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 #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 #4

 

Knitting

Seven minutes starts now!

Knitting. Hmmm... I first picked up needles, as I remember, in high school home ec. I knitted a little pair of baby booties by knitting rectangles and sewing up the toes. I didn't knit again until something very important happened. 

Fast forward to 24 years old. I had always told my husband that he would know I was pregnant when he found me knitting baby booties. I had fertility issues. It took a few years for baby booty time to come. When I finally found out I was expecting, I had to rush to Woolworths, buy yarn and needles, and rush home. Sure enough, I was knitting baby booties, with that old pattern when he came home. He didn't get it. I had to tell him. Wink.

I didn't knit much for years.

Fast forward several years to age 51. I sat in a chemo chair knitting hats for other patients. I had to go in for treatments every three weeks. Knitting helped me pass the time during and between treatments. They were brutal. Knitting hats gave me purpose. I tried to have at least one hat to donate each time I went for treatments. A nurse noticed and began talking to me about it. She later invited me to her knitting group. 

That group of ladies accepted me for me not for a chemo patient. They helped to rebuild community when most of my local friends had pulled back. People don't know how to talk to you when you have cancer. 

Knitting bridged the gap. Knitting for others gave me purpose. 

Jesus gave me hope and healing. 

Thank you God that I was knit together in my mother's womb!

Seven Minutes #3

 Forty years 

Our fortieth anniversary

Seven minutes starts now!

Forty years. Together forever no matter what. We've had a lot of no matter what since we married in 1986. A lot of no matter what! We've had financial difficulties since day one. We've dealt with a lot of baggage that we both came into the marriage with resulting from less than ideal childhoods. We were relatively new Christians. We were selfish. We had different ideas on a lot of things. We still do. The fights aren't so do or die now. We don't really fight anymore. It's more likely to be a piddle fight here or there. Those are the little tiffs one has about insignificant things... and of course, tone of voice. ~wink~

Why are we still together? Quite simply, we made a vow to each other and to God. We also agreed, during a terrible time during the beginning of our marriage that we would never say the "d" word. If you never use the word, you don't irreparably damage trust and the relationship. We've known that it was the two of us together no matter what. We've known that separation would just make things harder. We've learned to love each other for who we are and not who we want the other to be or even thought the other was when we married. I've learned that to be married to a dreamer i.e. entrepreneur means that I'm here to hold on for the ride. I've learned to trust in God when I didn't trust the plans my husband made. I'm sure he's done the same with me. 

I've learned that in the hardest, most vulnerable times of my life, both God and Lowell are here for me. Pneumonia, childlessness, four c-sections, many hospitalizations, near death pancreatitis, and cancer among other things brought out the protector and provider in my husband. He always rises to the call. May I do so for him if ever he needs it. 

Time's up. 

Happy fortieth anniversary to my high school sweetheart and one and only husband, Lowell. 

Today at the Bentonville, Arkansas square.

Seven Minutes... #2

 

Seven Minutes— starting NOW!

Last time I did this I had fun. So I'm doing it again. Here we go!

I found this photo of my sewing machine that I took last fall. I was doing a lot of sewing then. I had sewn things to give for Christmas and other gifts. The idea was to find a project bag type that I truly enjoy making. Then, if I truly did enjoy sewing them, I would sew up a big batch and restock my Etsy shop. I've had it closed or on vacation for quite a bit now. 

I've thought of reopening many times through the last few years. I've thought of selling sewn items, vintage items, and maybe even a few knitted items. I just never seemed to get around to it. 

To me, the ideal time to reopen would be in September so that I could take advantage of holiday sales. That would mean a lot of making between now and then. I haven't been doing much making these days. 

Long hours at the office have kept me from doing much more than putting a few stitches in the reader's shawl that I began a bit more than a month ago. I'm using a solid tan held double with one of my numerous scraps. It's all sock yarn. Some is left from other projects, some is from a gift of 5-10 gram balls that I received as a gift last Christmas. It's been relaxing to work on since it's all garter stitch... until I realize that I've made a mistake several rows back! 

Well— my alarm just went off. Just a moment to check my spelling and...

PUBLISH!

Have a wonderful week ladies!

Please send me a link to your seven minute posts in the comments. Let's encourage each other!

'Til next time,

Laura

Seven Minutes

    I've given myself seven minutes to write. Of course, that means my dear husband has come in to show me something. ~smile~ I told him nope, I've given myself seven minutes. I'll come in seven minutes. This is silly and fun. Before I started, I found this photo to share. This is over ten years old now. Maybe close to fifteen years old. I absolutely love it. 

    I did my best to teach my children that they were best friends forever. Other friends come and go. These are my three younger children— Emily, Amy, and Michael. They're still good friends. They're spread out just a bit now; but, all three live within an hour's drive of each other and me! My eldest, Matthew lives about an hour from here, too. He and Emily are farther apart, but I'm so blessed that they all come home at once sometimes. Amy brings her husband and son as well.

    This is one of the greatest joys of my life. I still get to be with all of our kids, my son-in-love, and my grandson regularly. I am truly happy about that.

   I'm in a different stage of life; we all are. I'm thankful for the happy memories that I have raising my little flock of four on a short shoestring budget in a little house by the creek between Oz and the Ozarks.

    Time's up. That was fun! Shall I edit? Nope, you get it just as it was typed. 

God bless you all!

Hey, join me in this. Write a seven minute post or comment, and tag me in the comments. I'll come and read it and write back! 

Laura

Happy Memories

Jesus is the Risen Son of God who came in the flesh.