Vacation Day 2--Tangled

Tangled Up

 

I awoke early this morning. I spent my time with God in my daily bible reading and in prayer. I was gathering up my various yarns to pack up and take with me on our upcoming journey and realized my beautiful, very fine yarn needed to be rolled into a ball from the loose skein. This is handspun and hand-dyed yarn and so fine it is like a gossamer web. All started out well as I wound the yarn into a ball, but then, somehow, it developed a lovely tangle and became ever more difficult to detangle.

 

As I worked on untangling the yarn without breaking it, I realized that to get it out of its tangle, I would need to do it slowly. I needed to loosen up the big knot and gently follow the yarn through the tangle. Slowly and gently was the way I needed to proceed.

 

Our lives are like this beautiful, colorful, fine yarn. We get in tangles and it looks like there is no way to clear things up without breaking the yarn. If we try to go too quickly through our tangled lives or we just pull and pull it the way we want it to go, our tangled life will never get unstuck. We'll be so tightly wrapped up in ourselves that we will hit a point where we just can't go anywhere or do anything.

 

Thankfully, we have a master craftsman helping us with our lives. If we allow Him to help us and let Him do His work on us slowly and gently, our tangled lives can be smoothed out, put into order, and then knit into something beautiful. It is so tempting to want to grab our lives back and try to go faster or the way we think we should go. We must let go and let God do the untangling. God has promised us, if we turn our lives over to Him, that he will take us and make something beautiful and something good.

Vacation--Day 1

Yep, we're taking a vacation over the next week and today was our first official vacation day. We're actually going further north in Colorado to spend a week with Alan's sister and brother-in-law, Kathy and Bill. We are beside ourselves with excitement and can hardly wait! Of course, we had to take a day off prior to leaving town to prepare for Kathy and Bill's impending arrival and for the trip itself. I have a list as long as my arm of things to do and things to pack pre-departure. (I don't have OCD, I don't have OCD, I don't have OCD!)

Of course, Alan has foiled most of my list today in one way or another, starting with the big breakfast. He knows a big breakfast, especially pancakes, knock me for a loop for at least two hours. Sneaky, isn't he? He keeps saying, "Oh, don't worry honey, we'll do that tomorrow before Kathy and Bill get here." What he's saying in the subtext is, "Don't you worry your pretty little head about it, sugar! Why don't you rest a while?"  Yep, Alan is sneaky that way. So, I've managed to have a manicure, clean the kitchen, run the dishwasher and...that's about it! Does he not understand the purpose behind my list? It's meant to make me feel frantic when I don't mark things off of it and...I'm frantic! Hmmm....sounds like a twisted plot to me! He likes seeing me get all worked up about things sometimes, just to watch the fireworks. Men!

In all seriousness, however, we're looking forward to getting away for a while into some of God's most beautiful country with two wonderful, lovely people who also happen to be family! I'm, of course, tempted to take another entire piece of luggage just for yarn, patterns, and needles so I'll have plenty to knit or crochet. I won't do it though. Everytime I take a lot of projects on a trip, I end up doing nothing. And if I take no projects, I end up feeling like someone cut off my air supply. I literally start jonesing for my knitting needles and yarn! It's not a pretty sight. In a compromise with myself, I'll take two four projects and be happy. Nothing too big. Just the yellow blankie that needs a little crochet edging on it...and the yellow scarf I'm halfway through...and the multicolor cowl I've just started and maybe some of the pretty rose yarn with a pattern for a shrug. (Seriously, who could resist taking this yarn when it so obviously wants to go?)

Of course, then there are my books and recent magazines and my writing paraphanelia. Oh, and I guess I should take some clothes... Maybe the extra suitcase isn't such a bad idea after all. Just the hardsided Samsonite and my brocade one. Plus a knitting bag and backpack....that will be it. Really. Honest.

Well, guess I better get off the computer and see if I can sneak in mopping the kitchen floor and taking out the trash before Alan catches on.  Love you all and will talk to you later!

 

P.S. Buddy gets to stay at a doggie dude ranch. Cool, huh?

Knit. Pray. Love.

It has been quite the summer this year for all of us. There have been droughts, fires, flooding, hailstorms, tornados and hurricanes. That's just the natural phenomenons and doesn't even touch the many other things going on in our world. There also have been shootings, terrorism, a poor economy and enough political posturing to make me gag. (I'm not big on politics. Just give me your true qualifications for the job, your platform, and let me vote in privacy and peace.) Then there have been the good things like vacations, holidays, visits to and from my kids. I've gone to the zoo, kissed an orangatun, driven through beautiful Guanella Pass here in Colorado, and watched my husband transform our house into something beautiful and light with his hard work and clever ideas.

Throughout the summer I've dealt with more physical pain and frustration. Fibromyalgia is a trying affliction that weakens my body, my mind and even, at times, my spirit. I can't do all the things I used to do easily. Vacuuming the house and other household chores requires a full day of recovery. (Hence my schedule of usually doing those things on Saturday morning.) I do work I truly enjoy at Bold Technologies for 6 hours a day and then come home, collapse in my chair, and often proceed to fall asleep. For a woman who was accustomed to being the go-to girl who could be continually on the go for 14 hours a day, well, my current physical limitations are frustrating and depressing. I liked being the woman who could jump in and help others any time, any where, any way. I liked being busy, feeling strong, and feeling useful.

At the beginning of spring I began praying and asking God outright what He would have me do to serve Him now. I felt like I was failing at doing anything for Him and that I truly didn't have anything left to offer Him. I kept thinking of all the things I couldn't do any longer. I always had visions in my head of going to the mission field or working at a homeless shelter or becoming a hospital chaplin. I had dreamed big and now felt I was just a useless, dried up old lady who couldn't do anything much for God. I had quite the pity party going on, I can tell you. It wasn't pretty! Not pretty at all! (Pity parties never are.)

One morning during my prayers I received a simple three word answer from God: "Knit, pray, love." Humph! "Well! Isn't that just peachy?" It sounded too close to the book and movie title, "Eat Pray Love" for me to really accept it as a directive from God. Obviously those words weren't from God, but were from my own muddled mind. Besides all that, these were things I already did. I mean, have you seen my yarn stash lately? This is only about a fourth of the yarn I have hidden all over the house.

 

 I've always prayed and I've always tried to love others actively. God persisted and insisted, however. Every day I receive the same instructions, "Knit, pray, love." When God wants to get a point across, there is no hiding from Him! I finally decided to do what He said to do. I decided to follow my instincts and just knit whatever struck my fancy to knit. I decided to open myself up to praying more for others and situations as they arose. I decided to concentrate on loving others, encouraging them, hugging them and praying for them. I decided to quit focusing on myself and to focus instead on others. I had no idea where all this would go, but if God said, "Knit, pray, love," I was going to try to do His will.

 

I started knitting more and even bought more yarn. Good grief what was I thinking?! Like I needed more yarn? I already had plenty of yarn. Every morning I continued to read my bible and started going outside in my back yard for focused prayer. I made a concentrated effort to be more loving. If I found myself getting aggravated with people, I would make myself stop and think of the situation from their side and then love them from my heart instead of being so selfish and self-centered. I noticed that on the days I started the day with knitting and prayer, I didn't notice my pain as much. Also, if I'm hugging and loving someone else, I forget my pain and feel infused with a loving warmth from the inside out.

 

An interesting thing started happening. As I took up my three word directive from God, I found more things to knit, but didn't know where they were going to end up. Opportunities to pray for people and situations started coming at me so fast, I had to start taking notes so I could pray with more focus and not forget anyone. I also started noticing that there are a lot of people who need a moment of love and encouragement. I've ended up hugging more people this summer than you'd ever believe. I've hugged the stuffing out of coworkers, Alan, my kids, and friends. Several times it has been complete strangers when I'm out and about. I remember especiallly an elderly lady at Walmart who couldn't reach the sodas on the shelf and who was almost beside herself with grief over something. I'm short too, but was able to get her the sodas she needed. Then I found myself spontaneously hugging her and she started talking and crying. We stood there for 10 minutes probably, hugging and talking.

 

All the time I was knitting, praying, and loving, I kept thinking, "Where is my knitting to go? Where do You want me to serve in this?" I continued to picture giving hats and scarves to the homeless, but had no idea where to find the avenue for this. The other day, God gave me the answer. I get an e-newsletter every day from Lion Brand Yarns. Recenly the newsletter focus was on charities. You typed in your zip code and the site listed charities nearby (within 15 miles) looking for donated knitted or crocheted items. I typed in 80909. I had done this before, last year, and nothing came up. This time, a list popped up with about 10 places! As I scanned the list, I saw that the Salvation Army not only requested knitted/crocheted scarves, hats, shawls, and small lap afghans, but was pleading for them. And guess where the Salvation Army is? About a mile south of us on the same street we live! One mile away on Yuma Street. Hallelujah!  Makes me smile all over to think about it. One mile away...

 

Guess what I'll be doing in the weeks and months ahead?  I'll being knitting, praying and loving. When God asks you to do something and you think it is a small thing and not what we had in mind...do it anyway. God has a plan. We won't know all the details. All we can do is step out in faith and do as He asks. He knows all the details and that is all that matters.  He's a pretty sharp guy.  :-)

 

 

  

 

 

A Lazy Weekend

Saturday night we went to eat with some old college friends at Old Chicago.  Afterwards we took pictures.  Alan was being a twirp and “counting my ribs” which is what he calls tickling me.  At 50 you’d think we’d have outgrown this craziness!  Anyhow, thought I’d share the picture. 

This was about the highlight of the weekend. Between my FM flare, the hot, hot weather and the big fire that began over by Manitou (Waldo Canyon Fire if you want to look it up), it was a rough weekend in some ways.  In others, it was very nice as we spent a lot of time at home.  There is something very nice about staying at home and doing simple things like reading, napping, and puttering around the house. Those are the things I did. Alan, on the other hand, made several trips to Home Depot and worked more on doing woodwork in the basement area that we've moved into for the summer.  It is looking quite nice, actually.  It has tangerine walls and crisp apple walls and he's put woodwork strips throughout. It's like being in a little country cottage, easygoing and pleasant. Very relaxing.  I'll share pictures soon so you can see what a little paint, some woodwork, and a project minded man can accomplish. I think you'll be amazed!

I have not yet begun my new knitting project that I posted about the other day, but plan to start tonight! I'll keep you posted on how it goes. I ordered some new yarn from Craftsy the other day that I can hardly wait to get in the mail!  As soon as I receive it, I'll post pictures so you can help me decide what to make of them. I ordered Universal Sea Song Sunlight (Sunlight) and
Manos del Uruguay Classica Yarn (Wildflowers).

May your day be pleasant and your hearts be happy!   

A Little of This and That

The other day I bought and received some beautiful yarn. It's silk and wool, handspun and dyed a lovely dark rose color. They call it raspberry, but it's not quite that. I'm thrilled and in love with the yarn. It's like holding ultimate comforting beauty in your hands.

I was in a quandary as to what to knit this much beauty into with my simple skills. Then I found this perfect pattern for a checkerboard lace scarf that should be possible for me to knit. Let's hope so! I don't want to ruin the yarn or waste it!

I've had a flare of my fibromyalgia this week that has laid me flat. I've had absolutely no energy for knitting. I have had energy for daydreaming, however, about this wondrous knitting project. Daydreaming about enjoyable goals is good. Revives the spirits and gives me something to strive for! I'll keep you posted as I knit along on my daydream.