Hello October!

Last weekend was Belvidere's Pioneer Festival and I had such a nice time. There were 4 of us there from my lace guild (myself, Marleen, Judy and Kathy) and did we have the perfect weather!! It was sunny and in the low 70s with a pretty good breeze. So much so, that every now and then someone's bobbin lace pillow would almost get blown away! This festival is about 3 or 4 times larger then Genoa's so we got to share our lace with a lot of people. Not to mention there was great food and awesome things to see.

The picture on the bottom is my version of the pic on the top. I am using a dark purple Lizbeth with the variegated 'Caribbean' from Sarah. I'll be finishing that doily up over the weekend, along with a couple of reports that I have to get done.

I love the expression on people's faces when they recognize what I am doing, and say with a sweet tone of remembrance "My mother (or my aunt, or my grandmother) used to do that for hours!" One lady thought it quite exciting that someone my age was taking up the craft to 'keep it alive.' I always really appreciate comments like that. It makes me feel like I am part of a bigger picture. I was writing a letter to a good friend in New York and we were talking how there is a 'turning of the tide' so to speak. I called it a quiet revolution. I don't know, I just feel like there is a void in the world and we are desperately longing to fill it with 'something.' Or maybe people are tired of the way they are living and want to get back to the old ways, how life was lived back then. Now, everyone thinks that the void should be filled by something different. Maybe it's material possessions for some or to others it could be having many friends and being super popular. There are even heavier things that could fill the void, but I am pretty sure that I know what this world needs. A song by the band Casting Crowns called 'What this world needs' sums it up pretty well:

What this world needs is not another one hit wonder with an axe to grind

Another two bit politician peddling lies

Another three ring circus society

What this world needs is not another sign waving super saint that's better than you

Another ear pleasing candy man afraid of the truth

Another prophet in an Armani suit

What this world needs is a Savior who will rescue

A Spirit who will lead

A Father who will love them in their time of need

A Savior who will rescue

A Spirit who will lead

A Father who will love

That's what this world needs

What this world needs is for us to care more about the inside than the outside

Have we become so blind that we can't see

God's gotta change her heart before He changes her shirt

What this world needs is for us to stop hiding behind our relevance

Blending in so well that people can't see the difference

And it's the difference that sets the world free

That void can only be filled by a certain Heavenly Someone that some people have chosen to completely shut out. How He desperately longs for those who reject Him and how gracious He is when we come back to Him! For me, it's a daily choosing between what the world has to offer, which are things that will pass away, or what Jesus offers, which is eternal. So for the month of October, when the trees display thier prettiest of colors, when Creation praises Creator, let's daily remember that we mean so much to our Lord. Let's live to the fullest everyday!

Blessing for the weekend!

Allison