Challenging myself...

Kristin from Dragondreamer’s Lair is hosting the Annual Book Challenge.  Since I read all the time anyway, why not challenge myself to see just how many books I can devour in one year?  I usually average one to two a month, depending on the book length, content or subject matter, and my availability of reading time.  So this year I am challenging myself to up it a bit (and maybe reap the added benefit of a little less mindless time in front of the TV…although, TV time is my knitting time, so this might be tough considering the amount of projects I have lined up!).  My goal is 3 books a month, or a total of 36 books read in 2010.  I have one (and a half) down already.  You can check the “My Reading List” page for what I’m currently reading and have lined up to read.

In knitty news, a few weeks ago my bestest friend and I had a girls’ day out trip to a local yarn store.  We had such a great time!  She bought some gorgeous yarn for a sweater project, and I bought some beautiful sock yarn.  I am deliriously in love with the colorway of this yarn. 



It reminds me of twilight on a spring evening…cool, calm and a little mysterious. 

I also bought my first 100% wool yarn.  (I'm usually a cheapskate frugal, and use less expensive, mostly acrylic or "blend" yarn.  I felt might hoity toity purchasing these fibers, let me tell ya!)  I plan to use it for my first felted project, a Booga Bag.  I have to admit, I honestly believe this has to be the UGLIEST yarn I have ever laid eyes on. 

 

However, I just had to have it in spite of (or because of?) the sheer hideousness of it.  The picture isn't true to life,  but it's orange/muddy green/brighter green/red.  Blech!  I think it will knit up beautifully and give a gorgeous stripe.  The socks and bag will have to wait for a little bit because I still have several projects STILL on the needles.  In addition to the baby gifts I’m furiously trying to finish before my friend’s twin boys get here, I have a scarf for my sister (that was supposed to be part of her Christmas gift, but since she does live in Minnesota, no worries…there will be winterlike weather there for quite a while!), a knitted skullcap for my sweet husband, and my Renaissance Sweater.  I have a feeling I am going to have to redo a couple of the panels because I think I wasn’t following the right section of the pattern.  OOPS.  Bummer.  Oh well, everything is a learning experience, right?  My knitting challenge for this year is to make more things for ME.  I love knitting for other people, don't get me wrong!  I love the feeling I get knowing that I created something one-of-a-kind for someone.  However, most of my "other people" projects have been baby gifts, and sometimes it's just too darn hard for me to keep knitting baby sweater after baby sweater and baby blanket after baby blanket for everyone else but myself.  So...I'm taking a step back from consistently knitting for others and taking some time to knit for myself this year.  I have lots of projects lined up, and I'll share them as I start each one.  :)

Another task I’m challenging myself with this year (and a significant portion of The Year of Self) is to read the Bible cover to cover.  My bestest friend (who has also become sort of a “faith mentor” to me as of late) is participating in the Bible in 90 Days challenge.  I’m doing a “modified” version of that.  I am not setting a daily page quota, rather trying to make a conscious effort to make reading my Bible at least 30 minutes a day before any other leisure activity (including knitting…egads!).  I’ve missed a couple of days just due to things going on around here, and I really find that I miss that quiet time.  I’m still in Genesis, of course, but making progress.  The Bible I use also has a guided topic reading track that I’m also using during my readings.  I must admit, I’m surprised at how much comfort my going back to church and taking steps to reconstruct my relationship with and faith in God has brought me.  I still have many, many questions and stumbling blocks to overcome, but I’m getting there.  One step at a time.  I’m trying to institute a routine of daily prayer time, learning how to pray*, and trying to understand and embrace the concept of “God’s Will” and submitting (the mere mention of the word raises my feminist hackles, I can’t help it) to Him while still believing I have free will.  My conversations with my bestest have not only shed a different light on my view of religion, but also opened up a whole new dimension to our friendship.  I cannot describe how that makes me feel.  We’ve been through a lot in our friendship, and for a while I honestly didn’t know that this level of connection between us was even possible.  God has been working in mysterious ways, as the old saying goes, in my life recently.  And I thank Him every day for it.  Now if only He could grant me a few more hours in each day to accomplish all this reading, learning and knitting …THAT would be great!  Have a great night everyone!   

 *How do you pray?  Do you have a standard prayer that you use each time you pray?  Do you have an “outline” you follow when praying or do you simply speak to God about what is on your heart as you would a friend?  Is there, in your opinion, a right or wrong way to pray?  Would you mind sharing some examples with me?