Grounded

No Cedar Point for me these last few days...because of both air quality from the wildfires (these are screen shots from a couple of the CP live video cams on 7/16; we are praying for those up north who are way closer to the relentless smoke than this...)

and because I had a steroid shot to a tendon in that sore hip on Thursday, so I needed to rest 24-48. Grounded, medically...adulting is fun! 😜 Ultimately, I am glad that these things lined up, because I would have been sad if I couldn't go to the park and the weather was beautiful! Still I did get some knitting, done, including casting on for a test knit!

I'll only need 2 or three of these contrast colors to go with, but other than the pink, I'm not yet sure what else will be making it's appearance in the final project...

Also, after the girlies left, I officially finished and blocked that sweater (Yay! No more Sleeve Island!) Pictures of me wearing the blocked sweater will be coming soon, I hope!

This week has been an emotional one, so I am glad for the garter stitch bottom of that test knit, to help regulate me. Saying good-bye to the visiting granddaughters, having medical stuff, and the sudden loss of a good friend have me feeling raw. None of it is super bad, but some was certainly unforeseen, and I often have trouble turning corners on the pivot. 

I went to my hip doc on Tuesday for a follow up, since the back surgery didn't seem very effective at relieving the hip pain, and he referred me for the injection. I expected that would come in a few weeks, but there was a cancellation, so I jumped on it. Won't know for a week or so how effective it will be, but my fingers are certainly crossed! 

The biggest feels I have felt this week, though, have followed the sudden passing of a good friend and mentor on Monday. My sweet friend had a massive stroke on Saturday, following a big family event, where I hear that she enjoyed herself immensely! The two are not related, and I might find the association tragic, except that I know her...and I know that she left with her eyes on Jesus, praise God! 

Before she died, she danced at a wedding and held her newest great-grandchild...and I think we could all wish for exit-prep as lovely as that. Hugs and love, cake and dancing, then celebrating with Jesus and all those who have gone before her...yes, lovely.

This is where it hits me in the feels: 

• I can never have coffee or lunch or dinner with Bobbie again, here on earth.
• I will never again hear her laugh, here on earth.
• I will never again get a card in the mail from Bobbie, like this last one she sent after my surgery. 

This is where I review the reasons my feelings, while valid, are not the most important thing:

• Bobbie is HOME in heaven, where she has planned to be for most of her life.
• Bobbie is at the feet of Jesus, worshiping and praising God with the angels and all who have gone before her, and one day I will be there, too. 
• Unlike earth, God has promised that there are no tears, no pain and no suffering in heaven.
• God sent his Son, Jesus, so that all have the opportunity to follow Him and one day live with Him forever in heaven...regardless of anything that has happened before. Jesus has willingly taken our sin on Himself to make a way, because there is no other way, as John 3:16 proclaims. 

I suddenly realize that I have grown into a grandma (complete with grandma hobbies, like knitting, right? Look! Another pig!)

I've graduated out of the "mostly weddings and babies" season of my life into the "mostly reunions and funerals" season. All of those life[ events involve family, friends, joy and love. The latter season often doesn't look quite as joyful, especially when I am unsure of a loved one's heart condition. And, although I cannot know anyone's heart as God does, I believe that He keeps making that offer of Jesus until our final breath. 

No pressure here, but I do want to say that I hope you have found Jesus already in your life. The Christian life, here on earth, is not always better or smoother...but it changes your perspective, in the view of eternal life (eventually) with Jesus. If you have questions, I'd love to have a conversation, because I'd like to see you in heaven with me someday. 

If you're not ready, I get that too. We can certainly still be friends, and I will keep loving you. But it does make me a little sad to know that I may not see you in heaven, and you may never see Jesus up close and personal. Again, no pressure. What I want and feel is not the most important thing. 

If you're still reading, thanks for letting me say my piece. I am glad that you are here, and I hope we have many years to be online and/or "in real life" friends, whether you knit or not. The world is full of wonderful people, and I count you among them.

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. 

Not the best photo, but
can't you feel the joy? 

It's a Good Day!

Today is a good day. The sun is shining, spring-like temperatures are on the horizon, and I've already been productive as part of a church project making Peace Crosses for our community. (I'm not in any of the pictures, but I took them all, so that proves that I was there! If you were also there, thank you! It was only an hour, but the work was restorative and fun!)

Also, I've nearly finished the requested red and tan scarf, and now I mostly need to decide on fringe or not. I'm leaning toward not, as I'd probably have to buy more yarn for fringe...but the jury is still out. 

The socks are coming along. I've made a pretty significant error on the cuff of sock 2, but since these are purposefully "wonky" socks, I've just done a quick repair (that doesn't hide it at all), and moved on. We'll see if anyone ever gets close enough to my feet to find it. Might be bad news for them, if they choose to point it out...lol!

Got a LOT of pictures from the newly-minted teenager recently, as she just did a class trip and then had a birthday the next day! These girls just keep growing, and  I am excited to hug them in person on an upcoming visit we have scheduled!

And the boys are still keeping us on our toes! So active, and with the sun peeking out more and more, we are outside and moving with them as much as we can! My quiver is full of these joyful, young people, and there are days that I cannot get enough!

There are also days that I just need a nap, which means balance is the name of the game. I am getting over a fairly significant cough, so still taking it a bit easy as that abates. Have any of you parents and grandparents figured out that perfect balance? If you have, please send the formula! I want to do ALL THE THINGS, but there are simply not enough hours in my days...still, today is a good day. 

What are you up to today? Is the sun shining, or is this a cozy up with cocoa, a movie and some knitting today? Whatever you are up to, I hope that today is a good day for you, too!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

Church Secretary R Me

I work in a church. Some people assume that, in order to work in a church, one must be a member of the church in which he or she works. This is not necessarily the case, but that is only a small part of what this post is about. Wait, this is gonna take a minute...have a cookie and settle in a bit.

I have worked in church offices for more than 20 years, and I am getting ready to celebrate 6 full years working at Avon United Methodist Church, where I was hired in April of 2018. I am a Christian, and I am thankful for this church, even though I have not placed membership. It started this way as I was recovering from a church relationship that had become less than ideal. 

(Side note: I was a member of that church for 20 years, secretary for 16 of those, and most of my relationships there were very good. Some things happened because people are people, wherever you go, and I needed a time to heal. Healing, as it turns out, is taking longer than expected, or maybe I am healed...the scars still hurt, though. Ahhh, people.)

Anyway, I love Jesus and his church, and I especially love the church office. Come to think of it, it could probably be any office (I have a somewhat peculiar fondness for paper clips, excel spreadsheets and friendly phone greetings), but I have settled well into the church office through the years. Especially when life outside the office throws me for a loop, I enjoy the flexibility of a job like mine, and I also appreciate the friendships developed with co-workers who also love Jesus.

Friendship with Christians can be like "Jesus with skin on," which is something I once heard a friend verbally long for. I know that Jesus loves me, just as the song says, but sometimes I need a hug...and Jesus just doesn't do that for anyone (as far as I know) in this lifetime. What he does do is send a friend when I need it most. 

Is it always the person I'd like to see? Not always, but often it is. 

Is it usually someone who will just hug me, without reminding me that I really need to find Jesus in the moment? Almost never, but I need the reminders. 

Is it sometimes a person that requires a little extra grace to smile at? Lol...would I even bring it up, if the answer were no?

But, here's the thing: Friendship with Christians is not perfect friendship, in the same way that there will never be a perfect church, on this side of Heaven. Why? Because people are people, wherever you go, and not one of them is perfect. 

Yet, God always sends someone, because he knows that I need someone. 

I need someone to listen while I verbally process. I need someone to remind me that I am not the only one going through whatever this mess might be. I need someone to love me in spite of my imperfection, and to remind me that I am never alone.

I need Jesus with skin on, represented by His followers who are doing their best, even though they (and I) will never be perfect. I've found that in my working and non-working relationships with the folks where I work, and also in relationships with Christians from a couple of other churches I attend regularly. As it turns out, I am not ready to place membership with any church until my scars heal a bit more, but I long for community in worship, discipleship and friendship. 

So, thank you to friends at AUMC, Southeast Christian Church, and all the churches who have provided me opportunity to worship, to study God's Word and to make friends in his name. You've been my Jesus with skin on in this life, and I am excited that we will be together in the next!

And thank YOU for reading! That was a heavy, but important post for me, especially as Easter approaches. Now it's time for something a little lighter, hey! Yarn is light! I think I'll knit a bit, 

...and enjoy some cookies. Want a cookie?

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

PS-If you don't know the story of Jesus, or want to know more about why He is so important to me, just drop a line. I've got so many more words than you see here!

Choose Love

Well, this has been quite a few weeks, has it not? I have not said much about the most recent tragic events in our nation. I  have said a bit about my experience during the pandemic, and I have spoken to friends about masks and quarantine and going (or not going) to the store....but the rest of it has been so overwhelming to me. I have chosen to step back, post less and knit more for now.

I believe that the kindest reaction is usually "be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,"* and sometimes I succeed at this. Sometimes I do not, because I am human, and I am always sorry when I say or do something careless in my haste. If I have, or if I ever do say something in haste, something careless that hurts your feelings because of my own ignorance...well, I hope that you will let me know so I can apologize and learn from my mistakes.

My motivation is usually love. Why? Because when the Pharisees asked Jesus, "What is the greatest commandment?,"

Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."**

Since I started following Jesus, I have found that I love others best when I think before I speak and act, and when I choose my words carefully. Is it true? Is it loving? Is it helpful? Is it necessary? 

This week, on social media, I have watched some friends share posts without fact-checking. I have seen thoughtful response posts aimed at raising awareness. There has been encouragement to use a certain hashtag, then to use an alternative hashtag, and finally caution about either of the hashtags. The only right thing for me to do is to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.

In response to my "How're ya doin'?" yesterday, a friend texted her frustration that bad seems to be winning...which breaks my heart, but I totally see where she's coming from. Bad looks like it is winning, in so many arenas lately. 

Our world is broken in so many ways.

But God sees. God hears. God is not silent nor absent. He is letting the world see what happens when whole societies turn their backs on his love. He is waiting for us to see it.

"If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)

The only solution I see is that Greatest Commandment. Love God. Love others. I mean really love others. Do not pass quick judgement. Extend grace, even when others do not. Check the facts on a story before you post it...before you like it...before you share it...before you say or write angry words about it. Listen carefully. Take a breath and think about it. Consider what it would look like if you were the one at the center of it. Only then, if you have something you absolutely have to say, say it as gently as you can. Change starts when we all learn to love well.

One more note: Loving your neighbor is a peaceful thing to do. Loving one another never involves rioting or the destruction of property or people. Love and justified anger (let's face it, there is much to be angry about) can coexist in this broken world, as long as anger is not permitted to destroy it.

Anger expressed incorrectly tears down quickly. Love builds up. Choose love.

Thanks for stopping by. Knit in Good Health and share the love.

*James 1:19

**Matthew 22:37-40

Remembering

It is Memorial Day weekend. I have the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend blocked out on my calendar every year, as it has been since 2009, for Woolapalooza (aka The Great Lakes Fiber Show). This year, like so many other things in the last 10 weeks, the event has been cancelled. 

Today there will be no carpooling to Wooster, no group trips to sketchy, fairground bathrooms and no trudging through a wet parking lawn. No shopping until we drop...no fondling yarn from a truck or our favorite dyers. No fair food with friends or sitting in a circle in the sun to knit and share lunch while we decide which booths and stands we "absolutely have to go back to."

Yes, today is a sad day in my knitting community.

Today is sad to me for another reason too. 

My dear church community bid farewell this afternoon to a brother who has gone home to the Lord far too soon for our liking. We wished the family well from afar at a Drive-In Funeral Service, and we celebrated the life of a man who loved people well. I will miss him, and our chats in the office and the barn, and I will pray for his family's comfort and peace as they process their grief and loss. I will always remember Jim fondly.

On Memorial Day, we also remember those who gave their lives for our freedom. This year, and for many years to come I think, we will also remember how it felt to lose a bit of that freedom to pandemic fear that brought changes to most of the world...wash your hands, use sanitizer, stay at home, wear a mask, follow the arrows at the grocery store, no hugs or handshakes, stay away from people. Yes, we are living a different life right now.

But please remember... 

We are still free to express our beliefs openly. Even if our church/organization is not ready (or we are not ready) to gather in large numbers for corporate worship/socializing, every member of our community is free to hold and speak plainly his/her opinions.

We are still free to love each other well. Even while we are observing more physical distancing (not hugging friends that we meet and extended family members who do not live with us) we can be generous with kind words and smiles from behind our masks.

We are still free to be who we are. Even when we cannot gather in-person with like-minded friends in groups larger than 10 (or 50, or 100) to socialize or shop or celebrate, we can use our phones to talk, text, video chat, zoom and email with all of our personality all over the place.

We are even still free to disagree. I know that you and I will never agree on everything, and that is ok. But we can still respect each other and be kind when we do disagree, and though we may never be "besties," we can certainly exist together in peace.

So, let us remember to be kind, friends. Life is short, shorter for some than for others, as I was reminded again this week. Live and love well while you are here, and think about what happens when you are not. None of us knows for sure when that last breath will come.

Thank you Jim, for a life well lived, in service to your Savior. We could all learn a lesson from a life like yours, even if it was too short. 

Sorry if my post is not as cheery as usual, friends. I am still finding great joy in the Lord (and in a little yarn therapy), but today I am just going to let myself feel the grief for awhile. I will also knit.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope that you will also find joy and Knit in Good Health.

Is This THE END?

Well, this is it. The end...

The end of me showing vacation photos, that is! Are you ready? 

The end of our journey to Walk in the Footsteps of Jesus was, as you might imagine, bittersweet. We had seen great sights, reaffirmed faith decisions, remembering the milestones in our own personal journeys of faith and made new friends. When we got up on our last day of touring, we had to be out of our rooms by 7am and on the bus by 8.

I am not gonna sugar coat this next part at all...we were tired, we missed home, some of us were sick (including Eric, who went to bed the night before with the start of a cough and fever that continued into the day) and we were all fairly concerned to be leaving our luggage in the lobby for the day. But this is how it is done, so we followed protocol, got on the bus and tried not to cough on each other. 

Our first stop was the Valley of Elah, named for the Elah tree, which is a type of oak. 

Although I do not remember anything in the Bible about Jesus walking in this valley, there is a significant story about a young shepherd who defeated a giant Philistine here before the time of Jesus. You have heard of David and Goliath, no doubt, even if you are not a religious person. It is a great story of victory to the underdog! There are smooth stones in the Brook Elah below, which was pretty dry on this day. The stones are worn down by years in the water. David chose five.

Being in the valley of Elah on this sunny day in the year 2020 AD, with the place nearly empty invites the imagination into the battle scene. Cowering soldiers on one side, taunting giants on the other...and one young man, too small to even think about wearing armor but brave enough to step out in faith anyway. That must have been quite a scene, and there is a whole new dimension to "fear not" when you consider it.

It was a peaceful stop, and our pace for this day was clearly going to be slower. We were thankful for that as we ambled back to the bus and headed to the possible site of Emmaus (Latrun). It was on the road to Emmaus that Jesus appeared to a couple of his disciples after his resurrection, though they did not recognize him at first. There are ruins here of a Byzantine church, and like many places throughout Israel, mosaics abound.

At one point, Eric found a single tile on the path. It is amazing to me the detail of some of the mosaic work we have seen. I have not witnessed anything to compare it to at home...such small tiles, and such grand works! Even though the color is faded, the fact that these pieces still exist is testimony to the craftsmanship and time that was put into the construction!

We followed Emmaus with an early lunch to an American Diner, 

and a visit with the "King." Ha! Modern Israelites have a sense of humor, and an appreciation for American tourists, apparently.

Then we were onto the Samuel's Tomb. This site kindof underwhelmed me. 

We went down steep stairs to the basement, where we saw some women praying, then we came back up...anti-climactic. But then we went to the roof!

At first, I was not super excited about the roof either. But looking back at the pictures, being up there gave us one final overview of the lands we had walked these past 8 days. 

Our final stop was the Church of St John the Baptist, which has three distinct churches.

All around the courtyard are engravings of Zechariah's song, the Benedictus (Luke 1:68-79), in which he praises God for being God, and for bringing a son to himself and Elizabeth.

There are translations into more languages than I even recognize. Israel draws pilgrims from the ends of the earth, from every tribe, every tongue, every nation. This land of antiquity is relevant to everyone it seems, and I am so glad that we went on this journey!

I am especially glad that we left for and returned from this trip before the coronavirus hit either the US or Israel. When I began blogging these photos, I noted that seeing these large, ancient sites made me feel small and insignificant. The pandemic and its effects around the world has often made me feel the same. I am not fearful, but I am sad that lives have been lost and many have been impacted in difficult ways. 

However, I am also hopeful when I see my brothers and sister helping one another, staying home and doing what we all need to do to keep this virus at bay. Be a helper where you can, friends...and if you need help, look for the helpers. They are everywhere these days. 

Now it is time for me to do what I do, and knit a third bunny. I hope that you also have something to look forward to this weekend!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

Where We Were Wednesday

Wednesday in the Holy Land marked our 7th and second-to-last day of touring. Many in our group had caught some bug or another during the trip, and the coughs and fevers reminded me of the flu. Eric and I had had our flu shots, so I was not super worried. We woke up and had breakfast, then headed to the bus for the day. Our first stop was the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem.

This is one of two sites which may be where Jesus' body was placed when it was removed from the cross. Traditionally, this site sits near a hill that may be Golgotha (skull hill), and I tried to get THE perfect photo that showed it...but this is my picture.

Not a great photo, but that is what I saw. The garden, next to the hill, was peaceful and beautiful.

As a bonus, the northern Irish guide who showed us around was a great teller of the familiar story! We were all able to celebrate that "He is not here. He is alive!"

We each went in to see the tomb area, which was much smaller than I thought it would be, and I had a moment to revel in the EMPTY of that tomb. No, I did not "come to the garden alone, while the dew [was] still on the roses," but it felt like He was walking there and speaking to our very souls.

Our next site was the Church of St Anne, 

where this sign was posted:

Singing is kindof a joke in our family, so I sent that photo to our granddaughters. You see, Pop Pop likes to tell them (and me), "No singing!," with a waggle of his index finger. Ha, Pop Pop! I can sing here all I want! But no talking...and I am pretty sure that they prefer hymns...so that does cut out many of my favorite selections. (Cue: "This is the song that never ends! It just goes on and on..." Yes, there are legitimate reasons for the "No Singing" rule!) 

This is also the site of the Pools of Bethesda, where Jesus healed a crippled beggar who had never been able to get himself into the healing waters. Jesus did not help him into the water...he healed him on the spot. Jesus met him where he was, and told him to get on with his life! (John 5:8 - Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.)

Jesus still works that way. He is no longer walking the earth in human form, but I am happy to report that Jesus met me where I was when I was ready to follow him...and I have seen Jesus meet many other people right where they are, too. Sometimes that makes me angry. "Wait," I want to say. "You mean you will let him/her in on this? Don't you know what kind of person this is, Jesus?" 

Quietly he answers, in fact it is never audible, but I "hear" it in my heart: "Listen. You worry about you, Pam. Let me worry about this. His/Her sin is different than what you struggle with, but I love him/her as much as I love you. So, get up. Pick up YOUR mat (again) and keep walking with me. If this person wants to follow along, offer a hand where you can." 

Ouch. But thanks for the reminder, Lord.

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher, our next stop, is another site that claims the burial ground of Jesus. 

 

We walked the Via Delarosa to get there, which was...a little saddening. Traditionally observed as the road Jesus walked with his cross before the crucifixion, this walk is now full of shops and hawkers of goods, and the pilgrims are shoulder to shoulder.

Once we arrived at the church, it was too crowded to capture well in photos...but there were beautiful mosaics, and ornate decorations throughout.

Our second-to-last stop on this second-to-last day, after lunch in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem, was the Western Wall of the temple. At this point, I had reached some kind of overload, so I did not go up to the actual wall...just too many people squeezing together to touch, kiss and deposit their prayers into the stones. I was happy to take this one in from afar. In fact, the only picture I took was this one, which shows the Wailing Wall on the right side of the photo:

Our final stop was at the top of the Mount of Olives. We walked down a steep road, to the Garden of Gethsemane, just across the valley from the Temple. It was almost sunset when we reached the garden, and the setting sun just beyond the Golden Gate was a beautiful end to our day.

Holy Week 2020 looms now, and (just like the modern Via Delarosa) it will look different than I had anticipated a few weeks ago. Some things, however, are always the same:

Death has been defeated!

He is risen! He is risen, indeed!

We will celebrate the Risen King!

How will you observe Holy Week and celebrate Easter? Drop a comment to let me know!

Thanks for stopping by, and as always, Knit in Good Health!