I have been struggling with listening to the promptings of the Holy Ghost recently. It is not that I have not listened at all. It is more like I do not trust myself enough to realize that is what is going on some times making me learn some hard lessons. For example, last week we were hit with a snow storm with extremely strong wind gusts. It was horrible. The drive home from work was terrifying. There were times I could not see the front of my own car. The thing is, I could have saved myself from this drive if I had not dismissed the promptings I had been given to stay home that morning. I thought I was over reacting to the rain and weather report. I was wrong.
This week, I made a goal to listen the promptings I was given. I think Heavenly Father was also determined to make sure I listened as well. Wednesday night, I prayed to know what small step I could make to help me get healthier because my pants are getting tighter and I have been feeling bloated and generally having a lot of pains that I would not otherwise have if I were to take care of myself. Thursday, I went for a walk with my friend on my lunch break and decided to stretch after while she changed back into her work shoes. I did something to my leg that caused a lot of pain.Then, I sat down on the window sill to get off of that leg and try to wait out the pain. Next thing I knew, I was on the ground with her holding my head yelling my name and one of the managers of the call center telling me to stay down and wait for the paramedics to get there. The other manager stood between the sun and me to make sure I was in the shade as best as possible. I got checked out and it was decided that I was going to be ok. So many people came to my desk to check on me that I decided to call the doctor's office. They did not ask if I wanted to come in; they just asked if I could come in around 4:00 (about an hour after I finally called them). The doctor determined two things: I was dehydrated, and I needed to take my thyroid medicine. This was the answer I was given. Not a simple prompting. It was more like a compelling. I guess Heavenly Father got tired of me ignoring the promptings as well. Like any good parent, He told my stubborn self in a more stern way that He has in the past so that I would finally listen. So...I have a good story to tell and know that my first moves need to be to drink more water and take the medication that I know I have to take for the rest of my life no matter how inconvenient it is to pick up.
Saturday, March 23, 2019
Saturday, January 5, 2019
Knitting Growth
This year has been a great year of growth in many ways. One area I am very excited about has been with my knitting. I pushed myself harder than I had before to learn things that I had never tried before and started listening to a few podcasts that helped grow the desire to knit more and more. Thanks to a dear friend, I was, also, invited to do things I would have never done otherwise.
I was invited to join a "12 projects in 12 months" group on Facebook where we were challenged to finish at least one project each month of the year. I was not able to do this every month. At least once, I challenged myself to projects that were too big, and there were times that I did not have the time because of other obligations (school, kids, etc.). Over all, I could say that I did finish more projects than I had in years past thanks to the accountability I felt in this group of ladies who were obviously less shy about their abilities than I. I even finished my first pair of socks (tube socks count)!
A few weeks before school started, the same friend invited me to be a test knitter for her lace knitting class online. I was so excited and honored to be asked. I thought I was pretty good at lace. I love lace and had knitted quite a bit of it. However, I learned a lot about knitting from this class. I had heard of some the techniques, but had no idea how they would improve my knitting. I told her when a pattern confused me, and she thanked me and made the patterns more clear (she would have done this for anyone). Unfortunately, I did not complete the shawl/scarf that was given as a final project. It was the most complex lace I have ever attempted. I will finish it this year, though. I just need some uninterrupted time to concentrate on the pattern.
One last big accomplishment I did this year was I knit something without a pattern. I know there are many knitters that do this, but I am not usually one of those people. One thing I love about knitting is that there is a pattern to follow making me not have to think about is. The day before celebrating Christmas with my sister, there I was making a cowl for her without a pattern. I had tried two ear warming headbands that just weren't working for me. I quickly cast on 165 stitches in circular needs with a yarn I was sure my sister would like. It was simple, but perfect. she liked the color and could wrap it around twice. With how cold this winter has been, I am glad I changed my plan.
This next year will be even bigger for me. I have plans for even more growth. First of all, I am going to knit my way through I Can't Believe I'm Knitting Socks by Leisure Arts. I got this book many years ago (I was still married to John), but I have never actually worked out of it. I am very interested in knitting socks, so this book will be used until all of the patterns are knit out of it. Next, I am going to finish 3 shawls that I have on the needles. One is the one from the lace knitting class that I started before I had to devote my time to school. Another one was started when I traveled to Michigan to for my Grandpa's funeral. The third is a circular shawl that I love that I started with yarn I got for my birthday 2 1/2 years ago. All I have left on that one is about a forth of the border (this border is the absolutely black hole knitting). Finally, I am going to finally make some sweaters. I started knitting because I was so memorized by a mom on a field trip making a sweater for one of her kids. I need to stop being a baby and actually make sweaters. If I stop telling myself that it will be too hard, then I can do it. My plan is to make a sweater for Noel first (she is not a small child, but she is the smallest in my house). Then, I will make one for me. If the boys decide they would like me to make them sweaters, I will do that as well. They are not really sweater people though. I know that I can make other things this year as well, but I don't know what they would be at this time. (I have been known to throw in a dishcloth or two on a whim and have my eye on a few hat patterns.)
I am so happy with the skills that I gained over the last year and thankful to my dear friend for helping push me to try things that I had not tried before. It was a great knitting year. I can't wait t o find out what I can do with my knitting this year!
I was invited to join a "12 projects in 12 months" group on Facebook where we were challenged to finish at least one project each month of the year. I was not able to do this every month. At least once, I challenged myself to projects that were too big, and there were times that I did not have the time because of other obligations (school, kids, etc.). Over all, I could say that I did finish more projects than I had in years past thanks to the accountability I felt in this group of ladies who were obviously less shy about their abilities than I. I even finished my first pair of socks (tube socks count)!
A few weeks before school started, the same friend invited me to be a test knitter for her lace knitting class online. I was so excited and honored to be asked. I thought I was pretty good at lace. I love lace and had knitted quite a bit of it. However, I learned a lot about knitting from this class. I had heard of some the techniques, but had no idea how they would improve my knitting. I told her when a pattern confused me, and she thanked me and made the patterns more clear (she would have done this for anyone). Unfortunately, I did not complete the shawl/scarf that was given as a final project. It was the most complex lace I have ever attempted. I will finish it this year, though. I just need some uninterrupted time to concentrate on the pattern.
One last big accomplishment I did this year was I knit something without a pattern. I know there are many knitters that do this, but I am not usually one of those people. One thing I love about knitting is that there is a pattern to follow making me not have to think about is. The day before celebrating Christmas with my sister, there I was making a cowl for her without a pattern. I had tried two ear warming headbands that just weren't working for me. I quickly cast on 165 stitches in circular needs with a yarn I was sure my sister would like. It was simple, but perfect. she liked the color and could wrap it around twice. With how cold this winter has been, I am glad I changed my plan.
This next year will be even bigger for me. I have plans for even more growth. First of all, I am going to knit my way through I Can't Believe I'm Knitting Socks by Leisure Arts. I got this book many years ago (I was still married to John), but I have never actually worked out of it. I am very interested in knitting socks, so this book will be used until all of the patterns are knit out of it. Next, I am going to finish 3 shawls that I have on the needles. One is the one from the lace knitting class that I started before I had to devote my time to school. Another one was started when I traveled to Michigan to for my Grandpa's funeral. The third is a circular shawl that I love that I started with yarn I got for my birthday 2 1/2 years ago. All I have left on that one is about a forth of the border (this border is the absolutely black hole knitting). Finally, I am going to finally make some sweaters. I started knitting because I was so memorized by a mom on a field trip making a sweater for one of her kids. I need to stop being a baby and actually make sweaters. If I stop telling myself that it will be too hard, then I can do it. My plan is to make a sweater for Noel first (she is not a small child, but she is the smallest in my house). Then, I will make one for me. If the boys decide they would like me to make them sweaters, I will do that as well. They are not really sweater people though. I know that I can make other things this year as well, but I don't know what they would be at this time. (I have been known to throw in a dishcloth or two on a whim and have my eye on a few hat patterns.)
I am so happy with the skills that I gained over the last year and thankful to my dear friend for helping push me to try things that I had not tried before. It was a great knitting year. I can't wait t o find out what I can do with my knitting this year!
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