New Sewing Project!

Cora Beth inspired me to post pictures of my latest sewing project - a new skirt!

And cute socks, but they're not new. And I didn't sew them. :)

A Recipe!

THIS is what I made today. Thanks to Rachel for posting it!

Cocoa-nut Honey Peanut Butter Balls

(link: http://dixonhomestead.com/rachel/?p=6175 )

"But You're Not Bitter or Anything..."

It's everywhere around us. People holding long-standing grudges. Country against country. Neighbor against neighbor. Brother against brother. We come up with all sorts of reasons to hold grudges, and in our minds, they're fabulous, infallible reasons.

That's a problem.

*listens for disagreement*

*hears whispers in the back row and sees a few skeptically raised eyebrows*

Okay. Here goes. *grabs a can labeled "Cora's Radical New Idea"*

It's my alwayseversohumble opinion that we have no right to hold grudges. I'm going to go out on a limb and assume you have heard of Jesus. Further, I'm going to assume you know that He was crucified on a cross. If, however, this is unfamiliar to you, I suggest reading from the New Testament before proceeding with this post. :)

So why do we not have a right to our self-justified grudges? Well. As I was standing there browning the hamburger for dinner, it occurred to me that if Jesus/Yeshua, Messiah, who is our role model, allowed his innocent, gentle, beautiful hands to be nailed to a cross and asked for forgiveness for these people who were killing Him that He came to save, how can we look at someone else and say, "You disagreed with me! He took my toy! She said something that hurt my feelings!" and be justified?

Just an idea. Forgive your brother or friend or mortal enemy. Ask to be forgiven. Mend bridges. And if you know someone holds a grudge against you, it is not "just their problem." Go try to fix it. See here:

Matthew 5:

²¹ “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ ²² But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.    ²³ “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
   ²⁵ “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. ²⁶ Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny. (NIV)


Every moment you're allowing that grudge into your life is like twisting that nail in Jesus' hand. Don't do it.


Romans 12:18 "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." (KJV)



See what happens. I don't think you'll be disappointed.



 Note: I used NIV for the longer section on account of most people these days not caring for (or understanding) KJV,which is my normal translation.

Wolverine

Here's a look at my little buddy. First he was the Lego Man's little buddy, and then the Lego Man went on to bigger and better activities, and Wolverine became the big sister's project. And a good little project he has been. He now knows the difference between chewtoys and fingers, scratching posts and people, and occasionally uses each for their correct purpose.

Redneck kitten plays... (back when we first got him)

...and plays...

And bites...

Aww... :)

"No, Lego Man, I think we should put the experience points into this cat-egory."

And more recently...

Handsome rogue.

Who Are You?

Have you ever been driving your car, riding a bus, or walking around a grocery store and wondered about the other people you come across? Have you ever caught a glimpse of a face and wondered, "Where is that person going, both in the immediate travel and in their life? Are they happy?" Sometimes I do. Sometimes I wonder if I'm losing a good friend by not speaking to them.

Where I work (as a salesman and cashier at a store), I'm required to talk to people. But instead of assisting them in the most plain-vanilla way I can ("Hi - how can I help you? That's found over here, blah blah blah..."), I make them part of my life for however many moments they're in contact with me. My goal is to lighten the mood of at least half of the people I come across. I can't help it now. I just crack up with my goofy smile as soon as I walk up to people, and somehow that smile always makes them smile, too.

It's fun. YHVH has blessed me tremendously with this job. I've met new friends in customers just by being a warm and bubbly person. I may not know their names, but I know their faces, the sound of their laughter, and the joy of knowing I made just a little difference.

Godless

I was speaking with a friend of mine a long while ago (years?). I think it was around Thanksgiving. Yes, it must have been, because I asked what T was particularly thankful for, given that it was the season that Americans traditionally think of thankfulness. She replied that she was not thankful. For anything. Naturally, I was surprised. "Nothing at all?"

"Yes, nothing at all," T responded. "Most people are thankful for health, general life happiness, or even life at all. I see those as personal rights that belong to me and not something to be thankful for. Nor is there anyone or anything to be grateful to. I simply am until I am no more. Anyone who thinks other than that is silly."

This gave me a profound insight into a human soul as I think it over these recent days (being absent from my blog, this is the main subject I've been pondering, along with a few other things). They say people have a God-sized hole in their lives that only He can fill. I think what I observe from my friend's conversation is that this is what it looks like when that life-void is embraced. "Life is nothing. Death is nothing. Live it up."

This insight also led me to a new understanding of how grateful I should be! My life is borrowed from YHVH/God. Everything in it was given to me for His good pleasure. Truly, I am a blessed daughter of Zion.

If the Lord so burdens you, please pray for T. She is a sweet lady, and I would love for her to know the Truth.

"Well, I'm Back"

So Rosemary and Cora Beth both demanded asked that I return to the blogosphere.

Maybe it would be fitting to write an "In 2011, I plan to..." list. Even though I deny the idea that it is 2011. I just got used to writing 2010 instead of 2009. New Year's Grinch - That's me!

So in this year, which I still call 2010, I plan to...

1. Help my neighbor in her quest to learn how to tan animal furs. She has contacts from which to get the chemicals (we looked in to doing 100% at-home DIY stuff with the corn flakes and battery acid, and that was going to be way too much work; who said wagon train women couldn't be just a little lazy?). Yes, as everyone off the 'nets asks, and I'm sure you're about to, I do mean real honest-to-goodness rabbit furs.
2. Practice making bread and maybe *gasp* become proficient at it.
3. Make myself a more valuable asset at my work.
4. Practice being humble and submissive. I tend to have a bit of a stubborn streak.
5. Finish that nasty evil wretched wonderful quilt I started for the Cowboy. Only 296 more dumb simple and easy pieces of evil strong and manly denim to cut out. *sigh* Anyone have any spare jeans? I'll need them... Has anyone mentioned that Cora hates quilting? She does. Cutting stuff up to sew into a blanket with tons of waste in seam allowances? Unthinkable! Yet here she is...

And the one that I know I will HAVE to do:
6. Learn patience. This summer will be very difficult for me unless I can learn to fully rely on the Lord. But He's been giving me reason upon reason to trust Him in this venture. I know the Cowboy and I will learn much and come out better in the end, so part of me is excited, but the other part is dreading when the Cowboy leaves.

I'm sorry for abandoning you guys. I've missed you a lot.
~Cora