January 2011

The Lost Arts
January 30, 2011 | 0 comments

Our church women gathered on Saturday to take classes in “the lost arts”: tie dye, knitting, quilting, ornament making, cooking (raviolis and bread – from scratch!), make up, picture framing, pressed-flower cards.   I took knitting.  We have several experts in our congregation who make everything from blankets to sweaters, baby booties to stylish hats and scarves.  The flyer said bring bulky yarn and large needles.  Kathy, our instructor, talked about “casting”.  I thought of fishing.  We had wonderful printed directions which I didn’t understand.  (I still don’t know how to use the GPS system in my car.)  Kathy and her assistant, Karen, took turns standing behind me until I was able to “cast” stitches onto my (very slippery) needle.  Karen then showed me how to knit; right needle through the loop, bring the yarn around, pull the loop back through and slip the stitch off the needle.  As soon as she turned to help another, I...

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Physical Rehabilitation
January 22, 2011 | 0 comments

My husband had knee replacement surgery on January 3.  I moved into a small hotel within six blocks of the hospital so that I could walk there and spend time with him every day.  The surgery was on schedule and went well.  The nurses had him up and walking the first day. The physical therapist started him on exercises by day two.  Four days and the doctor gave the thumbs up for Rick to come home. 

Within minutes after entering the house, Rick shed the walker.  The cane was necessary, but frequently forgotten. Rick pushed himself hard, determined to teach our home Bible study on schedule.  Well, honey, I’m glad you’re so dedicated, but that isn’t going to happen.  I imagined blood clots forming if he sat at a desk and studied for the hours he usually put in. 

When he headed for the stairs with his walker (which he needs downstairs as a barrier against an affectionate 10 month old 97 pound German Shepherd puppy), I yelled at...

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Changing Gears
January 14, 2011 | 0 comments

Rick always knows when I’m getting antsy to begin writing again.  He can sense the inner tension in me, the restlessness.  Maybe I get a twitch or something.  Maybe I grind my teeth.   Sometimes I drum my fingers on the counter, as though there is an invisible keyboard.  Not that anything I would write at a time like that would make sense.  My fingers begin to ache.  Literally. Typing keeps arthritic pain at bay.  A pain-free life is a good enough reason to get to work, but not quite good enough when I’m not ready, when I don’t know where I’m going with the story that’s building in my head like steam in a tea pot with the lid on tight ready to blow. 

Ideas have never been my problem.  I have a file of ideas.  Three have grown over the last few years.  Two have come to dead ends or brick walls over the past months.  One is growing.  I can’t shake it.   It’s a little frightening because it is...

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Starting Fresh
January 1, 2011 | 0 comments

I started reading the One Year Bible this morning.  Last year, I studied several books from the Old Testament, but I missed the continuity of Old and New.  And then this morning, I felt as though I had come home to the richness and fullness of God’s Word.  From day one, the Word of God proves to be unified, speaking through many men, but One Voice coming through. This is what I received from this morning’s reading.

Genesis 1:16 speaks of the creation of the sun, moon and stars that govern day and night (to point the way for seafarers and farmers alike), and then in Matthew 2:2 I read of the wisemen following a star placed in the heavens by God to announce the birth of His only begotten Son, Jesus (by the Holy Spirit who hovered over all creation in Genesis 1).  Genesis 2:10 tells of a river flowing from Eden and branching into four streams (north, south, east, west – like a cross) and one branch, the Pishon, is where gold is pure and aromatic...

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