Sweet Friends Are Such a Blessing!

I feel like I've been 

away for such a long time!

I've missed having the time

to read your all your

wonderful blogs...

Hopefully, as we settle into

more of a routine around here...

I'll be able to stop by for a visit! 

I want to especially thank you 
all for your sweet prayers 

and your wonderful words 

of encouragement! 

There is an old Amish proverb
which says...

"A truly happy person

is one who can enjoy

the scenery of a detour."

Although, of course,

it saddens me to see

my dad's declining health...

I am looking forward to 

this season in our lives.

I so appreciate the care

that my parents gave to me 

growing up...

and consider it an honor

to be able to "give back" 

some of this wonderful gift

to them

as they grow older.

Speaking of giving...

This package came in the mail today

from my amazing sister-in-law, Nancy.

I wrote a post about her ministry

several months ago...

She sent all these craft kits...

knowing that I am spending

many hours in the doctors' offices

with my dad...

something to keep my "idle hands" busy!

So many blessings in my life...

Thank you, Lord. 

 Greater love hath no man than this, 

that a man lay down his life for his friends.
John 5:13

Round and Round We Go!

 Having my sister here with me 

for a week was such a blessing...

In the midst of dealing with the

uncertainty of my dad's failing health...

It was such a comfort to have her close by.

We share so many interests 

in common...
especially crafting!

While she was here she

was working on some ladies' hats

for a hospital outreach project.

She knits these hats for cancer patients.

And since we are always exchanging patterns...

She shared this one with me.

It calls for size 13 round needles...

Which I did not have

and wasn't sure that I could purchase locally.

Mom overheard our conversation 
about the hats and the needles
and told me she had something for me...

Don't you just love the olive green!

What she gave me 
was a vintage set of round knitting needles...
Which have never been used.

How about that bright yellow fake fur lining!

She got them 40 some odd 
years ago as a gift...
But already had many sizes of round needles
and never needed to use these.

What a treasure!

As I sat waiting for doctors' appointments,
I had fun making these 
wild hats!
I even added my own little flair...
the yo-yo and button!

Samuel's comment..."Thing 1 and Thing 2 hats!"

As I knitted round and round in circles...
It felt like our lives had been like this lately...
Searching for ways to help my dad...
Trying to find answers to questions...

And it reminded me of the way
we sometimes
approach coming to the Lord...
Some of us go round and round...

Trying to rationalize...

Trying to disprove...

Trying to say...
"I've got plenty of time for God later"

Trying to clean up our act...

Trying to be "good enough..."

When all He asks of us is
to believe and obey...

Really very simple...
And there's no way a"round" it!
 

"Verily, verily, I say unto you,

He that believeth on me hath everlasting life"

John 6:47

"And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, 

and do not the things which I say?"

Luke 6:46

It's Not Just For Babies!

My son's favorite jacket...

You know the one...

Fits just right

Not too heavy

Always looks good on...

Until...

He just happen to get grease stains

all over the front of it!

I had no idea how to get

grease from BBQ chicken

out of fleece...

I tried some of my old stand-bys...

But nothing seem to work.

Til I discovered this remedy...

Baby Powder!

You just dampen the cloth 

where the grease stains are...

Shake powder over the damp spots

and let them set overnight...

Then wash as usual in the morning!

My son was so pleased...

His favorite jacket was good as new!

 
Speaking of babies...

While sitting in doctors' offices
this past week with my dad...

I had an opportunity to make a few of 

these newborn hats...

Aren't they cute!

You know,
The Bible tells us that we 
should crave God's Word
as a newborn craves milk...

"As newborn babes, 

desire the sincere milk of the word, 

that ye may grow thereby..." 

1 Peter 2:2

But, just as baby powder

isn't just for babies...

neither is the Word of God...

For we are instructed 

to grow up in it...

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, 

ye have need that one teach you again 

which be the first principles

of the oracles of God; 

and are become such as 

have need of milk, 

and not of strong meat.

 For every one that useth milk 

is unskilful in the word of righteousness: 

for he is a babe.

 But strong meat belongeth 

to them that are of full age, 

even those who by reason of use 

have their senses exercised 
to discern both good and evil.

Hebrews 5:12-14

If we only partake of the "milk" of God's Word
Then we will stunt our spiritual growth.
We need to become accustomed to the
"word of righteousness."
We, as believers in Christ,
are called to grow up on God's Word.

How do we do this?

By "feeding" on it daily...

For we all know...

It's not just for babies!

Because I "Felt" Like It!

Recently I've been having a little fun

with felt...

After reorganizing my craft loft,

I discovered that I had an

entire laundry basket full of felt pieces.

So, because the last two weeks
have been a revolving door
of appointments and meetings,
I have wanted some hand projects 
to work on that I could take along with me.

Such as these 

donut pin-cushions...

A Dieter's Delight!

What a delight! No calories!

 And some

felt hair clips.

How many times have you heard the words...

Because I "felt" like it...

or perhaps even used them yourself?

So often,
what we do is governed by our "feelings"
or emotions...

We have had several weeks like this
in our family recently...

You see, my 87 year old dad's health
has suddenly taken a turn for the worse...
And thus, this week for us has been 
an emotional roller coaster.

Being one of 10 children,
decisions made about my parent's welfare
are not mine alone to make.

But, because we live right down the road...
(and all but one of
my remaining siblings
live out of state)
we are in the best position
to be the caregivers right now.

With such a huge extended family
so many "feelings" come into play...
And my telephone has been ringing
off the hook.

It would seem at this time
that the best decision would be
for my parent's home to be sold
and for them to move in with us.

Yet this home holds so many memories...
so many "feelings" for my family...
So you can see why this has been hard for us.

Thankfully, we have Someone to turn to...
Who will be there with us 
as decisions are made.
For we know that alone we are weak...
But He is our Ever Present Strength
in times of trouble.

And there is no better "feeling" than this
in all the world.
 

 

"When the cares of my heart are many, 

your consolations cheer my soul..." 

Psalm 94:19

As You Go...

I've been having some fun this week
with a different way of quilting
that I discovered recently...

It is called "Quilt As You Go."

So, one snowy morning

(did I use the "snow" word again?)

I thought I'd give it a try

on a table runner!

Each block is pieced, quilted, and then sewn together

The wonderful part about
"quilting as you go"
is that when you finish your top
your whole quilt is finished!

As I was working on this

I was thinking of the words...

As You Go...

And what they mean.

My husband has this philosophy...
and he has tried to instill it in our sons.

For example...
when the boys were lads
Whenever we got out of the car
he would always say,

"If everyone takes something now...
we won't have to come back for it later."

Or, as they were working on a project,
he would teach them to put away
their tools as they used them...
Then there wasn't such a big mess
left for later.

If they were headed upstairs
We would remind them to take anything
that belonged up there with them...
Instead of leaving downstairs
to be picked up later on.

As I taught my sons how
to research something
I explained the advantage of taking notes
"as you go"
So that at the end of your reading
you have everything that you need
to write your report.

I also try to do this when I am cooking...

As I prepare dinner
(or anything, for that matter)
I usually wash the dishes "as I go"
So that I don't have a whole sinkfull
in the end.

You know,
our Saviour has the same philosophy...
Whenever He encountered someone
on His journey...
He didn't say to Himself...

"Well, I can just tell them about
salvation next time I run into them..."

He knew how important
the "as you go" philosophy is...

For we might never have another opportunity...

"I charge thee therefore before God, 

and the Lord Jesus Christ, 

who shall judge the quick and the dead 

at his appearing and his kingdom; 

Preach the word; 

be instant in season, out of season; 

reprove, rebuke, exhort with all 
long suffering and doctrine.
 For the time will come 
when they will not endure sound doctrine;
but after their own lusts 
shall they heap to themselves teachers, 
having itching ears;
 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, 
and shall be turned unto fables.
 But watch thou in all things, 
endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist,
make full proof of thy ministry."

2 Timothy 4:1-5

A Doll Named "Laura..."

Isn't she just too precious!

Hand-knit...

Old-fashioned...

Absolutely adorable...

Totally huggable...

But the best part...

Her name is "Laura!"

Guess you know why 

I love her already.

Trish is having a give-away

at her lovely blog, "The Quiet Home"
 

Take a moment to visit

Trish's lovely blog...

and sign up for a chance

to adopt this precious sweetheart!

 

"Take your needle, my child, 

and work at your pattern--

it will come out a rose by and by. 

Life is like that...

one stitch at a time, taken patiently." 

~ Oliver Wendell Holmes