Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Overwhelmed

I've been so overwhelmed lately.  I'm trying to deal with so much, and it's just not working.  God has been telling me to simplify, and I'm trying, but in order to do so, He's got to help me.  I'm beginning to see resolutions to one situation of many (I'll get to that later), but hey, it's a start. 

First of all, please keep my grandfather, and our family in your prayers.  He has kidney disease, and started dialysis several months ago.  He has been in and out of the hospital ever since, and is now struggling with severe congestive heart failure, severe heart disease, an 80% blockage in his heart valve, COPD, and an abdominal aneurysm.  The dislysis is making his body so incredibly weak, and due to the weakness, the congestive heart failure worsens.  The fluid buildup makes it hard for him to breathe, and relief is only brought with dialysis.  It's a vicious cycle. Yesterday we found out that he is being sent home from the hospital soon and will be under Hospice care.  He and my grandmother have been married 60 years. 

A family member made his a very pretty lap quilt to take to dialysis, but he oftern bleeds, and doesn't want to stain the quilt, so I made him a brick stitch afghan to use. 
The one thing that seems to be resolving itself is a position I volunteer for at church.  It's just time for me to move on, and God seems to be asking me to be patient as He fills that roll with someone else.

I've also participated in 2 swaps on Ravelry, and my swap partners have been awesome!  Swaps are so much fun!  You make something according to the criteria decided on prior to you joining the swap, and you send it to your assigned person along with any goodies you'd like to include, then someone else does the same for you.  I'm still trying to get creative with little things to include in the swap package.  Mom gave me some good ideas for the next swap I do.

I suckered my dad into one of my projects.  I wanted to make a yarn swift, and dad had the tools, so he joined in on my project.  For some spur of thhe moment tools, our neighbor pitched in and helped me out.  I found the DIY instructions on Crafty Diversions.  The swift was easy to make; I just need to practice drilling straight!  After I was done with it, I thought I'd stain it, for a nice, pretty look.  I'm quite happy with the results.  Now, I just have to find a ball winder...


Another project I've taken up is spinning.  I'm attempting to learn to spin yarn on a drop spindle.  I'm not doing too well, but I've also not been devoting a lot of time to it - I've been trying to finish and start other things!  We're going to be going to Gatlinburg TN soon, hopefully, and I'm wanting to go to the Spinnery there. 

A non-yarn project I'm now into is training for a 5k I plan to run with my sister in August.  I got a jogging stroller for a great deal at a church consignment sale, and have been pushing Sweet E in it while I run.  I figured that I'm pushing 47+ extra pounds of weight when I run, which is no easy task.  Especially uphill!

I need to update you on several other projects - current and upcoming, so I'll hopefully be posting again soon!