Well, I’m finally at the point of this cardigan that I have ripped back to the arms, yet once again, and am back to where I was, and now a few inches further. You know how I always pause at about a few inches into each project, and overanalyze and just let the design simmer. Well, this has finally pushed past that point, and I’m not in the downhill portion which means, “This is so cool! This is so cool!” keeps running through my head. It is now exactly how I want it, and I know it, and it’s fun. So now I just need to finish it. I’m usually sad when projects like this finish, because I want to do it all over again.
For reading, I’m pushing aside my current reads and pulling out the few books I got last year in preparation for Lent. We are evangelical Lutherans, which may seem an oxymoron to some. Our church celebrates Lent every year with soup suppers every Sunday night and guest preachers talking about Jesus’ road to the cross. It’s really quite special. Last year I started reading Ann Voskamp’s blog www.aholyexperience.com where she talked about going through Lent with your kids, which we had never really done before.
She had some book recommendations, which I’m going through now, and she has a devotional on her website for free download, that I need to actually download. I’ve been looking on Pinterest and such for fun kid activities for Lent, and finding that there really aren’t any. Having a jolly old time talking about the suffering of Christ really is an oxymoron. So I’m refocusing the goal of finding “fun” activities for the kids to go through Lent with us and looking for “meaningful” activities for the kids to do.
I have a few more weeks of preparation, but it has been on my mind so much that I wanted to celebrate Easter with the same “passion” as we do Christmas. I wanted to switch gears and play down the gifts of Christmas (though they were not removed) and play up the gift of Easter. So I marked my calendar last year to give myself a few weeks of preparation, and those weeks have started. I’m really, really getting excited for it.
Linking up with Ginny for her Yarn Along. This is what I’m “knitting and reading.”
Sarah says
February 12, 2014 at 2:40 pmHey! I’m reading a book by Wangerin this week too! I love the blue of your sweater, it’s sweet!
I was thinking about Lent this year too, also because of Ann Voskamps blog. We are evangelical Presbyterians, which is pretty liturgical, but I don’t know anyone who really marks Lent but I should look at some of the books she has recommended too!
elizabeth says
February 12, 2014 at 3:04 pmso happy for your sweater progress!
I remember when I first began to notice Lent as something I should pay attention to…
years later my journey took me into the Orthodox church (where Greeks, Russians and converts all worship together :)) and our Lents are focused like you are wishing yours to be… I am wishing mine to be like this too!
I am still learning a lot…and was thinking just the other day that I want my Lenten time to have the same structure and focus as my time during the Nativity fast!! so we are thinking on similar lines here!
…Easter is the greatest Feast of all and preparing for it for 40 days of Lent makes sense! how exciting it is that we can incorporate our faith into our daily lives…
look forward to reading about your Lenten journey …
and the sweater; it is looking so beautiful!
sustainablemum says
February 12, 2014 at 3:17 pmYour journey through Lent sounds really interesting, I hope you find the activities that you are looking for.
The blue of your sweater is gorgeous as is the pattern, hope it is how you want it to be now 🙂
Donna says
February 12, 2014 at 3:26 pmI love your creative process. I like your thinking about the Lenten season and the anticipation of Easter. It will truly be a time to celebrate!
Erin says
February 12, 2014 at 3:38 pmI love that you are seeking to make a celebration of Easter. That is a change we are making this year as well, so I look forward to reading more about your Lenten journey. It is hard to find meaningful activities for the kids about Lent, but Ann Voskamp is a wonderful place to start! Your knitting is beautiful too. 🙂
Lisa @ HappyinDoleValley says
February 12, 2014 at 4:33 pmSo many on similar paths… hope you will share what you discover! 🙂
Hannah@HomeBaked says
February 12, 2014 at 4:44 pmYour knitting is absolutely beautiful – no wonder you don’t want it to end!
I always intended to make a Lenten garden with my son when he was little but we never quite got around to it and now he’s no longer interested. There’s some lovely information in the book All Year Round if you happen to have it?
Reinventing Mother says
February 12, 2014 at 6:31 pmYes, Lent is that time to go ” into the dessert”. with Jesus for those 40 days… To look into ourselves and ponder and pray as to how we will respond to the Resurrection.
Your sweater will be gorgeous… Just as your heart.
Mom says
February 13, 2014 at 12:27 amThat sweater looks beautiful. I really like the new stitch you decided on. It flows well.
Amanda says
February 13, 2014 at 12:33 amWith any project, I work a little, wonder a little. My grandma does it too. My husband always laughs and says if you did more working and less wondering you’d be done by now! But art takes wondering! Lovely yarn color!
Rose says
February 13, 2014 at 1:45 amYour sweater is such a gorgeous blue! Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Andee says
February 13, 2014 at 2:15 amYay for happy designing. I like to think of my first attempts at a pattern as prototypes so I have an excuse to knit a second.
Schwarzen Family Missions/To Sow a Seed says
February 13, 2014 at 6:31 amI love Easter preparation. Such a season of paring down our hearts, peering inside, and focusing on Christ. I’ve found Lent an easier family devotional time with my teens; truly a tough one with younger kids!
The sweater looks lovely. Can’t wait to see finished pics!
Mom says
February 14, 2014 at 8:22 pmI also love your challenge to all of us to begin preparing for lent!