Sharing Our Gifts

Many times when one would read a title such as that, one would think of getting a gift of money or a present.  I am talking about sharing ourselves, our talents and our time.  Some of those things require a bit of our money, but usually not giving directly to any one person a monetary amount.

Throughout the time I have spent as a parent, I've tried instilling in my kids that we need to give of ourselves, even in the smallest of ways, to help in any way we can. Many times in the beginning, I've just taken my kids with me in whichever service project we were doing and expected them to help, or I gave them things to do like wiping tables, serving drinks or something like that.  As they grew in their own walk and personal likes and dislikes, they've shown that they love helping, but in their own ways.

It has been a humbling experience for me to lend my voice to the Sherwood Baptist Choir.  I am truly stretched and challenged with my own musical abilities, along with my deafness that brings additional challenges all it's own to just about everything I do.  I have always been a soprano, but due to a 3 month long bout of a variety of colds and flu a few years ago, I went from a soprano to an alto.  This is a challenge when I've learned a vast majority of songs in soprano, so much of my work has been to relearn all these songs.  It helps to stand next to some strong alto voices in choir so I don't start singing the soprano part.  The video below has been written by our Music Minister and Choir/Orchestra director Mark Willard.  He is the main vocalist with some very talented folks accompanying and singing with him.  This song is called "Hope is Rising."  From my understanding, we will be having a *Live* worship on October 9th featuring this song as well as many other favorite classic hymns.  This has been hard work for me in this time also since I've had bronchitis since 2 weeks after my knee surgery in July.  I'm excited to be a part of this, to just simply lend my voice to the choir in praise to God.  What a blessing!

This is another video to show the choir, orchestra, and a very talented and beautiful lady who is singing "I Am."




I count it a privilege to lend my voice in a very small way to the choir wherever I am planted.  Praise God!


This is what I've learned:

*When you model serving and encourage them to help and find some place to share their gifts and abilities, be prepared for when they do something unexpected.

Each of my kids have a wonderful singing voice.  As a part of their music training, they've been in the choir with me until our move to Georgia.  I've given them a choice of whether or not to join the choir and express themselves that way, but they've gone other directions.  My daughter loves working with the kids and that's the direction she's going.  My youngest son is working in security and he's enjoying that.  My oldest son is looking in to the golf cart ministry and I'm sure he'll find a niche there.

*Be prepared for them to tell you, "Mom, I'm not interested in that any more.  That's your interest."

Yup!  I heard it and it crushed my heart because they've all got beautiful voices.

*Be prepared to watch them shine in their chosen place of serving.

The happiness is unlike any other.  They're beginning to learn what it means to serve in an area where God may be leading them.


Other areas of service are available if we just keep our eyes out and ask God to show them to us.  What do I mean?  I've been told I have gifts in the kitchen.  For me, though, I just love to bake and bless people with yummy things from my kitchen.  Couple that with including children to help chop things, cleaning up, and serving those things and you have a family that serves.  This is a love of my own and I'm encouraging my kids to help me, even as they get older.  They each may have had their own special part of what is presented, but they know it is something they've helped to produce.

What are we producing this week?

All kinds of pumpkin bread done in Pampered Chef bread tubes to serve when company comes.  I have a lot of pumpkin to use.  :)

I'm gradually gathering zucchini to shred and freeze for future things like cakes, breads, and things like that.

What are we going to do in the future?  We're going to keep our eyes out for ways we can serve others with our gifts.

Remember, no gift is too menial or minor when it is done in the service of your God!

God Bless,

Little Weeds

The newly established flower bed as seen from the front porch.  I have Shasta Daisies, Lavendar, Hybiscus, Irises, and some other small flowers that I can't remember their names, but they're perennials.

This wonderful new flower bed has given me fits with the little weeds that have popped up over time.  I know that with more mulch and pulling weeds more often, this flower bed would do much better.

Isn't that always the way it is with our own lives as well?  Give us more "quality" food and pull the "little weeds" and we'll grow exponentially.  I don't know about you, but my "Miracle Grow" comes in the spiritual form.  In the past 2 weeks, I've had the awesome pleasure to worship in Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, GA as well as First Baptist Church of Clarion, PA.  Both places were filled with spiritual food beyond anything one would begin to hope or desire.

But what about the daily "weeds" that spring up?  I love to garden.  I love to compare any portion of life to gardening because it really hits home and many people can understand the meaning of what you're trying to say when comparing it to gardening.  I love that Jesus made many word pictures for those he taught in the Bible with gardening symbols.  One of my personal favorites is in John 15.

John 15:1-9

(1)  "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.

(2)  Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

(3)  Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.

(4)  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

(5)  I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

(6)  If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

(7)  If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

(8)  By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

(9)  As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.

I love how the Lord directs us to remain in His love just like the branch is remaining in the vine.  What about the "little weeds?"  

The little weeds, much like the ones you see in my picture above are sin.  Sinful thoughts, deeds, words, against our bodies, our husbands, our children, parents, anyone really, are what those little weeds represent.  Much like "little foxes" spoiling the vinyard.

 Song of Solomon 2:15

  "Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom."

Although the little foxes are full of mischief and want to eat all the good luscious fruits off the vine, we can compare little foxes that spoil the vinyard to weeds as well.  When a vinyard hasn't been tended to, it gets spoiled with wild and sour grapes.  

Proverbs 6:6-11

(6)  Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.

(7)  Without having any chief, officer, or ruler,

(8)  she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.

(9)  How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep?

(10)  A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,

(11)  and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

Once again, the Lord uses not just gardening, but also the example of an ant in how to work hard without being told in the appropriate season for the work given.  So should each of us work in each season as the Lord has given us to prepare for our families' needs, weeding out the "little weeds" as we go along.

How do we weed out the sin in our lives? 

When a weed takes root, it is much easier to remove when it is little.  If we allow the weed to get larger, the roots will have taken hold and are much more difficult to remove and once visibly removed, the roots could grow back.  

Keeping ourselves 24/7 in the word of God, worshiping always, praying on our knees always--ignoring the needs of our family is not what we are called to be doing.  In my own opinion, we need to be taking our walk and relationship with the Lord much further, talking of God's goodness, having a thankful heart and mind throughout our daily lives, while giving, working, and learning and growing together with other family members.  It is important to share with one another, to talk and encourage one another and at times, help one another to remove the little weeds of sin by willingly being accountable to one another with our own weaknesses.  

"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul 

and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be 

on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk 

of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when

 you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, 

and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the 

doorposts of your house and on your gates." 

(Deuteronomy 6:5-9)

I think this is the key, "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when  you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."  as well as "and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes."  It is imperative for us as "weeders of the garden" to be deliberate in our lives, gain a vision for what our lives would be like if we continue diligently weeding, then think of what it would like if we did NOT diligently weed with consistency and deliberateness.  I shudder to think what my life would be without deliberate consistency.  Most days I fall and fail with some weeds, but the next day they are right there staring me in the face, needing attention with that same deliberate consistency.

How about you?  How do you handle those weeds?

God Bless,

Disjointed Catch-Up Post

"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." 

(Rom 8:26-28)

When young folks are not feeling well, we can do all we can, holding them, nurturing them, to help them feel better.  When they have concerns, we need to talk them out, showing them their options, helping them choose their words wisely in a variety of situations.  When it comes to the ultimate Healer, there is a time to give Him the concerns by praying with them through each of their concerns.   

Sometimes their concerns are far beyond anything we can fix.  Sometimes we have to lay down our own pridefulness and give our children to God in unfathomable ways.  

We have done just that in this past year.  The gut wrenching experience is one that I do not care to repeat.

Now, we've established a new normalcy, complete with different expectations, different day to day activities, and lots of appointments for all of us.

My day to day activities remain the same, but I struggle to gain a semblance of order.  Without getting enough sunlight, and beginning the cloudy time of year, I know my Sensory Affective Disorder is going to kick in soon.  I work to try to find a way around the symptoms by exercising, going on walks--even on cloudy days--getting enough nutritious foods, but I struggle to get enough sleep each night without waking through the night for whatever reason.  Keeping things in check depends greatly on getting enough sleep.  Six hours, sometimes less, of sleep each night isn't enough though.  It is work to get enough sleep.  (Go figure!)

Through all of this, we are beginning to thrust ourselves in to getting ready to move to Georgia.  I would love for all the work to be done when I snap my fingers, but it won't.  We will be downsizing, purging, decluttering, pitching, selling, and eventually giving thing away so we don't have to move them.  We only keep things that we absolutely treasure and things that are absolutely necessary.  We will definitely have many yard sales beginning in May.  To begin, though, I am selling some of our home school books.  I am taking them to our local home school group meetings to sell a little at a time.  

It is amazing how much junk one accumulates! 

We've added a puppy to our home recently.  His name is Gus.  Before Gus, by about a month, we added an adult cat whose name is Pickles.  He's a good kitty who will make sure to take care of our mice problem.  We got him because the mice were getting smarter.  Now we have 4 critters to keep each of us (almost) company.  Biscuit has enjoyed sitting on my lap while Pickles goes with my husband, Gus has taken a very strong liking to JL and Rustie enjoys getting attention from anyone.  He is getting older and will probably be facing his final time through this winter.  That's why we have Gus now.

We've canned quite a bit more this year than we have last year and the year before.  This year we've made 2 batches of salsa--over 20 quarts--sauce, stewed tomatoes, and hot peppers.  We are looking at pumpkin next and whatever else we can preserve.  If we haven't eaten all of it by the time we move then we'll take it with us.  We plan to put in a garden next year just in case our house doesn't sell.  

Last week our kids participated in the Clarion Autumn Leaf Festival with the Civil Air Patrol.  JL is holding the rifle in the left front, HJ is right behind him holding the banner, and DA is right over her shoulder in the back.  They did a phenomenal job!

Now we concentrate on schooling.  I struggle with getting much in, so I'm working on that as well as the many other things mentioned above right now.  If you don't see me around for a while, that is why.  I may document my purging journey in all its glory--messes and everything.  In order to purge, you need to make a mess, right?  We've lived in this house for 9 years, so I'm sure the mess will be huge!

~Until next time~

God Bless,

My New Felted Lined Purse

Beginning with leftover variegated wool that I already had on hand.

Almost finished on 11-23-13

What did I do?  How did I do it?

I formulated this purse in my mind before I began casting on stitches for the bottom.  I thought about it for 2 weeks or so, tossing ideas and how I wanted it to be over and over in my mind.  I love my current purse.  It's nice and roomy, holds all the things I need to carry, and it is functional.  So what's wrong with it?  I'm glad you asked!  It's made from plastic and it is starting to crack and peel in places.  I figured I'd better take action and get another one made before this one fell apart.  

Why not buy a 31 or a Miche purse?  I'm beginning to "shy away" from automated manufacturing types of things.  I'm finding that things that are hand made withstand the test of time much better than one made by mechanical methods.  Yes, the store bought purses and things are wonderful and functional for a little while.  But, I've found that felted bags withstand much further wear and tear due to the durability and strength of the materials.

What did I do?  First of all, I made a rectangle of garter stitch for the bottom.  Garter stitch is just knitting, turning, then knitting again.  Very easy, very straight forward.  

Once I made the rectangle big enough for my own liking, I picked up stitches along the sides and joined all of it "in the round" with these needles:

The ones in the packages with the metal ends attach to the cable in the package to the far left.  The larger free standing needles are straight needles.

Once I joined everything, I counted stitches on the long ends and made sure the  numbers matched, then did the same thing with the shorter ends.  If they didn't match, I increased stitches in appropriate places so that it would be even while I knitted those areas.

Once I had everything knitted and all the stitches even on each side, I knitted a couple rows and began increasing every 10 stitches so that the purse would be fuller.  I did this twice with 4 rows of straight knitting between them.  

Once I made it to the end of my variegated yarn, I had to put it down for a couple of days until my new wool order came.  I wanted the yellow to be the more predominate color in the bag, so I striped the bag with that in mind, simply taking artistic license--just because I can.  LOL  

After doing a couple sets of stripes, it was time to drastically decrease and make the top of the bag smaller.  I began by decreasing where the sides of the bag would be and decreased evenly every other row.  

Once I finished the last row of yellow, I decided that I would use dark burgundy and do a ribbing stitch all the way around, binding off and keeping the handle stitches on my cables to work those in a stockinette stitch until the length reached what seemed to be a good amount.  I didn't predetermine this length.  

[Note:  At the time of writing this post, the length of the handles are not completed.  I currently have them almost half way done.  From this point on, the plans for the bag are as follows.]

After casting off, the tails still need to be woven, then the bag felted, and blocked.  11-27-13

After joining the handle with the other side of the bag, I plan to make a flap by picking up stitches along one side and knitting those with a stockinette stitch.  I plan to add a couple cable stitches when I do the flap just to add some interest and artistic flare.  [As you can see in the above picture, I didn't do the cables.  I figured they wouldn't show up very well and I was right.  I decided to continue with a regular stockinette stitch and it worked well.]

Once the bag is done, I'll put it inside a pillow case and wash it with some jeans or heavy bath towels until it reaches the felted stage that I'm looking for.  The more you wash it and agitate the wool, the more the stitches disappear and the material becomes one piece of felted fabric.  At that time, it will be about 1/4"-1/2" thick and very durable.

After the bag reaches that point, I'll lay it on a box the same size as the felted bag.  Not the same size as the prefelted bag because the size will decrease as it felts.  I let it dry for a couple of days in this fashion so that it will take on the shape of the box.

[In this case, because I increased at the bottom to make room for the things I need to carry in my purse, I had to use rubbermaid dishes to push the sides out because I couldn't get a box inside.  The top is more slender so as to keep "prying eyes" out of my purse (in theory).]

A close up of the felting.  The pins that you see sticking up are holding the flap in place after it has been stretched and "blocked" to dry.  

Once the bag is dried, I'm going to take it to Joann Fabrics and try to match material to the colors of the bag as well as get 2 zippers and some thread to make the pockets for the inside.  I'll also pick up some invisible thread for adhering the liner to the felted bag.

This should take another 2 days or so to finish knitting, but it will be 2 weeks before I had to Joann's (planning trips to do more shopping where that store is to save in gas usage.)  with the sewing taking only an afternoon.  I hope to have it done by the 7th of December.  I'll post updated pictures after I'm finished.

In the mean time, here are some other crocheted felted bags I've made:

This one was crocheted with Icelandic Wool.

This one had some Icelandic Wool in it as well.  

  

I'm finding that crocheting wool bags is just as sturdy as knitting, but the stitches are still visible.  The differences between the two are amazing!

The finished product. :)

Excuses

I try to stay away from negative posts, but honestly, this topic has really weighed heavily on my mind as of late.

Recently, on Netflix, we've been watching shows like "Clean House."  I have found myself truly loving the host Niecy Nash.  Although she's had some issues in her personal life, she makes some very life changing and important points on the show with people who are pack rats and unable to pull themselves out of being so overwhelmed with their clutter.  She doesn't mince words with them and tells it like it is.  In other words, she's being brutally honest, showing people how their clutter is affecting their lives and relationships.

While I love the overarching message of this show, I am finding that I am pulling those same messages into the rest of my life and beginning to truly wonder if I make excuses.  In all of my soul searching, I've been busier cleaning up, picking up and putting things away, not that my house even comes remotely close to ANY of the houses we've seen on the show.  I just felt it's a good thing to just cull what little clutter there is and get more organized.

Along with all of the cleaning and organizing (even more than we've been), I've felt pulled toward my Instructions in Righteousness book by Doorposts.  In looking at the section on "Shifting Blame/Making Excuses," it says in the introduction,

"This is an essential problem to deal with.  We want our children to be honest in examining themselves against God's standard [interesting, huh?], and to learn to readily confess and

 forsake sin.  Excusing our sin and blaming our actions on others is dishonest and self-deceptive,

 and can lock us into immaturity and stagnation.  It can also add a great burden of guilt to a life." 

Boy, doesn't THAT say it all!  I know there are many adults who have a difficult time with this.  Even I have some problems making excuses for not doing things like exercising,  tidying up when I could have and practicing music when I could have, just to name a few.  I can make excuses right now for why I didn't, but truly, there isn't any excuse good enough to truly pass for not doing the things that are needful.  

Hebrews 10:23-25

  "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; 

(for he is faithful that promised;)  

(24)  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

(25) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, 

as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another:

 and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

[emphasis mine]

Making excuses for NOT gathering with other like minded believers is commonplace.  I know there have been times when I've dragged myself out of bed and just felt like I'd been hit by a MAC truck and wanted to go back to bed and sleep.  I start thinking, "Ugh, it's so far to drive, it's cold, it's rainy, I don't have any clothes to wear, my back hurts, my sinuses are sore, my        [fill in any excuse here]    ."  And pretty soon, I've talked myself out of going to church, receiving uplifting words of encouragement, singing in worship with other believers and learning about God's word.  BUT!  I stop myself from that "stinkin' thinkin'" and get in to the shower, get my hair dried, makeup on, get dressed and have some breakfast.  Pretty soon I'm expecting and anticipating the sweet soul filling balm that only God can give to a hungry believer who's had a rough week.  

AND...

He

Doesn't

EVER

let

me 

down!

As I write this, I have my Instructions in Righteousness book open to read about "What Happens or Should Happen to the Person Who Makes Excuses."  The list is interesting.

Proverbs 28:13  

"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper:

but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy."

Matthew 7:1-5  

"Judge not, that ye be not judged.  

(2)  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged:

 and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 

 (3)  And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye,

 but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 

 (4)  Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye;

 and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 

 (5)  Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; 

and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye."

Proverbs 19:3  

"The foolishness of man perverteth his way: 

and his heart fretteth against the LORD."

Job 9:20  

"If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me:

if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse."

Ezekiel 18:4  

"Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: 

the soul that sinneth, it shall die."

Making excuses instead of doing what is needful and right in the eyes of God and His word is disobedience.  I've heard it said, "Delayed obedience is still disobedience."  

Proverbs 28:13  

"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: 

but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy."

I am guilty and I confess this to you today.  I've made excuses and as a fallen, sinful person, I still humbly struggle to teach this concept to my children.  How better to teach them this concept than to simply STOP making excuses?  

Humble Beginnings--Learning to Knit Lace

One of my goals for this year has been to learn to knit lace.  I'd like to make some pretty lacy wraps to go with my Sunday dresses.  I don't want to make a sweater for myself to go with my dresses because I wanted something different.

I began with...you guessed it...a dish cloth!   :)

I figured this would give me good practice in the rudimentary skills of beginning to knit lace.  It did just that! 

I sat down with my Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Needlework last night to learn more. 

I love this book!  It is such a wealth of information.  I'm sure there are more versions of how to make the different stitches, if not more stitches, but I've learned so very much from this book.  I'll take what I learn and apply it to very small swatches to begin with.  I'll post pictures as I complete the different types of lace that I practice.  :)