Five Things for Friday: Trial Run

 - 1 -

I enjoy reading Heather's blog Women in the Scriptures. She blogs about the scriptures, obviously, but also about her family and life in general. She has a regular "Five Things for Friday" post, and invites other bloggers to follow suit. This is my first attempt to find five things on my mind that are worth sharing. (It's always encouraging when I can find anything on my mind!)

- 2 -

 My friend's baby is due any day now, and I've been working on an elephant for the baby - but perhaps not as diligently as I'd like. Knitting time has been at a premium, and the poor fellow still needs arms and ears and part of a leg. But tonight is knit night for our guild, and I have hopes of adding several limbs to Elijah.

- 3 -

I love knitting Elijah - it's a well-written pattern, and the resulting toy is delightful - but I really want to be knitting this shawl. I started it last July, made only minimal progress, and left it languishing on a shelf. I'm determined to finish it this year, and have committed to work on it at least once a week (leaving the rest of the week for other, more pressing, projects. Like Elijah.).

I worked on it last weekend, quickly knit 10 rows, and asked myself, "WHY have you abandoned this WONDERFUL project?!?" Honestly, I love the feel of the fabric - so soft and with such a nice drape to it. I now have a plan - 13 rows a week - which will allow me to finish the shawl before Christmas. But, I'm betting that I will knit more than that each week, because it really is addictive...

And isn't that a lovely yarn bowl? My sister-in-law Karen gave it to me for Christmas, and I think it is delightful. I love the shape, and the bird design. It's from Julie Knowles Pottery.

- 4 -

I recently read a conversation on Facebook. It began with this quote from Obama's State of the Union address:

We can either settle for a country where a shrinking number of people do really well, while a growing number of Americans barely get by, or we can restore an economy where everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share and everyone plays by the same set of rules.What’s at stake are not Democratic values or Republican values, but American values. We have to reclaim them.

From there, a series of comments went back and forth, arguing the pros and cons of this position - well, really, it was about whether or not the government should assist those who are barely getting by. One of the comments literally took my breath away:

People who make bad choice [sic] should suffer for them, and part of that suffering will necessarily impact their children. The government cannot replace the family.

This response seems typical of one segment of our country, whose goal is to get ahead, and to take care of their own (which aren't bad goals, really). What concerns me is the that they don't want any of their money helping "those" people, and in fact believe "those" people made their own bed, and should lie in it.

I hope that someday, the prevalent philosophy will instead mirror King Benjamin's, who said (Mosiah 4:16-18):

And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish.

Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just—

But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God.

I think society cannot avoid its responsibility to care for others, as we try to achieve the Zion society that Moses described (Moses 7:18):

And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.

- 5 -

Yesterday, I had my camera on the tripod, to take the knitting pictures shared above. As I finished, I noticed Bonnie sleeping on the couch. I quietly turned the camera towards her and snapped this photo without her stirring. Isn't she a sweet pup? 

 

'Tis sweet to hear the watch-dog's honest bark

Bay deep-mouthed welcome as we draw near home;

'Tis sweet to know there is an eye will mark

Our coming, and look brighter when we come.

~ A Friendly Welcome, by Lord Byron