Monday, December 31, 2012

The Post in Which I Reflect on & Choose One Word

Just about this time last year, I posted a blog post called 2012 ~ My One Word. My word for 2012 was eucharisteo.

I was originally introduced to eucharisteo in the book One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp. In it, she writes:
As long as thanks is possible, then joy is always possible. Joy is always possible. Whenever, meaning--now; wherever, meaning--here. The holy grail of joy is not in some exotic location or some emotional mountain peak experience. The joy wonder could be here! Here, in the messy, piercing ache of now, joy might be--unbelievably--possible! The only place we need see before we die is this place of seeing God, here and now.

I whisper it out loud, let the tongue feel these sounds, the ear hear their truth.

Charis. Grace.
Eucharisteo. Thanksgiving.
Chara. Joy.

A triplet of stars, a constellation in the black.

A threefold cord that might hold a life? Offer a way up into the fullest life?

Grace, thanksgiving, joy. Eucharisteo.


This year of 2012 has truly been one of eucharisteo. There has been much grief, much pain, much hardship, much frustration, much fear, and yet, in the midst of it, there was still hope, still grace, still Thanksgiving, still joy, still gratitude. Eucharisteo has been life-changing for me & I truly believe I am a new woman because of who I have become by constantly looking for the gifts, the gratitudes, the joys of every day life.

Now, we come to 2013. A couple of days ago, a word came to me that I instantly knew was God's direction and leading for the 365 days ahead. That word is create.
2013oneword

Over the last few days, I have been reading A Year of Biblical Womanhood: How a Liberated Woman Found Herself Sitting on Her Roof, Covering Her Head, and Calling Her Husband "Master" by Rachel Held Evans. In her section about Mary, the Mother of God, she writes these words:
At the heart of Mary's worthiness is her obedience, not to a man, not to a culture, not even to a cause or a religion, but to the creative work of a God who lifts up the humble and fills the hungry with good things.

Madeline L'Engle connect this type of obedience to our own everyday acts of creation. "Obedience is an unpopular word nowadays," she wrote, "but the artist must be obedient to the work, whether it be a symphony, a painting, or a story for a small child. I believe that each work of art, whether it is a work of great genius, or something very small, comes to the artist and says, 'Here I am. Enflesh me. Give birth to me.' And the artist can either say, 'My soul doth magnify the Lord,' and willingly become the bearer of the work, or refuses; but the obedient response is not necessarily a conscious one, and not everyone has the humble, courageous obedience of Mary."


My hope and prayer for 2013 is that I will offer the obedient response as I create.

Want more info: One Word 365 Website

Happy New Year!
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Friday, November 16, 2012

The Post In Which I Catch Up On My Knitting



Finished Projects
Junction ~ leethal mystery shawl 2012 ~ Lee Meredith's pattern, Junction ~ leethal mystery shawl 2012. Knit on US 5 (3.75 mm) needles with Crystal Palace Yarns Panda Superwash in the Bittersweet colorway, Knit One Crochet Too Crock-O-Dye in the Candy colorway, and Lucci Yarn Sequins in the Cranberry (except it's not Cranberry, it's more like Hot Pink!!!!! But definitely Not Cranberry!!!!!) colorway. This was a 5 week mystery knit-a-long. I've worn it several times already and I'm in love with it! Possibly my favorite knit ever!!!!!




A Cowl for Beth ~ Elizabeth Carls' pattern, Sylvia Eyelet Cowl. Knit on US 5 (3.75 mm) needles with Universal Yarn Classic Worsted Impressions in the 4914 (I've seen it called both Pacific and Civil War. It's discontinued so I'm not sure) colorway. This was a birthday gift for our friend Beth. We attended her surprise 60th birthday party a few days ago.




Striations for Mom A. ~ My very own pattern, Striations. Knit on US 8 (5 mm) needles with Knit One Crochet Too 2nd Time Cotton in the 572 White Tea & 793 Amethyst colorways. This was a birthday gift for my mother-in-law a couple of weeks ago. Pattern is available for purchase via Ravelry.




Two Knitted Beards ~ Jessica Laux's pattern, A rather fun knitted beard. Knit on US 3 (3.25 mm) needles with Gala Mixed Fiber Novelty in Dark Brown Fur colorway. These were for a friend who's 2 boys needed beards for their Halloween costumes.




Current Works in Progress
Camden Cap ~ I'm currently working on Woolly Wormhead's pattern, Camden Cap. I'm knitting on US 2.5 (3 mm), US 5 (3.75mm), & US 6 (4mm) needles with Universal Yarn Classic Worsted Impressions in the 4912 pink red & yellow colorway. This is a gift so I won't say more.



As always, find all my completed projects plus what's currently on my needles on Ravelry:


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Wednesday, November 14, 2012

The Post In Which Striations is Live





Striations ~ a series of ridges; sets of parallel stripes
This heart shaped shawl is knit from the top down.
A main color & a striping color provide a unique striated look.
Go bold with two highly contrasting colors
or go subtle with two closely related variegated colors.
Happy Knitting!


Finished Measurements:
Wingspan: approximately 72”
Length: approximately 26” (cast on to point)

Gauge:
4 sts and 10 rows in garter stitch = 1 inch

Materials:
Approximately 240-290 grams / 470-530 yards of worsted weight yarn for main color
Approximately 76-90 grams / 150-162 yards of worsted weight yarn for striping color
US8 (5mm) circular needles (at least 32” long)
2 stitch markers
Blunt needle
Scissors

Shown in:
Example 1 ~ Knit One Crochet Too 2nd Time Cotton (75% Cotton, 25% Acrylic; 180 yards per 100 gram skein) in 572 White Tea & 793 Amethyst
Example 2 ~ Universal Yarn Classic Worsted Impressions (80% Acrylic, 20% Wool; 197 yards per 100 gram skein) in 4914 Pacific or Civil War & Universal Yarn Classic Shades (70% Acrylic, 30% Wool; 197 yards per 100 gram skein) in Storm Clouds

This design is my first ever paid pattern design. I'd love to see your take on it.

Available for purchase now at http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/striations

(If you're a Geeky Girls Knit viewer, Episode 12 has a coupon code for $1 off.





As always, find all my completed projects plus what's currently on my needles on Ravelry:


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Thursday, October 18, 2012

The Post in Which Jekyll & Hyde Are At Home Here



Finished Project
Jekyll & Hyde Socks ~ Finally finished this amazing pattern by Sarah Wilson. I love that the pattern can look very proper when done in a yarn that is a solid color or with subtle tonal changes, but then they can look scary, crazy good with a wildly variegated yarn. They were knit on US 1 (2.25 mm) needles with Vice Yarn in the Amazingly Amy colorway. They took me about a month to knit (I worked on several other projects concurrently).




Current Works in Progress
Junction ~ leethal mystery shawl 2012 ~ I'm currently working on Lee Meredith's pattern, Junction ~ leethal mystery shawl 2012. I'm knitting on US 5 (3.75 mm) needles with Crystal Palace Yarns Panda Superwash in the Bittersweet colorway, Knit One Crochet Too Crock-O-Dye in the Candy colorway, and Lucci Yarn Sequins in the Cranberry (except it's not Cranberry, it's more like Hot Pink!!!!! But definitely Not Cranberry!!!!!) colorway. This is a 5 week mystery knit-a-long. I've completed the first 3 clues. Clue 4 will be released on Monday.

All the Shades of Truth ~ I'm currently working on Laura Aylor's pattern, All the Shades of Truth (a color-block stole). I'm knitting on US 7 (4.5 mm) needles with Kraemer Yarns Perfection in the Sprout, Fluff, Butterfly, Valentine, & Bloom colorways. It's about 70% complete.

Currently Unnamed Shawl ~ I'm working on a shawl that I designed. Pattern will be published in the future. I'm knitting on US 8 (5mm) needles with Knit One Crochet Too 2nd Time Cotton in the White Tea & Amethyst colorways. It's about 35% complete. You can get a sneak peek of it in the most recent episode of the video podcast that Damaris & I co-host together, Geeky Girls Knit ~ Episode 8 - In Which We Discuss Gifts & English Lessons.



As always, find all my completed projects plus what's currently on my needles on Ravelry:


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Monday, October 15, 2012

The Post in Which We Remember



As some of you know, our family is larger than what you see in a photograph of us. It's not just Russ, C.C., & Damaris.



Because you see, three of our children have preceded us in their journey to Heaven. I tell our story in more depth in this blog post. Jordan Taylor, Micah Jayden, & Noah Avrey are our precious little ones who have seen Heaven before us.

Today, October 15th, is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day. So on this day, and every day, we remember Jordan, Micah, & Noah. And if you have walked a similar journey, we remember your precious child(ren) with you.



Glory baby you slipped away as fast as we could say baby...baby...
You were growing, what happened dear?
You disappeared on us baby...baby...
Heaven will hold you before we do
Heaven will keep you safe until we're home with you...
Until we're home with you...
Miss you everyday, Miss you in every way
But we know there's a day when we will hold you
We will hold you
You'll kiss our tears away, When we're home to stay
Can't wait for the day when we will see you
We will see you
But baby let sweet Jesus hold you 'till mom and dad can hold you...
You'll just have heaven before we do, You'll just have heaven before we do
Sweet little babies, it's hard to understand it 'cause we're hurting
We are hurting, But there is healing
And we know we're stronger people through the growing
And in knowing - That all things work together for our good
And God works His purposes just like He said He would...
Just like He said He would...
I can't imagine, Heaven's lullabies, and what they must sound like
But I rest in knowing, that Heaven is your home
And it's all you'll ever know...
~~Words and Music by Nathan and Christy Nockels

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Image Credit: Here & Here

Saturday, October 13, 2012

The Post in Which My Baby is Now a Teenager

Thirteen years ago today, our precious baby girl Damaris was born. She is our miracle that I can never be grateful enough for! Am I really old enough to have a teenager?????????????

Just days after her birth


6 Months Old


1 Year Old


2 Years Old


3 Years Old


4 Years Old


5 Years Old


6 Years Old


7 Years Old


8 Years Old


9 Years Old


10 Years Old


11 Years Old


12 Years Old


A few weeks ago - almost 13 Years Old


Happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy birthday Damaris! I'm so thankful for you! You are a beautiful, smart, geeky, funny, silly, amazingly awesome young woman. Mamma loves you so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!



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