Seven Minutes #10

Seven minutes of writing stream of conciousness begins now!

Thoughtless. Well. Blank. Well. I cannot think of a thing to write. Is this writer's block? Well, not exactly. I just have a headache, and can't think what to write. So, I'm typing along, wasting your time, ~wink~, and hoping that I think of something interesting. 

The truth is, I think I'd rather be knitting right now. I'm making a Reading Shawl. I've been knitting it since June. I saw the idea on Crazy Sock Lady's YouTube channel, and I decided to buy the pattern but make it my own. 

I wanted to use up the little balls of yarn that I bought last year from an etsy seller. I'll put the links to all of this below after the 7 minutes. I've actually made a lot of progress on this shawl this summer. I've had to learn how to make a good magic knot that won't pull apart. It was the best way I could think to avoid weaving in 10,000 ends when I was done. 

This project works great for my distracted personality. I love getting to change colors after every little ball. They range from 5 to 10 grams each. I'm also using my own leftovers. It's all sock yarn. The oatmeal color is carried throughout. I'll link to that after the 7 minutes, too. I cannot think of the names this quickly. ~smile~

I think I'm a patchwork, crazy quilt, use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without kind of girl. I've always liked making something out of "nothing" and finding ways to use what I have on hand. I've bought four skeins of yarn at $11 for this project so far. That's a lot of money for me to spend on one project, but this is going to be big enough to wrap up in and really be warm this fall and winter. Think ultimate cozy!

Well, time's up, but I'm going to go back now and link some things for you.

I hope I didn't bore you too much this week. ~smile~ We all have our days. When I finish linking, I think I'll eat a tuna sandwich and then go knit a couple of rows. 

Stay cool!

Blessings,

Laura

I've been very happy with my purchases from Wool & Co. They offer free shipping without a minimum purchase, too. Win win!

Seven Minutes #9

 Do Unto Others

Matthew 7:12

Seven minutes of stream of conciousness starts now!

    I'm home alone this afternoon. I've been catching up on laundry all day including blankets and throws for the furniture. What does this have to do with doing unto others? Well, I'm home alone, because my husband is doing unto others as I write. 

    We moved to Carthage in 1993. Every year, there is a huge, massive, unbelievably large gathering of Vietnamese Catholics from all across the country and around the world that comes to Carthage on what I would imagine might be called a pilgramage. The gathering is held at the Vietnamese monastery in town. Many thousands of people come each year to worship together. Most camp on the grounds or in nearby yards (with permission, of course). The locals love to go and sample all of the delicious foods. I've been a few times, but the heat really bothers me. It's 98 today. Too hot for this old gal. 

    My husband is doing unto others by giving free rides to people who are going back and forth to Walmart a few miles away. We've done it for many years. It is a blessing to the riders to get out of the heat for a bit. It's a blessing to us to serve and care for others with what the LORD has provided. 

    This year, our car is a small suv. So, unlike years past, when we had a van, I stay home to allow an extra rider. It's ok. I like knowing that the other half of my ONE, is blessing others while I bless him with clean laundry. ~smile~

    That's my seven minutes. What's a way that you're doing unto others as you'd want them to do unto you lately?

    So, many of you have been around a long time. What are your thoughts on this format for the time being? 

Blessings!

Laura

Seven Minutes #8

 Little Joys

Seven minutes of writing stream of conciousness begins now!

What are your little joys? If you think a bit about it. I'm sure there are many. Here are some of mine:

• Little Paco, my grand puppy. I call him a puppy even though he is full grown at four pounds. He was a rescue from a very bad situation. My son, the policeman, and a colleague each took one of two little dogs that had been treated badly. Paco takes a long time to warm up to one. He shakes badly when he meets someone new; but, once he relaxes, you know you've made a friend. He loves to come visit grammy. Sometimes, he comes and stays for a few days while my son is working or out of town. He's very attached to me. He's definitely a velcro dog—at least to me. How dare I close the bathroom door? Sleep without him, that's grounds for crying. It's such a pitiful cry, too. Paco is one of my little joys. 

• The ice and cold water machine at work. It makes that little pellet ice. Oh, I love having as much ice water as I desire available all the time. It's truly a luxury and a blessing.

• Fresh tomatoes are finally coming from our garden. It's been the best year for tomatoes and flowers that we've had in a long time. 

• Friends that I can call or text just because.

• Dove chocolates are rich and creamy.

• Listening to birds sing

• Cool breezes 

Time's up!

What are some of your little joys?

Enjoy your weekend!

Laura

Seven Minutes #7

 Trust

Seven minutes of writing stream of conciousness begins now!

    

    Trust. "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is in the LORD." Jeremiah 17:7  I think, if I were to look up the Hebrew, that there might be a bit of a difference in those two parts of the sentence. But what matters to me is... 

Do I truly trust the Lord?

I mean really, do I?

If I truly trust the Lord, would I worry about so many things?

I've made great progress in this over the last few years. I've come to realize, through years of living with a faithful LORD and Savior, that He always takes care of me. Always. I don't really worry for me. Though retirement does seem a bit scary when faced without savings. But God. 

He took care of us through all of these years with low, slow, or no income. How can I think that he will not continue to care for me and for my husband? That's not even fair to Him. He has shown himself faithful to all generations, and He has shown himself faithful to care for my every need. 

When I am afraid, I will trust in Him.

He is worthy of praise, trust, hope, and calm faith.

Time's up!

I will trust in the Lord at all times.

Laura

Happy Birthday Mother in Heaven

Mother Judy
1940 - 2013

  I am going to be a great mother-in-law. How do I know? I learned from my own mother-in-love. She was always encouraging and never interfered. She asked me to call her mother years before her son proposed to me! She just loved and spoke me right into the family! I love her, and I miss her.

Judith Ann Benson Lane,
may her name be blessed forever!

Simple little reminders of Mother...
~ Sonic's Happy Hour diet cherry limeade
~ Poinsettias
~ Geraniums
~ Homemade potato salad
~ drawing kittens
~ coloring books and crayons
~ cats and kittens
~ cards and letters
~ McDonald's chicken nuggets
~ introducing her family to everyone
~ pewter cat statues
~ dangle earrings
~ venison
~ talking to strangers
~ praying for everyone
~ "Calm it, Lowell!"
~ "Well..." Long and drawn out
~ Christmas time
~ journaling
~ Beautiful Christian young lady
~ Special Christian young man
~ chili
~ chicken and dumplings
~ "I almost had a conniption!"
~ Baby's Boogie Box Band (Listen on Spotify!)
~ "super deluxe"
~ "diabetic snack"
~ "Lowell! Take a chill pill!"
~ "Oh yeah!"
~ the phone ringing during Michael's math lesson

Her last words to me...

"Laura Diane Lane, you will always and forever be my daughter-in-love." .

Seven Minutes #6

Evenings 

Seven minutes of writing stream of conciousness begins now!

 

   Evenings. When did they get so busy? When did they stop being a time to relax at the end of the day? Hmmm.... When did they? For me?

    I think it was probably high school. It began with my desire to go to college. I took classes that were hard for me to make my transcript look better. That was back when applying to college didn't mean you'd get in. My evenings were filled with homework. I distinctly remember one evening, standing out in the driveway, not doing my homework, and feeling guilty. I was just enjoying the a moment of rest, of peace. Hmmm... It wasn't always that way.

    When I was a kid, evenings meant playing outside until called for supper. After supper, I was back outside playing with the neighborhood kids until our moms called us in. Sometimes, we got to stay out after dark. Of course, we had to stay closer to home then. We'd play tag or hide and seek. 

    I remember watching the sun go down for the first time. I was at the end of the block looking over a huge field of sunflowers. (I was in Kansas, the sunflower state.) I was amazed at just how quickly the sun set in just minutes. I'd never seen the sun move before. Oh, yes, then there was the effort that we spent to see the first star. Star light star bright, first star I see tonight. I wish I may I wish I might have the wish I wish tonight. Then the fireflies! Can't forget those. 

Stop!

Okay, I'm going to break my rule now. I took the photo above this past Friday evening. We stayed at a farm in Kansas. We went away from the hustle and bustle and hid ourselves away to rest, spend time together and seek God. We stayed outside until the sun set and beyond. We did so the following evening. It was so peaceful. The evenings lasted so long. Why? Because we were present. We were paying attention to everything around us. We were still. 

    

    Well, that's enough rule breaking! I think I'll write about the weekend again later. 

Have a present, focused, week,

Laura

Seven Minutes #5

CHRISTMAS CLUB

 

Seven minute of writing stream of conciousness begins now!

For all of my adult life, I have lived on a small budget—sometimes really small. During the early years, my husband and I made the mistake of using credit cards to our own detriment. We learned the very hard way about that. During and after the years of digging ourselves out of that pit, we paid cash for Christmas and other things as well.

When you live on a short shoestring budget like we have, you cannot wait until December to begin Christmas preparations. 

Gift making and collecting has started early for me for years. Sometimes even in January, I'll find something to add to my gift box. I thrift for gifts and for supplies to make gifts. Fortunately, my children have always been thankful for whatever gifts I could make or source for them. I always saved for at least one gift that I knew that they'd been wanting. Oh, I miss the days of little ones!

All this to say, it is immensely important for those with a slim budget to begin making, creating, planning, collecting, and saving early.

A couple of years ago, I began a Christmas club with a few friends. Once a month, they come to my house for an evening, and we each work on something that will bring us closer to our Christmas goals. Since I began working full-time in February, I've had to give that up. I've been exhausted when I get home. But. I am going to invite them to begin getting toether again this month for Christmas in July. They'll be getting a text from me soon!

And that's my seven minutes. Maybe you'd like to invite a few friends to join you in your making and prepping. I have 3 friends in my group with me. We've become even closer over the last couple of years. 

Be blessed ladies!

Laura