Easter baskets shopping...

I procrastinated this year.  Usually I try to get all of my Easter shopping done at least a week early.  Actually, I'm like that for most everything.  I don't function well under pressure and nothing says "pressure" like a crowded aisle of picked over holiday candy thrown on store shelves.  But in case you haven't noticed, I've been kind of busy.  Which is also why you haven't seen any recent updates on my 40 in 40 project.

I have been trying to get my husband to replace my 15+ year old, originally white carpet for at least 10 years now.  After surviving 4 toddlers and now 3 teens it has definitely seen better days.  When my husband finally agreed and we ordered new floors ( a really pretty mahogany laminate) I wasn't about to stand in the way when he began working.  What we weren't prepared for was for a simple day long project to turn into two weeks of major home renovation.  Still, that post is for another day.  Suffice it to say that I am currently typing while sitting on a couch in the middle of a room in which I was able to move things around and create a small space in which to sit.  I have been able to manage to continue to make a hat a day for the 40 in 40 project, just not get pictures or post.  I promise they are coming!

Which leads me to Easter candy.  Yesterday I braved my local store.  At this point I really just wanted to grab whatever I could shove in their baskets or a plastic egg.  God, however, kept laying it on my heart that my plan just wasn't going to happen.  I knew I didn't want the typical chocolate bunnies.  (That Veggie Tale song kept going through my head from Rack, Shack and Benny - "the bunny, the bunny, whoa I love the bunny")  I wanted a chocolate cross.

 I don't know if it was due to my procrastination or if it were simply a lack of production, but I had the hardest time finding any.  When I finally found a small box of chocolate crosses it was on the bottom shelf, nearly hidden by the massive amounts of hollow chocolate bunnies.

What have we done to Easter, my heart whispered?  And I knew then that anything I bought had to have a meaning.  It had to point my children to the true meaning of Easter.  And so I began looking at this plethora of sugary treats with new eyes.  How could it point the way to the cross?

Here is what I finally brought home for the baskets.  I wish I had time to make cute little tags to put with them and to share with you, but my house still needs to be put back together so instead I'll just share the items and the meanings.  Perhaps when life returns to normal I'll come back to them.

Chocolate coins - Jesus was betrayed for a few coins, Matthew 26:14-16

Twizzlers - to remind us that Jesus was scourged, John 19:1

chocolate cross - Jesus gave His life on the cross, Luke 23:46

Plastic egg with pop rocks in them - Jesus was laid in a tomb and a rock placed in front of it, Mark 15:43-46

Ring pops - We are precious to God, He loves us so much that He sent His Son to die for us, Romans 5:8

Lifesavers - Jesus is the ONLY one who can save us, Romans 10:9

 My house may be in chaos, I'm behind on blog posts, and I will be attempting to cook in a kitchen filled with items from my dining room, but I am okay with all of that.  Why?  Because ultimately none of that matters.  What matters is that I point my children to Jesus and make sure they understand how much He loves them and what He has sacrificed so that they have an opportunity to spend eternity with Him.

"Fix these words of mine in your hearts and mind...Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Deuteronomy 11:18-19

Until next time,

Knitting for Peace review

Knitting for Peace: Make the World a Better Place One Stitch at a Time written by Betty Christiansen

Description:

Knitting for Peace is an exceptional book that celebrates the long heritage of knitting for others. It tells the stories of 28 contemporary knitting-for-peace endeavors, and features patterns for easy-to-knit charity projects such as hats, socks, blankets, and bears, plus a messenger bag emblazoned with the Knitting for Peace logo. Enlivened by anecdotal sidebars and quotations from both knitters and peacemakers, this inspiring book also includes everything readers need to know to start their own knitting-for-peace groups.

My Review:

When I was presented with the opportunity to review Knitting for Peace by the publisher I was ecstatic.  After all, how appropriate that I review a book celebrating knitting for charities during my "40 in 40" challenge.  I didn't know what to expect other than the description above when I agreed, but what I found really surprised me.

It isn't often that you really get to know and understand the passion and heart behind the creator of a charity organization.  I was blessed to have been able to meet and talk with Danette LeMaster, founder of God's Tiny Angels, several times in the years that I have been contributing to her organization.  This book gives you that same feeling of connection to a cause by introducing the hearts behind the organization.

The organizations are split into five chapters: Peace and War, Peace on Earth, Peace at Home, Peace for Kids and Knit for Peace.  Each chapter includes several organizations; some you may have heard of, many you probably have not.  Not only are we presented with an overview of the organization, but contact information for each is included as well as many patterns for items you can contribute to the cause.  With such a diversity it is almost a guarantee that one of them will touch your heart and prompt you to contribute.  

At only $9.99 for the Kindle edition at the time of this posting, and often you can find it used on Amazon for less, this is a great book to add to your library.  

Until next time,


This post contains affiliate links.  

Football hat

In my search for some cute hats to make for the boys I kept coming across hats designed to look like balls - especially a football.  I found a free one and gave it a go only to have it turn out oddly shaped and WAAYYYY to big despite being a "newborn" size.  So I again decided to play around and this is what I came up with.  It received Mr. Sunflowers seal of approval as well as the mini sunflowers.

You will need:
Crochet Hook, Size I, 5.5mm
Red Heart With Love, Chocolate
Red Heart With Love, White

Directions:
start with a magic ring,

r1 - ch 2 (does not count as a dc in the pattern),  12 dc in ring.  pull tight.  join to first dc

r 2 - ch 2, work 2 dc in each stitch around.  join to first dc.  (24 dc)

r3 - ch 2, *2dc in stitch, dc in next stitch repeat from * around.  join white yarn, join to first dc (36)
 * I do not cut the brown yarn, rather I work the first dc of the next row around the tail and let it hang.  When I begin r5 I just pick it up again.  less ends to weave in ;)

r4 - ch 2, dc in each stitch, join brown yarn, join to first dc.  cut white yarn (36)

r5-9 - ch 2, dc in each stitch around, join to first dc (36)  at the end of round 9 join white yarn

r10 - ch 2, dc in each stitch around, pick up brown and join to first dc.  cut white yarn (36)

r11 - ch 2, hdc in each stitch around, join to first hdc (36)

r12 - ch 1, sc in each stitch around, join to first sc. fasten off and weave in all ends

to make the lacing:
with white chain 7 leaving a long tail at the end.  position chain in the large brown section between the white rounds vertically.  use the tail to secure the chain to the hat and to sew 3 bar lines across.  weave in ends.

Until next time,