Oh, February.

Who are you and what are you doing in this world?

So dreary, so finicky, so... cold. Sometimes.

Today was one of those "sometimes." Our morning classes were cancelled due to icy roads and 16-car pileups, so we celebrated with chocolate chip waffles in the shape of...

Texas!

I do love and miss my home state.

It's pretty much the most wonderful place in the country.

In the news...

One of my closest friends has a burden on her heart to see abortion ended.  She talks about it to anyone who will listen. She attends pro-life rallies. She writes letters to politicians. She spends hours upon hours praying and talking to girls on the sidewalks in front of our local abortion clinic.

One of her longtime friends is Lila Rose.

Perhaps you've heard of her?

At age 15, Lila Rose founded Live Action, a youth-led, non-profit, pro-life organization. Since then she'd made it her mission to uncover the illegal and inhumane practices of Planned Parenthood through undercover videos.

{You can visit LiveAction's facebook page here to stay updated.}

Her latest video has been all over the media the past few days. In this video, a Planned Parenthood manager gives advice on child sex-trafficking to two people she thinks are a pimp and one of his prostitutes, but are really actors working for Lila Rose. 

{If you haven't already, watch the video here}

Abortion is an issue I never heard or knew much about. That is, until I met my friend. 

Somehow, though I knew it happened, it was glossed over in my mind. Well, really, it wasn't in my mind at all, and definitely not anywhere near the vicinity of my heart. 

But God has used this dear friend to break my heart for something that is very close to His: that is, the  115,000 unborn children murdered for mostly social reasons every day.

And He's also changing my heart regarding the women and girls who have abortions. I have seen them go into the clinics with desperate faces; some set in steely determination, others with eyes on the verge of tears lowered painfully to the ground, some all by themselves, others ushered in by fierce-looking men or reproving mothers. I want to shout, to run after them, to take the baby away to somewhere safe. 

But they do not carry their children in their arms.

(A sign on the front door ominously reads "No children allowed.")

And so I can't. I can't shout at them, I can't run, for it would do no good. 

I can't protect those helpless babies.

The worst part is the cross sitting in the side window. That was when my heart-breaking happened.
To be honest, I lost it.

And I hope I never get it back.

I don't ever want to become comfortable with this again.

Oh Lord, would you never let this reality fade from my conscience! Give me your heart for the hopeless as well as the helpless.

With all that's wrong in the world, I often feel powerless to effect any kind of change. But I choose to press on, for He who promised is faithful, and I know that at the end of the race I will not have run in vain.

And so I encourage you to be strong and of good courage, to be bold in what you say, in what you do, in what you give, and especially in what you pray for.

We have full and privileged access to our Father's ear.

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

Hebrews 4:16

Spread the love...

Today I created a new etsy Treasury called "The things we love.."

It contains 16 handmade items that, you guessed it, we love. And here's a sneak peek:

You can take a look at the whole collection by visiting:

www.etsy.com/treasury/the-things-we-love

For those of you who are feeling confused right now: A Treasury is a small, hand-picked collection of items for sale on etsy.com that look good together or that the creator wants to promote.

This Treasury includes items I've selected from the shops of members of the Handmade for Life, ChristianArtists, and EtsyYouth teams.

Inspired by the concept of a museum gallery,  the person who creates and manages the Treasury is called the "Curator," and the sellers whose work is included are called "Featured Artists." Each day, several Treasuries are selected by Etsy to be on their home page. So making Treasuries is a great way to spread the word and promote fellow artists.

Pretty neat, huh?

Thoughts of today...

Today was a beautiful day.

So was yesterday.

They went together in a rather stunning sort of way, like apples and cinnamon, and you knew they were just meant to be a set.

This set, this yesterday-and-today, was also very hard. In a draining sort of way. I am, to put it like my mother does, thoroughly "pooped."

You see,  yesterday-and-today was full to the brim: It was auditions. But that's not the whole of it.

To start off, "the baby" (see previous post) came suddenly yesterday morning. Then came seventeen girls from around the country. And a few from other countries. They told their testimonies. We all took class. And then we danced for them.

We dance all the time here. Sometimes before strangers, often before teachers, but always for an "audience of one." We've rehearsed almost every day, and performed together at least thirty times just this year, the same thing over and over. You would think it would get old.

But it doesn't.

And yesterday was particularly un-old. It was brand-new, fresh, and unlike any other performance I've been a part of. THIS is what happens when new mercies are lavished on you each morning - such love begs a response. We as dancers give the Lord our imperfect offerings of what is in our hearts, like children who give their mothers adoring, wobbly scribbles.

And through yesterday-and-today, Christ has been opening my eyes to His worth. His perfect love and faithfulness are worth so much more than my insecurities, my doubts, my embarrassed-ness.


Who am I to say that my imperfection can somehow detract from His glory? He is worth all my tears, my sweat, my pain, and yes, my undivided attention, no matter what else is vying for it.

From a logical point of view, this was our most difficult performance of the year. Dancing before strangers, or even friends, is one thing. Dancing in front of a group of people who share your profession, can rip apart your technique with a cursory glance, and might be replacing you is another.

But somehow none of that mattered.

Because we weren't dancing for them.

Yes, yesterday-and-today was filled to the brim - with worship. To physically exhaust oneself in worship is not a privilege many can claim. I can read and sing about giving Him everything all day long. But when I offer my body as a living sacrifice, literally, until there is scarcely breath in my lungs or a muscle that is not shaking, I begin to understand it.

Jesus is worth all I am and more.

And His strength is made perfect in my weakness.

Coming soon...

Baby Voborsky!

My director is having a baby and the shower is coming up, so yesterday I fiddled around and came up with these little baby shoes.

{excuse the webcam, if you please}

I was kind of sad not knowing if it's a boy or a girl, but I decided I like the cream color after all.

I think I'll tweak it a little and make two pairs for my cousin's soon-to-be twins.

Hmmm, what colors...

If, then.

"If no one is accusing you of being too legalistic, then you probably aren't living a holy life.


"If no one is accusing you of being a 'bleeding heart', then you probably aren't loving enough.


"If no one is accusing you of being too dogmatic, then you probably aren't standing for the truth.


"If no one is accusing you or criticizing you...


then you probably aren't doing anything significant."


Israel Wayne

New in the shop...

Getting ready for spring!

Allow us to introduce "Elnora," an simple openwork crocheted headband inspired by Elnora Comstock, a darling girl who finds joy in her hard life by exploring nature in "A Girl of the Limberlost."

"Elnora's face was flushed and her eyes bright. 
'Oh, what great work that will be!' she cried. 'You must go with me so you can see the little faces when I tell them how the goldfinch builds its nest, and how the bees make honey.' 
So Elnora and her mother went into the woods behind the cabin to study nature."

I've made "Elnora" in Mustard//yellow// and Fern//green//, with more colors to come!