Just Keep Knitting

So, it has been a week since the girls left, and I think we are finally over the sense of loss that their leaving always brings.

We are back to our regular routines. It is a bit quieter, and much less playful, but routines are good. Get up, have coffee, go to work, do the chores, watch some TV and off to bed...livin' the dream. And missing knitting with a lapful of granddaughter.

But I did order some yarn just after Christmas, and it arrived on Tuesday, so there was a lot of joy in this pile of squish!

Right there you can see 4 Christmas hats for next year and my 4th Annual January Sweater! Usually I begin my January sweater on the first of the month, you know, as a reward for getting through all the Christmas knitting and the stress of getting all the holiday things done. This year, with the girls in town until the 5th and the yarn arriving on the 8th, I didn't actually start knitting until January 10th! But I got a good start at knit night...

And I made quite a bit of progress after work yesterday, too. The pattern is Tin Can Knits' Snowflake, and (as per usual) I am adding my own little twist. While I was gauge swatching on Thursday morning (I know! I know! Who am I? I never swatch! Guess I can't say that anymore...), well while I was swatching, I decided I would like to add a little bling to this thing! So I am adding beads to the front lace panel! And I am really liking it...

I have used these beads in a few projects through the years, and they never disappoint. They play nice with variegated yarns, and they are looking great on this Squirrel Heather Swish DK, too, but I had no guide for placing them, so I am really just hoping for the best. There are about 10 more rows of beading, and then I am on to the body of the sweater. I am excited to see this whole sweater come together. 

One of the things I really like about knitting is the surprise factor. When you start a sweater, regardless of whether you knit in the round or in pieces, you never really get a sense of what the finished piece will look like until...well, until it is finished. Then, you slip it on, and it is perfect! (Or it isn't, and you take it off and throw it across the room into the time-out corner, cursing yourself for not swatching. Or, occasionally, you take it off and make the necessary adjustments until you love it!) While you wait, you just keep knitting.

There are lots of things in life that offer a similar surprise element...like raising kids. You bring home this tiny baby, and you do your best for the next 18 years. Sometimes there are time-outs, and sometimes things don't "fit" the way you think they should, so you make adjustments. In the end, as with the sweater, you either correct your mistakes as you go, or you try to make last-minute adjustments...but you never really know how the story ends until that kid moves out and makes his/her way in the world. And you just keep knitting. 

Or you decide that you don't really want to go to the grocery store, so you just throw what you have in the fridge into a pan, and see what happens. Add some spices, give it a taste. Add some sugar to balance too much salt, maybe a little milk or wine... Then, after you put some cheese on it, and pop it in the oven, you wait to see what happens at dinnertime. And you just keep knitting. 

Or you decide to follow Jesus, thinking it is a cure-all for everything that ails you, and you find out that life is life, and people are people...and it is still hard. Sometimes it is harder. But, with Jesus, you are never alone, so you make adjustments. You pray, you see what wisdom you can find and apply from the Bible, you join in community with other followers to help keep you all on the right path, fighting the discouragement that life brings with the encouragement of God's promises. You put on the armor of God,* and you just keep knitting.

Whatever you are doing today, friends, I hope that you will also just keep knitting. I want to see how your January sweater, your kids and your dinner turn out! And if you are discouraged, look into the Jesus-thing. If you are local, you can check it out with me at my church, or in my living room. Just shoot me a message. I will be here, and I will just keep knitting until I hear from you.

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

*Ephesians 6:13-17

Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.