This Week's Verse: Luke 1:37

All Grown Up

My "first" grandchild graduated from high school yesterday. Kyler became my surrogate grandchild in 1998. His mom, Marti and I worked together. I'll never forget the first time I met him. He was just a few days old and when she handed him to me he cuddled in as if he'd known me forever. I was in love.

Over the years Kyler spent lots of time at our house. He accompanied us to band concerts, dance concerts, high school plays and sports events. We accompanied him to soccer games, Kindergarten graduation, church programs and football games.

As he grew older we spent less one on one time with him, but we kept up with his accomplishments, challenges, and opportunities.

He has made us proud.

I wasn't prepared for how deeply emotional I was at his graduation. My "first" grandbaby. All grown up. Ready to take on the world. Kyler has grown into a caring, confident young man. He has a smile that will light up a room.

Kyler, as you head off to college remember we are here for you. You can hit us up for a loan. Call when you need to vent. Text any time you wish. For sure keep us updated with your successes. Being the "first", you made me into the Grammy I am today. I give you all the credit. I was able to look ahead through your childhood and form a picture of what I wanted to be when the rest of the grandkids came along. I am looking forward to our relationship transforming from adult to child into adult to adult, to hearing your folks brag to me about your college experiences, to seeing what you do in your future.

Thank you, Kyler, for being my "first".

And thank you Marti and Adam, for letting us share this incredible child with you!

A Happy Mother's Day

Hope you all enjoyed a great Mother's Day yesterday. Now that my kids are all grown with families of their own my Mother's Day is spread over several days. Two weeks ago I celebrated Mother's Day with my daughters with pedicures, lunch, and shopping. We had a fun, leisurely day. On Saturday I celebrated Mother's Day with my husband by going out for breakfast and then more shopping! Yesterday I celebrated Mother's Day with my mom, Jessica and Snow with lunch at Tagliani's and then, you guessed it, shopping! I must admit I'm almost shopped out.

Here is the sweet photo that appeared on my phone yesterday morning with the caption of Happy Mother's Day...

This Week's Verse: 2 Corinthians 9:8

Change of Seasons

Although it is not yet officially summer in the real world it's autumn at Hobby Lobby.

I guess I'm in the minority, but I always get excited when the Autumn merchandise starts appearing on the shelves at HL. It's a promise of cooler weather when I'm heading into a summer of 110+ temps. It's a hope of beautiful fall colors (just not in the environment I live in). It's a glimpse of Christmas to come.

There is one lesson I have learned well in adulthood - if you see it at a store and you like it, buy it then because it'll be gone when you return in a week. That's why I'm an enthusiastic early shopper for all things autumn or Christmas. I have a list of projects I want to make for the upcoming end of year holidays and I like to get an early start on them.

Plus, one of my favorite summer activities is to wander the aisle of Hobby Lobby enjoying the autumn colors and escaping from the heat of a Phoenix summer!

Blizzard

My son sent me these cute photos of Blizzard. He was spending the evening with his Aunt Brandi, Uncle Matt and Cousin Revae. Isn't Revae beautiful?! I love her curly hair. And Blizzard is exceedingly cute! He has the sweetest little smile. I can't wait to be with him in person...

This Week's Verse: Mark 10:27

Textiles

I am a stitcher. I currently create counted cross stitch projects.

My stitching life began in first grade. Literally. For some reason our first grade teacher, Mrs. Betty Kerns taught all of us first graders to knit. I love to knit, but haven't picked up knitting needles in over thirty years. I keep meaning to take a refresher course and take it up again, but I have too many counted cross stitch patterns to make first.

I learned to embroider when I was nine years old. My maternal grandmother, Mae Ammerman taught me how. I loved to embroider. Especially with variegated threads!

My next foray into the needle arts was needlepoint. I enjoyed needle point throughout my teens and early twenties. This was accompanied by a brief obsession with latch hook (I have a box of latch hook projects I made and I can't bring myself to throw them out, but I really don't want to keep them. Any suggestions?)

Then I discovered counted cross stitch. I don't even remember how I came upon this craft. I was hooked. I've been cross stitching every since (except for the ten year break I took to raise my kids from 1990-2000).

I have also dabbled in quilting. I like to quilt, but since I use the hand piece, hand quilt method it's starting to be difficult. Because I have old eyes and old hands.

The one needle art that has eluded me is crochet. My grandmas (both of them) crocheted and tried to teach me how multiple times. My problem is that I stitch too tightly. No matter what, I could not relax the tension of my stitches. So I gave up.

Since I can't crochet, my mission in life is to rescue as many crochet doilies as is humanly possible at Goodwill, garage sales, estate sales and antique shops. I also pin crocheted items on Pinterest. A lot.

While I wish I could crochet, and I do occasionally think about giving it a try again, I can't get past the dozens of cross stitch patterns I need to stitch first. So, here are some photos of what I would crochet if I could crochet.

   

   

   

Official Three Month Photo

As you may remember, last month I whined a bit about my Official Photos with Blizzard. Nevertheless I decided to try again this month.

Such a handsome boy! I will be with him in a few weeks and I can't wait to hold him. I love you, Blizzard!