Thankfulness

Things I am thankful for:

My big, messy, noisy family.

Feeling better today than yesterday.

Knitting.

My job.

That we paid mortgage yesterday (26 days late, but it's paid! Now to worry about December).

My RTH friends.

My real-life amazing friends.

Also, my sister gave me a new (to me) camera. I've never had a "real" digital before. I don't think I could possibly be happier right now. I've always wanted one.

I leave you with this....what happened to Tessa when we got home from dinner (at 10:30 p.m.):

She fell asleep in her clothes, without waiting to be tucked in or have prayers or anything. Too cute for words. (And I have no idea what's up with the roll of paper towel in her bed.)

Pies, pies, pies.

I'm making pies for my co-workers for Thanksgiving. I made $90 off of it after ingredients. Last night I made the first two--Amber is having Thanksgiving with the kids today, because their father has them on the actual day. They turned out looking good, I hope they taste as good as they look!

I think it will be fun, making 10 pies at once. Either that or a disaster. Guess I'll find out on Tuesday!

Random Acts of Knitters' Kindness.

I'm part of this amazing group on Ravelry called Reclaiming the Home. The group is dedicated to exploring and reclaiming the "gentle arts" of knitting, crocheting, sewing, bread-baking, natural-cleaning, child-raising, and so on. We focus on organization methods, decluttering, home-cleaning, home-cooking, family-helping, and supporting one another. We are headed up by the amazing Kristin, whose blog started this whole great thing.

The support this group gives to one another is amazing. The group is not only national but also international, with more than 1000 members, at least 60-80 of whom are consistantly "active." These women are incredible. They are of all faiths and walks of life. They consistantly support one another emotionally and intellectually. Throw out any kind of subject relating to home, family, or emotional life and there is someone with an answer, opinion, or even just a cheerleader when you need one. Amazing women.

As part of a means to support one another with tangibles and intangibles, we've recently started participating in a "Random Acts of Kindness" exchange. Each group member who wants to participate puts a "wish list" on the boards, and other members go into those lists and choose what to send. For example: I put up the tangibles of sheets, and Gilmore Girls Season 1; as well as the intangibles of prayer and emotional support for my family. I have recieved two sets of wonderful sheets, GG1, as well as many other amazing gifts. I have also recieved encouraging messages stating that my family is in other members' prayers--an amazing gift in itself. I've sent some things as well; some dpns, a scarf, some fingerless gloves--little things but it's what I can manage. It's amazing being both the giver and the recipiant, and the best part is getting to know one another and encourage each other in a very real way.

So, to those ladies who may read this: thank you, from the bottom of my heart. And to those not in the group, I encourage you to find a group you fit into (maybe even ours!) and support one another both tangibly and intangibly, because the physical rewards are pretty cool, and the emotional rewards are priceless.

Baking Bread and other family things

I have two loaves of bread in their final rise on the stove and the house smells terrific. I know I'm doing it to cut costs, but there's something about baking bread at home which is just so domestic. It's almost inspiring.

This afternoon we are home as a family, no Tessa at school or me at work. We're going to play LOTR Trivial Pursuit. I'm wanting Tessa on my team, because that girl has a memory not to be believed, and she loves LOTR. She's been watching it since she was a baby. I've never thought to stop her, though there are two scenes which I fast-forward due to content--when Smeagol kills Deagol and when Saruman falls off the tower and is impaled on the waterwheel. That's not spooky-vs-human conflict, which I don't mind in the battle scenes, it's either overtly violent or human-vs-human, not cool.

Last night we went into Leslie to celebrate our neice Cadence's 2nd birthday. She's such a cutie-pie, has gone from miss-sobersides to miss-conversationalist. I have no idea what she's saying most of the time, but she has a good time saying it, loudly and often. Kaiser Chunksey (aka, C.J., Cadence's baby brother) is getting so big. He's our little "butterball" and I have been teasing his mother that she'll have to make sure he's not nakey on Thanksgiving or we may mistake him for the turkey. :-)

I'm really proud of Caitlin and pleased at the life she's making for herself and her family. C.J.'s father, Corey, lives with her and the babies in the basement apt. He's finishing school and going into welding in an effort to support his young family. He accepts Cadence as his own without thought or question, is referred to as "Da-Da" and fully embraces the part with bathing, clothing, feeding, loving and disciplining her. I've often said he's a good kid, and he is fast becoming a good man. Caitlin is also an amazing mama, breastfeeding both babies, taking them for regular check-ups and vaccinations, saying the yesses and the nos and not allowing anyone to tell her she's a "bad" mother because she is so young. She's also active in her world, paying attention to politics and recently acknowledged that she believes in God--a huge step, as she's always identified as an atheist without question or thought. I do not think she is yet a Christian, but I do think that she is taking steps and exploring on her way to becoming one.

Well, it's about time to go have our family time. I'd like to run the vacuum and get the dog hair off the floor before we're sitting on it.

My plan for the weekend

1. Watch House on DVD with Tessa. Also some other movies without her.
2. Work 9-4 on Saturday.
3. Change sheets on the bed. I was gifted some brand-new, really nice flannel sheets.
4. Knit. I am woefully, woefully behind on Christmas knitting.

That's about it. J goes to the unemployment office on Monday, after that Wolverine Siding for a walk-in interview. They're hiring batches of 25 people for 90 days, after which they'll keep the ones they want and ditch the rest. It's not a career, but it would get us through til February. Please continue to pray he finds something permanant, that he either a) likes or b) can tolerate without it beating down his soul like the last job did.

Blessings

Our blessings:

Friends and family helping us with food issues for us and animals. Being able to feed all family members from the pantry good, nutritious meals.

3 packages in the mail this week, "Random Acts of Kindness" by dear friends on Ravelry's Reclaiming the Home boards. I'm still smiling. This is a minor miracle in and of itself, and an even better gift than those in the packages (which were awesome).

Spending time with BFF Nikki this weekend. (Plus she bought me roving.)

Going to see another BFF Betsy next weekend.

Extra work at Meijer branch, an extra 4 hours, with two pretty nice chicas.

J working hard to find more work--instead of resting on his laurels all depressed-like.

Prayer from friends and family--the single most important gift.

Blessings, all.

Knitting away...

I'm knitting myself into denial on this single day off this week. I'm pretending everything's ok for today. I'm making a bunny. I'm going to be helping Tessa roast pumpkin seeds. I'm doing dishes and vacuuming and folding laundry.

I've been so impressed and humbled at the outpouring of love and help from my friends and family. From a care package from an internet friend far away, to little (and big) things that co-workers have gifted to me (and my pets), to my dad and uncle both showing up with bags of food, to my dad quietly handing me some cash so that I could purchase an Angel Food box, to the constant "anything you need" "how are you doing" and "we're praying for you." This is amazing for me, and I humbly thank every single person.

But today I'm going to knit, and cook, and clean. I'm going to hang out with my friend, I hope. I'm going to pretend that today is just a "day off" for Jeremy as well as me, and I'm going to smile. Because even with the help and sharing and love, I still feel the weight of being sole breadwinner, and that's still very stressful.

Knit, knit, knitting away...