Melanie's Thoughts and Musings on Life

 As mentioned in my first installment of The Crafting Journey, I learned to knit from my grandma. Me and my paternal grandmother were very close. I treasure the relationship that we shared.  My grandmother was a woman of many talents. She could cook and sew, but also do needlepoint. She grew up in a time when that was what was expected of a woman, in addition to caring for children.  She sewed some summer dresses for me when I was about 4 or 5, one had Strawberry Shortcake on it. She also made me a knit coat that I remember wearing, it was burgundy and had wooden buttons. I also remember a needle point project of hers, it had flowers and a pair of scissors on it, I don't believe she ever finished it, but that is okay, all of us have unfinished crafting projects. My other grandmother also knit. She made the most beautiful things. I remember going to see her, and there was always something on the needles. I remember the sweaters that she would send for me. She would knit wh...

 In a post I wrote several years ago (Pinterest and More), I talked about who I am- my titles like mom, and wife, and friend. So often in our culture, we are defined by what we do. What is the first thing people ask when we make small talk? What do you do? What do I do? What if instead of saying my job or one of the titles I have, I said "I am a crafter?" I think the answer to that question is because we don't think that our crafting and our journeys as crafters are important enough to warrant a title. I think often we demean our crafting because it is "Just a hobby" or "It's nothing special." Why do we do that? Our crafting IS important. There are some people who make money from crafting, and if you do- I am proud of you! I personally don't make money from crafting because I feel that I do not knit fast enough to make money! Also, knitting brings me such joy, I feel that if I did knit for money, I would lose joy I find in my projects and ultim...

Thanks matters. I love to make stuff to give for gifts, for babies, weddings and just because. Thanks matters though. I don't make the stuff to get thanks but it is nice to receive recognition for all the hard work I put into the project.  I give lots of stuff I make to charity groups and while I haven't been personally thanked, I know that where ever the items go, they are appreciated. That is all the thanks I need.  I want to encourage you to adopt an attitude of gratitude. Not everyday will be awesome, but there can be a little bit of awesome in every day, and that is something to be thankful for!  Now, I need to get back to knitting some dishtowels for a wedding. Don't underestimate the power of sending someone a personal note of gratitude. Those little notes and expressions of gratitude mean a lot.  Happy Crafting  Melanie

 So last week I alluded to the fact that crafting is addictive and therapeutic.  I am also addicted to buying yarn. I often see jokes on the internet about yarn and how much is too much, and that it is not hoarding if it is yarn etc. It's true, I love yarn and I am just as much as yarn collector and lover of yarn as I am a crafter and user of it. Here is just some of my stash! Now a lot of people don't agree with me here (and that is okay) but I don't like real wool or an ything itchy. If I am going to purchase yarn, it has to be acrylic and be washer and dryer friendly. I make a lot of baby items and what new mom do you know that has time to hand wash and lay flat to dry anything that is for their baby? If I am really honest, I don't have time for that and I don't have a baby!  Yarn makes me feel happy. I have a lot of it, but I also have plans for it. It may be that I have more yarn than I ever have time to knit with. Yet, I find myself still wanting more! Truly, ...

 I decided to try something different. I have not blogged for a long time, but I miss it. I miss sharing my thoughts and struggles. More recently, I have been crafting, and that has prompted me to share a new direction for the blog- Presenting... (drumroll) My Crafting Journey. I am a knitter. My grandma taught me how when I was really young. She taught me English knitting, though she herself knit continental. At my young age, continental was really confusing for me (and even still) so I learned the English way.  I only learned how to knit. She cast on for me, and eventually cast off. So I made a small scarf (dolly size) and a blanket for my Barbie bed.  I put down knitting until my early 20s, and then decided I should try again. That was before the internet- so I bought a book and learned how to knit and purl, and how to cast on and off. The first thing I made was a lap blanket for my mom (it was ugly). I used navy yarn and an ivory yarn- but I didn't know anything about...

I came across a book called Beautifully Broken. It is a bible study guide for special needs parents. I couldn't read it because I couldn't get past the title! I was defensive, my thought was, "I'm not broken, and neither is my son just because he has a disability!" Then I realized that maybe I had been looking at this all wrong, and perhaps misconstruing what was meant by the term "Beautifully Broken." When I think of broken, I think of a vase that has been smashed into a million pieces and then been glued back together. That vase will never be the same again, and the glue and cracks are a reminder that it is no longer as beautiful as it once was. There might also be shame that it got broken. We can come to Jesus in our brokenness. He understands when we feel broken by our circumstances. The bible tells us that "The Lord is near to the broken-hearted." (Psalm 34) He is near, and He binds up broken hearts. When I came to Jesus, he didn't glu...

I  love Sundays. We have a tendency to just stick to our routines and when we do that, our lives become dull and mundane. Going to church is a part of my life and routine, though I want to be the kind of person who changes things up. Church is supposed to be a hospital for the hurting, not a social club.  Touch through me... Have you heard that song? It's an oldy but a goody- "Touch through me, Holy Spirit, touch through me, let my hands reach out to others, touch through me. There is a lonely soul somewhere needing just some one to care, touch through me Holy Spirit, touch through me." I had the most beautiful experience on Sunday.  It is inevitable that we question our existence and our purpose and God's plan for our lives.  I walked into church on Sunday and as soon as I got there, I met a couple who had a child with cerebral palsy. I made it my business to reach out. The disability advocate and the mom in me are intertwined. I wanted to meet their son and know th...