"Wow"-ed

First: Friday our son said grace. This is not unusual. Either he says grace, his sister does or both of them do. He will be 5 in December. His grace was longer than normal and very thoughtful. When we said amen, I was smiling. So was his father. He stunned us. Both his father and I told him how nice his blessing was. He gave thanks for our food, and asked for another good day. He prayed for his daycare provider and her family. Then he prayed that his friends would be safe, have fun at home and that all the students at his elementary school would be good members of their caring community! Wow!

Second: While in mass on Sunday, our daughter said she felt like crying because she was so happy about God. I told her that was okay. That she was feeling his presence and I often felt like crying also. Knowing our Lord is there with us, brings an unspeakable joy to ones’ being.

So I don’t question myself about their faith. We are leading them in the right direction. Our daughter loves to read her Bible. She has become a little evangelist. She educates her best friend and shares stories from her Bible. She peppers us with questions. She loves our at-home religious education studies. She enjoys letting her brother sit in and listen. We now read from his Bible once we finish our lesson. We want him to learn with us. We are all learning as there is so much to learn.

This journey we are on together only gets sweeter as we travel. It is a blessing knowing that we are all traveling together toward our Lord!

Crafting

I like to craft. I learned to crochet when I was 7 or 8 years old. My mother’s beauty salon was at our house and two ladies helped me learn that skill. I never made much but I enjoyed crocheting scarves and other little things. Before that, I used to draw. I drew maps and made my own world. I wish I kept those maps. I remember the “countries” had very strange, long names. Back to crocheting. I have made numerous afghans for family and friends. All different and all very much appreciated. I still cuddle with my afghan that my gramma made me. She made each of her grandchildren one. It is perfect! I remember she would sit down in her chair after the kitchen was cleaned and crochet. You did not bother her. I still cannot make shell afghans like she did. That is one goal I am striving to accomplsih - to crochet a shell afghan like my gramma.

When my sister announced she was pregnant, I decided to try my hand at cross-stitching. I completed my first sampler and mailed it to her. I have since cross-stitched many more projects. It would be interesting to be able to examine that first project, as I know my stitches did not all cross the same way. With every project, you learn another technique that enhances your skill.

Twelve years ago when I moved back to my childhood home, I started working with a group of talented ladies. Realizing we were crafty in one way or another, we starting working on our crafts. We held craft nights. We’d stay after work and devoted an hour or two to working on our project of choice. We also learned more about each other. We started teaching and sharing crafts. We learned to scrapbook and make cards together. We still have card parties. Our next card party is Monday, November 17th and we'll be making Christmas cards! We have a demonstrator lead our card parties. We make wonderful cards, learn new techniques and order products.

Within the last 6 years, I took a “learn how to knit” course. I learned the basics –casting on, knit and pearl stitches and casting off. I was told that was all I’d need to know. Not exactly true. However, one of my best friends, helped teach me more about knitting. She helped me knit my first hat for our daughter (way too big) and she has assisted me on other projects since then. She is developing that confidence I need to be a secure knitter.

Then there is scrapbooking. I need to work on more pages as the photos are filling more and more boxes. My goal is to complete a 2-page spread every week!

Not sure when I plan to start but maybe it’ll be this weekend.

Slowing Down

We are easing in to autumn. Life is slowing down and I am excited, at least for this weekend. I have nothing that I have to do. Don’t get me wrong, my to-do list is long and I add to it before I cross things off it. However, swim lessons are over for this season. We don’t have to spend hours at the pool on Saturdays any more. The big man has fenced in trees to protect them from foraging deer. He has also arranged the storage sheds and prepared for winter, as it will soon arrive. Winter clothing and accessories have been hauled out of storage and have been placed in dresser drawers and hung in our closets. Kids have new winter boots, hats and mittens. I bought some chunky yarn and when time permits, I sit to knit myself a scarf. Our little man has declared he wants a scarf so when we are out, we’ll stop and he can chose what color(s) he wants his scarf to be and I will crochet him one (crocheting will ensure I finish it quickly).

I have been spending time pouring over my magazines and noting recipes I want to try. I add the needed ingredients to my shopping list and add the recipe to my 2-week menu. Slowly I am making changes to our diet. Slowly, I sneak in the healthier foods and new recipes. Gradual - that is how these changes occur. My attempts to avoid any kitchen riots. It is working! Both of the children seem to be moving out of their “I am not eating that” food stage and have been willing to at least let the new recipe sit on their plates and touch their lips. Inside I jump for joy! They are tasting it, picking through it and eating some of the ingredients. Eventually, I know they will eat what I put before them. In the meantime, I let them separate their food and eat what they will.