Leaving a Legacy

I attended a women's event at our church this morning with my sweet mother-in-law, Kay and my youngest sister-in-law, Amanda, and my good friend, Katie.  Many of my church friends and their family members were there as well.

Our speaker was a family member of our event organizer, Holly.  The speaker showed us her prayer journal and talked about how to get organized in your prayer life to life up people more frequently and to be more effective in prayer.  She also said she saves past prayer sheets to hand down to her children so they can see how she prayed for them through different life stages.  A legacy of prayer!

I want to become a prayer warrior.  But somehow the busyness of life gets in the way.  I get up early most mornings to spend time with Jesus, but often my thoughts wander in meaningless voids. 

The speaker, Debbie, shared about praying out loud as a technique for focusing thoughts and keeping away from rabbit trails.  She had an organized prayer notebook, splitting different people groups among the days of the week as a technique for making time for prayer for all those who need it.  She even puts pictures of those she prayers for regularly by their prayer requests to bring them more personally to mind during her prayer time. 

I loved it, but the thought of accomplishing all that is, to be honest, a little overwhelming.  So now I will take what I learned and pray over how God wants me to use some of it in my time with Him.  Debbie encouraged us not to make it a taskmaster over us, but a tool to help us.

Balance.  

Funny how so many things in life 

come back to this one word for me.

The speaker also talked about writing in a journal to the Lord.  She says she writes out all her thoughts, feelings, and current life events.  But she only does it once a week.  I thought that was a good goal.  When I think I have to do that everyday, again, I get overwhelmed.  Debbie says she plans for her journals to go to her children some day so that they can know her and her heart when she's gone.  A legacy of transparency!

Finally, we were encouraged to write down memories of special things our children say and do to enjoy as we get older and need help remembering.  I'm sure the children would enjoy reading those as well.  A legacy of memories!

I hope I will successfully leave these legacies myself.

I want to grow in my spiritual life.  I'm always trying to do whatever I can to stay close to Jesus.  So maybe I will pick up a nugget to use from today.  In any case, it was a good time, full of laughter and a few tears.  Women sharing together always have to have elements of both.

Current Thread Crochet Projects

I haven't had time to blog much lately.  But I have been working on crocheting, though not as avidly as usual.  My shoulders and neck have been stiff, and the chiropractor thinks crocheting and being on the computer are contributing factors.  So I have pared down, and most of the work I'm showing here today has been worked other than the past couple of weeks.  When things settle down, I'm sure I'll get back to crocheting/blogging more regularly, although not for long blocks of time.  I get started crocheting, and the 'just 1 more row' syndrome kicks in.  And we all know how the computer sucks us in to a time void.  Well, I guess my middle-aged body is rebelling at my overdoing tendencies.  So I must learn to work smarter.

That is probably more than you wanted to know, so I will get on with the crochet.

This doily I have shown before, but I had to re-block it after washing.  So I thought it would be good to show it again with the other things I'm working on.

I crocheted this for my husband originally, so I thought it fitting for him to take it to his booth at the flea market to cover some shelving flaws.

I'm trying this black doily due to my friend Vikki over at ByHooks4U.  I loved hers, so...

These little motifs are due to 2 of my favorite crocheters.  Again, Vikki, because she had the motif book I was asking about a while back in duplicate and was kind enough to sell her extra to me.  And my mother, who is always on the look out for ways to bless me.  When she visited for the 16 year old's birthday, she brought me a bag of goodies filled with thin crochet threads and ribbons.  Woohoo!

There is not much of each color of thread, so I decided that these balls were PERFECT to try out with my new book, 101 Motifs for Thread Crochet.

Thanks Vikki and Mom!!!

Last but not least, I made a Santa hat and beard for my 14 year old's Halloween costume per his instructions and have sewn stripes onto karate belts.

A crafter's work is never done!

New Venture

My husband just opened a booth at a local flea market.  This weekend has been full of him researching prices and labeling items.  We took some stuff over to get started yesterday.  I washed some old glasses for my contribution.  While he's been doing most of the work on that, I've still been doing the usual shopping, cooking, grading papers, sewing, and baking of my job.

He's been wanting to do something like this for years.  I pray it is a successful venture for him.  I know it will be fun.  His dad is an antique dealer (www.woodenheartantiques.com).  So he grew up going to flea markets, auctions, etc.  He loves to 'collect' and to buy unusual things.  Now he will have an outlet, and my house won't have to hold it!  :)

If you're curious as to what types of things he likes, go to www.retrohound.com.

Who knows?  I might even put some of my work out, if I ever have time to do any extra.

My 'baby' is turning 16!

Sixteen years ago, on the 23rd of October, my 1st son was born.  So wonderful.  A long road with many challenges and much love.  And now he is nearing 6' and almost grown.

I can hardly believe it.

Crochet Thread Floral Baby Bonnet and Bootie Set Re-cap

I thought you might like to see all the variations I have done of this pattern together.  I will put the post link with each picture so that you can go read the details about each if you would like to.

The 1st attempt:  Ava Elizabeth

Apology for bad picture.  Best one I had.

http://exquisitecrochetdainties.blogspot.com/2010/07/avas-outfit.html


2nd attempt:  Caryn Rae/Aidan

http://exquisitecrochetdainties.blogspot.com/2010/07/caryns-bonnet.html

3rd attempt:  Allison Kay/Eliza Jane

http://exquisitecrochetdainties.blogspot.com/2011/09/crochet-thread-floral-baby-bonnet-and.html


4th attempt:  Baby Reeder

http://exquisitecrochetdainties.blogspot.com/2011/09/crochet-thread-floral-baby-bonnet-and_27.html

I wish I had a good picture of the all white set

so that you could compare them.

It was really sweet,

but the COLOR

makes this set

FABULOUS!!!

The pattern is in my

The Complete Guide to Thread Crochet

book.

If you'd like to look at it, click on my favorite resources page at the top and then click on the book.   Amazon might have some of the pages up for you to look at.  The book has one baby set, the beige sweater I made, as well as lots of other fine projects.  

Thread Crochet Ponytail Holders Series (4)

CROCHET ACCESSORIES FOR KIDS

Ponytail Band Toppers:  Ten Designs to Crochet

"Ruffles"
(pattern #10)

There are also some pattern options
using beads which are very sweet.
But I do not have any beads

yet...

A song I wrote

I have been writing songs for about 5 years.  I just recently figured out how I can get them on here recently.  It is just an audio file and only me singing.  Nothing fancy.  I don't play any instruments, or I'd tried to make it sound better.  Anyway, just thought I'd share it with you.  The words are below the video box.

"Entrust Yourself"

Chorus

Entrust yourself to the One Who judges justly.
Give your life to the One Who holds you dear.
Realize that He is always with you.
Never give in.

Verse 1

Never give up, never give in
Though you must start all over again.
Though you may fall, though you may fail,
Run to His side.  He will prevail.

Chorus

Verse 2
Hard times will come.  Hard times will go.
Satan will stand against you as foe.
Run to the Father.  Run to the Son.
Run the good race; it’s already won!

Chorus (repeat)

Tag (last line of Chorus twice)