Friday Funnies!

A highway patrolman pulled alongside a speeding car on the freeway. Glancing at the car, he was astounded to see that the blonde behind the wheel was knitting!

Realizing that she was oblivious to his flashing lights and siren, the trooper cranked down his window, turned on his bullhorn and yelled, 
"PULL OVER!"


"NO!" the blonde yelled back, "IT'S A SCARF!"


Sorry to digress, but this just made me smile when i read it ... perhaps it was a bit too close to home, though i will say, in my own defense, that i've never been pulled over (much less stopped) because i was knitting and driving . . . 


there HAVE been flashing lites in the rearview mirror of my own life this week .... unexpected opportunities to slow down and review life as it was happening for the day .... friends that needed help, air conditioning that went out (due to cut wires and not mechanical issues, but that took days - - very hot days AND nites - - to discover!), kitchen sinks that overflowed and flooded the kitchen because someone forgot to shut the water off  (but MAN, the kitchen floor sure is clean now! and the dishwasher look pretty good too), every day there just simply seemed to be SOMEthing out of the ordinary ......  which caused me to look at things in a bit of a different way . .


how many MORE things have i missed these past 50 years because i've been so busy, locked in to the 'ordinary' that i had planned rather than anticipating the EXTRAordinary things that God longs to show me!  and i'm wondering how much i've missed because of an apatheic attitude ... or grumbling at the changes that I didn't schedule . .   for someone how talks the big talk, i realize i've grown rather regimented in my routine .... my comfort zone is much thinner than it used to be . . . oh dear, i'm turning into ______________ 

BUT . . check THIS out:

*Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be THANKFUL, and so worship God acceptable with reverence and awe, "for our 'God is a consuming fire.' "    Heb. 12:28-29

*And do not grumble, as some of them did - and were killed by the destroying angel.  I Cor. 10:10  [guess that pretty much clears THAT up!]

*A merry heart does good like a medicine; but a broken spirit dries up the bones.  Prov. 17:22

Think i'll take advantage of this season of blue lights flashing in my weekly rearview mirror, and start counting my blessings rather than my blunders!  Remember that old hymn?

When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,

When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost.

Count your many blessings, name them one by one

And it will surprize you what the Lord has done!

Count your blessings, name them one by one.

Count your blessings, see what God has done.

Count your blessings, name them one by one . . .

Count your many blessings, see what God has done.

So amid the conflict, whether great or small

Do not be discouraged, God is over all

Count your many blessings, Angels will attend

Health and comfort give you to your journey's end.

If i use Phil. 4:8 as my sieve for straining all thoughts through, then this should be the proper adjustment i need . .

Fix your thoughts on what is true,

and honorable,

and right,

and pure,

and lovely,

and admirable.

Think about things that are excellent

and worthy of praise.

Happy Birthday Tori!  She clearly fits ALL those BOLDed words above!

what does a prayer shawl look like?

a prayer shawl HAS to be a triangular shape to be official, yes?

it can't possibly be a long stripe (i.e scarf) ... and there's NO WAY it could be shaped like a purse.... could it??????

it's been a busy several weeks with lots of projects mixed in ... i've spent many hours searching for 'perfect prayer shawl' patterns .... been involved in a few swaps on Ravelry and wanted to find the perfect pattern for my swap partner .... and all the while i have learned some life lessons as well as some new knitting techniques. For one, i tried a new stitch called the Trinity Stitch and found a new technique that created an interesting texture. When was the last time you veared away from the comfortable stitch you know (knit a row, purl a row) and combined those stitches in a NEW way .... Trinity Stitch is simply a K1, P1, K1 in 1 stitch, then P3together in the next. It only takes 4 rows to complete a pattern. Ready? Cast on a multiple of 4 sts plus 2

Row 1: (RS) Purl

Row 2: k1, *(k1, p1, k1) into next st, p3tog, rep from * to last st, k1.

Row 4: k1, *p3tog, (k1, p1, k1) into next st, rep from * to last st, k1.

Who KNEW that a simple change in perspective - looking at things in a new and different way - could be fun? productive? dare i say, relaxing? I had ever intention of making my swap partner a knitting purse. I found myself praying for her as i knit, asking God to bless her and her family, her knitting that she shares with others, just seeking His favor on her while i knit for her. Well, time constraints limited me to just 1 side of the purse, which i used to turn into a smaller notions bag. i ran the stripes lengthwise, rather than width wise, seamed up the sides and left a flap to fold over - inserted a pocket and some lining and my 1st 'prayer shawl' was filled with goodies - and prayers - and shipped out!

i have many friends who share a common love and affection for a dear family who served as our minister of music so very faithfully for many, many years. we recently learned that Aubrey was having a really hard time with a long term illness and IMMEDIATELY my sweet sisters banded together with their needles and yarn to create a blessing blanket! we have opted for Christmas colors (because our friends brought Christmas to our hearts and our music with a passion that few can match). Casting on a multiple of 3 stitches (not to exceed 24ish...) we have all agreed to knit stripes 4 foot in length and pray for dear Aubrey and Phyllis during this time. You may call them stripes or scarfs but when we meet again, we'll sew them together, spend some more time in prayer for this sweet family, and present them with a blessing blanket --- or --- a prayer shawl!

i've knit 2 stripes so far for aubrey. Have you ever tried the 'mistake rib' pattern? or the diagonal rib stitch pattern? yet again, it"s about

Diagonal Rib (multiple of 4 stitches)

Row 1 (rs) *k2, p2, rep from * to end

Row 2: same as row 1

Row 3: *p1, k2, p1, rep from * to end

Row 4: *p1, k2, p1, rep from * to end

Row 5: *p2, k2, rep from * to end

Row 6: same as row 5

Row 7: *p1, k2, p1, rep from * to end

Row 8: *k1, p2, k1, rep from * to end

Repeat these 8 rows for desired length.

Now, what have i learned from all this? Prayer shawls ARE triangles ... but they are also rectangles and squares. They are long, short, thick, thin. Wool or cotton. Cashmere or Acrylic. A shawl is a covering that is worn to bring comfort, shield from the cold, wrap around us as a gentle reminder that someone was thinking of you, PRAYING for you and whispering your name to the Father. Is that NOT the way that we knit just about every sweet gift that leaves our needles? Romans 8:26 reminds us that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words when we often don't know exactly how to pray, or what to ask for. I have learned that my knitting produces prayer shawls in all shapes and sizes for the people i love, that God has laid on my heart. Some of my prayers are audible... ALL of them are understandable because my Father is always listening.

What else have i discovered? God can use ME and my needles even though i may not fit the standard, pre-conceived idea of a knitter! I may not have as much experience as others, my techniques may be lacking compared to others, my yarn may not be as 'nice' as others.... but when God sees MY heart and my willingness to be used, HE blesses my gifts. He has ordered my days and my yarn (though my stash does seem a bit discombobulated at the moment!) He knows the number of hairs on my head and the number of needles in my knitting bag! When i keep my focus on Him i soon discover that His love for me is the catalyst for all that i do. He sees me with different eyes! How can i NOT share His love with everyone i meet ... some are hurting, some are searching ... but we all need HIM! and a prayer shawl (purse, scarf, blanket) is an outward expression of such a compelling love!

In the rhythm of the needles there is music for the soul.

Be still and know that I Am God!