Month: March 2015

  • It Came Undone

    A few years ago I made a spiderweb afghan for my grandson. He loved that aghan. He could use it as a cape or wrap up and hide in it.

    spideyghan_cape spideyghan_caught spideyghan_hiding

    —Okay, before you ask, you want the pattern.  I got the pattern free. I checked the link and it is no longer valid.  It is written by ‘Gail of Sitch ‘n Frog”  I did find it on allfreecrochetafghanpatterns.com .  I hope it is a legitimate share.—

    Then one day he brought it back to me.  There is a whole section where the yarn broke!

    BigHole1

    I was devastated!  I made my 1st afghan when I was 11 or 12. My grandmother taught me the granny square. I have never, in over 40 years of making afghans had this happen.

    Life happens like that too.  I get things all lined up exactly as I want them, my TO DO lists all prioritized and I am ready for the day. Then suddenly, life comes undone. It could start with a phone call or email, pain could tell me my body is not going to participate that day, a pipe bursts, an unexpected bill arrives…… you get the idea.

    Jesus was often interrupted. He walks through a town and crowds chase after Him.  He stops to rest and a group gathers. He tries to sleep and is awakened. He never let the interruption stop Him from doing what He had to do.

    How do you respond when your life becomes undone like the afghan?

    I recently read a book about a woman who looked at her life become UNDONE. It is written by Michelle Cushatt.  As she reflects on the various interruptions in her life where she unraveled and became undone, you will surely relate.

    With fear and trepidation I worked at the undone area. I carefully picked up each broken thread and gathered it together, hoping I didn’t unravel it further. Gently I stitched through, around, under, and over the large area.  It appeared to hold, but left a scar on the pattern.

    I sent the blanket home with my grandson asking him to tell me if it didn’t hold. I would try something different.

    Just like everything else in my life, when a thread unravels the choices are to ignore it and set it aside, or fix it and move on.

    The disciples thought everything Jesus would be undone at the crucifixion. But the empty tomb made a difference. The veil was ripped, but new life promised was a possibility.

    God is never too busy to stitch your unraveled life if you bring it to him.  He is never surprised either. He is waiting for you to bring it to him. Will you hand it over?

  • Through My Headset – Precious Memories

    Today I am listening to music.  I was busy pulling out piles I created in an effort to declutter and I came across a cassette album I cherish – Precious Moments by Steve and Annie Chapman.

    I received this one day many years ago when in a very difficult time in my life.  I played this over and over. I cried every time.

    In all my declutter piles today would you believe I have NO CASSETTE PLAYER!!  I can’t believe it either.

    So…….. remembering how much I was blessed by the songs of Steve and Annie Chapman, I went to amazon and ordered the MP3 album.  It is now playing on a loop.  It touches my heart as much today as it did all those years ago.

    If you would like to be blessed by it, here is a link to album. Keep the kleenex near by. You may have to wipe away a few tears to see your stitches 🙂

  • Through My Headset – Undone

    Not all my books are audio. I have just completed a preview of a soon-to-be-released book from Michele Cushatt titled “UNDONE”. The book looks at her life and is subtitled “A story of making peace with an unexpected life”.

    So many unexpected things happen in our lives. A phone call from a doctor, loss of a job, busted water pipes, a sick child.

    In scripture we are promised “life abundant” not “a bed of roses” (however, even a rose garden is filled with thorns)

    undoneMichele takes you through many of her unexpected happenings with family, work, cancer, and just life in general. 

    I was able to relate to much of her story. Even if I did not experience an event exactly as she did, I could equate her emotions to happenings in my own life.

    When I started reading, I picked up some post-it note tags and marked places I related to or wanted to share. The book is filled with neon pink stickers. Way to many to share; but enough to remind me I am not alone.

    Anyone who has experienced life, will be able to relate to her story. She reacts to life’s events much as I would, much as I believe many of you would. Her journey to finding how to deal with these events with God’s peace in encouraging. Accepting His peace doesn’t usually come with a snap of the finger as we would hope; it comes in time, in learning to trust, in accepting, in being made undone.

    I highly recommend this book. You can find details on her website: http://undonebook.com/

    P.S.  I received a preview copy of this book for promotion and review purposes. No compensation was made and these words are my own opinion.