Tuesday, May 24, 2016

To The Provider, The Sustainer. To He Who is able to do Everything.

To The Provider, The Sustainer. To He Who is able to do Everything.

In the midst of trouble
I am calling out to You
I know you have promised to take care of Your children
I know this is true because You cannot lie
You are He who is able to do everything
All things
Anything
The most powerful God who Sees me
You know my ups and downs
You know how I feel in a moment
You know how I will feel in the next
Please look down on us and provide a way for us to maintain
My God, You are the sustainer of our home and our lives
You have already seen the end from the beginning
And I recognize that it is my responsibility to have faith in Your plan
Help me when my faith waivers I ask
Help me to trust in You
I give all praise to You
Praise be to God - The Most Merciful, The Provider and Sustainer
Praise be to God who is able to do all things.

Monday, May 16, 2016

The Simple Things

"Think simple.  Reduce the whole of its parts into the simplest terms, getting back to first principles." -Frank Lloyd Wright
Prompt: What simple things in life do you enjoy?

A few years ago, I ran a blog called Golden 24.  It was focused on creating and spreading happiness, and one of the things I really loved doing was highlighting simple pleasures :)  So today's prompt is taking me back to those posts, and that's a great thing!

Ten Simple Pleasures
  • A good cup of tea!
  • Touching all the yarns in a yarn shop
  • Snuggles with my dogs
  • Quiet relaxed mornings with Lamar
  • Listening to music while driving with the windows down
  • A relaxing bath
  • Making & baking
  • Good conversation
  • Putting things in color order
  • Finishing a project
There you have it!  Ten simple pleasures ^.^  What are some of your simple pleasures?? I'd love to know!

Thursday, May 5, 2016

Hook and Needle Adjacent Dreamin

I've had a profile on Ravelry for a few years now.  I never use to be very active on the site though.  Recently, since discovering a love for shawls, I've found myself on there more often drooling over patterns.  Within my time on Ravelry, I've amassed quite the library ^.^

Currently I have two projects going, one crochet and the other knit.  And lemme tell you, I'm itching to start something new!!  So I'm going to plan my next couple projects because actually starting something right now is probably a bit obsessive. lol!  I've chosen 2 crochet patterns and 2 knitting ones.  So here we go!

1. All Shawl by Doris Chan

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/all-shawl
Click Photo for Pattern Page (Photo by Doris Chan)

This is a super simple crochet shawl pattern.  I really like that the pattern is very flexible, you can make it as long or short as you like and gauge doesn't really matter.  It looks like a quick project to make and probably won't take much more than a week.

2. Sonny's Socks by Sonny321

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sonnys-socks
Click Photo for Pattern Page (Photo by fmlcrochet)

I am very interested to see how crochet socks wear and feel.  I think if I like the texture I'll definitely have many more handmade socks ^.^  I like the shell stitching on these and they look comfy.  We'll soon see!

3.   Ventura Wrap by Rebecca Hill

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ventura-wrap
Click Photo for Pattern Page (Photo by MissBecca)

To continue with my love affair with shawls :)  I'm going to try knitting this one.  It will be my first knit shawl.  Allegedly, it's an easy pattern.  I'll be the judge lol!  But hey, I have youtube and a local yarn store if I get helplessly stuck.  I'm excited about this pattern.

4. Seaforth Hat by Karie Westermann

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/seaforth-2
Click Photo for Pattern Page (Photo by David Fraser)

I think this is going to be the most ambitious of all my hook/needle adjacent projects.  I'm actually quite nervous to attempt this, but just like the Ventura Wrap, I have youtube and knitters nearby to help me if needed.  I really want to make this hat because, 1- it's really pretty and 2- I'm getting a little tired of wearing my same old crochet hats to work.  I want to switch it up.  Or maybe that means I need to design a new crochet hat... that's a possibility!

So there you have it!  Four projects that I will hopefully be starting within the near future ^.^  My Ravelry pattern library is bursting with projects that are inspiring me and I'm so glad that I found that site! 

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

April 2016: Month in Review

This year is just flying by! I don't even know how I feel about it... April was a blur.  Welp, here's to making the effort to take May more slowly.

April Highlights
4/1: I got my replacement phone!  My Galaxy S5 was stolen at the end of March, but through some research and blessing I was able to replace it with an S6 through upgrade without having a monthly phone payment!  Huzzah! Praise God!

4/3: Lamar's cousin Roger got married!  I got to be in my first big Ryan family photo and I'm no longer the newest Mrs. Ryan ^.^


4/6:  I took my second aerial yoga class and did a shoulder-stand!!!  I felt so awesome afterward.  A couple days later tho... my body was sooo mad at me lol.


4/9:  It was education day at church and I told the children's story.  It went really well.  Lamar recorded it... maybe I'll post it sometime.

4/13: Finished editing and uploading the photos from a first birthday shoot  ^.^

4/14: Lamar and I went to the Pentatonix concert.  It was a lot of fun and the opening act, Us the Duo, was the best part if you ask me :)  It's the only CD I've been playing in my car since.



4/20:  Since I've been getting more into knitting, I decided to purchase my first set of fancy needles.  I went to a yarn store quite close to me called Knit! and bought a set of Chiaogoo lace tips. Compared to the needles I've been using from Joann's, the Chiaogoos are soooo much better!  

4/21: Lamar's school put on 'Hairspray' as their Spring Musical.  It was pretty good.



4/29:  Ma Sonia and Amber's birthdays!!

4/30:  I wore my newest crochet shawl to church and one of the older ladies complimented me on it ^.^

Throughout the Month
- I started Bible Journaling!  I've wanted to try it for a while, but I was scared to draw in the Bible... But once I got past the first entry, I was good to go!  It's a really meditative practice for me.
- I've been working on the Evy Lovey and Blanket set this month. It's looking very cute!

April Goals Recap
1. Read Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert -- I started it but put it down after a couple chapters.  I do want to finish it, so I'm going to give it another go in May.
2. Crochet something Hufflepuff for #23HarryPotterKAL -- nope, I just went with the Ravenclaw socks
3. Volunteer at an animal shelter -- nope, and now my car is acting really stupid so I don't know when I'll be able to do the extra driving.
4. Read Proverbs and Ecclesiastes -- I did this one!  But let me tell you, Ecclesiastes was HARD to get through!! I even called my dad (who's a preacher) to confirm that I was understanding the book... It's depressing! Moral of the book: You might as well enjoy your work and life because everything is meaningless and we're all going to die anyway.  Thanks Solomon...
5. Back up devices 2 - 4 times in the month -- I'm ashamed... I haven't backed up anything.  I keep saying I need to back up my phone because I have SO many photos and videos from the Pentatonix concert and whatnot.  The back up will happen today!

May Goals
1.  Finish & deliver the Evy Set
2.  Knit a hat
3.  Plan Sheree's Bachelorette Party
4.  Read one book
5.  Make grandma's retirement shutterfly book


SO yeah, I do want to focus on taking May slower.  Making an effort to make more memories and not just work work work.  I want to take more time for me and also do more crafting for me :)  What are some of your May goals?