No, I am not dead or wounded nor have I left the planet.

I am just really trying to find balance with work and life. Unfortunately, the computer is loosing the battle.

As you all know, I was gainfully unemployed for almost 6 months – a long time to live on little. And, my savings seriously dwindled to nothingness. Thus, I have been working extra shifts any time I can to help build back up a “rainy day fund” – small as it is with gas prices these days.

The dogs are not coping well with 12 hour shifts, which really equate to 14 hour shifts for them. So, it is difficult for me to come home and jump on the computer to catch up with all of you when they are raring to go “do” something. I have just a couple of hours most days for “me” time and that me time needs to include laundry and a trifling of housework every now and then.

Please don’t all think that because I don’t answer your email or I am not blogging that there is nothing going on – it is just a time crunch and there are other things that have been winning on that front!

Add in to this mix teenagers and aging parents and as you can see my week is not long on “extra” time.

I have had many a blog post that have rambled around my brain, but alas, they have not made the “published” column and won’t probably. I can tell you this that knitting and spinning are still what helps me keep my sanity – and I get precious little time to do them either.

In the plus column – school is done for the year!! I am happy to report that we all made it through exams – even the mom unit! My daughter dislocated her shoulder quite severely this spring and thus she is still on limited activity and in physical therapy. This kept her from playing in orchestra – so her exam consisted of writing a massive paper. Oy. Lots of nights of writing and just as many editing and the outcome is still in the wings. Her teacher was going to let her know today how she did. Kind of scary when she plays so beautifully – this is her “easy A” class. Writing, not so much. So, we wait on pins and needles.

I have been working on returning to school myself and was shocked to find out that I have 18 credits that may transfer in their entirety and I am still waiting to hear about an additional 5 that may or may not transfer – but, holy cow – that was most certainly a shocker. I am driven to get a degree and be working smarter not harder. A degree will equate to the ability to live on less hours because I will be making more money!

See, I told you all that I have been busy!

As for knitting content – I am working away on some projects from More Big Girl Knits – I love this book. I really love Jillian and Amy for creating a book that has knits that fit those of us that have a bounty of body! Great patterns! So, each night I knit a bit and relax away the days tensions. I also have knit another EZ Baby Surprise Jacket for a gal at work. Again, with Koigu KPPM – I had enough left over to make Saartje’s Booties and a garter stitched hat. They should be out the door this weekend and in the hands of the expecting mom!

Now, for the news of a lifetime. I never in all my life expected what happened yesterday – ever. Twenty six years ago, I released a child for adoption. It was a time in my life that I was not prepared for parenthood in any way, shape, or form. So, I released a beautiful baby to the family that had been waiting years and years for a baby. I left the files open, but I never, ever expected to hear from that child. It was not that I did not want to talk – it was rather that I knew that this child would be loved tremendously and there would be no “void” for me. To say that I have often thought of this child would be a gross understatement. I thought often and prayed mightily for that child. So imagine my shock and amazement when I listened to a message from an officer at the Oakland County Courthouse yesterday. Imagine more of my amazement when I called back to leave a message at 8:30PM last night to have the phone answered! So, after some pretty amazing conversation – it seems that this child faxed in a request for information on the 2nd of June – and on the 4th of June I was contacted! The Oakland employee told me she was going to make a phone call and she’d call me back. An hour later she did! It seems my long ago released child does in fact want to get in touch with me. The Court employee told me that I would be receiving a letter. I hung up in shock and amazement. I had barely put the phone down and it rang again. It seems that this child is as impulsive as me – no letter writing there – a direct connection. We talked, and laughed, and cried, and talked, and talked, and talked for over an hour.

As you can probably imagine – I got little sleep last night. I spent most of the night giving thanks to God for this most precious gift. I have spent most of the day giving thanks as well!

And, this child called again today! Wonder of all wonders. And, hearing that child say to me – “Hello, It’s me.” made my heart sing with joy.

I will let you all know when I come down from Cloud Nine – although I don’t expect it to be too soon!

I will try and keep you all posted on a more regular basis. Thanks for hanging in there with me!

Have a blessed evening everyone!

Oh… and I do have an extremely delinquent post about some gorgeous May Day Socks that I received from an amazing May Day Sock Pal!!