A few months ago, I had delivered a meal to a friend and their puppy promptly chewed two of my old, but loved potholders. My niece had made some for me a long time ago. I always loved making these as a kid and when I needed replacements the store bought ones just didn't cut it. They just don't seem to stand up to the heat from the oven like these good ole ones do.
When I was telling my husband about my dilemma of trying to find decent potholders, he went online and found a kit with the whole works. Frame, directions, helpful metal weaving tools and enough bright cotton loops to make two potholders. This is the beginning of the first one that I made.
This is potholder #1!
This project brought back many memories from my childhood. I loved weaving these--creating patterns with the colors--then, I remembered how difficult they can be to remove from the frame. That brought back memories, too...the ones when I would get frustrated and yell and want to pitch the whole thing....yeah, those wonderful memories. I did have to fight with this one getting it off the frame. The second was a great deal easier. I had left it on the frame for a couple of days knowing that I wanted time to put up a good fight. Well, it seems that letting it sit for those two days helped a ton. No fighting! Lesson learned.
It was interesting for me to remember my frustrations as a kid and, thankfully, see that I'm no longer so easily frustrated and how God has grown me.
There is one problem, it is not all that big of a problem, really. There have been quite a few admirers of my new potholders. I may need to find a larger bag of loops to make some for gifts! This is potholder #2.
P.S. I realize that today is the 11th anniversary of the attacks on America on 9/11. It remains a day of reflection and remembrance. I cannot forget the horror of that day and how we have all been changed by such an attack. God, however, was not asleep. He is sovereign.
"My Father,
Enlarge my heart, warm my affections, open my lips,
supply words that proclaim 'Love lustres at Calvary'.
There grace removes my burdens and heaps them on the Son,
made a transgressor, a curse, and sin for me;
There the sword of thy justice smote the man, thy fellow;
There thy infinite attributes were magnified,
and infinite atonement was made;
There infinite punishment was due,
and infinite punishment was endured.
Christ was all anguish that I might be all joy
cast off that I might be brought in,
trodden down as an enemy
that I might be welcomed as a friend,
surrendered to hell's worst
that I might attain heaven's best,
stripped that I might be clothed,
wounded that I might be healed,
athirst that I might drink,
tormented that I might be comforted,
made a shame that I might inherit glory,
entered darkness that I might have eternal light,
My Saviour wept that all tears might be wiped from my eyes,
groaned that I might have endless song,
endured all pain that I might have unfading health,
bore a thorned crown that I might have a glory-diadem,
bowed his head that I might uplift mine,
experienced reproach that I might receive welcome,
closed his eyes in death that I might gaze on unclouded brightness,
expired that I might for ever live.
An excerpt from "Love Lustres At Calvary" from The Valley of Vision. (This selection is the favorite of my friend, Bill, who would, at any given opportunity, read from The Valley of Vision during Worship.)
Here is a a selection from "Valley of Vision" a CD of songs inspired by the book, Valley of Visions. This song is based on this selection. It is called "How Deep".
