cotton blankets

I finished making two baby blankets out of the softest 100% cotton
yarn ever. This process, with many delays took a year. But I love them!

Sent from alj's iPhone

wedding and whimsical walks in Chi-town

We got to celebrate Ruth and John's marriage with them! (My dear friend Anna's little sister). It was wonderful to see Anna and Paul again and hang out with the fam a little too.

Then Charlie and I had a small getaway together in the city. It was great to just "be" together. -no plans, to-do lists, phone calls, rushing, etc. I'm so in love with my Babe.

tear it up

The side of our house was a MESS with vines, weeds and out of control lilly of the valley's... those have to be among the most pesky (well, save creeping charlie weeds) spreading, root infesting plants to dig up. Just recovering that small space took forever. I've been reminded (again) of how much I dislike yard work- as visually rewarding as it might be (my perfectionism issues do not mix well with this project).

After several hours of manual labor, and one AMAZING neighbor (Cindy) coming to dig with me and share her plants/flowers.... (Cindy truly is great, just yesterday morning I sat down and looked out my deck window, and there were potted yellow daisies, and other plants ready for their new home, all from her. She's so thoughtful and caring).

And this was last weekend's projects, lights outside replaced.
Soon we'll be ready for the weather to change... it's been good to wrap these projects up.

completely. in all.

Note from the end before you get there: *this got really long, and I meant it to be a short, easy, helpful read. sorry.

My thoughts from The Prodigal God, by Timothy Keller about the parable in Luke 15:1-3; Luke 15:11-32

• Obey God to get God Himself. (not for the honor, satisfaction, self-pleasing results; although God may grant these things to me from time to time. Or "If you...then I... / If I...Then You... obeying to get).
• Am I avoiding Jesus as my SAVIOR by keeping all the moral laws, thinking "God owes me now"; trying to gain control through my works?
• My Father still beckons me to come to Him. God's love is not abstract in my life; it's unconditionally real.
• When I pray, are my prayers full of personal petitions? Or filled with spontaneous praise? This reveals where my heart is.

All change comes from deepening my understanding of the salvation of Christ and living out of the changes that understanding creates in my heart. Faith in the gospel restructures my motivations, my self understanding, my identity and my world view. Behavioral compliance to rules without a true heart change will be superficial and fleeting.

God wants my heart. Completely. In all.

This apocryphal (author is not known/outside of the biblical canon) story, recounted by Elisabeth Elliot, was incredibly eye opening to me. Especially with regard to Bennett's death. It keeps popping back into my head. "Do I treasure ____(insert your personal vice here-mine is: having a baby) more than I want trust/obey/love/desire to follow my God?" I want to get to a place where I follow Him not because of the blessings He can give me (so freely and undeserved) but ONLY because He asked me to "take up my cross and follow"; only because I love Him-because He called me. Luke 9:23. I know that Bennett having no life here on earth was not meant as a punishment because I did or didn't do something. But God has allowed this to be a very real and personal, treasured, good, special reminder that He alone is enough for me. -I want to say that HE IS- I also must say in the same breath that it's SO hard to let Him be that in my life. I'm a control freak. I plan, organize, think through and do- to gain control. I'm in tears as I write this. Please God pry my fingers open . Help me to 'follow' and 'carry' simply because you said to.

One day Jesus said to his disciples: "I'd like you to carry a stone for me." he didn't give any explanation. So the disciples looked around for a stone to carry, and Peter, being the practical sort, sought out the smallest stone he could possibly find. After all, Jesus didn't give any regulations for weight and size! So he put it in his pocket. Jesus then said: "follow me." He led them on a journey. About noontime Jesus had everyone sit down. He waved his hands and all the stones turned to bread. He said, "Now it's time for lunch." In a few seconds, Peter's lunch was over. When lunch was done Jesus told them to stand up. He said again, "I'd like you to carry a stone for me." This time Peter said, "Aha! Now I get it!" So he looked around and saw a small boulder. He hoisted it on his back and it was painful, it made him stagger, but he said, "I can't wait for supper." Jesus then said: "Follow me." He led them on a journey, with Peter barely being able to keep up. Around suppertime Jesus led them to the side of a river. He said, "Now everyone throw your stones into the water." They did. Then he said, "Follow me" and began to walk. Peter and the others looked at him dumbfounded. Jesus sighed and said, "Don't you remember what I asked you to do? Who were you carrying the stone for?"

Hugs.

*This got really long, and I meant it to be a short, easy, helpful read. sorry.

still good

In New York, for 2 days, 2 beautiful beams of light shine to honor those who died on September 11. The "Tribute in Light" is made up of 88 lights and takes a full month to install. The lights go on at sunset and then will fade away at dawn on September 12. If you click on the pictures or on this link you can experience a 360 degree view of these lights.

God is still good. The earth is His and everything in it. (and all that happens in it)

Eight years ago I was wrapping up a fabulous Children's Institute week in Denver with dear friends, and we all had a few days of vacation too! Here are a few pictures from that trip. When I heard/saw what happened in NYC I was watching GMA waiting for my turn in the shower; we were at Anna's Aunt's house.

good reminder last night @ church

Hebrews 8:12 "For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.”

On a different note:

Last night because a couple of you asked:

Super Quick Tortilla Soup, Traders Joe's Recipe: Heat to low boil: one "box" low sodium chicken broth. Add (do not drain any of the cans) one can diced tomatoes, one can of corn, one can black beans, *Drain can of chicken and add. Add one can salsa autentica - Then on med. heat stir about 10 min. serve in bowl, crumple tortilla chips on the top.

You're gonna love it!

rich

An absolutely lovely evening with dear friends. Getting the goody out of the cool summer nights by moon light, twinkle lights and candle light. Thank you Jesus for friendship, it makes life so rich!

help a girl out

this one's been in the works...

...for WAY too long. Like, I started this before my world flipped upside down early this summer (6/15). I had started writing this, and hadn't finished. A few days later, God used soooooo many girlfriends and families in our own lives to SHOW us how it's done during our season of grief.

The time and love and effort and prayer that was put into those acts of kindness have not been forgotten. They have ministered to my heart over and over again. I got to learn by watching and receiving from you amazing women, and I hope to be able to pass on the love to others when the need arises.

Caring for hurting (whether from death, illness, depression, stress, family situation or something else) women (people) is a divine privilege. (1 Thes 5:11; Phil. 2:1-4) And it is encouraging to the giver and the receiver's faith!

This is MaryAnn. My dear friend who over the summer came with a project, or bread, or a hug and would just talk. (some days she could tell stories and I could listen-and not have to say anything. Other days I could talk and cry and she would listen). She is one of my mentors in our churches Titus Two program-if you can, -get involved! She knows how to "help a girl out"!

Here are some very practical tips I've run across, mixed with my own, over the past spring and summer months.

MEALS

http://caringmeals.com/ OR http://www.carecalendar.org/

These are two fabulous websites that can help you organize the gift of meals for a friend. One of our friends used the carecalendar one and it would send automatic emails with updates and information for that day and outlook for the next three. It made the organization of it all rather simple. I thought the cool part was you don't even have to get on the phone to ask people to help; you create the care plan and then can send it in an email post it on facebook or blog it and thse who are interested can just signup through the link.

HOW to share a meal:

Molly has shared in such honest ways about the journey God has taken their family on. Part of that being the still birth of their daughter. Some of her posts reflecting on that season were enlightening. I found this how-to series on helping/walking with a friend through a tragedy especially helpful.

Just DO it!
Caryn says: Just do it! Sometimes hurting people don't know how to ask (or even know what to ask) for help. There is a whole series (how can I help her?) Caryn has blogged that is quite insightful. Her family has a special need child. She and her hubby are continually singing God's praise in such real ways.

Love'n PRACTICAL Polly style:

Beautiful Work Bloggers (one of the bloggers, Gretchen, is in my small group) have some neat idea's on how to encourage, love and serve fellow girlfriends or moms in super practical ways. Here they are:

Offer to watch her kids while she heads out on her own for a few hours.

Bring dinner, for no real reason…besides simply that you love them

Provide date-in-a-box for a friends who just had a baby.

When you show up for a play date, bring the other mom’s favorite coffee drink for her.

Plan a girl’s night and teach a skill you’d like to share (scrapbooking, sewing, a craft you’ve recently done…)

Head to a nearby Farmers Market and use some leftover grocery money to pick up a few inexpensive plants/flowers for your friends.

In the end:

I'm positive ya'll can dream up plenty more on your own so I won't add to this list. But the bottom line is this, just love on a friend, a sister, a brother, a spouse today. Let's strive to get outside of ourselves today and share the love that's been lavishly bestowed to us!

Hugs.

ready, set... push, shove and dig?!

So, what are all these pretty's you ask? These are my scores from my trip monday to the Goodwill Outlet in St. Paul. It is a large warehouse with about 8 conveyor belts coming from the stock area. Shoppers ("stalkers") lined up with carts up and down the conveyor belts waiting for the workers ("stockers") to fill large bins with goods (i.e.: lots of junk, but a few hidden treasures!) and roll them down the conveyor belts. We all waited patiently until given the go-ahead(they literally hold people back and then it's like "ready, set, CONVERGE!") to start rummaging! It was good fun and also an enlightening people watching moment.

I'm not sure I would've bought these treasures had I been shopping at the store. But, how can you beat buying by the pound?! And as a side note, if you ever feel like being and adventurer, give me a call and I'll spot ya. I hear Monday's are the $0.99 per lb. days. Happy hunting!