Doctors, doctors and more doctors!

Hello my friends! It has been a whirlwind of doctor visits around here. Dennis has had several since the first of the year and because I put everything off until I started on Medicare on January 1, I have had several also. Last week I had an MRI and a couple of things showed up on it. Apparently I have a cyst on my spinal column that could be contributing to my back spasms and pain. I’ve been referred to a neurosurgeon for that, but I understand the appointments are about six months out just to get in for a first visit. I’m waiting for a callback from them. And the MRI also showed a nodule or growth, on my adrenal gland and I’m waiting for a callback from my primary care to see how he wants to follow up with that. It’s great getting old! You go to the doctor for one thing and they find three others! 🤣

In other news, I have started another pair of socks for the Christmas basket. I love these socks! They are so bright and happy. It’s Paton’s Kroy Socks in the “sweet stripes” colorway. I did a K2, P2 ribbing for 20 rows and then the plain vanilla. I’m getting ready to turn the heel and I’ll use the Eye of Partridge heel.

I finished the sweater I’ve been working on since the beginning of the month. It is another “Portage Sweater” that is a paid for pattern on Ravelry. I used Hobby Lobby’s I love this Yarn in “Ivory Tweed”. I love this pattern too! As most of you know, it is the sixth sweater that I’ve knitted with this pattern. This one is for a gift, but I’m thinking I would love to have one for myself someday in this colorway. I just dropped it in the mail about an hour ago, so it’s off to its new home. I can’t wait to find out if the person receiving it likes it as much as I do.

And I just started this little square. It will be another baby diamond’s blanket for a baby shower at church. The shower is in a little over a week. We seem to be having all girl babies at the church lately and no boys. At least the girls will have close friends to grow up with.

I thought this was a neat picture and reminds me of what a lot of our homes may look like. Doesn’t she look very content in her room full of squishy yarn?

Not too much else is happening here lately. Dennis had a birthday last week, Mandy‘s birthday is next week, and mine is the following week. It’s been very cold. This morning when I left for my doctors appointment it was a feels like temperature of -12°F. Would you believe I was wearing flip-flops and a sweater? I still get so hot. I think I’ve worn real shoes only twice this winter so far. It’s supposed to be a little warmer Thursday and Friday and then be back below zero for the air temperatures by the weekend. I guess that’s winter in the Midwest. We would much rather be down south, where even though it’s cold to those of you who live there, it would be positively balmy to all of us!

Please remember to pray for all of those in California affected by the horrible fires, those in Tennessee and North Carolina that are still suffering from the hurricane, and of course, the people in the Middle East and the Ukraine, who have so many wars going on. The world seems to be spinning out of control these days. I get my peace through the Lord Jesus Christ. Without him, I’m not sure what I would do. I hope you have the same source of peace in your heart.

Take care and I’ll be back again soon.

Blessings and love,

Betsy

Great Is Thy Faithfulness 

By: Text - Thomas O. Chisholm

       Music - William B. Runyon

1.        “Great is Thy faithfulness,” O God my Father,
             There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
             Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
             As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

 

“Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy faithfulness!”
  Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
    “Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me!

2

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

3

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

A New Years Start

Hello Everyone. A short post today because I don't have a lot. I did finish this baby blanket on New Years Eve. It's for a couple at church who are having their first baby. The shower is Sunday after church, but we're supposed to have ice and snow tomorrow and Sunday morning, so I don't know how many will be there.

I also started another Portage Sweater as a gift for someone who might be reading this, so I'm not saying who. It's made with the same yarn that I used for Piper's last sweater, but it's my favorite pattern. It has BIG pockets and I love them. I just started it New Years Day and have divided for the sleeves so there is a lot to go yet.

Since I don't have a lot of other fun things, I thought I would show you my view right now. My orchid is blooming again in front of the window. It likes the east facing window.

When I took Christmas decor down, I replaced it with my snowmen collection. I think I'll leave it up until Valentine's day.

On the mantel is a swedish ivy plant, bamboo that Alex gave me 22 years ago, a Christmas cactus I bought on clearance last week and repotted and a philodendron I got from a slip from Mandy a long time ago. The two snowpeople I found at Goodwill two years ago. I think they were $3.00 for the set. And the Thomas Kincaide print is one that the kids and Dennis gave me for Mother's day when they all still lived at home. A long time ago. It's not the usual ones you buy, but it's a numbered collectors edition from an art gallery. But far from an original! We saw one of those on Maui a few years ago. It was half the size and over $80,000! Whoo-ee. Not in our budget at all. But this one is special to me because the kids knew how much I love his work.

This morning I went to the cardiologist and had my pacemaker interrogated and a chest xray and an exam. It was all for getting the all clear for an MRI on Monday for my back. I sure hope it shows what's wrong and that it can be fixed. I would like to do some hiking & biking this year and I haven't been able to do that for a long time. If they can take care of my back and I can do some exercising before spring, there's a possibility that can happen. But as the scripture says, God fills me with joy and peace, because no matter what happens, He knows what is best for me.

I hope you're all enjoying a few slow days to begin the new year without a lot of responsibilities and rushing about. I''ll be back soon.

Blessings and love,

Betsy


GRACE GREATER THAN MY SIN

By Julia H. Johnston

1. Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
   Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
   Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
   There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.
   • Refrain:
     Grace, grace, God’s grace,
     Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
     Grace, grace, God’s grace,
     Grace that is greater than all our sin!
2. Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
   Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
   Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
   Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.
3. Dark is the stain that we cannot hide;
   What can we do to wash it away?
   Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
   Brighter than snow you may be today.
4. Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
   Freely bestowed on all who believe!
   You that are longing to see His face,
   Will you this moment His grace receive?