Marcia

Sometime in May, 2008, Laura and I visited Marcia and presented her with a prayer shawl. It was just a couple of days before her surgery for breast cancer.
We found Marcia working in her garden--one of her favorite hobbies. She was trying to get as much done before her surgery so that she could enjoy being in her garden while she healed. Marcia shared with us the decisions that she had been having to make and the roller coaster of emotions that she had been experiencing. We cried and prayed with her while she wrapped her shawl around herself.
It is now July. Marcia has experienced some difficulties following her surgery, but she seems to be doing well and getting the treatments that she needs. She had been at church and looks fantastic!
"The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail." Isaiah 58:11

Miss Mary Lou

Miss Mary Lou is such a sweetheart! She is suffering from lymphoma and is currently living in a nursing home. I had not seen her in a while and didn't recognize her--until I saw those eyes and her great smile. She was smiling the whole time I was there. And she seemed to enjoy getting her picture taken. We talked about her family and her grandson--and then we prayed together about her health and for God to keep her close. This prayer shawl had Miss Mary Lou's name on it from the time it was cast on the needles. It was such a great feeling to give it to her with all of those prayers that we prayed over it. Ricky Nelson said it best--"So Hello Mary Lou--Goodbye heart!"

Lace Beanie

The Lion Brand home page http://www.lionbrand.com said this beanie is great for chemo patients as it fits low and snug around the face. The link is posted for the pattern on the left.

Started this one not really knowing for whom it would be. As it turned out, God once again already had a plan! I was about half way through and showed it to my co-worker, Karla. She said she had to buy it from me to give to one of her Bible study partners who was losing her hair currently as she battled cancer once again. It was a good opportunity for me to share about our ministry and that our knittings were not "for sale" but were gifts to be shared with those hurting and needing special care. Once finished, the beanie was packaged up with our pamphlet and given to Karla to deliver on to her friend, Mickey. Our prayers go to Mickey that God will give her comfort and strength as she faces this battle again. Karla wrote a sweet thank you note and said we have "inspired" her to try something new! Knitting!

Good visit

Had a very nice visit with Jan and presented the "easy triangle shawl" (pictured below) to her yesterday afternoon. (Jan's pictured standing right above me in the beige sweater!) She was able to come to our knitting group one evening (although she was in a lot of pain with her knee that evening!) She did have her 2nd knee surgery Wednesday and is doing okay but has a long way to go towards a full recovery. She loved the shawl and her friend mentioned that she'd needed it earlier in the day when she was cold!

Keep Jan in your prayers for a speedy recovery!

Easy Triangle Prayer Shawl

This shawl pattern is linked at the top of the left hand side of the page. It's a great looking prayer shawl and fun to knit as you get to really "think" on this one! It is not a hard pattern even for a newbie like me! The pattern suggests using the Lion Brand Homespun yarn although this particular shaw was knit with a wool blend. A fun and fast knitter!

Knit Lit

Books to Knit By (from Vogue Knitting magazine):

Mysteries:
Death of a Prankster by M.C. Beaton
Miss Marple series by Agatha Christie
Needlecraft Mysteries by Monica Ferns
Died in the Wool: a Knitting Mystery by Mary Kruger
Knit One, Kill Two; Needled to Death; & A Deadly Yarn by Maggie Selton
Miss Silver series by Patricia Westworth

Novels:
Knitting by Anne Bartlett
Treasure Forest by Cat Bordhi
The Shop on Blossom Street & A Good Yarn by Debbie Macomber
Storm Tide by Elisabeth Ogilvie
Light on Snow by Anita Shreve
Sadie Shapiro's Knitting Book by Robert Kimmel Smith
To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood
The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kathleen Jacobs
Knitting Under the Influence by Claire LaZebnik

Victorian-era novels with mentions of knitting:
The Neighbours by Fredrika Bremer
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Adam Bede by George Eliot
Mary Barton; Cranford; Ruth; North and South; & Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell
Hope On, Hope Ever by Mary Howitt
Hester by Margaret Oliphant
Knitting-work: a Web of Many Textures by B.P. Shillaber

For even more novels about or that mention knitting, visit http://woolworks.org/bookref.html

Knitwits (e)at it again!

I continue to be amazed that we can throw together a meal faster than any other group of women I know! . . . and not just a meal . . . healthy, nutritious and delicious morsels of culinary delight! How much fun was that, girlfriends?? . . . . and we even got to enjoy a nice evening on the deck!

Once well and overly fed mind you, we finally got around to the knitting portion of our evening . . . after all, that is our main purpose. Everyone is doing a fantastic job on their projects and we were able to think about individuals who we know God could use our knit works to bless and be blessed by!

We were so thrilled that Bonnie joined our knitting group last evening and are hoping she will become a regular! She definitely has the modeling down!

Prayers were offered on behalf of many especially Don and Jan, Steve, Marcia, Jan, Barbara, Rebecca and many more who are currently suffering with various trials, illness, etc. Lynn led us in our closing "benediction" so to speak and asked a special blessing on Brenda, Bill and Brenda's brother and sister as they will be leaving on a 10 day trip to Europe! We wish them Godspeed! Don't forget those souvenirs, Brenda! !!!! (grin, grin!)