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Today is the day!

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Red Envelope Day

Sunday Blessing

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.

O for the wonderful love He has promised,
Promised for you and for me!
Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon,
Pardon for you and for me.

Refrain:
Come home, come home,
You who are weary, come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!

From: Softly and Tenderly
by Will L. Thompson

This hymn is such a wonderful reminder of God's love for all men. He is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." ( II Peter 3:9 ) One frequent question asked of Christians is how a loving God could send people to Hell. The answer is that God is doing everything in His power to save people from eternal punishment. He will not take away man's free will, and it breaks God's heart when just one refuses to seek forgiveness. What a merciful God we serve!

I hope each of you have a good week. I am looking forward to spending more time with my grandmother, as she heads back to Idaho soon. We have certainly enjoyed having her with us for a while. We are going to enjoy some of her homemade chicken and noodles for Sunday dinner. YUM! :)

Blessings!
Charity

PS~ I took the picture last Saturday. We had a picnic at my parent's property. Butterflies were everywhere! It was such a beautiful day.

Finished Object Friday

I haven't done any crafting these past two weeks - unless you count a few knitting stitches. However I did want to share what someone has made for me. She doesn't have a blog, and they are so cute!



My friend, Amanda, made these for me. We met at college and have been good friends ever since! Being crafty must go along with being a history major, right? :)


They have become my favorite hairsticks. Not just because they were hand crafted, but they also stay in much better than any other hairsticks I have. I love the color as well.
Thanks, Girl! :)

Well, I did do a little something with my hands today. How do you like this hair do?


It's not the easiest thing to do with a two year old, but Faithie promised to sit still and she did a good job! :) She is looking at one of her two favorite books. (I now have this one memorized.) Her other favorite is Dr. Suess's Foot Book!


She's growing so fast!!

Maybe some of you have been craftier than me the last couple of weeks! :) You are welcome to join in. (I know I'm a little later today... I babysat two little girls this morning. I didn't get an updated picture of Hope, though.) Here are the guidelines for FOF.

Snapshots

I’ve been wanting to make banana bread for a while, but it’s been one of those things that just hasn’t been done. I did it today, though!

Yummy pecans from Mark’s aunt and uncle! Thanks, y’all!

All ready to go into the oven! The problem is that my oven isn’t working again. (a problem with the digital keypad.) So I am baking them in Mom’s oven. :)

All done! How about a slice?

Hope everyone is having a great Wednesday!

Blessings!
Charity

Snapshots from my day...

Angie and I with Grandma.

We are enjoying having Grandma down for a visit from Idaho!

My Parents



And of course the sock went too! :)



Yes, it's a bit of a fairy land around here... why do you ask? :)

Well traveled....

My sock has become well educated. I hope it doesn't hold such knowledge over it's mate... although in theory, the mate will be just as well educated because the yarn goes right with the sock! :)

The sock learned about Texas' history as an independent country. (The sock wonders why Texas didn't stay that way?) :)

The sock met some other socks.

These socks weren't quite as fancy, but the sock is not prejudice that way and has great respect for the elderly.


The sock was quite in awe of the knitted coverlet. He is hoping his mate will be finished sometime this year... neither of us can imagine the time it would take to knit something that covers a whole bed!

The sock was quite in awe of the Texas sized map of Texas.

It's hard to tell from the picture, but the map is 8 feet by 8 feet!


The sock enjoyed learning about the 41st president of the U.S.


Sadly, this museum was deficient in yarn, but the sock enjoyed seeing the presidential limo...


visiting the "White House"...


and seeing a part of the Berlin Wall.


Though he enjoyed all this travel, the sock is very glad to be home and proud to say he is growing, slowly but surely!

Sunday Blessing

For the beauty of the earth
For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies.

Refrain:
Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise.

For the beauty of each hour,
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flower,
Sun and moon, and stars of light.

from: For the Beauty of the Earth
by Folliet S. Pierpoint

I hope everyone has had an enjoyable weekend! We had a very lovely day, spent with family in the great outdoors! We even took a picnic lunch. :) It was such a beautiful day, the flowers were blooming profusely and butterflies were everywhere!

Happy Sunday!
Charity

PS~ The picture was taken by me on our last trip. Texas state flower! :)

Happy Spring!!

Awake, thou wintry earth -
Fling off thy sadness!
Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth

Your ancient gladness!

~Thomas Blackburn, "An Easter Hymn"

The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month.
~Henry Van Dyke

Welcome to the first day of spring. We have been enjoying spring in Texas for a while. I enjoy most changes in seasons, but springtime is always my favorite. Everything feels so new and clean!

Eventide

"When Laura and Mary had said their prayers and were tucked snugly under the trundle bed's covers, Pa was sitting in the firelight with the fiddle. Ma had blown out the lamp because she did not need its light. On the other side of the hearth she was swaying gently in her rocking chair and her knitting needles flashed in and out above the sock she was knitting."

Excerpt from Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder page 236.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Need I even mention that I love the knitting references? :) Ma is even knitting in near darkness... she has had lots of practice! The bed and trundle pictured above is not Laura's, though it is certainly similar. This bed is in the home of Anson Jones in Washington, TX. (Anson Jones was the last president of the Republic of Texas.)

Favorite Books

I am currently rereading the Little House Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. It's been quite a while since I've read the entire series. (Don't be to surprised if you see quotes popping in here from time to time!) :)

When I was a girl, I identified a lot with Laura. I admired her pioneer spirit. I'm sure many little girls also identified with her. As I am reading these books again, for the first time in years, I find myself identifying more with Charles and Caroline (Pa and Ma). I see more the anxieties of raising a family and combating the hardships of the times.

I've always loved history anyway. Maybe Laura and others like her had something to do with that. Reading these books and others made history come alive for me as a girl. It wasn't just dates and battles. History became something real that happened to real people and children. Just as we are living through events now, these people lived in history. Their current events has become our history.

My family has some similar stories. It's amazing to know that if my Great (times 2 or 3) Grandfather would have made different choices, I wouldn't be here. Maybe I'll share some of those stories sometime.

So what are some of your favorite books as a child? There is something about these books that have impacted children for generations. They become stories that we return to over and over again. (To read my past post on Rereading, click here.)

Sunday Blessing

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

Refrain
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

from The Solid Rock
by Edward Mote

What a wonderful reminder... we must place our trust in Christ. Nothing else is stable. I am trying to remember (it's so easy to get caught up in worrying!) that even though the world seems more scary, we are just as secure as we ever were because our security comes from God, not the president, or national security or a bank account. Christ is our solid Rock, and when we are in His care, nothing comes our way that He doesn't allow or use for our good.

In bloggy news... how do you like the Texas longhorn at the top? :) I took this picture on our recent trip! My grandmother is down visiting and we took a fun trip to Brenham, TX and nearby areas. Look forward to seeing more of that soon! Also I've been trying to think of some other blogging ideas. Some fun stuff other than just crafts! :) I have an idea or two. Check back soon for more updates!

Blessings!
Charity

Finished Object Friday

Last Saturday, Mark and I attended a wedding. Roxanna is one of my cousins (her dad and my dad are first cousins... Does that make us second cousins? I still don't have all that quite straight!) :) Anyway... the wedding was very beautiful! It was outside in front of a little gazebo and a pond. Here is a picture of the beautiful bride coming in on her father's arm!

And newlyweds, just married!

picture just a little fuzzy...sorry.

I have had so much fun making aprons.... I wanted to make one as a gift for her. (Not the first wedding gift I made.) Angie found a cute little apron at one of our favorite discount stores (Ross), and I used it as a pattern to make this for Roxy:

Here's me modeling it before leaving for the wedding:

I'm so "high tech" with my sewing... ok, not really. Quite the opposite. To make the apron, I laid the pattern apron on top of my material and lining, added the pocket, sewed all around right sides together and left a hole for turning. After turning it rightside out, I carefully ironed, sewed around the outside, and then added the band and straps. Sounds easy right? I had to re-do the band... thus this post last week. So sortof trial and error, but I think it turned out pretty good! :) I would have used big bias tape, had I found some to match! Anyway, I love the scallops at the bottom. Beware, you will probably see more of these in the future! :)

We've had a couple of weeks since FOF, I think I am enjoying the every other week thing. It relieves a little stress, and I don't feel like I'm constantly bragging about my projects! :) I know I have more time than most to craft, and as life is constantly changing, I also know it won't be this way always. I'll enjoy it while I can! :)

So have you finished anything recently... or perhaps not so recent. I'm not that picky as long as your post if from the past couple of weeks. Be sure to link directly to your FOF post. Other guidelines for FOF are here. I'm ready for another fun FOF, aren't you? :)

Sunday Blessing

Oh, worship the King, all glorious above.
Oh, gratefully sing his power and his love;
Our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days,
Pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.

Your bountiful care what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air, it shines in the light,
It streams from the hills, it descends to the plain
And sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.

Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
In you do we trust, nor find you to fail;
Your mercies, how tender, how firm to the end,
Our maker, defender, redeemer, and friend!

From: Oh, Worship the King
by Robert Grant

I got a wonderful surprise this past week. As I was leaving the house, I glanced over to the side of the house and saw the beautiful flower in the picture! This was a surprise because I didn't think it would bloom this year. (I had to transplant it after this (link) happened last fall.) Anyway, it is beautiful and so are all the other multitude of things blooming down here. Spring came in with a bang this year! It seems like everything started blooming overnight. :) So to those of you in northern regions... don't worry, spring is on it's way!

Blessings,
Charity

Lesson Learned...

In sewing, sometimes this tool:


is just as important as this tool:


Right? :)

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday Blessing!

Thou my everlasting Portion, more than friend or life to me
All along my pilgrim journey, Savior, let me walk with Thee
Close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee
All along my pilgrim journey, Savior, let me walk with Thee

Not for ease or worldly pleasure, nor for fame my prayer shall be
Gladly will I toil and suffer, only let me walk with Thee
Close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee, close to Thee
Gladly will I toil and suffer, only let me walk with Thee

From "Close to Thee"
By Fanny Crosby




Well, as you can see, I'm a little later than normal with this weeks "Blessing." Guess I had to rename it! :) I hope everyone is having a great week!


Blessings!
Charity

Photo by Angie, edited a bit by me! :)

Time to Knit

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Most people, when they find out about my knitting "habit" comment that "I would never have time for that" or "I just don't have the patience." Several years ago, this might have been my comment as well. Frankly, it's all in the perspective.

If my ultimate goal was a lot of finished products I could probably find a more profitable and productive hobby. I guess for me, knitting has become more process over product. I love learning new knitting techniques. One of my goals for 2008 was to learn to knit socks. (I've started my 7th pair!) I also enjoyed learning to cable, use double pointed needles (dpn), and even a little crochet - for faster straps and loops. I always have enjoyed learning - about most things. :)

Knitting is also a great stress reliever. The repetition of the movement and the clicks of the needles are very soothing. I've laughed imagining if I get on an airplane... I will be knitting furiously! Yarn has become rather a "lifeline" for me! :) One common phrase in the knitting world is "I knit so I don't kill people." For some, this may not be too far from the truth.

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How many of us like waiting around... at the doctor's office, in line at the bank, riding in a car... For me, this is just extra knitting time. You look at all this waiting a little differently if you have something to do with your hands. I just knit, look around and smile. It's a great conversation starter too. One day, while waiting at the tire store to get a tire fixed, I just "happened" to have my knitting along. I talked to two or three people (I don't remember exactly - it's been a while.) One man commented that I must have been knitting for a while, because I didn't have to look at what I was doing most of the time. Most people know someone else that either knits or crochets.

So do I have time to knit? Of course! There is always time for knitting! Do I have the patience for it? Well... why else would I attempt to knit two whole socks out of "thread" and tiny needles? :)

This is the start on the pair of socks I'm knitting from the yarn I talked about at the end of this post.
For more identifiable knitting characteristics and for further proof of my committed "knitterhood" see this post.

Anyone can learn to knit...
all it takes is a little patience!

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I couldn't resist including this picture! :)