Regressing...seriously regressing

Hi!  Its been a long summer!  Jim's been doing awesome in his studies and although it's finals week, He's going to end this semester with 2 solid A's and a B which is great for him after all he's been through this year.  This summer is almost gone.  I can hardly believe it!  Seems like just yesterday I was picking Chris up from his last day of school to spend some time with us for the summer...this week, we were buying some school clothes for him to start 8th grade in a couple of weeks...and Rebekah will start preschool in September.  I'm not sure I'm ready for my little girl to be growing up so soon.

My summer has basically consisted of work and driving.  Jim has to get to school somehow...and after his final next Wednesday, he will have his 6 day summer break before he starts his final semester at OCC.  After this fall semester, he can graduate with his Associates degree in Business.  He'd like to take some more business classes after that...we are praying the funds come in for this.

So I have been doing a fair amount of knitting and listening to books and I realized that I haven't updated my blog at all!!  In a way it's been interesting...I did get bitten by the Fair Isle bug finally.  I'm part of the Sock Knitters Anonymous group on Ravelry which has a mystery sock every other month. July was a sock by Chrissy Gardiner done in colorwork. I really enjoyed knitting this and learning the technique! that accomplishes one of my annual goals. I just have to finish the second sock.  I also used stash yarn from about 4 years ago...so that counts as well...2 goals worked on...

I've also been working on a couple of shawls that I'd like to finish.  My ILS yahoo group is going to be doing the Icelandic Lace Shawl again. I bought the kit a long time ago from Sarah's yarns but the group was finished with the knitting so I shelved it.  I dug it out in preparation for the KAL on the yahoo group.  If anyone is interested, we will be starting October 1st and it's supposed to be a pretty easy knit.  Its the Icelandic Lace shawl yahoo group.

So with all of these things on my plate plus I pulled out my February Ladies Shawl from the UFO bin and started working on it today. I really needed something to have on hand for those times when you need something to work on that is able to be done without directions or light, something that an be put down in the middle of the row and picked back up without losing stitches or forgetting where you are. So I decided that I had to cast on two more things.  Seems everyone has to knit the Jared flood Noro scarf at sometime in their life.  I picked some Bernat Mosaic for my first one because I couldn't justify 50$ of yarn for a scarf right now...but I ended up finding a clearance sale for some real Noro Silk garden yarn...so now I have 2 on the needles...sorry, no pictures of the Noro one yet....

So I have 3 shawls, 2 scarves and one sock on the needles and nothing completely finished for the summer knitting season!!  Unless you count the 2009 Christmas Socks that I finally finished for my SIL!!! However I failed to get a picture of them...stupid! I also did some knitting on some Chemo caps for my Aunt.  Quick and easy...gotta love those projects. My Aunt is recovering well from chemo and we pray that this does the job. This is my mom modeling my Aunt's hat. My aunt is her sister. And , of course, Bekah modeling one of the other hats.

So that's my summer in a nut shell...looking forward to next year for the first summer in 4 years that Jim won't be taking college classes!!!

Firsts of the Summer

I am officially declaring it Summer Time!  It feels like summer, it looks like summer, it has to be summer except for the calendar which hasn't caught up with the weather yet.   We have been enjoying the wonderful weather so far and the firsts this year.

First off...Corn is in at the grocery!  this is the first Corn on the cob that Rebekah has had this year and the first time she's ever "dug in" like this.  We enjoyed a Bar-B-Que outdoors last week and Rebekah had to butter every one's corn...before digging in to her own...which she completely enjoyed!  Afterwards, she had to finish Daddy's ear of corn too...

This year is also a first in that Mommy has been playing outside on the trampoline.  I am trying to lose weight for a "Biggest Loser" competition at the hospital where I work.  So I have been trying to exercise on the trampoline.  Sometimes Rebekah joins me!

We have so much fun playing outdoors...it's so hard to believe that it's not really summer yet!  I have a summer girl.


This weekend was Memorial Day, the first holiday of summer, and the parade and sunshine and flags and veterans, we thank you for sacrificing for our freedom.  My Dearest Husband is an Army Veteran and I am so proud of him!  He served in Communications in Germany.  I love him and I'm so proud of him!!  Thank you honey! 

So we went to the parade on Monday.  Armed with bags...who can resist giving candy to a little girl like this????  She came away with a HUGE haul of candy and lots of fun was had by all....even the lady who stood next to us during the parade was picking up candy for Rebekah!  It was so much fun!  Even Jim got into the action, cane and all!

So we have begun the summer fun even without summer...but we even have fun without the sunshine!  This is Rebekah's first experience with paint...and very closely monitored by myself...I LOVE being a mom!

Getting Ready for the Second Half...

We have been experiencing more drama in our lives since my last post.  Jim had a total hip replacement in April.  He is rehabing well but told me the other day that he is ready to be done with rehab.  it seems that he has been in the rehab mode all year!  Rebekah joined in his early rehab too... She's turned into a real monkey over the past month.  We've been able to enjoy summer like weather already in May...it's unbelievable how warm it has been  still in May.  We are having 88 degree days!  So we do a lot of playing outside in the early morning or in the late afternoon...I am developing a tan already!

So...this year has been a year of testing and trials so far...I realize that testing is designed to conform me to the image of Christ but I have to ask how much testing we can bear in one year?  That is why I am declaring the month of June to be the new year!  Jim is finally feeling better and he is back to school again after being laid up for the first half of 2010...and best of all...He is passing Algebra and Accounting with flying colors!!  Rebekah is growing like a weed and developing an attitude of a princess...if we are not constantly careful she would run our home if she is allowed.  Very hard headed child of mine...but a delight too!  Here she is modeling Sweetheart Lovey.  This is a great pattern that I test knit for DeDe and Rebekah loves to wear it.

I have been working on Jennifer's socks that I promised for Christmas.  I was sidetracked by Jim's hospitalization in January and then lost the pattern and then decided that I really didn't like the first pattern I was using so I switched to Yarnissima's Sottopassagio.

I have also developed a new obsession...I found out that I am usually wide awake when the designer/dyer Claudia updates her Wollmeise website.  This makes it possible to obtain some elusive Wollmeise yarn.  This stuff is so hard to obtain that there is actually an entire board on Ravelry dedicated to giving tips on how to order this yarn.  I  managed to obtain 2 skeins from a fellow raveler and I can see why people are obsessed!!  It is really saturated with color.  I haven't knit with it yet...Need to finish Jennifer's socks first.  Then I'd like to make up Sottopassagio socks out of the wonderful yarn that DeDe sent me for my birthday.

Oh and I turned 45 in May...It sort of passed without a lot of fanfare.  Mom and dad watched Rebekah for us while Jim and I went to dinner and a movie.  We enjoyed Iron Man 2 and the time being a couple. But I deny being that old...in fact, when the census worker came to our home (because I had lost our mail in copy of the census) and asked how old we were on April 1st...my initial answer was 43.  I seem to be in denial!!  Obviously I can't be that old being the Mom of a 3 year old!!

So that's about all for the catch up...I have been knitting, farming (on facebook), playing, praying, working, taking care of Jim and Rebekah, reading...Oh yeah I have been reading...mot as much as I'd like to but I have been....I finished listening to Flatland on Craftlit...this is my favorite podcast!  If you enjoy listening to books you;ll love this podcast...in my opinion that is.  I don't always agree with everything but I love Heather's Commentary about the books we are listening to.  She puts a lot of hard work into researching the literature and giving us free Literature enhancement in a podcast.  I feel so much smarter after listening.  I think that Heather is an amazing literature professor and wish she had been around my college when I was taking English!!I'm not into math, but I found Flatland interesting!  And right now we are enjoying Jane Austin's Persuasion.  It's one of my favorite Austin books...Next up is Twain's Connecticut Yankee in King Aurther's Court.  So join us if you have never listened...give it a try!

Well that's all for now!  Have a wonderful day and Happy Knitting!!

I know! It's been a while!

And I blame it on my friend, DeDe...she skipped off to Honduras and I haven't had my Kicker-in-the-seat-of-the-pants....to get me going and remind me to keep up with my goals for this year...but honestly it has been a really busy 3 weeks....

Easter has come and gone and it was fabulous!!  We had Chris with us for the week and everyone enjoyed having him...I think Rebekah most of all...someone to play with.  She loves her big brother! We colored eggs, and hunted them after church...Rebekah wanted to hunt them every day for the next week!  Hated to throw out those eggs...but it was necessary after a while.
Everyone got into the fun!

We had wonderful weather for the time Chris was with us.  The only drawback of the entire weeks was that we had just learned on Thursday that Jim would need a hip replacement this coming Monday.  This meant visits to doctors, hospital, pain clinic, and another doctors office, and the college to pick up Jim's books for the summer classes...it happened so quickly that I was driving Chris home before we knew it and Rebekah was very upset because I would not stop the car and turn around and get her brother!  She was really miffed for the rest of the evening!

So as I mentioned, Jim is going back into the hospital...and he vowed he wouldn't go back...but if he doesn't have this hip replacement...he won't be walking.  He's in an incredible amount of pain.  It only took 2 weeks from the PCP appointment and xrays to looking at having his hip replaced tomorrow!  We know that God is in control of all of this, but it is hard to accept having to return to the hospital again...in the same year...willingly...

On the knitting front...I was challenged this year to make socks from Cat Bordhi's New Pathways book.  And to use one of the Master patterns...so I am chose the sideways Master Pattern and I knitted my swatch!  Just to be a good girl and do all the steps!  I can't believe I knitted a swatch for socks!  I am using some great yarn...Lorna's Laces, Shepherd sock, Black Purl...Its' really turning out lovely so far.  I took some time last night when everyone else in the house was asleep...and measured my foot and instep and found my gauge and my rows per inch number and plugged all those numbers into Cat's formula for perfectly fitting socks...I'm sort of excited and really curious as to how these are going to turn out....I want to do the Jeweled steps or whatever the name is...I can figure out how to add those six little pattern stitches to my socks...since I'm using the Master Numbers and not the written pattern...my foot takes more than 62 stitches for socks!!  So this is progress on one of my goals. 

I also finished a couple more books...The Time Traveler's Wife by Audry Niffenegger, Stardust by Neil Gaimon, and I'm half finished with Undead and Unemployed by MaryJanice Davidson.  Something tells me that I will be getting plenty of sock knitting and book listening done in the next 4 days...and no housework...but since we will be living at the hospital with Jim...who needs to clean house!  I can't believe that I am going to have to mow the lawn sometime this week!!  YUCK.

Oh...I should also explain that I have been battling illness myself for 4 weeks.  I had bronchitis, asthma, reactive airway disorder...all in all a cough from the very pits of Hades itself.  I went to see the doctor and got antibiotics...nothing worked...so I went back a week later hacking even worse and wheezing badly enough that I needed a breathing treatment in the office...never done that before...and ended up on steroids...40mg a day for 6 days then 20 mg for 5 days...If you have ever had steroids...you know that they give you a taper and you have all this energy for 6 days...and that you stay awake solving World peace with your mind running in 30 directions...Imagine taking twice the dose every day for 6 days...you get jittery, and anxious, and nauseated...you have energy but just don't want to do anything!!  Or can't do anything because you can't focus on a single task...you flit from one thought to another....not the best thing to go through while needing to coordinate and prepare for your husband's surgery...And I will be finished with my course of steroids today...the day before Jim's surgery...so I will have the steroid crash when I need strength and energy...Ah well just my luck it seems!  So if this blog post seems to ramble, to flit, to be completely incoherant...just remember that I am under the influence of some pretty powerful drugs.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!

Spring Has Sprung

OK...so officially, it was yesterday, but it seems like Spring has been trying to get here for a couple of weeks...you know it's Spring in Michigan when the orange barrels begin to pop up everywhere...and when it's 50 degrees outside and guys are wearing shorts...not just short sleeved shirts...but shorts and sandels...we long for spring to take over through the whole long dreary winter and when it finally gets here...it quickly melts into summer.  I am one who enjoys Spring.  A season of new life, growth, and rebirth...A season to break out the barbecue grill and dust off the hamburger turner, a season to go looking for last years tulip bulbs to pop up...and to search for the tiny crocuses as they peep through the grass...

All of these things bring to mind colors...and my good friend, De De sent my daughter some yarn while Jim was in the hospital.  (She sent me some too....but I'm working with Bekah's right now...) The yarn is Superba Mexico.  It has a number 003 as a colorway...but I think it looks like Spring flowers...like in an English Garden....and so I am knitting Bekah another pair of monkey socks...called Spring Flowers.  She's already in love with them...and I have to admit that I am too!!

I did manage to finish my test knit for DeDe...another knitted item for Bekah that she is in love with...Sweatheart Lovey...

And since we are having such fabulous weather in Michigan...we took the opportunity to get some pictures outside!!  So all you people who fled South for the winter...you can come home now...weather is fine!

Is There a Medal for Last Place??

I am still trying to work on my knitting project that I was supposed to complete during the Olympics!  Can you believe it....I only have a couple more rows and the bind off to finish.  But between work, and work relates inservices of 4 hours, and ACLS recertification class, and working with no breaks, and being sick for 3 days with 2 days of recovery, and taking care of Jim for 2 days while he was sick, and then trying to clean house, and Spring Weather arriving early....Well I am still working on this project.  It's gorgeous so as soon as it's off the needles I'll be posting about it.  But I do think I now qualify for entering it into the Paralympics (since they are after the Olympics)...

I decided to take this evening now that my husband and daughter are asleep, and finish this project.  to that end...I broke out my ALL TIME FAVORITE Movie!!  Pride and Prejudice. 
This is not the newest version out...Simply the BEST version ever produced...and now it's in Blue Ray...be still my heart!! Colin Firth in all his glory as Mr Darcy.  Oh it's Eye Candy to behold!!! As a fabric lover (Knitting, sewing, and wearing...) I love the Blue ray edition!  You can see the lace of the colors and shawls the ladies wear, you can see the weave of the jackets the men wear, you can see the tiny prints on the dresses that I bet you NEVER knew were there until you see it in Blue ray....So I am having my own little marathon of knitting and watching my favorite show in hopes that I finish my project in enough time to qualify for at least last place!!!

I did manage to finish reading a book last week...actual reading, not listening to an audiobook....Duty and Desire, by Pamela Aiden.  It's the second book in the Fitzwilliam Darcy Triolgy that she has written.  I highly recommend these 3 books if you are a Jane Austin Fan as I am...And if you are, you will also want to be listening to the Craft Lit podcast currently we are being treated to Jane Austen's Persuasion.  Very good!!!  And Heather Ordover is very interesting to listen to!

Well that's enough for now...wish I had a finished picture to show you...but I will have to finish it to show you!!!  Stay tuned...

Unexpected Guests

Today was a day that we were supposed to be in church...And shame on me...I overslept again and we ended up not going. I miss not being in church and am not happy with myself for being even a little lazy. No excuse...

Anyway...Jim and I decided it was time to finish cleaning around the house today then...so I started cleaning up the kitchen. This week has been a rough week for both Jim and I. Tuesday, I came down with a horrible case of Noro virus and as a result, I was sent home from working in the ER 20 minutes unto my shift on Tuesday. (I was overheard in the bathroom...embarrasing) I managed to make it home before anything else happened...and am I glad they sent me home when they did...I'd have been mortified enough to quit my good job if anything else had happened at work!

So this was our first unexpected guest of the week...it kept me down for 3 days...poor Jim had to watch Rebekah and listen to me moan...I was sick enough that I didn't even pick up knitting needles for Tuesday or Wednesday! Thursday I began to feel human again and decided that I just might live...Jim sits up all of a sudden and says, "I need a bucket" I barely had time to get one from the kitchen! Fortunately, his Second Unexpected Guest of the week only stayed around for 24 hours!

back to today...

I was cleaning up the kitchen which had largely gone untouched for the week...and heard the dog barking and all of a sudden Jim is crying for me to get the door (in my sleepshirt and loungepants no less...) because he'd fallen and couldn't get up...and lo and behold...our Third Unexpected Guests were at the door. These we were very happy to see...we haven't gotten together with Jim's Mom and Step Dad since Christmas...before Jim was hospitalized. It was so nice to spend the afternoon with them. Bekah had a blast dancing for Grandma and Grandpa and showing off her toys and especially spending some time coloring with grandma. She absolutly loved the day!! And we are very glad our Unexpected Guests decided to come for a visit!

A little late...but we're still chugging along!

Well it's a little late for my weekly blogging attempt...but at least I'm still here!! Jim is getting stronger every day and for that we are very grateful to God. This past 2 weeks has been so incredibly busy and full that I hardly know where to begin!

Rebekah got to go sledding for her first time ever last week. Our church has a little hill in the back and the kids get to sled on it one Wednesday night of AWANA. Last week was the first time Rebekah had ever gone sledding. She was so excited that she got dressed in her snow pants, coat, and boots about 5PM and AWANA doesn't start until 6:45!! She was so excited and so cute!! The cubbies went sledding first and they had such fun. Rebekah and the other little girl that was with her went down the hill screaming and laughing and loving every minute. They would pull the sled back to the top of the hill and promptly jump in for another run down the hill!




Rebekah has also been potty training. She all of a sudden decided that it was time to use the potty instead of a diaper. I was in the bathroom the other day and Rebekah came in and said...I have to go potty Mommy. So she proceeded to pull off her diaper, lift the lid and sit down and go. She was so excited she hollered for Daddy to come look at her. "I'm doing it" she told him and proudly showed off the results!! So I got her some pull ups as a reward. It is still a work in progress...she's had a couple of mistakes, but she's getting it down.

She is also developing an independence streak a mile wide! She wants to do everything herself. We let her do what she can as long as she is not in any danger. She wants to help fix dinner with me. She stirs things, shakes gravy, mixes koolaid, even puts milk away...she can lift the heavy milk carton!! I'm grateful that my daughter is interested in cooking. At least I know she will be able to cook and clean when she gets older!



I have been working on a project that is really lovely...but I won't be able to finish in time for the ravelympics. I have to work the next 2 days so I won't be able to knit like when I'm at home...so I decided to finish up Rebekah's socks so that I could at least have those completed...


The other project that I have been working on is a test knit for DeDe...I will post pictures when it's finished and I have permission! It's been really fun to knit!

God is still working in Jim and my life while Jim recovers and adjusts with new medications. I am dealing with trying to get overtime in while taking care of the stuff around the house. God showed His care for us last week when my car quit. I got a ride home from the store from a nice couple and didn't end up dead. A few guys from church tested out the car and loaded it up and took it to Davison to be worked on. The guy who works on our cars was able to fix the problem for only 240$ and he changed the oil too. He also replaced the headlamp that was burned out. Would you believe that the next day the other headlamp burned out!! I still have to fix that.

We experienced 2 dumpings of snow in this week. I have Dad's snow blower but it failed to start. New gas and oil...but it still wouldn't start. So I had to bring it in to the kitchen to warm it up for 2 days...and then it started. So like a guy! You have to feed it and keep it warm for it to work well!! Oh well, it's works now and that's all that is important.

Olympics 2010

I'm all about watching the winter Olympics. I prefer them to the summer. Maybe because I grew up on a lake in Michigan where my Dad used to create a great sled run from the back of the house up against this huge oak tree, down between our house and the neighbor's, and across the front lawn out onto the ice in the winter. It was fantastic! We used to have kids from all over the neighborhood coming to our house to slide...I remember the hours my brother and I spent skating on the lake, and ice fishing. I prefer the winter activities to the summer...I prefer the summer weather to winter though...don't get me completely wrong on this! I'll take sun over cold any day! I just really enjoy the winter Olympics!

That said...I have been looking forward to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and the Ravelympics that go on during the same time. It's a chance for me to look at stuff I'd like to finish or frog or try to complete during the 17 days of the Olympics. I'm trying to finish Rebekah's socks, make a second pair of socks for her,and I'm working on a really cool test knit...all for Rebekah! I would love to finish my SIL's sock from Christmas but in all honesty... I have the SSS (second sock syndrome) with that particular pair of socks!!

I've been reading, and finished The Graveyard Book and started one by James Patterson The Eighth Confession I think.

I'm ashamed to say that I haven't kept up with daily scripture reading like I have with other things. And I failed to memorize another verse this week. Those 2 things are now my priorities. I didn't lose anymore weight this week...but I didn't gain anything either.

My husband is improving everyday and although it is still hard for him each day, he is persevering through God's graciousness. It just takes time and I was never aware of how long recovery takes until now.

Now back to the Olympics!!

The one without pictures...

Well this post will have to be without pictures...Jim and I both lost our computers to the place that is called "Geek Squad"/Best Buy...on Tuesday we took both computers in for service...again. Mine has a corrupt hard drive that will have to be replaced...and Jim's won't turn on...go figure...they just replaced this when they had it in for service in September and October for a month and a half! We are crossing our fingers and hoping for the best this time...

A bit of an update on Jim...he is getting stronger every day. Trach hole is closed completely...He is moving around better, more steady now. We have seen 1 doctor already and will see another this week. Rebekah has been trying to "take care of Daddy" she's really helpful with some things. She's been showing her independance though...most heard phase right now is "No, I want to do it". Just wish it were about the potty training!

I finally managed to get the first book of 2010 finished! I have listened to all 34 CD's of Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon. I also listened to Coraline by Neil Gaimon. I'm finishing up listening to The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaimon also. I'm reading 2 others...but haven't finished them yet...since my iTunes was on the hard drive that failed...I have lost all the new books I loaded into iTunes...Bummer! well the library will have them again...
I'm trying to have a vareity of things to listen to and to read...

I have lost a total of 8 pounds since the begining of 2010...which is good! We are not eating fast food now...Seems that we ate a lot more fast food when Jim was in school...probably the convenience...I don't miss it! I enjoy cooking and Jim and Bekah enjoy eating what I cook...It is rather lovely to have a family that enjoys eating good food! Not to mention a daughter that prefers veggies and apple slices to french fries!!

I haven't been so good in memorization and scripture reading...those are the things I really should be focused on...and I am not going to offer any excuse. I can find the time to do anything that I want to do!

I haven't started any new knitting projects, although Rebekah asks when I am going to knit her next pair of socks...during the olympics!!I'm on Team Michigan for Ravelympics...should be fun! I haven't been part of a team before!

Well that's all for now...have a fun week!!

A Gift from the Past

We have spent a great week so far. Jim has seen a visiting nurse, physical therapist, social worker, and a new Doctor. He is gaining strength every day and for that we are grateful to God for His Blessings on our lives. We are trusting Him for even greater things. We spent the weekend together with Chris watching TV and playing games. Just a quiet weekend at home.

I also got a small gift from the past this week. Mom sent a package with a book that has helped her and she wants Jim and I to read...You Are What You Think. But along with the book was a small baggie of yarn. Mom had been doing some cleaning in their house in Florida. This is the place that Grandma T lived in before she passed away. Grandma used to manage a Stretch and Sew shop here in Michigan. I can remember going to work with her. She let me roll elastic and bag the customer's purchases. I must have been 9 or 10 and this was some of the best memories I have with Grandma. Years later Grandma worked alterations for Jacobson's Department store. Grandma was a great knitter...she was one of the ladies at the Rochester store in MI who could work alterations on St John knit dresses. I watched her steek and re-knit entire skirts...and at the Florida shop, she was the only one ding those dresses. I was proud of my Grandma! So when Grandma passed away, I was able to rescue her sewing machine (the one that I learned how to sew on...A Bernina) and her knitting stuff. Apparently I didn't get everything because Mom found this bag of pink yarn which I am sure came from one of those St John alterations. It is fingering weight yarn and I have 88 ounces of it. It's a really pretty pink. I burn tested it and although I can't tell if it is cotton or wool...I know it is not acrylic. Rebekah took one look at this little treasure and exclaimed "My new socks!"

And it only took 4 and a half Years!!

Well, I have just finished Jim's wedding present. I bound off my Reversibly Cabled Afghan about 20 minutes ago. The ends of the yarn are not tied in...but Jim is using it and he loves it. He was discharged on Friday from the hospital so I didn't meet my goal of finishing it before he came home...but I am glad to finally have it off the needles. It is incredibly warm almost hot. This is Aran weight yarn to begin with and the afghan is reversible so it is knit almost double and very heavy. It's gorgeous if I do say so...and you can't find the mistake I made in counting rows. When I first began this afghan...I had a deep set aversion to charts and wouldn't use them to save my self...I have learned to use charts since because of all the lace knitting i have done in the mean time...and looking at the charts for this was so much easier to follow this month. I'm sure if I'd figured out charts before...I would have been done before the wedding!

On the other note...We are praising God that He has seen fit to allow Jim to come home. He is adjusting to home life again. He lost close to 30 pounds while he was in the hospital...most of it muscle, I can see the lack of muscle in his arms and legs. He is really weak but was able to navigate the stairs yesterday so that he could sleep in bed. He's already been seen by the VNA of Michigan and is supposed to have home Physical therapy and Speech Therapy. He is gaining strength every day but still has a long road ahead. He has to learn how to deal with anxiety and stress in more appropriate ways and he knows that. She we are both praying for God's leading to the best ways for Jim to manage his own stress. He came out of this whole ordeal a diabetic as well...so dealing with dietary changes has been challenging for him. He has an appetite and taste buds for the first time in years and is wanting to take advantage. Beside that, he isn't smoking and wants to snack all the time. These are just matters that we are turning over to God in prayer.

Playing the waiting game...

Well so far this year it seems like Rebekah and I have been playing a waiting game...waiting for Jim's slow recovery. As of right now, Jim is finally off the ventilator and the trach was removed today and he is being transferred from the ICU as I am writing this! God is Good and His Mercy endures to the heavens! We are so grateful for the prayers that have been prayed on our behalf! It seems like so long ago that I took him to the ER, it's actually been 3 weeks today...and now it seems that things are really going fast towards his homecoming! We are hoping that he'll be able to come home, but realistic that if the doctors feel he needs inpatient rehab somewhere that's what we will do. Patience is a very difficult thing to learn.

While Jim has been in the hospital, Rebekah has spent every day with very generous people from our church. It is going to be wonderful to let her go see Daddy tomorrow! In the mean time, Rebekah and I have been really enjoying our Mommy/Daughter time together each evening. She has turned into a Tinkerbell fanatic...on top of Disney Princess obsession that I bet every little girl has! I must say that I can't wait for Jim to get home so that he can have his share of Tinkerbell watching. 4 times a day to watch the same movie starts to get monotonous...good thing for iPods and Audiobooks! We have learned to play some games and I get all of the smiles right now! I'm not sure how I'm going to feel going back to sharing my daughter's attention when Jim does come home!

Toward my 2010 goals...I lost 4 pounds this week..only 21 more to lose! I also completed 1 skein of yarn towards the completion of Jim's Wedding Present Afghan...It's Lily Chin's Reversibly Cabled Afghan. It's only taken over 4 years to finish and I'm feeling in the home stretch now. When I began 2010 and challenged myself to finish this...I had 4 skeins of Woolpak 10 plus half of the one I was currently knitting with. As of tonight's blog post...I have the half I am knitting with plus 1 more. So consider that this is so huge it is not a take-a-long project, therefore I only work on this one while I'm home and watching TV after Rebekah falls asleep...before I fall asleep myself. I have found myself knitting in my sleep so to say. Or should that really be sleeping while I knit???

I also turned the heel and am half finished with Jim's prayer socks..the pattern is Kristi Schueler's Gentleman's socks so that is another step towards my 2010 goals.

I am working on memorizing Psalm 138 and have been able to memorize the first verse so far. I cheated for the first 2 weeks of January and refreshed my memory with Philippians 4:6-7. Scripture and God and Knitting and Friends have been what has gotten us through this trial so far. I intend that these things are what will get us through the rest of 2010 as well!!

Some days are better than Others

I've been making some progress on goals that I have challenged myself to this year 2010...I weighed myself on Sunday...and I will officially tell you that I weigh 200 pounds plus some! I wrote it down in the calendar that I am keeping track of everything in. I have also managed to blog once a week now...it's only 2 weeks.but it's coming along. I am working my way through a very long audiobook and even though I've been listening to it everyday and everytime I visit Jim...I still have 17 CD's of the book to finish. I started working on Jim's socks...prayer socks now, and I have only 2 balls left to be finished with Jim's Wedding Afghan. Somehow I find myself with less time now than before!

I have managed to re-memorize scripture. Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. THis is an old favorite and perhaps for the first full week of 2010...you could consider it as cheating, but it is so appropriate for what our family has been going through to memorize this verse...hiding God's word in my heart...It gives me something to think on during the difficult times when fears and doubts arise and I want to rail against God. I remember the verses I have learned now and as a child and they comfort me. i honestly do not know how people could make it through difficult times in their lives without the Lord.

So as the title indicates, Jim had a pretty rough day on Sunday but Monday was great! He was confused and restless all day on Sunday and wanted to go home. On Monday, he was calmer and off the ventilator. Praise be to God!! It's been a very rough Roller coaster ride this past week with the decisions that needed to be made for Jim's care in the hospital and for taking care of Rebekah. It is really hard to leave your daughter with someone else for the night while you go to work. But my church family has been awesome!! And Rebekah is having a grand adventure in all of this. I think she likes going to "Old McDonalds" every day and the dollar store! The sad thing is that Jim is missing out on a lot of firsts for her.



We had a wonderful snowfall over the past 2 days...I didn't teach her this, but she immediately flipped on her back and started making snow angels...must have been something she picked up from TV. We had so much fun outdoors...then Becka asked if the snow would still be here for Daddy to play in. So incredibly hard to answer that one! Like I said...some days, or even moments, are better than others!

We experienced a dreadful financial setback today as well...totally unexpected and immediately, my mind went back to that verse! It is very hard to leave those burdens in God's hands...but I have too much other stuff to deal with and need God's help to deal with everything He is putting on my plate right now. God had to know in advance what a shock it was going to be to me today, so He provided a care package from a dear friend I have yet to meet in person but is most dear to me. God prepared for her to send the package and mail it so that it would arrive on the very day I needed it most. If that isn't God...I'll eat the box it came in!! Rebekah and I had such fun going through our care package from DeDe today. Isn't it lovely! Rebekah wants me to knit her some more socks today!







look at all the fun things I got today! And I have it from good authority that the books is a great read...another to add to my list. Will start reading this one tonight!! thank you so much DeDe for being a vessel that God used to help me today!



So I have a choice now...i can choose to give in to the melencholy that accompanies the facts that my husband is still in hospital with a tracheostomy and I have to leave my daughter with other people while I go to work and I now have no padding financially to fall back on...or I can Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication WITH THANKSGIVING let my requests be made known unto God, and His peace which passes all understanding will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus...

My Pilgrims' Progress

2010 has begun pretty rough for our family. I took Jim to the Hospital on Dec 28 and he is still there...in ICU....and on a ventilator to breath...from Pneumonia. I have rediscovered the comfort that comes from resting in God's arms. the only place I find peace and comfort is under His control. This is one of my goals and I'm relying on God so much right now as it should be...This has been my constant companion (next to my cell phone!)


I also set a goal to finish Jim's Wedding Afghan that I started knitting over 4 years ago before we were married...it has been relegated to this bag despite having only 4 balls of yarn left to knit in order to complete the afghan. I got it out on Sunday night and am going to finish this thing before Jim comes home. I realize just how much I love my husband and how much I miss his voice. This is a very hard day for me as I had to make the decision whether to allow the doctor to trach Jim. It's an easy decision to think about as a nurse...VERY hard to decide as a wife. I hope that this decision will make it easier and quicker for Jim to be at home.


I also decided that Jim needs socks...prayer socks in particular...I will be working on these as well..started one pair this afternoon...I finished another pair of mini monkeys for Rebekah and she loves them! Just have to get a picture of them when my model is awake...


So this is the story of my progress so far...Oh and my wonderful brother cam over to watch Rebekah on Sunday so that I could go to the hospital...and he vacuumed the living room even under the couch (GROSS) and put the bikes up for me...and didn't remind me what C.H.A.O.S. my home has become...He's a terrific brother.

My church family never ceases to amaze me in loving and giving. When pastor told them I needed help to watch Rebekah, sometimes over night...there was an outpouring of people willing to help me out. I am so grateful and God is again showing me His care and comfort that only he can provide!

2009 in Review, Bring on 2010!!

All right...so 2009 is behind us and it has been a very busy year. Seems like yesterday I was trying to figure out when Easter was for 2009 and here it is 2010 and I'm still trying to figure out when Easter will fall...

We had a great year. Jim has been working hard at Oakland Community College and has studied hard to get through. This last semester was the hardest, but he pulled it out with an A, two B's and two C's. I'm so proud of him.

This year saw Rebekah turn 3. She's been growing quickly and polishing her quick wit. She's learned to dance and wants to be a ballerina right now. She has even learned to do an Irish dance like they do on the Wiggles. She's learned to tell knock-knock jokes too! She started Cubbies this year too, and has been memorizing scripture. She's learning to draw, she's perfected counting and counts everything...at least to 10 that is! She's a big help to mommy as well as a fashionista!! Just try to tell her that dresses are for Sunday School!!

God has been working in many areas of my life and I am trusting Him that He knows what He is doing. I just have to be patient and obedient and those are the hardest things for me to do. But because He is patient, He is continuing to work in my life despite me!

God allowed me to make a new friend online this past year. I had the opportunity to do some test knitting for her (you can check my Ravelry page to see Concerto and Symphony). She has helped me in so many ways and for that I am grateful ( you know who you are!!) She encouraged me to set some Challenging goals for 2010 and so I am going to list those now...to make it all legal and all...I am still working to develop Professional goals. Those are hardest to come up with because I really cannot see myself going back to school at ager 45 with a 3 YO daughter!!

Anyhow...here's my goals for 2010!!
Spiritual
1. To read something from God's Word every day of this year.
2. To keep a prayer journal and update weekly, pray without ceasing.
3. To memorize 52 different verses or passages.

Personal
1. To lose 25 pounds this year.
2. To organize housecleaning and gain control of C.H.A.O.S.
3. To go through clothing and make donations to Salvation Army.

Hobby-cal
1. To knit a pair of Cat Bordhi socks from New Pathways book.
2. To design my own sock pattern for a toddler. (This is an encouragement from the friend who challenged me to do this!)
3. To learn to spin with my drop spindle (Christmas 2008 gift from Jim!!)
4. To finish at least 3 UFO's.
5. to read/listen to 50 books/audio books
6. To knit 3 different things from stash yarn only.
7. To organize fiber/accessories/needles into 1 room.
8. To blog weekly.
9. To finish Jim's Afghan that I started as a Wedding present in 2005.
10. To knit at least 2 pair of socks for Jim this year.

This is just the begining of the year and I am like anyone else starting out with New Year's reolutions...I'm excited. But I tried to make these realistic goals that I really want to accomplish and I'm going to trust God to help me to attain these goals for 2010!!