Day 365

Are you wondering "why this picture"?

See the coffee cups? The iPad?

This is where we did most of the reading on those 365 days.
Today we completed the task: James and I read the whole bible in one year!

Our bishop of the Diocese of Virginia had given the challenge to start at Pentecost. Booklets with the reading plan were made available at St Martin's Episcopal (our) Church. Several in our congregation started Monday after Pentecost. That was really nice because sometimes on Sundays somebody would bring up a question or point of what we had read during the week.

You can download the reading plan HERE! 

Besides the reading plan there is much more info on THIS SITE.

You also can find HERE the daily devotional/explanation which is best read before each daily bible reading. Most of the time very very helpful.

We had downloaded a bible to our iPads which is very practical. We could bookmark the section of the Old Testament, Psalm and New Testament after each reading and were ready for the next day.

Got to be honest though. Once we had already read all the psalms and the reading plan started over with 1 we skipped reading that. And when the plan was through with the New Testament and started that from the beginning again, we skipped that too. We tried to stay true to the plan when we were in Turkey and in Costa Rica etc etc which was not always easy. But so close to the finish and James' upcoming trip of his pilgrimage we doubled or even tripled the daily reading to be done earlier. Yesssss, we have done it!

I have to admit, sometimes I felt like we had to plow through a section. Sometimes I wonder why in the world this is important. Sometimes I wondered how can this be really God's word. But then there were incredible AHA moments. I should put 5 !!!!! here. We are both so happy we did it. The bible explains a lot what is going on in the Middle East even today. But mostly the bible explains HOW MUCH God really loves us.

Thanks be to God for all my blessings and my wonderful life!

Posted with Blogsy

Kissing Pillows

One of my lacemaking friends in Williamsburg, VA is Janet. Besides being a very good lacemaker she is also a very accomplished embroiderer. Several months ago she told me about a project named "kissing pillows".

Tausends of these little 4x4 pillows are being hand stitched by people who care about the soldiers who are deployed into harms way and their loved ones left behind. Google 'kissing pillows' and you can find out more about it.
When I heard that Bonnie can't come to the HLG retreat after all because the family is saying good-bye to her nephew/godson who is leaving for a second tour in Afghanistan, I stitched as fast as I could. Today (Tuesday) I mailed the pillows  to Missouri. I would have liked to make 6 but ran out of red thread (besides time) and there was no shop close enough to get more in time.
Now, keep your fingers crossed that FedEx delivers on Thursday as promised.

Of course minding William is still first priority. Helen is doing her student teaching now.
William and Omi have a fine time together. He is exploring.

If you want to see him in action, here are some short videos:

The flour container was rescued earlier,
I probably should explain that this was my "baking center" until William lost his balance and the flour went all over the place. Now, that would have been a picture!

The empty water jug.

The full water jug.

Yes, Omi should have put her computer case away.

Sunday we played so hard that he was asleep in his chair before the milk was warmed. Omi was surprised when she turned around.

 And I thought he was wearing me out, haha.

Oh, yes, William and Helen came to church with me. Wow, it was a long service. The Bishop was there for baptism and confirmation (this is afterwards).

Episcopalians truly know how to feast. But since none of this was on William's menu we headed home. 

Monday William was very happy. His grandpa is back from China.

Today his Mommy has dressed him a little for the season. Boo!















Helen says that the ghost is supposed to glow in the dark. So we had to check it out in the bathroom. The camera is too good though and compensates for the missing light. It was way more impressive.

When Helen is done with her teaching preparations we meet for supper at our favorite Mexican restaurant close by. 

Big boy is now drinking with a straw.

And how big is William? Sooooooo big!

















Now I have to wind my bobbins for the lace workshop. Don't want to get in trouble with my teacher (friend) Lise.

The newest Chrismon

Aahh, the nice feeling of accomplishment!

Several weeks ago my friend John from our former church in Paducah, Kentucky, asked what the Christian Symbol Ornament will be for Christmas 2012. Yes, 2012 !!! Grace Episcopal Church has a wonderful program. Every year a new ornament is made for each of the children in the church, wrapped up with the meaning of it. I have been involved since 1991 and have designed many, many of them.

John's question reminded me that I should be working on my second book.

After several attempts (this is the fifth's version) my newest 'baby':

          The Lamb

And here is the explanation (which is more difficult for me to write than the design itself):

Agnus Dei is Latin meaning “Lamb of God”. The lamb is often a symbol of Christ, symbolizing purity, meekness and sacrifice, gentleness of character, patience under suffering.

Prophetic pictures and references to the coming Lamb of God are scattered throughout the Bible's Old Testament. Many times we read about the importance of sacrificing a lamb, an innocent lamb without blemish to atone for sins. The stories of Abraham (Genesis 22) and the Passover (Exodus 12-13) are important examples.

Christ became that innocent lamb to take away our sins. Since Jesus' crucifixion sacrificing a lamb is no longer needed.

“The next day John (the Baptist) saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)

“For Christ, our Paschal lamb, has been sacrificed.” (1 Corinthians 5:7)

*  *  *
The step-by-step directions are also written. Now all I have to do is to figure out the material list for the bigger ornament for the church tree.

What I also have to do right now is put the washed bedding back on our bed or we have to sleep in the guest room. I get so carried away with my projects. Thanks, James, for having patience!

Thinking - - many topics!

Thinking, thinking. Is this a coincidence? A month ago I received an e-mail ... one of those forwards. I usually hate forwards. Please don't ever send one to me where you have to forward it to 10 friends within the hour!!! This one was different though (I will print it at the end). I decided to act on it.

I like gadgets (!!!) so I entered it in my iPhone calendar to ring every day at 9 pm to call me to prayer ... and I was pretty good in keeping to it. I have no idea how many people in the US or the world say this prayer exactly at the same time EVERY DAY but ... do we have a chance for peace now that Osama is dead? Coincidence? You decide!
 
The e-mail: Someone has said that if Christians really understood the full extent of the power we have available through prayer, we might be speechless. Did you know that during WWII there was an advisor to Churchill who organized a group of people who dropped what they were doing every day at a prescribed hour for one minute to collectively pray for the safety of England , its people and peace? There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here in America . If you would like to participate: Every evening at 9:00 PM Eastern Time (8:00 PM Central) (7:00 PM Mountain) (6:00 PM Pacific), stop whatever you are doing and spend one minute praying for the safety of the United States, our troops, our citizens, and for a return to a Godly nation. If you know anyone else who would like to participate, please pass this along. Our prayers are the most powerful asset we have.

Mother's Day tomorrow! I was so blessed with the most wonderful mother. She has done so much for me ... and now I can't do anything for her. She doesn't seem to have much quality of life any more. And my sister says that Mutti might leave us soon. My flight to Germany is booked. Perhaps we can laugh together one more time.

My beautiful mother with my beautiful daughters 1983.











And now the requested pictures of my new hair do:

Before!












After! I was a blond all my life until I turned gray. Brunette (or even red?) was not what I had in mind. But I will get over it.

Yes, I will get over it. Not a problem.