tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20111458337495924692024-03-14T01:25:31.158-07:00Beth Gormongknit, read, write, knit, read, write, knit, read, write, knit, read, write, knit, read, write, knit, read, write, knit, read, writeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814876494654380200noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011145833749592469.post-28965777695082818382018-01-19T12:46:00.002-08:002018-01-19T12:46:50.680-08:00#12 Days of Bookstagram<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjpniZbNXh97RIK9MLSHB2ofFqE8XkdcmI-y26LxhPBjpCsPDCAsw78eb-eUto5_cWx_m3p85S7OrlCMwU5sDGw_Qa0Kcd2FCmrBRKiw0PGgjXyCF8xwmWcyW-ZtPewdjF7P-Prdonb8xIZgLOlgh3BdEjoWxT_pkR_H0xAimp1G9EIlk01iNvhWU409bEsV6xQ1iLBBTGLIvF5XTbOJT-DKCg_sQT4udo1jBiFg1SiKyf9yQPHuY1rM23JF3GvRD3q832ClH7sohv8lT_Jr6dPKaVIMVGtjyvjJ7AWTOQyMm_0caTluNi6l4Yf=s0-d-e1-ft" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 1: current read</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Unfortunately, I never finished this book. It will go on the 2018 To Be Finished list.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkOCB8naMq_F7N8yiq7AvlsBkUSWapFnRdNhQ9v6yaG8mqWYMR9vZvFdhKhQzIZcZk6-0PHOgB2OsveLWRytClad9LFNxYbuPz66V2TN68y9Llq_qV_ZLNxdnpDBiBPcNMDGPdZATHAY/s1600/IMG_0765%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkOCB8naMq_F7N8yiq7AvlsBkUSWapFnRdNhQ9v6yaG8mqWYMR9vZvFdhKhQzIZcZk6-0PHOgB2OsveLWRytClad9LFNxYbuPz66V2TN68y9Llq_qV_ZLNxdnpDBiBPcNMDGPdZATHAY/s320/IMG_0765%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 2: stack of books</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
There's always a stack of books to be read, and it's growing higher every day.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhazp1mAVofpN7iv1G-4wOnMtTzCjR2a1MJvS-JBQAPR4rTSuskypBN4bNCOQoHb7jT-BUEgrhZR1ev4eD5rpH9PZmD4j0GCgHtF58Su13-0DvmFsX2TkPZBu21njK5cHF-XMJIroo80nc/s1600/IMG_0771%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhazp1mAVofpN7iv1G-4wOnMtTzCjR2a1MJvS-JBQAPR4rTSuskypBN4bNCOQoHb7jT-BUEgrhZR1ev4eD5rpH9PZmD4j0GCgHtF58Su13-0DvmFsX2TkPZBu21njK5cHF-XMJIroo80nc/s320/IMG_0771%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 3: favorite reading chair</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Today I moved this chair to another area of the living room. I'll let you know if it's as cozy there.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYMdSg0ODOAE9GzoP0Mgh1kCyYW7Z4g7xeK0WKg4ceEGYfeWtn_49phRUSO0ePTvFZ0N3DrW-BTig432E3ibOcKYE371vIKHcyFlvshkW285cOvUwuFz_2TkjSglJkYs-C9T28YcURdo/s1600/IMG_0773%255B2%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvYMdSg0ODOAE9GzoP0Mgh1kCyYW7Z4g7xeK0WKg4ceEGYfeWtn_49phRUSO0ePTvFZ0N3DrW-BTig432E3ibOcKYE371vIKHcyFlvshkW285cOvUwuFz_2TkjSglJkYs-C9T28YcURdo/s320/IMG_0773%255B2%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 4: favorite quote</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I read through the Bible every year. I have for at least 17 years!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-Qor64YWHDD1pisgRJncs5SD2IAj36nRZChtUDjcjpboTgPbdyLTLHRHKpWg5RRN1JbGBHzPsFspYQp96ddnGF28jCcHtMj0aFZ91zLo2J876eNwBOY4rpsyRMPiy7gW4N0aiWZq5HU/s1600/IMG_0792%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-Qor64YWHDD1pisgRJncs5SD2IAj36nRZChtUDjcjpboTgPbdyLTLHRHKpWg5RRN1JbGBHzPsFspYQp96ddnGF28jCcHtMj0aFZ91zLo2J876eNwBOY4rpsyRMPiy7gW4N0aiWZq5HU/s320/IMG_0792%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 5: more than books</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I also collect plants. My parents, my father especially, has a green thumb. I love bringing nature inside.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6__AXTFqKSzg15297qEbo3rNfN_dFkiJp86rHpXd5ukfM1B9_TkUCaNZbocNQtPEdqnCzHqlZMAi9qzyYTIVtJXr250DeUYn7jNs36ArlvNj_GfyQbWn6UJObVoU1jTLG29jK_n8NMiw/s1600/IMG_0803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6__AXTFqKSzg15297qEbo3rNfN_dFkiJp86rHpXd5ukfM1B9_TkUCaNZbocNQtPEdqnCzHqlZMAi9qzyYTIVtJXr250DeUYn7jNs36ArlvNj_GfyQbWn6UJObVoU1jTLG29jK_n8NMiw/s320/IMG_0803.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 6: flat lay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This is an excellent book. I highly recommend it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5i96dKUFP2yMtAtf2oNYFvZWPB_yaSqey6rFE7sAWCxIkyd7ZA_935eGbsSifqKgKCknTSdsmrtKmFjFCq1Rbolt6pvVPyyy8dKoKL5xkDBaJMAfMp_17fTaO57ZWTnO3UTFfGtOLFPQ/s1600/IMG_0807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5i96dKUFP2yMtAtf2oNYFvZWPB_yaSqey6rFE7sAWCxIkyd7ZA_935eGbsSifqKgKCknTSdsmrtKmFjFCq1Rbolt6pvVPyyy8dKoKL5xkDBaJMAfMp_17fTaO57ZWTnO3UTFfGtOLFPQ/s320/IMG_0807.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 7: on my nightstand</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Always finding new ways to display my TBR pile.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjVRP61sqUn3Rq86hkLTesvLTONMrBRIkBQ2V_ztGSFCGqUbEvYaF2RygMScn5c6HAzkUr2k-I3Owk1ioh8MrO-RcSpUYSLpXN6e1K2M-s5vdNqrryL2cAKepevFq-aaxkjpHDZEmUCQyg3LYKuObdD6mKWEFL21mwlzUdSbwkE7xNMarM8ssw72oZCUlZsv35OjJUK5s7bxe3NeGaVjehpiHD9CFBbW4U_twoVQEBcxhpSC6EsGqY31e05MGI5ppPL6urYkPdZ3Vm9Br-g_HPqTnPKCd2aHLSjmvXijEgCtQOb_gUJ3K0caUJs=s0-d-e1-ft" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 8: book & beverage</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I love this left-handed mug that I bought on a trip out to Mount Rushmore. I found this gem at Wall Drug.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgg0gzoTd79mO1SRKuagT7GEWGgun-YP1bI61OzVcxtuS1SHISrUovbT5WeaL907ecarJU2Z6PogycYGAxZG3lz7Rk-NYMuQiUtrkIxyxRUMmkc9DOwkeKxZby5LPIveCUlAcBoscpKaN38lsc6MZi5wj8N-zlO82SVNOHhbFinPFK3Y4SdYGnwz3I4027guN5ACZd6mSdIbhY5w1vw-k39n4jgxMTvsehPkE3cqOhdbcz-3EEPFCW1R4TsWwUWZtcAE1Pd6ldduc8jXQTDB0p6Z20mr1Txvl7b0Bo4LjLWSYQI4Y2MkEQIkj_W4A=s0-d-e1-ft" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 9: at the library</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Our library has been undergoing a renovation. It's like I've lost an old friend, but discovered a new one where the old one disappeared.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8TlYvbcNYqQNVpueLezDlhipeBxqf0hQpnJY7JtCDpyOEzIn3a0PKI0Fd9EKUgz9skglzZ1vk70xt1ZmyKkTQjVE5Mp0zNXsetnNV1CTA54cbKr-Rd83hb4MW4x6W6Z45HlhlKMS2u-Q/s1600/IMG_0814%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1505" data-original-width="1505" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8TlYvbcNYqQNVpueLezDlhipeBxqf0hQpnJY7JtCDpyOEzIn3a0PKI0Fd9EKUgz9skglzZ1vk70xt1ZmyKkTQjVE5Mp0zNXsetnNV1CTA54cbKr-Rd83hb4MW4x6W6Z45HlhlKMS2u-Q/s320/IMG_0814%255B1%255D.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 10: books I want to read</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
See, another couple piles. 2018's goal is to read the books I already own.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgWTprzoir4IS8_W-OrV9WVqynjLL-Zv3LK2kBo9A_oeoUVJRZ8-sJoMT5fZQykHVrRLsmkzkob0yy1gNd3rx1xsKA0QiRXKCSUIjUSJzqo2cjzrIpv31CaUEiiPB4k9p2U9hRFNC5sp_QZ2wJJbugDrdiSNu8ZU4sZF9KrHx_6LcnnudzDZ4xL3Gw4sVRezbP5I4SOL3Lx97l2vrsyI3NG_7t-ntFqQrRGNAoNx4XhFbZiimGRpA0Od2R0KHHJg84gpku5CvRaEx07tmQIbHkso1z8ZjnTgKnumARJaGoC8WATm5stOmj4WZ5x=s0-d-e1-ft" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 11: bibliophile life</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I find I read as many, if not more books, on my kindle app and library app. I love to read while I work out.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJsVfN8hXjOjssxPbcCU_gwtiHbnxTJ9MvCFU_24-EOy8PoGyhO35fttdZECi-CFj8bI_XNmR3O9-e5h6AdZcI9gexdKO-ApJ1QyCKPrKm2BPhApUJu4f_J9AkSLnHJBr73BBJNLg8h1s/s1600/IMG_0822+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJsVfN8hXjOjssxPbcCU_gwtiHbnxTJ9MvCFU_24-EOy8PoGyhO35fttdZECi-CFj8bI_XNmR3O9-e5h6AdZcI9gexdKO-ApJ1QyCKPrKm2BPhApUJu4f_J9AkSLnHJBr73BBJNLg8h1s/s320/IMG_0822+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 12: shelfie (favorite childhood reading)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I spent hours pouring through these encyclopedias as a little girl.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814876494654380200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011145833749592469.post-91359939230413619672017-12-17T18:03:00.002-08:002017-12-17T18:57:14.876-08:00Off My Needles: Hats for Sell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTcC9Yrzqq8MebO_xsrNXsZD4rWJCVexKj4kRLAoDpWcYRxfMPNB_GnWranHbvRIFEvqNKncAOo_nSiPxYSrk9tMppn1VJZeGmVLkfaf2B6OOdjS_jAFmvp2UTLJAYkgjaG27DtEBbUQ/s1600/IMG_0737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTcC9Yrzqq8MebO_xsrNXsZD4rWJCVexKj4kRLAoDpWcYRxfMPNB_GnWranHbvRIFEvqNKncAOo_nSiPxYSrk9tMppn1VJZeGmVLkfaf2B6OOdjS_jAFmvp2UTLJAYkgjaG27DtEBbUQ/s320/IMG_0737.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I was invited by a friend to sell hand-knit items at a local Christmas Craft Bazaar. I chose hats, and for a month all I knit was hats...30 hats total. I was surprised that I was able to knit that many hats in so short a time. It proved to me that I can do hard things and succeed, and revealed that knitting doesn't feel like work to me. The hats were fun to make, so soft and comfy. The result? Over the past two months I sold 20 hats! I'm considering opening an Etsy shop. I've got to overcome my fears and set aside the time to do it, but my mind is racing with plans for items to sell and patterns to design, Watch for updates!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814876494654380200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011145833749592469.post-37289547305007279292017-12-06T15:35:00.001-08:002017-12-06T15:35:22.367-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznAqXCI0QUnA68RAF1ZCYP6FfEMp6BG6ndIxOAXFf9FvCd60WO4n3C4uBUXD2JsZMNP4FL_nNk9W4QihtgBfuYJuPhQtC9RPn0xXw4nhSku5yFMd5GrYRsIhE3mIf9ur4WBDh8ACDANg/s1600/IMG_0748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1101" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznAqXCI0QUnA68RAF1ZCYP6FfEMp6BG6ndIxOAXFf9FvCd60WO4n3C4uBUXD2JsZMNP4FL_nNk9W4QihtgBfuYJuPhQtC9RPn0xXw4nhSku5yFMd5GrYRsIhE3mIf9ur4WBDh8ACDANg/s640/IMG_0748.jpg" width="440" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Broadway Comes to Marion<br />
Duet</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Being the mom of college kids means you don't see them much. But it can also mean seeing your kids doing the things they love the most.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFz8cdC4v-ak9W9wvyYgQuyzNUbafu4iiy1o1SnjB8sLWPM3xGfto9jTlPxAV16eGst9CBf93UrMSIM3ucZ7fOzu2ooXEkQI8P5FTekxlIjzfGizpY4uYl5gkOadmcLo11Q1MCVXXftM4/s1600/IMG_0766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1600" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFz8cdC4v-ak9W9wvyYgQuyzNUbafu4iiy1o1SnjB8sLWPM3xGfto9jTlPxAV16eGst9CBf93UrMSIM3ucZ7fOzu2ooXEkQI8P5FTekxlIjzfGizpY4uYl5gkOadmcLo11Q1MCVXXftM4/s640/IMG_0766.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Redeemed Concert</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My oldest performed a duet from Wicked with one of her best friends & helping lead worship at a concert with the group Redeemed.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNb5FBQGrBJggivYDJLUElAG4troaBBkivAd-wClcALqs7ey6QNUse6-yTp-a2ZNApw5Gg8gUAsEFzCp5b-BXNKb_k7DrRe5gBLbofZhQaFAdDcneTZBe_sQrZ35WWfzEQePLbT7xYuEo/s1600/IMG_0701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNb5FBQGrBJggivYDJLUElAG4troaBBkivAd-wClcALqs7ey6QNUse6-yTp-a2ZNApw5Gg8gUAsEFzCp5b-BXNKb_k7DrRe5gBLbofZhQaFAdDcneTZBe_sQrZ35WWfzEQePLbT7xYuEo/s640/IMG_0701.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the ceramics studio</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFz8cdC4v-ak9W9wvyYgQuyzNUbafu4iiy1o1SnjB8sLWPM3xGfto9jTlPxAV16eGst9CBf93UrMSIM3ucZ7fOzu2ooXEkQI8P5FTekxlIjzfGizpY4uYl5gkOadmcLo11Q1MCVXXftM4/s1600/IMG_0766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznAqXCI0QUnA68RAF1ZCYP6FfEMp6BG6ndIxOAXFf9FvCd60WO4n3C4uBUXD2JsZMNP4FL_nNk9W4QihtgBfuYJuPhQtC9RPn0xXw4nhSku5yFMd5GrYRsIhE3mIf9ur4WBDh8ACDANg/s1600/IMG_0748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNb5FBQGrBJggivYDJLUElAG4troaBBkivAd-wClcALqs7ey6QNUse6-yTp-a2ZNApw5Gg8gUAsEFzCp5b-BXNKb_k7DrRe5gBLbofZhQaFAdDcneTZBe_sQrZ35WWfzEQePLbT7xYuEo/s1600/IMG_0701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNb5FBQGrBJggivYDJLUElAG4troaBBkivAd-wClcALqs7ey6QNUse6-yTp-a2ZNApw5Gg8gUAsEFzCp5b-BXNKb_k7DrRe5gBLbofZhQaFAdDcneTZBe_sQrZ35WWfzEQePLbT7xYuEo/s1600/IMG_0701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNb5FBQGrBJggivYDJLUElAG4troaBBkivAd-wClcALqs7ey6QNUse6-yTp-a2ZNApw5Gg8gUAsEFzCp5b-BXNKb_k7DrRe5gBLbofZhQaFAdDcneTZBe_sQrZ35WWfzEQePLbT7xYuEo/s1600/IMG_0701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFz8cdC4v-ak9W9wvyYgQuyzNUbafu4iiy1o1SnjB8sLWPM3xGfto9jTlPxAV16eGst9CBf93UrMSIM3ucZ7fOzu2ooXEkQI8P5FTekxlIjzfGizpY4uYl5gkOadmcLo11Q1MCVXXftM4/s1600/IMG_0766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFz8cdC4v-ak9W9wvyYgQuyzNUbafu4iiy1o1SnjB8sLWPM3xGfto9jTlPxAV16eGst9CBf93UrMSIM3ucZ7fOzu2ooXEkQI8P5FTekxlIjzfGizpY4uYl5gkOadmcLo11Q1MCVXXftM4/s1600/IMG_0766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNb5FBQGrBJggivYDJLUElAG4troaBBkivAd-wClcALqs7ey6QNUse6-yTp-a2ZNApw5Gg8gUAsEFzCp5b-BXNKb_k7DrRe5gBLbofZhQaFAdDcneTZBe_sQrZ35WWfzEQePLbT7xYuEo/s1600/IMG_0701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFz8cdC4v-ak9W9wvyYgQuyzNUbafu4iiy1o1SnjB8sLWPM3xGfto9jTlPxAV16eGst9CBf93UrMSIM3ucZ7fOzu2ooXEkQI8P5FTekxlIjzfGizpY4uYl5gkOadmcLo11Q1MCVXXftM4/s1600/IMG_0766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>My middle daughter throwing a piece of pottery on the wheel in her college ceramics studio. I loved watching her eyes light up as she talked passionately about how to throw and glaze a piece.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9XR0dVSLrg3AuDdSZYoEA6QJ0USAU5dQvPvy2EEEABb1ruAHWICGqyvOumAGK8uggitVobKwqSVOJis8oj1kaKy6WFIJDEiagzS_OmX8nLFYUSlsn-lxhheXk63dzXrDd6b-AFJ4ZOo/s1600/IMG_0759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1215" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9XR0dVSLrg3AuDdSZYoEA6QJ0USAU5dQvPvy2EEEABb1ruAHWICGqyvOumAGK8uggitVobKwqSVOJis8oj1kaKy6WFIJDEiagzS_OmX8nLFYUSlsn-lxhheXk63dzXrDd6b-AFJ4ZOo/s400/IMG_0759.jpg" width="302" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBgCSAe1mIT2aeQZF4F85ER1cHxUUecpb3zTKyr8ln9wb4XuTEi-9JktAG0rUrnvmBPzzEFDoncrf2Kj4Jpt3RdC_G37-qqp-FVxdjtFIa2PNE8GL8AiMPdN_qr04TAL-SBVPLVCj0IJk/s1600/IMG_0761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1535" data-original-width="1155" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBgCSAe1mIT2aeQZF4F85ER1cHxUUecpb3zTKyr8ln9wb4XuTEi-9JktAG0rUrnvmBPzzEFDoncrf2Kj4Jpt3RdC_G37-qqp-FVxdjtFIa2PNE8GL8AiMPdN_qr04TAL-SBVPLVCj0IJk/s400/IMG_0761.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">IWU Jazz Band Concert</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBgCSAe1mIT2aeQZF4F85ER1cHxUUecpb3zTKyr8ln9wb4XuTEi-9JktAG0rUrnvmBPzzEFDoncrf2Kj4Jpt3RdC_G37-qqp-FVxdjtFIa2PNE8GL8AiMPdN_qr04TAL-SBVPLVCj0IJk/s1600/IMG_0761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>My youngest played tenor sax and clarinet in the Jazz band concert. She looks bored in these photos, but that's just because she isn't playing.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBgCSAe1mIT2aeQZF4F85ER1cHxUUecpb3zTKyr8ln9wb4XuTEi-9JktAG0rUrnvmBPzzEFDoncrf2Kj4Jpt3RdC_G37-qqp-FVxdjtFIa2PNE8GL8AiMPdN_qr04TAL-SBVPLVCj0IJk/s1600/IMG_0761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814876494654380200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011145833749592469.post-63442157710311402952017-11-28T15:46:00.003-08:002017-11-28T15:46:56.936-08:00Off My Bookshelf: The Last Days of Cafe Leila by Donia Bijan<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7XdSr7fcHJ6w5brAI8YvILRYLgzYt3p0NpzC5FGO-xFhftLAJeKuJS-mALuWz1BTq43l3EW7XXZYwvQao5kV1wPRYrwiEve4zxEhpSmsCVK0oxSLt27GlaaDca0gnpl4OFriicHk4rlQ/s1600/IMG_0803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7XdSr7fcHJ6w5brAI8YvILRYLgzYt3p0NpzC5FGO-xFhftLAJeKuJS-mALuWz1BTq43l3EW7XXZYwvQao5kV1wPRYrwiEve4zxEhpSmsCVK0oxSLt27GlaaDca0gnpl4OFriicHk4rlQ/s400/IMG_0803.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This week I finished, "The Last Days of Cafe Leila" by Donia Bijan.<br />
<br />
<br />
I enjoyed this book immensely.<br />
Noor is a wife, mother, daughter and sister, whose life has unraveled. She travels from California, back to her childhood home in Syria with her teenage daughter. From there she discovers her father is dying, and begins to see her purpose in life as something bigger and more selfless than she has ever realized. It is a story of how a family and its business became who they were and how societal violence ripped their world apart.<br />
<br />
<br />
My favorite quotes:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"It seemed they had jumped the glass walls of the fish bowl to roam the room, while their mothers circled inside." </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"The floodgates opened then and they wailed openly and without restraint. It's not something they had planned, but that's how it is when you come to a clearing. How else to let go of all that was inside them?"</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Nothing between them now but a wound, not forgotten, not even forgiven, but accepted."</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Ferry came to lightly grasp her elbow propping her up, and she stood between her girls with a comforting arm around each, wondering how the story of her life would someday be etched into stone in the dash between two dates." </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Maybe we don't really grow up until our parents die, she thought....Because if our parents didn't exalt us, we spend our adults lives blaming them - for not doing this and not doing that, not being "supportive," not making an appearance at our first recital, being overprotective or aloof, damaging our self-esteem. Yet at our best or worst, who sees everything? Who knows us best? Who waits and waits to see what we yet may be? Then one day they're gone and it's just you and there's nothing left to squeeze, no one to blame for the dismay over the course your life has taken. Once the tears have stopped, it's just the here and now and the desire to do better, to be closer to the person you want to be."</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"...I want to show you that our lives have meaning beyond the everyday things we dwell on. We play a part, however small, in the times in which we live - we are not here just for ourselves."</blockquote>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814876494654380200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011145833749592469.post-59625766299344724682017-11-23T13:08:00.000-08:002017-11-23T13:08:09.749-08:005 Ways to Make Someone's Birthday Special<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YTPHOWnTjpnp-TaZeIwj4JOaw3TPJNwEhFDXNdvWJjUbHGPnBv9fQb08cG1DeOZrWmG8LIPlZ8HAYS7BbetCa4XYeO29uDO5fA-eIa8gmYvT82vZBrLkXy4tCcnXM8APj7QhK4Q95Jo/s1600/tempImageForSave.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="644" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YTPHOWnTjpnp-TaZeIwj4JOaw3TPJNwEhFDXNdvWJjUbHGPnBv9fQb08cG1DeOZrWmG8LIPlZ8HAYS7BbetCa4XYeO29uDO5fA-eIa8gmYvT82vZBrLkXy4tCcnXM8APj7QhK4Q95Jo/s400/tempImageForSave.JPG" width="363" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My birthday was this week and what started out as a normal Monday ended up to be a day of wonderful surprises. What I learned from this birthday is that it doesn't take much to make someone's birthday a little extra special. All it takes is a little effort and a few minutes. Here's what I learned about how to make your family or friends feel loved on their birthday.<br />
<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">Wake </span>them with a birthday text</b></li>
<li><b>Take them out to <span style="font-size: large;">lunch</span>.</b></li>
<li><b>Buy them a <span style="font-size: x-large;">thoughtful </span><span style="font-size: large;">gift</span>.</b></li>
<li><b>Send them a birthday <span style="font-size: large;">card </span>by snail mail and include a piece of <span style="font-size: large;">gum</span>.</b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">Visit </span>them.</b></li>
</ol>
<ol>
</ol>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814876494654380200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011145833749592469.post-71517002854287263882017-11-14T15:59:00.000-08:002017-11-14T16:25:55.173-08:00Off My Bookshelf: "Braving the Wilderness" by Brene Brown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QPSHmT8GeFIfGewAkbT224pYDaBaNBLByvo-1ZeOJ1QpygfYudmL_Rf3iNtM4Axr6J9_s3eV7RTnhNlLN5M37YmPAhToDsVVGK2VGIzXjlBvnCg4WtmpjCnuXGI9Mgcsk_RSn8p6VhQ/s1600/IMG_0752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="575" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QPSHmT8GeFIfGewAkbT224pYDaBaNBLByvo-1ZeOJ1QpygfYudmL_Rf3iNtM4Axr6J9_s3eV7RTnhNlLN5M37YmPAhToDsVVGK2VGIzXjlBvnCg4WtmpjCnuXGI9Mgcsk_RSn8p6VhQ/s320/IMG_0752.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I finished listening to Brene Brown’s newest book, “Braving the Wilderness,” while traveling this weekend. I think I need to read it about ten more times to really let it sink into my brain and heart.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It’s interesting that I have been thinking a lot about belonging lately, about how nice it is when I enter the local yarn shop, River Wools, and the owner looks up and says, “hey, Beth,” or when I go to Wise Pies and they know my usual order. There is something so good about feeling like you belong somewhere.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">What I realize from reading Brown’s book is that because I️ feel that connection I am able to live in community with people who are very different than me in other areas. Because I have moved in, moved closer to people, I am known and they are known. Now their differences don’t make us enemies. They are my friends, and make me a better person.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I can brave the wilderness of not thinking exactly like others around me because now I can see them as a person. I know their children names, their dog's breed. I like the same books, movies, etc. We have the same hobbies. I don’t have to be exactly like a person to feel a sense of belonging and friendship. Its important, in our society, to move beyond those like us and get closer to those unlike us.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Brown writes:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">“True belonging is a spiritual practice of believing in and belonging to yourself so deeply that you can share your most authentic self with the world and find a sacredness in both being a part of something and standing alone in the wilderness.”<br /><br />“True belonging doesn’t require that you change who you are. It requires you to be who you are.”</span></blockquote>
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814876494654380200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011145833749592469.post-19284207848652534792017-11-08T08:34:00.000-08:002017-11-08T08:34:17.919-08:00Off My Needles: 30 HATS!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrt5fsa2jtiFoMl72HGg6hcYUGSrflNb14cNCIAr7VbbLzXcGQSlsTieUlIaFrJhv7v1vcEdOCZva0mDDH2YilCeFgOlkOZCh80RLqtY-bAu2JSqtuWaBn5ws_iYWKEL4tSh_o7WWRqI/s1600/103_3217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrt5fsa2jtiFoMl72HGg6hcYUGSrflNb14cNCIAr7VbbLzXcGQSlsTieUlIaFrJhv7v1vcEdOCZva0mDDH2YilCeFgOlkOZCh80RLqtY-bAu2JSqtuWaBn5ws_iYWKEL4tSh_o7WWRqI/s320/103_3217.JPG" width="320" /></a>I knit 30 hats in the past five weeks! My arms and shoulders were sore, but my heart was happy because I was doing what makes me the most happy. Knitting.<br />
<br />
My friend had a table at a craft bazaar and invited me to use half of it. And I said, "YES". It was one of the scariest things I've done. I said yes to a dream. And then I got busy and knit, and knit, and knit.<br />
<br />
The hats were soft and beautiful.I was so proud of them, but also scared that no one would like them. But I worried in vain because several people admired my work and commented on how beautiful they were. The crowd was small and mostly not the type of people who wore hats. So I only sold six.<br />
<br />
Even though I didn't make enough money at the bazaar to cover the cost of all the yarn and pompoms, I had a blast fulfilling my dream. And I'm not one bit sorry that I have a bunch of hats to figure out what to do with or that I didn't make a boat-load of money. Why? Because I said yes to something big and scary. I said yes to a dream.<br />
<br />
Here's what I learned. Saying yes is scary. But doing the work is life-giving. Success is found in the doing, not in the result. And now I am ready do say yes to the next dream, and it doesn't seem so frightening to me.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv78Q8Nu6rTb59dkjVTDwzCy2UKj3Ru68YhqsZwLQjlQUCI6YLZRsoYSTW1R44EfQNMC3GtF-y1MHpu19_yk2AYF1jvDnBSoDUqwA05krK-Uc0RLGXfG0C18YxQGKTeHXy9cnT5qcEW3g/s1600/103_3214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv78Q8Nu6rTb59dkjVTDwzCy2UKj3Ru68YhqsZwLQjlQUCI6YLZRsoYSTW1R44EfQNMC3GtF-y1MHpu19_yk2AYF1jvDnBSoDUqwA05krK-Uc0RLGXfG0C18YxQGKTeHXy9cnT5qcEW3g/s640/103_3214.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814876494654380200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011145833749592469.post-50135071401348122762017-10-30T12:53:00.003-07:002017-10-30T12:53:45.158-07:00Off my Bookshelf: The Little French Bistro<br />
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img height="200" src="https://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/9780451495600_p0_v3_s1200x630.jpg" width="131" /></div>
This week's read was "The Little French Bistro" by Nina George. It is the story of Marianne Messman's existential crisis that leads her to the tiny coastal town of Kerdruc, Brittany where she meets an unusual group of residents who help her to transform into her true identity because of the belief they have in her. Along the way, Marianne is transformed, as are the people of the town. Marianne learns that sometimes it takes suffering, rescue, and a different perspective to discover who we really are and that there are dreams we've either forgotten or given up on that are waiting to be revived. And sometimes it takes courage to believe we can be who we are in the depths of our souls.</div>
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
Some books are so poetic that the words slow you down and whisper their way into your heart. Nina George's writing is exactly like that. Here are some of quotes that I highlighted:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Didn't they say that beauty was a state of soul? And if her soul was loved, a woman would be transformed into a wondrous creature, however ordinary her looks. Love changed a woman's soul, and she became beautiful, for a few minutes or forever."</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"A young woman's beauty makes up for her lack of intelligence; and old woman's intelligence makes up for her lack of beauty."</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Learn to love it, son. Learn to love what you do, whatever it is, and you won't have any problems. You'll suffer, but then you'll feel, and when you feel, you're alive. You need troubles to be alive - otherwise you're dead!" </blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"As long as you can walk upright, you will find a walking stick. As long as you are brave, someone will help you."</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"And it (life) began when you first took a risk, failed and realized that you'd survived the failure. With that knowledge, you could risk anything." </blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"One always has to consider the individual. For every person is an individual, and everyone has individual, unique reasons. And every individual counts."</blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
</blockquote>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814876494654380200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011145833749592469.post-30294356154224982892017-10-23T09:18:00.002-07:002017-10-23T09:22:37.879-07:00Off My Bookshelf: Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey<div class="tr_bq">
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img height="640" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327098624l/11250053.jpg" width="424" /></div>
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey is my latest read. The book is a Pulizer Prise in Letters: Fiction finalist, and rightly so because it is beautifully written.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Snow Child is the story of Jack and Mabel, a childless, middle-aged couple, who moved to the harsh 1920's Alaskan wilderness to farm, escape their sad past and begin anew. When a mysterious child, Faina, appears one winter, the couple creates a special bond with this strange child as she comes and goes from their life. The story is woven together with moments of joy, sadness, grief, and magic - a fairy tale for adults.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<img height="132" src="https://forwinternights.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/sc-new-image.jpg" width="200" /><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Here are three of my favorite quotes from the book:<br />
<blockquote>
"You did not have to understand miracles to believe in them, and in fact Mabel had come to suspect the opposite. To believe, perhaps you had to cease looking for explanations and instead hold the little thing in your hands as long as you were able before it slipped like water between your fingers." -page 204</blockquote>
<blockquote>
"In my old age, I see that life itself is often more fantastic and terrible than the stories we believed as children, and that perhaps there is no harm in finding magic among the trees." -page 251</blockquote>
<blockquote>
"We never know what is going to happen, do we? Life is always throwing us this way and that. That's where the adventure is. Not knowing where you'll end up or how you'l fare. It's all a mystery, and when we say any different, we're just lying to ourselves. Tell me, when have you felt most alive?" -page 258</blockquote>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814876494654380200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011145833749592469.post-69402900374165053282017-10-16T11:43:00.000-07:002017-10-16T11:43:19.478-07:00Off My Bookshelf: "The Magnolia Story" by Chip and Johanna Gaines<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img height="640" src="https://christianaudio.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/1050x1050/170ec19af00183b5e0368529fc2daa2f/9/7/9780718090111.jpeg" width="640" /> </div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
My daughters and I made a quick girl's trip to Arlington, Virginia over the weekend for a cousin's wedding. The outdoor wedding was magical. Lights were strung from tree to tree lighting the darkening yard. Red and yellow leaves clung to the trees, providing all the decorations needed. The bride glowed. There was a lot of laughter and joy. It was a beautiful celebration.</div>
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
The drive took us ten hours there and ten back, providing plenty of time to listen to the audio book "The Magnolia Story" by Chip and Joanna Gaines with Mark Dagostino. I've watched a few seasons of Chip and Joanna's show, Fixer Upper. (I was late to the game and just discovered it recently.) I, like everyone I talk to, love Joanna's design style and Chip's antics. I especially appreciate the way Chip and Joanna interact and work together. When I found out they narrated teh book I knew I wanted to listen to it instead of reading it. I wasn't disappointed, and laughed my way back to Indiana. Their story is one of love thriving through hard work, difficult times and building a business together. Their differences have made each other stronger, brought out the best in each other. I admire their courage, energy and commitment.</div>
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
....And now I want to redecorate.</div>
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img height="378" src="https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.aGDO6NB1VSIL8WMSe5l2GgFFC_&pid=15.1&P=0&w=259&h=153" width="640" /> </div>
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814876494654380200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011145833749592469.post-53060482395814422952017-10-09T11:12:00.002-07:002017-10-09T11:12:31.518-07:00Off My Bookshelf: Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img height="400" src="https://static2.businessinsider.com/image/59132b7d73f2f351008b525a-331/hillbilly%20elegy.jpg" width="263" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
This week I finished the memoir "Hillbilly Elegy" by J.D. Vance, a book about growing up the descendant of Appalachian grandparents who relocated to southern Ohio only to find poverty and dysfunction followed them. Living in the Midwest, I live around many people like J.D.'s family. Drugs, poverty, child neglect, lack of higher education, lack of well paying job opportunities and hopelessness are all issues my own city and county deal with regularly. I was glad to be able to view these problems from an insider's perspective. It gave me more empathy toward my neighbors and their children. Like Mr. Vance, I don't see simple answers for these problems, but that doesn't mean we can't work to find some solutions. I encourage you to read "Hillbilly Elegy" to try to understand the problems lower to middle-class midwest citizens face in our country.</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Here are two quotes from the book that I highlighted,<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"As a teacher at my old high school told me recently, 'They want us to be shepherds to these kids. But no one wants to talk about the fact that many of them are raised by wolves.'" -page 138</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"I don't believe in transformative moments, as transformation is harder than a moment." -page 189 </blockquote>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814876494654380200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011145833749592469.post-10930156996465495072017-10-02T11:55:00.000-07:002017-10-02T11:55:13.780-07:00Where Is My Focus?<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEict45cK4qAAQ0ZhlKz_13Zh_GLiw-fWVnf7nAFM9tjtJLotS-J8s5OgnZ2o3NwZLYmmJR_5cCMyk6eHcezSlXS329NNtJo68hh7X4EPWsgeUiC6QO8jxtNViQOn7ueF0xSTUYlhKSFLZM/s640/blogger-image--1746984083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEict45cK4qAAQ0ZhlKz_13Zh_GLiw-fWVnf7nAFM9tjtJLotS-J8s5OgnZ2o3NwZLYmmJR_5cCMyk6eHcezSlXS329NNtJo68hh7X4EPWsgeUiC6QO8jxtNViQOn7ueF0xSTUYlhKSFLZM/s640/blogger-image--1746984083.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
When I took this picture I was just snapping away. It wasn't until later that I realized my phone decided to focus on the leaves and rain drops in the background. But I actually like it better because I find the greens to be brilliant and the rain drops striking.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes what's hiding in the background deserves our attention the most.</span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I'm learning that I've spent too much time focusing on the wrong things. I should have been asking,<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"Who is hurting?"</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"What needs do they have?"</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"How can I help?"</b></div>
<br />
<br />
Instead I focused on myself. I looked out at the world and asked,<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b> "Do you like me?"</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"Do you want to be my friend?"</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"Am I good enough?"</b> </div>
<br />
And then I judged myself as insufficient- not beautiful enough, strong enough, smart enough, well-spoken enough- and the list goes on and on. But honestly over the years I come to realize that the people I meet don't care what I look like. They just want to know if I see them, really see them.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Over the past few years, because of circumstances in my life, I haven't been serving at my church the way I always had before. And I've felt guilty even though I knew I was exactly where God wanted me to be, even though the time I freed up from church service was used to minister in different ways, and even though I've grown closer to God than ever before. I was focusing on what I imagined others expected of me, and not on how God wanted to use me. What I've found is that God is opening my eyes to people and situations I never had the time to pay attention to before. It's liberating to see that I can be used by God in new and exciting ways.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So what's in the background that you need to be focusing on? </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814876494654380200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011145833749592469.post-61077775114434478812017-09-25T07:55:00.000-07:002017-09-25T07:55:49.143-07:00Off my Bookshelf<br />
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img src="https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.Fb1WaVmUmQMVeQxUtEUOsgDQEs&pid=15.1&P=0&w=300&h=300" /></div>
<br />
Just Mercy<br />
by Bryan Stevenson<br />
<br />
This book will be one of my favorites, or better said, mind-changing books this year. It should be required reading for everyone, politicians, lawyers, policemen, judges, psychologists, college students, parents, black, and white. If more people read it, this county's citizens might become more empathetic; and, I hope, more would be done to make laws fair and just.<br />
<br />
<br />
My favorite verse is:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." -Micah 6:8 </blockquote>
How can I act justly if I am ignorant of the judicial system I live under? How can I show mercy without having empathy toward those in need of mercy? The older I get, the more I see that nothing in life is simply defined or simply solved. But solutions to our criminal system do need to be found.<br />
<br />
Here are some convicting quotes from "Just Mercy":<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Each of us is more than the worst thing we've ever done." page 26</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"The true measure of our character is how we treat the poor, the disfavored, the accused, the incarcerated, the condemned." -page 26-27 </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"The power of just mercy is that it belongs to the undeserving. It's when mercy is least expected that it's most potent - strong enough to break the cycle of victimization and victimhood, retribution and suffering. it has the power to heal the psychic harm and injuries that lead to aggression an violence, abuse of power, mass incarceration." page 384</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"...mercy is just when it it rooted in hopefulness and freely given. Mercy is most empowering, liberating and transformative when it is directed at the undeserving. The people who haven't earned it, who haven't even sought it, are the most meaningful recipients of our compassion." page 420</blockquote>
If you haven't heard of "Just Mercy," take my advice and buy it, check it out from the library or borrow it from a friend. You won't shut the book feeling warm and fuzzy, but you will definitely be challenged and more informed and possibly convicted to try to help find a solution.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
</blockquote>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814876494654380200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011145833749592469.post-11370169099621783282015-02-10T18:31:00.000-08:002015-02-10T18:31:31.303-08:00Off My Bookshelf: January 2015 BooksLooking back over my book choices for January leaves me scratching my head. The three books have no connection: one fiction, one memoir and one self help. In regard to subject matter, they have nothing in common. So see if you can figure my brain out by what I read.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
<br />
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvS3LkExfbXGPjIt5xAcOJmtEoboxHqdb7K5ZCrmU9ML8YtOu7fJ5hwWwIDkWGQEE-kEgd9FXZTk6IDdaYRmMce_aXLMFXFYHGUezqloFEALi7efkB-uqdjXn8SA03GC40bCz0zLBhQw/s640/blogger-image--159542472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvS3LkExfbXGPjIt5xAcOJmtEoboxHqdb7K5ZCrmU9ML8YtOu7fJ5hwWwIDkWGQEE-kEgd9FXZTk6IDdaYRmMce_aXLMFXFYHGUezqloFEALi7efkB-uqdjXn8SA03GC40bCz0zLBhQw/s320/blogger-image--159542472.jpg" width="212" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1ycDPRWJql-E_zaDFTJIsDc4EO2xVMCEuSnndVO0IHZOzj13fsfUc8_pIGLlo4LXOCcXAryjxlbTvu_Bwxbc4ssFP0oGkKIWFdilzdjRflJu56wA6Gy78L8BIs-1JA1ygCu0JmoFRXs/s640/blogger-image--1098597672.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">1. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Us-David-Nicholls-ebook/dp/B00JJV4QZG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1423619018&sr=8-1&keywords=us+by+david+nichols">Us by David Nicholls</a> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Fiction)</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I heard about "Us" from a podcast, "The Readers," and found it irresistible. So I bought it....last year. <i>This year my goal is to read off my bookcase instead of buying books on a whim...which is what I've always done.</i> So I picked this as my first book off my bookshelf this year. It was a interesting read, but not one many of my friends would enjoy. There was alcohol use, drugs, premarital sex, family discord, just to name a few reasons for a mature audience. It's the story of a man's quest to save his family from breaking apart. And he's totally inadequate to the job. His wife tells him she's leaving him after their final family vacation. His son can't stand the sight of him. How can one win a family back in such circumstances? Vacations tend to place stress on family dynamics, at least that's been my experience. I can't say I would have handled the situation in the same way, but then I have different values. Values that involve being Christlike as much as possible in my flawed human body.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9xshyw5GlwDWEaJ6NpRqXDYRabrE5fWibsmhJVHfgwGR_5FfHDmqWrX8_xsmiEfQ5clm3bYZH63wwqqaI09vn67lsffP2Ozn7hhaJ9zqJlK67jKvkjgjGB5kkipLWmQWa62IdpCAkiQ/s640/blogger-image--1109646815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9xshyw5GlwDWEaJ6NpRqXDYRabrE5fWibsmhJVHfgwGR_5FfHDmqWrX8_xsmiEfQ5clm3bYZH63wwqqaI09vn67lsffP2Ozn7hhaJ9zqJlK67jKvkjgjGB5kkipLWmQWa62IdpCAkiQ/s200/blogger-image--1109646815.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">2.</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Dragon-Jackie-Pullinger-ebook/dp/B00LA9FD7A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1423618982&sr=8-1&keywords=chasing+the+dragon"><span style="font-size: large;"> Chasing the Dragon by Jackie Pullinger</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Memoir )</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Jackie is a missionary to Hong Kong, inside the Walled City. She has done amazing work with the drug addicts. Actually, it was and is God doing the work. Jackie is the vessel. What an amazing story...God is still at work! I'd recommend this book to everyone with one caveat. It is written by Jackie; and that being said, it's not the best writing. Or the easiest to follow. Sometimes it's as if she wrote whatever came to mind without regard to structure or transition. You just have to follow her the best you can. But it's worth it. The biggest lesson I learned from Jackie is the value of commitment. She spent years loving and serving the unlovable and because of that commitment she was love back, protected and trusted. Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
""...'What is sin?'...'That's simple. Sin is walking your own road.'"</div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"The disadvantage of short-term missions is a wrong perspective based on this generation's need for instant results."</div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"What is important is that we have loved in a real way - not preached in an impassioned way."</div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Stay for the party. The fleeting volunteer sometimes catches a course - sweet and sour - but no one savers the whole menu like me."</div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;">"</span>And so much of the rest of the Church was engaged in discovering their gifting a rather than giving."</div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioaUwKD6HFqAPZjGogurEkckYtoBDnlF7_M5PhF6rnLxi0uAkG-nGJhQX9Cz2DRO2BBwkJzgXNPAFYNYrFXghZkCf2AeBzZfhkGuu6bkHMb7HMt_xmS5QWbepEOT9LA6FcFT0OFjV6AQg/s640/blogger-image--6581823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioaUwKD6HFqAPZjGogurEkckYtoBDnlF7_M5PhF6rnLxi0uAkG-nGJhQX9Cz2DRO2BBwkJzgXNPAFYNYrFXghZkCf2AeBzZfhkGuu6bkHMb7HMt_xmS5QWbepEOT9LA6FcFT0OFjV6AQg/s200/blogger-image--6581823.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">3.<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Change-Your-Clothes-Life-Because-ebook/dp/B00DPM7TD6/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1423619068&sr=1-1&keywords=change+your+clothes+change+your+life"> Change Your Clothes, Change Your Life by George Brescia</a></span> <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Self help )</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1ycDPRWJql-E_zaDFTJIsDc4EO2xVMCEuSnndVO0IHZOzj13fsfUc8_pIGLlo4LXOCcXAryjxlbTvu_Bwxbc4ssFP0oGkKIWFdilzdjRflJu56wA6Gy78L8BIs-1JA1ygCu0JmoFRXs/s640/blogger-image--1098597672.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1ycDPRWJql-E_zaDFTJIsDc4EO2xVMCEuSnndVO0IHZOzj13fsfUc8_pIGLlo4LXOCcXAryjxlbTvu_Bwxbc4ssFP0oGkKIWFdilzdjRflJu56wA6Gy78L8BIs-1JA1ygCu0JmoFRXs/s200/blogger-image--1098597672.jpg" width="166" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Suggested Wardrobe Colors</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So, then to some light reading....and I kind of skimmed it. But I found nuggets of advice here and there. One is that you should have a basic wardrobe, and many of the items I already own. Check. Also, everything you wear should be a "10". It should fit perfectly and make you feel great while wearing it. Check. Finally, Brescia listed colors that should be in your wardrobe based on hair color. And surprise...I'm wearing the right colors without even knowing it! Check. So I'm basically set, except that now I'm off to buy a trench coat for my basic wardrobe...and some hoop earring. Just kidding about the earrings. They're not my thing.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814876494654380200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011145833749592469.post-25247605312154194612014-11-12T11:59:00.004-08:002014-11-12T12:07:31.764-08:00Off My Bookshelf: Wonder by R.J. Palacio<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpzfhT8R9vWOwOlA0uB0OvJ3Dlcl771SQ90sCcaL3sG1kHkzD0BKyzWXoIV2EQL-U0sy4jMJRfWNO_XQ3Wk3th_07tt_gsQuwQ4U1YW8z8jV0aq3xJ5DujBSkPobefKHzJ-ec0wffRDM/s640/blogger-image-442176884.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpzfhT8R9vWOwOlA0uB0OvJ3Dlcl771SQ90sCcaL3sG1kHkzD0BKyzWXoIV2EQL-U0sy4jMJRfWNO_XQ3Wk3th_07tt_gsQuwQ4U1YW8z8jV0aq3xJ5DujBSkPobefKHzJ-ec0wffRDM/s640/blogger-image-442176884.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Who is beautiful? Who is ugly? Is beauty found on the face or in the heart? What about ugliness? Isn't ugliness of the heart much worse than any physical deformity?<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wonder-R-J-Palacio-ebook/dp/B0051ANPZQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415821385&sr=8-1&keywords=wonder"><b>Wonder</b></a></i> takes us through the fifth grade year of a severely deformed boy, August. It is his first year not being home-schooled, and the adjustment is torturous for him and those who love him. He encounters those who fear him and those who hate him simply because of how he looks. Yet August finds strength from within himself and from the friendships of others.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
How do we relate to the unlovely? Reading<b> </b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wonder-R-J-Palacio-ebook/dp/B0051ANPZQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415821385&sr=8-1&keywords=wonder"><i><b>Wonder</b></i> </a>caused me to take a hard, deep look into my own heart. What have been my reactions to those with special needs or those who are not "normal"? I have to say I have not been proud of what has been revealed to me about my heart and my behavior.<br />
<br />
A few of my favorite quotes from <i><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wonder-R-J-Palacio-ebook/dp/B0051ANPZQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415821385&sr=8-1&keywords=wonder">Wonder</a>:</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"Jack, sometimes you don't have to mean to hurt someone to hurt someone." pg.137</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"You don't need your eyes to love, right? You just feel it inside you. That's how it is in heaven. It's just love, and no one forgets who they love." pg.227</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"And if you do this, if you act just a little kinder than is necessary, someone else, somewhere, someday, may recognize in you, in every single one of you, the face of God." pg.301</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>"'Greatness,' wrote Beecher, (Henry Ward Beecher), 'lies not in being strong, but in the right using of strength... He is the greatest whose strength carries up the most hearts...'" pg.304</b></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814876494654380200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011145833749592469.post-48834644415825061402014-11-05T07:42:00.000-08:002014-11-05T07:42:03.658-08:00Off My Bookshelf: Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img height="400" src="http://www.throughbrittseyes.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/infidel.jpg" width="263" /></div>
<br />
<br />
First, let me say this is one of the most important books I have ever read. I worried at the start because the foreword was written the well-known atheist by Christopher Hitchens. I wondered what I, a Christ loving woman, would think of Ayaan's story. I thought, because of the foreword, that it was to be a story of movement from the Muslim faith to atheism. It is that story, but so much more. I have read<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Half-Sky-Nicholas-D-Kristof-ebook/dp/B002MHOCTO/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1415200275&sr=1-1&keywords=half+the+sky"> "Half the Sky" by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn</a>, and know about the atrocities toward women around the world. And frankly, I'm still trying to figure out my role, my reaction, toward female genital mutilation, arranged marriages, rape, human trafficking, etc., after having read that book. Now I have read the story of a real life woman having lived though some of those horrific practices. It has become personal to me. While in the line to pick up my independent, strong-willed daughter, I see girls exciting the high school covered in their hidjab. I pass women in the grocery store and see only their eyes. What are they thinking? What are they feeling? What is their life like? Is it the same as Ayaan's? I have a completely different thought process now. I don't know what I as one woman in the Midwest can do to help woman in bondage, but it is time to give serious thought and action to the matter.<br />
<br />
If you are looking for a book you just can't stop reading despite the horrific subject matter and the fact that the Kindle version is 851 pages, I recommend <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Infidel-Ayaan-Hirsi-Ali-ebook/dp/B000NY12CI/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=1-1&qid=1415200113">"Infidel" by Ayaan Hirsi Ali</a>. But be warned, it will do more than bruise your heart. It will scrap the innocent cataracts from your eyes.<br />
<br />
In Ayaan Hirsi Ali's words,<br />
<br />
"The message of this book, if it must have a message, is that we in the West would be wrong to prolong the pain of that transition unnecessarily, by elevating cultures full of bigotry and hatred toward women to the stature of respectable alternative ways of life." Pg.823<br />
<br />
"When people say that the values of Islam are compassion, tolerance, and freedom, I look at reality, at real cultures and governments, and I see that it simply isn't so. People in the West swallow this sort of thing because they have learned not to examine the religions or cultures of minorities too critically, for fear of being called racist. It fascinates them that I am not afraid to do so." pg. 825<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814876494654380200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011145833749592469.post-36694811923128976372014-10-09T19:15:00.001-07:002014-10-09T19:35:35.570-07:00Rain Equals Cat Brains<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0d2BcEfeUPXyoub5pjffiG0rD_mS26PPVid_jXi0Yhq2GG9_CmLzOdanP2nHcUxTmlSmjuzfpEjdC5X-xq3NnAJtIWnmbnuT0glwwVR8_cn-lo7naKxYrVllOkGSFQFWuRd7Z1dg2ymI/s640/blogger-image--1848935478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0d2BcEfeUPXyoub5pjffiG0rD_mS26PPVid_jXi0Yhq2GG9_CmLzOdanP2nHcUxTmlSmjuzfpEjdC5X-xq3NnAJtIWnmbnuT0glwwVR8_cn-lo7naKxYrVllOkGSFQFWuRd7Z1dg2ymI/s640/blogger-image--1848935478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD39gEP6DgzIXEqlfoNQ7dDNgthCzt_2d7wzMpvz3KV8yvNFjVPlFv0VUFeG-6nZdzt9FlPs7CZEyBznnaIkyICDf0kglP4NiHzsRLZ_fYkwoFxniTitoBnWY5cgKv3g6qM1u_GX_CdMo/s640/blogger-image-358302980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD39gEP6DgzIXEqlfoNQ7dDNgthCzt_2d7wzMpvz3KV8yvNFjVPlFv0VUFeG-6nZdzt9FlPs7CZEyBznnaIkyICDf0kglP4NiHzsRLZ_fYkwoFxniTitoBnWY5cgKv3g6qM1u_GX_CdMo/s640/blogger-image-358302980.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This week has rained and rained and rained. That means no work happened. For my husband, literally, works stops. You can't pick corn when it's raining. For me, it's all emotional. It's gloomy, wet, cold, wet, dreary, wet, wet, wet. Who can get motivated with weather that makes you want to crawl back under the sheets and turn on the heating pad?! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So instead of doing my Bible study homework, writing, blogging, cleaning, cooking and all the 101 other things I needed to do.... I've knit and listened to podcasts, read and wrote down quotes that struck my fancy. I've been to the library twice and made three trips to local bookstores.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Good news though, I finished another Barley baby hat and made good progress on a sock.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Here's the best quote of the week,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>"I'd rather do sit-ups for an hour than try to locate a string of words in my mind. I want to believe that our brains are machines you turn on and off like cars, but when it comes down to it, I think they're a lot more like cats or toddlers; you sometimes have to trick them or turn your back just for a second, allowing them to believe your not watching." -"Bittersweet" by Shauna Niequist, pages 205-206</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My brain has definitely been a cat this week. It's hidden under the bed most of the week and hissed when I tried to coax it out!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814876494654380200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011145833749592469.post-48392643337876510302014-10-06T10:00:00.000-07:002014-10-06T10:00:01.225-07:00Watching Them Worship<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_RMDOkNy_bhU66abuQR1d6TANv72iZByJZlVHGU_nXMwpPl5Y8m0Evf9lT9kfdXLHV-A8_GSHKJwXT0gg0fUR5QxgAFDTvYCDwgS6BO3k2ocDdaacdWOKHe4dc6Z2fjBHWq0ECFrRyvc/s640/blogger-image--643828598.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_RMDOkNy_bhU66abuQR1d6TANv72iZByJZlVHGU_nXMwpPl5Y8m0Evf9lT9kfdXLHV-A8_GSHKJwXT0gg0fUR5QxgAFDTvYCDwgS6BO3k2ocDdaacdWOKHe4dc6Z2fjBHWq0ECFrRyvc/s640/blogger-image--643828598.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">God is in the midst of her;</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">she shall not be moved;</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">God will help her when morning dawns.</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">(Psalm 46:5 ESV)</span></b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As a mom, one of the most important goals of my life is to know my daughters' faith is their own.<br />
<br />
This weekend I saw that goal is being accomplished. At the last minute we were able to go to the Michael W. Smith concert at Indiana Wesleyan University Saturday evening where my oldest sat behind the band in the chorale backing up Michael. I cried as I watched her worshiping. And then next to me another daughter's hand went up in praise.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnWpISd7Ss2RX7ZQozB3SwLgekrDQNSS9lUARzEQ6gRd0M5ZKsgT7eeF195PXp7V_gB_NnmkXmGIBG3dyVrAHTDxWsAx1tH6y_w1a1-iNMOjQ-VHAx6lTCEMG5LIJtTmr6_Wiuu0BTPBk/s640/blogger-image-398566683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnWpISd7Ss2RX7ZQozB3SwLgekrDQNSS9lUARzEQ6gRd0M5ZKsgT7eeF195PXp7V_gB_NnmkXmGIBG3dyVrAHTDxWsAx1tH6y_w1a1-iNMOjQ-VHAx6lTCEMG5LIJtTmr6_Wiuu0BTPBk/s640/blogger-image-398566683.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Our children grow up, and it's a scary thing. I want them to be babies again, always reaching to me for help. But the older they get, the less they need my help. Knowing they are turning to God for their help makes the pain of letting go so much easier.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am a blessed mom!</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9F1o_JQBqQUZ7NDLhH_y2z21MefqAim4K4X6DPzndaroBwQ5_a5pSZfOFEY4tGGSvPYxnRq-GFdgJ-aATg0Z2SypwyFq99PPcbSUzOzMZ4_ALXc9nKcS_hozlXYMEKV0-5dohF2Izis/s640/blogger-image-500652482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9F1o_JQBqQUZ7NDLhH_y2z21MefqAim4K4X6DPzndaroBwQ5_a5pSZfOFEY4tGGSvPYxnRq-GFdgJ-aATg0Z2SypwyFq99PPcbSUzOzMZ4_ALXc9nKcS_hozlXYMEKV0-5dohF2Izis/s640/blogger-image-500652482.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814876494654380200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011145833749592469.post-32412271063351838892014-10-03T20:00:00.003-07:002014-10-03T20:00:57.599-07:00A Small Gift<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLYz-4MLnwyUn02q6PZ0Iy7XWEaya-a_CoaMd05Tuv_2dCo1kzEhzMsYJ9r6_nw3jIzodHxkBKVA7fjyfbX6aYgwJQRXKq-82U1I5vuj_QiCyylm2M1ClVqRCi3tILIYycRjxZrc3brE/s640/blogger-image-1736034704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLYz-4MLnwyUn02q6PZ0Iy7XWEaya-a_CoaMd05Tuv_2dCo1kzEhzMsYJ9r6_nw3jIzodHxkBKVA7fjyfbX6aYgwJQRXKq-82U1I5vuj_QiCyylm2M1ClVqRCi3tILIYycRjxZrc3brE/s640/blogger-image-1736034704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyCpLSZdptywV6phlxF9kdvNucujZjTSeugpN_x6bY53eQVMMbGQWIvsZZ2fw-adMS1iDc2mU2T0t7iSlczdTn5fdHqLpuoA1kmMYgYxKjMgffn6k6Ju-NiloZt4-BkYZARMLlLXdpBgg/s640/blogger-image--1712953270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyCpLSZdptywV6phlxF9kdvNucujZjTSeugpN_x6bY53eQVMMbGQWIvsZZ2fw-adMS1iDc2mU2T0t7iSlczdTn5fdHqLpuoA1kmMYgYxKjMgffn6k6Ju-NiloZt4-BkYZARMLlLXdpBgg/s640/blogger-image--1712953270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzg8fd4FVrTKi3XCj2Kh0LpdZwHAAQbbCNTpg5x6LMCwFSRXdDHBRlJavH-aU5c3DsjI6weuzSPGBGRPO3f8yhHLlvWlbHYbeJn0-jJBAzOiHjhJx3IxfGgj7q0Z7CHoRVwZH0SowSYI/s640/blogger-image--846453889.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzg8fd4FVrTKi3XCj2Kh0LpdZwHAAQbbCNTpg5x6LMCwFSRXdDHBRlJavH-aU5c3DsjI6weuzSPGBGRPO3f8yhHLlvWlbHYbeJn0-jJBAzOiHjhJx3IxfGgj7q0Z7CHoRVwZH0SowSYI/s640/blogger-image--846453889.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I visited my Dad this week and he sent me home with two roses, one zucchini and four tomatoes. I love that man!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The roses smelled so sweet and filled my heart with feelings of being loved. It reminded me of a quote from a book I'm reading by Mark and Lisa Scandrette entitled, "Free: Spending Your Money and Time on What Matters Most."</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>"I've learned new ways to give, and that a small gift is often appreciated as much as a lavish one." -pg. 35</i></b></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhNLARW4zmhobDBOb3SkmWm1_VxJT_zCiOaZ8gNb6Ck1nQuxgTti6i86EhiVs7hhLw0uBr7kqeVG2Ih8Q9K5QOjPK_f27wG-Xsnmjp911DR3CdyKkQPh78Go5WwymWL52tcdbxlp8uZBk/s640/blogger-image--1025881990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhNLARW4zmhobDBOb3SkmWm1_VxJT_zCiOaZ8gNb6Ck1nQuxgTti6i86EhiVs7hhLw0uBr7kqeVG2Ih8Q9K5QOjPK_f27wG-Xsnmjp911DR3CdyKkQPh78Go5WwymWL52tcdbxlp8uZBk/s640/blogger-image--1025881990.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814876494654380200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011145833749592469.post-40197490792671059632014-10-02T16:21:00.001-07:002014-10-02T19:13:00.792-07:00Off My Needles: Clapo-Ktus Shawl<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgew2S84c2gDGr84ru2qzJl3RNbBBYH3QMU9CSbVDmdxu5yYKzgL9nfNdcERlXWT0wdW7JpvFb4quLPHdoKmB4UnmUbDiCBsgfSDqTX6ABfaPBtCa6XW31A7nkty1tglkwi0YtpCjsXltQ/s640/blogger-image--2134222615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgew2S84c2gDGr84ru2qzJl3RNbBBYH3QMU9CSbVDmdxu5yYKzgL9nfNdcERlXWT0wdW7JpvFb4quLPHdoKmB4UnmUbDiCBsgfSDqTX6ABfaPBtCa6XW31A7nkty1tglkwi0YtpCjsXltQ/s640/blogger-image--2134222615.jpg"></a></div>Recently I finished this <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">shawl for a friend. As I knit it I prayed for her and her mom who is battling cancer. I bought this special yarn at my local knitting shop, River Knits, not knowing what to do with it. But after a few days, it came to me. This is the perfect colorway for a dear friend.</span><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">It's a yarn from a promotion that Dream in Color Yarn is doing. Every month they send out special Club colorway skeins to o participating shops to sell. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The color combination is brilliant. Pinks, green, yellow, orange. It vibrant, cheerful, yet somehow fallish.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">When you buy a skein, you receive a free pattern. I ditched the pattern for the Clapo-Ktus.</span></div><div><div><div><br></div><div>Years ago I knit the Capotis shawl and last year, the Baktus shawl. This pattern is a combination of the two - pure genius!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYskKob_Jaos6oOndeADFm4yIqaGE9JgUaKmblDipFAEGhadrjBRTHY-nGVb3neNibusyEaFiUYFEiwt08bLnQer3kh1PSE-dnpTajjpIFFLfxA7fFKeEvQjFci3jOw0jFnu-IleLpqFg/s640/blogger-image-165717191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYskKob_Jaos6oOndeADFm4yIqaGE9JgUaKmblDipFAEGhadrjBRTHY-nGVb3neNibusyEaFiUYFEiwt08bLnQer3kh1PSE-dnpTajjpIFFLfxA7fFKeEvQjFci3jOw0jFnu-IleLpqFg/s640/blogger-image-165717191.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div>It was so much fun to knit, and I'm not a big shawl knitter. I get bored with them. But not this one because just when I started to get bored, the decrease section began. And with the decreases came the dropped stitch. How fun to let all those purl stitched fall off the needle and watch the shawl open up. I couldn't stop knitting. I wanted to watch the magic happen over and over again.</div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814876494654380200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011145833749592469.post-89510783914255993102014-10-01T04:34:00.000-07:002014-10-01T04:34:20.482-07:00Off My Needles: Barley Baby Hat<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzVOwNE99VilKURxg7co3vTm_G7fhOHMRI34ZVV5-xocWGvldJc1rf_ZKxsoQFdMnU23STy45Soep2HGIYrV7XvquOIR8sBW6MU9WPAfMRBUFSIuU4nGFspNpsMOGNio9Zf4TNnZpt6o/s640/blogger-image-26812960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzVOwNE99VilKURxg7co3vTm_G7fhOHMRI34ZVV5-xocWGvldJc1rf_ZKxsoQFdMnU23STy45Soep2HGIYrV7XvquOIR8sBW6MU9WPAfMRBUFSIuU4nGFspNpsMOGNio9Zf4TNnZpt6o/s640/blogger-image-26812960.jpg" /></a></div>
I'm officially old. Not only do I have one great-nephew, but I have three great-nieces. The newest is a few weeks old. I love these little ones, but I wish they didn't come with the title, Great-Aunt.<br />
<br />
Anyway, despite my annoyance at what this newest one will call me, I knit her a teeny, tiny hat from the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/barley-2">Barley Hat </a>pattern. This is a super, simple pattern to knit up, but looks adorable. Try it, and you will fall in love with the pattern too.<br />
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhigTpxqr-DwtUUxLAAJENbX6hkFlPDaxZT_wJ2Wc42ScmH__G3MF2TleanmN4TcnYYtKsMrAdZ52_uHUsHF4i34Zc8rG5lQS_LsMxYrMjDWyW8Obkoktgl_oG4xPiVOzx0QZRYWBLBKEU/s640/blogger-image-1357538410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhigTpxqr-DwtUUxLAAJENbX6hkFlPDaxZT_wJ2Wc42ScmH__G3MF2TleanmN4TcnYYtKsMrAdZ52_uHUsHF4i34Zc8rG5lQS_LsMxYrMjDWyW8Obkoktgl_oG4xPiVOzx0QZRYWBLBKEU/s640/blogger-image-1357538410.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Now, if I can just remember to mail it!</span></div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814876494654380200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011145833749592469.post-5526422576766249532014-09-28T18:12:00.000-07:002014-09-28T18:12:19.423-07:00Running<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfkNUfonqIXzfRRNiFD7c8JDCKiNE6IjY_r86NwUyfYw96cVBj4xTQTgC4HhvZgyIaAgnitveA7Rv5KOEkRikcQj3ABlgOctA5lYRrFEuWFXMwq-Yf2lrcUeA2Ouyv_iK-6knmLgREUmM/s640/blogger-image-347306300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfkNUfonqIXzfRRNiFD7c8JDCKiNE6IjY_r86NwUyfYw96cVBj4xTQTgC4HhvZgyIaAgnitveA7Rv5KOEkRikcQj3ABlgOctA5lYRrFEuWFXMwq-Yf2lrcUeA2Ouyv_iK-6knmLgREUmM/s640/blogger-image-347306300.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I'm starting to say and do things I never thought I would say or do. Such as....<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'm running. I'm a runner.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I've hated running all my life. In high school I ran just enough to get permission to head down to the high jump mat. I have mocked those who say they are joggers as crazy people. Why would anyone want to go outside and purposely run if they weren't being chased by rabid dogs?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But one day I just had this inexplicable urge to feel the wind through my hair, to run like a child, free. So I started running. And I haven't stopped. Every other day I go for a run down my country road.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And every run, I pick up a rock. It's something to hold onto, to rub with my thumb with every step. It's a physical reminder of my desire to take care of my body, to become a stronger woman physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'm in my 40's, and it's time to get serious about this life of mine. It's time to take care of my body. It's time to be able to run more than 10 yards without getting winded.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814876494654380200noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2011145833749592469.post-27300435086818631552014-09-22T13:07:00.000-07:002014-09-22T13:07:00.375-07:00Doing the Little Things<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaXH0JXt6XiF3iB2Nz6c7DTU_2ORa_CMjZa36ctgzPbPY4UlFs1ywi2vjK4kFuGVFa_B-hHLY4aKPyDSrrnHJxcOq4EE4PFN52LqWhN95p7oiH5B2ZpDjMxEvdxvInrxMuHtnFzIqQxes/s1600/January+2012+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaXH0JXt6XiF3iB2Nz6c7DTU_2ORa_CMjZa36ctgzPbPY4UlFs1ywi2vjK4kFuGVFa_B-hHLY4aKPyDSrrnHJxcOq4EE4PFN52LqWhN95p7oiH5B2ZpDjMxEvdxvInrxMuHtnFzIqQxes/s1600/January+2012+029.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A family friend died this week. Even though he was in his 80's, Carl's death came unexpectedly, tragically. He was cutting a tree alone in the woods. No one knows exactly what happened. Did the tree fall on him, hit him? All we know is that he is gone. I sat on his porch during the viewing to discourage possible burglars. It was a small thing, even a pleasant chore. The weather was perfect. A breeze blew through. The sun shone through the trees. My mother-in-law and I had a pleasant talk. It didn't seem like a sacrifice at all. But it was my little way of showing I care. His new widow gave me a hug, and it warmed my saddened heart.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The same day I watched the house, I took a meal to a young mother and her family.
She had a new baby in her arms, another toddler freshly woken from a nap and a
preschooler playing next door with the neighbor girls. This mom had dark
circles under her eyes and wore the look of the frazzled. I felt so much
empathy for her. It seems like years, it has been years, since my girls were 4,
2 and newborn, but the feeling of exhaustion I saw in her came back like it was just
yesterday. After I left, I worried that I hadn’t given enough food. Before I
left home, I had paired down the amount for a small family. But as I left I
wished I packaged up it all so she had two meals out of what I’d given her.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are days, in every mom’s life when she wonders if she
will make it to the end of the day. There are seasons in life that are dark and may be incredibly long. I’m thankful for friends through the years who
have supported me. I hope my one small meal and an afternoon on a neighbor's porch will add a little encouragement and light to their difficult days.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes God asks us to do things that seem small to us, maybe even insignificant. But I think He is pleased when we think beyond ourselves, no matter how big or small the gift.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05814876494654380200noreply@blogger.com0