sherriknits

I’m sorry to sound so dramatic. However, it is now officially “the three of us” and it’s feeling a little hard. Ben just got his apartment, it’s one month before the wedding….and now it is down to the 3 of us left at home. I know as this new chapter unfolds, God will be with us every step of the way, but it’s feeling a little hard right now.

Our 3 older kids are official caregivers for Tyler and they each have a part. Ben’s part was to do the morning care and he exceeded all expectation in the way he cared for him. He never had to be asked to bathe Tyler, he just did it. He could even manage to get him dressed if he got up late for work! Tyler is not nearly as cooperative for me, but I know we’ll work through it. It’s just been a little hard because over the last year or so, we’ve found ourselves scrambling to find a babysitter (the kids) and I’ve had a hard time adjusting to it, often forgetting until the last minute. That has to change.

Ahhh, well….he’ll be 16 in a few weeks and we’ve known the day was coming almost every day of his life. The kids will all continue to be there for us and they’ll help us through the transition!

I think it’s time for me to share my God wink I had a few weeks ago, i’ll do it at the end of this post.

Sunday we had our church picnic. We had a great time, the weather was wonderful (in spite of the forecast!)

Tyler got to play volleyball, there he is in his orange shirt, serving!! I guess he got a point one of the times!

Chase is on the other team, this end by the net.

After the picnic, we had to race up to Olympia to help out Rhianna and Kyle. He was officiating his first wedding and they found out Friday night that no kids were allowed to attend. He wanted Rhianna there so we said we’d keep Mayah during the ceremony.

I don’t think she had any idea her mama wasn’t in the car with us when we put her car seat in our car and drove around for awhile.

Then I got to play with her while we waited for her daddy to finish up. Mom was in the backseat and she was happy. I’m glad she’s starting to get over the need to be with mom every second.

Doesn’t he look great in his new suit?

And here’s the happy family.

I’ve been knitting!

These are for a non-knitting friend. I just got a whim and did it.

And then of course, I am still working on the friendship blanket. Someone tell me why the last little bit just seems to take forever?

It has been a fun knit, though. I just am ready to be done. I guess in my head I am finished. I want to start my chickens….but those will be fun holiday weekend knitting!

and now, my God wink.

I was really having trouble falling asleep one night. I listened to my iPod, I put the timer on and when it turned off, I was still awake. I wasn’t worrying but I just couldn’t fall asleep. I started praying. Then I started pouring my heart out…all my frustrations, all my hurts. It felt good. But I was still awake.

I decided to turn my iPod back on. I have to explain my playlist. I am one who can listen to the same songs over and over. I am picky about what I listen to and when I get tired of a song, I’ll replace it…but I only want to listen to what I want to listen to. I get teased a lot about it because my song list is about 12 songs…and I have my current favorite song play every other song.

I have a very dear friend named Sharon. I knew her since she was born and over this last year she has become a friend in her own right. We’ve shared some special times together and she would come to visit me on Fridays. Once she brought in her flash drive and loaded some songs in a playlist titled “Songs from Sharon”…which is special to me because she just moved to California and i am missing her a lot. She even went to all the work of authorizing me to have them (all legal! This is good because I am such a rule follower!) Also, Sharon is the one who taught me about God winks. I had always been in the habit of looking for those special God moments in a day, but I never had a name for them….I loved the idea of God winking at me because that’s what they feel like to me.

Anyway….back to that night. I decided to turn on my iPod and set the timer. I didn’t really feel like hearing that same song repeat in the 20 minutes I set it for, though. I listened to the first 3 songs and then I was going to just skip that song and go to the next. However, I didn’t have my glasses on, I was tired and it was dark and blurry. Next thing I know, here is this song that I had no memory of hearing before….”You’re My Little Girl” by Go Fish.

The lyrics:

vs. 1
The ones you love they let you down
And I want you to know that I’m sorry
The choices that they made were wrong
You were caught in the middle and I’m sorry

So when the anger and the pain
Get the best of you
I know it seems like you’re all alone
But I am feeling it too

Chorus
‘Cuz you’re my little girl
You’re the one that I created
No one in this world could ever be like you
When you’re cryin’ in the night
All you need to do is call me
I’ll be there for you
‘Cuz you’re my little girl

vs. 2
When you’re lookin in the mirror
I hope you’re likin’ what you see
Because no matter what you’re feelin’
You’re perfect to me

Because I see you as a child
Blameless in my sight
Just spend some time with me
And I’ll make everything alright

Chorus

Bridge
I know you don’t deserve what you’ve been through
I know it doesn’t seem fair
I know that there are times you think you’re alone
But you’ve got to know that I will be there, be there

Chorus

I could not believe my ears. Singing back to me were the very words I had poured out of my heart…the hurt, the frustration, the pain. I grew up without a Daddy and it’s been a struggle to me most of my life. I know what God’s word says, but it’s been hard to feel loved and accepted and I don’t know that we ever outgrow that need. I know I haven’t. I suddenly felt like His little girl and He was singing His comfort back to me. I laid in bed and nearly sobbed. I’m surprised I didn’t wake Kenny up. I felt so wrapped in His arms of love and felt so at peace.

Thank you to Sharon, who would always laugh and wonder why I have this iPod with all this room on it and only 12 songs.  That song is special to her, too….and I’m so glad she put it on my iPod for just that moment!

I have been so grateful that my children have grown up with a dad who was there for them and I was incredibly grateful that night that He showed me He was there for me and loved me.

Yep, life is changing but He hasn’t let us down yet and I don’t think He will now!

Tags: my life

It has been so much fun seeing the excitement of the ladies who are joining together to knit a friendship blanket for our local women’s/children’s shelter. Each section is 4 blocks knit in one strip. I have a bottom section so I got to do a regular cast-on and will leave mine on waste yarn. Those who have a top section get to do a provisional cast-on. There has been much enthusiasm with the project. This one is a child’s blanket and it has a beach theme.

The color is awful….you’re looking at purple and lime green. My first block was yellow (you may recall an earlier post with the yellow block). These are “sea wall” and “cobbled stones”. Both were fun and easy. I have started my orange block (attached to the green) and it will also be the sea wall pattern.

There’s another look….the yellow one is sand swirl (I think…my pattern is not within reach). Some of the blocks are cables and some are bobbles….so much fun! Can’t you just see a little one snuggled up under it?

I’ve been diligently working on mine because today I got a fun new project in the mail.

The chicken saga continues! My friend, Shanda, made these same chickens and she is responsible for the fever that has struck me. I am thinking these will make great toys for coming to visit Grammy! I’ve seen so many cute pictures of little girls holding their chickens on Ravelry and finally caved in and decided to make my own….since Shanda just wouldn’t do it for me!

Tomorrow is going to be another busy day. We have a picnic after church, hopefully the weather will hold…it’s supposed to be cloudy and cool. We have to leave early and head to Olympia because Kyle is officiating at a wedding and they found out last night that children are not invited to the ceremony. Kyle would like Rhianna to be there for his first wedding so we said we’d come play with her during that time. It will be nap time and she is not normally very flexible when she’s tired. Most of the time that works out fine. Rhianna offered to deliver her to the mall for us but I’m not so sure I care to have her at the mall and have her start screaming, that girl does not let up. I’d rather sit in the comfort of my car and feed her. I can understand now why our parents were afraid of our carseats….I can never remember how to work the silly thing.

In swagbucks news, I just ordered my fourth $5 Amazon gift card! Lately the points have been accumulating so fast I’ve ordered one a week! They take about 2 weeks to show up in my account, but I’m saving for something bigger so I don’t care. How fun is this! If you are using SB, just make sure you do your searching through the search bar or from their page. I put my swidget on my google homepage so it’s easy to find. If you have a pc, it’s easy to use the search bar, I don’t know why they make it harder for us mac users, but I am really not having all that much trouble. Thanks to those who have signed up under me! I hope you’re finding people to sign up under you…it’s so much fun to sign in and see my points have made a big jump because of you guys!

Have a great Sunday

Tags: my life

We’ve had so much going on the last week or so that we opted not to go on our little mini-date tonight but we did have dinner out. I know, there were the years when I would have thought that WAS a big date out, so I apologize if you would give anything to be able to do even that. It seems that more and more, a certain young man is making me feel the need to have little breaks. It’s lovely to not be spoken to at all by someone you’ve poured so much into….but hey, he’s a teenager.

Anyway. There’s the fun side, too. On Father’s Day, Tyler showed us how he loves to feed Mayah. I couldn’t believe the picture I got.

How hysterical is that?

They love interacting with each other, I loved it.

On Monday, we headed out for therapy with a carful.

This is the backseat. Note Henny in Mayah’s car seat.

Mayah seemed happy.

The girls have started dropping Tyler and me off for therapy and they go do something fun and then pick us up when it’s over. This week was weird, though. We got there and had to wait for a bit (no problem)…the OT had to wrap up with some things with the kiddo before us. Then the OT sharing the office with her came in when we had about 15 min. left and for some reason, we cleaned up and finished….10 min. early. So Tyler and I walked out to the main road to meet Rebecca, who had just dropped off Rhianna and Mayah with Kyle, who had finished getting their car serviced.

She thought it was funny that she’d found a place for Henny to ride.

I guess Henny liked it for awhile, until she bounced off onto the floor.

Yesterday, we went back to Olympia for a full-day retreat at our pastor’s house. He wanted the senior staff to spend time together. Our church has gone through a lot and we now have a new pastor and a new associate pastor. Kenny is worship pastor and Kyle is the youth pastor so the couples spent the day together. I think it was one of the best times we’ve had in years. Our church will soon cease to be independent and will become part of a denomination so everything feels different, but good. Much healing is taking place and this is good.

Today, I got back to knitting on my part of the blanket we are making for a local women’s/children’s shelter.

It is beach-themed and i am starting my second block of four. I haven’t blocked it yet so the edges are rolling, but it’s been fun. I finished “sand swirl” and am now starting “sea wall”. It’s fun!

Thanks to those of you who have signed up for Swagbucks. Now with the new “swidget” on the sidebar, it’s easy to see the accumulating swagbucks. I turn them in until I get to 45 and order another Amazon giftcard. If you download the searchbar, it will always be handy to search through. Since I have a mac, that doesn’t work so I have a bookmark and I have now gotten in the habit of clicking on that and going to the SB homepage and searching from there. I am not finding it to be any more difficult than googling. I’ve had quite a few sb’s just from those of you who have signed up. Thanks so much! I’m halfway to my 4th card in just a few days!

Tags: my life

Wow, in one week I earned a 3rd $5 Amazon gift card! I ordered my last one on June 15 and another one this morning. I have $15 in my Amazon account now just from searching! I’m trying to catch up to Rhianna who has gotten at least $60 that way. Amazing. If you click on the widget at the bottom of my sidebar, you can check it out. I am not one to promote things on my blog as a rule, but this just is too good to pass up. Rhianna’s friend got a baby carseat with her Swagbucks. I’m going to save for something big too!  If you sign up, please be sure to sign up by using my widget so I can earn when you do!  Then if you get someone signed up under you, you win when they do.

Headed to Oly today for therapy.  It’s looking like I’m going to have to wake up Tyler.  I think we’ll have a carful and maybe Henny will have to come along!

Tags: my life

Finally a knitting project that I totally love! Totally useful, too….lol

Henny Penny!

She is the Dotted Chicken by Susan B Anderson, Itty Bitty Nursery.

A friend of mine made some adorable chickens, big size, and I loved them so much but didn’t want to spend as much time making them. I ran across this one and I just happened to have the book….so Henny was born! I tried to name her Penny, but for some reason, kept calling her Henny….I guess she knew what she wanted to be named.

Last night, her first day with us as a complete chickie, she went on our date with us. We were hesitant to leave her home.

But she says….I can’t see where I am going! So we remedied that!

Here she looks longingly at Starbucks, but we didn’t stop even though she squawked quite a lot about it.

She really enjoyed the beauty of the drive…

…..even though Kenny thought it was pretty funny to play games with her…

she only rolled off once!

Unfortunately date night was not a fun one, it was a errand night instead. First we had a very elegant dinner.

Then we had to go pick up a drum set from a friend.

She had to stay in the car while we went to Macy’s and Penney’s. We had no time to even go to B&N but I scored some great deals! One day sale….red Fiestaware flatware regularly $19 a set for $5.40 each! She liked that since it’s her favorite color but alas…no pictures.

And then we headed home.

She did hang out with Kenny at a stoplight…

She was very tired when we got home.

Now today….

I decided I would get my mom some Cinnamon Melts from McDonald’s since she seemed to be craving them but when I got over there, a very long train was parked along side Walmart and McDonald’s….people were trapped in the parking lot and I couldn’t get in. I was so happy I hadn’t gotten in and not able to get out! So we went to Starbucks and then the health food store which was not open yet.

We thought, let’s go drink our coffee at work and then come back.

(see Grandma in the background?…..don’t tell her!)

Then….I went back to McDonalds, ordered the Cinnamon Melts….paid for them….and drove off. I went to the health food store, got my vitamins, discovered that I had neglected to stop at the window at McDonald’s to pick up my said Cinnamon Melts, pondered whether I had the humility to drive back through and tell them I forgot to stop and get them….was laughing too hard at myself to be able to do it and came back to work. Now if I had brought Henny with me, I am sure it wouldn’t have happened!

Then, I got here and decided I’d better take my blood pressure meds, opened the bottle, took them and went to put the bottle back in my purse and sprayed them everywhere! I hadn’t put the lid on! Lauri, who was here with Penny while I left, crawled around helping me pick them up from everywhere and assured me that I had now had my limit of crazy things happen for the day. I will agree and trust the rest of the day will be very smooth!

Have a great Saturday!

Tags: my life

This time, I’m not just saying it. I’ve been having problems with my shop website since the 9th. Today we finally figured out the problem….my domain lapsed and someone else bought it! I received many notices, evidently, but they were going to a dead email address. Since it only renews bi-annually, I had no idea the email address was not good. I won’t even try to describe how sick I felt over it. I have now got a new address and have the chore ahead of me of getting new business cards, contacting vendors, customers, websites we’re listed on, etc. Sickening.

Otherwise, we’ve had some fun things going on. Where to start?

Last Monday, Rebecca and I went dress shopping for me for the wedding. We stopped for lunch at Wagner’s Bakery in Olympia and we enjoyed it so much! We split a turkey/cranberry sandwich and for 99 cents extra we got an extra bowl of fruit, carrot cake and pickle. It was so good! I tried to snap a picture quickly before my camera died and accidentally cut her head off (sorry, Rebecca!)

The exciting news is, I found my dress and incredibly, it was one that Brittany had seen and thought would be perfect for me. I’m a happy camper. I just have shoes left to find.

This Saturday was busier than busy. First off, we had World-wide Knit in Public day!

It was a lot of fun once again.

These socks will probalby end up in the frog pond, my knitting has gotten so loose and I am not so sure I want to go down to a 000 needle. I’m thinking on it for a few days!

I had to leave WWKIP and head to a staff barbecue at our pastor’s house.

Kenny and our pastor talking while the burgers cooked.

Kyle making his salad and our pastor’s wife in the background.

Here’s Rhianna talking to our new associate pastor and his wife. They live on the water and the tide was out.

The guys are getting hungry!

It was a perfect day … all except when Kenny was carrying my plate to the kitchen and he stuck his fork in my hamburger and the plate broke, leaving him holding the corner of it as my leftover salad and burger went splattering across the room! This was a nice melamine plate!

Yesterday we had church in the morning and then off to a shower for Brittany. I just don’t seem to be able to get decent pictures in crowds but here’s a little look at the festivities…there were so many people that several of us stood in the back row.

Here’s my friend, Sharon, trying to guess how many swedish fish there were in the jar. Care to take a guess?

I counted them myself….702!

If you ever need a bouquet made out of the ribbons for a rehearsal, here is the girl to ask! Wow, I didn’t get a picture of the finished product, but it’s funny how now adays, few people use ribbon and paper….it was all bags. So, she took pieces of the tissue and ripped it creatively and made petals. The stem was professionally wrapped!

This isn’t the best picture of Brittany, but as she opened this package, she stated that it was from her future mother-in-law and I loved hearing the words!

She is such a natural at opening gifts. One of the guests said she’s like a Vanna White, but totally natural.

This was too cute for words and unfortunately, my camera didn’t focus. Have you ever seen black rubber gloves with ruffled leopard cuffs? The pose was adorable.

At the end, Rhianna wanted to pray for her. As she started to talk, she started to cry, which started many of us to tear up. Well, the feeling was pretty intense until Rhianna snorted and the whole room fell apart. I had more than one person tell me how glad they were she did that! It’s been a joy to see Brittany fit in our family….my girls love her like a sister and of course Tyler thinks she’s pretty cool….finally someone who could cut his hair without hysterics!

After the shower was over, Brittany brought out the little flower girl dresses that are on their way back to China.

How silly/cute is this?

The dress was cute but it was supposed to be ivory. Evidently in China ivory or cream is not the same as it is here. This was bright white. Brittany actually called China! They offered her a $15 discount if she kept them. Uhhhh, no. (there are 3 dresses, that would be $5 each). Back to searching.

I’m glad I get tomorrow off, too…..I did not even get dressed until 1 pm today because of all the time I spent on tech support with my webhost today! To better days……

Tags: my life

Wow, have we been having weather. We had days and days of hot weather … even reaching in to the 90’s which is unusual for us. The other night, Kenny and I went to Olympia in the Jeep with the top off. It was beautiful!

Headed out….

We drove out along the water in Olympia. There is the capitol off in the distance.

And closer. It’s just so pretty.

I was thinking that I see so much beauty all the time and I never think to stop and notice. The pictures aren’t great because the window was bug-gy and we were moving along while I was trying to snap pictures but I wanted to share a little anyway.

I couldn’t get a good shot of the sunset on the way home but it was just beautiful. What’s fun in the Jeep is that we got to experience all the wonderful smells of the season (except the cow fields). lol

When we got home at 9:30, it was still 73.

Last night it went from HOT to cold in nothing flat. A friend said she was at her little granddaughter’s baseball game and it went from 95 to 65 in two innings!

We had so much wind that I thought I was going to have to go take the hanging baskets down but it was so windy it felt dangerous to try. I did get the umbrella down on our patio table and it just felt eerie!

Today….cold and cloudy. I kind of welcome the change after baking for so many days.

I baby sat the little girl so her mama could run to the store. They’re staying home these days because Mayah is in the window of time she could be getting chicken pox….we’re nearing the end of that finally.

She doesn’t like being left but we had a good time anyway.

She loves those little puffs and i had fun watching her eat them.

This process went on for quite a while. She’d knock them off onto the floor.

get down…

pick them up

mmmmm

worth it all

save this one for later!

I just love watching her. I had her another time this week and she sat next to my leg and played nicely, just making sure I was still there every now and then. Ahhhhh, there is nothing like it. I love getting a chance to be her security.

Of course when she sees mama walk in, she cries hysterically like she’s been abandoned. I don’t feel bad, though, because she does it all day long when mama walks out of the room and back in. Such a funny stage.

I’ve been knitting!!!!

Not too exciting, but this is a great pattern! It’s the Peasy scarf and goes fast, you don’t need the pattern because you do the same thing every row but it lays really nice. I love the yarn, too….Marble Chunky.

And this one was fun, too! This is Boheme and I used Marble DK. This was a 2 day project of casual knitting. I wasn’t sure I liked it until I blocked it. I think the little cap sleeves will be cute and it can be worn with a t-shirt or turtle neck. The 18 mo. size came out so big, though, that I imagine my little girl won’t be wearing it for awhile.

I saw a bag I’m interested in doing soon….we’ll see if I can find fabric I like. It combines knitting and sewing and I want to find some Amy Butler or Heather Bailey fabric to make it with.

Have a great day!

Tags: my life