Come Alive 2014 - A New Vision

Well, it is 2014. And not only is it a new year already, but is actually the end of the first month of the new year. Needless to say, I am a little behind in launching the new vision I have for my blog this year.

So, without further ado, let the launch begin!

Previously, I tried to write about things that I enjoy, my experiences as I embark on new adventures every day, the things in life that make up my story, etc. But, as much as I have to say about those things (just ask my husband ^_^) they didn’t inspire me to write the way I thought they would. So, I decided I needed a new inspiration for this blog, something to share with you that I get excited about sharing consistently.

A while back I listened to a sermon about what it means to serve the world and communities around us. The pastor expressed that the world can be a dark place that faces hardship and heartbreak, encounters evil and death. The world needs new life and hope. When thinking about serving and getting involved he encouraged us by saying, “Don’t ask what the world needs of you; ask what makes you come alive, because the world needs you to come alive.”

My own story has its own share of betrayal and heartbreak. I know what it feels like to be hopeless and afraid. But, my story also has hope. Specific moments that brought me back to life.  Perhaps another time I will share more on that. For now, I want to talk about what I am doing to continue spreading hope and joy.

A couple years ago, (in a moment of moping because I had left my then fiancé at home in order to finish school) I decided I wanted to learn how to knit and crochet. My mom has always been the creative and craft type, and, it seems, I got her genes. I soon learned that I love creating with my hands, a ball of yarn, and a needle (or two). Even better than creating is the joy that comes with knitting a friend a scarf, or crocheting a newborn a hat to make their entrance into the world warm and filled with love.

Recently, I discovered that there is a whole presence of online yarn crafters who create for charity. Specifically, I have been extremely inspired by She Makes Hats. This woman shares her creativity and love by giving a hat to charity for every hat she sells. She even has a goal of giving away 10,000 hats in lifetime.  That’s a lot of hats and a lot heads housed with warmth. As I’ve grown in my skill I have also grown in my desire to do something more meaningful with my own craft. Last month I joined her in a Knit-Along in which we made hats to donate to a shelter that supplies hats to the homeless community in Phoenix (close to home for me). This was my first time knitting for charity, and I have to say that I loved every minute of it and I don’t think there is ever any going back from this point. Admittedly, I sometimes have an “I can save the world” complex. This is both impossible and improbable. But, I can help bring beauty and hope to the lives of those around me by giving away something that makes me come alive. That is what knitting for others is to me; it is giving away a piece of the hope and joy that fills my life in the hopes that it will fill someone else’s too, whether they are brand new to the world or an old-timer.  

I had so much fun knitting with a purpose and specific charity in mind that I continued to knit for the shelter in Phoenix through January. This year, I plan to carry on in this direction while I continue to discover where my passions and skills lie in charity knitting and just knitting for others. While I grow and learn, I am going to join She Makes Hats in her knit- along called Hat|Give|Repeat 2014. My version of this, of course, will look different since we lead different lives, but I’m excited to watch her goals unfold as I develop my own.

My awesome family modeling my hats. I'll be working on photographing my work over the next year! ^_^

Nailed it. ^_^

Also, exactly how I envisioned this hat on my niece.

Beautiful Mom.

Brother, the enthusiastic participant. 

If Santa wore a Sandoval Hat....

So, after all of that, what does 2014 look like for RaiOfHope here at Further Up and Further In? Well, right now my goal is this: each month I will have a charity, group, organization, persons, etc. in mind to knit for. I will present my goal at the beginning of each month and the type of knitting or pattern I will be using. I will give an update mid-way through the month, and share my tallies at the end before sending the results off to their new homes. And perhaps, I will even get to share some of my life in between. 

I am really looking forward to watching how this year unfolds. Thank you for reading and sharing in this adventure with me. I am so grateful for the ability to create and share with others. Whether your goals are in the realm of crafting for others or something else, may I just say Happy 2014!!

Stay tuned for an update on my February goals in the next few days!

*Hat Pictured is the Sandoval Hat. Pattern used with permission.