Christmas gifts 2010

Top is a gift set for Jessica. Second from top a gift set for Lisa.

The necklace below is another gift for me (from me). The set below is mine made with lampwork beads and Swarovski crystals.

I find joy in creating and giving beautiful jewelry to family and friends.

Musings

I have been so blessed in my life with many people who love me. My Mother who taught me to be a positive and joyful person. My Father who loved the Lord and set an example by his service as a Sunday School teacher. My brother Bill who gave me choices. He was a good man and I pray I'll see him when it's my turn to go home.
My sister-in-law, Inez who showed me how to treat my young sisters-in-law by the way she treated me. My friend Jannette who talked to me on the phone and shared scripture with me during those difficult days in the early '80s. My friend Marlene who helped me at a time when I really couldn't handle what someone else had done.
My friend Helen who has shared the pathway - following a few years behind me. She gives me the freedom to speak about anything and never to judge. Helen's mom, Nola, who has simply loved us and enjoyed our company.
Rosalie and Raymond who loved Don and me and enjoyed our company without any expectations of who or what we are.
My friend, sweet Angie, who listened to me when I was 59 falling in love with Don. She didn't even laugh that a 59 year old could feel like a giddy school girl. And then there is sweet Lu who behaved the same way I did in the '80s - only it was a decade later. I was able to see myself in her actions.
Our pastor Mike Coffey who had the gift of preaching - he and Rose Mary who gave us the gift of their friendship. Pastor Karen who is so real and genuine. Tom Stewart, Jan Adkins, Kay Minneck and the Clown Connection - they all came into my life when I needed them most.
How very blessed I am! How very grateful I am to each one who loved and accepted me exactly where I was in my life.

My Very Own New Necklace and earrings

The photo does not do this piece justice. The back of the necklace is a "sidewinder" stitch in a very deep red. It is the newest piece of jewelry I've made for myself. I am so pleased with it.

So often the jewelry is made for gifting; when I make it for myself, it is always special.

I finished this last Saturday so I could wear it to church on Sunday. It is the only beading I have done since Thanksgiving. While the beads still called to me, I didn't answer. I guess I needed some time for other things.

I spoke to my jewelry teacher and showed her the finished results. She was very complimentary. She is such an excellent teacher. I love to just visit with her.

Musings from 2002

Have you ever looked at the bookcase close at hand and seen a book/notebook that you don't remember? Yesterday I saw a blue, spiral notebook on the bookshelf in the den. I didn't remember what it was so I got it down. It contained some interesting musings from a prayer journal. I thought I would like to share some of them.

This was written at a time when I was seated in the sanctuary of our church. The light was dim and it was very quiet. My assignment was to write - about whatever moved me. So here it is.

When I am centered in You, the things You want me to do become clearer. The words You want me to write flow from the pen without conscious thought. You are in the writing. I hold the pen but You cause the words to be formed.

You give the names of people who need the notes or prayers. Since you know what they need, it isn't necessary for me to know.

When You give me a name and I delay writing the note, You send the name again until I act on your "suggestion" and write the note.


When I listen and do Your will, life is so much better because then we can get on to other things.

You can help me with the needed discipline so I can "Be still and wait upon the Lord." "Be still and know...." I don't slow down and stop to listen for Your "still small voice."

Be still; banish the distractions. Rejoice in the sounds instead of being distracted. Thank you for ears to hear the rattling of the window. I can hear it because You gave me ears.

I love this sanctuary because You are here amidst the quiet, the beauty. This place exists as a gathering place to worship you. We are so blessed to have these paces to worship You - and to live in this country where we can worship You freely and without fear.

When this place is quiet, You are here. When it is filled with music and the sounds of worship, You are here.

There was a time when I sat in the 3rd row and the sunlight streamed in through the rose window. It fell upon me like a golden glow and it filled me! What an awesome feeling to be filled with the Spirit!

To sit in this place and realize all the others who have sat here in the last hundred years is amazing. Your people came to worship. People like my friend Marie who loved You. She also loved me and wanted the best for me. People like Curt who sang your praises. I think he is singing there in heaven.

The young men who worshipped here and went on to serve their country. Some didn't come back. Many of those are with you.

Pastors like Henry Jongema, LLoyd Kellams and Dick Watkins who spoke to my heart. People like Jan and Ruth who play to your glory - like Tony when he sang that solo here with tears streaming down his cheeks - he just closed his eyes and sang for You. The young people who produced and performed "Celebrate Life" in this sanctuary. They sang to You.

The Latest from my Beading Desk

These are the latest two necklaces. I am always amazed at how different two necklaces can be when they both have the same lampwork beads. For those of you who don't know the term 'lampwork' - the largest beads in the necklaces are lampwork beads made by a local artist. The photo with the royal blue beads is brighter/clearer than the other photo. I really like the necklace with the turquiose color beads.
When I haven't written anything to post but I have new jewelry, it does give me something to put on the blog.
Gifts for Christmas are buzzing around in my head. There is another necklace being restrung on the beading desk. It was strung and ready for the clasp when I looked at it and decided I didn't really like it. It is more neutral colors. I have one half of it restrung.
The 'Web of Silver' bangle bracelets are fun and so easy to do. I think I posted photos of them before. Anyway, there are two of those awaiting the finishing touches.


We found two bead shops that were closing due to retirement of the owners. One in Pueblo, Co. and the other in Door County, WI. One place the sale was 40% off and the latter was 50% off. So I added to my supply of teeny, tiny seed beads and also found some crystal. I have lot of different type beads. Now all I need is time and inspiration. ;-D

Precious Memories

These items are precious for various reasons. The top left, middle, and bottom left have to do with Rainbow for girls. The ribbon was presented with the certificate for the Grand Cross of Color. The two pins on the ribbon and the large pin in the middle were probably purchased at the Grand Assembly meetings.

The Kansas pin is from Kansas Girls State which I attended the summer between my junior and senior years in high school. It was held on the campus at Kansas University. I learned a lot about how government at every level works. It was a very good experience for me.

The middle right pin and the two bottom pins were purchased when Tony and I went to the Ukraine to work with orphan children in summer camp. I will write about that at a later date. I love the pins and brought a dozen or so back to give to the people who supported my trips.

Order of Eastern Star and Order of Rainbow for Girls

One photo is of Worthy Advisor Rhonda and Mother Advisor BJ. The other photo is Kathy, Rhonda, BJ and Patti.

I joined Eastern Star when Patti and Tony were pretty small. I needed a night out a couple times a month to keep my sanity.

Eastern Star is an organization supported by the Masonic Organization. I needed to have a member of my family to be a Mason. All three of my brothers belonged to the organization. So I was able to use one of them so I could be acccepted in the organization. I was a "Star Point" one year and was Adah. The next year the five of us who were "Star Points" were hostesses. For the first, we wore matching white dresses. For the latter we wore matching dresses of gold color. The second time we were hostesses, we wore matching blue dresses. I enjoyed being part of this organization for a number of years.

The Order of Rainbow for Girls is also supported by the Masonic order and also by the Order of Eastern Star. Rainbow girls range in age from 14 to 20, at which time they "age out" and can no longer be officers in the local chapter.

Rainbow is for the girls and run by the girls with a board of adults (Masons or Eastern Star members) who "oversee" things. The girls elect officers to lead the organization and also some are appointed positions.

Patti joined when she was 14 and was active all through high school. It was so interesting seeing the girls grow and learn and become poised leaders. Some even learned that they couldn't wear colored panties under their white dresses!!

I served on the Rainbow board for several years. The only thing I didn't like about the board meetings we had was that people wanted to chat and not get down to business. I always wanted the business out of the way before the visiting began! Sometimes it happened; sometimes it didn't.

Each year the girls had service projects chosen by the Worthy Advisor. They held fund raisers to help pay for things needed for the service projects. I especially remember one spaghetti dinner that I helped with. Somehow we got it way too salty. So we added sugar to tone down the saltiness! It turned out okay!

Two adults served as either Mother Advisor or Associate Mother Advisor. They were part of the advisory board. Many of the girls formed lasting friendships.

Several years later, the Mother Advisor was relieved of her duties while attending the annual convention (for lack of a better word). The following week several of us were invited to a meeting to decide how to proceed through the next months until time for a new Mother Advisor to take over.

Patti, Lisa (my daughter-in-law) and I volunteered to do whatever we could to help out. Patti ended up being musician (she had also done this when she was an active member). Lisa became the Associate Mother Advisor and I became Mother Advisor. We did every thing we could to keep things running.

The girls loved the previous Mother Advisor who could no longer be part of the group. They were angry and upset and didn't want anyone else. So they made it extremely difficult.

Lisa and Tony moved to Wichita during this time. She told me she would have resigned if they hadn't moved.

I think it was probably October when I submitted my resignation. The regional "big wig" (since I don't remember the correct title) was a dear friend. She would not accept my resignation. She said it was ok if I chose not to return to the meetings and that is what I did.

Lisa, Patti and I thought it was important to help the organization continue. I'm not sure whether anything positive came out of this. It was very discouraging and very difficult. I hated being a quitter but it was anything but a positive experience for me during those months in 1985.

One of the nicest things that happened to me is when I was voted to receive the Grand Cross of Color. If I recall, the girls voted on whom they wanted to have the honor. It is an award given to girls or adults who have worked for the good of the order.