Twenty years ago............

The Berlin wall came crashing down!! Twenty-eight years of isolation--gone!


Why the Berlin Wall came tumbling down
Twenty years after the opening of the borders between East and West Germany, Charles S. Maier recalls how a bloodless revolution came about.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/6519767/Why-the-Berlin-Wall-came-tumbling-down.html Berlin wall

By Charles S. Maier
Published: 12:56PM GMT 07 Nov 2009

Twenty years after the opening of the borders between East and West Germany, Charles S. Maier recalls how a bloodless revolution came about.

All states have frontiers. East Germany, aka the German Democratic Republic, became a frontier that had a state. When the frontier dissolved, the state followed less than a year later.

The Berlin Wall, which was breached 20 years ago on Monday, was only the most notorious segment of that frontier.

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East Germans may have arrived in West Berlin hours before previously thought

On August 13, 1961, after consultation with their Soviet patrons, the GDR authorities laid down 97 miles of barbed wire around West Berlin – an island of western Allied sovereignty and West German constitutional liberty 110 miles within East Germany – to sever it from the Communist-controlled territory that surrounded it.

Twenty-seven miles of the new barrier zig-zagged north to south, along the urban boundary that separated West and East Berlin.

Soon, the rolls of barbed wire were augmented with a high concrete barrier with watchtowers, floodlights, and a no man's land.

Dramatic derring-do enabled a few to scale over, tunnel underneath and even crash through, but 136 East Germans would die trying to cross.

Just as daunting as the Berlin Wall proper was the German-German border to the West. It had been incised in the Fifties as an 860-mile scar of barbed wire, concrete obstacles, watchtowers, and self-triggering weapons. But this frontier had not stopped East Germans from travelling to their capital city and then crossing to the Western sectors, from where they could continue to West Germany by rail or air.

About three and a half million people, many with much-needed skills, had departed the GDR by 1961, hence the decision to seal Berlin.

As a young historian, I went to Potsdam to work at the East German state archives: only a few hundred yards from the GDR end of the Glienicke Bridge, known as the "Peace Bridge", where Cold War spies were exchanged, but a world away from West Berlin.

These were the years when the courtyard of the archives, along with other public offices, was piled high with briquettes of brown coal, which gave the East one of its characteristic odours, along with the disinfectant used for swabbing corridors.

On other occasions, I crossed to East Berlin from West Berlin using the elevated S-Bahn to Friedrichstrasse station, where the citizen of an allied power (or a German from outside Berlin) surrendered his passport to a guard behind a thick window, endured a wait designed to demonstrate GDR sovereignty, and finally continued into "Berlin: Capital of the German Democratic Republic" through a neighbouring bleak hall – dubbed the Palace of Tears for the family farewells that took place just outside, as West Germans left their East German relatives.

The GDR's existence depended on those barriers. The dominant impression beyond, in urban areas at least, was not of poverty so much as shabbiness: facades still pocked by bullets or bomb fragments; empty squares cleared of wartime destruction, but not rebuilt; bleak restaurants.

The melancholy state-run "HO" stores were punctuated by Intershops where, with Western currency, one could buy GDR friends a bottle of imported whisky or some perfume. And there were gracious remnants that had survived the war: large houses in the Dresden suburbs, the Christmas fair in Potsdam with gingerbread and Glühwein and, not far from Friedrichstrasse, the innovative Komische Oper.

Ultimately, the walls of the republic were vulnerable. Control of the frontiers required a commitment from neighbouring Hungary and Czechoslovakia to prevent East Germans from transiting to the Western lands they bordered.

By the summer of 1989, socialist fraternity was fraying badly, and Hungary was no longer willing to act as a gatekeeper. Once Budapest party leaders allowed East Germans to exit to Austria in September 1989, the final act of the GDR began.

Most East Germans, of course, did not want to leave, even if many longed to travel unhindered.

Throughout the late Eighties, encouraged by the reformist course that Mikhail Gorbachev was signalling in the Soviet Union, small numbers had joined earnest circles of environmental activists and disarmament advocates (originally encouraged by the regime as critics of the West).

As late as the summer of 1989, the protesting groups seemed small and fragmented, but then, encouraged by the sense of change that their own activity helped to generate, many more joined the prayer meetings in the large urban churches of Leipzig and Berlin, marched with their candles for a relaxation of press restrictions and, emboldened by those who were heading West, shouted, "We are staying here," and by September, "We are the people!"

Repeated Monday-night demonstrations in Leipzig swelled to 70,000 by mid-October, a week after the GDR celebrated its 40th anniversary.

The regime could no longer control its frontiers, and chose not to contest the streets. A divided politburo ousted its old-guard members, including party chief Erich Honecker, and after massive demonstrations in Berlin, it decided to relax travel restrictions, leading to the joyous confusion of November 9.

Was such a peaceful revolution inevitable? Three months earlier, Chinese authorities had opted to use force and crushed the pro-democracy demonstrations in Beijing. Could the East Germans have wagered on a Chinese solution?

Politburo elders, including Honecker and minister of state security Erich Mielke, who were out of touch with the profound dissent growing across their little republic, might have believed that they could.

But we know from transcribed conversations that younger heirs to the state were despairing. Revolutions usually begin when a ruling group fragments, and the GDR leadership was deeply divided by late summer.

For all the loyalty it might muster, the GDR's existence, moreover, depended on the presence of several hundred thousand Soviet troops garrisoned originally as occupation forces and, since 1955, as Warsaw Pact allies.

Their tanks had suppressed the protests of striking East Berlin workers in June 1953, when local Soviet commanders understood that their fragile satellite might dissolve into the West.

Until 1989, the Red Army's presence remained a deterrent, deployed against Hungary's impetuous revolutionaries in 1956 and Czechoslovak reformers in August 1968. If there were violent clashes in the autumn of 1989, might Soviet troops be used again?

In public, Gorbachev helped Honecker, whom he found tiresome and didactic, to celebrate the GDR's 40th anniversary in early October.

In private, he was reported to have said that history punishes those who come too late. Discreetly, and through his embassy, he signalled that his Berlin wards were on their own. Russian troops would stay in their barracks.

Local East German officials understood that a crackdown could lead to violence beyond their capacity to control it.

The demonstrators enforced their own discipline and called mostly for dialogue. Their radicalism was limited: no one knew how much would change as the Wall was opened on November 9. Few leaders of the ruling Socialist Unity Party (the SED) and few of the demonstrators' ad hoc "civic movements" expected their republic to be swept away within a few months.

However, Chancellor Kohl soon concluded that he must outbid the East German reformers' vision of existing side by side with the West German state by manipulating economic and national longings.

Simultaneously, he persuaded Western leaders (Mrs Thatcher excepted) that the Germans would remain good Europeans and Gorbachev that German self-determination was no threat to Moscow.

The Russian leader, himself intoxicated by the momentum of change, did not expect that his own Soviet Communist Party and the Soviet federation would dissolve within two years, either. But he earned his Nobel for not resisting the dissolution by force.

The GDR's rapid collapse does not mean that the state had no loyal citizens: it did not rest on force and surveillance alone.

Two generations had come of age, enlisted from childhood in the mission of serving "the better Germany" as good anti-fascists and pioneers of socialism, peace and production. But after the Czech repression of 1968, ideals were hard to sustain in the Communist world. Even if East Germans did not know how zealously their leader Walter Ulbricht had urged Brezhnev to suppress Czechoslovak liberalisation, there would be renewed suppression of dissenters.

The continuing economic lag behind the West (glaringly visible on television), the pervasiveness of Stasi – secret police – control, the galling restrictions on travel, and finally, rigged electoral results – manipulated to inflate apparent popularity – overcame the loyalty citizens and intellectuals might have held.

At the end, the state socialist project could not retain its credibility. Its restrictions, its shabbiness, its reliance on snooping – and, in East Germany, its unnatural division of families – flew in the face of the ideals it supposedly stood for.

That the whole imperial structure of late communism could dissolve without vast waves of violence was a great achievement, not fully scripted in advance, but accomplished by those who marched in the autumn of 1989, by those who fled, and by those, such as Chancellor Kohl, who managed to channel the popular currents into a peacefully restored Germany and a reunited continent.

Unfortunately, the rush to liquidate the East's rust-belt economy, the unemployment that furloughed many workers and professionals over 50 while keeping the young in make-work jobs, and the feelings of victory on one side and of failure on the other constituted the shadow side of unification.

There would be a generation of loyal citizens desolate and orphaned by the loss of their state, and many in unified Germany would cling to the diehard Party of Democratic Socialism, the successor to the Socialist Unity Party which dissolved among bitter reproaches in the winter of 1990.

People don't like to be told they were pursuing a fool's errand for most of their lives and that their experiment (as one regime stalwart conceded) was a mere footnote of history.

How to validate their 40-year experience without whitewashing an abusive system has proved an almost insuperable challenge – perhaps to be solved only by the final passage of the GDR generation.

Charles S. Maier is Leverett Saltonstall Professor of History at Harvard University and the author of 'Downfall: The Crisis of Communism and the End of East Germany' (Princeton University Press) Return to Berlin

Memory Verse Week 45

Proverbs 25:27 (New King James Version)

27 It is not good to eat much honey;
So to seek one’s own glory is not glory.

Dinosaur!!

I received a gift card for Beth Bath and Beyond. My husband and I went the other day. I had in mind to buy some new towels. Ours are getting a bit old and frayed.

Hubby had a different idea! He found this dinosaur muffin pan and I got that with the gift card instead.

The little guy and I are going to make blueberry dinosaur muffins this weekend!!

Thankful Thursday

Today, Iris at Grace Alone is our host. Iris has chosen "trials" for our topic today.

I think of Moses and the Jews in the wilderness for forty years. What a trial that would be!

I believe we go through trials to make us stronger and build character.

There have been times when I have felt like I was wandering in the wilderness, just floundering about. I know during those times that God had my back! I know He was protecting me and watching over me and watching me make my mistakes.

The good thing about trials is most of the time we learn from them, and that is a good results from trials!

Trials also strengthen our faith!

Today I am thankful for:

* my daughter spending the day with us
* my little guy asking his teacher if sister could stay with him at school today!!
* sunny days
* my husband having days off during the week
* friends

1 Peter 1:5-7 (New Living Translation)

5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.
7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

Memory Verse Week 44

Proverbs 24:11-12 (New Living Translation)

11 Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die;
save them as they stagger to their death.
12 Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.”
For God understands all hearts, and he sees you.
He who guards your soul knows you knew.
He will repay all people as their actions deserve.

Ramblings

I can hardly believe it's November already. We had a cold and rainy, dark October. If it's cold, but there is sunshine, I am all for it!!

Thanksgiving is this month and I am hosting just my mom and my little family. I will be hosting Christmas this year for the whole family!

Yesterday I saw two flocks of wild Turkeys in the corn fields! I always love seeing the wildlife. We have had a lot of deer in our yard this fall already. The dark eyed Juncos have recently arrived from Canada to spend the winter in our much warmer climate. LOL. We get a whole bunch of them every winter and I tell my husband to throw some bird food on the snowy ground because they don't usually go to the feeders.

My mom got a new vehicle. She bought a 2006 Honda CRV and she loves it!! Her other car was older and she no longer felt safe driving it.

I can't wait for baseball next spring! We have a brand new OUTDOOR stadium!! I am so excited to go and bring the little guy to an outdoor stadium.

I am thinking of taking a trip to Maryland. Just me, for a long weekend to see my cousin. I haven't seen her for about two years now. I often think about my aunt. I used to fly to MD every three months to see my Grandma, who lived with my aunt, and to visit with my aunt. I had some really good times and I still really miss my aunt and grandma.

I still don't like yogurt. No matter what brand or type of yogurt I try, I just can't like it. I want to like it, but I just don't. Same thing with Candy corn. My kids and husband like it, and I buy it for them, but I don't ever eat it.

Husband has been working a LOT. We are continuing to pay down our debt, and we have bought some toys recently with some of his overtime earnings. We bought iTouches for all of us. And we all love them!! We didn't get iPhones because we don't get reception here with that company, so we just purchased the Touches!

We have a cousin moving to Ft Collins CO coming up, so there may or may not be a trip to CO. I think it would be a fun trip.

The boy is doing well in school. He is reading and writing well now. He is even memorizing some bible verses!! It's so fun to hear his little boy voice reciting scripture! I go once a week to serve lunch and that is always fun. He also started AWANA at church this fall and is doing well there, and having fun learning about the bible.

Daughter continues to do well at a new job, and is moving sometime this month--again. I hope she stays in this apartment for a while!!

Mom is doing well, as are my brothers and their families. I have another nephew in college. My nieces and nephews are growing up!!

It's fall...............

Time to change the clocks back to Standard time tonight.

Unless you live in the states that don't change. I think they are Indiana and Arizona.

So, tonight before you go to bed, turn all your clocks back one hour. Don't forget!

We switch back again to Daylight savings on March 14, 2010.

Thankful Thursday

Today, Lynn has chosen "change" for our topic.

Change is good but it can also be hard. When we go through a lot of changes at one time it can also be very stressful.

Losing friends is stressful, and a huge change in a person's life.

God also works on us through change. That's what I look forward to. Coming out the other side of change renewed, and well, changed! All the time God works on us we are changed and it is always for the good!!

Ephesians 6:10
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Memory Verse Week 43

Proverbs 23:15-16 (New Living Translation)

15 My child, if your heart is wise,
my own heart will rejoice!
16 Everything in me will celebrate
when you speak what is right.

Another hat

Bigger this time. I used a bigger hook and one more round of increases.

Red Heart yarn, same colors as the hat a couple of posts ago.

I am liking the head to display the hats too!!

Thankful Thursday

Today Lynn has chosen "things that make you go Hmmmmm" for the topic.

There are many many things in this world that make me go hmmm:

Hummingbirds and how they fly--it is incredible.
The world in general.
God's grace and mercy for me, a sinner.
Flowers.
Whales.
The little tiny bones in our ears.
Math.

Today I am thankful for:
*My husband
*my children
*sunny days when the sun is streaming into the house through the windows
*the beautiful color of the changing leaves--it's my favorite time of the year
*the smells of fall
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James 1:5 (New Living Translation)

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (New Living Translation)

God Offers Comfort to All
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.
4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

Jacob Wetterling

Jacob and his family have been on my mind this week. There was an article in our paper on Sunday, and I hadn't realized the exact date of his abduction until today.

Jacob was abducted one night in October twenty years ago, in rural Minnesota and has not been located. He was 11 and his brother was 10, his best friend was 11 as well.

This is such a sad case, as is every missing child case.

As a mother, I just cannot imagine what Patty has been through all these years. I wonder if I would have been as strong as she and her husband have been?? I doubt it.

I can't imagine what Jacob's brother and friend that were with him have gone through either. It has to be some type of hell twenty years later.

Here is Jacob's WIKI page.

And also Patty, his moms wiki page. She has been an advocate for missing children.

Memory Verse Week 42

Proverbs 22:17-18 (New American Standard Bible)

17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,
And apply your mind to my knowledge;
18 For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,
That they may be ready on your lips.

The bell..........

I had never heard the phrase "you can't unring the bell" until about a week ago when a friend and I were talking.

This means that once something has been done, you have to live with the consequences as it can't be undone.

She mentioned something she had done that she wished she could undo--hence the comment about the bell. We had a longish talk about the whole situation and what she could do now and in the future to prevent the feeling of wanting to unring the bell.

So I have been thinking about the things I have done in my life that I would like to "unring". There are many actually. From the past to the present. Things I wish that I could unring. From friends to family. Even strangers-- the door not held open, the parking space taken etc etc.

My friend is a good, sweet person. I've known her a long time. She has just made some errors in judgement in her life.

I don't know about you, but I know that she is not the only one. I have made errors in my life too. I think that everybody has lapses in judgement and would like to unring that darn bell!!

Do you have a story about unringing the bell??
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Psalm 34:18 (New American Standard Bible)

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
And saves those who are crushed in spirit.

A hat

Made this hat for my boy yesterday. It's too small.

It's made with Red Heart Soft Navy and white.

Not enough increases and too small of a hook.

Trying again today.

First modeling job for the head though!!!

October blanket

I finished this yesterday. It's a blanket for a family that just adopted a little boy and the room is a sports theme. Boston teams were mentioned so I thought Red and white would be good.

It's made with Homespun Candy Apple and Hepplewhite. I think it's pretty. The red is one of my favorite colors and the white is really white.

It measures 29 inches wide and 40 inches long.

Thankful Thursday

Today at Lynn's blog, she has chosen "Entitlements or Riches" for the topic.

People often think, without actually thinking, that they are entitled to something.
It's a prevalent thought in our society these days, and it is unmerited.

People need to realize that they need too work for what they want and need.

I see riches in my life on a daily basis. I just need to look out my window, or even look around in my house at my family. I am enriched by God daily.

Today I am thankful for:
* my sweet husband that works so hard
* my sweet son
* my sweet daughter
* my faith

Psalm 34:15
The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

Father Damien

On Sunday, the Pope canonized Father Damien. I am happy to hear this. I think Father Damien was a man sent from God to help the lepers. He did wonderful work with the lepers of Hawaii.

If you don't know about Father Damien, I urge you to learn more about him. He worked closely with lepers in Molokai to give them a better quality of life. The lepers were ostracized.

Today, leprosy is known as Hansen's disease When I worked at the clinic we had a patient with Hansen's disease.

Read This and This too. They both have interesting info on Fr. Damien and the Canonization process.

October blanket

I finished this prayer shawl last night. It is so pretty and fall like! I really like how it self stripes too.

It's made with Homespun Wildfire.

It is 23 inches wide and 72 inches long.

Memory Verse Week 41

Proverbs 21:30

No human wisdom or understanding or plan
can stand against the Lord.

My Garden

This is my garden today. Yesterday my husband and little guy cleaned it up and got rid of the stuff.

It turned out to be a not so bad year, given the tomato blight.

The husband made lots of salsa and I made some tomato sauce to freeze.

We even got some carrots toward the end!!

Can't wait til next year now!! I am going to plant a couple Zucchini plants!

Thankful Thursday

Today, Lynn at Spiritually unequal marriage has chosen "Count your Blessings" for the theme today.

I often think of how blessed my life is. It hasn't always been blessed so I am extremely thankful for what I have now. I do live a blessed life and I am blessed.
I attribute that all to God and how I live my life. I am thankful every day for what I have because I know what I have.

My list:
My husband
daughter
son
mom
brothers
nieces and nephews
my house
my boy doing so well in school
having enough food
a reliable car
enough money
a good church
good books to read
my bible
my salvation
my flowers
yarn!!

The list could go on and on. There are so many things to be grateful for.

Psalm 34:7
7 The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him,
And delivers them.

October blanket

I just finished this one last night.

It's for a woman having a little boy after having twins.

It's made of Homespun sky blue and it is 31 inches wide by 41 inches long.

Memory verse week 40

Proverbs 21:29 (New Living Translation)

29 The wicked bluff their way through,
but the virtuous think before they act.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Though no one can go back and make a new beginning - anyone can start from now and make a brand new end.|

-- Carl Brand

I bought a head!!!

It's such an odd item. My husband thought I was nuts for buying it. But the cashier said they are popular. Some young boys bought some for target practice. Some cheerleaders bought a bunch of them for something they were going to do.

I simply bought one to model my hats instead of laying them on the floor!!

There is a store called Savers here, a second hand Goodwill type store and they had a whole bin of them, so I grabbed one.

I can't wait to use it!!

October blanket

It's good to be crocheting again!!!

This isn't really a blanket. But it is October!!

This is a prayer shawl, and it is folded for the picture.

I love this color, it's one of my favorites but of course it doesn't look so great in the picture I took. It's all in the lighting.

This is made with Red Heart Light and Lofty yarn and it is very similar to Homespun. I got this yarn from the church where the prayer shawl ministry is. Someone had started working with it and decided not to continue. It is difficult to work with if you haven't used this type of yarn before. It's much more bulky than normal yarn and generally you need to use a bigger hook, or needles if you are knitting with it. Lots of people on my crochet board do not like this type of yarn. I do like it. That's why I use it so much!

The color is Wine and this piece is 26 inches wide and 63 inches long. I could have made it narrower but it still works as a shawl!

Over the Top Blog Award

Thank you to Bethany at Raindrops and Rainbows for giving me this award. I "met" Bethany sometime ago and we have become friends. I love Bethany's blog--it inspires me daily and I am thankful to call her a friend.

Here are the rules:
You can use only one word!
Pass this along to 6 of your favorite bloggers!
Alert them that you have given them this award!
Have fun!

Here are my answers:



Where is your cell phone? Purse
Your hair? up
Your mother? retired
Your father? Business owner
Your favorite food? Pizza
Your dream last night? none
Your favorite drink? Tea
Your dream/goal? mommy
What room are you in? living
Your hobby? Crochet!!
Your fear? Spiders
Where do you want to be in 6 years? here
Where were you last night? home
Something that you aren't? worthy
Muffins? cinnamon
Wish list item? iPhone
Where did you grow up? MN
Last thing you did? Groceries
What are you wearing? pants
Your TV? New!
Your pets? Dogs
Friends? Few
Your life? Splendid
Your mood? Tired
Missing someone? Aunt
Vehicle? Green
Something you're not wearing? Perfume
Your favorite store? Michaels
Your favorite color? Purple
When was the last time you laughed? Today
Last time you cried? Yesterday
Your best friend? Husband
One place that I go to over and over? Michaels
One person who emails me regularly? Daughter
Favorite place to eat? Carbone’s

And now I get to pass this award to 6 of my favorite bloggers:

Raindrops and Rainbows

Mommy Writing

This Circle of Chaos

Confessions of a Pioneer Woman

Walk Slowly Live Wildly

From Under the Laundry Pile



I have other favorite blogs but these are just six of them.

Be blessed on this beautiful day and Thank you again Bethany!! :)

Thankful Thursday

Today Lynn, who is our host for this month, has chosen Miscellaneous for the theme.

So, today, I am thankful for October! It's one of my favorite months of the year. I love the cool crispness of the sunny days, and the beautiful colors of the changing trees.

I am thankful for my family. Daily I am reminded how blessed I am to have the husband I have and the children I have. Some days are more challenging than others, but I wouldn't trade my life for anything. I see God's handiwork in many lives around me.

I am thankful my boy likes school and I pray it continues throughout all of his school years. I am thankful that he seems to adjust easily to most situations.

I am thankful to be able to be a stay at home mom. I have grown to love being home.

Psalm 119:133 (New King James Version)


133 Direct my steps by Your word,
And let no iniquity have dominion over me.


James 1:22 (New King James Version)

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.


1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (New King James Version)

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

September blanket

This is the pink blanket I finished yesterday for the dRaffle I donated to.

It is made with Homespun and it's called Cotton Candy. I think it's such a bright and pretty color for a girl blanket.

It is 32 inches across and 42 inches wide.

Memory Verse Week 39

Proverbs 21:23 (New King James Version)

23 Whoever guards his mouth and tongue
Keeps his soul from troubles.


WOW! I have lived this for sure. I have let my tongue get me into trouble many times.

It is so very hard to tame the tongue, since it is just so easy to say something.

It's a terrific verse to keep close in your heart!!

Yarn!!!

Yarn. Isn't it pretty??

These are the colors I chose yesterday. There was a HUGE sale.

I had to buy yarn.

Isn't the lemonade one just yummy??

The weird thing about all these colors is, I could make a blanket with yarn from each color and it would be beautiful.

I didn't crochet for nine weeks and it was driving me crazy to not crochet.

Now I have several blankets and a bunch of prayer shawls to make. Plus anything else I come across for charity. I might make scarves again this year but I need to get going on them if I want to send them in time.

So, yeah, more yarn for my collection. But as my husband says, I use it!!

Thankful Thursday

I am not following the other blogs for the theme today. It's late, and I've had a busy day.

The little guy is ill, and my husband hurt his back. Little guy went to the doctor and he is ok, no strep or flu or anything, just an icky cold. The husband is seeing his doctor tomorrow--we'll see what the doctor says about his back.

Today was our 15th anniversary. We did manage to go out to dinner and the daughter and little guy made us a beautiful card for when we got home!!!

It's been a hectic week.

But I am thankful for it all!! It's a good week to be thankful for all that I have!!!

Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this
world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.


Our prayers will see answers when we believe in what we ask for.

-- John Iverson

Fifteen years!!!!!!!!!!!

Fifteen years ago on this day at 2 in the afternoon I married my husband.

My daughter was part of the wedding too, and she came with us on the last part of our honeymoon!!

I wanted to be married in the fall and this is the day we chose that worked out for all our schedules and the pastors schedule.

It rained briefly in the morning and by the time of the wedding it was beautiful sunshine out.

We had a lovely reception afterwards and then went to a hotel.

We had a beautiful room--it was decorated in a Grecian Roman style.

The next morning we flew out to Boston and drove to Maine to a bed and breakfast. It was absolutely gorgeous. We drove around a lot and we also enjoyed fresh lobster and crabs. We went to LL Bean and Pemaquid lighthouse. The country side was stunning.

Then we spent three days in Boston with my husbands Brother and sister in law. This is when our daughter joined us and we had a blast. We went to the Boston aquarium, ad Faneuil Hall, and many other places. It was wonderful. My husband was familiar with Boston because he had been there several times before.

The wedding was perfect, just how we wanted it and it wasn't too big. Just about 75 people or so.

I wouldn't change a thing about the wedding or the last 15 years!!!

September blanket

I finished this one last night. It's for the dRaffle for Kat's daughter that has a fatal disease.

I used Homespun yarn. This color is called blue Sky and it is very bright!

The blanket measures 32 inches wide and 38.5 inches long.

Autumnal Equinox

Autumn is my favorite time of year for many reasons.

Here is some info on the Autumnal Equinox.

In the language of science, an equinox is either of two points on the celestial sphere where the ecliptic and the celestial equator intersect. For the rest of us, it's one of two times a year when the Sun crosses the equator, and the day and night are of approximately equal length.

At the autumnal equinox (Sept 22, 2009; 4:18 P.M. CDT), the Sun appears to cross the celestial equator, from north to south; this marks the beginning of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere.

The vernal equinox, also known as “the first point of Aries,” is the point at which the Sun appears to cross the celestial equator from south to north. This occurs about March 21, marking the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.

On the date of either equinox, the Sun is above the equator and night and day are of approximately equal length; the word equinox is often used to refer to either of these dates.

The equinoxes are not fixed points on the celestial sphere but move westward along the ecliptic, passing through all the constellations of the zodiacin 26,000 years. This motion is called the precession of the equinoxes. The vernal equinox is a reference point in the equatorial coordinate system.

the germatorium.......

Otherwise known as school.

The little guy and I have been sick. I am not sure if it's something the husband brought home since he got it first or if the little guy brought it home from school.

Judging from the absentee list at school today, I think that the germatorium might be the culprit.

We have all had slightly different illnesses.

Husband had a snotty cold.

The little guy has a cold and stuffiness, sore throat and icky tummy.

And I have some type of flu--typical symptoms.

Now, here's the interesting part I learned today about different schools.

The little guy goes to a private school and there are about 11 kids in his class. Some of the other classes are smaller. There is one class of each grade.

We go to the public school for speech twice a week.

The whole school is kindergarten, and has been for about 9 years. I had no idea and am somewhat curious about it.

They have about 14 classes of kindergarteners. About 21-26 kids per class. It is a very busy and somewhat noisy school.

Apparently this works out very well and the teachers all like it. I thought it was interesting.

Can you imagine all the germs and illnesses running through the schools?? No wonder there is such a high number of kids out at any given time.

The little guy went to preschool for two years and caught the occasional cold. I wonder how different this year will be??

Memory Verse Week 38

Proverbs 21:21 (New King James Version)

21 He who follows righteousness and mercy
Finds life, righteousness, and honor.

September blanket

YAY!! Back to crocheting.

I finished this one Wednesday night. It's for the woman mentioned in the post a few days ago about giving birth on September 11. She had a little girl. They didn't know what they were having til the baby was born.

The color is Cotton Candy. And it is 28 inches wide and 39 inches long. It's kind of a small one--I miscalculated on this one.

(P.S. I am glad to be crocheting again after my hiatus. And, yesterday, I bought MORE YARN!! It was on sale..........)

Thankful Thursday

I am not following the theme this week for Thankful Thursday.

This week I have been reflecting on life. Just how fragile it can be and what an absolute miracle that life is!

I have been thinking about recent friends, and long lost friends and new friends, and even friends I call friend that I have never met!! I've learned that you can have a close friendship with someone you have never met--I have several people like that in my life. I have learned that you can have a close friendship with someone you have met, but do not live close to. I also have several friends like that.

And I have been reflecting on what a miracle that childbirth is!! It is incredible to me that a baby can grow to a living being inside a womb. It is absolutely incredible to me.

God is wonderful!! All I have to do is look around me, or even just look out the window to see His miraculous works!!

This week I am especially Thankful for my family and especially my Husband. I am thankful for my children--they bring me joy each day.

I am thankful for strangers I have never met--yet they have all pulled together as one tight community.

Today I am thankful.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
-- Psalm 23:4

Memory Verse Week 37

Proverbs 21:13 (New King James Version)

13 Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor
Will also cry himself and not be heard.

A birth and a death

September 11th is a significant day for many many reasons. I have a friend who has a birthday on this day.

Another friend gave birth to her third child just this year on this day. A beautiful baby girl!! Named Hannah.

Another woman I know died on this day this year. I originally wrote about her HERE.

She didn't even make it a year. It is so very sad. Her name is Vaike and she leaves behind a devoted husband and two very young children. The children are just four and barely two years old. A boy and a girl.

Vaike had colon cancer that everyone thought was caught in time. Sadly it was not. Vaike went through lots of treatments throughout the almost year she was diagnosed. She didn't even make it a year. She and her family were at least hoping for the 5 year plan.

There are a lot of people that are saddened by her passing.

She is a woman that won't be forgotten by many.

Please pray for peace and comfort for her family. They will need it to get through the next few days, months and years.

Psalm 103:8, King James Version

The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

Finally done!!!!!!!!!!!

This is the LAST needlepoint chair that I have and it is FINISHED!!!! Except for the upper right hand corner, which I finished this afternoon. I have taken it off the frame, removed all the staples and tape and rolled it up. It is ready to go to my mom now!!!

I started this one on July 16 and and finished it today, September 12. Nine weeks and 2 days to do it all.

I will be glad to start working on some crochet projects again!!

September 11

I will never forget this day. I know where I was and what I was doing.

I had to fly just a few weeks after this happened and I wasn't sure what to expect.

In my little town, the firehouse has a HUGE flagged flying. It was nice to see that.

I will never forget.....................

Thankful Thursday

Today Laurie has chosen undeserved kindness.

I love sending cards to people, even if just to say "hi". I also love to send people crocheted items. I love sharing kindnesses with people, whether I know them or not. And my giving is without motive, it is just part of my character to have a giving attitude!!

I have been a recipient of many undeserved kindnesses. One that I think of is a package of special hummingbird cards from a special friend. She knows I love hummingbirds and sent me these cards.


Often I think that it would be a much nicer world if people would stop to think about their actions. If there were more unexpected kindnesses in the world, I am sure it would be a better place.

Daily I receive undeserved kindnesses from God.... I am thankful for that.

Today I am thankful for:
*my boy starting school and liking it!!
*getting used to new routines
*a nice lunch and book shopping with my husband
*my daughter
*my mom's successful eye surgery


Ephesians 4:32 (New Living Translation)

32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Joshua 1:9 (New Living Translation)

9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Letter box revisited

I originally posted about letter boxes Here.

Since then the company has gone out of business.

Thankfully I was receiving e mails from a woman who worked with this company.

I ordered two of the letter boxes. One for each of my children for their children.

Of course you don't need to order these letter boxes. A person could just write letters and buy a special box, but I wanted to get them each one for their children.

I am sad this company went out of business, they had some other really neat items on the site.

First day of school!!!

My little guy had his first day of kindergarten today.

He did well, like he has been going to school forever.

He got dressed in his uniform clothes, put on his brand new back pack, and went out to the car all by himself.

When we got to school, he put all his stuff in his locker and found his name and place at the table in his room.

I'm glad he went to pre school for two years because I think it helped prepare him for today.

My little guy wasn't nervous or anything!~! I'm so proud of him!! I know it will be an adjustment for him for a few days. And I know it will be a huge adjustment for me having him gone all day everyday. It's kind of a sad for me too.....

Now I am off to pick him up from his first day.

Wills--revisited

I first blogged about wills here.

Since that time, my mom and I went to a lawyer and had her will drawn up as she wanted it. She is happy with her new will.

My husband and I have also completed this task recently as well.

Though it is not a pleasant task, it needed to be done, since we have the little guy. The daughter is of age so no provisions needed to be made for her care.

We are glad we got this done now.

Labor Day

Info here

The History of Labor Day

For other Labor Day information, visit our Labor Day 2009 page.

Labor Day: How it Came About; What it Means

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

Founder of Labor Day

More than 100 years after the first Labor Day observance, there is still some doubt as to who first proposed the holiday for workers.

Some records show that Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, was first in suggesting a day to honor those "who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold."

But Peter McGuire's place in Labor Day history has not gone unchallenged. Many believe that Matthew Maguire, a machinist, not Peter McGuire, founded the holiday. Recent research seems to support the contention that Matthew Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, N.J., proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York. What is clear is that the Central Labor Union adopted a Labor Day proposal and appointed a committee to plan a demonstration and picnic.

The First Labor Day

The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883.

In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a "workingmen's holiday" on that date. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country.

Labor Day Legislation

Through the years the nation gave increasing emphasis to Labor Day. The first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances passed during 1885 and 1886. From them developed the movement to secure state legislation. The first state bill was introduced into the New York legislature, but the first to become law was passed by Oregon on February 21, 1887. During the year four more states — Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York — created the Labor Day holiday by legislative enactment. By the end of the decade Connecticut, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania had followed suit. By 1894, 23 other states had adopted the holiday in honor of workers, and on June 28 of that year, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.

A Nationwide Holiday

The form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should take were outlined in the first proposal of the holiday — a street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations" of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Day. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civic significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.

The character of the Labor Day celebration has undergone a change in recent years, especially in large industrial centers where mass displays and huge parades have proved a problem. This change, however, is more a shift in emphasis and medium of expression. Labor Day addresses by leading union officials, industrialists, educators, clerics and government officials are given wide coverage in newspapers, radio, and television.

The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation's strength, freedom, and leadership — the American worker.

Memory Verse Week 36

Proverbs 21:3 (New Living Translation)

3 The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just
than when we offer him sacrifices.

Thank you to Bethany for the weekly memory verses, they are great!!!

2010 Census

Earlier this year I took the test and filled out the papers to be a census taker in 2010.

The man that was in charge of the whole affair was a flake. He was mad, angry and highly disorganized. He called headquarters looking for help, and got off the phone upset. No one ever came to help him. It was absolutely awful.

The room was packed. People left because they didn't want to wait any longer.

The man threatened us that if the people that left took any of the papers/tests with them, then none of our tests would be valid.

Did I mention that I was there for FIVE hours?? This man was so very disorganized that it took that long to complete everything.

About a month ago, a census taker showed up at my door. Apparently it was just to confirm that I lived here. I told her about my experience.

Today I received a phone call from the Census, asking if I would still be available to help next year!! I said YES!! Then I explained to this man what had happened at the testing site. He could not believe it!

I told him I thought I would not be contacted because of the person giving the test.

He told me he would look into it all. I wonder if I will hear from him again??

I am so glad he called though because this is something I really want to do!!

Thankful Thursday

Today Laurie at Woman Taking a Stand has chosen "slow down" for the theme.

Often in our day to day busy-ness, we forget to take time for our relationship with God.

Some people get up early in the morning to have a time of devotion. Some people take that time at night or at a lunch break or even driving to work!

Sometimes when I am cleaning my house, I have a conversation with God. To me, this is my time to talk with Him and pray or even just talk about things that are on my mind.

I have learned in my life that I can stop and talk to God or pray at any time of the day or night and I often do.

What I need to do is set aside a time for just devotions.

I am thankful that our God hears us no matter what we are doing or where we are!

Today I am thankful for:
*beautiful end of summer days
*school starting on Tuesday
*my husband
*my children
*friends

James 1:19-20, King James Version

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Shopping.............

I am not a huge shopper, I never have been. There are few things I actually enjoy shopping for.

Today we finished fall/winter shopping for the little guy.

I found winter boots for him and a few long sleeved shirts to balance out his wardrobe.

This year he wears uniforms to school and we found those a few weeks ago!!

Then I had to order just three uniform shirts and I ordered his winter jacket at the same time.

He is well stocked up on jammies, socks and underwear.

The only thing I can think of is maybe some mittens. He has everything else.

And I may have bought some yarn today!! LOL

We also went to a new used clothing etc store and bought about 12 books for 14 dollars. Buy four and get one free too!! Great deal on books, I think that will be a new shopping place for books!!

FYI

I live in MINNESOTA.. I have my whole life. I have not moved.

State Fair

We all went to the state fair today. It was a gorgeous day for it. About 71 degrees and sunny!

We got there early and our daughter met us there. We were there for a very long time today and the little guy did very well. We all had a lot of fun.

Daddy and little guy went through the Butterfly house again this year. There was one year that he didn't really like it.

He and big sister went down the big slide again this year, they went twice. They go down it every year.

We watched a BMX bike show and a skateboard show. It was very fun to watch that and the little guy was very focused while watching it.

We watched the end of a kitty surgery and that was interesting too.

We saw the animals again this year. There were lots of baby pigs and a chickens and lambs. The little guy got to touch the baby chickens and pigs. They had some huge cows there too.

I also bought some of these. I know it seems goofy, but I have some of these and they really work. They soak up a ton of liquid. I got three of them for the price of one and I gave one to the girl and am giving a set to my mom.

We ate some food but not as much as in previous years. It's still yummy state fair food.

Our state fair is one of the biggest in attendance. Texas' state fair runs 24 days and Iowa's is a big one too.

I've gone almost every year since I was a little girl and it's fun to go with my family now.

Memory Verse Week 35

Proverbs 19:17 (New Living Translation)

17 If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord—
and he will repay you!

Mere Christianity....

C.S Lewis wrote this book. Chapter 7 is on forgiveness.

The message at church this morning was on forgiveness. I thought this was good enough to post about!

C.S Lewis was also an adult convert to Christianity, that is something I did not know.

7. Forgiveness




I said in a previous chapter that chastity was the most unpopular of
the Christian virtues. But I am not sure I was right I believe the one I
have to talk of today is even more unpopular: the Christian rule, "Thou
shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Because hi Christian morals "thy
neighbour" includes "thy enemy," and so we come up against this terrible
duty of forgiving our enemies. Every one says forgiveness is a lovely idea,
until they have something to forgive, as we had during the war. And then, to
mention the subject at all is to be greeted with howls of anger. It is not
that people think this too high and difficult a virtue: it is that they
think it hateful and contemptible. "That sort of talk makes them sick," they
say. And half of you already want to ask me, "I wonder how you'd feel about
forgiving the Gestapo if you were a Pole or a Jew?"
So do I. I wonder very much. Just as when Christianity tells me that I
must not deny my religion even to save myself from death by torture, I
wonder very much what I should do when it came to the point. I am not trying
to tell you in this book what I could do-I can do precious little-I am
telling you what Christianity is. I did not invent it. And there, right in
the middle of it, I find "Forgive us our sins as we forgive those that sin
against us." There is no slightest suggestion that we are offered
forgiveness on any other terms. It is made perfectly dear that if we do not
forgive we shall not be forgiven. There are no two ways about it. What are
we to do?
It is going to be hard enough, anyway, but I think there are two things
we can do to make it easier. When you start mathematics you do not begin
with the calculus; you begin with simple addition. In the same way, if we
really want (but all depends on really wanting) to learn how to forgive,
perhaps we had better start with something easier than the Gestapo. One
might start with forgiving one's husband or wife, or parents or children, or
the nearest N.C.O., for something they have done or said in the last week.
That will probably keep us busy for the moment. And secondly, we might try
to understand exactly what loving your neighbour as yourself means. I have
to love him as I love myself. Well, how exactly do I love myself?
Now that I come to think of it, I have not exactly got a feeling of
fondness or affection for myself, and 1 do not even always enjoy my own
society. So apparently "Love your neighbour" does not mean "feel fond of
him" or "find him attractive." I ought to have seen that before, because, of
course, you cannot feel fond of a person by trying. Do 1 think well of
myself, think myself a nice chap? Well, I am afraid I sometimes do (and
those are, no doubt, my worst moments) but that is not why I love myself. In
fact it, is the other way round: my self-love makes me think myself nice,
but thinking myself nice is not why I love myself. So loving my enemies does
not apparently mean thinking them nice either. That is an enormous relief.
For a good many people imagine that forgiving your enemies means making out
that they are really not such bad fellows after all, when it is quite plain
that they are. Go a step further. In my most clear-sighted moments not only
do I not think myself a nice man, but I know that I am a very nasty one. I
can look at some of the things I have done with horror and loathing. So
apparently I am allowed to loathe and hate some of the things my enemies do.
Now that I come to think of it, I remember Christian teachers telling me
long ago that I must hate a bad man's actions, but not hate the bad man: or,
as they would say, hate the sin but not the sinner.
For a long time I used to think this a silly, straw-splitting
distinction: how could you hate what a man did and not hate the man? But
years later it occurred to me that there was one man to whom I had been
doing this all my life-namely myself. However much I might dislike my own
cowardice or conceit or greed, I went on loving myself. There had never been
the slightest difficulty about it. In fact the very reason why I hated the
things was that I loved the man. Just because I loved myself, I was sorry to
find that I was the sort of man who did those things. Consequently,
Christianity does not want us to reduce by one atom the hatred we feel for
cruelty and treachery. We ought to hate them. Not one word of what we have
said about them needs to be unsaid. But it does want us to hate them in the
same way in which we hate things in ourselves: being sorry that the man
should have done such things, and hoping, if it is anyway possible, that
somehow, sometime, somewhere, he can be cured and made human again.
The real test is this. Suppose one reads a story of filthy atrocities
in the paper. Then suppose that something turns up suggesting that the story
might not be quite true, or not quite so bad as it was made out. Is one's
first feeling, "Thank God, even they aren't quite so bad as that," or is it
a feeling of disappointment, and even a determination to cling to the first
story for the sheer pleasure of thinking your enemies as bad as possible? If
it is the second then it is, I am afraid, the first step in a process which,
if followed to the end, will make us into devils. You see, one is beginning
to wish that black was a little blacker. If we give that wish its head,
later on we shall wish to see grey as black, and then to see white itself as
black. Finally, we shall insist on seeing everything-God and our friends and
ourselves included-as bad, and not be able to stop doing it: we shall be
fixed for ever in a universe of pure hatred.
Now a step further. Does loving your enemy mean not punishing him? No,
for loving myself does not mean that I ought not to subject myself to
punishment-even to death. If one had committed a murder, the right Christian
thing to do would be to give yourself up to the police and be hanged. It is,
therefore, in my opinion, perfectly right for a Christian judge to sentence
a man to death or a Christian soldier to kill an enemy. I always have
thought so, ever since I became a Christian, and long before the war, and I
still think so now that we are at peace. It is no good quoting "Thou shalt
not kill." There are two Greek words: the ordinary word to kill and the word
to murder. And when Christ quotes that commandment He uses the murder one in
all three accounts, Matthew, Mark, and Luke. And I am told there is the same
distinction in Hebrew. All killing is not murder any more than all sexual
intercourse is adultery. When soldiers came to St. John the Baptist asking
what to do, he never remotely suggested that they ought to leave the army:
nor did Christ when He met a Roman sergeant-major-what they called a
centurion. The idea of the knight-the Christian in arms for the defence of a
good cause-is one of the great Christian ideas. War is a dreadful thing, and
I can respect an honest pacifist, though I think he is entirely mistaken.
What I cannot understand is this sort of semipacifism you get nowadays which
gives people the idea that though you have to fight, you ought to do it with
a long face and as if you were ashamed of it. It is that feeling that robs
lots of magnificent young Christians in the Services of something they have
a right to, something which is the natural accompaniment of courage- a kind
of gaity and wholeheartedness.
I have often thought to myself how it would have been if, when I served
in the first world war, I and some young German had killed each other
simultaneously and found ourselves together a moment after death. I cannot
imagine that either of us would have felt any resentment or even any
embarrassment. I think we might have laughed over it.
I imagine somebody will say, "Well, if one is allowed to condemn the
enemy's acts, and punish him, and kill him, what difference is left between
Christian morality and the ordinary view?" All the difference in the world.
Remember, we Christians think man lives for ever. Therefore, what really
matters is those little marks or twists on the central, inside part of the
soul which are going to turn it, in the long run, into a heavenly or a
hellish creature. We may kill if necessary, but we must not hate and enjoy
hating. We may punish if necessary, but we must not enjoy it. In other
words, something inside us, the feeling of resentment, the feeling that
wants to get one's own back, must be simply killed. I do not mean that
anyone can decide this moment that he will never feel it any more. That is
not how things happen. I mean that every time it bobs its head up, day after
day, year after year, all our lives long, we must hit it on the head. It is
hard work, but the attempt is not impossible. Even while we kill and punish
we must try to feel about the enemy as we feel about ourselves- to wish that
he were not bad. to hope that he may, in this world or another, be cured: in
fact, to wish his good. That is what is meant in the Bible by loving him:
wishing his good, jot feeling fond of him nor saving he is nice when he is
not.
I admit that this means loving people who have nothing lovable about
them. But then, has oneself anything lovable about it? You love it simply
because it is yourself, God intends us to love all selves in the same way
and for the same reason: but He has given us the sum ready worked out on our
own case to show us how it works. We have then to go on and apply the rule
to all the other selves. Perhaps it makes it easier if we remember that that
is how He loves us. Not for any nice, attractive qualities we think we have,
but just because we are the things called selves. For really there is
nothing else in us to love: creatures like us who actually find hatred such
a pleasure that to give it up is like giving up beer or tobacco. ...

Thankful Thursday

Today Iris has chosen Rescue as our theme.

I looked up rescue in the dictionary and this is what I found. Does it sound familiar?? It is exactly what Jesus did for all of us!!

1. To set free, as from danger or imprisonment; save.

2. An act of rescuing; a deliverance.

Synonyms are: deliver, redeem, ransom, reclaim, save

Again this is exactly what Jesus did for each and every one of us. He rescued us for a life without God. He saved us!!!

The bible is also full of passages that refer to rescue.

Psalm 136:24
And rescued us from our enemies,For His mercy endures forever

Daniel 6:27
He delivers and rescues, And He works signs and wonders In heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

I have been rescued, have you??

Today I especially thankful for:
my family
my children
good friends

A friend, a baby and a wake....

Today I went to the wake of an eight month old baby. It was absolutely heartbreaking. I have been to many wakes and funerals but never in my life has one touched me as much as this one. It took my breath away.

My friend Diane, whom I have known for 28 years had to bury her grandchild today. She and her husband are broken people.

You see, eight years ago they lost their daughter. She was hit by a car and killed. She was 25 years old. Today she buried her eight month old Grandson.

How in the world do you make it through that?? HOW??

The worst part of it all aside from the death of this precious baby is that her very own son took the child's life, his very own baby. How do you reconcile THAT??

How do you go on loving a son that took the life of your grandson??

My heart aches for the whole family. The sibling, the mother, the uncles and aunts and grandparents. No parent should ever ever have to bury their own child.

And there is not one thing anyone can say that will make any of this better.

They are strong in their faith but my heart just aches for them.

I just pray for peace and comfort for them all. For God to just wrap them all in his arms and comfort them all.

Like her husband said, "it's a tough tough day."

Can you even imagine???

Matthew 19:14 (New International Version)

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

Memory Verse Week 34

Proverbs 18:5 (New King James Version)

5 It is not good to show partiality to the wicked,
Or to overthrow the righteous in judgment.


Proverbs 18:5 (New Living Translation)

5 It is not right to acquit the guilty
or deny justice to the innocent.

Proverbs 18:5 (New International Version)

5 It is not good to be partial to the wicked
or to deprive the innocent of justice.

I think it's interesting to see how the different versions of the same passage compare.

Painted Doilies

This is one of my newest projects. It's called painted doilies.

The idea is, you use sewing thread, three strands at a time. As you crochet, you drop one strand of the starting color and pick up a new color, then you drop another strand of the starting color and pick up a second thread of the new color etc.

It sounded fun and looks even more fun to do. Some of the people on my crochet board have made painted doilies and they are beautiful. You can use virtually any doily pattern and modify it to use the thread.

The only other thing I have ever made with crochet thread is the leprosy bandage. I have no desire to work with crochet thread other than making the bandages.

I think this is going to be a fun project. It's just as expensive as yarn, and more actually since I need three spools of each color.

I am going to attempt to make the fan on the right hand side of the book.

I will post when it is finished, I am not sure when I will even start it since I am a bit behind on my crochet.

Thankful Thursday

Today Iris has chosen FRIENDS as the topic.

Friends are special people in our lives. We share so much together and we rely on our friends for many things in our lives.

Having just had a high school reunion, I reconnected with some friends from long ago and we had a lot of fun.

Some friends we have never even met. I know some people from the internet that I call friends, and I have never even met them!! But to me they are friends and I share with them just as if they were here.

We also all have a friend in Jesus. I know I can talk to Jesus about anything just as if I can talk to a friend sitting in front of me. And sometimes Jesus understands better than a friend!!

Proverbs 12:26 (New King James Version)

The righteous should choose his friends carefully,
For the way of the wicked leads them astray.

Ephesians 2:19-20
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone…

The Reunion....

Went to my high school reunion on Saturday night. My husband went with me this time. He didn't go to the last one since the little guy was just about six months old.

It was fun to see the people I went to high school with. And it was fun to see some people I went to elementary school with!!! I had never thought of that before but there are some people there that I have known for a very long time.

There was a long table and area that had year books, pictures, papers etc from our high school. That stuff was fun to see too.

There were three high schools in my town and ours shut down a few years after we all graduated. So there are only two now. But it seems as though people went to our high school from all over the city--which is weird.

We have about a dozen or so classmates that have died. Some from drugs and alcohol, some from car accidents, motorcycle accidents and illness.

There were also two professional football players from our class. As well as a Grammy winner for music. There is one guy and his wife that sell tea to restaurants, and at the farmers market and other places. We also have a classmate that committed a murder, right around the time we graduated. He joined our site, but has never showed up to a reunion, and he won't ever, since he is in jail for a life sentence. I'm not sure what other "famous" people there are.

Over all, the men haven't fared well in the aging department as well as the women. There were some women that really looked the same. Most of the men didn't and it was harder to figure out who was who most of the time.

Plus, the name tags with our pictures were printed pretty small. I mean we are all getting older. It was good for me to realize that I am not the only one that has issues seeing things. Lots of the people there had some of the same complaints.


There were a couple teachers there too this time. That was interesting.

And it was fun to reconnect with people who I had other things in common with. One classmates daughter dated my nephew for a while. And another classmates sister watched my daughter for years!!

We will have another reunion in five years, but there was some talk about having get togethers before that. I hope that happens because it sounds fun.

Over all it was a great evening!!

Memory Verse Week 33

Proverbs 17:27 (New International Version)

27 A man of knowledge uses words with restraint,
and a man of understanding is even-tempered.

Thankful Thursday

Today Iris has chose HOPE for the theme.

There are a lot of verses in the bible about hope.

What would happen if a person had no hope at all?? I know there are people in this world without hope. That makes me sad to think of that. Without hope, what do we have??

I have hope in Christ. My hope is in Christ.

Pray for those with no hope. It seems so simple, and it is, but I know it helps.

Here is one definition of hope:

intransitive verb 1 : to cherish a desire with anticipation
2 archaic : trust

1 : to desire with expectation of obtainment
2 : to expect with confidence : trust

Psalm 31:24 (New King James Version)


24 Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart,
All you who hope in the LORD.

Romans 8:24 (New King James Version)

24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?

1 Corinthians 13:13 (New King James Version)

13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

An Anniversary..........

Today is the third anniversary of my blog.

It all really started with the Seven Things project. That was a yearlong project that I need to undertake yet again.

Now I mostly post about my charity crochet and Christian things, and biblical teachings and passages.

This year I started memorizing Proverbs with Bethany. This has been a blessing to me.

I never post any pictures of my family because I don't feel comfortable posting them on the internet and because my daughter is an adult and I would ask her permission before I posted a picture of her.

I have enjoyed having a place to post my thoughts, and my projects.

Thanks for reading my blog too!!

Budget movie

The last one of the summer was today.

"Tale of Deveraux"

It was a cute movie, a tiny bit sad, but overall it was a good movie.

It makes me kind of sad that there aren't anymore movies this summer.

The little guy and I have had fun going to them. I hope they have some movies next summer too!!

August

Seems we are finally getting summer here. It's been hot and humid.

My July wasn't as busy as my August is turning out to be.

The little guy recently finished T ball, he had a blast with it this year, and his last years coach said he saw a huge improvement with the little guy. He had a really good coach this year too, which helps.

He takes his last two week session of swim lessons the next two weeks. He is looking forward to that!!

The little guy is also starting all day every day kindergarten in September. He is really excited about that, as am I. Sort of. It will be an adjustment for all of us.

I've been mostly working on the last needlepoint chair cover for my mom. I started it July 16 and am hoping to be done with it by the end of August. That has meant no crocheting for me. I have a couple of baby blankets to make too. But they can wait.
I also have found a new crochet project that I am going to give a go on. It's different and interesting. I'll post more about that later.

My husband has been working a lot and there is more of that in the future. Part of it is him picking up some overtime, and part of it is just his work schedule.

I have a high school reunion coming up this weekend. It should be fun and interesting, my husband is coming with this time. Last time the little guy was just a small baby and so the husband stayed home with the little guy.

There are several church functions over this month as well that should be fun.

Then later in the month and into early September we have the State Fair!! We will be going again to that with the little guy and daughter, if she can make it.

The girl is doing well. Starting a new job here this week. She was over the other day and the little guy really has a lot of fun when she is here.

My mom is doing well and would like to take a trip back to her hometown again. And she is having cataract surgery this coming week and then later in August, since they only do one eye at a time.

My bible study resumes in September as well. I am excited for that and am curious to know what the studies will be this year. There have been a few suggestions, so I am sure over the next few weeks that we will decide. If you have any ideas, please leave a comment!!

The garden is doing very well and we are starting to get some yummy tomatoes and green peppers and cucumbers!! Fresh garden tomatoes are my favorite!!

I think that's all I have going on here..................

Memory Verse Week 32

Proverbs 17:14 (New Living Translation)

14 Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate,
so stop before a dispute breaks out.

Thankful Thursday

Today Iris at Grace Alone has chosen Joy for our topic this week.

When I think of joy, I think of this song. It's one of my favorites.



The bible is full of passages about joy.

Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness

Psalm 126:5
Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.

RIP Michael Speicher.............

I am so sad, yet relieved there is finally an answer. I have followed this story and what happened to Michael Speicher for years.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article6736482.ece

The remains of the first American lost in the Gulf War have been found in Iraq, solving a mystery that has bedevilled the US military since his jet was shot down on the first night of the 1991 conflict.

The Pentagon announced yesterday that the remains of Navy Captain Michael “Scott” Speicher had been identified from bone fragments unearthed in the desert after two Iraqi civilians contacted Marines to say that they knew where he had been buried.

The discovery ends 18 years of uncertainty about the fate of Captain Speicher, who left behind a wife and two young children. The Pentagon initially declared him killed, but the lack of remains, and claims by some Iraqis to have seen him in captivity, led officials to change his status to “missing in action” and later “missing-captured”.

After the 2003 invasion of Iraq an entire military unit devoted its time to searching for the missing pilot. A series of false leads followed, including the discovery of what some believed were the initials “MSS” scratched into the wall of an Iraqi prison.
Related Links

* War on terror: Mystery grows over fate of lost Gulf war pilot

* Family racked by riddle of lost US pilot

* Initial clue to fate of missing pilot


It now appears that Captain Speicher was buried by nomadic Bedouin tribesmen close to where his F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet was shot down during a combat mission on January 17, 1991, the first night of Operation Desert Storm.

His aircraft crashed in a remote, uninhabited wasteland. It is believed that he was shot down by a missile fired from an Iraqi aircraft, most likely a MiG-25.

The Pentagon said that last month an Iraqi civilian provided new information, prompting US Marines stationed in the western province of Anbar to visit a location in the desert believed to be the crash site. He said that he knew of two other Iraqis who recalled a US jet crashing and the remains of the pilot being buried in the desert.

“One of these Iraqi citizens stated that they were present when Captain Speicher was found dead at the crash site by Bedouin and his remains buried,” the US Defense Department said in a statement. The military recovered bones and multiple skeletal fragments, which were flown back to the US. Captain Speicher was positively identified by matching a jawbone and dental records at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology.

Cindy Laquidara, a spokeswoman for the Speicher family in Florida, said: “The family’s proud of the way the Defense Department continued on with our request to not abandon the search. We will be bringing him home.” The Navy’s top uniformed officer praised the effort to determine Captain Speicher’s fate.

“Our Navy will never give up looking for a shipmate, regardless of how long or how difficult that search may be,” said Admiral Gary Roughead.

“We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Captain Speicher and his family for the sacrifice they have made for our nation and the example of strength they have set for all of us.”

Hours after his plane went down Dick Cheney, the Defense Secretary, went on television and announced that the US had suffered its first casualty of the war. But doubts grew over the years that he had actually died. When his crashed jet was found, his empty flight suit was still largely intact.

In 2005 the US military excavated a potential grave site in Baghdad, while several Iraqis said that they had seen a prisoner who looked like Captain Speicher in custody. Saddam Hussein and his Iraqi officials always denied any knowledge of what had happened to the pilot.

Memory Verse Week 31

Proverbs 16:32 (New Living Translation)

32 Better to be patient than powerful;
better to have self-control than to conquer a city.