In His Presence

A Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today

 Tuesday,December 30, the last entry in the year 2008.

Please stop by to visit Peggy  to peek into the lives of other "Simple Women," and to read the guidelines for creating your own Daybook!

Baby mitts

BABY MITTS INSTRUCTIONS (Flower Loom) Skill level: Beginner

Step 1: Using one strand of the blue yarn and one strand of the white yarn (holding them together as if they were one strand), wrap the 12 pegs according to the method shown in the Round Loom instructions.
Step 2: Wrap and “knit off” five rows of knitting, using the hook as shown in the Round Loom instructions.
Step 3a: Using the crochet hook, take the loop from the 1st peg and then from the 2nd peg.
Step 3b: Pull the 2nd loop through the 1st loop and place the loop back on the 2nd peg.
Step 3c: Take the loop from the 3rd peg and then from the 4th peg. Pull the 4th loop through the 3rd loop and place the loop back on the 4th peg.
Step 3d: Continue in this manner until you have taken the 12th loop through the 11th loop and placed the loop on the 12th peg. You will now have 6 loops on the loom.
Step 4: Wrap the loom 2 more times. Now some pegs will have 3 loops and others will have 2 loops. For the pegs that have 3 loops on them, knit the bottom 2 loops over the top loop. For the pegs that have 2 loops on them, knit the bottom loop over the top one, just like normal. When you are finished, there will only be one loop on each peg.
Step 5: Wrap and knit off 9 more rows. Thread the blue yarn needle with one strand of yarn, and sew the yarn through the loops on the pegs (pulling the loops off the pegs as you go). When you have sewn through all the pegs, pull the two ends of the yarn to gather the material and tie them in a tight square knot. (This is the same method you would use to finish a hat on the Round Loom.) Repeat Steps 1 – 5 to make a mitt for the other hand.
Step 6: You can string a ribbon through the holes in the top of the mitts or, using one strand of yarn, make an I Cord (see directions below) and put a pom-pom on each end to string through the holes. I Cord: Using any 2 pegs on any of the looms, wrap 2 loops on each peg in a figure 8 design. Take the bottom loop over the top loop and over the peg. Continue wrapping in the figure 8 and knitting over. This will form your I Cord.

Baby Booties

Got this from: Provo craft.

INSTRUCTIONS Skill level: Beginner

Knitted 2-neelde family of mittens

This is from Lion Brand Yarn..Enjoy..

Free Knitting Pattern Family of Mittens
Lion Brand® Homespun® Pattern #: 10116-K   SKILL LEVEL:  Easy SIZE: 24 months (2 yrs), Child 7-8, Adult Medium, Large Finished Width 2¾ (3½, 4¼, 5) inches Finished Length 6 (8, 10½, 11½) inches Note: Pattern is written for smallest size with changes for larger sizes in parentheses. When only one number is given, it applies to all sizes. To follow pattern more easily, circle all numbers pertaining to your size before beginning. CORRECTIONS: (applied Feb 27, 2003) Top Shaping: Row 1 (RS) Ssk, k to within 2 sts of marker, k2tog; ssk, k to within last 2 sts, k2tog. Palm (RS) K12 (14, 17, 20) sts; remove markers, place the 9 (11, 13, 15) sts on stitch holder or strand of yarn; k12 (14, 17, 20) - 24 (28, 34, 40) sts. Cont in St st until piece measures 5 (6, 5, 9, 10)” from beg. The above is only a summary of corrections; the corrected pattern text is below (if free) or shipped upon completion of order (if purchased)
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Are you prepared if your bank fails?

Hope in uncertain economic times...

Each day, I see emails or other writings from people who are struggling financially. Yes, times are hard for most families now. In the emails and blogs, I often read how the struggles are affecting the families. They are very worried about everything from their employment, losing their home or car, and just making the utility payments. Many of the emails come from those who read my blog. They read about our lifestyle and tell me that they wish they had thought about living that way before all the struggles happened. For some reason, they feel we are untouched by the economic issues. We may not be as affected as those with huge debt, but we are affected in some ways.

I often think on the stories I have read in the Bible about the times when the Lord stepped in and brought about change in His people. If I may, I have to go on memory here as I have been unable to read the Bible in nearly a year due to my vision. I wanted to say that there were times when the Lord's people were doing very well. They were living a life of plenty and had riches. It seems that each time they reached that position in their lives, it wouldn't be long after that they would start to forget the Lord and that the riches they had came as blessings from Him. They built up idols that had more importance to them than the Lord. They were puffed up with what "they" had acheived of their own efforts and work. When they would reach this point, the Lord always stepped in. The people had to be humbled and reminded of the Lord and from Whom their blessings came from.

Over my adult years, I have watched how society in general has become. I am speaking in general terms, please take no offense for what I am saying , I say with love. I have watched as many families are consumed with the ideas of having the best of everything. They want a large home, new vehicles, and the newest version of anything that catches their eye. They have convinced themselves that they "need" these things and are willing to get into a deep debt to obtain them. Credit cards have been a downfall to many families. The convenience of being able to get what they want on a whim has gotten out of control. People, in general, have forgotten what it is like to save up for the expensive things. They want it now and buy it on credit with little thought to what their payments will be like.

Many parents are feeding this example to their children in heaping spoonsful. The child asks for the newest video game system or other equally expensive entertainment and the parents give it to them. As soon as a newer version of that gift is on the market, the kids are asking for it because they "need" it. Often the system that they already have is still sufficient, but the child sees only that there is a newer version that is better. That gift that was given is no longer viewed as being acceptable. The same goes for clothing. I remember one family who's daughter was obsessed with having jeans of a particular label. The family was not wealthy. They had to save up to give each child a school clothing budget of $150 for buying their clothing for the new school year. This daughter used over half of her budget on a single pair of jeans! The mother then spent a large portion of the son's budget on the daughter so that she would have enough new clothing to start off the school year. The son was left with enough money for a single outfit that certainly did not come from the mall, as his sister's clothing did. The daughter's whim and desires came before the true needs of her brother. She was raised without the knowledge of the difference between a need and a want. Nor was she taught to show love to her brother by being sensible with her own budget so that he would have what he needed also.

Over the last month, I have watched on the Freecycle group the wanted ads. People were doing their Christmas shopping through Freecycle. Normally it wouldn't bother me at all. This time it did. I saw ads from people asking for laptop computers, game boys systems, a Wii system, iPods, and other such items that are very expensive. They seem to have forgotten that Freecycle was originally set up as a way to keep unwanted items out of the landfills. One ad said that they "needed" a DVD player for their 18 month old. The ad that really got to me though was a woman who had been through a house fire. Insurance had paid for the home but not the contents. She was asking for furniture. She went on in her wanted ad to say that she would like 3 TVs, and gave a list of solid wood furniture she also wanted. The last thing she stated was that she wanted pictures of the furniture you offered her, which would give her a chance to pick and choose what she wanted. I am sorry for her. She is in need of prayer. She has lost everything in a fire, yet she still is not humble enough to want only the necessities. She is instead wanting donations of furniture and furnishings of the quality that she had prior to the fire. She is a prime example of what I am writing about. Because she had the items once, she feel entitled to have them again even though she cannot afford them herself.

This brings me back to my original point. Whenever the Lord's people became too prideful in their wealth, He allowed them to be put into a position of becoming humbled again. Today, we are seeing families (and governments) that have allowed over spending of their financial resources to get out of control. Families and governments are living beyond their means in an effort to have it all.

I don't see the financial struggles and hard times as a punishment from the Lord however. I see it as an opportunity for us to be humbled and reminded of where our priorities should be. It is up to each of us to decide if we are going to use this as a time of reflection on how the Lord may be using this in our own lives or are we simply going to panic and blame the Lord for our struggles. The Lord is loving and does nothing to cause us harm. While His ways are not always easy for us, sometimes what may seem the hardest is the thing that is the most loving. It is like when your child strays a bit too far in one direction and you have to rein him in help guide him into the direction he needs to be going. I see this situation as one of those times. The quest for possessions and living beyond our means has gotten out of hand and in order to save us from our own folly, the Lord has allowed this time of learning and growth.

dish cloths

Has anybody made dish cloths with a loom? Just wondering? Was thinking about trying..

Blessings Brenda

Prayer requested

10 Reasons to LOVE Whole Wheat

10 Reasons to LOVE

Whole Wheat

1. It’s more nutritious, providing several more minerals, vitamins (18 more to be exact!), and natural photochemicals than white flour.

2. Relax! It has More B Vitamins which are known to help with nerves & stress.

3. Get cleaned out. Whole wheat provides more fiber, preventing constipation & diverticulosis. The American Dietetic Association recommends 20-35 grams daily, the average American consumes only 12 grams.

4. Lose weight and keep it off! Whole wheat has a lot of fiber which has almost no calories, keeps you fuller for longer, absorbs 3x it’s weight in water, cuts absorption of calories, cleans out impurities, requires more chewing, and takes 1/2 as much to fill you up and takes longer to digest.

5. Reduces your risk of colon cancer & other diseases.

6. Lowers blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and risk of adult on set Diabetes.

7. Cheaper! It will lower your food costs by at 30% to 50%!

8. Lowers doctor visits, bills, & medications.

9. Lowers Dentist Bills by cutting down on tooth decay.

10. Eating Whole Wheat keeps your body both emotionally and physically used to wheat.

Tuesday...

   We managed to get the two younger children to Arkansas to be with their natural dad for Christmas on the 18th and so Les and I were home alone until the 26th.  It was a quiet time, one that was unfortunately filled with some scary issues that happened to our 15 year old the week that school was out.  He's okay, but oh what that child went through.  We must always be viligant on who is influencing our children, not even adults we are aquainted with are safe, in our case, an adult woman was not at all as she was professing herself to be and it could have led to dire problems for son. We are so thankful that God revealed the issues to our hearts and sure enough, i after asking questions it was unsettling and we were able to prevent a huge drama from unfolding.

    The children have had a difficult Christmas. Their father had announced he was to remarry, he had only known the young lady for 8-10 weeks. The children want their dad to be happy, but this was unsettling for them.  They simply hadn't had time to prepare.   She is 28, much younger than he is (44) and they simply didn't know her.  Then when they arrived, he told them they were to have a new brother or sister.  Sadder still was that after that news,  a week later the young woman miscarried on Christmas eve.  How sad was my daughter and son, for no one wants anyone to hurt that way at Christmas.  My husband and I have been very prayerful for both of the adults and our children, for it is truly a difficult time for them to go through.  We all have to let go of the past hurts and reach out, forgive those who hurt us, and go forward.

     I have said it before and I will say it again. Divorce is never an answer without cost.  The children always pay.  I am happily remarried after many years alone, my children love their stepdad, but there is always a price they pay for their father's and I's divorce. always.  We try very hard to not put them in a place of choosing where to be, choosing who to celebrate with, etc....but they often feel torn and then there are the things like practicing all fall for a Christmas program at church they do not to be in because they have to go to the other parents.  Its simply sad.  Many do not have a choice in their divorce, but ladies who are considering it as an answer, before you do ....get some real answers to what the true costs are for you and your children.

     It is a time of pruning again.....letting go of things, thoughts, and patterns that do not help me to grow closer in my relationship to God.  To be watchful of my heart and my focus, to make sure that it is on that of God and not led astray by satan's lies.  I am so thankful for the life I have, bumps and warts and all....and I am most thankful for a God who loves me despite me.

God is good!

Sweetie