Faith

I have been thinking about this for some time now and I am coming to the conclusion that I have 'faith envy'. There are a couple of blogs I have been reading for a while now; Cjane and NieNie. This family have been thru a horrendous time yet their faith and subsequent strength is mind blowing. Stephanie (of NieNie) suffered 80% burns to her body after an airline accident, she wasn't expected to survive yet she is home and caring for her young family. She has constant pain and challenges that would make the toughest man cry, yet with her strong faith and the faith and support of her large family she gets through her days.
But it isn't just about having that belief and someone to pray to etc it is about community too. She has support from her church community, strength in numbers and all that.

I was speaking to someone not long ago who is Mormon. Her husband works as a nurse and said how common it is that people who are seriously ill/injured heal better and faster than those who don't. this is from what he has seen and not a study or anything. I wonder if this is because the patient can relax and leave it up to his/her god, we know the negative affect stress can have on ones body so if stress isn't a factor does this allow the body to heal better?

My biggest question is how does faith happen? Do people who have been raised from birth in a particular faith just blindly go along with it? Wouldn't this be brainwashing? What about the 'born again' who finds faith? Are they more faithful than someone born into it?

I went to a Catholic boarding school for my secondary years. I was part of a youth group called Antioch. We went to church and help prayer meetings and retreats etc After a year or so I had to admit that it wasn't for me. Socially I loved it, loved the friends I made through it and the 'community' but as for the 'god' part, it just didn't happen for me. why did I not have faith?
What is it about faith that means some people do and some don't?
Another friend of mine, who is also Mormon talks of her church community and I envy that community. Mind you I know that I could create my own community should I wish to but sometimes it would be nice to walk into a ready made one.
I don't know where this is coming from, I read over what I have written and I sound like I am wanting a god but it isn't really that, it is more a question of the how and whys of faith. How does it work?

Felt decorations

I have finally finished all the felt decorations I think we will need as gifts. The two with letters on them are for one of Nienna's teachers and her kindy best friend. the others will go to random gift recipients and left overs for our tree. I like how the felt ones turn out best. The little flower pieces I got at a wool shop in Salamanca Square in Hobart. the dolly pegs are from Spiral Garden, I can't recommend this site enough for great service and quality gift items. I think I picked the fairy wings up in a shop in Melbourne ages ago.

 

Needles and stuff

As previously mentioned I made a skort for Nienna. I didn't have a pattern so made it as best I could. It was a good opportunity to do something with the overlocker as I hadn't had a chance to use it since kindly being donated it from my friend Shannon. I am pretty pleased with the outcome although I think the tension on one of the needles could have been tighter. I have also done a little wrap skirt but not finished yet.

The knitting is a vest for me using Anchor magicline cotton. pattern is Broken Rib Tank and pretty easy to knit. If I do it again though I will convert it to knit in the round. From what I can see front and back are done flat and then joined for the yoke.

 

 

Kids and I have been making decorations to give to various teachers etc These are a couple that Nienna did with my help. Have some lovely felt ones too and will get some pics of those soon.

 

Couldn't resist this one when I went to check on kids at my bed time last night. nienna insists on sleeping with a head band over her eyes LOL She truly is a freak.

 

Goofy kids

I made Nienna a skort and wanted a photo of it. Any opportunity to expand her audience is not to be wasted LOL

 

another big week

Well, this week has been another challenging one. I am still battling the strep throat and have a common old bloody cold on top of that! Returned to work on Monday to be told that I am no longer required and my position has been made redundant. Obviously this was a bit of a shock and I took a few more days off to deal with that and the cold. Went in today and am working on Monday and Tuesday to do a handover then finishing up. Today I feel ok about it. I am majorly pissed of with the decision and don't believe it is a genuine redundancy and that is what upsets me most. I think it is underhanded and not overly honest. However, it is a decision that was made, I can't really fight it and at the end of the day it saved me making a tough decision. It is a double edged sword really. As it was I had planned to return to Uni next year and study externally whilst working. now I will study on campus full time and enjoy the rest of the time with my kids. I have come full circle really and am back on the path I originally chose when coming back to Tassie. This is why it sits ok with me and I feel quite peaceful about it all.

For now, I am desperately trying to get over this illness spell and am resting and enjoying all my spare time :)