Norwegian House Slippers

I recently had to say good bye to my torn hole-y slippers that I loved. They were very comfy and had a good run, but they were so frayed they left piece of their fuzzy insides all over the floor every time I wore them. When a good friend of mine from Germany told me about felting, I knew what I wanted to try to make! Slippers!
Felting is basically hand-knitting a project using wool yarn and washing it in the washing machine so that it shrinks and gets nice and fuzzy. I found a pattern for these Norwegian House Slippers and thought they were really cute. They were SUPER easy to make and fun to watch shrink. They're actually really comfy and nice and warm too. So, now I don't have to buy new slippers, I can just make a pair. :)

A Not-So-Stuffy Theologian on the Love of God

It has been too long since there was a post on this blog from Mr. Strom, so I thought I would give a little food for thought, since there has been plenty of examples of food for eating.

These four things in the highest manner commend the love of God towards us: (1) the majesty of the lover; (2) the poverty and unworthiness of the loved; (3) the worth of him in whom we are loved; (4) the multitude and excellence of the gifts which flow out from that love to us. (a) God loves us (who, constituted in the highest preeeminence and happiness, needs us not and is not bound to love us; indeed can most justly hate and destroy us if he so willed). (b) Men are beloved, not only as empty and week creatures, but as sinners and guilty, rebellious servants, who so far from deserving it, are on the other hand most worthy of hatred and punishment. (c) He in whom they are beloved is Christ (Eph. 1:5-6), the delight of his heavenly Father and the "express image of his person" (Heb. 1:3), than whom he could give nothing more excellent, nothing dearer, even if he had given the whole universe. (d) The effects of his love are both man in number and great in value (viz., all the benefits by which salvation is begun in this life and perfected in the other and, what is the crown and sum of all the blessings, the gift of God himself, who imparts himself to us as an object of fruition both in grace and in glory). --Francis Turretin, Institutes of Elenctic Theology

What manner of love is this?!

Running Again!

Running season is here!!! Actually, it started a few weeks ago for me. I am currently training for the Philadelphia Broad Street 10 mile run, and very very excited about it. Our treadmill has been the means to my continued running this winter, which I am grateful for. Come January, I decided it was time to sign up for a race. The Broad Street Run is the largest 10 mile race in the country, reaching 30,000 participants in recent years. In February, my official training began, and my week now consists of 5-6 days of running, currently reaching 25-30 miles per week - 2 days of speedwork, 1 long run, and 2-3 days of easy recovery days. Just 5 more weeks to race day! I'm already plotting for a potential marathon this fall...... :)

New Wall Art

Until now, the hallway in our apartment contained one large very empty wall. I decided to tap into as much creativity as I could muster and make something with which to decorate that hallway. I am always frustrated with how expensive wall art is at stores, because I always think to myself, "You could make that yourself for so much cheaper..."
So here was my attempt at being an artist. It works for now, and the hallway isn't as empty. :) All the supplies were from Michael's (love that store).

Christmas 2010 - A Little Different

Christmas this past year was a little different for Nathan and I. It is the first Christmas we spent in Philadelphia and without our families. We were so blessed to have Nathan's family visit for Thanksgiving, which was really exciting. It was a great comfort to show them our apartment and home, and the city in which we live. We went to see an Amish village and the National Christmas Center, both of which were tons of fun.

Christmas was a little more difficult. It was tough to be so far away from home and our families in MN. We worked a lot (gotta love the retail schedule) and didn't have a whole lot of energy or money to plan anything extravagant. We didn't do Christmas presents, except for one very small (almost accidental) gift that we each got for each other. :)

However, this year was also very special in a lot of ways. We took the time to drive around and look at Christmas lights, and of course, the list of food I wanted to make this year was a mile long. :) I settled on spiced ham, cheesy twiced baked potatoes, homemade dinner rolls, and a variety of homemade Christmas goodies for dessert.

While all of that was nice, we also learned some things this year. We had to set aside our material and selfish desires, and spend some time evaluating what was really important to us this year. While presents and traditions are fun, the hardest thing to give up this year was being with our families. Our Christmas was very low key and quiet, which gave us time to think about how grateful we are for God's blessings in our lives. Reflecting on the fact that Jesus came to die for us while we were still sinners, while we still struggle with prioritizing earthly things over Him, yet he still came to save us, that made all the difference this year. Even though we weren't with our families, what a blessing it is that God has put such wonderful people in our lives and granted us close enough relationships with them that it is hard to be apart; that really is a gift. I am grateful that God gave Nathan and I a Christmas this year to grow closer to Him and to each other, to cling to one another and enjoy being together. So, even though it was difficult, it was a good Christmas, and we are so blessed.

P.S. By far, my new favorite Christmas cookie recipe is Peppermint Snowballs.

Triple Chocolate Mousse Cake

Nathan and I had a couple from church over for dinner one night, and I was so excited to make this Triple Chocolate Mousse Cake. It pretty much took all day to make, but it turned out great. Each layer is made one at a time, chilled, and set, before you chill the whole cake hours before serving. But it was worth it. It's really rich, but very light at the same time, and each layer has its own flavor and texture. I will definitely be making it again, maybe for Christmas.....I will have to add it to the list of about 50 desserts that are on the "possible Christmas dessert" list. :)

Scarves at the bookstore

These are pictures of the scarves that are now sold at the bookstore. The line is called "Knits of Grace."

Here they are, up on the wall and ready to be sold.