A Little Fun in My Morning

Last night I slept fitfully as I had read a book that for me sparked some creativity...that always translates into a sleepless night. My daughter had recommended the book "Life is a Verb" by Patty Digh...here is a link to her blog: http://www.37days.com/. I had just finished a book on my Kindle so I downloaded this one and began reading at 11:30 PM last night. At 1:00 Am I shut the light...and at 3:30 PM gave up and read a bit more.

This morning my intention was to come home and clean up the house, but instead I took a detour and went to Books-A-Million to browse through some of the quilting/craft books and then to Joann's which just happens to be right next door. My one word for this year is surrender so my idea is to somehow incorporate this into a project and use some form of art to showcase what I am surrendering over the next 353 days. I bought some art supplies and am looking forward to a bit of play time this afternoon after I finish cleaning house.

One of my very favorite blogs is: www.aholyexperience.com the blog home of Ann Voscamp who wrote the beautful book "One Thousand Gifts." Today, her post was about the women in her family, young and old who get together to sew blankets. The pictures of little girls standing by the shoulder of their gray haired elderly grandmother really spoke to my heart as I read her sweet post.

I did not grow up with a grandmother who sewed, but my Vavo loved to crochet. As a little girl I loved going there...her feather bed was heavenly to sleep in, she was the best cook in the whole world, her house smelled of all things good and I always knew that she loved me and chose to spend time with me. Some of my best memories are of sitting by her as she was crocheting...me with my own cotton that she had ripped from old clothing all tucked neatly into a ball with crochet hook in hand.

I could never do much more than a simple chain stitch, but I remember just the peace I felt sitting there making a single crochet chain that seemed endless and then she would turn it into something useful for me. The act of just being together...of talking about things that were on my mind and hers...sharing life...special memories that will I pray never be forgotten.

Ann Voscamp shared these words this morning:

The Lord our God is One and in Him, all the fragments of life are woven into one piece. In Christ, we’re aren’t ever torn. In Him, all brokenness is made whole, all moments are made holy, all pieces are made one. There is profound rest in this."

He is the Master Weaver. Creativity is placed in our hearts and souls by the great Creator of the Universe. If we place our complete trust in Him and lay down our lives before Him...we can be whole. My prayer is that my life over this next year will be tightly woven in my Master's hands. That all that I do will be because I have kept my heart pure before a holy God and I have kept my eyes fixed on the One who has promised He will help me finish the race He sets before me. And step by step He will lead me...