lesson was on Abraham, but indirectly, when applied to us, ministry. I came to saving faith in March 1993. By March of 2000, I'd taught Sunday School, done several VBS's, was in charge of Ladies Breakfast, had done several classes of Weigh Down Workship and the Exodus one, as well as doing several other things on and off. In March of 2000, I basically had a nervous breakdown. I pulled away from almost everything, except Ladies Breakfast. Even though I was in the depths of despair, deep down, I knew God had a work to do and it wasn't going to be pleasant.

Over the course of several months I learned many things about myself. I had become prideful

( 1 Timothy 3:6 (NIV) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. -- 2 Corinthians 12:7 (NIV)
To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. ).

I was doing the work myself, I wasn't relying on God, I wanted the glory. I needed to have that broken down in me. I also learned that I had to take better care of myself, that I had a lot more to learn.

So, for the last seven years, I've been slowing growing, taking my time, learning to just to trust God and His perfect timing. That's why the verse from Galatians really stuck out at me. I was a child and I needed to wait until the time set by my Father!! I'm so excited for what He is doing right now! His timing is so perfect! Waiting may seem difficult, but it is so worth the results!

Please pray for an old school-mate's family. She went home to be with the Lord this morning, just 3 months to the day of being diagnosed with a very aggressive cancer. She leaves behind a husband and three children. Her testimony was awesome and she was ready and excited to go home, but concerned for her kids. Please say a prayer for them.

God is so good!!!!!

God is so good!! I wish I could put into words what I'm feeling in my heart, but they aren't there yet. God has been using books that I've been reading and studies I've been doing (particularly Beth Moore's Believing God) to really stir up my heart and teach me things about Himself and myself. Oh how I love HIM!

Partial-birth abortion has been deemed illegal. I can't believe it took this long to do what only makes sense. All types of abortion are murder, but this is particulary heinous. The "health" of the mother is also a misnomer. You have to undergo the entire labor process to have an abortion this way, so a physically ill woman could not endure it and if it were for a women's mental health (a slippery slope argument), this would be bring more harm than good. To suggest that this puts "women's rights" back is a ridiculous claim. In fact, the right to terminate a child's life puts women's rights back.

Instead of screaming about the right to terminate a child's life, maybe the "feminists" should wake up to the idea of keeping their legs together. Simplistic, I know, and the old "what about rape? what about incest?" argument then pops up, but those occasions are extremely rare and it is still not the child's fault.

I'm having trouble with feeling mercy or compassion for the misguided media, the liberal lobby, those who spout their opinions without fact or sense. I'm trying to pray for them, but it is often a difficult undertaking.

Praise God, though, the weather is taking a nice turn. We've had nice temps and sunny days this week and that always makes one feel better.

I also want to say that I went to www.abc.com today and e-mailed them about firing Rosie. It's time. She cannot continue to go on national television and lie to the american public. I'm all for free speech, but you'd better be able to back up those things you spew as fact. May God have mercy on her soul. Please pray for her.

My Lorna's Laces "Yellowstone" socks. After our trip to Yellowstone last summer (our 2nd trip there) I really wanted something to "memorialize" my feelings for the park and the western side of Wyoming. When I found this yarn at Angelika's, I had to get it. It really is pretty and I can see how the colors reflect what I feel when I'm there. I love that Yellowstone is so diverse, so calm on the surface, but boiling underneath it all is a volcano, waiting to be unleashed. One of these days, that sleeping giant will awaken and won't most people be surprised.

Our first meeting of the "Nutty Knitters" met last night. We're going to be meeting every other Tuesday evening and I'm so enjoying it! My Y group decided that they wanted to continue and we also knew of others that wanted to join us, so we were 7 strong, each knitting different things and for different reasons! K, our first gracious hostess (as we'll be traveling from home to home), surprised us with several yummies and we enjoyed nice conversation and continued our learning.

I'm so excited about our next endeavor at church. I've had Beth Moore's "Breaking Free" on my heart for several months, but something kept getting in the way, whether it was weather or health. Finally, God's timing met up with mine and we will begin the study in a couple of weeks. I've been doing "Believing God" online and it's so challenging and so wonderful.

Well, my felted bag is still sitting over there waiting to be felted. Things got in the way and now the laundry has to be done first, maybe tomorrow. I've just been working on each of my wips-a little here and a little there. I'd like to start on a new challenge-two socks on one circ. I purchased Knitting Software's book on it and I'm looking forward to giving it a whirl.

My teaching knitting at the Y has ended and we are now forming a group to just meet and knit. We start this coming Tuesday. I'm excited. It's a diverse group of women (and one teenager!) and I think we'll have a good time. I enjoyed teaching, but I like the idea of a more informal gathering to just sit, knit, and chat.

Well, I've got more magazines to get on ebay, I'd better get to it.

I feel like I'm making some progress! I've finished my felted bag, except for the felting, which I'm hoping to do this morning. I've been working on my Lorna's Laces Yellowstone socks and I've just got the foot to go on the 2nd one. I've got my baby sweater going well and I've been working on my SWS? scarf. It would be really nice to have some Christmas gifts out of the way!

One of my comments asked if I am a counselor. Not in the sense that I get paid for it. I believe that all Christians are "counselors", we are all called to minister to others. That being said, I do believe that God has gifted me with an ability to counsel others in a way that bears fruit. For as long as I can remember, people have poured out their troubles and struggles to me. I can't say that I always have the best advice-I don't really believe that advice is the purpose of counseling. Often times, just listening to a person helps the person to recognize their problem and figure out their own solution. Anyway, I've been doing a lot of studying using counseling textbooks and I'm looking at taking some courses.

I'm am very thankful that the lady I've been meeting with is feeling somewhat better. I know that God can move mountains here and bring complete healing and victory to her.

It's freezing here!! I mean that literally. It was around 20 degrees here this morning and it's only supposed to get up to just over freezing. My poor daffodils--I'm not a gardener, matter-of-fact, I consider myself to have a black thumb, but they were doing so well and now they are not feeling so well! It's supposed to be cold until next week. Oh well, spring is coming and the sun is shining!

I hope everyone has a blessed Resurrection Sunday. May we all reflect on Jesus' reason for going to the cross and humbly bow before Him in gratitude and praise!

He IS Risen!! He IS Risen Indeed!!