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Whew.

The Red Road

There was a special assembly last Friday at New Song Academy to fit along with their unit on Native Americans. Charles and Siouxsan Robinson, a Native American couple that live in Franklin, visited the school and shared with the kids and parents about their culture and their ministry.

They speak in many settings and on various themes. But as a Christian couple, they seek to share the Gospel with the Native American population that has distanced themselves from the Creator that made all of the nature they respect so much.

Siouxsan and Charles are of different tribes so we were able to hear them each share their languages with us and the specific dances that they have expertise in. I was blessed by their teaching and gained a greater understanding of the hurt and the need that exists for the Native American people. God has perfect timing and a purpose. And this couple is amazing at getting that point across while being true to the heritage and culture they know so well.

Lots of ends! I think I might count them as I do it, just for personal satisfaction. Any bets? I'm pretty certain there are at least fifty.

Today, I finished all of the charted colorwork on the stocking for Jess. Next is weaving in and tightening up all the ends, then I'll be able to get started on the foot. Coming along!

Literary Writers' Night

Our church has a creative writing ministry, called New Voices, and the group's first Literary Writer's Night is this Saturday. I love the idea and hope to attend. If anyone is interested, let me know.

The New Voices writing ministry from New Song invites you to attend "Offerings", on Saturday, November 19th, at New Song Woodbine. The evening will feature a variety of original creative writing read aloud by the members of New Voices, as well as live music, original visual art, dessert, tea and coffee. The event will begin at 7:00pm and will be held in the building's lower level. Come and support New Song's worship arts community and experience creativity defined and refined by the Creator!

New Song Woodbine is a church plant and sister church of the church we attend, New Song Cool Springs. I went to help out with one of their opening Sunday's in October and the "lower level" is perfect for this type of thing. Exposed brick, great lighting, welcoming, warm, and casual. In fact, when I saw it, I thought "Coffeehouse".

Eric got a new cell phone, so I lucked out by acquiring his cast off. Now I have a camera phone (it takes 30 sec. video clips, too!). this was fun and handy today at the park when Lael had her first swing experience. Grant loves taking photos, too, and I'm less concerned since it isn't the hefty expensive Digital SLR. If he's careful enought to make a call, then I think he's careful enough to press a button and capture a shot. But, the trash can shot is typical of his photography pursuits...he takes pics of ALL SORTS of household objects. We'll be nice and call them "still lifes".

Mommy and Lael, taken by Grant

"Kitchen Rubish"- by Grant

Grant, Dean, Owen

And speaking of...

Here’s a little more information on the previous post. Jess, friend and wife of one of Eric’s childhood buddies, Rick, contacted me about knitting a Christmas stocking from a cherished pattern of her Grandmother’s. Apparently, everyone in the family has a personalized stocking hand-knit from one of two patterns. Now that Grandma has become frailer, Jess felt it best to find someone else to work up a stocking and I was touched to be included in this family tradition. Being the amazing memory documenter that Jess is, she made a heartwarming scrapbook layout of her with Grandma when they put the finishing touches on Riley’s stocking earlier this year. So, all other projects have been kicked to the side while I inch away at this challenging piece. Hopefully, it won’t be a sore thumb next to the originals. It’s like a recipe- you might follow the instructions to a T, but never will it compare to Grandma’s.

And speaking of Grandma’s recipes, I am making my Grandma Joyce’s traditional Christmas cake this year. Last year, I was soooo pregnant I didn’t have the energy to make this labor intensive cake. But, I have committed this year, and I am really excited about it. There is nothing like it here in America, and I only get it when we visit England. This last time, she sent me home with half a cake (they keep amazingly well due to the hard icing and the brandy….okay, the brandy is probably the real trick) and, well, I think I ate it all almost single handedly! The fondant and the marzipan have been special-ordered through Baker’s Catalogue and I still need to track down a few ingredients before I’m able to begin. I may have to request a “care package” with those elusive items and have my dad bring it back to the States (he’s going for a visit in about a week). Grandma seems to be doing well when I talk to her over the phone. She normally makes about 9 of these cakes as Christmas gifts and with surgery and hospital stays this year had not made them. Trying to encourage about a month ago, I said that everyone surely understands that she’s been fighting cancer. But, she had got a few sad comments from the normal receivers of the cakes and has since resumed production. Seriously! My Grandma is an amazing woman. Thank you everyone for your prayers.

And speaking of praying, Baby Katja is doing really well. An e-mail came in today from Alicia with pictures and a report. Apparently, the surgery worked as hoped and her stints have done the job. Praise God! A few more procedures may be needed, but all looks good.

And speaking of good, we had a good weekend. Friday night, we had a lovely short-notice gathering here at our house with Travis, Amy, Kris and Mary (and all the kids). We enjoyed brownies and ice cream and coffee while playing Trivial Pursuit (20th anniversary edition). Eric and I teamed up and were unfairly given all the difficult questions, resulting in NO PIE PIECES for hours. But, since we are waaaay to good for the schemes of cheaters- we came back strongly in the second half and gloriously gained pie pieces rapidly. Sadly, Travis and Amy kicked our tails (How did they get all those multiple choice questions?! Really, now.) and we wrapped up around midnight. Which, to all of us now seems entirely too late to be playing a board game. It must have to do with that whole “being parents” thing. The kids outnumber us! Saturday, we slept in past 7:30 and picked up the house before heading to Lauren Doyle’s second birthday party. I wish that I’d brought my camera; Jenny did an amazing job with a ladybug theme. I think everyone had fun. The rest of the day included a stop at the grocery store and playing outside in the amazing fall weather. All the kids in the neighborhood were out and we used up every drop of sunshine that the day had to offer. So good. Sunday, we went to church, went for a bit of a drive, and came home for some lounging and went for a bike ride. This was the first bike ride that Grant rode along on while Dean and Lael still rode in the chariot. Jake Linville joined us, and the trip was made short by the whining of the older boys. Eric and I tried to prod them along by calling them “girls” and “wimps” and joking with them that we had at least thirty miles to go, but they insisted on walking the hills, so we did a loop through the adjacent neighborhood and came home. The little we did felt amazing and I hope we can get out at least once more before it feels too cold. The day was finished with some TV watching and knitting.

And speaking of knitting, here are the details on what I did with the skeins I showed off a few weeks back. The recipient has probably received the scarf by now, so here’s the picture and simple pattern (great for a beginner!).

Two balls of Valeria di Roma Angora Yarn (white)
One ball of Knitting funky fringe yarn (teal)
Size US #13 needles

Cast on 20 stitches with one strand of funky fringe and one strand of angora held together.

Work in Stockinette stitch for 5 rows
Work in Reverse Stockinette for 5 rows
Next row: K1, *yo, k2tog* to last st., K1

Repeat these 11 rows joining the second ball of angora when necessary until you have only enough angora to cast off (there will be extra funky fringe).

Cast off and weave in ends.

The resulting scarf will be just large enough to wrap and tie once without being too short, and will be just as pretty on front as on back without curling.

Jess, this is for you. (Your Grandma ROCKS to have done this pattern a zillion times!). Truly, I am insane. Do you see all of those strings? The backside is even scarier until everything is weaved in.

If your name is not LaDonna, you may click here to see what I finished last night.

The idea of being Indians was abandoned as soon as the kids remembered some old costumes that we had in the closet. Apparently Buzz Lightyear (Dean) and the Flash (Grant) are waaaay cooler and more fun stay in character for. Grant was a speedy runner all night and Dean said "To infinity and beyond!" a great deal. We skipped out on the whole baby costume thing, but I'm sure Lael will join in next year.

C'mon! Can we go yet? People are already out!

Here, Dean, here's your pillow case.

Flash, Daddy, and Buzz Lightyear on their way out the door for Trick-or-Treating.

The Good, the Bad and the...

I don't have anything ugly to post. In fact, check out this extremely NOT ugly picture:


That's Lael in some gorgeous handknits from my Grandmother. The cardigan and hat do not match exactly, but they go so nicely. In fact, I think I prefer that they don't match; it makes you appreciate the stitch patterns on their own and gives the eye interest. This was taken on Tuesday, but the weather had been so brisk that she has had the lovely opportunity to wear handmade sweaters every day. Each day a new one! I'm snapping pictures left and right because I know she'll grow too big for these amazing things before long.

The bad: today I received my first ever speeding ticket. Ten years of driving and I've never even been pulled over for speeding. Not that I've never speeded. So, I guess I should consider myself lucky that I've never been caught before now. But really- did you know that the speed limit on Tulip Grove Road is 30?! I was going 45. The police cars were operating their speed trap on the downhill portion as you approach Central Pike. Downhill. Not fair. :-( Needless to say, three other cars were pulled to the side as well.

The good: Yesterday Eric's parents bought tickets to come visit for Lael's first birthday. I am really excited about this because Donna has been able to attend each of our children's first birthday parties. I can hardly believe that she's nearly a year old!

In other news, baseball is nearly over (yea!), I'm knitting on some mittens, I have a serious pile of laundry to fold, the kids are going to be Indians for Halloween, I still haven't heard from Knitty.com regarding my recent submission (pins and needles!), my Dad is coming to visit for Christmas, we have no idea what we're doing for Thanksgiving, and I've made it to the gym twice this week after not being able to go consistently (for about a month) due to some person or another being sick. And my husband is home from his business trip! Best news of all!

Getch You

"Getch You" is a nearly nightly game in our house that Eric plays with the kids on the living room floor. Basically, it's rough-housing, but stems from someone crying out, "I'm gonna get you!" during the madness. They have played since Grant was about a year old and Lael was recently introduced to her own gentle version. Consider it a rite of passage.

So, with Eric out of town, the boys hit serious withdrawls around day three. They get desperate. So desperate, in fact, that they try to carry on without Dad. Last night, it started with laughter and ended with crying and an ice pack. The really funny part was the picture I didn't get with Grant attempting to climb on Dean's back. Ouch.

"It's hard to be away from them, isn't it?"

That's what a dad said to me as I picked up Lael from the nursery after church service let out. Guiltily, I thought, "no" but smiled anyway. This morning, I was really looking forward to praise and worship and church and having my children in their respective classes. It actually felt good to drop each of them off for Sunday school.

Eric is on a business trip and has been gone since Thursday morning and won't get back until tomorrow night. I was a bit weary, a bit worn thin, a bit down. I needed to be in the presence of God and other believers and hear a good message and think less about me and more about the people out in the world who need love and compassion and help and hope. People who need a Saviour. Less about me and more about them and Him. Proper perspective achieved.