The Granny Square Project

 Hello! I wanted to start a crochet project this summer and I found it. I chose to crochet granny squares because they're small, addicting, and not too hot for the summer (like a blanket would be). I do plan to stitch the granny squares together to make one big blanket, but I'll do that when it gets colder out. Right now, I have completed almost 40 squares and I opted to use an orange-red-yellow transitioning yarn. And I'm doing three rows per square. I'm planning to purchase a purple version of the yarn I've already used. Maybe smaller quantities of green or blue. I'm so excited because each granny square is easier to manage rather than crocheting a bigger blanket right away. And whenever I make the granny squares, each stitch just slips into place and each square comes together. I will have to block them (wet them and pin them down so they dry in the same shape), which is new for me. Learning how to do that is something to look forward to in this project. 

Thoughts on Billy Joel's Music

He's such an amazing singer and so many of his songs have a part in them that JUST HIT and it's the best thing ever. His music hits all the right spots for me: The melody is great and the lyrics are decent (boom, that's it!) Here's a list of some of my favorites (of which I discovered a few days ago)- "My Life", "It's Still Rock and Roll To Me", "Movin' Out", "You May Be Right", and "The Longest Time". Of course, "We Didn't Start The Fire", "Vienna", "Uptown Girl" and "Piano Man" are some all time favorites as well. 🙃

God's Character Revealed Through The World

 As I was reading through Acts, I came across Acts 14:17. It goes, "But he never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts". When I first read this, I thought about the verse in Romans that says, "For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities- his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing him" (Romans 1:20).

The world around us constantly points to God's character. For me, I especially see this in the springtime and with fall colors. This concept is explored in the Psalms. I've got three examples. 1) Psalm 147:4 says that God "counts the stars and calls them all by name... He covers the heavens with clouds, provides rain for the earth, and makes the grass grow in mountain pastures". And, 2) Psalm 149:2- "O Israel, rejoice in your Maker". Lastly, 3) Psalm 148:3-5 says, "Praise him, you twinkling stars! Praise him, stars above! Praise him vapors high above the clouds! Let every created thing give praise to the LORD, for he issued his command and they came into being". I like that the beauty I see in the world reflects God's character and his artist ability (just look at Genesis and the creation of the world).

Church Bells

 There's one scene I love in Disney's Fantasia. The last scene depicts a devil-like creature (horns, black, red pits for eyes, black wings), rising from his spot on Bald Mountain and drawing out the dead spirits from the nearby graveyard. They're dancing and flames of fire are climbing around them. It's demonic.
Then church bells are heard in the distance. The devil winces and waits; his activities are on a pause. The bells sound again. And again. Each time, he winces and shrinks back. Then Ave Maria starts, quietly then gradually gets louder. The spirits go back to their graves. And Satan goes back into his mountain form. No more Night On Bald Mountain. Only the Light remains.     

"Boring" Testimonies

 For me, I dislike the concept of "if you've been a Christian your whole life, you have a boring testimony". Just because I accepted Jesus into my heart when I was a little girl just doesn't mean that life has been smooth. It doesn't mean that Jesus hasn't had to save me. Just because you've known Jesus your whole life and you were raised in a Christian home your whole life, does not equal a boring testimony. Jesus doesn't do anything that can be rendered down to "boring". If your testimony has been, "I've known Jesus my whole life", THAT IS NOT BORING. JESUS IS NOT BORING. HE IS RADICAL LOVE.