Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Healing
Emotional healing, spiritual healing. It's a long road, let me tell you. It's not a straight road, either. There are lots of curves and hills. Whew! It's exhausting.
I went to Books-A-Million when they were having their clearance and bought a book called You're All That - Understanding God's Design for Your Life by Paula White. I've learned a couple of lessons from that book that I'd like to share with you:
Lesson 1) The Bible says that all things work together for good for those who love God and choose to put themselves in alignment with his purposes. Therefore, you can choose to believe that everything that happens to you is a factor in creating your ultimate good. You can choose to be happy in a situation or circumstance, even a dire or undesirable circumstance. Why? Because you aren't drawing your happiness from the event or situation itself, but rather, you are drawing happiness from your belief that God is always at work and that He will create something good for you.
Lesson 2) Ask God to help you think in new ways, to feel new feelings. Ask God to fill you with His presence so that you will not react in anger, fear, worry, or doubt, but rather, with His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and mercy.
Lesson 3) One of my high school friends posted this link yesterday on facebook. I clicked on it this morning, but didn't have time to read it before going to work. I left the tab open so I'd remember to read it when I got home. When I came home, I was feeling sad and discouraged. (One of those uphill passages on the long road to healing.) When I sat down at the computer I found that tab I'd left open. I started reading. As I got to the last third of it, peace and comfort poured over me like water washing away the dirt of the day. I'm so thankful it was here waiting on me when I got home. I sure needed it.
What lessons have you learned lately?
I went to Books-A-Million when they were having their clearance and bought a book called You're All That - Understanding God's Design for Your Life by Paula White. I've learned a couple of lessons from that book that I'd like to share with you:
Lesson 1) The Bible says that all things work together for good for those who love God and choose to put themselves in alignment with his purposes. Therefore, you can choose to believe that everything that happens to you is a factor in creating your ultimate good. You can choose to be happy in a situation or circumstance, even a dire or undesirable circumstance. Why? Because you aren't drawing your happiness from the event or situation itself, but rather, you are drawing happiness from your belief that God is always at work and that He will create something good for you.
Lesson 2) Ask God to help you think in new ways, to feel new feelings. Ask God to fill you with His presence so that you will not react in anger, fear, worry, or doubt, but rather, with His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and mercy.
Lesson 3) One of my high school friends posted this link yesterday on facebook. I clicked on it this morning, but didn't have time to read it before going to work. I left the tab open so I'd remember to read it when I got home. When I came home, I was feeling sad and discouraged. (One of those uphill passages on the long road to healing.) When I sat down at the computer I found that tab I'd left open. I started reading. As I got to the last third of it, peace and comfort poured over me like water washing away the dirt of the day. I'm so thankful it was here waiting on me when I got home. I sure needed it.
What lessons have you learned lately?
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes
So, in the last month my life as taken an unexpected turn. It's meant a lot of heartache, tears, prayer, and changes. I've been re-reading The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. One of the "verses to remember" is Romans 12:2b - "Let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God - what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect." This verse really hit home and I read it as a prayer - "God, transform me inwardly by a complete change of my mind. So that I will be able to know Your will - what is good and is pleasing to You and is perfect." I need to pray that every day. Maybe I'll put it up on the bathroom mirror.
Chapter 25 quotes Psalms 24:18 - "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted. He rescues those who are crushed in spirit." Warren says, "Your most profound and intimate experience of worship will likely be in your darkest days - when your heart is broken, when you feel abandoned, when you're out of options, when the pain is great - and you turn to God alone. It is during suffering that we learn to pray our most autentic, heartfelt, honest-to-God prayers." This guy is good and he knows where I'm at right now.
So, God's using this experience to transform me. I don't know for what, but I don't need to know. God knows. I don't need to see where the road leads. I just need to continue down the road.
Chapter 25 quotes Psalms 24:18 - "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted. He rescues those who are crushed in spirit." Warren says, "Your most profound and intimate experience of worship will likely be in your darkest days - when your heart is broken, when you feel abandoned, when you're out of options, when the pain is great - and you turn to God alone. It is during suffering that we learn to pray our most autentic, heartfelt, honest-to-God prayers." This guy is good and he knows where I'm at right now.
So, God's using this experience to transform me. I don't know for what, but I don't need to know. God knows. I don't need to see where the road leads. I just need to continue down the road.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Rest in Peace, Smokey Joe
My dad calls all cats "Smokey Joe". I'm not sure why. A few years ago a cat showed up at his house who he called, yep, "Smokey Joe".
Daddy would feed Smokey and then tell him to "go home". I told him, "Daddy, I think he IS home." Smokey would come and go for a while. Over the last couple of years, though, Smokey pretty much stuck around.
Smokey had been around the block a time or two - nicked ears, scars on his neck - but like most cats Smokey appreciated a good head rub.
He was always at the carport door in the morning to greet Daddy and ask for breakfast.
This morning when Daddy went to feed him, he found that Smokey had passed away.
Tears filled my eyes tonight driving to my knitting group when Daddy told me on the phone. This beautifully marked cat who never was really family had still become part of our lives.
We'll miss you, Smokey Joe. I hope you find peace in kitty heaven that eluded you in your early life.
Daddy would feed Smokey and then tell him to "go home". I told him, "Daddy, I think he IS home." Smokey would come and go for a while. Over the last couple of years, though, Smokey pretty much stuck around.
Smokey had been around the block a time or two - nicked ears, scars on his neck - but like most cats Smokey appreciated a good head rub.
He was always at the carport door in the morning to greet Daddy and ask for breakfast.
This morning when Daddy went to feed him, he found that Smokey had passed away.
Tears filled my eyes tonight driving to my knitting group when Daddy told me on the phone. This beautifully marked cat who never was really family had still become part of our lives.
We'll miss you, Smokey Joe. I hope you find peace in kitty heaven that eluded you in your early life.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Seriously?
I haven't blogged since October? Really. Wow! Okay, I'm going to do better. I've had some time open up on my calendar, so that sounds like a good thing to do.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Boots gets a toy
Boots gets a toy
Originally uploaded by Holly S.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Stitches South 2010
Stitches South was this past week in Atlanta. On Saturday Lacey and I went up for The Market. Lacey drove.
You can't take pictures inside the market, so this is all you get:
Outside there was this big wall of yarn where you could get samples.
Here's mine:
Once we were inside the Market, we saw new Julie from our knitting group and met her friends from Pensacola who came up to go to Stitches with her. We found original Julie from our knitting group. She and Lacey had formulated some bulk purchase plan at one of the booths. I ran into Yvonne who used to come knit with us, but hasn't in a while. It was so good to see her. I also knit on "The World's Largest Sock". They're going for the Guiness Book of World Records.
At the Lion Brand Yarn booth inside the market, I met Zontee from the YarnCraft podcast. The cool thing was that when I said, "I'm Hotpink on ravelry," she recognized my name! I had to hug her. I'm southern, it's what we do. I met Jess and Casey
who founded ravlery. (I restrained myself and only shook their hands.) They are so awesome. I love ravelry. There was a lot of hero worship being bestowed on them by many, many conference attendees. I also met Mary Heather and Sarah who help them run ravelry.
I spoke to the famous Lily Chin, who was dressed in pink from her shoulders to her toes. I said, "I love your pink!" She smiled and thanked me. I saw Dianne who used to own a yarn store in Greer, South Carolina where I shopped on occasion with my friend Dawn. I also saw Margaret who used to own a yarn store in Anderson, South Carolina - my home town. She has a rabbit who stayed at the store with her. Daddy would play with the bunny while I yarn shopped. That bunny bought me a lot more browsing time. I took this photo of Lacey when we were leaving.
I should have snapped it a few minutes earlier when she had all her purchases spread out around her.
We left the convention center and drove down the street looking for something to eat. We saw this:
We kept driving, but ended up turning around, going back, and trying the "Crazy Chicken".
It was crazy good! This is what I had:
There's rice, beans, grilled chicken, lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, sour cream, pico de gallo, ranch dressing, and salsa in there. Man, it was so good! Lacey got quesadillas
in steak and chicken. She liked them a lot, too. It was a cool place with cool art.
Here are my take aways from the market:
Lacey and I really liked this pattern and had to buy it.
I love buttons and got these:
I bought this beautiful bamboo yarn:
Lacey and Julie were off buying some yarn and came back with this for me.
Wasn't that really sweet of them? I also got this.
Who knows what it is?
I had a great time. I was so worn out when I got home, I took a three hour nap. It was SO worth it. What a great day!
You can't take pictures inside the market, so this is all you get:
Outside there was this big wall of yarn where you could get samples.
Here's mine:
Once we were inside the Market, we saw new Julie from our knitting group and met her friends from Pensacola who came up to go to Stitches with her. We found original Julie from our knitting group. She and Lacey had formulated some bulk purchase plan at one of the booths. I ran into Yvonne who used to come knit with us, but hasn't in a while. It was so good to see her. I also knit on "The World's Largest Sock". They're going for the Guiness Book of World Records.
At the Lion Brand Yarn booth inside the market, I met Zontee from the YarnCraft podcast. The cool thing was that when I said, "I'm Hotpink on ravelry," she recognized my name! I had to hug her. I'm southern, it's what we do. I met Jess and Casey
who founded ravlery. (I restrained myself and only shook their hands.) They are so awesome. I love ravelry. There was a lot of hero worship being bestowed on them by many, many conference attendees. I also met Mary Heather and Sarah who help them run ravelry.
I spoke to the famous Lily Chin, who was dressed in pink from her shoulders to her toes. I said, "I love your pink!" She smiled and thanked me. I saw Dianne who used to own a yarn store in Greer, South Carolina where I shopped on occasion with my friend Dawn. I also saw Margaret who used to own a yarn store in Anderson, South Carolina - my home town. She has a rabbit who stayed at the store with her. Daddy would play with the bunny while I yarn shopped. That bunny bought me a lot more browsing time. I took this photo of Lacey when we were leaving.
I should have snapped it a few minutes earlier when she had all her purchases spread out around her.
We left the convention center and drove down the street looking for something to eat. We saw this:
We kept driving, but ended up turning around, going back, and trying the "Crazy Chicken".
It was crazy good! This is what I had:
There's rice, beans, grilled chicken, lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, sour cream, pico de gallo, ranch dressing, and salsa in there. Man, it was so good! Lacey got quesadillas
in steak and chicken. She liked them a lot, too. It was a cool place with cool art.
Here are my take aways from the market:
Lacey and I really liked this pattern and had to buy it.
I love buttons and got these:
I bought this beautiful bamboo yarn:
Lacey and Julie were off buying some yarn and came back with this for me.
Wasn't that really sweet of them? I also got this.
Who knows what it is?
I had a great time. I was so worn out when I got home, I took a three hour nap. It was SO worth it. What a great day!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Referrals
My knitting friend Katy has a new blog. You need to check it out if you want to know about some stuff going on in Columbus, music, scenic photos, etc. All delivered with humor and a gift for stringing words together in a very nice way. I like Katy and I like Katy's blog. If you don't know Katy, you can at least know Katy's blog. Check it out.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Catching Up
Here are some things you missed during my blogging break:
I made these cool wristers. I made these and two other pair that I gifted for Christmas without getting photos.
I made this coaster for my friend, Karen, for helping me out a lot while I was sick with pneumonia.
Boots came and took care of me while I was sick. One night Seth and I took him to Sonic.
This little girl took my car key. Really! Look in her right hand.
It snowed one day while I was at work.
Extreme Makeover Home Edition came to town. Here's the bus and the crowd.
I went to Atlanta.
We had the Egg Grab with all the kids from church the day before Easter.
I promise more updates to come.
I made these cool wristers. I made these and two other pair that I gifted for Christmas without getting photos.
I made this coaster for my friend, Karen, for helping me out a lot while I was sick with pneumonia.
Boots came and took care of me while I was sick. One night Seth and I took him to Sonic.
This little girl took my car key. Really! Look in her right hand.
It snowed one day while I was at work.
Extreme Makeover Home Edition came to town. Here's the bus and the crowd.
I went to Atlanta.
We had the Egg Grab with all the kids from church the day before Easter.
I promise more updates to come.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Beef Stew
Since you keep asking for a new post - Laurie, Kristine - I decided to share with you a recipe for Beef Stew I came up with a few weeks ago.
2 lbs. Beef for Stew
2 TBS. flour
1 TBS grill seasoning
1 large yellow onion
2 TBS Worcestershire Sauce
2 TBS red wine vinegar
2 medium zucchini
2 c. low sodium beef stock
2 c. low sodium V-8 juice
2 cloves minced garlic
1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 15 oz. can carrots, drained
1 15 oz. can diced potatoes, drained
1 15 oz. can green beans, drained
1 15 oz. can sweet peas, drained
1 15 oz. can corn drained
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Chop the onion into bite size pieces. Place the flour and grill seasoning into a 1 gallon zip top bag and add beef. Shake to coat. Place beef and flour mixture into a 13" by 9" baking dish. Top with diced onion and garlic. Drizzle with Worcestershire and red wine vinegar. Cover tightly with aluminum foil. Cook at 350 degrees 45 minutes to one hour until onions are transparent. Place the contents of the baking dish into cock pot. Add the beef stock and the V-9 juice, then the canned vegetables. Cut the zucchinis into half moon shapes and add to crock pot. Let stew cook overnight. Enjoy.
Really, I'm going to try to be a better blogger. I've joined a gym and that takes time. I'm loosing weight, though, and my blood pressure's down. Yay!
2 lbs. Beef for Stew
2 TBS. flour
1 TBS grill seasoning
1 large yellow onion
2 TBS Worcestershire Sauce
2 TBS red wine vinegar
2 medium zucchini
2 c. low sodium beef stock
2 c. low sodium V-8 juice
2 cloves minced garlic
1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 15 oz. can carrots, drained
1 15 oz. can diced potatoes, drained
1 15 oz. can green beans, drained
1 15 oz. can sweet peas, drained
1 15 oz. can corn drained
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Chop the onion into bite size pieces. Place the flour and grill seasoning into a 1 gallon zip top bag and add beef. Shake to coat. Place beef and flour mixture into a 13" by 9" baking dish. Top with diced onion and garlic. Drizzle with Worcestershire and red wine vinegar. Cover tightly with aluminum foil. Cook at 350 degrees 45 minutes to one hour until onions are transparent. Place the contents of the baking dish into cock pot. Add the beef stock and the V-9 juice, then the canned vegetables. Cut the zucchinis into half moon shapes and add to crock pot. Let stew cook overnight. Enjoy.
Really, I'm going to try to be a better blogger. I've joined a gym and that takes time. I'm loosing weight, though, and my blood pressure's down. Yay!
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