y is for yarn

I'm typically a one project gal.  I like to knit one thing at a time.  I figure that my chances of finishing a project are increased exponentially if it is the only thing I'm knitting.  However, I have three items that I'm currently working on.  Don't ask me how that happened.  I have no idea.  Obviously, my self control is lacking at the present. 

In my knitting bag:

gaia shoulder hug #2

a dropped stitch scarf (pattern compliments of Kristyn)

a super sweet baby sweater (pattern compliments of Beth)

What this means is that I won't have any knitting to show for a while and then all of a sudden I'll look like I'm cranking out the handknits.  Feast or famine.  Actually, this weekend should bring some significant progress to my projects.  John and I are headed over to Morgantown for the West Virginia/Syracuse game and I'll be knitting my way over the mountains. I won't be able to knit during the game...I'm way too into the action. (sorry Jodi, I'll be cheering for the Mountaineers!)  In the meantime, I'll keep rotating my projects and adding more items to my queque on Ravelry. oh. And making dinner and doing laundry..... What's in your knitting bag?

you really can go back...

Twenty years ago I left this place and headed off to 'start my life'.  I was a fresh-faced young thing heading to the altar and then off to a new teaching job.  I remember the drive home - my car loaded down with posters, sweatshirts, a big stuffed dog, a typewriter and 4 years worth of memories.  My parents followed me in their mini van carrying all the rest of my stuff.  We weren't even on the turnpike and my mind was already thinking about the future.   

Fast forward twenty years plus a couple of months and I walked back onto campus just amazed.  I'm amazed at the changes that twenty years has brought.  Changes not just on campus but in myself.  Those 4 years were some of the best years....I made life long friends, I worked through fears, I discovered who I really was (and who I wasn't), I took stands, I ventured outside of my comfort zone, I didn't back down, I learned to like coffee, I laughed until I cried and I moved on to the next season of my life a whole lot better for having been there. 

This time back on campus, I had a daughter who was taking it all in with eyes that wondered if she'd be sitting at those same cafeteria tables, walking those same walks, sitting in those classrooms learning and soaking and growing. I watched her wondering the very same things.   I tear up when I realize how close she is to being off on her own and learning those lessons that seem like they happened to me just only yesterday.  I'm thankful to know that the same God who walked me through all my lessons will continue to walk my daughter (and all my children) through hers as well.  

It was a wonderful weekend reconnecting with friends.  We met for our twentieth reunion.  The weather was gorgeous, the food was better than I remembered  and more memories were added to the trunk of my car.  I realized that you really can go back....although nothing is ever quite the same.  but that's o.k. 

hello october

I'm so happy to see October...

You see, September is a birthday busy month in our family.  This year it was loaded with big birthdays...my mom turned 70 and Maggie turned 16!  John had a special birthday in there too! To say I've been busy organizing and scheming and cleaning up would be an understatement.  Here's a glimpse at some of the celebrating we've been doing over the last 4 weeks.  (There are a lot of photos because I want you to get a real sense of my exhaustion elation!)

birthday celebration #1: friends from Kentucky and an early celebration (we had to take advantage of their visit and celebrate life long friends as they turn 16)

birthday celebration #2: surprise party for Maggie and her friend Sarah (both have birthdays in September, so we did a combo surprise party for the two of them ~ 30 teens + 10 pizzas = fun!)

birthday celebration #3: John's birthday ...outside on the deck watching the WVU/Maryland football game while picking crabs and hanging with good friends.

birthday celebration #4: Mom's birthday weekend...dinner out with her friends and then shopping all day together Saturday

birthday celebration #5: Maggie's actual birthday and family dinner

What a wonderful month it was, full of celebrating, rejoicing in milestones and making memories.  Every weekend was loaded with some sort of party or celebration. We went through 5 birthday cakes...whew.   I'm not sure what happened to all of the cakes I made for Maggie...they all cracked open.  I told Maggie it was symbolic of all the blessings that would spill into her life in the up and coming year, that there would be so many that she wouldn't be able to contain them. (but if anyone can tell me why they split...feel free to enlighten me)  So, now that September is over, I'm looking forward to enjoying the beauty of the season.  How about you, what are you looking forward to as we say hello to October? 

the gift of the present

  As I was coming home from the mall the other day, I made a phone call to a friend and she teased me about being at the mall in the middle of the day....the thing is, I squeezed in the mall trip in order to get my mom's birthday gift and some favors for the dinner we were having for her birthday (which was the next day).  I commented that it would be nice to have the cushion of time...so that I'm not running around the day before the event, trying to pull things together.  But, that's not the season that I'm in at this time. 

 Right now, I'm:

* working at being a present and attentive wife (you can't take a vacation from your marriage...ever)
* running a household of 5 (6 if you count my mother in law who lives with us)
* home schooling 3 kids (high school, middle school, elementary school)
* teaching every week in a co-op class
* helping with administration for a home school basketball ministry
* making time for friends and family (relationships take time and nurturing in order to grow)
* exercising regularly (heck, I'm 42...I've gotta do something or it all goes south!)
* probably some others...but my mind is too jumbled to think of them

So, my husband gently pointed out that I was spending too much of my time complaining about the busyness.  And that rather than complaining about the busy-ness and the lack of time, I needed to refocus and be thankful for the fullness and the overflowing of all that's in my life. 

Then on Friday, I sat at dinner with one of my mom's friends who had lost her husband of many years to cancer.  He'd battled cancer for 12 years.  (I'm sure our sitting together was one of those Divine Appointments.)  She is a widow now and rather than cry about how lonely she was, she told me that she's enjoying this season of her life.  Of course, she would rather have her husband with her...but she's able to focus on the blessings that are around her. 

For example, she was having 6 orphans from Africa to spend the night at her house while they were here touring with a choir.  Her husband wouldn't have really encouraged that and so now that she's alone she can open up her home in ways that she couldn't when they were a couple and she needed to think of his feelings and desires. 

 She said, that when she was a mother raising her 5 kids, she couldn't imagine how she'd survive when her kids went off to school and careers.  So, she asked the Lord to help her to enjoy each season that He placed her in.  She didn't want to miss the blessings of the present over fears of the future or wistfulness over the past. 

 She said, that He'd done just that....He allowed her the gift of enjoying the right now.  When she prayed that prayer, I'm not sure she had any idea of what the future held.  But of course, none of us have any idea of what our futures hold.  What a blessing it was to talk to her and be encouraged to enjoy the here and now.  So, currently I am honing my focus in on all that I have and all the blessings in my life.  I'm sure I'll need to readjust it from time to time (in all honesty), but I'm thankful to the Lord sending me people who can speak truth into this season of my life...I don't want to miss a minute of the joy because we all know how fast the seasons fly. 

{all the photos are from a special afternoon that John Samuel and I spent together at a local park}

for the cold snap

Have I told you about the yarn shop that Kristyn and I discovered when she was here visiting this summer?  It's in a little town not terribly far from my house.  It's right on the road that I take when the girls go to their Thursday classes.....It's dangerous. very dangerous.  Kristyn and I spent about 2 hours in there...and yes, our checkbooks took a hit.  Lana, the owner, has the shop stuffed full of wonderful yarns and a plethora of projects. 

One of the many projects that caught my eye was this seed stitch cowl (ravelry link).  I must say, had I seen the original pattern, I wouldn't have even considered knitting it.   But seeing it done up in a color that I would wear, sold me on it right away. 

This pattern knit up quickly on size 11 needles. It was interesting enough to keep my attention but not too tricky.  I think I'll wear this a lot, even around the house when the days get chilly.  The weather here is too warm to wear it right now, but I'm ready for the next cold snap. 

Here's the knitty gritty:

Pattern: Seed Stitch Cowl, Vogue Holiday 2009

Yarn: Trendsetter Yarns, Granito color 4 Cactus Flower ~ I used 3 balls

Needles: size 11 circulars

Modifications: none...other than yarn choice.

Special thanks again to my photographer...Maggie. 

I only had to call bug her 3 times to get all these photos...she was very patient with me.  (thanks girl!)

just because...

Kristyn gave me this cute pack of alphabet cards when she came and visited in July.  She picked them up at Archivers.  They are so fun and the teacher in me gets all warm and fuzzy when I flip through them.  (Aren't they adorable?!) 

 I put the cards away for a rainy day and for some inspiration to strike.  Well, this week I received this card in the mail from Kristyn. (isn't it adorable!?)  It was created with those very same cards that were marinating in my craft room studio.   (reminder to self: fill the cookie jar!)

Her card sparked the fire that I needed...which led to a spontaneous card making session because why not spread the warm and fuzzy feeling around?! 

It is so fun to get a card in the mail as opposed to junk mail or bills.  I know how receiving a card brightens my day....it doesn't have to be handmade; any kind of card brings a smile to my face.  But apparently people are sending less mail than they ever have.  The postal service is planning to cut mail delivery to 5 days a week instead of 6.  I propose a plan to keep the postal service going and bring a smile to some one's face.   Send someone a card this week...just because!