Well, at least I accomplished one thing this weekend...

The Open Rib socks are complete!

• Pattern: Open Rib from Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch.
• Yarn: Premiere Yarns Serenity Sock Yarn in color Chili (although to me they look more like Christmas candies!)
• Needles: Size US 2 dpn's
• Made for: Me!
• Pattern notes: Overall I'm really happy with this pattern. This was the first time in making socks that I carried the pattern all the way down the instep to the toes, and even though it was a little tedious, I like the look (we'll see if I like the feel when I wear them with shoes! LOL). I also opted for a three-needle bind off for the toes because I loathe kitchener stitch/toe grafting. This is also the reason my next project is socks from the toe up with a provisional cast-on/short row toe. =)

In other news...well, there's not a lot to report.

I'm a little, OK a LOT melancholy and weepy tonight. I don't know why. I have felt on the verge of tears all night long and can't really put a finger on the reason, aside from some frustration with the way some things are going. Namely:

• Being indefinitely in a holding pattern regarding TTC.
• My husband being out of work since last Christmas, with only one job offer that didn't pan out because of his disability (severe vision impairment).
• My prayer ministry forum going absolutely nowhere. I know it's new, and I know that it hasn't really had a chance to take off, but I felt such a calling to do this, and I'm beginning to question whether it was really what God wanted me to do. I mean, you put your heart and soul and time into creating something and it goes nowhere...it's just kind of depressing.
• Being changed crews at work (which means I am going back on nights starting Monday, will be on nights for two weeks, then back to days for a month unless I get changed again. You wouldn't think so, but such changes take a toll on a person).

I know these things are out of my control, so I know I shouldn't get worked up about them, but sometimes you just can't help it. If you are the praying kind, say a few extras for me, OK?

I was on a mission...

and have emerged VICTORIOUS!!!

My mission was simple...or not so simple, depending on how much you understand about these things. (Which until about 10 minutes ago, I understood NOTHING!!!)

I needed to add a button advertising my prayer ministry forum, complete with "grabbable" code. Yeah, I didn't get it either.

After several hours, several choice expletives, a lot of fist banging on the desk, I FINALLY have a button!!!

Lookie!

Down there in the left sidebar!




What's that? You see TWO buttons???

Hee hee hee!

That's the victorious part!!!

One's for linking to my prayer ministry forum, the other is for linking to this blog.

Damn I love it when I think I can't do things then set off on a mission and prove to myself that yes, in fact, I CAN!!!

My moment of happy for the day...

Show & Tell: Toasty toes

Welcome to show and tell!!!

I usually don't share pics of my knitting projects until they're done, but since a) nothing very exciting is going on, and b) I'm seriously in love with these socks, I figured I'd break my rule for Show and Tell this week. I have the first one done and am furiously working on getting the second one done this weekend.

So...that's my Show and Tell for this week.

What's yours?

I hope you'll play along and tell your friends all about it! It will be open on Thursday mornings and close at midnight Sunday night each week. Here's how you participate:

• between thursday and sunday night, write up your own show and tell blog post.
• grab the url of your show and tell post
• visit Suzy's blog!
• use the linky tool below to enter your blog name and url of your show and tell.
• then visit the show and tell posts of others and let them know you were there.
• just copy and paste, and you can even have some bling to put the chalkboard on your blog too!

Why Saturday needs a spanking...

So...yeah.  Yesterday blew. 

Not the whole day.

Just the part from 6pm on.

I worked yesterday, (I work 12 hour shifts and am on days, so that meant 6am to 6pm).

I went to leave, and got halfway down the mammoth hill we have at my work, and noticed a huge rock in the middle of the road.  I swerved to miss said rock, and instead wound up hitting it head on with my right front tire. 

Yes.

You guessed it.

Said tire blew instantly.

After a few colorful expletives (after which I had to ask for forgiveness as I'm trying very hard to not do that anymore), I finally got the car down to the flat part of the road and got out to check the car. 

Yep.  Tire was flatter than a pancake.

After a few more colorful expletives I set to the task of hauling the spare, jack and tire iron out of the trunk.  We live about 20 miles from my work, so I didn't want Matt to have to come help me change the tire if I could at all avoid it.  And, let's face it, I'm stubborn.  I can change a dang tire.

Well, apparently the jack hadn't been used since Jesus was in diapers, because the dang thing was a pain in my ample backside to get started.  I called up to my work and asked the supervisor to call one of the tow companies we work with (I'm a dispatcher for 9-1-1...the job does have it's benefits!) to see if they could come help me. 

And I started crying. 

Which I hate.

When I get frustrated I cry.  Can't help it.  It's how I'm made.

So...I decided to prove to myself and everyone else that yes, I could indeed change the stupid tire myself.

About a half an hour and several bucketloads of sweat later, hands blackened from brake dust, grease and dirt from the jack, I had the spare tire on. 

I called my work back and told them to cancel the tow truck, that I had the tire on and would be on my way.

I threw the blown tire, jack, and tire iron back into the trunk and get in the car to head home. 

What's that?

What happened then, you say?

I drove 50 feet and the DAMN SPARE TIRE WENT FLAT TOO!!!

I give up at this point, call Matt and break down.  He turns off dinner (he was making homemade spaghetti for me), loads my stepson up, and comes galloping up on his noble white steed, sword drawn, ready to slay the dragon that is my tire dilemma. 

Ok, so he drove up in his black 4 door with his phone in hand making sure he didn't miss the turn to my work.  But you get the picture. 

Since we have the same make and model of car, we took the crap spare off, put his good spare on my car, loaded back up again and headed home.

At 8:30 I walked in the door.  2 hours and 30 minutes AFTER I got off work. 

Thank GOD Sunday behaved a million times better than Saturday did.  :)

Two tires blown in one day:  2.5 hours time lost.

Unplanned dinner out for 2 adults and 1 child:  $20.39.

Having a husband that will drop everything at your beck and call to come rescue you:  PRICELESS!

Show & Tell: Answering A Call...

Welcome to Show and Tell.  I hope you'll play along and tell your friends all about it! It will be open on Thursday mornings and close at midnight Sunday night each week.  here's how you participate:

• between thursday and sunday night, write up your own show and tell blog post.


• grab the url of your show and tell post.


• visit suzy's blog! 


• use the linky tool below her show and tell post to enter your blog name and url of your show and tell.


• then visit the show and tell posts of others and let them know you were there


• just copy and paste, and you can even have some bling to put the chalkboard on your blog too!



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A while back I wrote this post.  I wasn't ready at that time to discuss the amazing "God Moment" that I just had.  But, after a lot of work, a lot of prayer, and a lot of nail-biting "am I ready to put this out there what if someone makes fun of me" moments, I'm ready to unveil the labor of love I've been working on.

After some serious prayer and finally listening to what God was impressing upon my heart, I have launched a new website.  It is a message board forum for Christian women to support and encourage each other on our daily walks with God through prayer and sharing. 

The site is called "Let Me Sow Love: A Meeting Place for Christian Women" .   
 
I felt a strong calling to develop a prayer ministry for women, especially women facing infertility.  I feel this is something I'm supposed to do.  Several months ago I met some wonderful women through a web chat and formed an immediate bond and we started a prayer "email chain".  I have never felt a pull as strong to do something than when I began praying daily for these women.  I don't have many resources, I don't have a lot of time to donate as a volunteer, but what I do have is powerful.  I have a desire, and a capability to pray.  And that is what I'm offering.

The website isn't *only* for women facing infertility, but I want it to be a site where infertile women can feel comfortable.  There are a zillion "Christian Mommy" sites out there, and while that is awesome and totally serves a valid need and community, I feel there is a need for a space where the focus isn't so much on our titles or reproductive status.  This site will simply be a site for Christian WOMEN to meet, exchange ideas, encourage and support each other, receive encouragement and support, and learn more about God and faith journeys from other incredible Christian women.  While I understand the "mommy" factor is relevant, I didn't want that to become the focus of the site, nor do I want infertility to become the focus.  I want the focus to be prayer, women supporting and encouraging women, and most importantly GOD.  He is the reason the new forum exists.    
 
Feel free to take a look at my site...pass it along to anyone you feel might be interested. 

***And please be gentle...this is my heart out there!