I Wonder . . .

Thoughts while on a cruise.

Genesis 1:31
And God saw every thing that he had made,
and, behold, it was very good.
And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Dear God,

Did you plan all this when you first spoke and divided the heavens from the seas;

when you spoke and the earth separated from the water?
Could you see what your creation, man,
d the potential to do as he questioned and asked and tried?

The first man to build a raft or canoe – was he thankful?

Were the Vikings thankful for their dragon lead ships?

How about the Chinese with their junks, were they thankful?

Was Christopher Columbus thankful for the Nina?

Those that built the Mayflower, what did they think?

Were all these builders and users thankful?
Did they appreciate the improvements gained from one to another?
Did they realize how each improvement served the purpose so completely?

As I ride on this ship –
that, except for a little quiet rocking and
seeing the wake through the water,
hardly seems like riding or traveling.
I marvel at how far this ship has come from a raft.
wonder at the ability God has given man to question and create,
building, improving, and fulfilling their dreams.

Are we, am I, fulfilling God’s dream for us?
What did He see for me when he said “Let there be light”?
As I have made my choices and planned and dreamed –
Have I been thankful for my steps and my improvements?

Can God still look at me as his creation and say…It is good?
Amen.

Published in: on May 30, 2018 at 2:40 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Grace for the Day

“Just for Today”
Writer Marjorie Holmes’s prayer

Oh, God, give me grace for this day.
Not for a lifetime, for for next week, nor
for tomorrow, just for this day.
Direct my thoughts and bless them,
Direct my work and bless it.
direct the things I say and give them blessing, too.
Direct and bless everything that I think and speak
and do. So that for this one day, just this one
day, I have the gift of grace that comes from your presence…

Grace is available for each of us every day–
our spiritual daily bread–
but we’ve got to remember to ask for it
with a grateful heart
and try not to worry about whether t
here will be enough for tomorrow.
There will be.
Simple Abundance, Sarah Ban Breathnach

Published in: on May 29, 2018 at 8:23 am  Leave a Comment  
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Hymn to a Good Wife


Proverbs 31:10-31
A good woman is hard to find,
and worth far more than diamonds.
Her husband trusts her without reserve,
and never has reason to regret it.
Never spiteful, she treats him generously
all her life long.
She shops around for the best yarns and cottons,
and enjoys knitting and sewing.
She’s like a trading ship that sails to faraway places
and brings back exotic surprises.
She’s up before dawn, preparing breakfast
for her family and organizing her day.
She looks over a field and buys it,
then, with money she’s put aside, plants a garden.
First thing in the morning, she dresses for work,
rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.
She senses the worth of her work,
is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.
She’s skilled in the crafts of home and hearth,
diligent in homemaking.
She’s quick to assist anyone in need,
reaches out to help the poor.
She doesn’t worry about her family when it snows;
their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear.
She makes her own clothing,
and dresses in colorful linens and silks.
Her husband is greatly respected
when he deliberates with the city fathers.
She designs gowns and sells them,
brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops.
Her clothes are well-made and elegant,
and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.
When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say,
and she always says it kindly.
She keeps an eye on everyone in her household,
and keeps them all busy and productive.
Her children respect and bless her;
her husband joins in with words of praise:
“Many women have done wonderful things,
but you’ve outclassed them all!”
Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.
The woman to be admired and praised
is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.
Give her everything she deserves!
Festoon her life with praises!
~~~The Message

Published in: on May 13, 2018 at 4:29 am  Leave a Comment  
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Yarn Along – May


Yarn Along
~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading
and I love sharing my projects and current reads here.~
This is how Ginny begins her blog, Small Things,
on the First Wednesday of the month.

April was a productive month for me.
It seems I did nothing but sit and crochet.
I was happy.

Red and Grey Moods of Change, Frank O’Randell
is now finished, 4/15
It does not lay flat,
it kind of curls around my lap.
It is warmer that way.

I will make this pattern again
in a lighter weight yarn.
Ravelry link.

I played with the first few rounds of Mandela Madness
using dish cloth cotton,

Isn’t Madness pretty!

Someday I’d like to make some Madness.

I purchased some Caron Simply Soft in blue
and completed Moe of Change, Frank o’Randell

Started 4/16, finished 4/23/18.

What’s left of 4th skein.
Ravelry link.

4/23  I pulled Sophie’s Garden out of ‘time out’ in the stash shed
and determined I stopped at round 15.

I played with this one until 4/30 stopping on round 32.
I’m using stash lace weight yarn doubled and sock yarn single
comes out about same thickness.
Ravelry link.

Don’t tell Sophie, but she got set aside
because I couldn’t wait to see
what this yarn would look like in Tides of Change, Frank O’Randell.

I really like his patterns,
(as if you couldn’t tell)
they are challenging,
yet not overwhelming;
and they are so pretty when finished.
I’m on round 19,
I’m letting the yarn flow,
so center looks a little lopsided.
Ravelry link.

I have enjoyed my rounds in April, listening to many audio books.

If you would like to see what others are doing with yarn, join us here.

Published in: on May 9, 2018 at 4:06 am  Leave a Comment  
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Sunday Bible Reading – Philippians 4:4-7

Philippians 4:4-7

Rejoice in the Lord always
[delight, take pleasure in Him];
again I will say, rejoice!
Let your gentle spirit
[your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy,
tolerance, and patience]
be known to all people.
The Lord is near.
Do not be anxious or worried about anything,
but in everything
[every circumstance and situation]
by prayer and petition with thanksgiving,
continue to make your [specific] requests known to God.
And the peace of God
[that peace which reassures the heart,
that peace] which transcends all understanding,
[that peace which] stands guard over your hearts
and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].
Amplified Bible.

Published in: on May 6, 2018 at 3:54 am  Leave a Comment  
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And Be Ye Thankful

Our Family

Our family has a tradition of sharing our ‘Thankfuls.’
Every month we get together for birthdays and anniversaries, food, fun, and just being together.
Before the presents and birthday cake,
everyone says three things for which they are thankful.
We call them ‘Thankfuls’
Our ‘thankfuls’ are not profound, rain, candles, a pillow, that it is bedtime, my garden is growing, after a long RV trip I was thankful for TP you couldn’t see through and wouldn’t melt in your hands (maybe TP is profound).
We try to stick to one rule, you can’t repeat what someone else has said.

from Simple Abundance ~~Sarah Ban Breathnach

. . .These are the six threads of abundant living which, when woven together, produce a tapestry of contentment that wraps us in inner peace, well-being, happiness, and a sense of security. First there is gratitude. When we do a mental and spiritual inventory of all that we have, we realize that we are very rich indeed. Gratitude gives way to simplicity –the desire to clear out, pare down, and realize the essentials of what we need to live truly well. Simplicity brings with it order, both internally and externally. A sense of order in our life brings us harmony. Harmony provides us with the inner peace we need to appreciate the beauty that surrounds us each day, and beauty opens us to joy.

Colossians 3:15
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,
to the which also ye are called in one body;
and be ye thankful.

Published in: on May 4, 2018 at 6:13 pm  Leave a Comment  
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