7 Quick Takes Friday: April 30, 2010

1. My new favorite Web site is Ravelry. It's a knit & crochet community. The best part? FREE PATTERNS! Yes, they are amazing. {You have to register to get the patterns, but it's free. I promise.} I've printed these to try out this weekend. I love that crochet is no longer just for ages 70+. Don't you? {Click the photo for a link to the pattern.}

2. Big weekend plans: Me and the hubs are going out to buy an XBox. We will also be purchasing Rock Band 2. If you haven't ever played, you are seriously missing out. I mean it. We have some friends who have the game and we can play for hours on end. Best. Game. Ever. It must be an adult thing. Kids just don't get it. I actually went to my 11-year-old niece's birthday party last summer and got in an argument with an 11-year-old boy about whether or not Rock Band is better than Guitar Hero {it is}. I've never felt more adult in all of my life. Yea right!

3. I'm about 3/4 finished with Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom. This is Albom's first non-fiction book since Tuesdays with Morrie. If you haven't read Tuesdays, I highly recommend it.

Have a Little Faith is a story about Albom being asked by his rabbi to give his eulogy. Albom,feeling vastly unworthy of such a task, begins regular visits with his rabbi in order to get to know the man better. At the same time, Albom meets a black minister who runs a homeless shelter out of a run-down church in Detroit. Through getting to know both men, Albom is taught the true meaning of faith. That's really all I can tell you, but it has really made me think about my own faith, and has touched me at the same time. Since I have experience reading his books, I know I am dangerously close to a tear-jerker ending. I can't wait to finish it tonight.

From the book:

"...and as is often the case with faith, I thought I was being asked a favor, when in fact I was being given one."

4. Compassion Sunday is next week, on Mother's Day. {Have you gotten your mom anything yet? Just a reminder!} I can't wait to pick out the Compassion child I will be sponsoring. I'll post a photo when I have one and definitely keep you updated.

5. Something has really been bothering me lately. I keep hearing comments from people in my life regarding social status and money. These people make it clear that it is unacceptable to them for one to attach themselves to someone who, in their opinion, is of a lower social class. The people who are saying these things are self-proclaimed Christians, which is what bothers me the most about it. While I am in no way saying that they are not Christians, it does bother me that you can claim Christianity so strongly, then treat another one of God's children as if you are better than them. These folks also act as if God had nothing to do with their so-called "social status". I know full well that I wouldn't have anything if it weren't for God's hand in my life. I have a very healthy fear of God and know that he could jerk away everything I have in a second if I start behaving as if my successes were self-made. I'm not saying I'm perfect by any means, and I fight sin daily. I also daily fight the urge to judge others by the way they look and I often lose that fight. I do know one thing though, I'm working on it. I also know that the phrase "trailer trash", for example, will never be heard coming from my lips.

God brings to mind the story of Esther. I'm pretty sure we all know who she is and she certainly would have been considered "low class" by today's standards. Just something to think about.

6. I finished a baby sling last night for a photography prop. It's pretty cute. I will be giving it to a local photographer who will be letting me use her photos to put the sling on Etsy. I love bartering! I'll post pics when I have some:)

7. Me, the hubs, and my sister- and brother-in-law might be taking a day trip so we can go to Target and Joann's next Saturday. I'm super excited! I know, it's sad that we have to take a "day trip" to go to the closest Target, but let's not even get into that.

Check out other bloggers' "7 Quick Takes" over at Conversion Diary.

Have a great weekend!