Doing

Hi! Remember when I said that maybe thinking would lead to doing? Gumbo Lily left a sweet comment of affirmation and it really pushed me over the edge. I decided not to use the New Zealand wool because I have so much of it and it really deserves cables which I don't have the strength for right now. I picked this pretty Lamb's Pride Bulky up when I visited that cool yarn shop in Ft. Collins. I love my shawl! It's coming along! I watched the rest of the Hazel season and now I miss her and have to wait for a second season. I watched Lark Rise to Candleford Season Two, but just the first disk so I have that to look forward to today while I knit. I want to watch Sense and Sensibility, too. I love that movie. So, VICTORY! Shawl making is actually happening!

I wish you could touch it! So soft! I wish you could smell it! Smells like a lamb!

This morning, the sky was pink again. It's only pink for a tiny magic moment.

The volunteer sunflowers are growing fast!

Look at this girl! Isn't she bright and smiley?

Jeff's tomatoes are plentiful! Yay!

Do you see the tiny fairy bench on the left? Just before I shot the photograph, the fairy ran away. Sorry.

Everything is growing in the fairy garden.

Back inside for some book talk. My adorable little friend Melanie at Cosy Living is reading the Miss Read books and I knew I had one. Sure enough! It IS delightful and easy to pick up and put down for small village doses.

After meeting Sam and Jenny for lunch and toy shopping, I went to the library. Look at these fun and quick reads! I love juvenile fiction and I always like to read about queens. I checked out three knitting books, too. I've already looked through them and I'm ready to take them back. I have so many knitting books, I really should just browse through my own!

Here's the book that came in the mail yesterday. I am already enjoying it very much. It's written by a woman who is becoming an Episcopalian priest. I love books by women who are pursuing God with all their hearts. It's not preachy; it's intimate and inspiring so far. It made me want to sing this morning. I sang a song that I learned when I was just beginning to want to know my Savior. He's Everything to Me is the song I sang and the words are incredible.

In the stars His handiwork I see
On the wind He speaks with majesty
Though He ruleth over land and sea
What is that to me?

I will celebrate Nativity,
For it has a place in history
Sure He came to set His people free
What is that to me?

Til by faith I met Him face to face,
And I felt the wonder of His grace
And I knew that He was more than just a
god who didn't care, who lived way, way up there and
NOW He walks beside me day by day
Ever watching over me lest I stray
Helping me to find the narrow way
He's everything to me.

I have a bunch of journals that are begging me to fill them. I'm trying to decide which one to fill up with my "freedom from overeating" journey. I'm putting all my journal supplies on the kitchen table today after I sweep and mop. I'll take a picture after I finish a few pages.

This morning I randomly (ha ha!) turned to Psalm 81: 5-6. God's word can be SO personal. It's amazing. Remember, I was thinking about burdens and shoulders (having to do with shawl making?) Well, does He know me or what? Then, later the psalmist speaks of His good provision of food. I'm thinking of how He provides good gifts for us. I have a good potato to eat. I baked it this morning while I was singing and now it smells delightfully mealy and toasty and I'm hungry. It's good to be hungry. I'll be thinking of all of you as I knit my shawl and watch happy films. I hope you have some quiet things to do today and I hope you find that life is a gift of love.

Fog, Venting, and the BOOK

Hello to you! Thank you so much for popping in!

On my fun walk a few days ago.

A much more sophisticated "teacher bag" than the one Mrs. M carries.

Would YOU wear these boots? Would you wear these boots if you could wear soft, spongy, comfy shoes?

My commute to school, flavored with fog, consists of fast cars, cell phone talkers, and the same old, same old. I do like driving fast on the highway, though. Frankly, I felt a bit foggy myself, going back into the hallowed halls of learning (choke) and dealing with all the spirit week stuff. I'm sorry, but I'm 51 and dressing up like a fashion disaster didn't sound fun. Dressing retro - nope. Okay, I did wear red and green (ugly red capris that don't really fit right and a weird green vest). Today, nerd day. I have issues with this. Then tomorrow it is just school spirit clothes and I CAN do that. I am so glad this is almost over. I just don't really find it fun. It separates the kids who love the IDEA of being a part of something and the kids who don't feel like they ARE a part of something. The world really doesn't understand community. We feign caring, pretend like winning a game really matters, preach that we all should be positive (even though the people who say this are often the most critical and snooty) and I find it nauseating. I'm just saying.
On a happier note, Bill spoke at a fund raising event tonight and after newspaper club (they are SO precious - wanting press passes and actually thinking we'll put out up to date news!) I was SO done. However, I wanted to go and I'm so glad I did. I met some AWESOME people. But the impression that I'm holding as a little jewel in my heart now and I want to share with you is this: A college student went up to share her story of redemption. She looked very typical and spoke in the current slang. She repeated herself and didn't really have a plan for what she wanted to say. But, her tattered Bible that she took up on the stage with her said it all. It was worn. The pages had all been turned. It looked loved, used, cherished. That spoke to me. One of my childhood friend's father had a Bible that made a similar impression on me. He kept it at the breakfast nook and I saw it when Vickie and I were eating after-school bowls of ice cream. I was fascinated by it because it had that same "used" look. It looked very loved and very valued. God's love letter to me. My sweet thirty one year old Bible. I have so many books and I love them, but this BOOK, this book is the treasured one.

What does yours look like? I'd love to see it.