Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Yes, I know I'm a day early- but I won't be on the computer tomorrow, I'll be enjoying my family. So Happy Thanksgiving a day early!

We are planning on spending time with both my family and Joel's. It should be a fun and busy weekend. The kids are so excited there is no way they will sleep today- and I know they will be up at 6am tomorrow! I'm excited that we are actually taking a holiday in which Joel is not going to be working!!!!! That hasn't happened for awhile, and we are looking forward to it. ;-) Normally, the only way we can escape the city and visit family is for Joel to work for them when we get there. Which means the kids and I are relaxing and trying to stay out of his way while he replaces floors, toilets, or whatever else needs fixed. While it is wonderful that he can do that- and help out and we get away from the city, it is a bit sad that he doesn't get to join in the vacation part. So this is an exciting holiday for us. ;-)



As I mentioned before, I love Thanksgiving. It is such a joyous time. When you think about all the things you are grateful for, it's hard to complain or be sad about anything. I love it!

So, I am thankful for my family---my strong, healthy, well-clothed and housed family. Especially my amazing husband who works so hard to keep us that way. I am thankful for Gods' provision. So many times this year-again-He provided for us in unexpected, much-needed ways. As I sit here and type this, I am listening to my children in the background, and I am thankful for the laughter of children. I am thankful that we are able to worship our God openly, homeschool our children and not miss a minute of their growing up, and vote in our country. (Sometimes it feels like my vote doesn't matter- but I still get to vote!) ;-)

And I am thankful above all, that God is in control of everything. I have nothing to fear, I am a child of the KING.



what are you thankful for????? (yes, I know I asked that already- but I know you can add to it!)

Sunday, November 23, 2008

"Unventing"

Unventing is a term coined by Elizabeth Zimmerman- an amazing knitter/designer(for those of you who don't know about her- for those of you who do, you know what I'm talking about). My understanding is that it has to do with Solomon's comment: "There is nothing new under the sun". So a knitter in Maryland can be teaching herself a new technique, and wind up with the same pattern a knitter in Alaska comes up with in her designing time. Nobody broke a copyright, nobody plagarized; they just wound up with the same thing far apart and maybe even around the same time.

That happened to me today. I sent a pattern to Knitty a few months ago that was rejected; I just found a very similar pattern in the new Twist Collective. I want to jump up and down and scream, "I did it first!!!!", but that wouldn't change anything. And technically, I don't know if it's true or not.

Anyway, here is MY Entrelac Beanie:




Which, if you really like, you can contact me, and I will send you the pattern in exchange for $5.00.

In other news, we are looking forward to our Thanksgiving vacation (Joel actually gets paid vacation this year!! This is a first!!) with as much family as we can possibly be with. Thanksgiving is my favorite time of year- even over Christmas. I just love the family time, the sitting around and sharing- the thankfulness. We have so much to be thankful for. I just love this season.

What are you thankful for??

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Mid-November

Already. I say this every time- but time just flies by so fast!!
I haven't been posting as much b/c I've just been too busy. B/w homeschooling, knitting, and driving the kids around, I don't have as much time to be on the computer. Joel teases me that I've become a "soccer Mom" overnight. Well, the kids are doing soccer in their PE Co-op that we go to on Wed afternoons; and they are doing swimming lessons twice a week in Gresham, so all of a sudden, we're driving more. It's been really good for them. They aren't nearly as worried about getting water in their faces anymore. YS is still too young for the swimming lessons, but in January he should be able to get involved as well.

I have been knitting as much as possible too (although I confess that I have also been playing our new Wii that Joel won at the Company Picnic last summer- it's been a long time since I played video games!!!). But since everything that I've been knitting for the past month are Christmas presents, you will have to wait until after Christmas for the pictures.

I got another rejection notice for pattern submissions yesterday. I've gotten to the point that I just recycle my design submissions. They're rejected here, I send them there. You get the idea. I figure if I do that for the next 10 years, they'll be in style at some point, and someone will like them. ;) ha, ha.

The other day, DD asked me if the books stay in the library when the library is closed. "Yes, of course". "Well", she answered, "if I was a book, I'd be scared that a pirate was going to come and steal me!"