My Soap Box

Collossians 3:23-24 "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."

This is the passage than runs through my head every time that I am at work, especially when I feel like banging some heads together. As a follower of Christ, I think it's easy for us to remember this at our jobs, every day, during the week or whenever you work.

But you know when I think it's hard to remember this? On Sunday morning. When you are setting up tables in the foyer, or unpacking the trailer, or unwinding cables, teaching children, it's hard, sometimes to really put into perspective why you are doing what you do. I think people feel obligated to serve for one reason or another, to avoid guilt, to not let your pastor down, etc. But what does the Bible say about that? it says WHATEVER you do, work at it WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AS WORKING FOR THE LORD.

Ever wonder why you're getting fatigued in your service at church? Ever feel like you "need a break"? Ever feel like something or someone pissed you off, so you're just going to stop being a servant? Maybe even leave? Take a good hard look at your intentions. I mean, seriously. Examine your heart. Pray to our LORD about it. Why are you being a servant in the first place? You can't have 2 masters! If you try, you will fail one of them. You have a choice. Serve man (that includes selfish reasons for serving) or serve God.

Be committed! Have fun! Do something you love! And if something you love isn't available to do, do something else and have a good attitude about it! Do I serve God b/c I think our church is awesome? Or because I think we have all the answers? Absolutely not! I serve b/c God called me to be in the place that I am, and b/c I love God and want to do whatever I can to please Him!

IT IS THE LORD CHRIST YOU ARE SERVING!

What??!? It's only been a year! Seriously, in a real lifetime perspective, that's nothing! OK, I need this outlet, I want to write, I want to remember things that happen when my brain feels like letting the supposed unforgettable moments of my life slip through the cracks.

Judah started first grade today. All day--eating lunch in the cafeteria--sitting at his own desk--first grade. I'm a little overwhelmed! But him? He's doing great. Loved every single second of his new adventure. I'm not sure I expected anything different out of him, he's so much like Brent in new or unfamiliar situations. He is a rock, unmovable, unshakable, and takes everything with a grain of salt. He is my little champ, and I love that about him.

The summer of 2010 brought alot of activity to our schedule. Jude and I spent 2 weeks in Idaho with family and friends. We got 10 days of a wonderful visit with my sister and her fam. We had such a blast having a full house while they were here. We high-tailed it to the beach a dozen or so times, and went swimming at friends pools more often than that. Judah turned into a little brown bean, despite my sunscreen efforts. Brent put in hundreds of hours at work, thank you LORD, and hoofed around the Zoo and Wild Animal Park with us as often as we could. We planted a container garden in early May, and are now enjoying more zucchinis and tomatoes than we know what to do with. Brent and I celebrated our 11 year anniversary with a dinner cruise on the SanDiego harbor, and tried to squeeze in as many other date nights as possible. Judah and I attended an alpaca shearing and brought home 2 fleeces. I crafted as often as I could squeeze it in, knitting here, dyeing there, and spinning when it was cool enough that the wool wouldn't stick to my fingers. I've been a real slacker as a photographer..it's all part of the shame. No good pictures = nothing for me to blog about. We've had a few days of down time, but we found them rather boring in general. So I'm fairly content to settle into a nice little schedule of school days.

Playing drums with Dad

My little ham

Wool roving all the colors of the rainbow

Judah with a baby alpaca

a knitted set of monsters for my friend Billie's baby boy

Our little garden around July...I think.

One of my dad's bird houses. They are fabulous!

A scarf I knit out of my own handspun yarn

for Judah's Kindergarten teacher

First day of First Grade!!

Our anniversary date

The Birthday Boy

He's a F.I.V.E. year old now. Hard to believe it, I know....it's a little freaky for me too. Judah was arguing with me this morning about being 5, and he said, "I will be 5 when it looks like a birthday party." So, I guess he's more correct than he realizes, since he won't technically be 5 until about 4:00 or so this afternoon (5:00 Idaho time...). Big Spiderman birthday plans are in store, including a pinata, which seems to have become a tradition.

Grandma and Grandpa are here to help celebrate the big day, we've already been to Disneyland, so there are plenty of pictures to come! Stay tuned!

Pictures? How about some pictures!

Some more pics of our Anniversary weekend! We had such a great time, it was MUCH needed, and so appreciated!


The trees at Seaport Village


Coronado Beach


a view of downtown


The Coronado bridge



Goofy happy.


Goofy hubby.


blurry first day of school pic. I *might* have been a bit nervous....


lining up. big kid.


Judah's classroom

A Week Ago

This was the view from my bed...



Now, I know you see a parking lot and a street, but all I can see are the palm trees and the harbor!

Brent and I had a great time on our little 10 year anniversary getaway, with much thanks to Laurie for the great deal on the room, and thanks to Jamie for being the babysitting machine for Judah!!


More pictures to come when I'm not so pissed at the lousy internet connection.

It's the first day of the rest of your life, Judah.

No it's not mom!!

He has no idea that school will dominate his energy, time, thoughts, emotions, ....life....from now until he's a man. wow. This is scary. How did I get out of that Kindergarten classroom without crying today? I guess I knew I had to, I didn't want him to think I was sad b/c I'm not sad. I'm soooo happy. but in a sad sort of way. Every mom knows this feeling. I'm glad I'm not alone.

Brent was talking to him mom about his first day of Kindergarten, and she told him that she cried. He asked if I was going to cry and I told him I might. He was a little confused as to why I might cry or why his mom did. REALLY??? ugh. men. Love that man, but for reals....seriously? I told him that I guess it's different for moms than it is for dads, at least stay at home moms. You spend pretty much 24 hours a day (minus sleep time) for FIVE years with a person, and then one day, you just leave them...in a room with 24 other kids and only ONE adult? Are we all clinically insane? yes. yes we are.

I didn't just leave Judah behind. I left my heart. I guess that's what makes you want to cry. The only thing that held the tears in until I reached the car was knowing that I am still doing what is best for Judah. He needs this, he will grow and blossom so much in school. I am confident of this. The smile on his face as he waved goodbye was priceless. I'm glad that, for once, I got a milestone on video.

They're all gone??

My Inner Nerd

granted, I've never heard of hyperbolic space or hyperbolic geometry before this, but it really intrigued me. (and yes, it has to do with yarn, but watch it anyway. it just might blow your mind. except, of course for the hudreds of millions of years part...)

A New Hat

I made this hat for Judah this week. do you think he likes it?


No, he does, I promise. that was just at the end of our photo session, and he was done. There are much better picture. Better, but not cuter than that pouty face!

Did you miss this face?

I promise, I'm on my way to blog land again. It's time I got off my arse and posted something.

It's beginning to smell alot like Christmas....

Now, I know that's not how the song goes, I really do. But this is one thing I've learned this year. I can decorate all I want, and believe me, I have this year. I went all out (for me....) I decided that if we weren't going to Idaho for Christmas, it was going to BE CHRISTMAS here! So we got our tree in record time, set up all the Christmas decorations I own, and decked the halls. It's been COLD here too! Even had to scrape the car the other morning. But it still didn't feel the same. not at all. Until I baked.

Ah yes, that intoxicating smell of Christmas goodies seeping out of the oven. It is good. and then it hit me. I smell Christmas. I can look at a fake tree all day, and admire how perfect it is, with it's prelit branches, and evenly spaced ornaments. But the smell of a real pine tree filling my living room, THAT is Christmas. The almond spritz cookies, topped with holiday sprinkles, those smell like Christmas. The peanut butter bon-bons, the smell of the chocolate melting on the stove, it fills me with cheer like nothing can. snickerdoodles, gingersnaps, muddy buddies, fudge.....


ok, I had better stop before I gain 15 pounds just from WRITING this!!


anyway, just wanted to share my super secret tip about Christmas.

Stop and smell the season.

Is it just me,

or has the Christmas shopping frenzie started WAY TOO EARLY?!?!?!? I can't go anywhere! The traffic is always horrid, and people are MEAN! I haven't even done any shopping for actual presents yet, but I feel like this started earlier than normal!

In fact, I'm trying really hard to not buy Christmas gifts this year. I think I'll have to, in one situation or another, but I'm really enjoying this non-materialistic year. Now, those of you that usually get a Christmas gift from me, worry not. All gifts are being MADE this year! yay! Now you get a personal touch, and the thought, that every time you wear/use/whatever the gift you will be getting from me, I have touched EVERY SINGE INCH OF THAT YARN! Maybe that doesn't really mean that much to you, maybe you'd rather have a Gift Card to Starbucks, maybe that creeps you out a little bit! ;-) But it means alot to me. It means I'm not forced to participate in the madness of the mall in December, and I don't have to get pissed at someone else that grabbed that last fondue pot off the shelf. Now, I did have to buy the yarn. Or the fiber to make the yarn. But not all of it. Some of it I recieved in a trade or a swap! Some of it is international yarn!! WOOT!

Now, all of this does depend on if I can reach my deadlines.....I really truly hope that none of you have to open up a box full of yarn, needles, and a picture of what you were supposed to get.....I'm going to try to not make that happen.

Now for something completely different.....

can you see the glee???

stuffing it all in....

to one post. Knitting stuff, that is. This isn't a knitting blog, but knitting, crocheting, spinning....it's all a part of me, so I'm going to do something my mom taught me. Stuff it all in to one place. That's what she used to do with My brother's new clothes at Christmas. I still remember the sighs Nick used to let out when he'd open that one giant overstuffed box of sweat suits, pajamas, pants, t-shirts, sweatshirts, socks and underwear. But mom knew that she'd only have to hear that sigh one time....if all the clothing related presents were in one box.

So here it is----what have been keeping my hands busy, and my brain working.

Some new yarn I dyed

some new yarn I spun

This spindle

And this fiber

became this yarn

Fiber I dyed

Felted Bags

More Handspun yarn

Emily's birthday purse (I almost kept it)

Now, at this point if you're thinking, "Crap, there's MORE????" the answer is yes. Feel free to take a potty break, get a new cup of coffee, grab a turkey leg, and sift through some more. Or go look at some of my favorite photos. Not mine. Not of yarn.

Some sewing and embroidery

Another bag

slippers for ME!!

A funky crocheted scarf

And pretty much everything else I'm working on is SUPER SECRET!!!! (aka Christmas goodies)

Alright. I got that out of my system. Starting after I've stuffed myself sufficiently with Turkey and mashed potatoes, I'll post something non-fibery.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!