First post in 18 months and I'm already quoting Frozen

After a little more than 18 months of no posts, I am slowly making my way back. I'm not counting on the readers to be back, but that's completely fine. Writing is something I miss so much, but when we added two whole people to our family in one day...well, that tends to derail a few 'side' projects. Take my knitting, for instance. It was more than a year after the babies were born until I picked up my needles (strike that, I think I took my knitting bag on our Christmas 2012 visit but maybe got two rows done). Writing and knitting, even photography, took a long backseat ride for a while. I knew there was no real preparation for having twins, and it has taught me that life is gloriously insane at times.

I want to write with purpose, but I'm not going to hold myself to a 'must-blog-every-day' standard. I don't even get to shower every day for the most part. I like sharing humor, and my life in photos, but I also like to write about heavier things. I have not been without struggles these past 21 months (that's how old my babies are tomorrow). Like any mom, I have had days of struggling. And I can hardly go anywhere without hearing, "you've got your hands full!" Yes. Full. But my heart has also been full. Of course, some days I have to stop and tell myself to be more thankful. I can see Infertile Tracey glaring at me from the corner, a reminder that this is what my heart ached for...and what so many other women still ache for.

Backing off the heavy stuff now. Again, I write as though no one will read this, and that is truly okay. It is simply a creative outlet for me, maybe something my kids will appreciate waaaaaay down the line. Who knows where blogs will be then...

That's all for now. It feels like I'm writing my first post, and I have nothing to say except, "Hi Internet, here I am!" And now I hear Olaf in my head: "Hi, I'm Olaf, and I like warm hugs!" Yikes.

Wordless Wednesday

Sting First, Then Knitting

Last week I mentioned my nephew's 15th birthday. But just two days after that was another important anniversary -- 15 years since my first Sting concert. I joke that this date is how I remember Kaleb's birthday, and sometimes it is depending on how my memory is working at the time!

I still remember that concert well. It was a little more than two years into my Sting obsession, and I'd come to believe there was no way I'd ever see him in concert. Remember, this was before you could just grab your laptop/smartphone and Google ticket info. If you wanted a concert ticket, you had to either physically wait in line or call a box office phone number. So how did I find out about the concert? I saw a commercial on TV, and my eyes nearly popped out of their sockets!

So anyway...there's more to that story, but I won't go into it this time. The point is, Sting isn't touring constantly. It's about every four years or so, but it can vary. Last year Casey and I saw him in Houston with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for his 'Symphonicity' tour. Probably our favorite yet, and I remember wondering how long it would be before I'd see him live again. Fortunately for me Sting will be celebrating his 60th birthday and his 25-year solo career in less than a month. So, why not go on tour again? All I have to say about this is, yay for me!

Okay, now a totally unrelated note. I'm considering trying out a new knitting pattern, but I want to know if anyone else likes this as much as I do. Have you heard of arm warmers? I think I had before I saw this pattern, but forgot about them. But when I saw the photo I thought they were adorable. Would you wear them? I'm actually thinking about school color arm warmers, but also just fun color arm warmers. Let me know what you think, and please be honest! Click here for the link.

Somebody I Know Must Work at This Place

Cafe Press, you know me all too well...

Knitted With Love

 I started working on my first ever cable pattern, Lion Brand's Tree of Life Afghan, last August or September. I was knitting it for my mom -- not just because she's my mom and I love her, but really it's for one main reason.

When I was in the hospital for three months back in 2006, she devoted two of those months of her own life to watch over my baby boy. Granted, she's his grandmother, but this meant being far from her own home and very alone for much of the time. It was exhausting work, and eventually Casey and my dad and I convinced her that she needed a break.

There is nothing you can do to replace that time and effort and love that she gave to Miles in my place. Of course I wish it had been 'the normal way' -- me being home and her helping out where I needed and saying goodbye after a short time. As it was, I could barely care for myself much less my newborn baby. She stepped in without a thought, and so I knew that one day I would do something that took work with my own hands to show her my love.

It doesn't do justice or show enough thanks -- nothing ever will -- but it leaves with her a small piece of myself just as she did those four years ago in giving love to a baby who was waiting on his mama.

Thanks Mom.