Sunbursts

I accidentally had my camera on black and white.  So, I switched over:  

 There is such a battle between the light 

and the shadows. 

But when Light conquers the darkness, 

there is such beauty 

in the victory!

From the Yarn Basket

I wanted to work with a new texture and size of yarn for a change.  I am working, working, working on filling hat orders (thanks, everyone!), but needed a little break to turn my mind on to a new challenge.  I have only made one of these....it could, maybe, might be the only one I make, but I certainly had fun in the making of it.

I played with the color on the photo just so the details could be seen.  The actual beads are much paler than they appear in the photo.

As you can see in the photo above, I made the bracelet with a button hole clasp.  I'm still trying to figure out the best way to attach the ends together.  I like the idea of a button, but am not sure this is the right one to use.  Below is a closer view of the bead and stitch work.

 this post was taken from my crochet blog:  Institch Gratification

~~MJ

9 Year old Theology

On our way to school this morning, I was trying to have a quick object lesson on God's love toward (and provision for) us.  

"Look at the clouds and how dark everything seems this morning!!  Those clouds sure are low and heavy with the rain that is falling on us, isn't it?"

(Insert simultaneous conversation of four children on clouds, wet roads and rainbows.) 

"But, isn't it amazing that even though everything seems so dark, God still makes it possible for us to see and get around?"  I ask.  "The clouds are covering up our view of the sun, but God sure made it strong enough to give us light to see during this storm, huh?"  

(REALLY, can you see where I am going here?  Great opportunity for a lesson, don't you think?)

"Mom!"  My 9 year old's excitement is hardly containable in the backseat.  "Mom!  The rain is Satan's tears.  He's crying 'cause he just got served by GOD."

Well.

Yeah.  

I guess we'll just have to go with that!  

Lesson over.  

Mom. Here. Happy Valentine's Day.

Makes me giggle.  A card I received from my oldest son (he is 9):::

New Hobby

I have been enjoying (thoroughly) playing with yarn the past few months.

God has given me such encouragement in my ventures of crochet-art, by sending friends my way to purchase many of the products I have made.  To see some of them, you can go to my other blog devoted especially to this new hobby:

Institch Gratification
(click on the name to see the blogpage)
But, here are just a few to show:

I have also figured out how to allow comments on the blog!  Many of you dear friends have stated that you are unable to leave a comment because it requires registration into one thing or another.  I believe I have unchecked all of those boxes.  :o)  YAY!

Love Made New

In November, we received this from our oldest daughter:

She went on to tell us a little bit about why she wanted to put on Christ in baptism:

And she shared with us something that happened to her to bring her to the conclusion that she needed Christ in her life and heart:

Can you imagine her fear?

It was during this feeling of not knowing which direction would bring

her home that she came to her moment of epiphany:

She told me later that it was only God that could bring her home.

Her home on earth, and her home in His kingdom.

God taught her a lesson I never could.

Hear her lament that day as the realization of her predicament hit home:

We knew after this note that she was really understanding the need for Jesus and the salvation that can only come through Him. This has been a long process, but she has been doing some

studying on it for the past 2 years and she also answered so sweetly some questions I wrote for her (you can find those questions here).

and now, joy is hers! On the day that is set aside by many to remember the birth of our Savior, we now also celebrate the NEW BIRTH of our daughter into eternity.Her journey into grace has begun...and though some days will be difficult, they

will only get better. Each day will be

a new beginning.