No pics :(, but a medical update

I have no stitching pictures to show because I've done absolutely no stitching. THANK YOU to everyone who has prayed for me and wished me well concerning my kidney stone. I've had surgery twice in the last 3 weeks and have been admitted to the hospital 3 times for pain control. I finally passed the stone one week ago but my symptoms have not gone away. So my doctor is now trying to figure out if there's more going on than just residual pain from damage the stone caused. I've tried to not be discouraged but I've had moderate to severe kidney pain for almost 6 weeks and it is wearing me down.

Again, thank you to all who've sent me comments. They always bring a smile to my face.

St. Pete's

Here is my pathetic progress on St. Pete's. I will still give the excuse of my kidney stone though. Yesterday I was in just horrible pain but there is nothing the doctor's can do except wait until Friday to do the surgery to get the stent and the kidney stone out. I actually had been improving pain wise, so yesterday really caught me off guard. I hate being sick and off my feet. It would be nice if I could stitch but I just can't concentrate because of the pain.

I've been enjoying reading your blogs but I've left few comments for which I apologize. With all the medication I'm on it's hard to put thoughts together sometimes. Hopefully once my kidney stone is removed I will quickly be back to my old self and can leave the comments I'd like to leave on your blogs.

Thank you for your prayers and kind words so many have sent.

"The guardian angels of life sometimes fly so high as to be beyond our sight, but they are always looking down upon us."

Udate on Noah and a RAK

This is how far I am on Noah. I haven't picked up anything to stitch since my surgery. I managed to get a little bit more done on this before my surgery though.

Speaking of my surgery, the doctor was not able to get the kidney stone. He ended up putting in a stent to dilate the are where the kidney stone is sitting and I have to go back to surgery on the 19th to have the stent and the stone removed. Hopefully that will be the end of this ordeal ;)

I received a beautiful RAK from Tracy. I love this pattern. I actually have the linen it calls for, I just need to pick out what thread I want to stitch it in. I did a floss toss this morning but I need 40 yards of thread and don't have that much in my stash. So I think I might go looking for a pretty variegated silk. Will show a pic when I've found what I want.

Thank you Tracy, that was so sweet of you.

"Cheerfulness is among the most laudable virtues. It gains you the good will and friendship of others. It blesses those who practice it and those upon whom it is bestowed."

Mermaids

I have finished Mermaid #1's tail, except for the beads, and I've started on Mermaid #2 where she crosses under #1. I had hoped to be so much farther along on this piece, but at this point I'm not sure I'll even get them finished by the end of the year.

I'm still having problems with a kidney stone. I have surgery scheduled for this coming Tuesday. Any prayers that you want to send up are appreciated.

Thank you!

"Our Creator would never have made such lovely days and have given us the deep hearts to enjoy them, above and beyond all thought, unless we were meant to be immortal."

Cheaper than Therapy

Here's the small amount of stitching that I've done. Very pathetic!! The mojo just isn't there. Although I'm still dealing with a kidney stone and it looks like I'm going to have to have surgery to have it removed, so I guess I'll use that as an excuse for not wanting to stitch :).

Thank you for the blog awards that people have blessed me with. I just don't have it in me to forward those awards on to other people. I enjoy EVERYONE'S blogs.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Labor Day Weekend!!

"Trust the past to the mercy of God, the present to his love, and the future to his providence."

Noah

Well, it's been a long time since I've posted. My posting mojo left with my stitching mojo.

I've been struggling with a kidney stone since Tuesday so I haven't felt much like stitching, too uncomfortable. I'm having more xrays done on Monday and will have some options laid out for me on Wednesday when I see the urologist again.

Also, my daughter had plastic surgery on her lip yesterday. She had to have a scar revision done and a mole removed that the doctor's have been concerned about. She's a trooper though, her lip looks pretty scary but she's holding her head high and planning on going to the first day of school this Monday, she's only 12 years old, so I'm feeling pretty proud of her.

Above is my progress on "Noah". Not much to show. I do need to clarify that this piece is not ALL 1/1. Most of it is 1/2. Those 1/1 areas are still killing me though on this 40ct linen.

Thanks for stopping by, I always appreciate it.

"In good times and bad, we need friends who will pray for us, listen to us, and lend a comforting hand and an understanding ear when needed."

Cheaper Than Therapy

Still running pretty low on stitching mojo. This was all I was able to accomplish yesterday. Funny, the pattern actually says "Stitching is cheaper than therapy....but not if done right." But what I have here "stitching is therapy" is true too.

It continues to rain here. I think it's rained 30+ days straight. I'm actually a person who likes rain, but this is a little excessive. I'd like to see the sun for more than an hour at a time.

"We are so very rich if we know just a few people in a way in which we know no others."

Finally picked up St. Petersburg again

I made myself pick up St. Petersburg today, but I wasn't able to finish part 6. I actually started part 7 because part 6 is so boring. Repeating a design 4 times makes it difficult to work on a design, for me anyways. So upper left corner is the start of part 7 and I actually enjoyed stitching it :). I don't think I've ever worked on a piece that I've struggled so much with. I think this will help to move further into the design without completely finishing each corner.

Over all I'm not stitching very much though. The mojo just isn't there.

We bought a Wii fit that I'm having a blast with. I've actually lost a few pounds, yeah.

"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart."

The desire of my heart is for my daughter to come back to the Lord and come home to us.

First time dying linen

Well, I spent the afternoon with a friend dying linen. This is the first time either one of us has ever done this. I read lots of blogs and other websites about dying linen to be prepared. We dyed with RIT dye but found out that bleach was our best friend. LOL!! We had some real disasters going and bleach saved us.

We are both fanatics about stitching on hand-dyed linens, this sure is cheaper. My favorites are the two in the top picture, especially the one on the left.

All of these are 36 ct edinborough except the peachy one in the bottom picture, that one was a cheap piece of 28ct monaco.

The two best RIT colors were tan and cocoa brown.

Thanks to everyone who sent kind comments about my family situation. They are very appreciated.

"No one is as capable of gratitude as one who has emerged from the kingdom of night."

Noah/Struggles and trials

Here is an update on Noah. The more I stitch this the more I know I don't want to stitch on 40ct again, nor 1/1 again ;). I am really shocked at how poor my eyesight has become.

Thanks for all the nice comments about my Mermaid(s).

Struggles and trials have become a normal part of my life for the past year and a half. I never realized you could feel so many emotions (often at the same time). These struggles have to do with my oldest daughter, whom I love so much. This past year and half has taught me that I would LITERALLY give up my life for her to get herself back on track. You always hear people say they would die for their kids. But I KNOW I would die for any one of mine. We received more distrubing news about our wayward daughter last night and I think I cried 2 pounds of tears. On my good days I KNOW that God is in control, and that he knows what is going on in my daughter's life. It's so hard to remember God's greatness in times of difficulty and yet he should be our biggest comfort. How disappointing I must be to God because I do not trust in Him the way I should. But God uses trials to make us better people for him. Apparently I need a lot of work since he keeps giving us more to deal with.

I leave you with the verse below, knowing this is my time for weeping.

"To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die...a time to weep, and a time to laugh."

Mermaids

Well I picked up my mermaids this weekend. I did a fair amount of beading although it isn't noticeable (rats)! I worked mainly on her tail fin. I'm close to being able to start on Mermaid #2.

I hope everyone had a nice weekend. My son is feeling much better, thanks to all who wished him well.

"Don't just get older, get better. Live realistically. Give generously. Adapt willingly. Trust fearlessly. Rejoice daily."

A new start and 2 awards ;)

I have been awarded the Brillante Weblog Award by Dawn @ Golden Angels Works. Thank you!! Here are the rules:

1) Put the logo on your blog
2) Add a link to the person who awarded you
3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs
4) Add links to those blogs on yours
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs

I nominate the following: (I could actually nominate everyone).

1. Carla @ CC's Stitching Diary
2. Lynn @ Kearnels Korner
3. Deb @ Lavender Rose Ramblings
4. Teejay @ Passion of My Needle
5. Suzanne @ Squazi and the Chicken
6. Debby @ Stitch Wizard
7. Kim @ These Are The Days

I was also awarded the Kreative Blogger Award by Noreen @ Needle Caboodle.

Thank you Noreen. Here are the rules:

1. The winner may put the logo on her blog.
2. Put a link to the person you got the award from.
3. Nominate 5 blogs.
4. Put links to the blogs.
5. Leave a message for your nominees.

I nominate the following: (again I could nominate everyone)

1. Vonna @ The Twisted Stitcher

2. Karoline @ Karolines Corner

3. Karen @ Karen's Place in Web Space

4. Monique @ Inside Number Twenty

5. Kathryn @ Threads of Desire

I know a lot of people don't participate in these awards and if you don't want to participate that's fine. I am literally amazed at and enjoy EVERYONE'S blogs. I think this is a good opportunity to open up new blogs to people.

While I was on vacation I did start a very small project. It's called "Cheaper than Therapy" by My Big Toe Designs. I'm doing it on a 32 ct Silkweaver Solo with WDW and GAST threads. I changed the thread colors so they would match the linen better.

I am basically done with my daughter's bedroom (just need to buy new curtains and hang them) so I'm going to make myself sit down and stitch this afternoon. I'm not sure what I'll pick up, will probably just look in my WIP's basket and see who's hollering the loudest.

This is absolutely the longest post I've ever posted. Thanks if you made it to this point.

Have a great weekend.

"Our steps are made firm by the Lord, when he delights in our way; though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds us by the Hand."

A finish.......I think ;)

It's been forever since I posted because it's been forever since I've stitched!! Technically I finished Maude Eloise last week when we were away on vacation, but the design is just a tad too small for the frame I want to put it in. So I have to decide if I'm going to have the frame cut down or put a border around the design to make it bigger.

Life has been very hectic and unpredictable and I have completely lost my stitching mojo.

I'm still trying to finish the redecorating of my daughter's room. But paint won't dry when it's 96 degrees with 80% humidity. I'm actually posting while I'm waiting for a wall to dry so I can put the last coat of paint on it. I'm also painting furniture. And of course all of her bedroom furniture is sitting in our living room. So you can barely maneuver around our house.

And to add to all of this my son left Sunday for a mission trip that's 4 hours away and he's been sick since Monday. My husband left a few hours ago to go and get him, 4 hours to get there, then 4 hours to get back. Like I said life is so unpredictable. I'm sure I'll be taking him to the doctors tomorrow. I think he probably has strep throat :(.

We did have a super vacation. Rented a house that was right on the ocean. Gorgeous!! It was so relaxing.

I'm slowly getting caught up on everyone's blogs. Boy, you guys post a lot. I never have that much to say :).

"I have seen what a laugh can do. It can transform almost unbearable tears into something bearable, even hopeful."

Miss Mermaid

I haven't had much time to work on any stitching projects, but I think I've made enough progress on my mermaid to post a pic. I still enjoy working on her, but I'm not keeping up with the beading as I had planned, so I'm starting to feel a little anxious about that. The next time I work on her I've told myself I'll have to work on some of the beading. I do want to finish this piece by the end of the year and I think I'll be able to reach that goal.

This coming week I'm going to redecorate my youngest daughter's room. I'll be removing the wallpaper and painting her walls. We went out this morning so she could pick out her bedspread, at the price of $100, yikes!!! I'm going to choose the paint and border for her room from the colors in her bedspread.

Happy 4th of July to everyone.

"God has not promised us an easy journey, but he has promised us a safe journey."

Update on Noah

Here is my 40ct piece. The other half of this 40ct piece I will be using to do one of the other sunday school lessons in this series, and that will be the end of working on 40ct I believe :). I'm doing "ok" with 1/2 but the 1/1 is killing me. My eyesight just is not good enough to work on linen this small.

Everyone is working on such pretty pieces. I love visiting your blogs and try to comment as much as possible. I appreciate everyone who visits mine.

"God understands our prayers even when we can't find the words to say them."

Maude

Here's my update on Maude Eloise. I still really enjoy stitching on this piece. I'm very close to being done. Maybe a couple of more weeks and it will be finished :).

We finally have our pool clear enough to swim in it. Of course the horrible heat wave that we had is gone and it's almost too cold to swim now.

Thank you all for the encouraging comments, they are appreciated.

"God is not an elusive dream or a phantom to chase, but a divine person to know. He does not avoid us, but seeks us. When we seek him, the contact is instantaneous."

Update on St. Petersburg

Well, since the kids are out of school I've barely done any stitching. We're trying hard to get our pool to the point of being able to swim in it, it still has a lot of algae in it. I took the kids to a driving range this morning to hit golf balls which was a lot of fun.

This is how far I am on St. Petersburg White Nights. This is going so slowly but at least I'm working on it. It is a stunning piece but it will probably take me another full year to finish it.

Thanks to everyone who gave me tips and websites to go to for dying linen. A friend and myself are going to give it a try, this should be very interesting :).

"Sometimes we see things not as they are but as we are: Love brings understanding."

She's growing

Well my mermaid is definitely growing. She is still fun to work on, although I made a counting error somewhere and today I was able to compensate around it. Took a while to make everything match up, but I did it.

I want to try and dye my own linen, but have never done it. I've gotten some tips from Vonna's blog using RIT. Can anyone else give me some tips or directions, even if you point me to somewhere on the internet.

Thanks so much.

"Sweet is the smile of home; the mutual look when hearts are of each other sure."

A New Start

I had a friend over last night to do some stitching and I always seem to start something new after I've stitched with her. She has about 12 different projects going all at once, I see that and *shabang* I start something new. This is a series put out by Plum Street Samplers called Stories To Live By. This one is Noah. I'm doing this on 40ct R&R Daily Grind. This is the first time I've stitched on 40ct and my eyes are struggling (even with a dazor light and magnifier). I love to stitch on 36ct and I didn't think there'd be that much of a difference but there is. And..... there's 1/1 in this piece. Yikes, the 1/1 over makes the 1/2 seem very easy!!

My friend has a wonderful listening ear. This past year has been extremely difficult for me and I spent most of last night crying on her shoulder about it. I hate it when I do that, but some people are so easy to talk to. Thank you my friend :)

I take the quote at the end of my post to heart.

"I want to learn to live each moment and be grateful for what it brings, asking no more."

Update on Maude

I'm making great progress on Maude Eloise 1891. I love this piece. It's such an easy piece to pick up and work on. I have several more Blackbird Designs in my stash and may need to stitch another one.

Today is the last day of school for my kids. I love having them around the house but they certainly cut into my stitching time. But they're definitely worth more than stitching :)

"Today, see if you can stretch your heart and expand your love so that it touches not only those to whom you can give it easily, but also those who need it so much."