Hearts in Service

Remember this afghan? This is the pattern in the book. Yes, I've been working on it since February! (Hanging my head in shame) I changed the colors and I'm doing it in lavendar and cream. Unfortunately, I hardly touched it all summer. I am feeling hopeful though because in the last week I finished 1 1/2 panels. So my plan is to have it totally finished by the end of November. Here is what I have done so far. I still have 4 1/2 of the skinny lavendar panels to go as well as 2-3 other panels. Then I have to put the whole thing together. However, I think it's doable. We'll see!

I have so many craft supplies that I've accumulated over the past 20 years. I was perusing through my craft drawers today. I have a drawer full of patterns. All kinds of embroidery thread. Paints, stencils and things like that. Two drawers of odds and ends. So many supplies and so few ideas. I seem to be in a slump lately. I'm going to have to get my creative juices flowing soon because Christmas is right around the corner.

Hmmmmm, what could be in this bowl? Why am I keeping my flour container on top? Well, that's mostly because the saran wrap doesn't fit tightly on the bowl and I'm trying to keep it airtight. Saturday night is our monthly ethnic dinner with my friend Stephanie. It's my turn to cook and this month we are eating foods from Korea. So, back to the orginal question - what's in the bowl? It's Kimchi! Kimchi is pickled cabbage that is very hot! In Korea, it's stored in ceramic jars in the ground but I had to do with a ceramic bowl on my countertop. It has a combination of red pepper flakes, salt, garlic, and onions and is so good! Of course, make sure you have tons of water next to you when you eat it. The longer it sets the hotter it gets. Of course, mine will not be that spicy because it's only had a few days to marinate instead of months.

"There's one sad truth in life I've found, While journeying east and west The only folks we really wound, Are those we love the best. We flatter those we scarcely know, We please the fleeting guest, And deal full many a thoughtless blow, To those who love us best." ~ Ella Wilcox I found this poem this morning and it struck me at how true it can be at times. Why is it that we put on our best faces and manners to those outside our immediate family? We are so patient, kind, loving, and self-controlled around others, yet we don't extend the same grace to our spouses and children. My goal is to act the same inside my home as I do outside my home. Perhaps some of it comes from the realization that Christ is with us where ever we are. He is with us at the dinner table. He is with us as we teach our children and as we interact with our families. Maybe the question to ask ourselves is would we say and do the things we do in our home if we could physically see Jesus?

Despite my sometimes lack of patience, Emily is learning to do different handwork projects. She has learned to crochet, using both single crochet and double crochet. She is also in the process of working on a latchhook rug. She is so proud of her efforts and she has picked up these different techniques fairly easily. Now she wants me to teach her how to sew on a sewing machine. Pray for me!!! LOL!

I find it so amazing and frustrating that my children suffer from so many different allergens. Other than penicillin (Dan), Dan & I do not have any allergies. Yet, my children are allergic to everything! Nathan had an appointment with the ear, nose, and throat specialist about a month ago. He has not been able to breathe out of his nose for years. She put the scope up his nose to check out his adenoids and it was so swollen that she couldn't even get to them. She put him on an antibiotic and nose spray and we went back this past week. He was still swollen up. However, she was able to find a small passageway. It turns out his adenoids were not that enlarged so she feels it's all related to allergies. He is allergic to dust mites, cats and dogs. Since we don't have a cat or dog, I'm assuming this is due to the dust mites. He has to go for a cat scan and she suggested pursuing allergy shots but she did say it takes a long time to build up an immunity and the

Brrrr!!!! It's been down in the 30s the past few nights and it's supposed to be in the 20s tonight. I've been trying to hold off on turning on the heat but the past few mornings I did put it on for about 30 minutes just to get the chill out of the air. I think we are in for a cold winter this year!

I saw my first gaggle of geese flying south yesterday. Winter is on it's way!

Thirteen girls showed up tonight for 3D Girls and we had a good time together for our first night. We have a much smaller space so that was an adjustment but I think that it will get easier as the weeks go on. The girls smiles seem to say it all! Our theme this month is Kid's on a Mission and we are learning about missionaries and what they do. We will be having a missionary from Venezuela speaking to the group the first Thursday in November. The girls did a craft, made pretzels, worked on a new song and a skit. Overall, it was a very good night!

The room is painted and clean. The curtains are hung and the chairs are set up. The crafts are put away. The welcome sign is out. Now all we need is the girls! Tonight is our first night of 3D Girls and I have 15 girls, ages 6-12 coming. I love Thursdays!

The lovely things that I have watched unthinking, Unknowing, day by day, That their soft dyes have steeped my soul in colour That will not pass away - Great saffron sunset clouds, and larkspur mountains, And fenceless miles of plain, And hillsides golden-green in that unearthly Clear shining after rain; And nights of blue and pearl, and long smooth beaches, Yellow as sunburnt wheat, Edged with a line of foam that creams and hisses, Enticing weary feet. And emeralds, and sunset-hearted opals, And Asian marble, veined With scarlet flame, and cool green jade, and moonstones Misty and azure-stained; And almond trees in bloom, and oleanders, Or a wide purple sea, Of plain-land gorgeous with a lovely poison, The evil Darling pea. If I am tired I call on these to help me To dream -and dawn-lit skies, Lemon and pink, or faintest, coolest lilac, Float on my soothed eyes. There is no night so black but you shine through it, There is no morn so drear, O Colour of the World, but I can find you, Mo

Today was a beautiful, though cloudy, fall day. We had decided a few weeks ago that if the weather was nice we would go hiking along the Appalachian Trail. We haven't gone all summer because of the move so decided to make it a family day. Starting out on the trail. Emily and Stephen brought their Peterson Field Guides to check things out. The trees were gorgeous. We stopped along the Housatonic River for lunch. Emily brought her journal along. Stephen did math!!!!! Nathan sat in deep reflection. LOL! Horsing around with Daddy. Being out in the woods is one of our favorite ways to spend the day.