already getting excited

okay, i got the wedding shawl all done (string tucking, washing, etc.) the night before the wedding this past weekend. it turned out really well. i'm exceptionally pleased with the results and will probably be using this pattern again soon, probably a narrower version for a scarf. she loved it, as far as i could tell it being a stressful day and all for her. she was beautiful. the ceremony was lovely (i actually managed to not cry for this one, miraculously). all in all, a wonderful day.
the major winter project is now out of my hair and i can move on to other smaller items (christmas catch up and an up-coming birthday or two).
i am beyond stoked about what is starting at the beginning of february. NERD WARS!!!! basically (from what i understand), it is a three month crafting tournament being hosted on ravelry.com for all the nerdy among us. there will be a challenge each month that must be fulfilled through knitting (my method of choice), crocheting, spinning, or weaving an item that fits into one of six categories (still working on how i'll do that). also, everyone is on different teams, all of which revolve around different fandoms (i.e. team enterprise will be full of star trek fanatics). i filled out my sign-up form yesterday and am anxious to find out what team i'll be on. it is going to be a long week and half of waiting on the answer. but don't worry, you'll be among the first to know.
i've never done a tournament before, so i am a) nervous that i won't be able to finish my entry each month, b) thrilled to be competing with fellow fanatics, and c) pumped that i've got deadlines and a great way to push myself creatively and skill-wise. this is going to be a good growing experience, i can feel it.
i've never been a terribly athletic individual (not coordinated enough for team sports). therefore, i am deliriously happy to be on a team like this. the forums are places of encouragement and sharing ideas, helping each other through the issues they are facing and finding solutions to problems together. cheering each other on and reveling in a team mate's success. earning the points and bringing your team honor. having been raised in west texas, it reminds me a lot of high school football with substantially less disappointment and anger when there's a loss. same kind of "your victory is our victory" feeling, sharing the love... you get the idea.
fellowship is what it comes down to, being a part of a larger community that is working toward glory. whether that means earning points for my nerd wars team (which ever it may be) or seeking to glorify God through every action and interaction, fellowship is what this comes down to. i cannot find the appropriate words for how important and wonderful fellowship, in all its forms, is.
i. can't. wait. :)

resolution time again.

well, here we are again. the beginning of january. so far, it hasn't been anything amazing. dear hubby has been sick for the entirety of 2011 thus far. hopefully, he'll be up and moving again this evening.
the wedding shawl is going very well, which is good considering it must be complete by friday. it has added quite a bit of green to my life (it covers my legs completely while i work on it). i like green, so it isn't anything bad.
so with this last project that was started in 2010 coming rapidly to a close, i've been trying to decide what i want to accomplish in 2011. first, i simply must finish with christmas (yes, i realize that was two weeks ago). i've got about three hats and a scarf to do for that. second, a good friend's birthday at the beginning of february. after those are done, i'll be pretty much knitting for whatever i choose. perhaps i'll finally make myself something. we'll have to wait and see.
as far as new year's resolutions go, we are planning on tidying our home once a week, probably saturday mornings. obviously, with a sick hubby, this hasn't actually happened yet. he tends to leave disaster in his wake when he is ill. it isn't worth the effort to clean it up when you know that you'll just have to do it again the next day. so weird.
new years always remind me of all the second chances we receive. we, as the human race, have a serious habit of messing up in serious ways. adam and eve started it all, and while God did cast them out of the garden, he never truly abandoned them. when he decided to start over with noah and the ark, he promised not to do that again and still stuck with us. through all of our wars and disagreements with each other, he still stands beside us, trying to guide us to peace. and here we are at the start of another new year. what will we do with this chance? i like resolutions. i like the idea of writing them down to see how you did later in the year. here seems like as good a place as any. so here we go.
my resolutions for 2011:
-i'm going to work on loving properly, the way God does, without judgement.
-i'm going to give more of myself to others without expectations.
-i'm going to work on improving in knitting and possibly cooking.
-i'm going to continue to chase after the creator and seek to learn more from his creation through my own.
well, wish my luck and remember me in your prayers. i have a good feeling that i'm going to learn quite a bit. also that i'll be good a broken down in the process. however, i know God is fully capable of creating new from what is old and broken.

christmas, and beyond!

well, christmas is officially behind us now. did the vacation road trip things with my family, which was a very long car trip for six adults in a mini van. 22 hours one way. we took a picture upon arrival. not gonna post it here but suffice it to say, we looked rough. we had loads of fun in disney world (mom has probably posted pictures on facebook, or will be soon). there were frustrating moments, but as this is probably the last time we will all be in the same location (brother and wife are moving soon), it was worth spending time together.
christmas itself was great as well. the scarf, chain chomp hat, and ear warmer were all well received. i got what was probably the highest praise for the hat i've ever gotten (other than "i just love it"). sister-in-law said that it looked store bought! my homemade hat looked professional enough to be purchased in a store! possibly the best compliment i could ask for. period.
so, started working on the wedding shawl on the way to florida (what else is there to do in a car for twenty-two hours) and kept working on it on the way back. it is about a third of the way done (i think) and i am currently praying my heart out that i don't run out of yarn. i ended up using bigger needles (15s instead of 9s) after three test runs and much forum reading for advice on ravelry. this is my first time doing lace and i really want it to look right. so far so good. thank you blocking red heart super saver forum! you were unbelievably helpful. i washed and dried it and it turned out well. i just hope the same thing works on "I Love This Yarn!" because if it doesn't, i may cry. yes, that really is the name of the yarn i'm using. yes, it is an odd name for yarn. oh well, it was the right color.
so that is that. i've also started on a little phone cozy for my office mate (her birthday is the day after mine!) and it should finish up quickly, i just need to sit down and do it.
to sum up my knitting deadlines, i'm definitely in a crunch. i'll keep you posted on how it goes. then i'll be going back through my queue to see where i want to go from there. so much knitting, so little time!!!
all this creation is getting me thinking about new-ness. each finished project goes out and starts a life with someone. it is sent out to better others and pread happiness and cheer. it reminds of the new year that is coming up, full of possibility and promise. it makes me want to renew some old promises i made myself a while back. i'll post about that later. i'm going to really work on leaning on God more. He'll get me through it all. after all, that is His promise.
Happy Christmas all. keep the christmas spirit alive all of this next year.

christmas is upon us!

well, it is mid december and i've gotten all of the christmas knitting done that i'm going to. i finally finished the chain chomp hat for my brother. also, after much frustration and the realization that i am super easily distracted, i got my sister-in-law's headband/ear warmer done. also, had mom's scarf done a while back and can't remember if i posted it. huzzah! i can't wait to see their faces (hopefully full of joy) when they open them.
i love christmas. okay, mostly i love giving gifts. i personally feel that giving homemade gifts is awesome (obviously). i do it because i feel that making it myself means putting love into every stitch. my recipients mean the world to me and this is the best way i've been able to come up with to share my love for them with them. it is personal. you think about them the whole way through the process, doing your best to tailor it to them. yes, it takes substantially more time, but the finished item is completely unique. think about it. God did the same thing. the perfect gift that was completely unique and irreplaceable. He put all of His love for us into from beginning to end. that was probably the best Christmas gift ever.
so, it is official. the very best gifts are homemade and come straight from the heart. i guess i'm just taking my cues from the Creator on this one. i'm okay with that completely.

one done only to start another

okay, it is practically december and i have completed another christmas present. finally. it was the headband from hell. this was one of those projects where it should have only taken a quarter of the time it actually took to finish it. so irritated with myself. i probably had to pull out a good eight inches total along the way due to my being slightly distracted. however, it is now done and you can see it here.
so, all that frustration aside, we now have a grand total of (insert drum roll here) four completely finished items and one that still needs eyes. so almost five. considering my considerable lack of speed (in my opinion, not shared by my non-knitting relatives), not bad at all. so, now i'm moving on to the wedding shawl. technically, it should be a couple more hats, but my gracious father and dear hubby have decided that the shawl should take priority since it has the hardest deadline. aren't they the sweetest!?
anyway, the wedding shawl. my best friend is getting married at the beginning of january (it should be cold) and is wearing a strapless dress (gorgeous but not entirely practical for the weather), so i've decided to make her a shawl to keep her warmer. she knows it is coming as she helped me find the exact color of yarn she wanted, surprisingly an exact match of main wedding color (not actually surprising). so, tonight's goal is to do a swatch, probably a little bigger than the average swatch. this is mostly because i'm going to practice the wet blocking on it. yay for learning a new skill!
awesome. so, the wedding shawl. i'm really excited about this for a couple of reasons. first, ever since i got married, i absolutely fall apart at weddings. lame. i know. anyway, i go to pieces every single time because i flash back to my own vows and the feeling of security and love and hope that went with them (and still do). so every time i hear someone else (especially someone close to me) saying their vows, i can just see their eyes light up with promise and the knowledge that they'll be sharing their journey from that moment on (i'm a bit of a sap). this shawl is going to be their for their journey. second, and i'm fully aware of how corny this is going to sound, God. i know, but bear with me on this one. they are getting married two weeks after christmas, the entrance of Christ into our journey. there are many references to God looking on his people as a bridegroom looks on his bride. so, this whole life journey as partners thing always refers straight back to our relationship and journey with God. just like her soon-to-be husband (if not more so), He will be by her side for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse. i am so excited to see her start on this journey for three (her, him, and Him). i'm liable to embarrass myself with tears at this one.

how can i keep from singing...

i think God is trying to tell be something today, because as soon as i reached the point this morning that i decided that i was not a fan of this day in any way, shape, or form, the song that pops into my head and refuses to vacate the premises is this one:

"There is an endless song
Echoes in my soul
I hear the music ring

And though the storms may come
I am holding on
To the rock I cling

How can I keep from singing Your praise
How can I ever say enough
How amazing is Your love
How can I keep from shouting Your name
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing

I will lift my eyes
In the darkest night
For I know my Savior lives

And I will walk with You
Knowing You'll see me through
And sing the songs You give

How can I keep from singing Your praise
How can I ever say enough
How amazing is Your love
How can I keep from shouting Your name
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing"

i love this song. perhaps my day will start to improve now. here's hoping.

sing with me, how great...

i am that nerd that will sing, out loud, whatever song happens to be stuck in my head. if i don't know all the words, i will be whistling at full volume. this is liable to happen anywhere. parking lots are common. work, more often than i care to admit. home, all the time. you get the idea. doesn't matter at all what the song is. if i'm thinking about babies, it will be a lullaby. if i just got out of my car, it is more than likely to be oldies. if there isn't a thing going through my head, there will suddenly burst forth a song from church. perhaps God is trying to tell me something.
on the rare occasion that words or whistling isn't spouting forth from my mouth, i can almost guarantee that i am moving. if i'm standing up, i will be dancing about. if i'm seated, i call it chair dancing and head bobbing. i try to make sure there isn't anyone around, however i'm seldom successful. i'm far too easy to sneak up on. this is especially problematic when at a store of any kind, they always have something playing.
i know all of this is rather random, but i was reading adam young's blog and couldn't help thinking about this. i must say in response to that particular post, that i am completely guilty of crying every time that song is sung at church, to the point that it would be exceptionally embarrassing if anyone turned around and noticed. an "i'm fine" is never a sufficient answer when surrounded by people that love you. go figure.
anyway, all of this thinking led me to ponder, where did this particular reaction to music in general come from? well, the singing and humming and whistling came from mama. no question about it. the one of the things i distinctly recall from every age i've been is my mother's humming. not necessarily a tune of any kind. just humming. it was always, and continues to be for that matter, the most soothing sound in the entire world. followed by running water. i dunno, i guess continuing the music on after what others can hear has died away is possibly the most comforting thought i've got. some things never die away. there's a metaphor there that i really don't think needs to be explained (your hint: God's love). one of those things is definitely my mother's humming. it is like a heart beat. i think my heart hums, possibly along with a greater song, the audible music for which is simply turned too low to be heard by most.
the dancing part is easy. that comes from two places: my parents and my dance teacher. my parents because when i would (and still do) dance around like a crazy person will assure that i am, in fact, not crazy and will often join me in whatever movement is happening at the time. my dance teacher for helping me actually be coordinated and loving me despite how bad i'm certain i was at times. thanks teri. you'll probably never truly understand how much class with you did for me and my self-confidence.
all that to say, God is so good. i think the singing and dancing and music are the closest i've gotten to communing with him. i think knitting is getting close to that level. after all, His creativity begot ours and praise comes in every form there is.
no point is holding it back. praise him with everything you've got (no matter how crazy you think you may look).