2011 End of the Year Wrap Up

I have for a few years now and have lost track how many Year End Wrap Ups I have done. So here goes tradition. I take the first sentence and picture in the first post of each month of the year of postings. I went ahead and linked the name of the month to the post it came from. So if you want to know what I was talking about you can click on the link and find out. [o= It was fun as always to do this. I hope you enjoy seeing a over view of my year at a glance.

I didn't realize that had only been blogging at Mary's Little Corner sense March. So the posts January to March are from Raising 4 Godly Men blog.

January...

On The Heart and Mind:

I am sitting and reflecting what a big year this has been for us.

February...

As my earlier post showed it is a time of dreaming, reflecting and planning.

March...

I want to share where God is humbling and growing me right now.

April....

Hi all,

It has been a intresting but good to have a blog break.

May...

I am very happy that it all came together and I am online again.

June...

Sunday's and Mondays are Handsome's week-end and that means on Monday's it is our day to get as much as we can done kind of day.

July...

We are going to have a quiet day today and then go out to see the fireworks tonight in town with all the other hundreds of people.

Go here if you want a bit of history.

August...

Hubby and I are on day 29 of the Maker's Diet. (((HAPPY DANCE))) I know you are asking what in the world does that mean?!? Well, it means we are in the 3rd and final phase of The Makers Diet and we can eat grains again.

September...

I have been trying to learn to be still and know that He is God.

October...

Sometimes I just need to be silly and lighten the mood. Hope you enjoy. [o=

November...

Day #8 ~ Remember the Sparkle

( click to go to Sarah Mae's post)

Today's Challenge was to get dressed [o= and plan a Sparkle Date.

December...

How We Celebrated In December

A sample of what it looked like outside during one of the nights of Hanukkah.

I am back now from a unexpected blogging break. I guess I needed it and was blessed with time focusing 100% on my family during the holiday. I had mentioned to a few friends that I wanted to share a bit how we celebrate during this time. Here is a simple post trying to describe what we do in our family.

We have shifted our focus off of Christmas but not off of Christ. We have over the years lighted the Hanukkah candles in the menorah that was my husband's great grandfathers.



We focused on Jesus being the true light of the world and our Savor and all what that means. We really enjoyed using Robin Sampson's devotions in "Celebrating The Biblical Holidays". It gives the history of Hanukkah and ideas on how to celebrate it. It showed how back then the Jews were persecuted and how they had to stand up against the Hellenization that was happening to their beliefs. I saw some parallel to what has happened to us today ( but we of course don't have that kind of persecution today).

My decorations were really only the menorah and it's table. We spent a lot of time frying food... some traditional and some not but it was fried. Some of the things we fried were homemade fries, latkes with yogurt or apple sause (2 different nights), and...

...rosettes

(I wanted to post this on the Friday during Hanukkah but I didn't get to it. I hope you enjoy a light hearted funny.)

....old fashioned doughnuts

...to mention a few. All was done simply and focused on our Lord. We also decided to give gifts on the first night of Hanukkah with the mindset of celebrating the gift of light from our Lord.

and...

Treated Myself To a New Haircut

After all the hard work I have done for the last three months hubby treated me to a new haircut. I was in a real need of a pick-me upper and this was it. This is also a picture of one my new downsizing skirts. I will be updating how much I have lost next week when I get re-measured. I am going to be making a conscious effort in the next few weeks to share all the health changes and habits that I have made. I am loving how healthy I feel and starting to look. I feel like I am getting a new lease on life, thank you God! With all these changes I am feeling like my adrenal gland fatigue is pretty much gone. What a amazing feeling this is! I give all the credit to God for showing me the way. Okay I will update you more in a few days/early next week.

A Knitter's Meme

A Knitter's Meme

When did you first learn to knit socks?
I think it was about 8 years ago, sadly my memory is foggy.

What’s the first sock you ever knit?
I learned and pretty much have only knitted one sock pattern, other than once. This year I hope to expand on this.


Favorite Sock Pattern?
http://www.coatscrafts.co.uk/Knitting/Howtos/how_to_knit_socks.htm

http://www.coatscrafts.co.uk/NR/rdonlyres/361AD56B-CEB4-4191-9219-2296CE58552C/74378/Howtoknitsocks.pdf



Favorite needle method?
So far all I know is the top ( at the cuff) down ( to the toe)method. I want to learn how to go from the toe up and also I want to learn how to knit two socks at the same time on circular needles too. All in time I keep telling myself.

Favorite sock needles?
5 double pointed needles made in bamboo.

Who do you knit socks for?
My hubby, sons, MIL, DIL, sometimes other family members too, plus ME. [o=

How many pairs have you knitted to date?
I really don't know I have lost count and never thought to keep count, lol.


What is on your sock knitting to-do list?
Ohhh I have a basket full of yarn to knit socks for hubby and my 3 boys at home, my MIL, and myself. I will be knitting socks for awhile now. I hope to interrupt it with a cardigan or two too.


What kind of socks to you like to knit-
Striped?
yes.


Color work?
haven't tried yet.

Plain Stockinette?
LOVE IT.


Cabled?
Want to so bad!


Lace?
Yes, I am in the midst of making me a pair right now.


Anklets?
Ohhh yes. It is a great way to get more socks out of a ball of yarn. The tightwad comes out on this one. [o=


Knee Socks?
I am hoping to make some in the new year.


Solid colors?
Yes


Bright and crazy?
Yes.


Faux Fair Isle (the yarn doing all of the work)?
Ohhh I want to try these REAL soon.


Tag a few sock knitters here: I really don't know who knits socks out there so if you do consider yourself tagged and let me know if you did the tag.

The Ultimate Knitter's Game [o;

I couldn't wait for Friday to post this Friday's Funny. [o= Hee he

A Light Unto My Path

Two weeks ago my hubby and I had gone to lead our weekly Bible study group. Earlier that day we purposefully parked the car down the hill from our house. This way we could for sure get down the hill without problems with the ice and snow on the road. That meant later hiking down the hill again with our flashlight ( we live out in the country and have no street lamps to light the way) and hiking poles and hiking to back up again. I wished I had a picture to show what it looked like but alas this picture I found will have to do.

On the way home after we parked once again, but this time even further down the road, we started to hike up the hill. My hubby took the lead with the flashlight. I stared at his feet intensely to see what little I could in the way of where we were going and what just laid on the path. ( and tried not to stumble on anything) Sometimes ( not meaning to) my hubby's hand would shift the flashlight to the side as he would swing his arm while walking. When he did this it the path would go black and I felt lost with no light. But as quickly as it left the light came back. While we hiked this verse came to me.

(KJV) Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

The Bible says in Revelations 21 v 23, The Lamb (Jesus) is the lamp. Thy word `O Lord` is a lamp, and a light for me to follow, so that each step that I take will be one of security in The Bible says in Revelations 21 v 23, The Lamb (Jesus) is the lamp. Thy word `O Lord` is a lamp, and a light for me to follow, so that each step that I take will be one of security in You.As we read God’s word, Jesus gives us direction by the Holy Spirit to which clear path to take.

With our flashlight it shone down at our feet to light onto our path, so we would not stumble or fall.The word of God is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path, in this darkened world. Darkness cannot overcome the light, but light expels the darkness and overcomes it. His light keeps me on the right path. His Lamp is a light unto my feet. That I can walk and not stumble. The Bible says in John 8:12

John 8:12

King James Version (KJV)

¹²Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

I love how in our everyday experiences our Lord speaks to us and shows us what we need to be re affirmed and what we need to encourage us.

My friend, may His word be a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path..

When a friend does something wrong...