Thursday, April 21, 2016

It's Here! It's Here!

Finally!  It's here!  Today both of my boys and two of our grandchildren will be home.  I must admit to having the "green eyed monster" of jealousy when those of you with grandchildren close by or even in the same house as you are able to share your daily lives with your children and grandchildren.  It is very, very rarely our children are together.  August of 2014 was the last time to be exact.  Over 2 1/2 years.  Even this trip, Mandy, Piper and Brad will be absent.  But I refuse to dwell on that.  My boys will be back home in the nest.  Jamie, Kyleigh and Caleb will begin their trek over the mountains when the kids get out of school today and will stay the weekend.  Alex's flight from Tokyo will arrive around 11:30 pm tonight.  He should be somewhere over the middle of the Pacific Ocean about now.  Oh, I can't wait!  Can you tell I'm excited?

I've been busy grocery shopping, getting beds ready, cleaning and just trying to get everything I can done ahead of time, so we can just have fun together.  Yesterday I did more than I have since last spring, in the before pm (before pacemaker), days.  I trimmed bushes, worked in the yard and generally didn't sit down until dinner time.  Then Dennis mowed while I swept the sidewalks behind him.  We finally sat down, (collapsed), around 8:00.  But, oh my goodness, it felt good to be active.  I was afraid my muscles would protest and I wouldn't be able to get out of bed this morning, but nope!  I jumped right up!  Hallelujah!  Seriously, I'm so thankful to God that I seem to be feeling SO MUCH better.  Dennis even commented last weekend that I seemed to be so much better.  He was right!  The MRI of my brain is still scheduled for next Wednesday, but I'm sure they won't find a thing wrong.  I truly believe my light-headedness is/was a result of adjusting to the medications and my body seems much happier now.  I even walked 3.96 miles at the lake on Tuesday.  Not all at once of course, but over the day I logged that much.  Yippee!

I have some yarny goodness that arrived from KnitPicks yesterday.  I ordered five skeins but only 4 arrived, as one is on back order. Aren't they yummy?  It is all Stroll fingering weight yarn.  The same as I'm using for Dennis' socks.  
This one is my favorite named This "Seashell Tonal".
"Northern Lights Hand Painted"
"Woodland Hand Painted"
"Coffee Shop Hand Painted"
All have 462 yards/100 grams per skein.  Plenty for a pair of socks and then I'm going to start a Memory Blanket making squares with the leftovers of the socks I make.  I wish you could all touch these beautiful yarns.  So soft at 75% Superwash Merino and 25% nylon for durability.

One of Dennis' socks are done and another about 1/3 complete.  These are taking me awhile because the yarn is so dark I can only knit on them during daylight hours.  I've also been very busy in the yard and other things for a few days.  I love the project bag Taci gave me a year or so ago.  It's the perfect size for socks.  
This is after the mowing last night.  Considering how brown everything was just a week ago, the green is almost miraculous and it will continue to green up even more.  I think you could see the difference everyday this week.  With temperatures in the 80's all week it has done wonders for all of the plants and grass.  Tomorrow everything is supposed to change to cool and rainy again.  

See the little tree on the far right.  That's the flowering pear we planted last fall after we lost our previous one in the big windstorm.  I put my birdbath out yesterday and the birds have already found it.  Three robins were playing in the water this morning.  The house you see behind the fence is up for sale.  I'm sad to see them leave.  They were very quiet and good neighbors to have.  I do like their one level floor plan and jokingly told Dennis we should buy it.  The move would be the easiest one ever, just take down a portion of the fence and carry things through the yard!
The rhubarb has tripled in size this week.  I should be able to begin harvesting next week!
My favorite spot to sit with a cup of tea and my Bible in the mornings.  I'm hand-writing the book of Psalms as part of my devotion time.  It's amazing to me how much more I absorb when I write it out instead of just reading it.  Doesn't this look cozy?  The little blue light on the table is a solar light Becky in Portland gave to me last year.  It's so pretty at night.
Okay my friends.  That's enough sitting around for me.  I need to get my ironing done.  It's the last chore on my list before the kids get here.  Then I can play all weekend!  Hurrah!

I hope you all have as lovely a weekend as I plan to.  I'm going to hug and kiss on my boys whether they like it or not.  HA!  HA!  I guarantee neither of them will like it, but they tolerate it because they know how much I love and miss them.  I have to admit, it does seem a bit strange to barely be able to reach up and around enough to hug my 6'4" son!  In my eyes and heart he's still the 3 year old toddler that ran around the house.  Are all Mom's like me?

"Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments." Deuteronomy 7:9

Blessings always sweet friends,
Betsy






7 comments:

  1. This is a post of celebration! I loved reading it, dear Betsy, and I am so excited for you! I am imagining you enjoying your family...hugs and kisses, too, even for the 6 feet tall fellows :) All around me in my room are precious things you have made and bought for me which I use and enjoy regularly. My new little wooden blue bird is perched by a basket that includes the lovely celery green cotton yarn you gave me and the sweet flower crocheted pin you made for me and I have already worn. The sock needle dpn keeper is next to me begging me to start a new pair of socks! Thank you for your kindness, generosity, friendship and fun....and for the perfect post ending Scripture verses you share. This one is one of celebration indeed! xoxoxoxo

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  2. Betsy, I'm so happy for you that your two boys and grandkids will be there with you and Dennis for the weekend. I can just see you sitting on the sofa with a grandkid on either side of you with your arms around them. Travis and Kristi and the boys came down to the coast yesterday so they could be here when we arrived and help us get the trailer set up, then we took them to dinner. Family is the best ever. I got the birthday card from you today and it's so sweet and thoughtful! Thanks again for the flower pin, the DPN holder, the cute little bird and the wonderful limey green cotton yarn! You are so generous and thoughtful. I hope you get to come back to Portland again soon. Have fun.. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  3. Hello Betsy. Your post is so full of joy- wonderful. I can definitely 'hear' your excitement! Have a truly wonderful time with your family. I look forward to hearing all about and seeing photos. Next weekend my sons will be here together along with their wives and our grandchildren. Youngest lives nearby but the eldest, Matthew lives in Yorkshire, nowhere near as far away as your family but with everyone's various commitments the last time we were all together was at the beginning of March- the last time I saw Matthew and family. So I also am excited :-) Anne x

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  4. My heart is brimming with happiness for you Betsy! The kids and grandkids home, your improving health and all your beautiful new yarn. I can't wait to hear about your visit but I want you to stay off the computer while your precious family is there, you deserve to savor every single minute with them.
    Have a wonderful time,
    MEredith

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  5. I am thrilled to read your post today and feel your excitement. What a wonderful weekend you are going to have, I am also thrilled to hear about your improving health, long may that last. Take care.

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  6. Oh yarn again? Love it! Glad your boys will be there soon. Glad you're still enjoying your light. I have one I need to set out soon. The solar lights have been selling like crazy at the hardware store lately. Our grass needs mowed but not til weekend. But now it's raining next few days. Have a good weekend with your family. Hugs!

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  7. Oh Betsy, I can feel your excitement! I hope you have had a wonderful time with your family!!! I can't wait to hear all about it.
    Love the new yarn. So pretty!
    xo Kris

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