knit

My knitting addiction surged again in November after a period of dormancy. (The hiatus was definitely driven by the need to finish the plain squares for my stepson's wedding afghan. I find no joy in knitting 12 x 12-in stockinette squares with a garter stitch border).

It's a wild ride. Each evening I spend 30 to 150 minutes sitting on the chair-and-a-half working on my latest project. Obsessed, I miss my bedtime and wake each morning sleep-deprived.


It's a stress reliever. After a day in a work environment with frequent reorganization, change, and near-constant deadline pressure, the rhythm of knitting, focus on pattern, and emerging results growing on the needles soothes me.


It's a spiritual reminder. The Bible tells me that God knit me together in the womb, and knew the days He would establish for my life. So each stitch joined to the previous one, each new pattern, each added row - all are metaphors representing life. And sometimes as I knit, I remember gratefully that God is knitting together a little baby I call Adele... After two babies that God holds in His arms, my sister-in-law is again pregnant.


Someday - only God knows when - He will finish the knitting project called Susan, binding me off into a beautiful garment for His eternal pleasure.

birth day

Today, I am sharing a poem that my mom wrote.. It seems appropriate to reflect on birth - the birth of Christ, and the expected birth of a new niece or nephew next July. Especially since receiving good news today of a favorable ultrasound and hearing the baby's heartbeat. Oh, little one - I pray for you each day!

Birth Day by Anne Zimmerman

I am the light of the world.
John 8:12

Fifty years ago,
wondering how to emphasize
the true meaning of Christmas,
I happened to read about
a Baby Jesus Birthday Cake...
So every Christmas, beginning then,
one has been the focus of
our family's Christmas dessert.

Our cake of choice is always the same;
a small (baby size) chocolate layer cake,
chocolate frosted, simple and plain,
just as the stable was simple and plain;
round, as the world is round.

We decorate the top of the cake with
lots of small white birthday candles
to represent the starry sky
the night the Baby was born;
and with a larger white candle in the center,
to represent Christ, the Christmas Star
and the Light of the World.

Christmas Day, at dessert time,
the dinner table cleared, the lights dimmed;
the candle-lit Baby Jesus Birthday Cake
is carried to the table,
while we all join in singing
"Happy birthday to you,
happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday, Baby Jesus,
happy birthday to you."

...Thank you, God
for the gift of your Son...
Baby Jesus.
Hallelujah.

NewEveryMorning.com

I notice that life has not slowed down one bit since my last post in September. Time to evaluate and prioritize, always a good end-of-year activity.

This morning, I read Lamentations 3:22-23,

Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed
For His compassions never fail;
They are new every morning...

I stared at those three words for awhile.

New every morning.
New every morning.
New every morning.

Wouldn't it be amazing to live like I believe it? It's not just when I'm in crisis. It's not just when I am living up to my so-called standards. It's not just when I am living up to God's standards.

God's compassions are a gift, as fresh and new every morning as the snow that laced the trees this morning when I woke up.

Wouldn't it be refreshing to go to a website, www.neweverymorning.com, and revel in the good news of God's love and mercy crowning us? (I actually came downstairs and looked on the computer to see if the domain was available - nope, someone has snagged it already, though it is not in use. Pity.)

New. A fresh start!

Every. Without a doubt; past, present, future!

Morning. Daily!

rain

Sometimes I'm in that dry and thirsty place where I just need. We're running a marathon at work right now, a marathon of projections and budgets and auditors and an acquisition and inventory questions and now more auditors and ~ I keep thinking that we will take a breath and slow down and think and it doesn't come and I am so thirsty and I need.

The Bible says, "Selah." Pause. Think.

Selah.

I'm so grateful for the co-workers who ask me how I am. And mean it. And I'm thankful for the one who saw that I needed and wrote a funny note of encouragement on my board. Sometimes it's hard to admit that I need. I'm supposed to be strong and experienced and a can-do person. (Actually, I am strong and experienced and a can-do person!) I can be all those things and still need. It's okay to need. I'm reading a book by Leslie Parrott titled The First Drop of Rain. I've been fascinated by part of a poem that she wrote:

...Never forget,
Your heart is a spring.
Living waters flow in you.
And just the grace of your presence
Brings life all around you.
Never feel small.
Someone has to be
The first drop of rain.

This morning, on my way to church, the fog blanketed the earth and saturated it with moisture. I read recently about how such a very small amount of water can create a large amount of fog.

So what is my point? I'm not sure!

Maybe it's this... That when I need, I will remember that God's living water is a spring of life in me. I will look for the first drop of rain that a caring co-worker offers by asking how I am. And that out of need, I am still able to give... By listening to my daughter-in-law when she is hurting. By bringing a vase of dahlias~astonishing and glorious~to a stressed co-worker to remind her that there is beauty. This is not all there is to life.

God, may the grace of my presence, of Your presence in me, bring life all around me. Make me the first drop of rain.

lots

There's lots going on with people right now.

• A. (young mother of two) will have another coil inserted tomorrow for her aneurysm.
• C. and D. wait to hear test results from the oncologist.
• J. is losing his home and business.
• S. continues to look for work in this very discouraging economy.
  

And so it goes.

I've been thinking lately about Psalm 73:24-25... a good reminder for difficult times.

"You guide me with Your counsel,
leading me to a glorious destiny.
Whom have I in heaven but You?
I desire You more than anything on earth."

Do I? Do I truly believe and look forward to that glorious destiny? Because if I do, it will provide perspective and peace. Do I desire God more than anything on earth? It is a dangerous prayer, a daring prayer.

Such a desire secures my destiny.

kitties

Candice is very talented - she belongs to a postcard club where she creates and mails original artwork to other members.

This is one that she did while she visited us... She truly captured the personality of each cat in only a few penstrokes (those Copic pens are awesome)! The drawing of Dot is truly inspired, because that is Dot's usual position (but don't dare rub that bunny-soft tummy or else)!

fall

I stopped in my tracks. Not entirely uncommon for me when I notice something on my run.

This truly caught me by surprise. As I rounded the corner, the sidewalk before me was sprinkled with autumn splendor.

I'm not ready - where did the summer go?

Asking the question raises another question - have I been present and attentive to the sights, sounds and moments of the past hours, days, weeks?