Blog Moving...Please Join Me at My New Home

Yes, I'm relocating my blog. Please join me HERE. I've gone ahead and purchased a domain name and set the new blog up with WordPress. It's almost ready....just have to add a bit more.

Please take a moment to change your links if my blog is linked to your site. I know this is an inconvenience, but I'm working really hard to make the new site a much better blog and worth taking the time to change your links.

Thank You So Much!

Your Pal,

Shelly

Late Saturday Sky, Spring & More Tomorrow

Saturday Sky


Click on the picture above and see it full-sized. Those are Purple Martins busily circling above. We have a very large Purple Martin colony that we host on our farm in central Oklahoma. We watch the *circle of life* renew and unfold every year with these beautiful South American visitors.


This is another picture of some of the Purple Martins soaring over one of the large, budding Maple trees near our home.

Purple Martins over-winter in Brazil and return to N. America early each year to abundant feeding grounds to nest and raise their young.

I'll be including additional pictures and probably some home movies from this season's nesting progress in the next few weeks.

Spring

Spring has sprung! All the bulbs have been blooming, fruit trees are covered with blossoms, the grass is green(ing), and color has returned to the landscape. Bugs are once again flying and ants are trying to find entry into every kitchen. Our Eastern Bluebirds have nests built and we're expecting the first eggs any day. What a wonderous season!

With all the wondrous return of life to dormant plants, the pollen has reached new highs. I'm thankful that the plants are regenerating and reproducing, but the pollen....especially cedar tree pollen, has had me coughing incessantly for over a month. Allergy pills, 3 cough suppressants, and steroids later....I am somewhat better. I will be thankful when the cedar pollen level drops below stellar levels and I can once again talk and move about without fearing a coughing attack and the negative results that can bring about.

Because of constant coughing, I couldn't visit with my knitting pals, couldn't talk on the phone, couldn't drive the car, and was thinking that surely this would help me ultimately develop abs of steel as the only *good* side effect of incessant hacking. Well, weeks later, I'm still coughing a bit....but no *abs of steel* have shown up yet. Evidently, I've coughed enough to ache from head to toe, but a flat tummy still eludes me. As my friend Rebecca always says, *Not Fair*!

My belated explanation for not blogging much this month is that I was coughing. Just coughing. All the time ... coughing. I'm actually surprised I didn't cough myself inside-out. With more serious health issues going on, you'd think coughing from allergies wouldn't even register with me. Well, I just couldn't *hack* it! ; )

More Tomorrow

I had more planned to post, but, well, I'm coughing AGAIN! I'll return tomorrow with more pictures and other stuff.

I pray for each of you and hope you have a very blessed upcoming week.

Your Friend,

Shelly

NIV

Psalm 51:10

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Job 11:18

You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety.

Quick Post, Sockret Pal Socks On Their Way, & A Shawl For a Friend

It's been a while since I've posted, but not without good reason. I'll explain in a later post.

I've actually done quite a bit of knitting and enjoyed every minute of it. I really enjoyed every moment of knitting a prayer/comfort shawl for my friend, Susan. I didn't take pictures of the shawl, but Susan has and you can see it HERE. It's knit with Knitpicks Swish Superwash Wool in the color Wisteria. The pattern is the Feather and Fan Triangle Shawl from the book Folk Shawls by Cheryl Oberle. I knit it a bit smaller than the full pattern....if full sized I think it would have swallowed Susan since she is petite. The wings of the shawl are quite long so that it may be crossed at the waist and tied behind the back to keep both hands free and no shawl in the way. Many people included their prayers, hugs, and good wishes for Susan as the shawl progressed. I hope she feels all of our hugs and prayers each time she sees or wears it.

I've also knitted some CIC socks for the bigger kids. I'll post pictures later.

And, I finished my Sockret Pal's hand knit socks. Rebecca will find out soon that I've been sending her goodies since last fall. It has been great fun. I hope she feels as good about what I've sent her as I've felt about how Sherry bestowed gifts upon me!


Here's a picture of the socks I knit for Rebecca. I used Opal Uni-Solid yarn in a very nice blue color....Rebecca's favorite color is blue. The pattern is the Eagle's Flight pattern by Megan Humphrey posted HERE at the PTYarn website.

I'll try to post pictures of the CIC socks and some Spring changes happening on our farm soon.

I pray that you have a wonderful day full of blessings! I also pray for your health, for caring and positive relationships with others, and a closer walk with our Heavenly Father every day.

Your Friend,

Shelly

NIV

Genesis 49:26

Your father's blessings are greater than the blessings of the ancient mountains, than the bounty of the age-old hills.

Sockret Pal, Care Wool, Knitting, Dust & Thoughts

Sockret Pal

My SockretPal, Sherry (Shayla), sent me her final wonderful package last week and finally revealed herself. She has definitely outdone herself!

Just look at the last box of goodies... : )


There's one package of wonderful Ghirardelli Chocolates missing. They were greatly enjoyed! : )

The handknit socks are beautiful, fit perfectly, and show exquisite knitting skill. I'm starting the book Sherry sent, *Knitting Yarns and Spinning Tales* today. There's also a small book entitled, *Blueberries From Heaven*, that I will be reading, too. I will truly enjoy the bird note cards (since I'm an avid birder) and very pretty papers and envelopes in the package. She also included White Hazelnut Chocolate Bath Salts! Have you ever heard of anything so wonderful? And, then there's the adorable little sheep holder with a great skein of beautiful blue Cashcotton inside. Also, girly stickies and a great little purse/pouch for my knitting accessories and dpn's.

Yes, she has sent everything that I would have chosen myself!

This is the first knitting swap that I have ever joined... and Sherry has made it absolutely wonderful! I just hope her pal has been equally as good to her as she was to me!

Thank You, Sherry! I look forward to keeping in touch and hope that we can meet in person some day.

Care Wool

Our Care Wool group has been busy... and productive. We're sending in a big box of hand knitted items to CIC headquarters this week. We still have many works in progress and will be mailing another box before the end of the bigger kid's challenge.

Here's the contents of our current box:


We enjoy knitting together each Sunday at Hastings in Norman, OK from 1:30 - 4:00 PM. You will find us in the Cafe area chatting and knitting every Sunday. Please join us. While our focus is charity knitting, *any* knitting is welcome.

Knitting

I've been quite busy with other knitting, too. I've completed a pair of socks from Socks That Rock/Bluemoon Fiber Arts lightweight yarn in the Lucy (Barkley) colorway. I really like this yarn!

Here are the socks just before finishing.

Front:


and Back:


Do you see the pattern extending from one sock to the other? This just amazed me! I knit both socks at once on one long circular needle from 2 balls of yarn that have been made from the single skein of Socks That Rock yarn. I did not try to match the pattern in any way. I just divided the skein in half by weighing the wound amount, until I had 2 equal weight balls of yarn. And, this is how it came out all on its own.

For these Toe-Up socks, I used Judy's Magic Cast On from Knitty, then followed Queen Kahuna's Toe-Up instructions, and finished with the Sewn Cast Off with Denise's slight modification.
Size 0 Addi Turbos of the 47" length were used on these 64 stitch socks.

These socks are a gift for our daughter, Amanda.

I've also finished an item for a friend. I'll post pictures after the gift has been received. :)

I've also finished a large sweater and a pair of larger red socks for CIC. They are pictured above in the CIC picture. I've got more CIC items on the needles now.

Dust


Yes, this is a picture of our most recent Saturday sky. I don't know if you can tell, but the sky is *full of dirt*. Yes, it is a mild Oklahoma dust storm. When you have sustained winds of 40 mph, with gusts up to 60 mph, the red dirt does get air born!

This picture was taken mid-day. I've been coughing and sneezing (allergies) since Saturday. Wonder why?

Thoughts

I haven't blogged much lately. I've just felt like someone has knocked the air out of me. I'm still struggling with the decision that my IL relatives made to have my grandmother *put down* like an animal. I will never understand, or in any way agree with their choice! My grandmother was old and confused at times. They chose for her to be *terminally sedated* rather than seek professional care for her in a care facility.

My grandmother had no idea that they would choose death for her when she signed a power-of-attorney over to my aunt, months earlier. She felt the power-of-attorney would be for used for possible legal matters or other necessary decisions for her care and protection. She had NO IDEA it was giving them the ability to choose death for her when it was absolutely unnecessary! She was awake, alert, eating well, and walking. When she became confused at times and had sporadic sleeping habits, they chose and requested a hospice to administer their *terminal sedation protocol* and have her dehydrated to death, rather than arrange for long-term care!

There are several more details being found each day. Medical details, inappropriate choices, financial irregularities with my grandmother's accounts...and much more. It is now being handled by others that have expertise in these areas. Those responsible will be, and are in the process of being held accountable by all appropriate avenues possible.

I have no idea how any person that participated in these choices can sleep with a single moment's peace...or, sleep at all.

Please pray for any other individuals that may be in the hands and care of hospice's that throw ethics out the window for a bottom-line *profit*.... and for those that may be in the hands of relatives that see the disabled or elderly as being in need of being *put down* slowly and tragically by dehydration.....which has less humane qualities or consideration than that provided for an old horse or an injured dog!

I have been overwhelmed with the tragedy of this, as has my sister and other family members. Please pray for justice in this situation and that those responsible are held accountable.

I find myself having to actively choose to concentrate and think on good things. Otherwise, the anger and grief would consume me. My anger is not only on what they *chose* and what the hospice *did*, but that they somehow think it is *acceptable*
and that they provided a *beautiful death* for my grandmother! The depth of their delusion, selfishness, sickness, and greed cannot be imagined.

Please pray with me about all these things.

Your Friend,

Shelly

NIV

Psalms 42:1

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.

Computer, Ice, Birds, Knitting, Life & Prayers

Computer

Just when I thought I had survived the most recent computer crash, reloaded *everything*, retrieved everything possible and started again.....my computer promptly turned into an expensive book end!

So, not to be defeated, a new computer was ordered (by my wonderful husband, Kim) and I've spent the last 36 hrs. getting it - once again - *reloaded* and up and running with my preferences and programs. I did manage to get most of my important info. from my old hard drive .... quite a process and I considered that standing on my head might be necessary before the retrieval was complete....but the important things were saved!

I've restored all the old info. to my new computer and even salvaged my iTunes library, so once again, I hope my blood pressure returns to a near normal range. I have definitely come to realize that I rely on a computer far more than I ever thought possible, or possibly healthy. : )

We used to joke in our house that whenever Kim drove one of our vehicles very much it guaranteed the imminent demise of the air conditioner. Well, I'm beginning to rightfully earn that reputation with any computer that I use for any length of time. I'm hoping this new computer will break the cycle.

Ice

We are currently gripped in at least 2" of ice in every direction. Some areas are covered with much more than just 2 inches.

Living in a beautiful rural area definitely has advantages, but traveling in this type of weather isn't one of them. It is possible to step off our deck and, if you keep your balance, you can *slide* all the way to the barn (300 ft. away) without ever taking a step, literally. The only problem is that if you don't control the direction of your slide, you may end up ice skating on the front pond. And, then you have the terrible task of trying to figure out how to get back up the slope without the aid of a mountain climber's ax.

During our ONE attempt to get to the outside world last evening, our truck ended up in a BIG ditch about 1/4 mi. from home. It is now at the local body shop, in the queue of vehicles needing and waiting their turn for repairs. We are very thankful for car insurance. And, we're trying to stay home until the roads clear.... if we can hold out that long. Thankfully, we have food and power, and all the animals are warm, well fed and watered. But, all of us are beginning to show signs of cabin fever .... animals and humans alike.

Birds

The birds have been flocking at our bird feeders and heated bird bath. They have been a joy to watch! We are thankful to be able to keep their feeders full and their water fresh and warmed.

We've hosted some rare avian visitors, too!


Yes, it's a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. What a treat for a birder to have right outside the living room window! : )

I am awed at the ability for God's creatures to travel great distances and be able to return to their nesting sites each year, to survive weather extremes, and to raise families each season. I feel humbled to have them visit our farm and am grateful to offer them some food and unfrozen water.

A male Red-bellied Woodpecker is at the beginning of this post. He's a regular year round at our feeders. I feel I know him pretty well after having seen him daily for such a long time.

We've had several Harris's Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos, Red-winged Blackbirds (females), European Starlings, Northern Cardinals, Blue Jays, American Goldfinches, House Finches, and many more. I may have binocular marks around my eyes and a smile frozen on my face from enjoying these flighted visitors the last several days!

Knitting

I've been able to complete quite a bit of knitting. Most recently I've completed Kimberly's Fair Isle mitten design. She wrote the pattern and I was lucky enough to get to test knit it for her. I ended up with these:




I used Cascade 220 in Turquoise Heather and a Natural/cream color. I haven't decided where these mittens will end up just yet, but I'm sure they will keep someone's hands very warm.

I've also completed a size 12 sweater for the children of CIC. I'll post pictures of it soon, and I have another planned.

I've also just got to add the border to the Mountain Peaks Shawl and it will be completed. It will also find a new home. : ) I'll be sure to post pictures when it is completed and blocked.

Life

I am familiar with struggles and joys of life. Loss is a part of life, just as births, and growing older. I, however, have never dealt with anything so cold and tragic as the events that led to the loss of my grandmother. I cannot understand how such horrendous decisions were made and carried out. I'll never understand how adults could choose that, and then watch it carried out.

My grandmother was not in a coma. She was *awake and alert*, talking, eating, and visiting. She had NO IDEA that she was being ultimately betrayed by her family members that held the power of attorney.

I thought I knew them. I thought they had a sense of right and wrong, morals that would stand in a difficult situation, and that they understood self-sacrifice for the benefit of another. Oh, how very wrong I was. How wrong my grandmother was in believing that, too. Bless her heart. I hope she never realized what they had chosen and were doing to her.

My sister found the following, and I would like to share it here:
*************************************************************

Just up the road from my home is a field with two horses in it.
From a distance, each looks like every other horse. But if you
stop your car or are walking by, you will notice something
quite amazing.

Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is
blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has
made a good home for him. This alone is amazing. If nearby and
listening, you will hear the sound of a bell. Looking around
for the source of the sound, you will see that it comes from the
smaller horse in the field.

Attached to her halter is a small bell. It lets her blind
friend know where she is, so he can follow her. As you stand
and watch these two friends, you'll see how she is always
checking on him, and that he will listen for her bell and then
slowly walk to where she is, trusting that she will not lead him
astray.

When she returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, she
stops occasionally and looks back, making sure her friend isn't
too far behind to hear the bell.

Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away
just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or
challenges. God watches over us and even brings others into our
lives to help us when we are in need.

Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by the little
ringing bell of those who God places in our lives. Other times
we are the guide horse, helping others see.

Good friends are like this. You don't always see them, but you
know they are always there.

Please listen for my bell and I'll listen for yours.

~Author Unknown~
*******************************************************

Prayers

I pray for all those people who are sacrificially caring for someone that is dependent upon them. I pray for their love to be stronger than their desire for self enjoyment or monetary gain. I pray for the caregivers to get adequate rest, excellent support from friends and health care services that believe in LIFE, and the rewards of their decision to help another to be eternal.

I also pray for those that are ill or disabled to have their health restored, or to have continued love and comfort if their health continues to fail. And, I pray that they have the constant knowledge and reassurance of the never ending love of their Heavenly Father.

Please continue to pray for Susan. Her gamma knife procedure was postponed last week and will be done early the morning of Jan. 18th. Please pray for complete healing and total eradication of the cancer.

I'd also like to request continued prayers for Mackenzie. Her facial cancer has improved dramatically with her most recent treatments and the scheduled surgery has been moved up. She is doing amazingly well and for such a little girl, she is very strong and amazing everyone around her. Please continue to pray for her family, too.

I also pray for each of you. I pray that you have a very blessed year, and that the truly wonderful things of life be yours ... and that you realize the things that are truly important. And, I pray for you to walk closer with the Lord every single day and know how very special *you* are to him.

Your Friend,

Shelly

NIV

Luke 12:7

Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Matthew 10: 28-31

28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Psalms 107:1

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

More Coming Soon, Thank You, & Prayers

More Coming Soon

Well, I've already got the great computer crash of '07 out of the way (at least I hope so)! So, I'll be posting again soon.

Thank You

I want to thank everyone for your prayers, support, comments, emails, and phone calls. You'll never know how very much they have meant to my sister and I. There have been days when it felt like we were hanging by a thin thread, and your support has helped sustain us all along this path.

Prayers

I want to request for everyone to join me in praying for Susan. Her brain tumor has returned at one site after just having had surgery for removal just before Thanksgiving. She will be having the gamma knife procedure tomorrow morning very early. Please pray for a gentle and *effective* procedure and for her complete healing. Also, pray for the Lord's comforting arms to surround and be felt by Susan tomorrow as the procedure is done.

Susan, we are all praying for you and want to know we will be holding you up in prayer during your procedure tomorrow.

Please Take Action

Please Take Action

Please read the information HERE and HERE.

Feel free to leave comments by clicking on the colored *Comments* word below (just over to the right in the lines below my name).

Shelly

To Loyce, Al, and Sylvia .... a Reply to Your Comment

To Loyce (Jody), Al, and Sylvia ... a Reply to Your Comment

I found your comment to be quite interesting, especially considering your confused and telling statement. (Please, for future reference, please make your comments under the current dated entry....not at a past entry date. There are places where comments can be made at each blog entry right at the bottom of each dated entry. Please read the comments after each post/dated entry.)

I will quote your comment here:

****************************************
"Anonymous said...

You have single handedly destroyed one of the most spiritual and healing services Medicare ever supported. Maybe you have better read those bible verses again - judge not lest ye be judged."
****************************************

What you do not understand is that Medicare DOES NOT support the type of *involuntary* euthanasia by dehydration which each of you imposed on an awake and alert person. It WAS NOT her choice! She had no idea that her trip to that hospital was for her life to be electively ended at your request! Just as you told us that her hospitalization (actually hospice suite admission for terminal sedation) was for medication adjustment and to check for electrolyte imbalances....you knew it was to be her last visit anywhere. YOU chose it and scheduled it.

It was each of *YOU* that *JUDGED* the quality of Granny's life to be unworthy of living. Who gave *YOU* that authority? What criteria did you use to justify your decision to terminate her life? Was it that she was going to finally use some of HER OWN money for her extended care? Did *YOU* want to keep that money for yourselves? Did *YOU* want to be free to travel to Scottsdale on a whim without a second thought of anyone else? Did you want to be able to go out with friends without worry of her care in an extended care facility? Did you decide it was time for her life to end because *YOU WERE TIRED OF BEING BOTHERED*?

Who perceived themselves to be the *JUDGES* of what life is worth living? Did you usurp God's authority and plan? Did you become weary of waiting for God to call Granny home, so *YOU* sent her to him? This WAS NOT HIS TIMING, NOR HIS CHOICE.

Not only did you decide and plan her death....an awake, ambulatory, talking, eating, laughing and conversing person....but you requested it and watched it happen in one of the the slowest and most tragic manners possible. *YOU WATCHED* them DEHYDRATE her to death...for TWO WEEKS! And you have the audacity to call that a spiritual and healing act????? God Help Us All! Where is your heart? Where is your sanity?

Each of you *KNEW* this wasn't RIGHT! That is why you lied about the purpose of the hospital admission. That is why you continued to lie to us at each phone call! Only when I had asked enough pointed questions to begin to understand what may be happening and voiced that, did you suddenly become angry and *oh so defensive*. If you thought what you were choosing was right, you wouldn't have lied to us. You would have been honest ... but, you knew.

What research did you do? Did you seek cousel with your preacher or clergy? Did you research how death actually occurs by dehydration? Did you research this hideous practice at all? Yet, you chose it and scheduled it...and watched it carried out on your own mother and grandmother! Are your hearts totally made of stone?

This action of choosing *terminal sedation* has only been a choice for the past few years. It is a new and often money-seeking venture for *some* hospices. You chose it for *YOUR* benefit, obviously... all the while trying to convince yourselves that it was for her benefit. I think your delusion will not keep you comfortable forever.

Today would have been Granny's birthday. She would also have enjoyed another Christmas with family, another big dinner, and time with loved ones. One more birthday would have been welcomed by her. You chose for her NOT TO BE ALLOWED THAT TIME. She was given Ativan when at home, and not at her request! Ativan has terrible side effects in even young, healthy adults. Her increase in confusion is almost certainly a response to the Ativan that was recommended by the hospice workers to be given to her. Then, in the hospice suite, she was repeatedly and frequently given morphine (although there was NO NEED for morphine) under her tongue to make her too sleepy to be able to drink or ask for a drink of water...and every time she did wake, water was refused and more morphine given....until she slowly dehydrated and organ systems shut down... until she died.

I don't know how you sleep....or how you go about any of your days knowing that you chose to have your mother/grandmother/mother-in-law INVOLUTNARILY EUTHANIZED! If you do a bit of internet research, you will see what the term *involuntary euthanasia* is a synonym for ... go take a look.

Me, judging? Not actually. I have reviewed and weighed the facts. These are FACTUAL events. No judgment necessary. It clearly states in the Bible, *THOU SHALL NOT KILL*. And, what was it that you chose to have happen to Granny? You chose for her life to be ended...at your own request. That is the simple indesputible FACT. YOU judged her life *unworthy*. YOU judged her to lack *your definition* of quality. YOU judged her to be too time consuming. YOU judged her to not be worth the expense of long term care options and that all long term care facilities to be unacceptable. YOU judged her and YOU sentenced her to death. YOU watched it happen. YOU knew she was having all fluids withheld...you agreed. YOU kept water from being given to a thirsty woman. And *YOU* have the gall to call this a spiritual and healing experience??? How deceived are you? How sick is your heart? How corrupt is your mind? Healing...for what or who?

Now, enjoy your partying or trips to the second home in Scottsdale, and your frequent vacations. Have your fun while you can. An accounting will ultimately be held before God by each of us for what we have done. And, this will not go unnoticed. You will have to answer for YOUR choice and YOUR judgments.

God forgive us all. When our society, and even our own relatives, see right as wrong...and wrong as right....what have we become?

This is being addressed in the present time by many more people than my sister and I. Those responsible will be addressed. You will see. Take a moment and educate yourselves, finally.

While I do not intend to *judge*, I will NOT sit idly by and go quietly about my business without standing up for the innocents and those that cannot defend themselves. I have become very active and will continue as long as I live. And, there are many more like me....and many to replace me when I am gone. We are instructed to protect those that are weak and to stand up to those that take advantage.

I would have never imagined that each of you were capable of this! It was convenient and solved your impatience issue and your need for personal freedom from responsibility and put a quick end to your wait...while sparing $ for you to add to your own accounts. I don't know or comprehend how you survive with the knowledge of what you have done.

I try to imagine that you were stressed, overtired, and succomed to the polished sales pitch of the hospice personnel. But, the fact that you watched it continue for 2 weeks and did NOT change your mind...continued to withold fluids... and became impatient when her death did not happen quickly enough .... well, only God can address that with you. I cannot. I cannot fathom or believe what you have done! Who gave *YOU* the right? How can you live with yourselves? My own heart has been ripped and torn by this. I realize that I didn't know any of you or realize what you were truly capable of doing! I would never have believed any of you were capable of this. How very, very weak you must be! Or, how completely selfish and self-serving! Or, possibly both! I do not know, nor will I ever understand.

I pray for God to help me with this. I pray for God to help each of you, too.

Shelly

NIV

I Timothy 1:9

We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers,

KJV

Exodus 20:13

Thou shalt not kill.

Christmas Morning Sky, Merry Christmas to All, Comments, & Prayers

Christmas Morning Sky

Early yesterday morning I went outside to get some pictures of the Christmas sky. Just one picture wouldn't do...so please enjoy the pictures that follow.




All these pictures of the Christmas morning sky were taken one after the other from our front deck. What a glorious sight to start Christmas day!

Merry Christmas to All

I hope that every one of you have had a marvelous Christmas. Beyond the hectic pace of packages, cooking, and getting together... I hope that the true meaning of Christmas was residing bountifully in your heart. I hope that there was wonderful times in the company of loved ones, good memories made, and relationships strengthened.

Gracie, one of our cats, found her own special place to cozy up after the packages were unwrapped.


All of our cats took turns trying out the newest and most sought after box of the day. : )

Comments

I've been emailed recently by some wondering how to leave comments to the posts on this blog. It's really simple. Just click on the colored word *Comments* at the bottom of each post. You can leave comments, or read comments that have been left by others, on the page that will come up by clicking the *comments* link. And, I always enjoy and appreciate any comments that you would like to share.

Prayers

I'd like to thank everyone for your prayers, thoughts, and good wishes concerning the loss of my grandmother. I appreciate each of them so very much and thanks do not seem sufficient. This has been tremendously difficult. My emotions have gone to almost every extreme imaginable. I am still working through it, and with the Lord's help, my sister and I will recover and will work tirelessly to see that this does not happen to others.

I can report that I received a phone call on Friday afternoon before Christmas that was one of the most important and encouraging things that has happened yet and has confirmed that this practice will be challenged and changed.

My prayers this week are for each of you to have a wonderful and bountifully blessed new year. I pray for good health for you, many friends, strengthened relationships, and a closer walk with our Heavenly Father every single day.

Your Friend,

Shelly

NIV

John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Psalm 119:50
My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.

Emerald Green, Sockret Pal, Knitting, Work Progress, & Prayers

Emerald Green

Well, I did my first yarn crockpot dyeing a few days ago. The yarn is all dried, and I think I had beginner's luck. I was shooting for emerald green yarn....and, I think I ended up with *emerald green yarn*. : )



There's a slight variation in the saturation of the color, but I rather like that. Rather than a flat, solid color, I'd call this a *nearly* solid. This is destined to become a CIC sweater. There are 478 yards of *almost* bulky yarn. This started out as Cascade Ecological Wool in the platinum, natural color.

I really enjoyed dyeing this yarn and plan on doing more. Thanks to Susan F. and Susan B. for the inspiration.

Sockret Pal

The Sockret Pal Swap has been the first knitting swap that I have joined. And, I must say, I have loved every minute of it.

I have loved choosing items and putting together packages for my assigned pal on the *send to* end. And, my pal that has been assigned to send to me has totally overwhelmed me with her generosity and caring.

I received another box the day before yesterday. I apologize to my pal for just now getting a chance to blog about this wonderful box of goodies! My husband brought it inside and helped me get through the tape....then I just couldn't believe it as I opened each item and saw each wonderful item.

Just look....it took 2 pictures to get all the items pictured:



Thank you again to my wonderful sockret pal. I'll cast on the sock yarn soon. The decorations are going up in our home tonight! I love the crocheted snowflake! Each item is special and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I feel I have made a very special friend out there somewhere, even though I don't even know your name yet.

Knitting

I'm still knitting mittens for Mittens for Akkol. I've also got a child's size 12 orange, raglan sweater on the needles for the children of CIC.

I've also almost finished the 6 socks at once on one long, circular needle. I apologize for the delay. I will be placing updated photos as well as a video on how to manage the 6 yarns at once on my blog in the next several days. : )

Knitting is very therapeutic and the activity of knitting has helped me through some of the grief in dealing with my grandmother's death....and especially with the hideous manner in which it came. I can feel that something productive and tangible is coming from my overwhelming grief. And, it is clearing my mind somewhat and keeping me motivated to see that changes are made and to see that those that have done this are held accountable.

Work Progress

My sister and I are continuing, undaunted, in our pursuit of justice for our grandmother. We are also continuing in our efforts of making this practice known and seeing that it is made illegal.

To choose to have a person euthanized that is awake and alert, is in no pain, and that desires to live, only as a matter of *convenience* or as a *money saving* measure is horribly tragic! To choose death for someone, rather than long term care options is beyond my ability to comprehend.

I know this is a difficult topic. I know it makes many uncomfortable. But, it must be faced! I have truly found out which friends were willing to go beyond their comfort zone to speak out against this, to read the facts, to be willing to listen or ask questions to join in the effort to stop this happening to innocents by the choice of relatives or those in control...for convenience, or to save money, or to listen to and choose to follow in action the story of *sending someone off on a journey*.

Some hospices (not all, by any means) encourage, solicit and advertise this service! There is no peer review, no consults, no second opinions, no review committee to keep ethics in place. One family member or person with power of attorney, a doctor willing to write the orders, and a hospice staff that feels they are helping someone on a *beautiful journey* can do this to nearly anyone.

The wheels of justice will turn. It is underway.

I so wish my relatives that chose to euthanize my grandmother had consulted with the clergy of their church prior to making this decision and choosing to have this done. Why didn't they consult my sister, or I? It was kept secret from us....because I believe they knew we would have strongly disagreed and never accepted this as any type of option. I wish they had looked at THIS BOOK, or THIS BOOK, or THIS BOOK. They will now have to live with their decision for the rest of their lives. I cannot imagine living with that. I care about them, but I truly hate what they have done.

Please click on the colored links in the paragraph above to see each book. They each strongly address the issue of euthanasia ... especially euthanasia by choice of others and when it is NOT the choice of the person to be euthanized.

These books include the legal aspects, emotional aspects, and a Christian view of euthanasia. I have ordered all 3 and have 2 of them in my hands already. I highly recommend them for anyone with concerns about these practices. They are well researched and written with clarity of facts.

Also, please click on the small picture of my grandmother in the sidebar above to view more information about STOPPING Involuntary Euthanasia.

Additionally, did you realize that hospices are such big businesses that some are now listed on the NASDAQ? Look at THIS. (This is NOT the hospice that euthanized my grandmother, so please do not confuse it as such. I do not know the practices of this hospice organization. I just noticed they were a company with stock investors.)


Prayers

My prayers this week are for each of you to have a wonderful and blessed holiday season. I pray that you are drawn closer to the Lord every minute of every day. I pray for those that have been ill to have health and wellness in the new year. And, I pray for you to be blessed with a bounty of friends and family every day.

Your Friend,

Shelly

NIV

Ephesians 1:3
[ Spiritual Blessings in Christ ] Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

I Peter 1:3-4
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you,