whackadoodle coconut

today is chore day.  I haven't even begun the chores, been dealing with other "work" for the moment.  I plan to get everything done and finish a pair of French press slippers while everything is magically getting done. hoping to get the chores done early, well early is relevant. then get on to finish knitting, finish miss peregrine and relax a little with some yoga. besides if I finish my knitted projects in the queue then I can buy more yarn.

so, I've set a schedule of sorts for my week.  I like to start with finishing the chores on Monday, crafting/knitting/etc on Tuesdays, comics on Wednesday (since it's new comic day), shooting of all types on Thursday and then my Friday is free to catch up on whatever I'd like.  it has been working out, so lets update on this week (and a little of last week). last Friday I spent the morning in Montana de Oro taking photos for a contest. this is Carolina cove in the morning. and here is the outlook as you start the trail. I also visited (for the second time) Never Not Knitting in Atascadero.  I've been following her patterns, blog and podcast for a while and I was so excited to be able to visit her shop, and meet her! I had almost finished the shawl pattern I purchased last time I went (but didn't get to meet her) so I didn't have it show, however I did wear my wire and wool necklace. she took my picture and posted it to her Instagram accoun...

Our little family had a rough one this year.  I am pleased to say that despite all of the heartaches and trouble, we are in the Christmas spirit and enjoying the holidays.  We are looking forward to what the God has planned for us in the year to come.  I am thankful for what he has already done for us and how he has changed our lives and how all things glorify Him. So what have I been up to lately?  Coming out of the forest has made a big difference to what I have "felt" up to doing.  I've taken up a "hobby" if you can call it that helping out a friend restore his WC35 ( I think).  It's been a learning experience as to what goes into restoring a historic military vehicle.  I also have learned a lot of its engine parts and how to clean and paint them for installation. I've knitted a partial mitten and then discovered it would be too big to wear and realized the yarn was most of the problem.  I also knitted a purple monkey for a friend who asked...

Tomorrow is shoulda woulda coulda day.  Unfortunate as it is, my husband and I lost our first child at 19 weeks pregnant and the 16th is the day he would have been born if everything were normal and went as planned.  It has been and still is difficult.  I won't say much more.  I saw this graphic and thought it was appropriate.

and sometimes what you want isn't what life hands you.  tomorrow will mark one month since we lost our sweet son Christopher.  it has been a very difficult time for my husband and I and our faith that God will use this situation for his glory has been a comfort to us.    for now, I'll leave my post with this.  we have learned that many parents have lost their children and that we are not alone. we have learned which of our friends have come through for us and a deeper relationship with each other. below is a blog post that has helped me remember God's timing - http://www.storyofthislife.com/blog//a-big-family this organization helps families through photography to heal through the loss of their infants/babies - https://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/

That's right! This Fall, the first Slider will be born to our family.

2014 was quite a year. my best girl buddy and I have challenged each other to write out what we accomplished during 2014.  and looking back, there have been some significant changes in our lives. specifically, the way we view ourselves, progress towards being happier and more confident.  there we didn't set a goal to make these changes, we really just saw things that we wanted to do or do differently after meeting other people and then made those changes. I didn't have the opportunity to meet a lot of people or growing up, so seeing how these new people behave and the kind of warm and mushy feelings I got was the primary motivation to making changes.  once I shared that with my buddy, we both decided we need to make a few adjustments.  we decided to work on the things that scared us (actually try things we wanted to do) but didn't have the courage. and have a better grasp on those things called feelings and then expressing them appropriately. funny how this ...