PREEMIE SLEEPER SACK IN PASTELS

This sleeper sack will fit a 1-3lb preemie. I used Loops & Threads Snuggly Wuggly baby sport in the baby pastel ombre colorway. It's embellished with iridescent ribbon, pastel bluish-green buttons, and a (hard to see) white ribbon rosette with a rhinestone. I used the Carewear Basic Hat pattern and embellished with a white ribbon rosette with a rhinestone.
This turned out so nice. I like the pastel pooling and the iridescent ribbon really sparkles. The shade of the bottons are good with this coloration of yarn.
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Little Matthew Karol came into this world and stayed three days. Thank God for this little soul and his witness to the precious gift of life and love. Please keep his family in your prayers.

HEY EVERYBODY, SAVE THIS DATE

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2009. It's when The Great Kindness Challenge is happening. Let's all try to make that day a super fun and satisfying day of kindness.

SPOILED KITTY

A paw massage and all tucked in. What a spoiled kitty!

YARN INSPIRED KNITS

This sooooooft bunny is made with Baby Bee Lambie Pie in the child's play colorway. The pattern can be found here. This time I used US8 and US6 needles.
The Baktus scarf I saw on Mr. Puffy's blog is so nice and sunny looking. I was wondering what yarn I should use to make one when I came upon this Southwest Trading Company's Bamboo yarn 100% bamboo from my stash. I had to cast on right away using size US2 needles. There are some other yarns I'd like to try using for this wonderful looking scarf. Stay tuned for more:~D

SIMPLY MARVELOUS

Isn't it simply marvelous how limber and cute kittens are?
It was at Simply Fibers on Thursday that my marvelous friend Carol presented me with all this marvelous yarn from an anonymous donor!!!
I bought the newest Fall 2009 edition of Knit Simple which has a marvelous article about The Preemie Project. It's marvelous that it's getting this bigger coverage. It's such a worthwhile charity. I've made Good Search my homepage and every time I search TPP gets money!! Try it out and see. There are many charities using this search engine which I think is simply marvelous;~P
I used my new gifted yarn to make up a preemie hat from the pattern in Knit Simple:~D It will look so cute during the autumn season on some sweet little head!
Lastly, speaking of sweet heads,(HA) my hair was coming out not because of any cancer treatments, but because of the decrease in hormones. So, I cut it all off and I think it looks much better than it had been. Well, at least it's cooler in the summer and it IS growing back.
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Thanks for stopping by! You are all in my daily prayers.
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PRAYER FOR PRIESTS AND MISSIONARIES
My dear Jesus, by Your most loving Heart, I implore You
to inflame with zeal for Your love and glory all the priest of
the world, all missionaries, and those whose office it is to preach
Your word. Inflamed with this zeal, may they snatch souls from
the devil and lead them into the shelter of Your Heart, where they
may glorify You forever. Amen.
~This prayer was received by Sr. Josefa Menendez from Our Lord,
who said to her, "Repeat these words every day."

RAK BACK AT YOU

This washcloth along with a couple of mini Snickers and some Starburst fruit chews was randomly gifted this morning to our friend Carolyn. She has such a sunny disposition and has surprised us in the past with her generous acts of kindness, so after I finished this cute cloth it just said it needed to go to her. (I hear sleep deprivation can cause a person to hallucinate or hear things;~p) Ha ha!
I used US6 needles instead of the US7 needles the pattern called for. The Original Sugar 'n Cream 100% cotton yarn in the yellow colorway is the perfect yarn for this cheerful cloth. I hope it puts a smile on your face and that it inspires you to make one and give one away asap. Give one to a friend, neighbor, or a complete stranger at your local Red Cross, Newborns In Need, or other charitable agency in your area.
A story at Hawaii Catholic Mom's blog will put a smile on your face too, at least I enjoyed it*{:~)

DIAMOND PATTERN BABY BLANKET

I started this some time ago. It's from a pattern that I copied when I was just a young knitter and did not put down the source, so I can't share with you. It may be from an old Workbasket Magazine but I just don't recall. I used US8 needles and Caron Simply Soft in Soft Green. I measures 32"x27" and the pattern says it's for a 3 to 6 month old baby.

BUILDING A NEW CULTURE OF LIFE

I was truly blessed to read the story of little Irena. May her silent witness be for all of us a reminder to do all we can for the least, for in doing so we do it as to Christ!

A BLANKET, A BUNNY, A BOY AND A CAT

So glad to get the blanket finished and off my lap!! Made with donated yarn and odds of Caron Simply Soft in my stash. Used US8 needles and the basic Grandma's Favorite washcloth pattern. Increased til there was 200 sts on the needles and began to decrease. When I ran out of yarn I improvised the watermelon look. It's approximately 42" square.
Knit up the cute Bunny Blanket Buddy using some TLC Amore I found in my stash. Didn't stuff the head and I think it works fine without the stuffing. May make a few more of these cuties to put aside for baby gifts. While moving the stash around the other day I found SO MANY projects that I want to get off the needles. There are cross stitch and sewing projects as well. I wish my stamina was better!! I'll be working on a blanket and some burial kimonos next.
Father's sermon was about traveling light. It's embarrassing how much "stuff" we accumulate and really don't need. I've been cleaning out my closet a little at a time, and have a large bag of clothing to donate now.
Chester is so cute and likes to cuddle with Daniel when they decide they need a rest after playing like maniacs. It's so nice to have a pet again. Chester is very entertaining.
Catholic Caveman has a good post about the difference between a living and a dying parish. Where does your parish stand?

THANKSGIVING FOR RECOVERY

Glory to you, heavenly Father, for the sickness you have sent me. My illness has humbled me and reminded me of your laws. Let me keep your word always.
Glory to you, O Lord, for delivering me from the terrors of pain and restoring me to health. You hear me in my troubles, and so I will live to declare the praises of my God.
Glory to you, O Lord God, for the lengthening of my life on this earth. Give me the grace to spend this life in your service and to perform all my resolutions with willing obedience.
When you finally decide that my time has come, let me die at peace with you, at peace with the world, and at peace with myself.
The blessings of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, descend on me and all belonging to me, and be with me in my going out and my coming in, now and forever. Amen.

SAINT MARIA GORETTI

Today is the feast day of Maria Goretti. We watched a movie on EWTN last night. What a wonderful message on purity! If you have a young girl I highly recommend finding or starting a Maria Goretti Guild.
It is also the birthday of my baby brother Jimmy Lee who was born premature in 1968 and did not survive. Please say a prayer for those who die preematurely.

A FAVORITE PRAYER

RADIATING CHRIST
by John Henry Newman

Dear Jesus, help us to spread your fragrance everywhere we go.
Flood our souls with your spirit and life.
Penetrate and possess our whole being so utterly,
that our lives may only be a radiance of yours.
Shine through us,
and be so in us,
that every soul we come in contact with
may feel your presence in our soul.
Let them look up and see no longer us,
but only Jesus!
Stay with us,
and then we shall begin to shine as you shine;
so to shine as to be a light to others;
the light O Jesus, will be all from you,
none of it will be ours;
it will be you, shining on others through us.
Let us thus praise you in the way you love best,
by shining on those around us.
Let us preach you without preaching,
not by words but by our example,
by the catching force,
the sympathetic influence of what we do,
the evident fullness of the love our hearts bear to you.
Amen.

(Mother Teresa's favorite prayer, one she recited every day of her life.)