2011

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...."

Could anybody else sum up their year this way?

For the past two days my google reader has been choked with post, everyone summing up their year. Giving statistics, their 30 favorite things, and the best of anything and everything of 2011.

My year? It was rough. Harder than probably anything I've ever faced. But it was also good. Because I have a big God. A God who can heal and help and hold when your entire world crumbles.

My stats? Let's see. There are to date 17 of ya'll who have been brave enough to push that follow button. :) Thank you.  There has been quite a number of you who are still lurking in the shadows.Thank you for sticking around, reading, and commenting.

Wanna hear a story?

We went hiking today. On a dirt trail. A trail that had been recently rained upon and was, literally, a mud path. The steepness of the path, made our slogging difficult. Most of the time we were forced to stay off the path. Sticking to the slippery but safer, leaf covered, forest floor. It was scary, and an adventure but we all loved it.

Anyhow, I slid and slipped along about half way before I discovered a thick, straight branch obsructing my path.  I grabbed it eagerly, well actually more like the drowning man and the straw. And, with the help of my trusty stick, I made it down as far as my family dared to journey. All the way I leaned on my stick. Stuck  hard into the mud, it held me steady, saving me from several slides. Without it, I would have been muddy, and perhaps hurt.

 I had to lean on that stick. I couldn't make it across that trail by myself and still keep my footing. I had to lean, to allow myself to trust in a rugged tree branch.

There is another fad going around this year. It consists of choosing one word, just one, to live by in the new year. As we reached the top of that hill I knew what my word was.

Lean

Just Lean.

I could struggle, slip and crawl through this next year. Trying to do it alone, and getting nothing but dirt and bruises to show for it. Or I could lean. Allow God to hold me. And   trust Him, He won't let me fall.

The path will still be hard. But I have a strong God to cling to. I don't have to go it alone in 2012. All I have to do is Lean.

A very happy New Year to you all. May you each have a year of growth in your knowledge of our great and glorious God.

Amanda

Fine Print: Image are not mine. And yes, I would love it if you pushed that follow button. : )

Christmas

It's all so big and beautiful.

Christmas - the festival of Christ. God becoming Man. The Creator born. But not born to live, but to die.

I've been trying to somehow wrap my mind around it all. To try and put myself back in Israel, with the shepherds, as they walk trembling to the manger. Or with the wise men, as they with their entourage enter Israel in search of the highest king. A king even they, the king makers, would bow to.

But I can't, it's too big.

It's a bigness that calls for a response from us. A soul who truly sees, must bend in awe.

Because when you glimpse this awesome sacrifice, this amazing love. All you can do is whisper, "Hallelujah".

May God be praised.

In hopes that you Christmas is/was filled with a glimpse of the greatness of our God.

Merry Christmas,
Amanda

Self in the Focus

I got cranky today. Cranky because someone wasn't listening to me. She was self absorbed, self focused. 

And I was mad. 

Because she wasn't paying any attention to me. 

Couldn't she just see how self- interested she's being, I thought. Couldn't she quit being all about herself and think about me. 

She was self focused. And I wanted her to focus on me. 

I wanted what I wanted. I thought I needed attention. I wanted a listening ear. I craved for someone to notice my awesomeness for just a little while. 

Do you see the problem? 

We are trained by our sin nature, by the culture around us, by everything logical to the human mind, that we are number 1. That we deserve a long list of things. That we are the greatest, the best, the epitome of humanity. 

But we aren't. We're self deceived little humans, deserving nothing. Called as children of God to abase ourselves and love others. 

Self focus is natural, but it's a remnant of our sin nature that needs to be thrashed and tossed away. Who's with me? 

Christmas Decorating

Sparkling lights.

Retro gold trees. 

A Christmas Carol.

Vintage Tablecloths.

Baskets.

Blankets.

Torn Book Page creations. 

Vintage bottle brush glitter tree, rescued from the dirty floor of a warehouse. 

I've been decorating for Christmas. 

These little book page trees are so fun and easy to make. Want to make your own?

Take an old book. Preferably something that's not worth reading (don't cut up a dear friend). :)

 Draw your basic Christmas tree on top of a stack of 11 (exactly 11) pages. Just like this. As you can see it's just a basic drawing not a work of art. : ) Also you can do any size you want.

Cut out your pattern. A good pair of scissors will easily go through 11 pages of old book paper.

Staple two or three times right down the center of the tree. (If you look real close you can see it in the picture.)

Once you have it all cut out. Gently fold each page up on one side. Until you have folded five up. Like this.  Holding to the folded side, fold the other half the other direction. Leaving only the very last middle page unfolded. 

Spread the pages out until you have a nice tree.

Display!












I wanted to add something a little extra to my big tree. So I strung some red beads on green embroidery floss, and wrapped it around.  Cute huh!

Let me know if you decide to try it out! 

Christmas Crochet

With Christmas approaching many crafters are looking for ideas for gifts. I know that I spend all year stockpiling tutorials and inspiration, so that I can make as many of my gifts as possible by hand. December is a month of incredible excitement for me as I sew, and glue, and cut, and cook, and crochet little gifts to give my family and friends.

That's why I've been really enjoying this series of posts, as it's given me some great ideas. Today I'm going to join in the linky fun with a couple knit/crochet tutorials that I've found on the internet. (To my family, you may safely read on, none of these will appear this year, If I only had enough time....)

Okay, here we go.
I really want to make one of these. Unfortunately the pattern is in Japanese. : ( I think I'm going to try it making the pattern as I go. We'll see.

This would make an excellent gift. It's so unique and could be color customized for whoever you are giving it to.

From Ravelry.com










Here is something fun and fast. Using the same basic idea of a granny square or a simple circle. You can make lovely little coasters. These are quick to whip up. Here is the link to the tutorial. 










Last but not least.  This would be something you could give to a crafter. I know I for one would love a "sky scarf" kit. All you would need to do is buy the different colors. (Bonus idea: every knitter/ crocheter likes to have new yarn. Make their day and get them a couple of really great luxury skeins of yarn. )

Here is the basic idea. Every day for an entire year you (or your knitting friend) would knit one row onto the scarf, using whatever color best matched the color of the sky that day. By the end of the year the entire scarf would be 365 rows long and document the daily changes in weather.

Not only would this be a fun and unusual sort of journaling. But it would also go pretty fast. Generally it only takes 2 minutes or less to knit one row.

So there you have it, a few fun ideas you might be able to use this Christmas. I'll be linking up with One Stitch at a Time. Looking for more Christmas Ideas? I'd recommend checking out One Stitch at A Time's "Crafting by the Tree" series. I've got a lot of ideas from there. Shhh, don't tell my family. :)


Fine Print and Disclaimer: 
None of these images are mine, none of these projects have I actually completed. I've used them only for inspiration, and to file away for future use. None of these blogs (Except for One Stitch at a Time - which by the way I heartily recommend) do I read or follow.  Also my apologies for the bad spacing in this post. My blog is being bad tonight. : (

Happy Crafting!

Jack and Jill -A Bookworm's Calendar - November

 Jack and Jill went up the hill
     To coast with fun and laughter,
Jack fell down and broke his crown,
     And Jill came tumbling after. 

So begins one of my favorite children's stories by L. Alcott. I cannot even count how many times I have read this, and enjoyed it. Though written primarily for children, adults will enjoy the simple joy and cheer that this little book gives.

The story opens just like the poem. Jack, and his friend Jill are out for a fun day of coasting (sledding). But a terrible accident occurs. Leaving Jack with a broken leg, and Jill with an injured back. The two children are faced with bed rest for several months. And they learn to be content and have fun when flat on their backs.

Christmas is one of the big themes of this book. Everyone works hard to create little gifts for each other.  I enjoyed learning some of the old Christmas customs of the late 1800's.

Probably my favorite thing in this book is the lessons it teaches. During a day when Jill and all her little girl friends were struggling to be good. Kind Mrs. Pecq asks them if they each wouldn't like to be missionaries. Each little girl agrees, wishing that she could live the adventurous life of a missionary. Mrs. Pecq then goes on to show the girls that each one has a mission field of her very own in her home, and that they ought to try and be little missionaries .

Overall this is a sweet story of children, their growth, their struggles, and their victories. Read along with me, and let me know what you think.

Want the link to buy it? Go here Jack and Jill . 

Chance of Snow...

The air is turning colder and colder. Every day the raindrops seem to thicken and struggle to become full fledged snowflakes. My hands are busy right now.  Creating, dreaming, imagining new things.

I cannot even describe how blessed I am with all I have been given. The possessions, the family, the resources. So many things given, I only fear that I return far too little.

Christmas preparations are up. So I can't share much on that subject due to the family reading. :) I'm taking lots of ideas from here and here. And really loving this series. Old Fashioned Handmade Christmas.


Just a few of my favorite things:

Old Christmas Tunes - everything from Huron Carol to White Christmas. :)
Hope of snowflakes tomorrow.
How good pizza tastes after almost a week of Thanksgiving leftovers.
Old gentleman in front of me in line (for said pizza) singing Have Yourself  a Merry Little Christmas under his breath with a voice that somehow reminded you of Burl Ives.
Furry cat refusing to step outdoors.
New book. :)
Book chosen for December's "Bookworm's Calendar"

Christmas trees in windows
Candy Canes
Carol of the Bells
Calendar filling with Christmas fun
Stockpile of gifts growing in my closet, making it difficult to move my clothes.
Fake snow to create snow globes, causing glittery messes in my room.
Cranberry Sauce for breakfast   every - single - morning. (I'd eat this for the rest of my life if allowed.)
Vintage mystery stories.
Christmas tree decorated with white and plum colors.
This Photo.


There's a chance of snowflakes tomorrow. I'm eagerly waiting. How about you?

Fine Print: Images not mine. 

Thanksgiving

This is a day that gets zoomed by, overlooked in the rush between towards Christmas. Thanksgiving is no longer even advertised in Walmart, the focus all laying on the day after - Black Friday.

But you know, even though this day is often usurped for tinsel and glitter, there is something to remember in this holiday rush.

The reason we are thankful is because of Christmas.

Had Christ never come, bent and humbled to the lowest degree. Had He never been born in a filthy barn, surrounded by the lowest grade of society. Had He never lived a perfect life in a world of black sin. Had He never stretched Himself upon that cross, eternal-infinite God giving up His own life. Had He never stepped from the grave, alive in a place of death.

Had He never come, we would have nothing.

But because Light came into the darkness. Because Heaven came  to earth. We can rejoice.

There is so much to be grateful for. So many small things that we so often overlook. Our homes, our provision, our families, our government.

But lets not forget the big thing today.

Our God.

To whom we have complete access. To whom we no longer must cringe and keep our distance. But to whom we can freely run, into the outstretched arms waiting to welcome us, and rest, children in the arms of the heavenly Father.

God became man. So that man could see God.

 And for this we must be thankful.

Fine Print: Images not mine

Clouds...

Fog swirls, thick and grey. Damply, it draws it's cold fingers tighter around me. I strain my eyes, my body leans forwards, attempting to see the road of life before me. So many choices, so many life altering decisions, so many optional paths ahead. 

But I can see nothing but the tiny circle of road at my feet. Just enough brown earth visible for one step forward. 

I stand there fearing, impatient, and angry. Waiting for the fog to lift. Waiting for a glimpse of the road. Waiting to move forwards. 

My heart rebels, I cannot wait for the curtain's lifting. Like a little child, I fret and fume at the grey mass. 

I want to run forwards, I want to adventure and conquer for myself, I want my own way. 

But the fog lays hard and heavy. 

"Say not Child of God, that the sun is quenched beacause a cloud has hidden it. Ah no!
He is behind there brewing summer for thee:
For when he comes out again, he will have made the cloud full to drop April showers, all of them mother's of the sweet flowers. "  ~Charles Spurgeon

Never despair because of the cloud. Wait. Just wait. The cloud will lift, the rain will fall, and the path ahead will become illumined.

"Above all, when God hides His face, say not that He has forgotten you. He is only waiting a little while to make you love Him better; and when He comes you shall have joy in the Lord, and shall rejoice in joy."

 Waiting for the clouds to lift.
~Amanda

Fine Print: Images are not mine. Quote

To Have and To Hold

Despite it's name, this book is far from a mushy romance novel. Captain Ralph Percy, a stern soldier and homesteader in this new world of the colonies, is the narrator of the story. Through his eyes we can see the rocky beginnings of the country we now call the United States.

Life was hard for the early settlers around Jamestown. There was always the fear of hunger, disease, of wild animals, and the Indians. But to the men who first founded Jamestown there was another problem.

They had no wives.

And the fragile new colony faced extinction.

To remedy this problem, King James the first filled up several ships with lower class women. Girls who had strong bodies from working the English fields. Women who had no chance of anything but a hard life of toil and want. In America these women would be treasured by their men, they would have the chance to live, grow the land, and become the mother's of the Jamestown colony.

What King James didn't bargain for was that his ward, the Lady Jocelyn Leigh, would seek safety on the ships and disappear in the wild forests around Jamestown.

Captain Percy, unwittingly, marries the Lady Leigh, only to find out that with the wedding vows he had become a condemned man. Hated by the King, and the King's court favorite, and Jocelyn's old fiance' Lord Carnal.

The story is one of adventure, as Captain Percy fights for the woman he has married. There are pirates, Indians, soldiers, and wild animals all thrown against the dark and foreboding backdrop of the American forests.

2 Notes - Although love, and marriage are important pieces of this book. This is not a "love story" and there is nothing inappropriate. I recommend this book for the brilliant way it shows how true love will fight and battle and war against every odd.

Secondly, Though the original edition is in the public Domain, I do recommend you read the Vision Forum version of the book. The original story had several passages where a very angry Lord Carnal said certain things he ought not to have said. Vision Forum has done an excellent job in removing those, without damaging the excellence of the book.

Lastly, I chose this book for  November because of the incredible history of our early colonists that is portrays. With thanksgiving approaching, we often only think of the Pilgrim's alone in the New England Forests. But there was so much more than that. Reading this book deepened my appreciation for the American heritage. Read it yourself, you'll never think of history the same again!

Fine Print: Images are not mine. In hopes that Blogger will let this post through, it ate my last version of it. :/

Introducing... A Bookworm's Calendar

I love books.

That's obvious from my blog's title right? :)

I read as often as possible, and when I'm working and can't hold a book to read, you'll often find me listening to the Librivox version of the book. (Love Librivox by the way, but that's another blog post.

Anyhow, we haven't talked about books too much. I feel kinda bad about that, like I've neglected a dear friend. :(

Now it's all gonna change.

Every month I'm going to bring to you one book, a book suited to the month, but superbly excellent to read all year round. We'll call it the A Bookworm's Calendar, okay? I'm going to even compose a page (check the top of my blog right beside "About the Abibliophobiac". There I will give you the name of the books I'll be featuring a couple months in advance. That way you too can get the book and read along with me.

Sound fun?!

So, even though it's a little late in the month I'll be featuring November's book ASAP. Hopefully, you'll be inspired to grab it and we'll enjoy it together.

Happy Reading!

Multitudes~ A Place of Safety

"He (God) shall cover thee with His feathers,

and under His wings shalt thou trust, 

His truth shall be thy shield and buckler."

                                            Psalm 91:4

This was my verse for today. A verse so often mindlessly quoted, and forgotten. A verse that holds worlds of sweet comfort. A promise of a safe place of love and protection. This was my multitude for today. 

Fine Print: this is number 98 in the multitudes I am chronicling on Mondays. Image is not mine. 

Of Tea, Colds, and Word Counts.

I'm allergic to writing contests.

I'm sure of it now.

I was pretty sure last contest I did, now I'm positive. Every time I force myself to write I come down with something. Anything, a cold, a sprained arm, swine flue, malaria...  (Just kidding about that one.:)

Anyhow, this is the seventh writing contest I've done, and I had planned on doubling up on vitamins just in case something should try to attack my system. I was a day too late. Night 1 of Nano, I came down with a terrible cold. It's still hanging around.

Feel sorry for me please?

Anyhow, Nano update. I'm loving it, my word count isn't incredibly high, too much of a cold for that. But I am getting somewhere in my story. It's about time, I needed to get this story out of my system.

My room mate is still trying to understand the reason behind Nano. Poor cat.

Back to my cold, the cat has one too. We're sneezing together and pitying each other. She takes her medicine when I take mine. It's nice to have a companion in this.

So there's my life for this week. Between sneezing, writing, and drinking pots full of hot tea it's been a pretty good week.

How about yours?



Fine Print: Tea pot image not mine. Though I certainly would not mind having that little yellow pot on the second shelf down far right. :)

November

Frosty mornings.

Bare trees.

Shadows thickening as supper ends.

November is here.

It's probably my favorite month of the year, so full of excitement, and the pure happiness of holidays.

It's the month I set aside writing time to pound out a 50,000 word document. In the hopes that, after careful revision and polishing, a book will emerge. A book all my own.

It's the month of first snow, and return to all things warm, cozy, and comforting.

It's the month of Thanksgiving. That eager time of gathering together, to laugh and play, to remember old memories and create new ones, to thank the Father for a year's-worth of blessings. To feast, rejoice, and marvel at the goodness of God.

It's the month of preparation. Mysterious noises, conspiratorial whispers, lumpy burdens, plots, patterns, purchases. All the things necessary to create those delightful Christmas-morning surprises.

It's another month to learn, read, discover. Another month to deepen the relationships of family and friends. Another month to grow closer to my Heavenly Father who loves me and holds me.

November is here with all it's multitudes of blessings. And I'm so thankful!



Fine print: #87-97 of the multitudes I am counting. Linking with Multitudes for Mondays as well as Sharing the blessings over at Accordion to Kellie. Images are not mine.

Loose ends, New beginnings

Do you ever feel like you are spinning your wheels, accomplishing nothing? I've had several weeks of that. Weeks that have left many, many loose ends, and unfinished projects.

These past few days though have been days of re-inspiration, of projects finished and loose ends tied.

-Lessons completed

- Yards of fabric turned into clothing

-Nano novel all ready for the big start Tuesday

-Goodies added to the shop.

Have I ever introduced you to my shop? It's here at Timeless Everythings. Check it out! 

With the completion of set off projects came the completion of warm weather. This morning every blade of grass, and flower stalk was coated in shimmering frost. The air is nippy and smells of ice and snowflakes.

And now I can't wait for winter. For Thanksgiving fun with dear friends and family. For the excitement surrounding Christmas, gifts made, gifts received. For the long winter evenings, snowed in, seeking warmth under furry layers. The smell of crackling fires, the quiet night walks under falling snow.

Bad weather is approaching, and I cannot wait.

Don't be a winter hater this year. Get in the mood, bake something ummy, warm your hands around a mug of steaming hot chocolate, go for a walk and look for the signs of it's approach. Get creative and make something cozy. Cuddle up and get ready for hibernation.

Winter's coming, we can't wait.

Fine print: Images not my own. Cat is, don't even try to convince me that she isn't the cutest cat in the world. :) 

Multitudes (and a request for blogging help)

77. Dear friends who I'm thankful for just because they are dear friends, but who made my day yesterday with a gift of a case of Nehi Peach Soda. I can now reminisce over vacation while sipping the best soda in the world!  :)

78. Down filled duvets for these freezing nights.

79. Last glimpses of autumn glory.

80. Baby steps in success at learning to drive. I've survived thus far.

81. Spice. What would baking be without it.

82. Complex story coming together out of a heap of ideas and dreams.

83. Frosty mornings where everything looks glittery in the sun.

84. New authors discovered.

85. Journals.

86. Approaching holidays, the thought of which always sends a thrill of excitement through me.

87. Little sister vigorously marking her way through magazines so that we will know what she needs for Christmas. :)


Quick question for all you bloggers out there. Does anyone know how to fix the email subscription settings? Most of my email subscribers say that they never receive my posts until three or four days after it was posted. Can anyone help me with this? 

Fine print: Images not my own.

Kaleidoscope

Shards of colored glass, a battered cardboard tube, circle of transparent plastic, all so small and insignificant.

But in reality, that's all I am.

Me, the real me, holds the battered cardboard tube that is this present life. Inside it rattles the colored glass pieces that make up everyday. All those tiny, insignificant pieces and parts of my life.

I look through and see nothing but blurred and dim shapes in the darkness. He tells me to point it towards the light. For it's only by His light that I can see life properly.

I point the cardboard upwards and see it. A pattern. A beautiful mosaic made up of all the pieces of life, sparkling and brilliant.

But then He takes hold of the cardboard tube and shakes it gently. And I cry because my pattern is destroyed. But I look again, and see a new shape, a new beauty greater than the one before.

At times I forget to point the tube towards the light, and I lose sight of the beauty of the pattern.

Sometimes I pull back and pity myself. I wish I was something more than a collection of broken glass and worn out cardboard.

Sometimes I try to keep Him from shaking my life. I wildly clutch, attempting to save the pattern that I think is the most beautiful. Unwilling to wait and see what He creates.

I must be still to see the picture. I must keep myself pointed towards the light, letting it illuminate this great puzzle of life. I must allow Him to shake and move and jostle, knowing that He does all things well.

Because life's a kaleidoscope, and He's the Master artist.

Fine Print: Original idea by a dear friend, pictures not my own. 

Monday Multitudes

A few of the things I am so grateful for this week:

66. Crunchy apples

67. Music. Nothing can calm or sooth you faster. There is something incredibly powerful in it.

68. Autumn's last harvest.

69. Wind tousling your hair and making you feel like a little kid again.

70. Sisters.

71. Psalm 91.

72. Song of a bird stopping for a rest before traveling further south.

73. Success in growing potatoes. (I've tried for years and have never until this year actually succeeded.)

74. Congregation mingling voices in ACapella song.

75. Forest pine colored pens. :)

76. My brother- Sir Valiant, ever willing to rescue his sisters from bugs, toads, and bats. :)

What are the little blessings you are thankful for today?

Fine Print: Picture and quote are not my own. 

A Rather Blustery Day...

Outside: it's a very blustery day. A very pooh and piglet sort of day. 

Inside: It's a quiet, sun and shadow sort of day, the kind that just calls for hot apple cider. 

There must be something in the Autumn wind that whirls and thrashes energy into you. It's like the very last bit of energy must be used up before the winter's stillness. It's chilling, but adventurous and exciting all at the same time. 

I raked leaves today. They were gloriously beautiful as they were, but they did need to be raked and gathered. Now they are heaped almost four feet high waiting to be slowly turned into compost to enrich next year's garden. 

I seem to always pick the windiest of days to rake on. One of those days when the wind can't decide which direction it is going. Well, either that or it is purposefully playing with me. Just as fast as I would rake  the leaves in the direction the wind was blowing it would turn on me and throw them back in my face. I finally conquered in the end. 

Inside we hunkered down and listened to the wind crashing the wind chimes outside. Warming cold hands on warm mugs, and drowsily reading thick books. Just the thing to do on a very blustery day. 

      Hot Spiced Apple Cider

1 mug Apple Cider
Pinch of : Nutmeg, Cinnamon
Half Pinch: Ground Cloves
1 Stevia packet.
Mix, heat in microwave until warm. Drink with hands wrapped tightly around, and many pauses to just breathe in the fragrance. 

Fine Print: Images not my own. 

Sharing the Simple Blessings

Simple Blessings, scattered all throughout our days. Tiny things, often hidden behind bad things.

Things we never see because we are so wrapped up in our big problems.

 Never realizing that our problems are normally the petty things, and the blessings are the big things.



It rained today. A gray, depressing, dreary rain. One of those dripping rains, that take all day long to finish when they could have finished in a 10 minute hearty down pour.

I grumbled at the rain. It was ruining all me plans. The leaves were piling up in the yard. With rain added on top they would take forever to rake up.

Not a big problem really, but just enough to get me really grumpy at the weather.

It wasn't until I actually took a good look outside that I saw what I was missing.

It wasn't only raining little tiny rain drops, it was raining leaves.

They came down swirling, and fluttering to land in a thick carpet. A carpet of reds and oranges and browns.

And then I realized what I would have missed if I had raked those leaves up today in the sun.

I would have missed one of fall's greatest blessings. The final, glorious farewell of summer. Leaves are not just dead things to be raked and burned without a thought. God made them beautiful gems, even in their death. Flaming pieces of color to brighten our dark fall days.





So there is my simple blessing for today. I can't think of anything more simple or more radiantly lovely than a fall leaf.

Fine Print: Linking up with the Sharing the Simple Blessings series from Accordion to Kellie. All 

pictures are my own.