Julie Cicora

Stir

Stephen and Penelope’s in Amersterdam stirs my creativity. Their use of yarn in different ways pokes at the imagination and the incredible choices they offer make anything seem possible. In 2Timothy 1:6 Paul tells Timothy to stir up his gift from the Holy Spirit. The Greek word invokes the idea of a bellows sparking embersContinue reading “Stir”

Exult

When I think of the feeling of exultation, I think of young children playing or choirs of angels singing. This feeling fills us completely leaving no room for stray thoughts or nagging anxiety. To exult, we need to be free of the burdens of everyday life even if it’s just for a moment. Christmas isContinue reading “Exult”

A wonderful friend came over a few days ago. We had connected in a bookbinding class and she was coming over to help me create a journal cover. I had forgotten some of the skills I had learned over two years ago. She arrived and unloaded two bins of fabric, buttons, thread, paper which sheContinue reading “Share”

Expectation

Normally, I have high expectations for my yarn. I buy yarn for projects rather than just. because it’s beautiful. I have the end result in mind. The yarn pictured above was bought for the 2021 Stephen West shawl Mystery Knit Along (Mkal). A Mkal is when a bunch of knitters sign up to get aContinue reading “Expectation”

Compassion

When others express compassion, it gives us hope. Compassion means more than just having feelings of sympathy, it means there is a desire from the compassionate person to help. When we receive the help we have hope for something better. At church, we host five teenagers every summer to work in the gardens. They areContinue reading “Compassion”

Repent

Some biblical translations of the Bible translate the Greek word “metanoia” into repent. Metanoia means a transformative change in one’s life, a turning back to God. When I think about repenting, I think about starting over, turning back, and resuming my spiritual practice. Of course, I think about the sins I committed and the regretContinue reading “Repent”

Splendor

In the past, splendor made me think of the gilded age, the ostentatious houses erected by the Vanderbilts and Astors. I remember touring the Biltmore in Asheville, North Carolina in December. There were decorated Christmas trees in every room on the tour. Imagine a 250 room house gilded with gold leaf and other trimmings. SplendorContinue reading “Splendor”

Messenger

There is a lot of noise in the world. Information is available from all kinds of sources and devices. I hear my grandchildren screaming at Alexa to play them a specific song, to find out the outside temperature, or to get an answer to a math problem. Videos are pervasive – You Tube, tiktoc, Netflix,Continue reading “Messenger”

Offering

I finished the first blanket for Carter’s Care Packages (packages for families of stillborn children). It was hard to knit, not because the pattern was difficult, the pattern was quite easy, but because I kept thinking about the recipient and the painful moment they would have to endure. But, I know firsthand how comforting itContinue reading “Offering”

Everlasting

When I hear the word everlasting, I think about all the things I’m surrounded by that are temporal. As I look around, I realize that all my treasures will someday be gone. So what lasts? I have been taught and I believe that only one thing lasts – Love. After all, most of us haveContinue reading “Everlasting”