Monday, January 11, 2010

Monday Musings

The kids are back in school after a week of snow that ended up translating as only 1 1/2 days of school.  It was great to have that extra time with them, but I am glad to have some time to myself again.  Especially since last week was my first week trying to count calories, work in 30-45 minutes of exercise a day, and my husband worked every night and had to sleep during the day.  (You try keeping 4 kids quite that are experiencing cabin fever!)  Still, I was able to spend a few extra days playing with them, I did get my exercising in, and I lost almost 5 lbs.

I sat here today and edited the sermon from Sunday to post on the website.  Have you ever sat through a service that didn't seem to apply to you only to glean information that really hits your heart?  That is what happened to me not only on Sunday, but again today.  The sermon was titled, "Who's the Man? Leading your family as God intended" and was an address to the men in the congregation.  On the surface that sounds like it totally does not apply to me.  However, lots of things hit me, such as my needing to step back and let my husband lead.  I was raised to be the one to make all of the decisions and to not rely on anyone else.  My mother made every decision and often told my father he was handling situations incorrectly while she was married.  I believe she did this with the best of intentions, but it isn't how God intended it to work.  I saw ways that I was also doing this to my own husband, just not as openly.  I also saw ways that I should be praying for my husband that I had not been.  Let's just say that there were several things that were pointed out to me that I need to work on.

What really stuck with me was Pastor Doug's final thought.  Many of us hear what we should be doing while sitting in the pew.  Quite often we nod our heads in agreement and our hearts are convicted.  But within the day, or the week we find that we haven't done what we were convicted to do.  I am part of that crowd also.  This isn't a new problem, or a new circumstance.  James even addressed it and that is why I chose James 1:22 as this weeks scripture card.

as always you can download a better resolution image suitable for printing by clicking here  Feel free to share this image in any form, but if you place it in an electronic format (webpage, blog, email etc) please include a link to my blog.

Love,

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Snowflake Saturday

How fitting that I am working on snowflakes when everything outside is covered in snow.  It really is beautiful and I am amazed at how God can transform a bleak, dead environment into something clean and gorgeous.

I think that I have decided that I will be attempting to make extra snowflakes.  I plan to create a tag for them that includes a poem that a friend from my CraftSayings forum wrote that talks about how we are each made unique and individual by God and that no other is like us.  After attaching the tag to the snowflake I plan to use them as tracts.

In the past my family has purchased the million dollar bill tracts.  It became a game with us to see how creative and sneakily we could leave them places for others to find.  H actually was able to fold one up and toss it into someone's open purse while we were shopping once!  We have placed them in the plastic bags at the grocery store to be hidden under the next customers purchases to be discovered when they get home.  We have even hidden them in coat pockets and socks on display at stores.  I think it would be really neat to use the snowflakes through the winter months instead.

This weeks pattern is from Julie Bolduc of JPF pattern club.  I didn't use the suggested hook, instead I used a size 10 hook which gave me a finished snowflake that was 3 inches from point to point using size 10 thread.  The pattern is called Pretty Snowflake.  Hope you like it!  Here is mine:

Love,

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Memo from God

How appropriate that I come across this at the beginning of a new year with so many of us making resolutions.  Take a moment and read it, then apply it.  Otherwise it is just a bunch of sweet, meaningless words.

Effective immediately, please be aware that there are changes you need to make in your life. These changes need to be completed in order that I may fulfill My promises to you to grant you peace, joy and happiness in this life. I apologize for any inconvenience, but after all that I am doing, this seems very little to ask of you. I know, I already gave you the 10 Commandments. Keep them. But follow these guidelines, also:

* Quit Worrying. Life has dealt you a blow and all you do is sit and worry. Have you forgotten that I am here to take all your burdens and carry them for you? Or do you just enjoy fretting over every little things that comes your way?

* Put It On The List. Something needs done or taken care of. Put it on the list. No, not YOUR list, Put it on MY to-do-list. Let ME be the one to take care of the problem. I can't help you until you turn it over to Me. And although My to-do-list is long, I am after all, God. I can take care of anything you put in My hands. In fact, if the truth were ever really known, I take care of a lot of things for you that you never even realize.

* Trust Me. Once you've given your burdens to Me, quit trying to take them back. Trust in Me. Have the faith that I will take care of all your needs, your problems and your trials. Problems with the kids? Put them on My list. Problem with finances? Put it on My list. Problems with your emotional roller coaster? For your sake, put it on My list. I want to help you. All you have to do is ask.

* Leave It Alone. Don't wake up one morning and say, "Well, I'm feeling much stronger now, I think I can handle it from here." Why do you think you are feeling stronger now? It's simple. You gave Me your burdens and I'm taking care of them. I also renew your strength and cover you in My peace. Don't you know that if I give you these problems back, you will be right back where you started? Leave them with Me and forget about them. Just let Me do My job.

* Talk To Me. I want you to forget a lot of things. Forget what is making you crazy. Forget the worry and the fretting because you know I'm in control. But there's one thing I pray you never forget. Please don't forget to talk to Me - OFTEN! I love you. I want to hear your voice. I want you to include Me in on the things going on in your life. I want to hear you talk about your friends and family. Prayer is simply you having a conversation with Me. I want
to be your dearest friend.

* Have Faith. I see a lot of things from up here that you can't see from where you are. Have faith in Me that I know what I'm doing. Trust Me, you wouldn't want the view from My eyes. I will continue to care for you, watch over you, and meet your needs. You only have to trust Me. Although I have a much bigger task than you, it seems as if you have so much trouble just doing your simple part. How hard can trust be?

* Share. You were taught to share when you were only two years old. When did you forget? That rule still applies. Share with those who are less fortunate than you. Share your joy with those who need encouragement. Share your laughter with those who haven't heard any
in such a long time. Share your tears with those who have forgotten how to cry. Share your faith with those who have none.

* Be Patient. I managed to fix it so in just one lifetime you could have so many diverse experiences. You grow from a child to an adult, have children, change jobs many times, learn many trades, travel to so many places, meet thousands of people, and experience so much. How can you be so impatient then when it takes Me a little longer than you expect to handle something on My to-do-list? Trust in My timing, for My timing is perfect. Just because I created the entire universe in only six days, everyone thinks I should always
rush, rush, rush.

* Be Kind. Be kind to others, for I love them just as much as I love you. They may not dress like you, or talk like you, or live the same way you do, but I still love you all. Please try to get along, for My sake. I created each of you different in some way. It would be too boring if you were all identical. Please know I love each of your differences.

* Love Yourself. As much as I love you, how can you not love yourself? You were created by Me for one reason only - to be loved, and to love in return. I am a God of Love. Love Me. Love your neighbors. But also love yourself. It makes My heart ache when I see you so angry with yourself when things go wrong. You are very precious to Me. Don't ever forget that!

With all my heart I love you,
GOD.

(submitted by Debbie Preuss to Glad Tidings; 2/2/200)
May you find it in yourself to quit worrying, turn it over to Him, make time to talk to and listen for Him, encourage those He puts in your path, practice patience, and see yourself as God sees you.  I found this memo especially encouraging after Sunday's church service titled "Something New" in which we learned about the things that prevent us from having the abundant life that God promises, and just what an abundant life REALLY is.

Love,

Monday, January 4, 2010

Monday Musings

It's the first Monday of 2010, I still try to type 2009!  Today was my first day of Body Bootcamp and it really wasn't so bad.  I did 30 minutes of step aerobics on the Wii and I did a 7 minute strength video working on my lower body.  I will probably pay for it later as my legs feel kind of funny, but in the long run it will be worth it!

I also started my first group of crochet projects for GTA.  I went through my yarn stash and organized it first.  I have a 45 gallon tote full of full skeins of worsted weight yarn, a large back of size 10 crochet thread, and a wal-mart bag full of eyelash and specialty yarns.  In addition I have about 5 or 6 skeins of baby weight yarn and about 20-30 balls of yarn.  After I took an inventory I decided what I wanted to use up first.  I decided that I wanted to use the balls of yarn first, so I was limited to small projects that used worsted weight yarn.  That led me to shoes/booties and my first projects.  For the boys, crochet sneaker slippers/booties  and for the girls crochet mary janes and now my fingers are working away!

And as for my Bible Study, I am now reading about Jacob and his dream of the stairway to heaven in my personal study time, in my stay at home mom weekly group we are reading through Ruth, and in my family study we are reading a chapter of Proverbs every day this month (31 chapters and 31 days in January.  To cool huh?!)  And that leads me to today's scripture card from yesterday's reading from Proverbs 3

as always you can click the picture above or click here to download a high resolution version of this card suitable for printing.  Feel free to use this on your websites as long as you include a link back here.

Hope your new year is starting off wonderfully!

Love,

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Snowflake Saturday

If you are on my Christmas card list, then hopefully you remember that for the last 2 years I have included a little crochet something as well as a poem with each card.  The first year it was snowflakes and this year it was crosses.  I think that I have decided that it will always be snowflakes from now on.  That way, those who want to, can save them to use as ornaments or package tags or whatever they want, but they will eventually have a set of them. 

So this year, every Saturday, I will post either an original snowflake pattern, or a link to one.  That way, by the end of the year, there will be 52 snowflake patterns.  Those of you who crochet are free to work them along with me obviously.  This is the beginning of my goal of starting Christmas crafting early!  Maybe in 2010 I won't be up on Christmas Eve trying to finish last minute projects!

This weeks pattern requires membership at the website, but it also gives you access to lots of other patterns for free also.  It is called Grace

Love,