{Failli}

Yesterday my friend and I went to see the Trans-Siberian Orchestra! It was incredible! We sat in the VIP section, Row 12... Check out these amazing pictures I got.

Hello. I've got plenty of catching up to do, eh? The next few post will be mostly pictures until I'm thoroughly up to date. Here are a few pictures from one of the Women's Gatherings at our church. The theme was Create in Me a Clean Heart and we did some 'housecleaning'!

We hung clotheslines everywhere with cute little socks, overalls, tea towels and sheets pinned on.

The tables were decorated with pails full of 'bubbles' (bubble wrap). Everyone got a sponge for a favor.

These are a few random thoughts I've been mulling over for a while. They aren't connected. Maybe they are. I think there's a tiny thread that links them together. But maybe not.

I've always been a big advocate for change. Change is good. I hate getting stuck in a routine; I like to spice it up a little.

Memories are hard to erase. In fact, they are pretty much impossible to erase without starting life over again. And when everything you see, touch, smell, hear brings back a painful memory, it's time to make new ones. Or start life over again. Hm.

It's amazing the things that get accomplished under stress. Sometimes I amaze myself. I've gotten more done this past month than I have all summer. And the way your body gets used to daily stress, now that's odd.

"Where two or three are gathered in My name, I am there in the midst of them." This is talking about unity. Where there is no unity, He cannot manifest Himself in us. It doesn't necessarily refer to prayer. It's anything you set your hand or mind to that glorifies His name. And if it doesn't bring honor and glory to His name, I ask you to whose name does it bring?

It's not about me. Or you. It's about Him. The striving to be a better person and trying to become more holy is intensely selfish.

Now behold the Lamb! Born into sin that I may live again, He's the precious Lamb of God.

Last week, while waiting in the dentist's office, I was flipping through a popular magazine and came across an article called "15 Ways to Charm a Southern Girl".These were 'tips' for guys hoping to catch a date. It was encouraging to find the women still do appreciate and embrace real 'gentlemen'. Apparently, all these women live in the South.

The first couple tips were your standard Gentleman 101 basics:

1.) Stand up for a lady (this doesn't always involve chairs)
2.) Hold doors open
3.) Take your hat off inside
4.) Stand when we come back to the table

And the rest, which are all nice and good, were I guess important to a Southern girl:

5.) Wear boots
6.) Kill bugs
7.) Fix or build things
8.) Grill stuff

A few weeks ago I was in a wedding. The day before the ceremony, a few bridesmaids and I were at the church decorating and setting up. I remember I was taking a few boxes out to the car and this guy appeared (I think he worked at the church) and he held the door open for me and said, "There you go, ma'am." I know I looked at him strangely. I don't think I've ever been called 'ma'am' before by someone who didn't look a day older than myself.

Being a gentleman is a lost art. While you don't have to wear boots while grilling me a steak on the back porch you built, I definitely sit up and pay attention when to you when you call me 'ma'am' or stand up when I enter the room. It makes me feel, well, like a lady.
And God knows we need that defining value in this day and age.

Bridesmaid's Dinner (l-r) (Kristen, Kirsten, Abigail, me, Melody, Mrs. Sprague, Stacey, Rachel, Joslynn, Heather)

I finished this baby blanket a few weeks ago for a friend and finally got around to taking pictures of it! I've been so busy getting ready for a wedding this weekend and also preparing for Macholah's Registration. I'll be glad when everything calms down!

Miterd Baby Blanket

Yarn:
Red Heart Baby Teri, 8 skeins, blue and white

Pattern:
My own. 3x4 squares, used the miter instructions from Debbie Bliss Magazine

Needles:
Size 9, Brittany Birch