Choices

Choices....we all make them or need to make them every day.  Some are simple, everyday choices....some are life changing.

It is so very difficult to make a choice when it is between two things, both of which have so many positive features.  I own an antique, gift and yarn business, and I began to think about retirement over three years ago.  I have been waiting for the "right" time, for everything to be perfect and clear before I made my choice.  I asked God to hit me on the head and just tell me what was right for me and my family and even my community.  Apparently He didn't want to make it that simple.

In the meantime, while I tossed things around in my mind, I decided to give the shop everything I had.  I have expanded, added new features, even recently invested in a new sign and supplies for this upcoming year.  But all the time I was still thinking, listening, watching and asking for guidance.

Three days ago, right in the middle of the day, I made my decision....I am going to retire!  There are so many reasons to keep doing what I am doing and reasons to make a change.  It does no good to ask for advice, because even those who love you have just a bit of selfish motive.  They truly want me to be happy, but they also want me to do the thing that affects them in a positive way.  The choice had to be mine, and the reasoning had to be mine.

Now that the choice is made, and I've let the world know, I am committed to make it work and make sure that I am happy and satisfied with the results of this choice.  My theory on life is to make the most you can of every situation, look forward and never back, make choices and do not have regrets, cherish memories, remember the good things, and focus on now and the future.

I didn't make the choice to take the easy road...this one will be hard for months to come as I resolve many issues that will arise from this choice, but I know where I'm headed, and it is a good place!

Every day is a gift...Do you have a difficult choice awaiting you?  You may have to struggle with it like I did...it took me three years....but the mind is an amazing thing, especially if you fill it with good thoughts!  You can do the thing you need to do....have confidence in your abilities and try to keep moving forward in life.  The rewards are endless....especially after the choices are made!www.facebook.com/everydayisagiftfromgod

Sadie Sunshine Sampler Prayer Shawl (Knit pattern)

This pattern was designed in memory of my sweet 17 month old granddaughter, Sadie, who we lost to Cancer on December 21, 2012.  I have always crocheted and decided to teach myself to knit.  As I progressed up one side of this shawl, I decided to do each section in a different, simple pattern.  At the same time I was praying and remembering Sadie and others who are suffering from cancer or a loss, I was learning - so I decided to dedicate this shawl to her and record the pattern for use as a prayer shawl.

Please feel free to use and share this pattern, but when you stitch it, please have someone in mind and give it freely to them for comfort in their time of need.

(Revised to add 4 stitch garter stitch to each side - 2/5/18)

Worsted Weight Yarn - approximately 800 yards

Size 10 needles

Cast on 81 Stitches

Each section begins with front side facing.

FIRST SECTION - Garter Stitch

Knit every row - 32 rows

SECOND SECTION - Seed Stitch

K4, *(K1, P1) repeat from * to last stitch, K5 - 22 rows

THIRD SECTION - Stockinette Stitch

Row 1 - Knit every stitch

Row 2 - Knit first 4 stitches, P to last 4 stitches, K4

Repeat these two rows 8 more times - total of 18 rows

FOURTH SECTION - Basket Weave Stitch

Row 1 - Knit all stitches

Row 2 - K8, P3, *K5, P3. Repeat from *to last 6 stitches, K6

Row 3 - K4, P2, K3, *P5, K3. Repeat from *to last 8 stitches, P4. K4

Row 4 - K8, P3, *K5, P3. Repeat from *to last 6 stitches, K6

Row 5 - Knit all stitches

Row 6 - K4, P3, *K5, P3. Repeat from * to last 10 stitches, K5, P1, K4

Row 7 - K5, *P5, K3. Repeat from *to last 4 stitches, K4

Row 8 - K4, P3, *K5, P3. Repeat from *to last 10 stitches, K5, P1, K4

Repeat rows 1-8 two more times, then

Knit one row and the K4, Purl to last 4 stitches, K4  before starting the next section.

FIFTH SECTION - Textured Garter Stitch

Row 1 -K4, *(K2, P2) repeat from * to last 5 stitches, K5

Row 2 - K5, then *(P2, K2) repeat from * to last 4 stitches, K4

Repeat Rows 1 and 2  ten more times

SIXTH SECTION -  repeat Third Section - Stockinette Stitch

SEVENTH SECTION - Lattice Stitch

Row 1 - K7, *P1, K5. Repeat from *to last 8 stitches, P1, K7

Row 2 - K4, P2, *K1, P1, K1, P3. Repeat from *to last 9 Stitches, K1, P1, K1, P2,K4

Row 3 - K5, *P1, K3, P1, K1. Repeat from *to last 4 stitches, K4

Row 4 - K5, *P5, K1. Repeat from *to last 4 stitches, K4

Row 5 - Repeat Row 3

Row 6 - Repeat Row 2

Repeat Rows 1-6 three more times, then

Repeat Row 1, then K4, then Purl to last 4 stitches, K4 before beginning the next section.

EIGHTH SECTION - Diagonal Check Stitch

Row 1 - K4, *P1, K4. Repeat from *to last 7 stitches, P1, K6

Row 2 - K4, P1, K2. *P3, K2. Repeat from *to last 4 stitches, K4

Row 3 - K4, *P3, K2. Repeat from *to last 7 stitches, P3, K4

Row 4 - K7, *P1, K4. Repeat from *to last 4 stitches, K4

Row 5 - K4, *K1, P4. Repeat from * to last 7 stitches, K1, P2, K4

Row 6 - K5, P2. *K3, P2. Repeat from * to last 4 stitches, K4

Row 7 - K4, *K3, P2. Repeat from *to last 7 stitches, K7

Row 8 - K4, P3, *K1, P4. Repeat from *to last 4 stitches, K4

Repeat Rows 1-8 two more times.

NINTH SECTION -  repeat Third Section - Stockinette Stitch

TENTH SECTION - repeat Eighth Section - Diagonal Check, then

Knit one row and then K4, Purl to last 4 stitches, K4 before beginning the next section.

ELEVENTH SECTION - repeat Seventh Section - Lattice Stitch

TWELFTH SECTION -  repeat Third Section - Stockinette Stitch

THIRTEENTH SECTION - repeat Fifth Section -  Textured Garter Stitch, then

Knit one row and then K4, Purl to last 4 stitches, K4 before beginning the next section.

FOURTEENTH SECTION - repeat Fourth Section - Basket Weave Stitch

FIFTEENTH SECTION - repeat Third Section - Stockinette Stitch

SIXTEENTH SECTION - repeat Second Section - Seed Stitch

SEVENTEENTH SECTION - repeat First Section - Garter Stitch

Bind off.  Block as necessary.

Designed by Carolyn Dorsey, Sadie's Mammaw

I would be pleased for you to donate your finished product to our Sadie Sunshine Chapter of Crochet for Cancer, and we will give to a Cancer patient.  The mailing address is Sadie Sunshine Chapter, PO Box 1624, Henderson, KY 42419. You may find us at www.facebook.com/sadiesunshinechapter

You Will Bloom Again!

I love flowers!  I have over 40 violets in my home that I care for, and last year at Christmas I decided to purchase one of those Amaryllis in a box with promise of a beautiful flower from a bulb and a little dirt.  It grew and bloomed beautifully.

My husband is an outdoor gardener, so he put it in a big pot and it was in the garden outside for all of Spring, Summer and Fall.  Then Winter came and we decided to bring it in, cut it back and see what happened!  It has taken a while, but this morning we have been rewarded by two beautiful blooms!

We all have periods of time in our lives when we are dormant, sad or hurting or gloomy.  But there is always the promise of a new day full of sunshine and flowers.  We just need patience and faith, and before we know it we will see the sunshine and bloom again.  Hope!  This is what gets us through the tough times.

Are you depressed or sad or lonely?  Every day is a gift....look around you today for the rays of hope and sunshine, and begin to bloom again and share your beauty with others!  Everyone needs a pretty flower to look at each day !

Are You a Gossip?

I've been reading a chapter on gossip in my Online Bible study about what to say, how to say it, and whether to say nothing at all.  Gossip is one of those pesky little exciting things that occurs sometimes.  Some people just love to know all about people and their situations, not because they care, but because they want to be the one "in the know" so they can spread the information.  Somehow this can make a person feel important.

I'm like everyone else - I say things about people that I shouldn't sometimes.  I try to catch myself, but sometimes I fail.  I'm always sorry when the wrong things slip out of my mouth and believe me, the ones listening will not hesitate to repeat your words.

When my mind is engaged and thinking with kindness, I hold my tongue.  When we encounter gossip from others, what can we do?  We can either fan the flames and join in, or we can walk away or counter with a positive.  If we do the latter often enough, we will get out of the gossip loop.  No one likes to gossip with someone who won't get excited and participate.

Reading about gossip and the damage it can do to others and ourselves definitely puts it in the forefront of my mind so that I can catch myself if tempted.  We get a new chance each day to be a better person.  Every day is a gift....think and say only good about others today.  Like my Mother always said to me - if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.  Good advice. 

Please join me on my new Facebook page of encouragement and inspiration www.facebook.com/everydayisagiftfromgod

But It's a Blizzard outside!

This morning around 4 am I awoke to the wind howling and the windows rattling.  This was after a day of shoveling snow and clearing walkways to make my shop accessible.  I got up and looked outside at the blizzard conditions, the flag standing out straight in the wind, and the powdery snow blowing into drifts all around the house!

I thought about the conditions outside and worried about the roads and needing to get groceries and things I need to do today which I couldn't see happening in these conditions.  I woke Roy up and asked him how he could just sleep with the world going crazy outside!  He replied "confidence".

Well, what does that mean, I asked?  He said that whatever comes along we can handle it.  Worrying about it won't change anything.  We don't know what might happen, but whatever it is we will figure out what to do and take care of it.

Those words sounded vaguely familiar to me - something like words I have said before!  Oh, it's hard to put those words in practice without a reminder every now and then.  So I thought, ok, I'll just turn my worries over to God and go back to sleep as I will surely need my rest going into this day.

Now I'm awake and everything has settled down outside.  The temps are to drop below zero tonight, but, you know what?  I can't do anything about that.  Every day is a gift.....I will try to protect my water pipes from freezing, stay inside as much as I can, check on Mother, and enjoy this day with confidence that God is watching over us.  What troubles and concerns are you facing today?  Be assured that God is right there beside you and lifting you up and giving you the strength you need whatever comes your way.

I now have a new facebook page filled with messages of inspiration and encouragement gleaned from every day occurrences.  Please follow me there at www.facebook.com/everydayisagiftfromgod

Put That in the God Knows Best Pile

I was chatting with my daughter the other day, and we were discussing life in general and how to get through the tough times and tough days. She said something profound about things we have no control over - it went something like this - I just put that over there in the pile of God knows best things.  Basically, turn that problem over to God, and try to get on with living.

Honestly, I wonder how much time we spend being worried about and feeling responsible for things that we do not have control over and things that we cannot change.  I have found that in times of trouble, the first thing I have to do is get my mind wrapped around what just happened, and then learn to accept, and then begin to move forward again with my life - not as if nothing happened because some things change us forever - but to live the life we have in the best, most fulfilling way possible.  We just have to play the game with the cards we are dealt and always be grateful for what we do have and give our best effort every single day.

Every day is a gift.....if you are going through something you do have control over, try to do what you can to correct things....if it is something you have no control over, then wrap your mind around the new normal and live every single day in the best way you can.  Never give up...there is always sunshine to be found.

I now have a facebook page where I share thoughts of inspiration and encouragement daily gleaned from every day occurrences.  Please follow me there atwww.facebook.com/everydayisagiftfromgod

When I Was Hungry

Our sermon this morning was based on this scripture.  I have heard it so many times, and it always makes me think if I am loving and serving in the way I should.  

Matthew 25:31-46New International Version (NIV)

The Sheep and the Goats

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

The other day I had a young woman come in my yarn shop.  She told me she had been wanting to come in ever since she saw us sitting on the porch knitting and crocheting on Worldwide Knit In Public Day which was about four months ago. 

She was a small, pretty girl and she had brought a bag with her to carry the yarn in that she wanted to select.  She went back into the shop and began to gather yarn.  She filled up her bag, so I took her a basket and asked her what she was planning to make with all this yarn.

She began to tell me that she wanted to make a colorful granny square afghan and put it all together with black.  I told her of one that I have that my mother made many years ago, purchasing 25 cents worth of yarn each week.  Then she asked me about how to stitch it together, and I told her she could come by any time and I would help her figure out a method that she liked.

After she piled many, many skeins of yarn on my counter, she began to tell me that she hadn't been out of her apartment for months, and this was her first venture out in public and she was enjoying talking to me.   She explained that she was bipolar and had great difficulty going out in public.  She told me about her medication and how it had helped her.  She thanked me for offering to help her.

I invited her to come to Memories any time and sit with me and others and work on her crocheting.  She seemed excited but timid at that prospect.

After she had visited for about an hour, she asked me to add up her purchase and she would have her boyfriend withdraw the cash and come back later to pay me and pick it up.  

This is when I realized that I would probably not see her again or her boyfriend.  And I was right.  She has not come back.  It didn't bother me at all, as I saw a much greater purpose in her visit than how much yarn she was to buy.

In reflecting on this, and explaining to my husband, we decided that I was able to give her just what she needed.  She needed someone to listen to her, let her build her confidence in going out in public, validate her dream of the beautiful afghan, and someone to talk to her and treat her like the valued person that she is.  I felt like God sent her to me, and I somehow gave her what she needed that day.

I will pray for her that she will get brave and go out again and that she will get to make that afghan she is dreaming of.  Hope and dreams and faith in the good in this world can help us all move forward in life with confidence.  I pray she will grow in her confidence.  I pray that she has someone in her life to love her and take care of her.

God wants us to treat each person we meet with love and respect and have no concern for what that person can do for us, but what we can do for them.  I pray that I will never miss an opportunity to reach out to others.  Everyone needs love, a smile, a hug.