waving hello- long overdue

Hello my friends, it's been quite a roller coaster ride these past few months.  I have many changes in my life, some good, some sad, making the most of it.  I want to apologize for being away so long, my intentions are to sit and write a post, and then life keeps happening.

Back in September, my French Bulldog was diagnosed with a heart tumor, I was told it is what it is, to love him and take him home(this was from the cardiologist he saw, Chemo and a surgery to remove the sac around his heart will just help short term, so I was a mess over this, my baby boy, (7 1/2 years old is dying)  The good news is that the practice he sees for his check ups practices herbology  and I took him in as another tumor developed on his paw, to make a long story short, he is now on herbal chemotherapy and it is cheap!!!!, his tumor on his paw was gone in 3 weeks and we are hopeful that his heart tumor has shrunk, he's acting like he always has and i'm keeping my fingers crossed he is doing good and I can have another year with him.

In November my husband quit his job after months of harassment and just stuff going on that wasn't nice, so he quit, more on that journey to come.
Also in November my son decided to go to Pittsburgh to live with his dad, I was so sad and upset, hardest thing I had to do was say goodbye, but it was best for all of us.  He is happier, I'm doing better with the stress gone.  He wasn't happy, his grades were suffering, all I want is for him to graduate high school this year.

January, well still no job for hubby and my 3 year old Golden has started to have seizures, and now they are getting frequent and more violent, so she goes back to the vet tomorrow, we were able to record them and have been keeping a record as instructed....
- hubby also had an interview in Erie Pa (where I am from) with Penelec.....more interviews around Cincinnati and none have called him back ....he accepted the Penelec offer 2 weeks ago.....we are now moving to Erie this summer, hubby starts in a little less in 2 weeks.

Now we are trying to prep this house for the market, and look for a house in Erie, also find out that my dad has cancer again, this time in his lungs and is rapidly declining...now I know why God is taking us to Erie and this is the only job offer...everything happens for a reason.  I will be home to help my parents, and closer to Pittsburgh so I can visit my son.

Sigh, no what to do with a 17 year old girl who wants to stay here for College. She's already been accepted, already spending her senior year at his college, the problem is they don't have dorms on this campus, so we are trying to figure out what to do with her, but I know it will all work out.

In the mean time....my mom taught me how to knit while we visited her over the holiday so now I can't stop knitting, mostly ripping but knitting to :)

I have manged to do some cross stitch, I did Hooked on Exchanging year of the sheep which is happening currently.  Hopefully I can post a picture of what I did by next week.  I am very pleased and want to make one for myself now.

Things are good, things are bad, everything happens for a reason and I know God will get me through this.

Waving to you all  and hoping I can reconnect more over the next few months.

Hugs Dawn

where have I been? I've lost my mind, lol

Hello everyone...

Just stopping by to say hello, I still check in to see what everyone has been up to but my comments have become less and less and my posts here have become non existent.  So much going on.

Little stitching has been done, here and there, lots of WIPS.  I have Penny Pumpkin nearly done and I finished Season's Greetings, LHN new ornament.  I have lots of projects kitted up but no time to do it.  I just saw what Denise posted at Riverside Stitching, I agree with her post and find myself with little time to do anything.  I love my work with the wee little one in my job.  I'm telling you, getting a hug from the little buggers some days brings me to tears, our workplace motto is Making THE Difference, we are Early Head Start Educators and we do make the difference.  I am a Social Worker, Home Visitor, Educator, Mentor, Therapist, you name it, whatever helps families get out of poverty. The best part is the children.  I think I could rant for pages and still not convey my feelings that I have working for these families.  We have been doing some community outings this month, that has been fun to see the kids with Santa, but we also went to the Festival of Lights at the Zoo, the oohhhs and wows and squeals of delight were fantastic....then I got the flu, so I have been home for the past 5 days, trying to rest and get well, and I'm having no luck, can't even eat toast :(   I wanted a few days off to bake cookies, finish ornaments, Christmas shop....all i've done is stay in the house and be a lump on the couch :(   So here I am telling myself, sit down and write a post.

OK, so where has the time gone....I've started to Volunteer for Kindred Hearts Pet Transport, I love it!!! I've been doing this for a few short months but I am hooked.  I pick up legs around my local area to help dogs get to non kill shelters or to forever homes.  It is so rewarding.  The dogs are so sweet.  I'm having a hard time not keeping them for myself!

My Frenchie has an inoperable tumor on his heart...:(  that took some time getting over the news, he's here, doesn't know he is sick yet, so when he does start to show stress, I'll have some decisions to make.

My son left home, that was a hard week too, he decided it was time to try living with his dad in Pittsburgh, I miss him but we were butting heads so I hope this is a good time for him to pull his head out of his 18 year old behind and figure some things out.  Seems like this is a popular theme amongst my friends with sons this age, lol. The week he was packing was hard but now he is gone and I'm OK, I'm still amazed, I didn't think I could handle it, but it's been a month and I'm doing well.   Actually thinking this may just be a good thing, but when I think of him, I see my lil premie.  Oh Motherhood.

Ashley is doing awesome, she is spending her high school senior year as a freshman at University of Cincinnati, will have a whole year out of the way and paid for before she even really begins.  She loves UC and plans on continuing there.  How can 2 kids be polar opposites?

Oh DH, quit his job last month, ugh, hostile work environment.  Lots of things getting worked on around the house, lol.  He's been interviewing but we figure nothing will happen until the new year.  I've threatened to pimp him out soon.  Lol.

I know these are random thoughts as I try to catch up here.   Yesterday they announced a winner for a local choral competition, and for the 3rd year in a row, Covington Catholic  High School Mens Chamber Choir won.  They deserve every bit of recognition.  Please enjoy their rendition of Hark the Harold Angels sing.  It brings tears to my eyes.  These boys are so gifted.

No pictures, nothing ready to show....just stopping by to wave hello and that I wish everyone  a Merry Christmas and safe travels.  Thinking of you all!

dawn

Making progress

Just stopping in to wave hello!  Enjoying reading everyone patriotic pieces this week.  I've been working on Sweet Violet by WTNT, she so pretty.  I was thinking about doing WTNT Patriotic Poppies....but....I got some new goodies in the mail this week, with that said - I have no idea what will be on my next to do list.  I do know Sweet Violet will be going to Faye at Carolina Stitcher for some of her beautiful finishing.

An overdue hello

Stopping in and saying hello!  

I have been busy with work, it's been such a pleasure to work with the children. Birth to 3 is such a fun age, even he tantrums are comical....but I get to leave after 90 minutes....:). Anywho, it keeps me busy and little time to stitch.  I did manage to finish LHN's Hands to Work.  I am so happy stitching this piece, it brings such happy thoughts.   I was just able to finish it this evening and thought I'd share it with you.

I went to visit my parents over Easter, it was so good to go home.  mom and I made 120 pierogi!  Umm they were sooo good.   I hope to make more soon.  I also had the opportunity to stop at Cross My Heart in Columbus on my way home and treated myself to a few patterns...couldn't resist. 

Hope to start them soon....I also ordered new releases from LHN &  CCN yesterday... Pretty in Perle and Welcome. I hopeless!!  

I hope everyone has a wonderful evening!  Stay blessed.

Dawn

New finish by Faye

I just got back from a 3 day Social Work conference to find a package at my doorstep....

I could barely contain myself....this is a WTNT Dame of the Needle that I did last year and since I had a lil spending money from Mr tax man I treated myself to a finish from Faye at Carolina Stitcher.  She did a beautiful job and I am so glad it's done, I can sew modestly but I cannot do what she did....

Please enjoy

It is so beautiful!!!!!

I am currently working on and nearly finished with LHN's Hands to work...would have been done but....always something going on with a but....I was happily sewing while dd was at soccer practice Monday evening when a trainer brought a tearful girl up to me with a wrist wrapped in ice.  She sprained her tendons in her wrist pretty bad but thankfully no broken bones.   Unfortunately due to a non stop week my stitching has not been touched since.  Such is life.  Onto a new adventure note, DH is starting a new job next month which will involve swing shift, although I am sad he will be gone second shift some nights.....(sincerely miss him) what better way to fill the evenings up ?.....you got it.  Stitching :)   Woo hoo.  Need to find those positive tidbits.  Hoping everyone stays blessed.

Dawn

Finishes and an exchange

Good morning everyone!  

Waving hello to a few new followers.  I haven't disappeared just overwhelmed with working full time again, but I do enjoy the job and cannot believe it's been almost 3 months already.  My stitchy time is next to nothing now but I have managed to get some stitches in here and there.  

First is With thy Needle and Thread. "Jingle Bells". I ran right over to Hobby Lobby and framed him up and think I did a pretty good job, (toot toot).  Secondly is Hearstring Samplery " Baby It's Cold Outsde". I started this beauty last winter and just now finished it up.  The frigid temps was my inspiration...not as happy with my frame job on this one, however it was a pre built frame so I can't complain about that.  

I also did an exchange with Shannon at A Bit of This and That,    She sent me a beautifully done pynkeep by LHN sheep virtue series....and I sent her a snowflake from the 2007 JCS ornament issue.

Well we've had our share of ice, snow and "blizzard bags" waiting to find out what they will do about makeup days. So far we are over our allotted 5 calamity days so the kids have "blizzard bags" of extra work until the governor decides what to do.  

We've got our basement nearly finished...walls up and painted, lights mounted, carpet laid, it's DH man cave but it looks great.  He's been spending his evenings doing the trim work and then we still need to figure out the bar design, we've spent to much time looking at ideas on Pintrest and HGTV.  

I've done great making only one stitchy purchase this year, it's the new LHN Hands to God...I can't wait for it to come.  Last night I started Plum Streets Cinnamon Stars.  

Hope everyone has a fantastic day..hi oh hi oh...off to work I go.

Dawn

A gift and exchange received-

I am blessed and always amazed at this cross stitch blogging community.  These past few years have been wonderful with the exchanges I've participated in and the friends that I have made.

On Thursday I came home to this wonderful gift from dear friend Shirlee, out of the blue and poof, this little treasure for me.  Since this is my first week back to work, and wondering to myself what have I gotten myself into, this gift arrived and brightened my day.  It's only been a week on the job but not being able to stitch at will has definitely put a damper on me.  I have been waking up extra early to give myself an hour of stitching to try and finish some pieces I am working on.  Thank you dear Shirlee for putting some sunshine into my day.

I am also participating in Vonna's LHN blog,   I received this beautiful finished ornament from Nicole, it's the new one that Diane released, Seven Pines.  It's too cute.  I haven't had the time to stitch ornaments for myself this year so it was a pleasant surprise when it arrived in the mail yesterday.  Nicole also included some metallic trims and a Mill Hill beaded Christmas kit. 

I survived my first week of being back in the work force, I had my ups and downs and information overload.  I have adjusted to a slower and leisure life style, lol.  I will have to adjust to deadlines again.  I enjoy my co workers and the non profit agency that I work for.  I've met some of the families we provide services for and have been brought back to why I love being a social worker so much, it isn't for the money!  Anyways, I've switched gears and work with early Headstart families, birth to 3, and I'm in love with the kiddos, already wanted to sneak one in my bag and bring him home with me.  Seeing the kids and how their faces light up makes it all worth while.   Soo, I'm exhausted, not Christmas shopping done, barely any cookies made, but, as always, I am a work in progress and will adjust :)

I hope everyone has a pleasant week with lots of stitchy time.  I hope to fine some minutes to finish off WTNT Jingle Bells.  Hopefully I will get to share my finish with you soon.

Hugs and stitches
Dawn