Here, There, Not Everywhere....

So, I was going to change the background here.  But, I thought...oh, well...winter will be coming soon.  Maybe when I have a little time, I'll switch to a fall scene.

As for now, the background is the same.

Me...I am the same, yet not the same.  Still living with Cara, Ryan and Lydia.  There are ups, downs and in-betweens, but all and all, a good situation.

I help them, they help me, and well....what can I say...my Lydia creates so much laughter and joy in my life!!

I've had some health issues this summer....a swelling in my neck that comes and goes.  After numerous tests and a biopsy, it was found that I have multiple nodules on my thyroid.  The biopsy of these was, oh, so thankfully, benign!!

But, the swelling is what is known as a thyroglossal cyst...apparently something that developed when I was just an embryo. 

It is now to the point that I have the swelling and pain almost every other week.  The solution for this problem is, of course, removal of the cyst.  This is going to occur next Wednesday, August 22--an outpatient procedure--and I shouldn't be down and out for more than a few days.

I have also transferred from one department to another for my same employer.  I am thoroughly enjoying my new work and my new coworkers.

One of my coworkers quilts with a group of ladies once a week.  Their church host an Apple Festival in October, and the quilt is auctioned off.  All the proceeds are donated to a needy family in the area.  I've been helping out with this as much as I possibly can.

Here's last year's quilt:

I was excited to find this group since quilting is something I've always wanted to learn to do.

Also, I am leading another Small Group through my church with three other women. I feel so blessed to have been selected to participate in this study.  The series is called "Me, Myself and Lies"....about the truths that we believe about ourselves through lies fed into us by others. 

Oh, and before I go....here's my Lydia at the beach this past weekend....how she has grown...talks about everything and anything:

That's all for this evening and I'm going to try my hardest not to stay away for so long!!

Beth



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Pondering

And it is Wednesday already......

The past few days have gone by in a blur....work, meetings, sleep....

I've been pondering on the verse I posted on Monday, and concentrating on all things good, lovely, pure, worthy of praise. 

As I've been thinking of these, the doldrums have passed and joy is filling my heart and mind.  I can feel the difference in myself--not only emotionally, but also physically--I have been pain free for the past two days!!

And this in itself is a big praise!!  I'm still watching my diet very carefully, and gradually adding some things back into my diet with good results....and I am very thankful for this.

Peggy left a comment regarding whether it was too early to remind me of CHRISTmas.  No, it's not too early....I should have been working on this CHRISTmas starting on December 26th of last year!!

I've been searching for ideas for my girls, Andrew's Danielle, and now--three children to make something for. 

The search continues...although I do think I have found something that Cara would like.  I'm running out of ideas having made their gifts for so many years. 

Mittens for all three kids....they will all need new mittens for the winter...and beyond that I am clueless. 

Guess I'd better be keeping my eyes and ears open for hints dropped here and there from them....

Have a wonderful day in Him....



strong as a lion; weak as a lamb

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Should I or Shouldn't I?

I said yesterday that I would have pictures today of the baby blanket that I'm working on.  So, here it is:

This is called 'Cables and Lace Baby Blanket', and is one of my very favorite patterns.  Each row in a section is different, so I don't easily become complacent and not pay attention resulting in my making a mistake. 

Yes, this is the very same pattern that I used for Lydia's first blanket--the blanket she carries with her from place to place.

I'm still contemplating whether or not to open a 'shop'...either on Etsy or Artfire....

I've been thinking about this for some time....going back and forth in my mind....which site, should I do this or not, the extra income would be wonderful, is it worth my time and effort.....

I do know this....knitting and the many other handcrafts I do are very relaxing to me.  I love the feel of the yarn in my hands....I love watching a ball of yarn turning into something beautiful.....I love that God has given me this talent....

So, what do you think?  Should I or shouldn't I open a shop?  Any feedback on either sites would be wonderful!!



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A Labor of Love

Sometimes I think....sometimes I don't...

I've had  Cara's dog, Nika, visiting with me since Sunday.  She comes to my house to rest.  Cara's household is busy, and this little dog rarely sleeps there...even to the point of checking everyone while they are sleeping. 

I was to return her home on my way to work yesterday.....got ready for work...gathered all her things....walked out the door....locked the door...got in the car and drove off.  I'm driving down the road when I realized that I didn't have the dog!!

By that time it was too late to turn around and go back to retrieve her.  So, another night at my house....another day's rest for Nika....and hopefully, I'll remember to take her with me this morning.

On to an unfinished project--

I mentioned about a week ago that I have a dresser...a dresser which was given to me when my son was born.  This dresser belonged to my grandmother's sister--she had three sisters, I'm not sure which one this belonged to, but I think it was my Great-Aunt Edna.

How old does a piece of furniture have to be in order to be considered an antique? 

Anyway, I have said for years that I am going to refinished this dresser:

I have had every intention of doing this since my son was born--30 years ago.  I'm sure it was never touched when my mother had this or her aunt before her. 

As I'm thinking about doing this...a big undertaking...I'm thinking that this will definitely be a labor of love....restoring an old item to new....a stripping away of the old and replacing this with a new finish....taking the tarnished brass drawer pulls and shining them to brightness....

This verse is brought to mind:

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit....2 Corinithians 3:18

Our God loves us enough to accept us as we are at this very moment.  But, He doesn't leave us this way...we are constantly being nudged by the Holy Spirit...the very Spirit of our Lord...to be transformed into Christ's image...a stripping away of our old selves...sometimes small pieces at a time...

Which is why I think I'll start with one drawer and move on from there....

Again....I stand amazed....

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Why The Unfinished Project

And so I am back on Blogger.....

I find this much easier to use, able to add items easily...and a new beginning..."The Unfinished Project".

I have been ill for almost a month now...a time of pain, a time of change, a time of slowly healing.

My home also suffered from me not being able to do all that I usually do in a day's time.  As I was feeling better this past weekend, I decided to sort out some things in my 'craft room'.  I was amazed at all the 'unfinished projects' that I have going on in there!

• An afghan that I started for myself over a year ago....almost finished...but not quite
• A baby blanket for my cousin's daughter--started and put aside
• A shawl for my youngest daughter--not even started--all the supplies just waiting for me
• Yarn and various items that I bought on a whim...not yet touched
• My biggest 'physical' unfinished project--my son's dresser

This dresser of my son's originally belonged to my grandmother's sister.  So, I suppose we could call this an antique.  I acquired this from my mother when my son was born--'a place to keep his clothing and things'--she said.  I have stated so many times that I am going to refinish this--bring it to its original beauty. 

When my son moved, I told him to leave the dresser because 'I am going to refinish it'.  He actually laughed and said, "I've been hearing that since I can remember."  And he has....so this is a 30 year unfinished project that will be started.

But, the main unfinished project is me.  We are all unfinished, unpolished, not the 'original beauty' that our Lord intended for us. 

Yesterday, I noticed that a hanging petunia basket on my deck that was once full and beautiful was starting to get 'leggy' and 'scraggly'.  It was still blooming, but the blooms were few and far between....mainly leaves and stems...not many flowers.

I took my scissors in hand, went back to the deck, and what did I do?  I cut each and every stem to about half its long, leggy length.  I have no flowers now...only leaves and stems.

This actually made me feel hurt...the pruning of my petunia....but I know in the long run that this hanging basket will be fuller and produce more flowers because of this pruning process.

This is where I am...in a pruning stage.  Yes, it hurts.  Yes, it is painful.  Yes, I must rid myself of some things, some thoughts, some actions.

But, I will be more productive for the Lord, yield more fruit in my life for Him, cling more closely to Him during this time, and end up on the right side of all of this. 

Will I be finished?  No, I will always be 'unfinished'....always in the stages of growing and pruning....and I will be a finished project when I see Him 'face to face'......restored to the original beauty that He intended for us from the beginning of time.

Hopefully, this will be an encouragement to you...particularly if you yourself are in a pruning stage. 

On this blog, you will see my own journey through the 'finishing stages', as well as the many projects I have around my own home that will be in process.....with some family stories thrown in just for fun.

Have a wonderful day in Him,

Beth

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