Harvest Lane Cottage

"Dear Family and Friends of Joplin- We are yet Praising God for the great out pouring of love from accross this nation in response to our moment of great need. 55+ thousand meals fed to survivors and volunteers, over 8 thousand families served with assistance, 650+ homes repaired or restored. 13 thousand+ volunteers have accomplished relief work through JFWC alone. Its staggering! When the LORD said to us to "just say yes to the bless", we never would have imagined what that might look like. This summer alone will have over 4000 people eating meals here at JFWC...housing many of them and providing case management for the families being served. I have prayed about this post for several weeks. Now is the time...I am asking that you would consider a Round Two. Another wave of "Show the Love of God". A financial gift keeps the relief work in full force. As you can imagine the overhead is large, our God is larger, His people blessed to be a blessing. Food...

This amazing video was made by Hayden Murphy, a member of our church and a student at Joplin High School. Your prayers and support continue to make a terrific impact in Joplin, Missouri. Thank you, Laura Want to help? Shared with: Blissful and Domestic

A friend of ours tells of walking miles to this little spring as a child to get water for his family.  I look at it and cannot imagine.  Yet, compared to many places in the world, this is indeed clean and fresh water.  Something as simple as water, taken for granted here in America, is so precious. Thank God for clean fresh water to drink and the Living Water that quenches our thirst both now and for eternity.  If you've not met the Living Water yet, his name is Jesus.  He is the son of the Creator, the Living God.  The Bible reads: Romans 3:23 says,  "All have sinned." Romans 6:23 says, "The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life." Romans 10:13 says, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." I invite you to pray this prayer: "Heavenly Father, I believe that Jesus died on the cross for me and rose again.  I give You my life.  I want Jesus Christ to come into my life and into my heart....

1 Corinthians 15:57 "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Thank you Lord for air conditioning! Thank you Lord for my long term life term marriage to my high school sweetheart. Thank you Lord for loving me even when I'm whining to you. Thank you Lord for loving me even when I'm complaining to you. Thank you Lord for forgiving me when I ask your forgiveness. I'm asking now for the above two! Thank you Lord for food in my freezer, my fridge, and my cabinets. Thank you Lord that I know how to cook a lot of things from scratch. Thank you Lord for giving me friends that truly care for me. Thank you Lord that you are my hope when all is hopeless. Thank you Lord that Lowell is always there for me, even when he's busy. Thank you Lord that Lowell is always calling me to look at something, to ask me something, to proof something, to share his ideas with me. Thank you Lord for our Friday nigh...

Here's what I've been up to: toe up two at a time socks. I've just cast on in a lovely burgundy and white self-patterning yarn. I used this video from youtube: Now I'm doing increases as demonstrated on this video from youtube: I'll be doing this for awhile.  When I get to 20 stitches on each sock (front side), I'll begin alternating with a knit row in between increase rows so that the toes will not look funny when they're done. I'm reading: It's full of meat and potatoes; so, it may take me awhile to finish it! ~smile~ ~~~~~ May I suggest? Yarn Along... Socks ~~~~~

I grew up with I Love Lucy reruns.  I really enjoyed them; Lucy's quirky humor was much like my mom's.  Tonight we watched the episode where Lucy is trying to tell Ricky that they're going to have a baby.  She tries and tries to tell him in the romantic way she'd always dreamed of telling him.  She's interrupted over and over.  She finally tells him at the club.  Here's his reaction: I always told my husband that he'd know I was pregnant when he came home and found me knitting baby booties.  Well, I found out about 5:00 at the doctor's office that I was expecting.  I had to run to the store for yarn and needles.  I rushed home; and, he found me knitting booties.  Only, he didn't know what I was doing.  I'd bought a giant pink baby bottle bank.  I wrote on the hang tag, "We're expecting."  I showed him the tag.  He responded with shock.  It's a happy 22 year old memory. Blessings to you from Harvest L...

In my life this week… Our family cooked and fed tornado volunteers at JFWC . In our homeschool this week… We've taken the week off school and just read, relaxed, and worked around the house. Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share... Volunteering and real life experience do wonders for maturing children and teens. My favorite thing this week was… Walking away from a yard sale with my 14 year old daughter with our arms around each other.  A lady saw us and commented, "I love to see things like that."  I'm a blessed momma. What’s working for us… Set times for reading/rest time and for creative time. Things I’m working on… Making a loose schedule for the summer. Researching high school options for Emily. Catching up on laundry. I’m reading… Read my review.   I’m grateful for… Low prices at rummage sales. Amy bought 4 pairs of jeans for fifty cents each. Three fit!  Yay! I’m praying for… REVIVAL I...

I've been absent from the Yarn Along for months.  My camera's been acting up; and, truthfully, I've just been making dishcloth after dishcloth.    Plain old knit stitch dishcloths. Someone gave me several skeins of cotton yarn. So, I'm knitting cloth after cloth with it. I'm investigating patterns for simple plain vanilla toe up socks on circular needles using magic loop. If you've got any ideas, please let me know! This week I'm reading The Girl's Still Got It, by Liz Curtis Higgs, in preparation for an early bird review.  It's going to be a good one, girls.  I'll be posting a review when I'm finished.  Hopefully, I can convince my husband to help me with the camera.  If so, I'll have photos of those plain old knit dishcloths for you! Happy creating! Laura Lane

Hoping to spend some time here later this week.

Missing our kittens. They've all got new homes and hopefully they're very happy. Missing our dog, Josh. He disappeared Memorial Day. I found him that evening. 15 years. The end of an era.

In my life this week…      Remembering the anniversary of the May 22, 2011 tornado that changed everything for Joplin and the surrounding area. In our homeschool this week…      Just finishing up required hours.  From here through at least the end of June, only Bible and an hour of silent reading will be required of all three of my students. Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…      Read to your children every day. I am inspired by      People who keep going even when it's hard. My favorite thing this week was…     Listening to my daugher, Emily, share Jesus with her uncle. What’s working/not working for us…      A set time for work, reading, and creativity each day. Things I’m working on…      Finishing a dress I started for Easter! I’m reading…      A Perfect Square by Vanetta Chapman ...