Challenges

With Jared, I never know what to expect. Sometimes, when he's home, he gets bored and does the dishes. :) I like that! Sometimes he's hunting every single minute he can find. That's a little tough, but thankfully the hunting season is limited, and he never hunts on Sundays, so we do get to see him occasionally. Sometimes he gets called out, and misses family activities. I have a harder time with this, not because I'm angry that he's gone, but because it often means that some other family is experiencing a tragedy like the one we went through with Myles. In the past month he has responded to two different scenes, and dealt with two cases of toxins resulting in death. One victim was a young husband and father, and I felt awful thinking about his wife and children having to go on without him. The second one had me in tears; a 4-year-old girl who was accidentally poisoned. She has a younger sibling, and several older siblings, as well as her parents, who will be dealing with the loss of their daughter and sister. I wish I could go to the house and physically offer my support, but decided that would be a little creepy and stalker-like. Instead, I'm praying for their family, and sure that if you wanted to add your good thoughts and prayers, those would also be appreciated.

Now for a happier challenge: this is my latest project- another hat for Walker. His original has gone missing, and I had some leftover yarn, so I made this hat for him. It's a bit different pattern-wise, :) I was experimenting with stripes, and decided to make them all different sizes, but the overall impression was still cool. So that's finished, and Walker approves of it. The next project on my knitting needles is another hat. Well, two, actually. One each for Walker and Jared to wear when they're hunting. I bought 2 skeins of yarn, because I couldn't find one that was the right color and weight. So I got a dark rusty orange yarn that was thick enough, and added a really light-weight yarn that was the bright hunter-orange I wanted color-wise. I'm knitting the two together, and I like the extra thickness- it will add some more warmth to their heads as they tromp around looking for birds/elk/deer/whatever. :) Having the two colors also adds depth to the look of the hat. And it isn't any harder than knitting one strand of yarn, which makes me happy.

Gratitude List:
* My family is healthy and strong, and I know where they all are [approximately].
* Lots of yarn, and projects, and plenty of other supplies for my crafting "needs."
* My washer and dryer are still working. My dishwasher is broken, but I'd rather wash dishes by hand than clothes!
* I am making progress on my "to-do" list of crafts. Hooray!
* Spending time with Nate, Caitlin, Saxon, and Bridger. Thank you for letting my kids pester your boys :) We love cousin-time!
* Getting some good news from my parents [I'll share when I can].
* Warm winter weather today because we have NO WIND CHILL ;) I don't miss the Iowa wind chill.
* Getting to see John & Melissa's family again on Sunday, along with my parents, Alyson, and Kyle and Lorenzo. I am so glad my kids have cousins, and grateful that my brothers and sisters [and their spouses] are willing to let my children bother theirs. I am always surprised at how much fun Walker has with his littler cousins. And Morgen would seriously shrivel up without a baby to play with!
* A working furnace for the less-than-warm winter nights.
* Perky [the lizard] continues to enjoy good health and lots of affection from Morgen.
* Jared will be home this weekend :)
* I have a few episodes of "Bewitched" to watch while I fold laundry today.
* God's grace in my life.
* Sunshine on my shoulder [thank you, John Denver]