Live: Lost

Sunday night, as I was driving home from my mom and dad's house, I was thinking about how pleased I was with my weekend. I didn't get everything on my to do list done, but I got close. I mostly finished my of my Christmas shopping, I had set up the tree and done a little more decorating, I had spent hours helping my mom sew costumes, I'd had a few great meals with family, I enjoyed sleeping in a couple days and not changing out of my pjs until noon. I was running through a little get your week started right to do list in my mind, you know before I go to bed I'll do the dishes, wipe down the bathroom, figure out what to have to lunch tomorrow and maybe do a load of laundry. Over all I was pretty up. But then . . .

I arrived home to find; an ajar back door, scattered belongings, dumped drawers, open jewelry boxes, a smashed window and missing belongings. My heart was racing, my cheeks were flushed, it felt like a violation and I was just mad. But here's the thing, I realized pretty quickly that I wasn't really mad about the over turned drawers, the stolen gems or even the broken window. Sure it would have been nice to pass down the pearls I was given for my 21st birthday to a younger family member and yes it isn't fun to be forced into buying a new computer a few months before you are ready and I'm not really crazy about spending my home repair budget on a window when I really wanted to have water run for an ice maker. All of that is just stuff, stuff I liked, but not stuff that I need. As I was cleaning up broken glass I thought about this sermon I heard a few weeks ago. The pastor challenged us to think about the question; "if I lost this (whatever this may be) would I be okay?". Here I was faced with on a very small scale that illustration come to life. I lost things, just things and I was absolutely, completely okay.

So why was I mad? I was mad, actually mad isn't even the right word, I was disappointed. I was disappointed because I knew that someone was out there (with a backpack full of my stuff) that didn't get it. The couple hundred dollars they would get from pawning the things from my house wasn't going to make life any better. Maybe it would make things a little more okay for a short while, but not for long and surely spending your life taking what doesn't belong to you must make you so much more less okay than having the things makes like more okay. And that just makes me sad. Sad that there are people who feel like they need to do things like break into the homes of others and sad that there are times when I think that all the stuff is important and that the having of the stuff is what makes me okay.

Finally, I'm going to leave you with maybe the most surprising turn of event in this whole ordeal. I've been feeling really inspired to let go of some of the stuff I've just been hanging on to. I think it is time to pass along unworn necklaces and say good bye to ever used purses, because I really just don't need that stuff.

P.S. To lighten the mood; Enjoy this great cover from Tuesday's episode of The Voice.

P.P.S. I loved this article about why people invite you to come to church. And would you like to come to church with me?

P.P.P.S. Buzzinga, what a way to get back into blogging. I promise I have more fun posts coming very soon!

Make: All Of My Days Baby Blanket

I keep trucking along when it comes to making baby blankets for the baby boom happening around me this year. I am kinda behind and have (let's face facts) kinda given up on finishing any of them before a baby is born, but I'm rather pleased with the way the 2013 blankets have been turning out. I worked this one up for my cousin Hannah's baby boy and it was delivered to him way back in June, so I'm glad I've finally gotten around to writing about it!

For this blanket I used on of my go to made up patterns. I think even an inexperienced crocheter could make this as you only really need to know how to do single crochet (sc), half double crochet(hdc) and double crochet (dc).

Yarn:
Pattons Classic Wool in Lemon Grass and Aren
Lion Brand WoolEase in Navy (I think, it was left over from a frogged project, but I can't seem to find it on the Lion Brand website)

Pattern
Body of Blanket:
Work in Color 1 (Lemongrass)
Row 1: chain in multiples of 2 until you have reached your desired length.
Row 2 - end: dc in first stitch (st), cross stitch (skip st, dc into next st, dc into skipped st - here is a good video showing how to do this.) until 2nd to last st, dc into last st, chain 3, turn.
Row 3-? repeat row 2 until the blanket is this size that you desire.
Border of Blanket:
Work in Color 2 (Navy)
hdc around edge of blanket
Work in Color 3 (Aren)
sc, hdc, 3dc into same st, hdc - repeat around edge of blanket.

As is my want, I have named this baby blanket after a song I like - please take a listen.

October 2013

Here's the thing, I am an unapologetic October lover. I love the crisp air and the way the sunlight is extra golden, I can't get enough of fresh apple cider and pumpkin EVERYTHING, I get giddy when the leaves start to turn bright red, yellow or orange and when it is finally time to wear tights and wool sweaters. I have high hopes for this October, I'm looking forward to making my favorite month of the year the best month of my year. So, so many good things coming!

In Pictures September 2013

P.S. you can find me on Instagram @elizabethpfink

Celebrate: Happy Birthday Girl!

 

 

Today is my friend Mel's birthday! If you know her you know how great she is and if you don't well you'll have to trust me on this one, she is a gem. To support my point in celebration of her birth here are a few totally important unimportant reasons why I love Mel:

 

She rocks it out in the car - for real Mel is the worlds best car dancer!

 

She makes up great words - is there a sound you have made in glee, disappointment or fear? Mel has figured out how to spell it and sent it in a text message or written it on my facebook wall.

 

When we were young she wrote our own personal young adult fiction serial - our group of girls would go over to her house every few days and she would read aloud the next part of the story. I wish I could remember the name of the characters now.

 

The story of when we met is really silly - it was just about 20 years ago, Mel came over to my house with a family friend and we became fast friends, we jumped on my bed, we talked about spiders and the rest is history.

 

She uses words like "Girl" and "Chica"

 

So please join me and wishing Mel the happiest of birthdays! Love ya chica!

 

Inspire: September

Every month I pull together a list of my favorite things from around the interwebs to share with you. This is what I'm into this month.

Share: An Open Letter To People Who Can't Stop Talking About Pumpkin Spiced Lattes - I'm telling you on Tuesday morning I woke up and it just felt like fall, and then I read this great post about how there are some people who don't really care for all the love pumpkin spiced lattes and apple orchards get this time of year.

Watch: Breaking Pointe - My favorite reality show set in a ballet company is back on the air and you can catch up on all of season 2 on the CW website.

Give: Make Someone Happy - I've got my own plans in place to spread a little happiness this month!

Live: Olive Us - I love these videos chronicling the lives of this family of 8 living in France.

Read: Divergent - I've just started reading the second book in this dystopian trilogy. 

Celebrate: Welcome To The World My Little Love

7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 

- 1 John 4: 7-12

Yesterday my newest nephew was born and tonight I'm thinking about love and what I would whisper in his ear if I could be in Virgina holding him close. I would whisper little words of love and hope, I would say something like "I love you, your family loves you and The Lord God Creator and Sustainer of the world loves you, yes you are loved. I hope you have a life full of blessings, that you grow strong and wise, that you find joy in the morning and rest at night and more than that I hope you feel all of this love everyday of your life." it would all be about love, every word, because every person should be born surrounded by love.

Actually if you think about it the unconditional and undeserved love we give babies is a way that we model God's love. For this little person has done nothing for me, yet I would do so much for him, just because I love him. So tonight instead of whispering my words of love in his ear I will pray that my little dear will be surrounded by love all the days of his life and that as he grows he will model God's love by loving others.

Welcome Dietrich I love you, I love you, I love you! 

Live: Take Me Out To The Ball Game!

I'm trying to squeeze every last drop out of summer.

Even though this morning I could feel fall, I'm still soaking up the last little bits of summer. Back in mid August, my dear friend Lynn came into town and suggested that a bunch of us head down to a Tiger's game. And it was just a totally great night. Fun friends, yummy food, the seventh inning stretch and some really good baseball.

I think this picture of Emmy sums it all up: It was an awesome day! I mean can't you just hear her yelling "This is AWESOME!"?

Celebrate: Hey, Hey, Hey Happy Birthday!

Today is my mom's brithday. I could tell you a lot of things about my mother, but I think this sums it all up: The world is a better place because she is in it!

P.S. Isn't this a great picture of her with my cousin Barb?

**image by Sara Renee**

September 2013

Ahhh, I can almost smell Autumn! I took this whole blogging thing kinda slow this summer, but now I'm ready to jump back in full force. To do that I thought I might check another thing off my 30 while 30 list and go ahead and blog everyday during the month of September!

Oh my doesn't that sound like fun. Get ready for play lists of the best Boy Band songs, project details on a handful of baby blankets, link love for my favorite site, a few birthday shout outs and so much more!

Okay here goes nothing, getting this one posted at the very last minute isn't the best sign is it?!

1/30

In Pictures: August 2013

P.S. You can follow me on Pinterest: @elizabethpfink

Live: German Park

Three times a summer The German Park Recreation Club hosts picnics on their lovely 20 acre property north of Ann Arbor. I went out to the July picnic with some friends (and family) and we had such a good time, I felt I would be remiss to not tell you all about it and remind you that you can still enjoy the last picnic of the season this Saturday.

What to do at German Park:

• Bring Friends - This is one of those places where it really is the more the merrier. 
• Watch the German Dancing - My favorite part of the evening every time.
• Drink Beer - Yummy German beer, bought by the bucket or Rootbeer for the kiddies
• Eat German Food - Bratwurst, Saurkraut, Spaetzle and Pretzels.
• Bring Cash - For the Brats and the Beer!
• Be Prepared - For rain, bugs or cool weather.
• Dance A Polka - With your dad or anyone else.
• Bring Cards - Or a game to play.
• Have Fun - Lots and lots of fun!