Rolling with the Changes

I like to think of myself as a kind person who can be flexible and roll with whatever life brings. Much is in my control, but I feel more is not. The past few months have been a challenge.

Since I last posted, my amazing daughter has moved to college (bringing her graduation quilt with her) and is thriving in her new environment. She made dean's list for her first semester, is making new friends, and re-discovering that an old friendship can be new again. The word "proud" is not enough to describe the joy I feel watching her growing into this remarkable young lady.

My son began high school and started a new sport, track. After a spring and summer of breathing therapy, he was finally released to run track, and now I have a distance runner! Rob excels at the 1000m and 1600m, even running in his first invitational meet this season. With each meet, he has set a personal record (PR is the official term) and he has scored points for his team. His school team was runner up in sectionals recently, only missing first place by a half a point! He has made high honor roll in his first two quarters of high school, and is loving all of his classes, including three honors courses. He continues to amaze me every day.

In September, I learned my spouse was dismissed from his second job. He did not tell me. To date, he didn't replace that needed income. Enough said.

Jewels is home for the long President's Day weekend now, and boy, do I need her close. I learned on Thursday that once again I trusted the wrong person. Jewels was on the phone with me when I got the news and talked to me until I calmed down to think rationally again. Our lives have been forever changed, and the next several months will be the ultimate struggle. I am once again the sole provider for our family, and the truth is I cannot manage our current lifestyle alone, as meager as it already is. We'll need to move, and change everything about what we do. I've been in this home for 29 years, married nearly 30, and this will displace us in an unimaginable way. I am taking it minute by minute, and that is not an exaggeration. I feel very alone, but know I am not. My children and a few close friends will stand by us until everything is righted and secure.

Prior to this, I was happily stitching away, and recently completed Flurry by Teresa Kogut. This is a pattern available to her Patreon members (I am not sure if it'll be released to the general public). It is stitched in a palette of my own "from stash" colors on 14 count Sandcastle Jobelan fabric leftover from another project.

You'll see a small button cover near the top. I stitched one of the little snowflakes and made a quick button using this Dritz Button Cover Kit. The 14 count fabric was a wee bit thick, so it took a couple of tries, but the end result is so cool. Now to FFO (fully finished object) it. The finished stitch measures 6-1/2" round, so I am in search of the perfect piece. This was a good little stash buster.

I mostly stitch in the evenings to try to wind down from the busy day and have been looking for a small metal stand to hold my pattern, scissors and maybe a needle minder. I found this Book Stand in light blue and at this price, it's awesome! It also comes in Pink, Gray, White and Black. It folds flat, so really good to travel with. Let me know if you try it, and what color fits your stitchy spot.

Blue Metal Book Stand Holder

One of the first times my daughter came home in the fall, we hiked a bit in our local park. Sometimes just walking with your kids, watching them interact and listening to them banter is the best medicine. Aren't they adorable?

My son also plays on a travel soccer team. Here he is in action (#26 in blue) last month. Rob was recently highlighted as their "spotlight player" and was so humble about being featured. He is my quiet boy.

For my stitching and quilting (and generally everything else), I'll be using my stash because making new investments just isn't possible now. That's okay. Sacrifice is not new to me, and it's my job to take care of my children the best I know how. My priority is to not allow this sudden turn of events to turn their worlds upside-down. I will strive to honor my commitments to them and others, while making the unavoidable and difficult changes that loom ahead.

Thanks for letting me talk about this. I have been hiding from everyone, putting forth a brave, happy facade and I think because of that, I've not been honest with myself about what needs to be done. The future is very scary, but has to be faced. And face it I will!