I hereby resolve . . . Resolution # 2

I should have done these posts backwards so you would be reading them in order . . . .

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, and weavers--all

of them master craftsmen and designers.

~ Exodus 35:35

Resolution # 2 ~

To donate a dozen hand-knitted items to charity in 2008.

One of my earliest blog posts was about knitting, which is linked here. I have researched some local groups that would appreciate hand-knitted things, as well as an international charity I plan to knit for in 2008.

Orphans of the Storm, our local animal shelter, would appreciate hand-knitted "snuggles," or mats for pets to lie on in their pens. Beth Ann Galbraith says that the only requirement is that they be washable, so I will use acrylic yarn, and maybe felt a wool mat (yes, wool will shrink--with felting, that's the goal). If you don't knit, you can crochet or even sew towels or polar fleece into nice pet beds. Knit & crochet patterns are available here at The Snuggles Project.

Karen Fair at our local American Red Cross said that they appreciate having handmade quilts and afghans to distribute to disaster victims. She says, "There is nothing like a blanket of some sort to comfort a human." Donations may be delivered to the chapter office in Ford City.

I also plan to knit for Afghans for Afghans, a charity that distributes hand-knitted (and crocheted) items "to bring comfort and warmth to Afghan women, men, and children who continue to suffer from oppression, war, hunger, poverty, and sickness." Items must be wool or wool/animal fiber blends for warmth; requirements and patterns are available on the website.

I have begun a wool hat for Afghanistan (pictured here with my new knitting bag from Harvest Community Church!--a Christmas present from my husband). This part will be the band, which I will sew together and then pick up stitches and knit up the top.

Anyone interested in joining me? I would love to have some knitting friends . . . .

Happy & Blessed New Year!

I hereby resolve . . . Resolution # 1

The new year is often bright with hope that this will be the year that we finally (you fill in the blank.) I don't always make resolutions, but this year there are two things I want to accomplish.

Resolution #1 ~ With God's grace and the help of the Holy Spirit, read the Bible through in a year again. (I haven't done this since I started working full-time about 5 years ago.) Debbie and Paula in my ladies' Bible class suggested reading chronologically, so that is my plan. I have no excuse, as I found bibleplan.org that will let you read the Bible through in any version and by 13 different plans. I have chosen to read the New American Standard Version chronologically, and if you scroll down to the bottom of the page, you will see that I can sign up to have each day's reading emailed to me!

My plan and prayer is not just to read the words to say I did it, but to read with understanding and conviction. I am amazed every day that the Bible is just not words on a page, but alive! Jesus is quoted in John 6:63, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life." Hebrews 4:12 tells us, "The word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart."

Thank You, Bradigans!

Thank you, Tom, Paul, and Andy! Happy New Year!

A Victorian Wonderland

My friend Sue & I try to spend a day together every year at Christmastime. Last year, we went to the zoo; this year we went to the Frick.


It was a fascinating look into the life of a wealthy industrialist Henry Clay Frick's family's life.


We visited the museum shop, which was originally the children's playhouse--the gutters of the bowling alley (I'm not kidding) are visible under a glass plate in the floor. The estate has its own greenhouse, and a carriage house, which boasts all of the Frick family's carriages, and several cars from the early part of the century through a 1953 Packard. The most interesting one to me was the Stanley Steamer (not built by the carpet cleaning company Stanley Steemer!)


Clayton, the family home, was owned by the unmarried Frick daughter, Helen, who endowed the estate and left it intact as a museum for the public to enjoy. According to the brochure, the Frick mansion is unusual among historical homes in that 93% of the artifacts in the house are original. Helen and her father were art collectors, and there is a art museum on the site, although the main Frick collection is in New York.

Western PA has some wonderful sites and opportunities for family-friendly activities--the Armstrong County Tourist Bureau has some great information and a friendly staff to help you. You can also check out Visit Pittsburgh.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Christmas Ornaments

Two of our favorite ornaments are of the nativity;

Mary & Joseph and the baby Jesus.But Pastor Mike's sermons at Harvest Community Church (you can listen online) on Sunday and Christmas Eve were so good (as always, Mike!), because they taught us about why Christ really came--not to be a cute little baby forever in the manger, but that because of Him, the inhabitants of the earth have been divided into two camps--believers, followers, children of God vs. unbelievers who do not obey Him, children of the devil. There is no third camp.
He is Savior, but also Lord and King. If you are not a follower of Christ (or if you are not absolutely sure that you are going to heaven), I urge you not to let another Christmas season pass without assuring your salvation. You CAN know for sure--the Bible says so: "These things have I written unto you, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, even unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God" [1 John 5:13].

Wherever you are in your faith journey, God loves you with an everlasting love, and desires that none perish. He has made a precious way back to Himself through the sacrifice of His son Jesus--God in flesh, Immanuel (God with us)--who was born to die for our sins. If you have not already, accept His perfect blood sacrifice on the cross for you and follow Him, my Savior, my Lord and my King. That path will lead, no matter what happens in this life, to unbelievable blessing now and everlasting life in heaven forever.

My prayer for you today, dearest readers & friends, is Paul's prayer for the Ephesians: "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God. Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding aundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations for ever and ever. Amen"
[Ephesians 3: 14-21].

Black Powder

It was a beautiful day today. Burger went out to shoot his muzzleloader, as he hasn't used it for a few years. Grace is guarding the house.

The gun makes lots of stinky smoke. I shot it once.
Me: "Will it hurt me?"
Husband: "Not too much." Hmmmm. It's kinda fun.

I was aiming for the center of the deer, but my shot is the one on the right. Burger was excited that I hit it, but how could I miss a stationary cardboard deer?
Line up the red dot with the little green dots and pull the trigger--how hard is that?

Hope you enjoyed your day.

Cat & Dog Christmas

Grace usually ends up wearing a ribbon.

Boo loves the red feathers.

Demi guarding the catnip toys.

Cody trying to get into the cats' stocking.

Boo attacking my black bear (which I wanted
because we have had 7 black bear sightings
in the five years we have lived up here.)

Grace with her newest squeaky.

We are so blessed that even the pets get presents on Jesus' birthday.
Merry Christmas!

Ever Been to Smicksburg?

My husband buys his Red Wing work shoes at Byler's
store in Smicksburg. There are many Amish homes
around this area, and you often (slowly)
pass Amish buggies along the road.
My favorite store is Handworks.

Handworks has lovely things for your home, but

I only go for the yarn. Aren't the colors lovely?
And the feel is luxurious!

(And yes, I DID need more yarn--really!)

Husband Stranded on Roof/Cat in Bag

Yes, that is my husband on the roof,
and the ladder on the ground!

Demi LOVES bags!

Merry Christmas!

Boo says, "It wasn't me."

"It wasn't me."Caught in the act.

Gracie keeping warm after her bath

Icy Sunday

Japanese Strawberry tree.

Mud room window.
Grass before the snow.

Your opinion, please . . .

I thought this hat was adorable, but the person who commissioned it hated it.What do you think? (I promise you won't hurt my feelings.)

Paula Learns to Knit

Paula got a knitting lesson on our lunch hour today.

We started with something simple, like these dishcloths.

One of my current projects is this shawl with pockets . . .

It is amazing what you can do with only two stitches--knit & purl. Anyone who knits knows that this is easy. Someone who doesn't might be intimidated, but don't be. Remember, you only have to learn 2 stitches :).

I'll have a hat to show you this weekend that I like, but lots of other people just hate. Hrumph.

Boo Behaving Badly, continued . . .

Sigh.

Uh-oh

This cannot end well.
I have changed this cat's name from just "Boo"

to "Boo Badley."

Snowman Humor

This cartoon reminded me of a joke my friend Lance's daughters think is hysterical (as do I!):

What did one snowman say to the other snowman?

"Do you smell carrots?"

Praise God for Good Test Results

Thank you all who prayed for my tests this quarter--today's blood work was all good, including tumor markers. Unless I have issues, I won't need testing for another 3 months. Dr. BuchBarker says that she will see me every quarter for a "really long time." I will also have mammograms and a breast MRI in the spring (and mammos every 6 months thereafter, and MRIs annually.)

I praise Him for the good test results--I have so much to be grateful for. Even if the test results had been scary, I could still praise Him for Who He is, and what He will do. I know the Lord would continue to do so much more than I could ever ask or think!

I don't want to waste this reprieve; I've been feeling like there is some specific ministry that the Lord has for me, but I don't know what it is, yet. Please pray that He would reveal it (and that I will recognize it when He does! I always say he has to hit me up side the head with a 2 x 4 before I 'get it.')

May you have a very Merry and Blessed Christmas!

Great Blog--Confessions of a Bad Christian

I am continually blessed by Dave Burchett's blog, and had to pass this post on to you. Confessions of a Bad Christian is a continual source of blessing. Read The Santa Claus is Coming to Town Theology post.

Accept the gift of His grace. Merry Christmas!

Kitty Cookies

My dear friend Lisa made me cookies! See the white one shaped like a cat? It even has blue eyes and a pink nose. Lisa is a cat person, too--she has five.

(Boo tried to help himself while I was busy with the camera.)

Boo got his own kitty cookie--well, just a piece of one. (Yes, he is spoiled.)Thank you, Lisa!

The Egg Man Got a New Chicken

A few months ago, my family and I were so incensed that someone would steal the Egg Man's chicken from his truck. The Egg Man delivers fresh eggs to folks; you could see him coming a mile away, because he had a plastic chicken on the front of his truck cab.

What could someone possibly want with the Egg Man's chicken?


Well, I am happy to report that the Egg Man has a new chicken--his truck was parked by Farmers National Bank in Kittanning today.

Victorian Christmas in Brookville

I would much rather spend the day in a town like Brookville than in a shopping mall at Christmastime

(or anytime, really.)

Brookville had a Victorian Christmas celebration

this weekend. The folks there have done a

wonderful job revitalizing Main Street.

Look at the sidewalk in front of the 1890 building above:

The whole town was decorated.

There was even a yellow John Deere tree in an

old fashioned soda fountain advertising

"Marshmellow [sic] Sundaes" on the sign out front.

After walking Main Street in Brookville, Morgan and I drove 3 miles to Farmer Smith's Greenhouse. A young man working there saw me taking pictures of the ponsettias, and made us walk all the way down the greenhouse to show us this variety:

The strangest this we saw all day was a bear nativity.
I don't even know what to say . . .

God bless us every one!