Thankful – Part 4

I am thankful for the twinkle in Chicky’s eyes when she discovers a delicious treat.

 

I’ll never forget the look of surprise that lit up her face the first time she tasted a Shirley Temple.  The smile started in her eyes and eventually covered her entire face as she grinned from ear-to-ear.

 

The other time she had this look was when she tasted a Godiva Caramel Chocolixer.

 

We both had gotten this drink while walking through Peachtree Mall in Atlanta, Georgia.

 

We took our first sips, looked at each other, and mirrored looks of absolute happiness.

 

It is a look I carry in my heart every day.

Thankful – Part 3

I am thankful for the cool breeze that precedes a storm.

 

You know the feeling.  You can smell the rain coming in.

 

I don’t know why, but this always makes me stop in my tracks and enjoy the moment.

Thankful – Part 2

I am thankful for a each sunset.

 

Every time I see one, I am reminded that the end of the day is near and rest is close at hand.

 

The colors soothe my soul, and the arrangement of the clouds playing peek-a-boo in between the rays of fading sunlight make me catch my breath every time I see them.

 

God is truly revealed in nature, and I am always in awe of His creativity and beauty.

Thankful

During the week of Thanksgiving, I thought it would be fun to name a few things I am grateful for.

 

I’m not going to name the obvious, because you know I’m thankful for those things (family, home, etc…).

 

By naming off “smaller” things, I hope to remind myself that it is good to give thanks for ALL things, big and small.

 

So, the first thing I’m listing is that I’m thankful for the unconditional love of my pets and the time I get to spend “nuggling” with them.

 

My pets bring so much joy to my life.  They greet me when I come home, always wagging their tails as I walk through the door.

 

They are always ready to play a game of fetch, remind me when it’s time to feed them (like I’d ever forget), and forgive me when their water bowl gets too low.

 

Simply put, I love my fur babies.

Flash Forward

Have you watched the television show Flash Forward?

The premise is that the world’s population experiences a loss of consciousness, during which each person sees a few seconds of their lives a few months into the future.

The show’s lead characters spend each episode investigating the cause of this event and, in the process, discover how their lives intermingle with others’.

One man doesn’t see anything in his “flash forward.”  He soon learns that on a certain date, he will be murdered.

Another man, on the verge of ending his life when the flash forward occurs, sees something that gives him hope and purpose.  Viewers don’t know exactly what he’s seen yet, but one can surmise that it is good.

A new twist was recently introduced when one of the lead characters decided to change the future by committing suicide.  It is his hope that he will spare the life of an innocent woman.

I’ve been mulling over the concept of this show and how it relates to our spiritual lives.

What if we could see into our futures?  What would they look like?

Would we see darkness or light?

I realize that these are fictional characters, but I see parallels between their lives and ours’.

Nearly all of the TV characters have a dark past or are living with shame in some form.  They long to change the outcome of their lives.

As “real” people, we desire the same things…freedom from the weights that tie us down and the desire to change bad decisions to right the wrongs we’ve done.

And yet, just as I think the characters on the show will come up short, so too do we.

However, we “real” people have a hope that no fictional character will ever have…that of a Savior…an amazing generous God.

Accepting His redemptive work on the cross won’t undo the mistakes in our lives, but it will put us on a new path.  This is a path that is not trouble-free, unfortunately.  But when we walk with God, we can be assured that we are not alone.

God could have left us floundering, but He changed our destiny (for sin demands payment) and intervened personally in our lives to change the outcome. All we have to do is recognize our need for Him and accept His gift of salvation.

I hope you’ll take a moment to “Flash Forward” to the end of your own life.  What will you see as things stand right now?  What will you do to change it?

Reunion

When your child plays competitive soccer, you become a part of a very small, close-knit community.

After being a part of this “family” for a number of years, you begin running into soccer people everywhere!

The best part about this family is watching the kids grow up.  It’s also the hardest part because, as they get older, you have to let them go.

Not only do you say goodbye when the kids leave for college, but you bid adios to the parents as well.  These are the people you’ve shared rides to practices and tournaments with…people who have talked you through confusing, isolated roads to find soccer fields in remote areas.  These are the people you eaten soggy bagels at 6am in dark, quiet hotel lobbies with.  These are people you’ve shared late-night, after-the-game pasta dinners with.  And these are the people you shivered through the cold and rain and sweated through the heat of summer with.

Lots of memories are forged when you share tense moments on the field, the concern of injuries, and the joy of victories with.  Strong bonds result…which distance and time cannot break.

Tonight we were thrilled when Chicky’s best friend’s parents went out of their way to attend her game.  Chicky’s friend, the Marvelous Miss M, started college in August, so we haven’t seen this family since early last summer.

It was a joyous reunion as the Mr. and I caught up with them during the game.  Chicky was in for a treat.

After the game, Chicky met up with Mr. B, both sporting huge smiles.

And then Chicky spied Ms. J standing across the field.

They ran into each other’s arms, overcome with happiness…

You know me.  I’m emotional.  I’m sitting here with tears in my eyes even as I type this.

I get close to people, and my heart is warmed when I witness Chicky express her own love for others who have touched her life.

Pretty in Pink

Another project magically jumped on and off of my needles in the span of three days.

This is the Warm Stripings Hat from the January 2008 issue of Creative Knitting.

Chicky’s friend called me earlier last week, and we had the following conversation…

“Mrs. AuburnChick, I know what you can get me for my birthday.”

“Oh?  I didn’t know I was getting you anything, but pray tell, dear Friend of Chicky, what would you like?”

“I want a hat with ear flaps and fuzzy things on the ends.”

I immediately thought of the Warm Stripings pattern because I made it a year and a half ago for another one of Chicky’s friends.

Now, I tend to be a monogamous knitter; however, the holiday season has thrown major wrenches into my normally organized life.  I keep coming up with new projects to work on with short deadlines (the request for this hat had a due date of mid-December).

And yet, after purchasing the yarn last week while on the way to Chicky’s soccer game, I couldn’t wait to cast on!

The yarn is an acrylic blend and deceptively soft.  It comes in 100g skeins, but I only needed 90g to finish the hat.  I probably could have gotten away with 85g if I had not knit the i-cord for the top, which I wound up not using.

Folks…this is the perfect project if you’re looking for something fast and easy.  I knocked this out between Friday and Sunday evenings.

Chicky called her friend and invited her to stop by the house after youth.

I was a little concerned that she would like it because Chicky didn’t exactly give me the feedback I was looking for when I was finishing it up.

After listening to a couple of Chicky’s comments, I decided to do a quick revamp and added the pom poms on the ends and the one on the top.

Chicky’s friend came over, and I was a nervous wreck (as I always am when gifting knit items).

No worries though, as you can see from her face (permission to post granted by her mom)…

She said she doesn't do hats well. I think she's pulling this one off perfectly!

See the pom pom on top?

I think she likes the hat.

Happy Birthday Chicky’s Friend.  You are like a daughter to me, and I love you.

Fruits of Labor

Do you remember my mention of Knitting for Hope?  This project was started a few months ago by my friends Rae, Rabbitrescuer, and Figaro.

Fig’s mom lives and works on a reservation in California.  There is a great need for baby items.  It was my friends’ hope that they could encourage expectant mothers to visit the clinic for much-needed pre-natal care.

I sent Fig a hat and bootie set, which I blogged about here…

Knitting for Hope took a few weeks to get going, but now there are a number of people sending items.  Fig’s mom has been able to put care packages together and is sharing these items with other clinics in her area.

Fig sent me a picture of one such package…

Do you see anything familiar?

My hat and bootie set!!

I am touched beyond words.

Once again, I see how God is using my hands to touch others, and I am humbled.  It is an honor to serve Him by serving those here on earth.

My Week – In Pictures

Yarn...that turned into...

Parts...that turned into...

 

A work of love.

 

Two days off from school this week gave me time to paint the toes...

 

...and to file coupons...

Several batches of cookies were baked in the AuburnChick home this week. Rooster scored two before I could pull out the camera. You've gotta be quick in this house.

 

Aubie loves the new bedding I gave the dogs.

 

Pele prefers the couch...

 

 

 

 

 

Molly saw some couch action as well...

 

...especially while "nuggling" with Chicky.

 

Another sample arrived in the mail this week...

 

Yarn shopping...

 

...for gifties...

 

...on the way to the soccer game...

 

...where we won 3-1!!

 

This is my attempt at being organized for next week's classes. Do I have "teacher handwriting" yet?

It Was Only a Dream

Chicky and I stood in her dorm.

We were laughing, enjoying our conversation and one another’s company.

I don’t remember what was said…only that we had finally reached a point in our relationship where we truly respected and loved each other.

Then, it was time for me to go.

I felt a great wave of sadness wash over me.  I started crying and thought about how I had not cried when I dropped her off at college a few weeks before.  Somehow, leaving her this time felt different…more permanent.

My sobs poured from deep within me.

With a start, I woke up only to find my face wet with the tears I had just shed while I had slumbered.

I breathed a sigh of relief when I realized that it was only a dream.

And yet, the entire day, I felt as if I was carrying a weight of somberness because I know that this dream will become reality in a few short months.