The Baptism of Jesus

Children's Book

While visiting my son and his family in Brazil, I read the same book over and over again to my four year old grandson. He loved The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge. So did I. I didn't get tired of it. Children's books don't have to be only for children. Deep thoughts can be couched in simple language and be suitable for thinking people of any age. Inspired, I decided to try my hand at writing a children's book myself.

Dangers in the Amazon

Knit Stuffies

 Seven done; ten to go:

 

Made from stash yarn and free patterns. Some of the free patterns aren't the easiest to follow, but they ARE FREE. 

 

 

Pig from The Big Red Barn 

 

Greyhound

 

Dainty Dolly 

 

Mr. Bean Bear

Dinosaur Jr.  

Liam's Beaver 

 

Andy the Llama

 

 

 

Newest Book

 My newest project is available for purchase either as an

EBOOK

or a

PAPERBACK 

Here's what readers are saying about it:

R McGuire: 

This book tells the amazing story of God's grace in a harrowing situation.

It tells the story of Derek and Alex Henry when they are unjustly accused in the death of their 1 year old child. Their oldest son is taken from them, their next baby is ripped from their arms hours after birth, and they are both put in jail. The book tells how their faith carried them, how they cared for and encouraged each other even when separated by jail/prison bars, the love and support they received from family and friends, how their focus remained on God and His glory, how they cared for and ministered to others in jail, and how their fight for justice and their family ultimately prevailed.

While a heartbreaking story, overall the book underscores the hope we have when we trust in God and His grace, even in the hardest circumstances.

 

CC Fan:

This book was a terrifying look at our corrupt justice system, yet Derek and Alex were able to influence countless lives for the gospel during their incarceration. It’s heartbreaking to think of what this family went through, but what Satan meant for evil, God made for good!

Thinking and Conservatism

True wisdom enables a person to incorporate new information into previous understanding. When you know a subject well, you are able to modify your views as new information becomes available. When you have a superficial understanding, you are not able to do so. I have recently seen people ignorantly discard the time-honored wisdom of the ages because of some little piece of data. The data may have been true enough and may have appropriately caused a modification in their understanding of the subject--but that would require deep, independent thinking, a rare commodity in our day. Willingness to embrace new opinions is no more an indicator of thought than stubbornly clinging to old ones.

Traditionalists tenaciously hold to their old beliefs even in the face of new information.

Conservatives carefully incorporate new information into their theories.

Liberals use new data to throw out old theories and completely replace them.

Progressives want change whether there is any data to support their agenda or not.

The only one of these positions that requires thinking is the conservative one.

If you call yourself a conservative and don’t think, you are actually a traditionalist.

If you are liberal or progressive and do think, you will become more and more conservative as you get older. 

Jael

Photo courtesy of Akn on Unsplash

                    Judges 4-5

 With Heber, severed from my kin,
        In wild and distant lands,
My husband’s friends I welcome in
        And serve with willing hands.

Content to lead a peaceful life,
        Though far from all I’ve known—
Til from the men I heard of strife
        That chilled me to the bone.

For Israel, with whom we dwell,
        Is turning to the Lord,
But Sisera, their faith to quell,
        Was taking up his sword.

Conflicted, inner war I waged
        With all that’s dear to me;
While soldiers in the battle raged,
        I chose my loyalty.

Though with the armies of the land,
        I don’t expect a part,
With Moses and his God to stand
        Was settled in my heart.

As Sisera from battle fled,
        I bid him be my guest;
With milk and butter richly fed,
        He wearily took rest.

He didn’t know my quiet soul
        Hid rugged strength of mind,
Or that my God-appointed role
        Was of a lethal kind.

The unsuspecting general slept
        And bid me watch the door,
But with my tools I softly crept
        And nailed him to the floor.

His wicked ways I couldn’t brook;
        I used what chance I had
To slay the terrifying crook
        And make God’s people glad.

Now some may think my methods wrong;
        My deed they can’t applaud,
But blessed am I in Deborah’s song—
        And honored of my God.

Wool Diaper Cover

 

One of my sons lives in an area where he has little need for wool hats and slippers, but last year I found something fun to knit for his kids: A wool diaper cover. My daughter-in-law loves them. But she asked for some that would be easier to get off when soiled.  As much as possible, I wanted to keep the smooth design of the pull-up diaper covers. I modified a pattern found online, but unfortunately I can't find the original again to link to it. Here is the basic idea of the middle sizes:

Materials: 2 oz Worsted weight wool, Needles size 4 and 6

Cast on 64 (68,72) stitches using worsted wool on size 4 needles.

Slip first stitch of every row.
Work 4 stitches garter stitch at each end of every row.
Work buttonhole in 5th row by binding off 3rd and 4th stitches from each end.

Start at Back Waist

Back Waist and Bum

Row 1: Sl 1, K4, 2x2 Rib to last 5 stitches. K5

Row 2-4: Repeat row 1.

Row 5: [Buttonhole row] Sl 1, K2, BO 2, Rib to last 5 stitches, BO 2, K3 [Or work one row button hole]

Row 6: Sl 1, K2, CO2, rib to last 5 stitches, CO2, K 3

Row 7-8: Repeat Row 1.

For Large, Continue ribbing for 4 more rows (12 rows)

Switch to size 6 needles and stockinette stitch.

Work Back Bum:

Row 1: Sl 1, K18, PM, K 26 (28, 34) PM, K19

Row 2: Sl 1, K4, P to last 5 stitches, K5

Row 3: [Short row] Sl 1, K to second marker, wrap and turn

Row 4: [Short row] P to marker, wrap and turn

Row 5: K across, picking up wrap as you knit

Row 6: Sl 1, K 4, P across, picking up wrap as you purl, K last 5 stitches

Continue in stockinette stitch with garter border for 23, (27, 31) rows.

Work buttonholes on each side of one more row for small (Row 17) and medium (Row 20.)
For large, work two buttonhole rows every 6 ridges.

AT THE SAME TIME

Work more short rows as on rows 3 and 4 as follows:

SMALL: Rows 11-14, 19-22

MEDIUM: Rows 13-16, 23-26

LARGE: Rows 11-14, 19-22, 27-30

After last short row is completed, Decrease for Legs

Row 23 (27, 31): Sl 1 SSK 4 times, K til 9 stitches remain, K2 tog 4 times, K1

Row 24 (28, 32): Sl 1, K4, P to last 5 stitches, K5

Row 25 (29, 33): [Short row] Sl 1, SSK, K to 2 stitches before second marker, wrap and turn

Row 26 (30, 34): [Short row] P to  2 stitches before marker, wrap and turn

Row 27 (31, 35): K to last 3 stitches, picking up wrap as you knit, K2 tog, K1

Row 28 (32, 36): Sl 1, K 4, P to last 5 stitches, picking up wrap as you purl, K5

Row 29 (33, 37): Sl 1, SSK, K to last 3 stitches, K2 tog, K1

Row 30 (34, 38): Sl 1, K4, P to last 5 stitches, K5

Row 31 (35, 39): Sl 1, SSK, K to marker, K2 P2 ribbing to next marker, K to last 3 stitches, K2 tog, K1

Row 32 (36, 40): Sl 1, K4, p to marker, P2 K2 ribbing to next marker, P to last 5 stitches, K5

Repeat last two rows until 28 (32, 36) stitches remain, maintaining pattern but removing markers as needed. 

Between Legs

Right side rows: Sl K4, K2 P2 to last 5 stitches, K5

Wrong side rows: Sl 1, K4, P2 K2 to last 5 stitches, K5

Work these two rows until piece measures 9" (10.5, 11.5") from mid back.

Increase for Front 

Right side: Sl 1, M1, K3, K to start of ribbing, K2 P2 to last 5 stitches, K4, M1, K1

Wrong side rows:  Sl 1, K4, P to start of ribbing, P2 K2 to end of ribbing, P to last 5 stitches, K5

Repeat these two rows 4 times, then switch to stockinette:

Right side: Sl 1 K across

Wrong side rows:  Sl 1, K4, P to last 5 stitches, K5

Work until piece measures 13" (15, 16.5") 

Switch to smaller needles and ribbing:

8 (8, 12) Rows: Sl K4, rib to last 5 stitches, K5

Bind off using larger needles. Sew buttons to front. On some I added extra buttons for more sizing options. This was purely arbitrary, depending on how many matching buttons I could find in my button tin.