fill me up!

I have gotten into a rut.
I spin fairly well.
I am taking 5 classes this March at the 9th annual fiber retreat
at the Missouri extension.

I have been knitting for as long as I can remember.
I teach beginning knitting to a few and
always have multiple projects started in various stages.

It seems as though I have given up on quilting,
although I think I have at least 3 baby quilts to make!

CARE ministry is wonderful, but not fully developed yet.
Meals for recovery and new babies,
thinking of you cards to members who have
slipped away from church for a bit,
and any needs that come through the pipelines.
I need to focus on growing this ministry and what it means.

I have a routine set in now for working out at the gym...
although I hate every minute of it!
I feel better. Slow and steady.
I was commenting to Terry this morning that I was off to the gym......
then had no plans.
I was feeling empty.

Yes, there are lots of things I can do, but nothing inspiring!
Maybe it was because Hilary colored my hair yesterday.
Black with orangy red highlights and peekaboos.!
Ba Bing!
New me~!

When I checked the mail today, I received a catalog for Light University.
Certificate program in Biblical Counseling, focusing on Women.
I am praying about this.
I have been talking about going back to school.
This is an in home, do it in your own time study.
5 Units, 6 classes each.
Units...Life Enrichment, Life Transitions, Life Problems,
Marital Life, and Family Life.
Sounds right up my alley, huh?!

God knows my every desire, even before I know it!
He just dropped this at my feet because I needed something.
What better way to spend my days,
and a plus ... to spend it with Him.

I have been lifted out of the rut!
Praises!

CRITTERS!

Since Maggie passed away...how does one say that about a loved one?...
Charlie has been clingy and skitterish!
When on walks, he gets frightened easily..by bushes!
He is always in the same room with me,
and always VERY excited when I come home.
He is learning many tricks!
One he has NOT mastered is come...when there is something more interesting to see.

We have a doggie door, so I don't have to worry about getting up too early!
I love to sleep!
One evening, I was knitting and Charlie had gone into the back yard.
I heard his "bark". The one where he is nervous about something.
I went outside and he was beside the porch nervously barking.
For some reason, when I went outside, he turned brave.
He bolted across the yard to the bird feeder and barked rapidly at something.
I got a flashlight ans discovered it was a raccoon!

Charlie would not come to me!
That's all I need. No dogs!
I finally got him inside, grabbed my bb gun and flashlight and went outside.
Anyone who saw me, seriously would have considered that I had been a SWAT member, by the way I held my gun and flashlight together, searching the yard!
No luck, other that scaring the fence.
Coon was gone.

Charlie and I saw/attacked the raccoon again last night,
and this morning I called the exterminator.
He set traps skillfully and also informed me
that I have a Possum problem.

I also have a nervous nilly dog.
He barely goes outside, and pees on the back door!
Oh My!!!

As of one hour later...count..Kris 1 squirrel, 0 raccoons!

mall watching

I know a few people who sit at Barnes and Nobles
Bookstore to
simply watch people.
I love to participate in this activity.
I enjoy listening to others' conversations.
If they didn't want to be overheard,
they should not be discussing these things at the bookstore.


Most of my time recently at B & N
has been looking at knitting and spinning books and magazines.
I find the bookstore full of so many possibilities, and my mind can run wild.
I used to look for homeschooling, quilting, gardening,
travel, diets and cookbooks, decorating etc.
I look forward to many other interests in the future!

As I was leaving the bookstore, I walked through the mall.
I noticed all kinds of different people there.
I passed the children's play area I watched
mom's texting on their phones while
their children played with other children.
I wanted to jump in and protect these little bits
from diving onto hard plastic playthings and in turn,
stop them from losing teeth or requiring stitches.
Why don't parents watch their children?

I passed bored employees trying to pass time
when no one was shopping their booths.
I especially wonder about the girl
who will pull all kinds of hair from your body
with two pieces of string!

I watched a woman try to read a magazine around a teeth whitening machine!

I saw many people in the food court.
One was cutting up noodles with a passion.
Some were trying to make their 15 minutes last as long as they could.
Some ate while their toddlers wandered about.
Most had distant looks on their faces.

The last lady I saw was entering into the mall.
She looked tired and as if she didn't really know where she was.
Her hair was unkempt, and one lace was untied on her boot.
I thought about offering to tie it,
but better judgement and her eyes made me keep walking.
Sometime people want their laces untied.

I think I would enjoy taking a note and sketch book with me one day or a few.
Observe, and capture all I see.
Most of these people seem empty.
Do they know the Lord?
He makes everything so much better...even in the tough times..
we just have to keep looking for Him
in spite of the whole world bringing you down.

Sometimes that is hard to do!

raising the bar

I had a HORRIBLE day yesterday!
Just terrible.
It was all in my head and mood.
Feeling frustrated and worthless and lazy.

I don't have many of those days.
Actually, I can't remember the last time I felt that way.
I was in a bit of moodiness when the girls moved out.
I love my space and solitude now!

Yesterday, in the middle of
my self inflicted depression,
a good friend asked my advice.
I appreciated it so much.
I do have experiences that can help others.
The holy spirit tells me what to say.
Heaven knows and understands
that I could never come up with the things I say on my own!

I have been included and have been surrounded by
such an amazing group of people!
They demand and expect my best.
It is such a blessing to know this!
I am striving for the top!
I want to be used for His Kingdom!!!

My mind is whirling!
I am excited for what is coming next!
I am pushing that bar as far as I can get it,
then accepting the stool and pushing it further!

Get ready world.
You are His and I am His willing instrument!

peaceful

I had a very peaceful day yesterday.
Good thing because the day before, I felt like biting everyones' head off!
Funny how one comment or person can annoy you to the point of it affecting your whole day.

I woke up feeling as though I had to accomplish something!
I rarely have nothing to do, so today felt unusual.
I checked emails, did the few dishes in the sink and hovered.

I had been to the library earlier in the week.
My book selections were from diet and exercise, to finding sea glass and it's history, and the new Dean Koontz book Breathless.
I love Koontz' writing style.
Stephen King ish, but his character development is phenomenal!

The snow had been shoveled and coaxed from the roof,
both girls were working and the parents seemed content.
I settled onto the couch in the dining room,
with a cup of Michigan Cherry coffee, pumpkin seeds and my book.

I usually have the tv or radio on.
Mainly for some noise in the house.
Quiet and I are not the best of friends.
However, this seems to be changing.

With feet of snow outside and me inside, I didn't feel the need for noise.
I felt cocooned and protected.
As I read, I felt myself drift into the scenery of Colorado.

I daydreamed a bit of owning an inn in Maine,
complete with farm and thriving fiber business.

Charlie slept on my lap,
then on my shoulder so he could better see the outside world.
I was not tempted to doze.

My folks invited me to see a movie with them, which I enjoyed.

I came home and plyed together a mystery challenge I had started the week before.
For as difficult as this was to spin, with its pieces of ribbon, bits of crinkled green aluminum icicles, and different fibers, when I plyed it with romney it turned out rather well.

Charlie and I went to bed early and I dreamed of buying slices of all kinds of fudge!

snow SNow SNOw SNOW!!!!

From one of my favorite movies...White Christmas...and whenever it snows, the girls and I repeat the snow on the train scene! Which sometimes brings us to make our rendition of Sisters!

I love the snow!
I love it when it is white and quiet and I can sit all day in front of the window and watch it gently falling to the ground.

I especially love it when, in the evening with a cup of cocoa or tea,
I can look out my front door and see it sparkling like the stars in the sky
have floated down for my pleasure.
I love walking in the evening snow when all is so very quiet.

I stopped by Office Max after having breakfast with Ronni.
How I love those two things.
Seems I am full of love today!
I went to organize my bills and discovered that my calender had run out.

There is nothing in the world, next to fiber,
that I love more than browsing in a paper goods store.
I purchased and new binder, folder and 2010 day planner.

SO my afternoon will be spent with paperwork, training Charlie and spinning!
No gym today! Maybe an exercise video, but I have been doing really well at the whole diet, gym thing.
Maybe today is the day off!!!

Stay safe in the weather all.
LOVE!