are You . . . Knitting Daily?

Have you ever been to the Hoover Public Library?  They have a whole new parking lot AND wing that has recently been added, thanks in part to the MASSIVE overdue fine that a certain someone continues to accrue ... now, granted .. i always ... eventually ... pay the fine ... and make vows of devotion and commitments of turning over the new leaf and keeping track with when things are due ....

and then BAM!  i look find dig out the crumbled checkout slip from underneath my knitting and coffee cup and see the glaring truth:  they are always due  - - yesterday!!!   and thus the cycle being ..... or continues .... or snowballs ... and before long, the library's adding on .... again!  Did you know they have great resources in their knitting books?  Of course you don't know .. i've got them all checked out and you can't get them because of my procrastination and organizational dysfunction-ability!  but what IF i could let you in on a really neat 'secret' that will always be open .. that has drive-to-the-door parking .... even allows reading in your robe!   When you're not on Ravelry, why not sign in to Knitting Daily.  This is a great site filled with an abundance of information, great pictures so that you can dream of things that you'll proably never get the time or $$ to knit - but for me, it's fun to grab some coffee and just sit in the solitute of a quiet moment and dream about 'those' people who DO actually get to have "THAT" life .....

Sponsored by Interweave Press, Knitting Daily features many of the things that are published in Interweave Knits and/or Interweave Crochet ... but that's just the surface.  There really are Educational Articles in each publication and on line as well .. there are always fun things being sent to my email ... lots of free e-books to download ... inspiration AND explanation ... dreams AND reality ... ratings AND sizing that are clear and concise ....  a great way to preview things .. purchase individual patterns ... sign in for help .... ask questions, follow videos ....  they even sponsor a site on Ravelry, Facebook AND Twitter! 

I LOVE having instant acess and unlimited resources ... and am amazed at how 'dependent' i've become on things i can find on my computer ... just type in a few key words and before long i have a list with so many options ... it's like having a whole Row of Books devoted to the Knitting Topic Du Jour . . . perhaps this also appeals to me because it's yet another reflection of all the abundance and reserves that i have access to within my Bible each day ... sometimes each MINUTE .... a plethora of promises - hope - instruction - correction - whatEVER i may need.  And while the internet affords vast amounts of compiled information on its Super Highway ... there still remains the potential for disconnect if the power goes out ... or my wi-fi isn't picking the signal, if i don't type my search in correctly, if i can't get to my computer ....

and yet, there are no Glitches in accessing His Word.  There is nothing sweeter than opening my Bible and finding notes i've made in the margins regarding lessons i've learned, truths that have been made Real in my life, Prayers i've prayed along the way and even sweeter answers He's shared .... and one of my goals for this coming year is to work even more on my scripture memory so that should i find myself in need of my Bible i'll always have bits and pieces tucked within my heart .. no crumpled receipts to have to search for, but rich collections of His Word living within. I fall so short most days of resting in Him when things go 'not as i had planned' .... what IF my walk and talk actually matched because i was so Saturated in His Word ..... what IF He didn't have to spend so much time "frogging" my day and ripping out the messes i make because i fail to listen to the very Words He has spoken, the printed maps that are contained within the 66 books of my Bible . . .  there are No Fines or Late Fees for me to blame my illiteracy on ... negligence or selfishness, yes!  Closed doors or "After" hours ..... just concepts are not EVEN in His vocabulary!  (now THAT's a huge blessing for me, for SURE!)

Thy Word have i hid in my heart, that i might not sin against You.

Ps. 119:11

My Bible - - instant access to His Library!  No fines. No overdue fees. 

The essence of the Perfect Bookmobile! 

Inside My Knitting Bag

Thursday seems like a good day to make assessments ... to share progress, to check and see what i need for the weekend, to just schedule a 'REVIEW SESSION' for things.  You can do that, you know!  Grab your daytimer if need be, and pencil in write it in Pen so that nothing will override a few minutes to get a more accurate picture of Life ... as it stands as this brief moment!

Peaking in my Knitting Bag will show . . .

*New copies of Interweave Knits and Interweave Crochet (i LOVE these magazines for the great and informative articles within each one.  There are amazing pictures and Step-by-Step "How-to's" that make them essential for a good Reference Section among your knitting books!   That's my story and i'm sticking with it!)

 * 2 skeins of Red Heart Pomp-a-Doodle, already made into a fun scarf ... pictures will be added soon!            

* 3 skeins of Lion Brand Yarn Alpine Wool for a scarf for Bubba .... watch for this one to be added to the New Stitch Knitch Tab soon!

*  3 skeins of this amazing purple in hopes of turning it into a GIANT Cable scarf planned for March!

* New skein of cotton for some simple washcloths for my kitchen redo!

* Squeeze Me scarf finished (and being worn today!)

* Gauge swatches done for our 1st toddler hat to go into the AuPair Project basket!

* New shipment of extra cables for my Denise Interchangeable Needles!  (these are one of the "must haves" for your knitting bag!  Every size your need, always ready to go ... and with extra cables you could knit a cover for your car if you were so inclined!)

*  New PomPom makers from Clover!  these little gadgets are SO MUCH FUN!  (clearly it doesn't take much to keep me amused when it comes to new Knitting Toys!   and having coupons and teacher discounts certainly sweetens the deal!)

Looking back on things i would say it's been a productive week ... but did i mention we also had 2 snow days! So yes, there was some extra time to just sit and knit and ponder on all the blessings of each day ... for the most part i was thankful time and again for HEAT and WARMTH and SHELTER!  and i repeatedly found myself Thanking the Lord for those things that i usually take for granted!  Looking at my list of things done this week should also include memorizing my Fruit of the Spirit passage - Gal. 5:22-23 .. and spending time on each of the Fruit within those verses ... much to learn ... even MORE to apply!  And based on these ponderings i realize and confess that my personal/spiritual To Do list will never be completely checked off, but how sweet to know that He loves me as I am, sees my potential and worth and was willing to give His life so that i one day would share eternal life with Him!

  This is the day the Lord has made.  I will rejoice and be glad in it!

ps. 118:24

too big for my britches . . .

i am so VERY gullible!  my knitting is a reflection of that!  can anyone please tell me when i think i am possibly going to have the time to knit all the yarn that i have 'collected' over the years?  and what about all these books and magazines?  remind me, please, how many projects i have actually completed from the pages of all these examples?  and yet, i run to the store and roam the aisles for hours ... touching the yarn, flipping through the new books ... clipping my coupons to save money on more new knitting needles ...

instead, i should be home knitting .... learning new things .... trying new techniques .... giving more things away!!! seems my vocubalary is loaded with Verbs these days, but they are all rather self absorbed, rather than truly 'servant' oriented!  [not that knitting is always about giving away ...]  I have learned the value of slipping into that quiet cocoon of concentration so that the rhythm of the needles, the stitches that fall into my lap, help me to focus on other things in my life.  BUT collecting new and different 'yarn/needles/books' is no replacement for seeking Help when i'm stuck on a new/old project .... when i encounter a Knot in my yarn .... Or my life!

i know this may be 20+ years too late, but i'm sitting here now wondering if i have made a HUGE mistake w/ my kids (aside from their obvious family quirks and uniquities ...) ....   i was taught, and thus, passed on to my children that they were to grow up and be self sufficient! learn to do things 'on their own' ... Independence was a sign of success! "Cut the cord" .... "let them make their own mistakes" . . . blah! blah! blah! in fact, society is STILL selling books and dvds and commericals on this very thing and yet as i read this morning in james and in john my true Sucess in measured by my ability to COME to the Father. My growth and 'personal achievement' is designed to thrive and flourish when i LEAN on Him and not my own understanding [not that THAT would take much to do!] ...
So, the question for me today is two fold: DO i COME to my Father with everything - - joys AND sorrows, celebrations AND consternations? or am i TOO INDEPENDENT for my own good?

NO ... and YES! i'm afraid i'm 'out of order' if i will be honest with myself! I was taught that i was supposed to share 'my toys/things' .... but somewhere along the way i seemed to dismiss the concept of sharing it ALL with Him ... because He genuinely WANTS to KNOW! Pride perhaps ... which has been documented to 'go before a fall' ..... or just ignorance coupled with laziness?

I AM the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from ME you can do nothing! John 15;5

Perservence must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:5

Sorrows shared results in a load that's lessened; Joys, when shared, are multiplied. Hallmark didn't come up with this concept; God did! (note to self!)   Bring your daily knitting to Him ... He's got the pattern AND the patience to help!   kind of gives new meaning to "Fix it Daddy!" please?