along the way

Have you ever walked through a season littered with lessons?  I'm there.  right now.  Sometimes the lessons are delightful and I relish the new things I'm learning and other times I'd really rather look away than deal with the reality that is my ugly heart.  I've been deliberately crawling through this winter headed into what will inevitably become spring and I anxiously await for the new growth to show up on the trees and in my life.
Along the way I've been learning:

~to open my hands to whatever God gives...

~that I want to live fully not empty

~the height of my joy is found in the depth of my thanks

~hurry always empties a soul

~my hope is not in a calm, perfectly planned schedule-my hope is in Christ

~life is dessert and I need to savor it - life is not an emergency

Many of the lessons I've been learning have correlated perfectly to the reading that I've been doing as I work my way through Ann Voskamp's book,  one thousand gifts.  I'm so thankful for her insights and her honesty...If you have some time for cultivating new growth in your life I highly recommend her book. 

I'm so thankful for seasons of learning and new growth...even when the lessons come hard.  How about you....What are you learning right now in your life? 

settling back in

Settling back into a regular routine has been delightful. There's just something good about being back in your own bed and being able to make your own breakfast.  I can only endure continental 'eggs' for so many days. 

The basketball trip was a huge success....everyone who went (60+ parents, coaches and athletes) seemed to have a great time.  It's always fun to get to know the other parents in such a unique setting....you learn a lot about other people when you're schlepping from court to court and cheering your brains out until 11:30 at night.  It's quite the bonding time. 

 Both Varsity teams competed hard in their brackets.  The girls took second place and the boys placed third.  It was a week of perservering and learning to dig down deep. (for the adults as well as the athletes)  I'm so proud of all the kids, they displayed such character and handled the grueling days and nights extremely well. 

 Thanks for all the well wishes on my thumb ...I survived the week without knitting a stitch.  It's probably a good thing I didn't take any knitting, considering the lack of sleep that occurred, knitting may have proved quite dangerous.   My thumb is feeling better and now that it's baseball season, I'll have plenty of knitting time at the ball field!  

I've got the laundry almost caught up and we haven't eaten our meals off of a tray in three days... It's so true - there's no place like home! 

Flying the nest...

We're heading to a basketball tournament in Lynchburg, VA.  It'll be a week full of hoops, friends and lots of memories.  Molly and Barbara are holding down the fort while we're gone.  I've got our bags packed and the water is loaded into the back of the van.  And guess what, I'm not taking any knitting!  {gasp}  Apparently knitting all those dishcloths (5 in one week) gave me a case of tendonitis and I've got to rest my thumb for a while......extreme knitting, who knew!?!  So instead of purling my way down the highway,  I'll be taking pictures and doing a little bit of reading. 

As we fly the nest, I thought I'd leave you with some pictures of my lastest sewing project.  Lola.

 Isn't she adorable? Gingercake has the cutest patterns and I made Lola the owl for my god-daughter.  I'm not sure whether she'll be gifted for Easter or Christmas....?  I already have requests for three others.  The directions and the pattern were easy to follow and I loved the fact that once I paid with Paypal, I received the pattern right to my computer.   She's got a cute little pocket on her back, perfect for tucking in secret love notes or gift cards.  With less than a yard of fabric, I've got a great gift and I'm certain there will be more feathered friends in my future.    Have fun checking out Virginia's website, it's full of great projects and patterns and enjoy the remainder of your week - 'Owl' be back soon! 

my boys couldn't get it done..

My beloved Mountaineers couldn't pull out the win over Marquette in the Big East conference tournament.  It was a heart breaker.   

 photo from Big East.org

Even  though my team is one and done....I'm sure not.  I started knitting dishcloths at the beginning of the tournament and I've been knocking them off almost as quickly as the Mountaineers left the big Apple.  Three down and two more rounds of action to go....

I had an hour and a half to myself the other night.  Nobody was home except Molly the dog and me.  I was talking to my mom and she asked me what I was planning to do.  "Watch basketball and knit" was my reply. 

 I love this time of year and it doesn't even really matter to me who is playing. (Although I'd prefer for it to be WVU) I love all the action.  I've been watching the wins and losses and counting the dishcloths as they pile up. 

Even though my boys couldn't get it done...it won't stop me from getting the dishcloths done.  Let the March madness continue!  (although I may need to make a run for more cotton yarn....in between games of course!)

Gotta go...it's tip off time! 

blessing stockpile #1

I've been working on my ADVENTure bit by bit.  Thinking through my gift list and planning out some projects to work on ahead of the holiday rush might sound a bit over-achieverish...but I know that the reality is that I'm merely trying to get ahead of the curve and enjoy the process.  This first blessing stockpile is a January/February combo.  Some of these gifts took weeks to actually materialize.  (precisely why I mentioned the whole bit by bit detail)

Teacher pencil pouches:

These are gathered clutches by Noodlehead.  One is slimmer than the other because I didn't have enough of the pink fabric.  (Don't let things like fabric amounts deter you...just make due with what you've got when at all possible).  I really enjoyed Anna's step by step tutorial until I got to the final step and had some trouble getting the little zipper thingys to look right.  Eventually I caught on to the fact that YOU CAN'T SEW THROUGH THEM...you must sew BESIDE THEM.  (those capitals are my note to self) 

I lined them with some fun pops of color.  I plan on giving these with some Ticonderoga pencils (my favorite) and a gift card for the teachers in my kids lives. 

Feather and Fan dishcloth

This is my favorite dishcloth pattern.  I love to use varigated yarn with it as it always turns out so pretty.  However, following on the heels of my Diamond Cable Gilet...this little dishcloth was almost my undoing.  I frogged it 5 times.   Hello....was it worth it?  By the fifth time I was merely showing it who the boss was.  I won.  There will be more of these.  I have at least 4 people that I'm planning on gifting dishcloths and fancy soap.  

Dropped Stitch Pattern Scarf

I love how this turned out....but I didn't enjoy knitting it.  There are a lot of yarn overs and it required me to pay lots of attention.  Apparently I didn't want to give it all the attention that it required and it just made me want to get it done.  Now that it's done, I like it a lot.  The pattern wasn't hard...just picky. 

I used one skein of  Araucania, Ulmo Multy, in color #704 and size 7 needles. 

If you haven't started your own ADVENTure yet, I highly encourage you to join the fun.  Slowly, bit by bit you too can stockpile blessings that will make the holidays a lot more enjoyable.  Kristyn has even set up a flickr group where you can find even more inspiration. 

Diamond Cable Gilet

I completed my Diamond Cable Gilet...Before starting this project, I did not know that a gilet was a sleeveless jacket or vest.  Apparently they are to be worn as an outer layer of warmth.  Every time I knit a new piece I learn something new.  This vest was no exception.  Other than learning what a gilet was, I learned to keep track of when I began decreasing for shoulders and for the neck. (Trying to eyeball it just was not cutting it) My seaming skills also improved while putting this piece together. This site really helped me a lot.   

I really enjoyed this hand knit and I've worn it a couple of times since I finished it and after wearing it, I like it even more. Whew, that's always a relief.  Knitting is a bit gamble in so many ways.   Don't you hate when you finish knitting something and you really don't like it?  That's happened to me on more than one occasion. 

But, I guess that's the thing with knitting and life....it's the process that matters and what you learn along the way.  The shaping that happens is what makes it all worthwhile.  However, sometimes that shaping requires much patience and many attempts.  Ahhh, but enough philosophizing...

Here's the knitty gritty:

Pattern: Diamond Cable Gilet from Sirdar Winter Glamour booklet 339
Needles: US 9 and US 101/2 circulars
Yarn: Sirdar Click Chunky; cobble  I used 9 1/2 balls. 
Size: 32/34
Modifications:none

This yarn is a wool blend; it knit up wonderfully and has a great softness to it.  The price made it perfectly affordable as well.  I found the button at Michaels.  I thought it was just right.  (and it meant that I didn't have to run across town to the sewing shop!  bonus!) 

I have about 5 more projects in the Winter Glamour book that I'd like to make.  Now, it'll just be picking the yarn out.....and finding the time.  How about you, what's in your knitting basket right now?  Whatever it is, I hope you enjoy the process as much as the finished project. 

undefeated

I tried to come up with a clever title....

The Middle School girl's team that Mckenzie plays on and that John coaches finished their season with a conference record of 17-0 and a banner for winning playoffs.  It was a great season.  Not just because they had a winning record, but because they made new friends, worked together as a team through good and bad times and they shared the good news everywhere they went. 

They really were a FORCE this year.  Mckenzie was named to the all-tournament team and I think she was as surprised as anyone when they called her name.  She played great this year and I couldn't be more proud of her than I was when I saw her reach down and help another player from another team up off the floor.  She's got guts of steel and a heart of gold. 

 And my vote goes to Coach Quick for Coach of the Year!  I figured out that he's coached 36 middle school games this season.  That's a lot of jump balls!  Anyways, I'm so proud of both of them.  They are both winners in my book! 

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing FORCE  is from God

and not from us."

 2 Corinthians 4:7

a corner in my world

It is sunny in my corner of the world today.  I was so thrilled with the light that I went around capturing it with my camera. 

I even discovered some daffodils peeking up through the leaves and mulch.   Isn't it amazing how powerful sunshine can be? It reminds me to spread sunshine into the lives of others.  Sharing light is always a powerful thing.

While I was taking photos I captured this corner of my craft room studio.  The sun was beautiful in this room and then I remember that just last week Tracy had shared a corner of her world. 

I really enjoyed seeing pieces of her reflected in that one place.  So, I thought I'd share a corner of my home with you.  This is the place where I have my therapy sessions.  I sew, stamp, block, blog, craft and create in this space. The desk and drawers and shelf unit were given to us from our neighbors when they moved to Arkansas. Can you believe that?? For free...and they fit this space perfectly.   The lamp was made by my husband when he was in high school.  I love that his mom gave it to me.  The printer trays hold about half of my rubber stamp collection.  I really enjoy them as art on the walls.  The snowman plate rack holds all the yarn that I'm 'planning' to use in the near future.  Some of it has been in my 'plans' for over a year. 

 My knitting books and sewing books are on the shelf and the baskets and boxes hold my ribbons, cards and tape runners.  I keep my fabric and yarn stash in the closet....that is going to be a spring cleaning project.  I need to organize and purge that whole area. All those magazine holders are where I house my scrapbook/art papers.  And as you can see I've got a couple projects in process.  I love that I can start and leave something out.  When I have time I can come back to it.   This room is the spare bedroom in our house and it has the best light...the sun just shines right into the room most of the day.  It's where all of our favorite friends stay when they come to visit.  It's also the perfect place for creating.  I feel really blessed to have this space.  If you've got a special corner in your world...feel free to share it.  Spread the sunshine. 

ramblings

Thanks so much for all the virtual hugs and well wishes.  Everyone is fever free!  Inhalers are still being used and we're finishing up the antibiotics but we're knee deep back into our lives again.

 And that means lots of time at the basketball court.   We are a basketball family.  John coaches, I help run the book, take the pictures, pack the dinners, keep the schedules......you get the idea.  Maggie, Mckenzie and John Samuel all play - on different teams.  That means lots of games and even more practices. 

 So, to say that I feel a bit distracted is an understatement.  In between running here and there and shouting from the bleachers; these are the things that are dribbling through my mind:

* I finished knitting my vest and am frantically patiently searching for a time when I can seam it and block it.

* I really need to come up with a plan for our entry way...this is what I look at all the time as we're coming and going.  Coats and shoes are everywhere. 

* Sandwiches for dinner are getting old....I'm longing for lasagna and crusty garlic bread

* Valentines would be so fun to make and send, but I'm guessing my family would prefer that I go grocery shopping instead.  

* I'm thankful for John Samuel's workbook time as that's when I sit with him and work on some stitching....some days it's the only time I get to stitch/knit/sew. 

*  I wish Chipotle's chips and guac weren't so good....I like them way too much!

*Why does it take Molly so long to go to the bathroom when everything is snow covered and iced up and I'm certain it all just smells frozen?  

So...there.  Now you know the inner ramblings of a basketball mom who is longing for warmer temps and some time at home.  What's going through your mind lately?