Back to School - for Mama

Brian is now with his mother again, but I have to say that I pride myself on the fact that I finally seem to have found the perfect gift for him! Brian was completely blown away by the writing set.

I have loved using a quill and ink as well as the sealing waxes, so I figured he would like them as well - especially since he fancies himself an author who just hasn't yet been published. 

I must admit that I was shocked that Brian chose to return to his mother, even after he finally seemed to understand the predicament he placed himself in. During a conversation a couple weeks ago, Brian seemed to finally realize that he only has months before he has to plan for the rest of his life. Sadly, he is completely unprepared.  He has no idea how he is going to manage the application fees, he didn't understand that student loans don't cover the entire amount of school, and then there was the moment when he finally seemed to understand that I may have just been what was placed in his life so "God would provide."  Even with the understanding that he is better off in California, he returned to his mother.  I don't get it, but he refused to acknowledge the offer to stay with Ken and me, so it's completely on him.

Work has resumed for me. I am glad that I did not plan for it to go smoothly or be a wonderful experience.  The start of this school year is just as crappy as all the previous years - tons of really great ideas and plans shot down by those in charge.  Oh well.  I worked my proverbial ass off last year and still only "met expectations," so I do not plan to exert myself anymore than necessary.  Of course, I am a consummate professional and an over-achiever.  We'll see if I can contain the amount of work that I do when only paid for 40 hours.

Ken is working very hard to help create the prototype for the stitching stand that we hope to be able to market.  Unfortunately, I am having a very difficult time trying to balance the various directions I get pulled in given a single day which is making things difficult for Ken as well as making me physically miserable.

I took a moment to try out a recipe that I found online for easy cobbler.  My creation did not look anything like the picture, but when it was added to the vanilla bean ice cream, it was very tasty.

I also was finally able to pick up Jordan's baby sampler from the framer. They had to fix the work that was done so it was acceptable to me. She is excited to see it hanging on her wall in her room - after so long!!

It was so difficult for me to create this piece.  I had almost finished it when Jordan was born, even with such a busy life of raising the girls - including a step-daughter, going to school and managing the house all while on bedrest.  Yeah, my ex-husband was no help whatsoever. But then, I just didn't have the time to stitch as I had to quickly return to work, and life was getting way too busy.

Then there was the horrible day when the ex beat the crap out of me in front of the girls.  As part of his way to teach me a lesson, he took the stitching piece from the stand and shredded it in front of me. Somehow, this was the same as his daughter tossing some of his things on the floor.  Sadly, he has never understood that it was Jordan's and not mine.

Years later, I started stitching again. Jordan hated that she did not have one of these on her wall as well, and she was feeling very left out of the family.  I spend a lot of time finding the exact pattern that I had started before.  I still don't understand why it was important to me, but it was. I paid for it, and then started it in August of last year.  Unfortunately, the mental and emotional pain behind it was a bit more than I realized, so it kept getting put aside for me to work on something else.  Last month, I finally finished it, and got it in to be framed.

Now, it hangs in the bedroom with her sisters'.  I am really bummed that I couldn't find a similar frame and mat to match her sisters', but it is on the wall, and she is happy.  I am also amazed by how therapeutic it was for me to finish it.