Christmas on the Way!!

I meant to post this last night after I had finished blocking it, but another migraine put me under for the evening.

Here's the Mid-month KAL from the Knitting Dishcloth Group. It was designed by Noreen and called Ribbed Diamonds. I like the way it looks--kind of elegant in the purple, I think. She has three patterns on her blog that she has designed. I have finished two of the three, and I really like what she's done.



I can see these being a nice Christmas gift for my daughters. I've planned on several things for each of them, and I was thinking of adding progress bars to see how far I've gotten with my Christmas projects. I'll just have to figure out how to do this.

I know that I'm making an Irish Hiking Scarf, a cable hat, a cable knitted purse and a Miter Square Rug for Cara. Since Lindsay lives in Texas, she has no use for winter scarves or hats. But, she is also going to receive a Miter Square Rug and some market bags. I haven't decided which ones yet, but she is starting to go green, so these will be a good gift for her. Any ideas or suggestions on good market bags, I'd love to hear them! I know that she wants something sturdy and not to open weave or mesh.

Both of the girls picked out the colors for their rugs, the Peaches & Creme is here, just have to get started and get these finished. If you look at the link for these rugs, the picture is the whole way at the bottom--after the instructions.

I'm off to work on that baby blanket some more--this is the top priority project right now. The baby shower is on October 25th, so it MUST be completed by then!

K--that's all for now!

Beth

A Fun Evening and Internet Cafe Chat

Last night I finally made it to a square dance. We had such a wonderful time. It was a lot of fun, a lot of laughs, and I know I'll definitely go again!! I don't know exactly how many people were there, probably about 50. One fellow there was so enthusiastic about swinging his partner that I thought she was going to be swung off her feet by the end of the evening!

As I was leaving last evening, I noticed this in the sky. Luckily for me, I had my camera along because I haven't seen one of these in a very long time.

The picture is a little dark because it was almost dusk. But, can you see the rainbow? I was so thrilled to see this. I can't tell you the last time a saw a rainbow!


And now, on to Internet Cafe Chat:




Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

This is the verse for contemplation this week. And here is the question that Kim asks:

In what ways have you “conformed to this world” in your own life? Then, share the story of how God worked through you to “renew your mind” in that situation.

I have to say that God speaks to me often about this--is this acceptable in MY eyes? Is this good and perfect in MY eyes?

As I travel in my journey with God, I have changed in so many ways. I used to swear like a sailor in a storm. I thought nothing of taking the Lord's name in vain and dropping a few (now, let's be honest here--it was WAY more than a few!) choice words randomly in a sentence. Make me angry--watch out--words that have no business in my vocabulary would fly!!

Once I accepted Christ into my life, this behavior disappeared overnight--literally overnight!! God just took this away from me. People around me know that I find this type of language offensive now and tend not to speak in this manner around me. And, if someone would say the Lord's name in a manner that is not appropriate, I will tell them that I do not want to hear that--in no uncertain terms.

God continues to speak to me in regards to this verse. He has spoken to me about the friends I make--what kind of company should you be keeping, He says. Are these people who are acceptable in my eyes? Do they exhibit behavior that I (God) want to see in you? Are they going to draw you back into unacceptable behaviors?

Even down to my choices in reading materials: Is this something that I (God) would want you to immerse your mind in? Is that book glorifying MY Name? Is this book drawing you closer to Me or farther away from Me?

I rarely watch television or go to the movies. When I see most of the choices that are available or hear people speaking of shows on television or movies that they have seen, I know that the majority of them are not glorifying God.

I have made many changes in my life by listening to what God is saying to me, and it is a very simple question:

Is this behavior good and acceptable in MY eyes?

If I can very easily answer "no" to this question, then I am assured that this is not a place I should be, not a behavior I should be practicing, not even a book I should be reading.

I know that there are many more areas of my life where God has work to do in me. I will continue to listen and obey in my journey, and God will be there for me as I sometimes struggle to make these changes.

Read more about change........

It's Official!!

RAG-TAGGERS--SECOND PLACE

Yes, our box arrived at Emily's yesterday--in her mailbox with another DRT box! The first box the mailman places in the mailbox counts as arriving first, and that was ours!!

Honestly, I'm just glad that it arrived at all! This was mailed on Monday with delivery confirmation. Every time anyone on my team checked the USPS tracking site, the information wasn't updated, and for all we knew, our box was still sitting in Virginia--lost in a corner--all by itself!

So, congratulations all around to all the team members of Deuces Wild for achieving first place, Rag-Taggers for their second place and Dishrag-Taggers for third!!

This has been a lot of fun, and I think I'll do it again next year (we'll see what next year brings me first!). What a great way to meet some new people via the internet, and most of all--as I have mentioned before--a great lesson in teamwork and encouraging others.

Now, I'm kind of in a rush this morning, and I don't like to hurry. So, I'll be back later today to post at The Power of Your Love.

K--that's all for a while!

Beth