Sickies here

We are all sick here. The flu has hit. It has hit us older ones the worst. The little ones get sick – and then run about like they are fine, until they get sick again. Jayson has his first basketball game tomorrow and we are hoping to all go to it. It’s been our healthiest winter in a long time, so if we get over this quickly, that would be wonderful.

Prayer Shawl

“For it was you who formed my inward parts, you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well.”
Psalm 139:13-14

It was one of those days when something just really hit me as being so awesome and inspirational. I enjoy (too much) looking in the craft section of our local store – to get ideas – and see what’s new and available and costs, etc. Today I was looking for something for embossing cards – looking for a green yarn for flower stems, and I came across a book called,

The Prayer Shawl Ministry – Reaching Those in Need. What an inspirational and encouraging book this is – though I don’t necessarily agree with all the “spiritual” things in the book, the idea of it is just so neat. I did not get the book, but looked it up in our library system, and the book was lost. When I got home here tonight, I did some searches on it, and found some other neat websites and ideas for it. The first website I came across is, Prayer Shawl Ministry and they give ideas of uses for giving a shawl:

[For those] [u]ndergoing medical procedures; as a comfort after a loss, during bereavement, prayer or meditation, commitment or marriage ceremonies, birthing, nursing a baby; as a bridal shower gift; leading ritual; first menses or croning rites of passage, during an illness and recovery; ministering to others or just socializing…There are endless possibilities! To make a shawl personal, the giver or the recipient may want to adorn the shawl with beads, shells, feathers and charms. A blessing or ritual maybe offered when the gift is presented.

This Prayer Shawl Ministry has on their website instructions & guidance as far as doing this, which includes when you decide to make on and begin, first start out praying for the person you are making this for. They give a suggestion for doing these even in groups, and passing shawls around the circle, so you can then pray for that person’s shawl you are working on. This site also gives a common knit and crochet pattern for making this, which appears quite easy. Many of the shawls are completed with tassles on the ends and there are suggestions for adding beads or charms to personalize it even more. As my readers know, I like making Mother’s Bracelets, shawls can be made in colors according to birthstones. Or, imagine even having a neutral colored shawl and having children’s birthstones woven throughout or on the tassles. Like with birthstones having a different color for each month, the Prayer Shawl Ministry website also has ideas for birthday shawls according to birthstone color and their meanings and also the possibility of enclosing scented sachets with the shawl.

Another neat website, which is a little less “new agey” is the Waiting Room Ministry which also has The Prayer Shawl Ministry. I love what they share as far as their suggestions for praying while making the shawl:

1. Begin by focusing on Jesus Christ. Thank God for His love and goodness toward the person you are praying for while making the shawl. Thank Jesus for His plan for good to happen in this persons life. Thank and praise the Lord for Jesus Christ’s death on the cross and the Holy Spirit’s presence as you knit or crochet. Visualize Jesus sitting with you as you make the shawl. See the person being held in His arms and feel the love they share.

2. Thank the Lord for the person. Have good thoughts about the person and focus on the potential for healing, for a quality life and believe that the person will be restored, healthy, and complete in God’s time. Lift whatever needs the person has to the Lord in prayer.

3. Intercede for the person. Sometimes words are not enough and I sit with the Lord and simply hold the person before the Lord. Ask the Lord to guide you as you pray and knit or crochet. Pray for blessing on the person. Pray for strength and courage in the person’s life and in the lives of loved ones. Pray for comfort and healing and for the doctors, nurses, and all who take care of the person. Pray for whatever need the person has in life. Let the Lord lead you and pray whatever Jesus lays on your heart.

4. Pray for the person to draw closer to Jesus and if the person is not a believer, pray for salvation. In your mind’s eye see this person turning to Jesus and walking into the arms of God. Pray for the Holy Spirit to lead the person to Jesus Christ and for the person to be open to the Lord. Pray for this one’s heart to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior.

5. Keep praying – you can pray for one area that needs prayer over and over as you feel led. Sometimes you may feel led to pray for one area of life, such as healing of memories, or for blessing on the relationships in the family. Persevere in prayer and remember that God’s purposes for the person are usually accomplished in the person’s mind and heart as well as with the physical body. Pray that nothing can stop the working of the Lord on the mind and heart or on the healing of the body.

6. Be encouraged! God does not call you to pray in vain. Pray! Believe and praise the Lord till the answer comes. Even if you do not see or feel any changes in the life of the person, pray on! The Lord Jesus Christ will work in real and unexpected ways.

7. When you complete the prayer shawl, pray over it. Make a prayer link with the yarn from the shawl and keep the link to pray over often. Anoint the prayer shawl with a prayer of blessing for the person before it is given to them.

8. Trust the Lord to continue to work through the shawl when it leaves your hands. Visualize the shawl being given to the person and see Jesus wrap the person with the shawl. See the love and healing power in the prayers that are woven into the shawl. Now let go and let the Lord do the work in the person’s life.

I also like what the Lion Brand Yarn website said about the Prayer Shawl, along with their free pattern and great color chart for how their colors look:

What is a Prayer Shawl? Throughout the ages, shawls have come to symbolize shelter, peace and spiritual sustenance. Since the inception of the Prayer Shawl Ministry in 1998, the members of this ecumenical organization have lovingly donated their time and talents by creating hand-knitted and crocheted shawls for those in need. What started as a grass-roots movement has quickly grown into an international cause, with countless numbers of shawls being given to grateful recipients around the globe.The Ministry’s message of caring is simple, universal and enduring. And we have seen time and again that the creation and presentation of a prayer shawl, like all acts of generosity, enriches the giver as well as the recipient.

I found many other links searching on Google for Prayer Shawls that you might find inspiring. If any of you gals have made one of these for someone, I’d love to hear how you did it and the story with it. I just thought this was something so neat, and something to share with my daughters to do – even together as a family project to do for someone as an encouragement. I will share with you later what we decide to do.

Read this neat newspaper article: Wrapped in love: Women knit shawls, breathing a prayer into each stitch

P.S. – The “basic pattern” that is repeated on several websites including the Lion Brand website, is a very simple and great beginner’s pattern for knitting which even many young children can quickly learn. Also on the Lion Brand website is a free Learn to Knit tutorial which you can print out.

ADDITIONAL PATTERNS:

• Prayer Shawl Free pattern from Bonnie Franz Designs
• Prayer Shawl Patterns
• Lots of patterns here for shawls (not necesarrily “prayer” shawls, but “any” shawl can be a prayer shawl, if you are praying and dedicating it for that)
• Prayer Shawl Knitting Loom (!!)
  

I am adding to this a little later because I have just found this so inspiring. Another mom gave me an idea with making one for each of my daughters and making sure I have left over yarn. Then, making one for myself, using the leftover yarns so I have representation of each of my girls. I just thought that was neat. (02-02-06)

Another Good Report! :)

Jessica’s cardiology office called. They already got the holster monitor back and read it. Everything looked normal. Jessica told us a few times when she had the heart pains, and we marked these down, and even during those times, nothing showed up. We are all thankful and relieved! Now, we have to see what we can do to find out what the pains are, and give her some relief from that. You can pray about this!

Poem – WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN’T LOOKING

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN’T LOOKING
(Written by a former child)

A message every adult should read, because children
are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.

When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator,
and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I saw you feed a stray cat, and
I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I saw you make my favorite cake for me and
I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I heard you say a prayer,
and I knew there is a God I could always talk to
and I learned to trust in God.

When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick,
and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I saw you give of your time and money
to help people who had nothing
and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don’t.

When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it
and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I saw how you handled your responsibilities,
even when you didn’t feel good and
I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I saw tears come from your eyes and
I learned that sometimes things hurt,
but it’s all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I learned most of life’s lessons that I need to know
o be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn’t looking,
I looked at you and wanted to say,
“Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn’t looking.”

Good Report! PTL!

Well, we have been gone for over 6 hours and have good news to report! Our daughter’s pediatric cardiologist (PC) was wonderful and spent a lot of time with us. It worked out great to be her last patient of the day. They did an echo & EKG, and these showed the same. The PC even did the echo since it was after hours and the technicians were gone. She did send Jessica home with a heart moniter holster to monitor her heart for the next 24 hours. We are to mark down any time she feels palpitations and/or pains. The PC really thinks it is either growing pains or a heartburn type thing. So, this is a GREAT relief. We will still have to take her to our general doctor and see if he finds anything and go from there, but that seems easier dealing with than the heart stuff!

Thanks so much for all the nice notes & FOR PRAYING!!

Please Pray

We are taking Jessica to see her cardiologist today. She has been complaining a lot lately of chest pains – and we are not sure if it is indeed her heart, or if it’s more a reflux type thing. We do notice it after she’s been running or sometimes after she’s eaten (pizza bothers her) – so prayerfully, it is something like heartburn. But, we cannot let this go on any longer. Jessica has also been asking to go and even asked daddy the other day if she had to wait until March, when her scheduled appointment is. Today when I told her she was going today, she gave me a big hug and thanked me. I think she too just does not want to worry about it anymore. When I called her cardiologist this morning, they got her in right away this afternoon. We will try to update later tonight, but it will be late as it’s quite a drive, and we will probably be there for some time. I am sure they will do an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart), x-ray, and EKG which we will have to go to the hospital for.

Thank you.

PS: This is Jessica’s webpage, but it has not been updated in awhile, but tells about her heart problems and her first two surgeries.

My flesh & my heart faileth;
but God is the strength of my heart

and my portion for ever.

Psalm 73:26

In Memory & Sanctity of LIFE Sunday

In Loving Memory

Angela Hope
born still
January 22, 1998

To think,
the first face
she saw
and beheld
was Jesus.

We can only imagine!

Today is also Sanctity of Life Sunday. 33 years ago today Roe vs. Wade made abortion, legal. Murder, legal? Possibly had it been “40 some years” ago that it had been made legal, I would not be here. My birth mom thankfully, chose life for me. I was adopted when I was 6 months old.

The most dangerous place in the world is the womb. Pre-born babies are being killed in their mother’s wombs at a greater rate than any other section of society. The mortality rate of pre-born babies varies from 1 in 4 to 1 in 3. That is, less than every 24 seconds an unborn baby dies.

Since 1973 more than 48 million babies have been aborted.

Lamentation
(“Rachel, weeping for her children…”)

Incarnation
No lullabies in joyous hearts
sung to unseen ears,
No mother’s gentle crooning
soothes these unborn babies’ fears.

No glad anticipation
of what this child will be -
the future he will never have,
the triumphs she’ll not see.

Slaughter
These builders, artists, scientists,
formed to make a better day -
That plan will never come to pass:
their lives got in the way.

Wrong Sex, Wrong Time, Wrong Parent -
Is that reason to kill?
Convenience ends the lullaby,
though a heart is waiting still…

For a young voice calling “Mama?”
For the footsteps in the hall.
For a yard with dirt instead of grass,
for the crayon marks on the wall.

Sorrow
We’re measured and found wanting
for those allowed to die
on the altar of convenience
while we passively stand by.

“A person’s right to choose,”
we’re told, “Stands above all else.
Besides, it’s hurting no one,
since we’re doing it so well.”

“A truly victimless affair,
a blob of tissue, bit of hair,
a little pain, then life again
for someone in despair.”

“No lasting harm, no ill effects
arise from this,” we’re told.
But tell that to the couple
with no child to ever hold.

Pathos
As for this aging nation,
Searching everywhere for youth
to keep the country moving -
it’s time we heard the Truth.

Our leaders came, and were despised –
the timing wasn’t right.
So one of three, we sent them off
into an early night.

These builders, artists, scientists,
formed to make a better day
Never lived to see God’s plans fulfilled,
their lives got in the way.

So tell the nation’s hopeless,
who lay dying of disease,
who wait for the discovery
that will give their lives some ease,

That the inconvenient timing
of the one to cure their ill
resulted in an early death -
it is OURSELVES we kill.

Written by Poignant Musings
for Sanctity of Life 1/23/05

In Memory & Sanctity of LIFE Sunday

In Loving Memory

Angela Hope
born still
January 22, 1998

To think,
the first face
she saw
and beheld
was Jesus.

We can only imagine!

Today is also Sanctity of Life Sunday. 33 years ago today Roe vs. Wade made abortion, legal. Murder, legal? Possibly had it been “40 some years” ago that it had been made legal, I would not be here. My birth mom thankfully, chose life for me. I was adopted when I was 6 months old.

The most dangerous place in the world is the womb. Pre-born babies are being killed in their mother’s wombs at a greater rate than any other section of society. The mortality rate of pre-born babies varies from 1 in 4 to 1 in 3. That is, less than every 24 seconds an unborn baby dies.

Since 1973 more than 48 million babies have been aborted.

Lamentation
(“Rachel, weeping for her children…”)

Incarnation
No lullabies in joyous hearts
sung to unseen ears,
No mother’s gentle crooning
soothes these unborn babies’ fears.

No glad anticipation
of what this child will be -
the future he will never have,
the triumphs she’ll not see.

Slaughter
These builders, artists, scientists,
formed to make a better day -
That plan will never come to pass:
their lives got in the way.

Wrong Sex, Wrong Time, Wrong Parent -
Is that reason to kill?
Convenience ends the lullaby,
though a heart is waiting still…

For a young voice calling “Mama?”
For the footsteps in the hall.
For a yard with dirt instead of grass,
for the crayon marks on the wall.

Sorrow
We’re measured and found wanting
for those allowed to die
on the altar of convenience
while we passively stand by.

“A person’s right to choose,”
we’re told, “Stands above all else.
Besides, it’s hurting no one,
since we’re doing it so well.”

“A truly victimless affair,
a blob of tissue, bit of hair,
a little pain, then life again
for someone in despair.”

“No lasting harm, no ill effects
arise from this,” we’re told.
But tell that to the couple
with no child to ever hold.

Pathos
As for this aging nation,
Searching everywhere for youth
to keep the country moving -
it’s time we heard the Truth.

Our leaders came, and were despised –
the timing wasn’t right.
So one of three, we sent them off
into an early night.

These builders, artists, scientists,
formed to make a better day
Never lived to see God’s plans fulfilled,
their lives got in the way.

So tell the nation’s hopeless,
who lay dying of disease,
who wait for the discovery
that will give their lives some ease,

That the inconvenient timing
of the one to cure their ill
resulted in an early death -
it is OURSELVES we kill.

Written by Poignant Musings
for Sanctity of Life 1/23/05

Pro-Life Poem

Tomorrow marks the 33rd anniversary of Roe vs Wade. Certainly, not a good anniversary in our country as over 43 million babies have been aborted since then. Tomorrow I will have a couple more poems and also a piece in memory of our daughter that was stillborn on this date, 8 years ago. In many churches tomorrow it will be Sanctity of Life Sunday. Let’s remember these little ones, to keep fighting for life.

I WISH YOU’D LOVE ME TOO

Mommy keep me safe,
Mommy keep me warm,
Handle me with all your love,
Mommy keep me from harm.
I’m only six weeks old today,
This birthday gift to me,
A pair of bright blue eyes,
That someday you will see.
I’ve barely got ears,
A little puppy nose,
and at the end of my feet,
Little things called toes.
Looking forward to my life,
toys, teddy bears, snails,
and long fairy tales.
Where are we going mommy,
in a bath, on a bus ride or,
perhaps far away.
Where are we going

being pushed at all force.
How funny it feels passing through doors,
people dressed in green,
if they hurt you mommy just scream.
What’s happening mommy,
I’m starting to cry,
Mommy come quickly,
they’re making me die,
Killing me quickly,
Pulling me apart,
everything inside of me
even my heart.
Bye mommy, good-bye
But how I wanted to see
the grass, the trees,
hear a sweet song,
feel a sweet breeze.
Bye mommy
good-bye
I love you
I really do
I just wish you could love me too.

author unknown

SNOW DAY!

“. . .Wash me,
and I shall be
whiter than snow.
Make me to hear joy and gladness . . .”
Psalm 51:7b – 8a

Picture taken by our daughter today of the beautiful snow!