PROJECT 365 - Week Six

Joining both groups--Sara's Project 365

&

Mommytography 365 Project

Sunday 1/31

ONCE the two main colors of my prayer shawl were completed...it was time to start trimming with the beige scallops...took me quite a while but I could see the end of the tunnel for the project.

Monday, 2/1

Hit the grocery store and got a great deal on a boneless pork roast...it was easy getting it ready for the 'crock pot' after searing each side...

Our family likes fresh veggies, especially with a slowly-cooked roast, so I cleaned a large batch of kale...cooked down with onions, bacon and butter...then simmered in broth until wonderfully soft and flavorful. Kale doesn't have as pungent an odor as the other greens.

While the roast was cooking, leftover chicken, tomatoes and olives topped my lunch salad

AFTER lunch, I finished the shawl...(had to make a few pictures so I could remember it)...it will be handed over at the church soon for someone's use on cold days or in cold situations

( NO PICS for February 2nd through the 5th...certainly not my best week for 365...finally today I remembered to pick up my camera.)

Saturday, 2/6

Below is a picture of our sleet that occurred just before lunch today...we came SO CLOSE to getting some snow but unfortunately we didn't get any.

WITH IT BEING SO RAINY AND COLD, A FEW THINGS CALLED MY ATTENTION...LAUNDRY, CLEANING OUT SOME LEFT-OVERS, FIXED BARBECUE SANDWICHES FOR LUNCH. HOW ABOUT A DOUBLE-CHOCOLATE, WALNUT BROWNIE CAKE?? IT'S DENSE...BUT WHAT A MOUTHFUL OF CHOCOLATEY LUSCIOUSNESS :)

ENJOY YOUR WEEK 7...LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR PICTURES,TOO.

Jer. 33:3 "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

A TIME OF HELPING...

I jumped around yesterday... across some blogs and

read a blog where JIMBO is on mission to help those in need. Beth shares a prayer for everyone and a prayer for her husband...it touched me. I have a friend whose husband is also a "Jim"...he's currently in Haiti and they've not talked with him yet and our hearts are full of hope for quick communication.

MANY blogs are requesting special prayers for ALL the hurt in HAITI-involved missions, citizens and around-the-world family members.

MY GOOD NEWS TODAY...I just FB chatted with our nephew (who's transitioning back toward the USA). He typed a message noting where he is today, general update on what they've been doing, and catching up on mail. It's comforting to KNOW he and his men weren't on a 'frontline' keeping their heads down to avoid enemy fire.They should be on our shores within the next two weeks. Finally, a timeframe I can wrap my brain around, so I'll continue to eagerly wait to hear he's safely landed on U.S. soil.

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MAY OUR LORD HEAR THE PRAYERS WE LIFT TO HIM DURING THESE DIFFICULT SITUATIONS.

Isaiah42:1

Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations.

Blessings,

REAL HELP....REAL HOPE

Today's post involves two blog sites--
one of "giving"

one of "hope"

Grace Arbor ...our faith-based congregational respite program for older adults with memory impairment...meeting social and emotional needs of the participants and their caregivers.

Various groups in the church volunteer and help with the social activities.

They enjoy morning devotions/hymn singing, armchair exercises, games, gardening, art, pet therapy, sing-alongs, inter-generational activities with the preschool, and community entertainment.


I absolutely love it when our youth share themselves, their time, and their love with everyone at Grace Arbor...they ALL have fun!





Each year close to Easter they celebrate a seder meal...their director usually borrows my seder plate---I love having them use it. But recently, I was pondering everything the director does...she is always giving.


Then, I knew what I needed to GIVE.

I found a special seder plate for them to KEEP...my gift to her, her commitment to the ministry, to the sweet people and to being Christ's hands and feet to our hurting world.

Hope for our future...these kids understand the changes that take place in some peoples' lives as they grow older and their compassion has increased, their giving has increased, my hope has increased!


To see more ONE DAY TO GIVE entries, go here:http://www.wearethatfamily.com/2008/10/one-day-to-give-celebration.html

To see more HOPEFUL FRIDAY, go to Cielo's http://houseinroses.blogspot.com/2008/10/hopeful-friday_16.html

WORK WITH YOUR HANDS

Are you teaching your kids skills with their hands?

My Mother made many things with her hands…she sewed beautiful, long curtains for our living room and made several silky, white wedding gowns for local brides…She cooked special treats for us each week (this was before fast food and drive-through), and one of my favorites was: peanut butter on saltine crackers, marshmallow on top, browned in the oven…and she crocheted (little gifts, doilies, trim on pillow cases, and many afghans).

She taught me throughout my childhood; but I didn’t appreciate what I had learned until I became a Mommy and discovered how difficult and nerve-racking it can be to try to teach a child. God was busy teaching skills back in Old Testament days with the Hebrews, too. Exodus 35:34-35 “and he has given…the ability to teach others. He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as craftsmen, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen…”

While my Mother was teaching me the various crafts, she would sing hymns or talk about life lessons—telling me Jesus would always be with me. Our household was simple and middle class…I very rarely got ANYTHING with a brand name on it. To this day I enjoy making things with my hands--and even draw every now and then, which Mother didn’t teach me. I guess God just gave me that one as a bonus. We enjoyed a quiet, happy life even if we didn’t have THE BEST of everything. 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we
told you, so your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so you will not be dependent on anybody.

Recently I started crocheting with a group of ladies at our church one evening each week for a couple of hours…we make prayer blankets and shawls/stoles to give to anyone in need of prayer or support while going through a difficult time. As we’re working there is sweet talk…we share ideas about colors, patterns, and techniques…and we even share needles if someone walks out of the house without the one they NEED. Husbands and kids drop in and out so we get to catch up with them, too. Prayers go into every thread as it slips through our fingers off each skein and into the final shawl or blanket.

I’ve used one skein of yarn on my first shawl and have just worked in the beginning thread of the second skein…this shawl will take three or four skeins, I believe. Anyway, I’m excited and wanted to show you what it looks like so far. I also got the idea to put it up on my website and ask for your prayers to cover it…that will make it even more “prayed over” and you will be helping us in our mission work : )

This is a pattern by Shirley Evers and it’s easy; so if anyone would like it, I’ll be glad to share it. It only involves chain stitch, single crochets and double crochets, there’s not a lot of fancy counting or special turning techniques…I like ‘em simple. I should finish it within the next week to 10 days, if I stay diligent at night while I’m watching TV or listening to the radio.

So we’ll commit this one to the Lord for His Use…one day a stranger or church member will get it and I pray it will soothe them in a very warm, God-encompassing way. I wonder how long it took to make the curtains for Solomon’s temple?…it was the same colors (kinda) as the shawl I’m doing… 2 Chronicles 3:14 He made the curtain of blue, purple and crimson yarn and fine linen, with cherubim worked into it.

My Cup's Still There...

7:30am came so quickly this morning, and I was dragging as I woke and began my morning routine, in fast motion. Finishing my teeth and hair, I turned to put on my makeup and remembered where I was headed, so the makeup stayed in the bottle. All I needed then was my visor, my camera, and a quick cup of coffee to escort me out the door, although I did eat a quick Activia as I stood in the kitchen, swallowed my daily meds and checked my "take" list one more time, oh, and work gloves.

Today was my first day working at this year's local assistance project. I'll be meeting 75 of our high school students and 25 adults at our campground before heading out to our site for the day. It is usually hard work and can be buggy, dirty, sweaty, and a myriad of other descriptors. The temperature stayed in the 70's most of the day, until the sunshine broke out around 2pm. Our group was building a deck, planting flowers, putting out mulch, and various inside upgrades...taking giveaway clothes to GoodWill, shredding stacks of unused papers, replacing sink faucets, hanging pictures, building shelves, moving curtain rods.

What we didn't count on was....when we started the washing machine with a load, tested the new dishwasher, and flushed a toilet...the waste water became clogged and backed up into the shower and both bathtubs...eeeeeeewwwwwww! We quickly shut off the water to keep the toilets from overflowing and quickly starting looking for the outdoor trap to clean out. The unfortunate thing about this was we couldn't find it...really. All the work that had been done in the front flower bed with new mulch had to be raked out and we had to dig a trench across the front of the house to find the pipe heading to the street....oh, my goodness, what a mess and what a lot of work...digging in red clay 18" deep. We were blessed to have two angels show up who knew how to glove up and clear the trap....thank you, Jesus!

It always seems we have a surprise missiion in a mission each time we do this...and I'm so thankful we were able to handle this for our client without them having to pay for a costly plumber.

We'll be going back tomorrow to finish the deck and a few more things inside.
If you've never done this kind of service before in your area, look for a group you can volunteer to help. It really is a great way to see God work his miracles in ways you never expect.

I have to remember when I go back tomorrow to retrieve my Starbuck's travel mug...I left it on her dining room table....My Mom always says I like to leave something behind so I won't be forgotten.