Christmas is right around the corner and I bet your little girl's American Girl doll will love one of these outfits.

Check them out in my Missy Crissy shop on Etsy.  Click on each picture to view details.

Every Cell is IMPORTANT to God--He decides its fate!

Today as I walked in my garden I proclaim, " how wonderful is our God!"  All that he does is so intricate and beautiful.  Each little ruffle in these rose petals shows how he pays attention to every detail.  I can't help but think about each human life and  how precious each little cell is to God.  It just blows my mind to think that someone would ever consider destroying a little human life--no matter how many cells big it is or how it was conceived in the first place.

 God said to Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:5, " Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."  Can we not assume from this scripture that every human life is conceived in the heart of God before it is ever conceived and planted in the womb of a woman?

Our hearts would probably fail us if we could see what God sees--millions of lives destroyed before they ever had a chance to achieve the purpose and the plans he had for each of them.   May God help us and forgive us for "they know not what they do." (Jesus)

How Great, How Great is Our God

Take time to see how much God really loves and cares for you.  This beautiful rose and butterfly that  reside around my house are living proof that God doesn't neglect the least of these--his creation.  How much more does he love and care for each one of us who are made in his image.  His greatest proof, though, is in the giving of his life for us.  Let's praise him today.

My thoughts and prayers are with the family of precious Kyle Dunkerson.  Kyle lost his life this past week in a car wreck and will be so missed by his family and friends.  This awful tragedy reminds us of the fragility of life--life that is in God's hands.  Let's stay close to the Father today and always be ready when he calls. 

A Really Big Change

A lot has been happening in my life since I last posted.  My mom who has been living next door to me for almost seven years has begun to relocate to a new city (Florence, MS) with my brother.  For many baby boomers, like myself, taking care of elderly parents is a reality that is tempting to ignore.  When my mom first came to live next door to me, things were really nice.  I got to bond with her for the first time, because initial bonding when I was young was prevented because of our large family and because she worked full time during my entire time while living at home.

Things gradually changed, however, as she continued to age and develop dementia.  She became afraid to stay by herself at night, and then gradually became irritable when I would leave for a few hours during the day.  We both developed frustration with this situation over the last few years until we  realized a change needed to occur.  After much "talking"my siblings and I worked it out, and I have a good feeling that our plan is going to be a positive one for all of us--especially our mom.

Something that I learned from my dentist today, who had a similar experience with his mother, was to always agree with whatever your aging (memory deficient) parent says.  Dementia zaps their ability to reason, so it is most often futile to try and change their mind about something.  In other words don't argue with them--you won't win and your blood pressure with rise. As my dentist said, "when my mom commented on the beautiful, bright moon at 2:00 in the afternoon, I told her that it, indeed, is a beautiful moon, and I believe that it is a full moon!"

A sweater named Perseverance

YEA! I succeeded. It took me five times, but I finally completed the little doll sweater. I almost gave up today, but the Lord answered my prayer and I finished it. It probably is not the best job in town, but it's my best, and that's all that matters. Now for any of you who need to purchase a new outfit for someones American Girl doll, you can do so by clicking into my Etsy shop--http://www.etsy.com/listing/82154121/hand-knitted-pink-sweater-and-corduroy. This outfit is named Perseverance; so you will be purchasing something that represents "true grit."

Perseverance--sweater progress report

For those of you who are following my "do or die" effort to make a doll sweater on my Ultimate Sweater Machine here is a progress report. Referring to the picture, you can see that my progress is a negative 4 at this point! Those little wads of knitting are my attempts to complete the knitting project. I am now on my fifth sweater. Remember what I said about perseverance? Well, I am certainly being put to the test, and I can assure you that it has become very personal!! At first I had planned on two attempts not five or six. I am discovering some things about myself, though; and that gives me a personal sense of satisfaction. I have decided to commit this project to prayer today, and claim the verse, "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." (Phil. 4:13) So for those of you who are thinking about giving up on some project, some person, or some situation--don't. Commit it to prayer and then relax; because you, like I, will feel so GOOD when it's complete and successful.

I will not be defeated

Back from Bulldog land, I am more determined than ever to complete a project that I have been messing around with for a week. I started knitting a doll sweater on my Ultimate Sweater Machine (I can't handknit) and have had a heck of a time getting it right. I finally got the back and front knitted, but threw it in a drawer when I couldn't get the two pieces seamed at the shoulders. Today, I woke up at 5 a.m. thinking about how I should not give up so soon --if ever. So today I will start completely over with knitting it. For those of you who like to give up, I want to share this story that has inspired me to persevere when I feel like giving up.

One day on a beautiful Saturday morning Jim and I were at his mom and dad's home in Maben, Mississippi. Jim's precious mom, Matty Vell White, had been putting the finishing touches on a gorgeous strawberry shortcake. Before I continue let me say that she was a wonderful cook. I have never seen a more photo perfect, ready for the cooking magazine cake. The strawberries were brilliant red, the cake layers had been carefully slit into thin little layers, and homemade frosting oozed out between the layers, and sweet strawberry juice trickling down the sides. Oh, my! I could not wait until lunch to eat some of that.

Well, things suddenly changed. All of a sudden, Ms. Matty Vell dipped her finger in the bowl of strawberries, tasted the juice, and with only a slight sigh, picked up that beautiful cake, and walked outside with it. Now, since I had taken a very personal interest in the cake, I had to see where she was going with it. I got up and looked out the kitchen window, and lo and behold, she threw the cake over the fence. I was reluctant to say anything when she returned, so merely chose to watch her next move. This is where I was awed with her composure and perseverance. She got out a mixing bowl and started making another cake--WITHOUT SAYING A WORD--Now, you may be wondering, like I was, what happened. So, I got up enough nerve to ask and she said simply, "I put salt in the strawberries instead of sugar."

Ever since I observed this event I have used her tenacity to begin again rather than give up on something that I know that I can get right if I just give it another try. She was an awesome woman, and I might add that her son, my husband, has inherited her gene in this regard.

Tune in later for my second try on the little doll sweater!

Fall is in the air

Oh! Wow! Fall is in the air. Of course, yesterday in Mississippi it was muggy and hot, but today it is wonderful. I sat on the front porch covered up in a blanket and read my Bible and my Matthew Henry complete and concise commentary. I have been reading through the MH commentary for 3 years, but I am just now in 1 Samuel:
17. It is such a wonderful book to read for those of you who want to find out how Scripture applies to your daily walk with the Lord.

Now back to the weather. Not only is fall in the air, but so is football. Tonight my favorite college team, the Mississippi State bulldogs play the Louisiana State tigers. This is the third game in a row that the Bulldogs have played Tigers. First it was the Memphis State tigers, then the Auburn tigers, now the LSU tigers. Last week we should have won, but an INCH lost the game.

My mom and I are going up to Starkville tonight and babysit so that my daughter, her husband, and little first grader can go to the game. Looking forward to seeing the game on TV. GO BULLDOGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By the way, I sell handmade cheerleader uniforms for 18 inch dolls. Check out my listing in my blog and also in my Etsy store. Etsy.com/shop/MissyCrissy2

Today

I choose not to be discouraged when the sun won't break through; I know that my heart is in your hand, and my life is a part of your greater plan. Thank you, Lord.