WOW!! It has been a while since I have posted. I have not forsaken my blog nor my craft. I am still knitting, only I don’t do it as often in the summertime.
It also will be a little harder this winter as I am taking a very intense college class and the elections are shifting into high gear. So not only will I be attending classes and volunteering at Democrat Headquarters.
Hugs!
Namaste!
Comments Off
comments
Have you been? Will you be? Are you just? I have been an empty nester since 2005 and again in 2012. I count the six months my oldest and his wife lived with us, because we had them in the house, living, breathing, moving people, other than my husband and myself.
It was strange to change my routine when they were here, and then to redo it all again when they left. I must admit when they were here we lived a more structured life. Breakfast, lunch, dinner all served and scheduled, but I believe it is something we must do in order to survive with a group in the home.
When it is just hubby and I we don’t have a set schedule. Sometimes he isn’t hungry when he gets home and other times he is starving. He calls me every day when he leaves work and this is how I gauge when we are going to eat. I don’t mind waiting for him to be hungry before we eat. There are also days we call growl and grab, when our stomachs get growly we grab something from the fridge and eat, not necessarily at the same time. However, one rule – we always sit together, even if one person isn’t eating.
One routine we had when the boys were little still remains today. Matter-of-fact my eldest (who lives in southern Ca., with his own little family) commented on it one day. He said it always stuck with him and now he tries it with Jill. Whenever we would get home, whether it would be me from school (I was a non-traditational college student) or work, no matter how busy we were between baseball games, or soccer, or whatever it was, we would always sit down with a cup of coffee and discuss our day. Husband and I, just the two of us, boys welcomed to join if they wanted to. However, saying that, the boys had their time at the dinner table also. We always sat together for meals.
Yes, we are a talking family, no matter what, we talk about things, talk it out, discuss. My oldest and I could sit together in the evening, usually his younger brother was in bed and hubby could be bowling or he did service calls in the evening, and older and I would talk forever. He had the gift of gab and we talked about everything, for hours at a time. I think this is the hardest part about being an empty-nester, there is no one around to talk to during the morning, the day, or the afternoon.
Now that I have come back to Jesus, I spend my day talking with him. I gather talking was important to Jesus because there are so many scriptures where He has healed mute people to be able to talk again. In Matthew alone there are these:
Matthew 9:32-33
Matthew 12:22
Matthew 15:31
Jesus heals a mute possessed man
Brooklyn Museum
James Tissout, French 1836-1902
Do you spend your day talking with Jesus? How important is this in your life?
Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!
P.S. If you are having trouble commenting by clicking the number here below (on the bottom right). Please let me know through the community link.
2
comments
Things like this video drive me crazy. Can you imagine what those children must absorb from those adults? For me, this is akin to teaching hatred.
Ain’t no homo going to make it to heaven.
I am not new to Christianity, if there is such a thing I have been a Christian geek all my life. At one point wanting to become a minister. That is a story for another time.
I backed away from my Christian roots many years ago, but recently have come back to them. One of the things I focused on while looking for a new church to call home, was if they accepted the LGBT community. In my eyes if a church accepts LGBT then they are truly a loving, caring church and that is one I wanted to belong to.
I am sick and tired of so called Christians judging one another, judging non-Christians, and just plain judging. It is not necessarily the whole church, or the whole denomination, it can be just one or two that ruin the whole bunch. You know, one bad apple and all that.
After the video they scroll the verse of 1 Corinthians 6:9 & 10, which mentions effeminate, and in some versions homosexual.
Well I decided to take a look at that verse. First I checked out the Luther Bible printed in German 1910, and found instead the word used means weakling in German. Another word used Knabenschänder means boy molester, not homosexual. So in Germany these verses have totally different meaning. In my NRSV it uses sodomites, which is a Greek word (arsenokoitai) that Paul may have coined and was used for the first time here, according to my Harper Collins Study Bible.
How do we really know what Paul meant exactly?
My KJ says effeminate, but does not mention homosexuals, on the other hand the Amplified, New American Standard, and the New International all use the word homosexual. The word homosexual was not in use until he late 19th century so how it can find its way into the Bible is beyond me.
Now I am by no means an etymologist nor am I a linguistic, but I love to see original words and what their context was to that time frame.
I know a few boys and men who are effeminate, but they are not homosexual, so are you going to tell me God is going to cast them out also? No, I don’t believe so. Is God really going to give up on weaklings, especially when he said the meek will inherit the earth? No, I don’t believe so. I believe my God is a just God, but also a loving God. One in which Jesus said two important commandants law and prophets hang on:
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:36-40
I believe words get mistranslated, or misquoted and the original word is much different then what is used in some translations.
I believe my God is a loving God!
Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!
Comments Off
comments
Did you ever have one of those weeks or even months in which you were bombarded with the same thing over and over again. Okay well maybe bombarded is to strong of a word, but it is constantly present. For example, I kept seeing posts about a book called 1,000 Gifts, I would see it in bookstores, and I would hear people talking about it. So I caved, I bought it.
I went to a website called Dayspring and got lost in all their cuteness. They had so many wonderful things I had a problem in deciding what not to buy.
Not only did I pick up the book 1,000 Gifts, I also picked up a little workbook on community, a t-shirt, and the cutest purse and make-up bag. This is not your ordinary make-up bag. It is larger than most.
Across the front pocket it says ‘truly beautiful’ Ecc. 3:11. I am using it to keep my pens, pencils and highlighters for when I read the Bible. The front pocket holds my daily devotional Forward Day by Day. Inside is a zippered compartment and two pockets. It has a ton of room in there.
The bag is big enough to hold my Bible, my journal, my devotional book, whatever book I am reading, the make-up bag, plus a lot more. On the front it says ‘found & treasured’ II Thessalonians 2:13. It also has a zippered compartment and a pocket inside.
The picture was taken in my dinette, which leads out to our big deck and faces the backyard. On my table are roses cut from the bushes we bought over the weekend. I love them! They are in one of my teapots, I thought they matched perfectly. The table is decorated with a handmade embroidered tablecloth my Mom made me for Christmas. I adore it! I love when I receive handmade items, I feel so honored that I am so thought of for someone to sit, for hours or days, and make something just for me.
Here is a close up of one of the flowers, there are four, one in each corner.
She also hand crocheted the edging of the tablecloth. Usually I keep it in my bedroom on a little table where I have a small sitting area. I keep my precious mementos on that table; an angel my g-aunt gave me, a handkerchief by Laura Ingalls Gunn’s (from Decor to Adore) that belonged to her grandmother. You can see a picture of it here, without the homemade tablecloth, a book Gift from the Sea by Ann Morrow Lindbergh.
Do you have a special area in your house? What do you use it for?
Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!
Comments Off
comments
Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with JOY. 2 Timothy 1
Sunday at church – Holy Comforter Episcopal Church – I felt so at home. Have you ever had that feeling, like you are home, you are meant to be there. That was what it was like on Sunday. I listened and made the choice to join this church. Yes, I am back listening to God and what he has to say to me.
I know, it has been a while, but something happened back in March that I just could not ignore. I will post more on this tomorrow.
I have always known that the Christian/religious community I would find, would feel right inside. The people would be genuinely friendly, non-judgmental (well as much as we as humans can be), it would be active – meaning having different types of classes including Bible study, with a caring pastor.
From the first time I posted on HC’s Facebook page, everyone was extremely helpful and friendly. I went to a Bible study and same thing, friendly people, the same at church, again the next Sunday, friendly people. But, most of all, that feeling, deep inside; warm, fuzzy and knowing, knowing that you belong. It is a wonderful feeling of community and being welcomed.
Today, my back still aching, I received a call from a number I did not know. Normally I wouldn’t answer, but I did. When your back hurts you really don’t want to talk to a telemarketer. It wasn’t! It was a woman who introduced herself to my husband and me on Sunday as we were leaving the church. She had seen I was on the church’s prayer list and heard I was having back problems. Could she stop by and drop off a prayer shawl today. Of course! being a knitter and also someone who has knitted prayer shawls, I was so happy for the offer. I asked if she could stay for a bit of tea and she agreed.
Excuse the dirty dishes but I had to take a picture right away. The little square shows a cross but I’ll post a close-up. It was so hot, I served iced tea instead of hot, along with some date and walnut bread with cream cheese. Mmm, it was delicious, I didn’t make it, baking has been out since the back, we bought it at Mimi’s Cafe.
It is from the St. Martha Guild group. Adam Shoemaker, the reverend prayed over it, as did the knitter. There is a little silver cross attached along with a prayer card. I had the opportunity to wear it late this afternoon, I was reading Ephesians and it got so cold in the house. Rain was moving in and I think that had something to do with it. It was nice to snuggle down in.
Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!
Comments Off
comments
Journaling…
it seems to be on the mind of many bloggers lately. How about you? Do you journal? I do, though I have a problem. Hi my name is Cat, I am a journaller, but in different notebooks. I know, I hang my head in shame. I never stay with one book, my legacy to whomever finds my journals and wishes to read them, many years from now, will have to go through many books to get a yearly view of my writing.
However, having said that, I have committed myself to journalling in one book this year. So far it is going great and I have not strayed. I am even managing to continue on with Count 1000 Gifts for the month of May, created by Ann Voskamp.
A little about my table, the yellow placemats and napkins are from Bed, Bath & Beyond; Gardenias in a bowl (blogged about here) from my garden; get well card from Ann, a wonderful friend; teapot cozy by the talented Deb from Homespun Living’s store; bookmarks are made by me, printed from Ann Voskamp’s site. Lemonade, my go to drink this summer. I keep a bowl of lemons and limes in the kitchen, I just make some seltzer water, juice 1/2 lemon or lime, add some stevia and ice, YUMMO!!!!
I think you can see the bookmarks in this one. I printed out the different graphics on card stock and also some homemade paper with flower petals, I love this paper and only use it for very special occasions. I then laminated the sheets with my Krylon, cut out some holes (the one on the bottom was cut out with a shell punch), and tied on ribbons. Quick and easy.
I am a penaholic, oh yes I am. I get that from my Dad, including my love of gadgets. Shari over at Faith Filled Food for Moms and one of the bloggers who wrote a post about journaling, showed off these pens. So being the penaholic that I am, I rushed, literally, to Staples and picked up the Papermate RT500 Inkjoy assorted colors, RT700 in Black, and the Papermate Precision pencil. The only problem is that some of the ink in the assorted colors blob or glob. Which really bugs me. I prefer fine tip just for this reason, very few fine tip pens cause the ink to blob on the page. Unfortunately, the assorted colors do not come in fine tip. Black, red, and blue can only be found in in the RT700 in fine. I might give them a try if I can find them, they were not at my Staples. One thing which is really important, the ink did not smear. I am a lefty and this is one major pet peeve, smearing ink.
Blogs in which there are journaling posts. I keep wanting to write journaling with two l’s.
Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!
Comments Off
comments
Sharing some crocheting I did before my back went out. Pictures before blocking. Sorry can’t block them just yet.
Inspired by Homespun Living
Crocheted Dishcloch
This was inspired by Homespun Living. I used size 3 Lydia crochet thread and a 3.0 crochet hook. I started with a chain of 40 stitches, then double crocheted in both loops until I got the desired length. I did a different edging which escapes me right now. Soon I am heading to the chiropractor so can’t get the directions, but will when I get back and update.
This is a coaster I made and I actually messed up the directions. Again I have to find it for you and I’ll update later. For a mess up it didn’t come out to bad. Oh yeah, that’s right it isn’t a mistake, I meant to do it, yeah that’s it.
Hugs!!!!
Namaste!!!
Comments Off
comments
Copyright 2011
I am still not up and about with my back. So today I am giving everyone food for thought.
Luke 6:32-38
Write your thoughts down in the comments. I would be interested to hear them.
Hugs!!!
Namaste!!!
Comments Off
comments
Sciatica-public domain photo
The region just above the buttocks is my pain spot. I am still flat on my back. Good thing though, not all day. I get to walk around the house every hour. The pain is lessening.
If it wasn’t for my wonderful chiropractor I think I would still be in some intense pain. The hospital sent me home with an instruction sheet which really made me mad. It said bed rest for the next 2-4 weeks. WHAT!!! who in the world could afford that. Not only that, but the only thing they wanted me to do was take muscle relaxants. I am one who tries to take a minimalist approach to medicine, and since I already take a lot (in my mind) due to the fibromyalgia and Meniere’s, I don’t want to overload my body with more. The first and second day when the pain was so unbearable I did take the relaxants and I have been weaning myself off the Naproxyn.
Another thing, the sheet said not to have your back adjusted because it could make the disc bulge even more. Yet when I asked what showed on my x-rays they said nothing, my back looked perfect, no bulging disc, nothing out of place, it looks good.
So if I don’t have a disc that is bulging then why can’t I be get my back adjusted? I did anyway. I relied heavily on my Mom who has Sciatica problems and for many years. She said the best thing is the chiropractor, if you take the advice of the hospital you will be in bed for 4 weeks if not more, due to the pain. With the chiropractor you should be good after 1 week possibly 2. I listened to the woman who raised me and who I think knows a lot. She isn’t a doctor but she does work in a hospital and she is an EMT.
Another angel is my neighbor M, who works at the chiropractor’s office and is the one who recommended him when I had fallen back in February. Another neighbor had heard the 911 call come across her scanner and she called my neighbor M. M checked in with me that night to make sure things were going good. She also brought some gold in a bottle, LOL, I mean Biofreeze. That stuff works wonders. It is so funny, M has never had to use it (thank God) but she has sold a ton of it. Now I know why her four boys all of wonderful hearts of gold, they get from their parents.
I went to the chiropractor and after the first visit, I was still in a lot of pain, but down from a 10+ to about an 8. He left me on the TENS machine for about 20 minutes before he adjusted me. That machine definitely helped to relax the muscle. I had a follow-up the next day, with more time on the TENS and another adjustment, and my pain went down to about a 6. He also gave me his cell phone number so if something happened over the weekend I could get in touch with him. Now that is a caring doctor if you ask me. Today I am about a 4, and looking forward to being a 2 to 0.
WARNING!!! I am not a doctor and I did what I felt was best for me and my situation. Please listen to your own doctor, do not take my advice.
Hugs!
Namaste!
Comments Off
comments
