Thug Life

Of all the hobbies I dabble in, I probably do cross stitch the least. A lot of what I want to stitch is either inappropriate to hang in a home with young children or Halloween-themed. Also, I'm terrible about getting frames for the finished product. I have a pretty great sugar skull cross stitch that I completed a few years ago and it took me at least another year to remember to get a frame for it. 

Cute, right?

I still haven't hung it up lol. 

Anyway, I've recently started to do cross stitch again because a friend of mine (male, 20's) mentioned liking the cross stitch patterns that look old fashioned but say something unexpected.  His favorite was "Damn, it feels good to be a gangsta" and I was thrilled. FINALLY someone appreciates weird cross stitch! For his birthday I made him this: 

Look, I even found a cool frame lol!

My friend gave every indication that he loved the strange gift so I made him this for Christmas:

Well, I began it before Christmas with every intention of giving it to him then, but I didn't actually finish it until like a week ago. I always forget that I'm tired and busy around the holidays and that it's a bad time to try to do time-consuming projects. So yeah, it still lacks a frame. I'm going to try to get one this weekend because I know me - if I don't do it now, I will just hold on to the piece for another month... year... decade... 

I have one more cross stitch project in the works, at least 5 unfinished crochet projects, a painting I want to complete for my husband, and countless other projects in various stages all over my craft room. I have a fertile imagination and hands that like to create but I don't always have the time, materials, or know-how required lol. From now on, I'll post them here when I finish them. 

Until next time! 

Day 12 - 30 Day Writing Challenge

Day 12 - Write about 5 blessings in your life

Well, I have a lot of blessings in my life so I definitely want to complete this post! I've been sick since Sunday night so I am not in my prime and I really want to take a nap BUT I want to put something on the blog. So here we go, in no particular order:

1. My friends. You guys, I have the best friends. When I doubt myself or need help, they are right there. They check on me when I am sick! They love my kiddo. Having friends is such an amazing blessing because you choose each other. You have no formal obligation to each other but you choose each other every day. You tease each other about shortcomings but you also support each other through the hard times and you just do it because you love each other. I can't imagine greater riches than friendship.

2. My creative mind. Maybe it sounds weird to think of something about yourself as a blessing but let me talk you through it: you are a combination of what you were born with and what you have experienced. You might look like someone else and sound like someone else, but you can't think like someone else. I am blessed to be creative and to allow that creativity to become layered and nuanced and exposed is an infinite blessing. This is who I am, who I choose to be, where I plant my flag, and what steers my life and I feel incredibly blessed.

3. Readers/commenters. It's overwhelming to think that people read what I write because they enjoy it. You are spending a moment of your life "listening" to me and I find that both humbling and empowering. You make me feel like my dreams are attainable and that I am not stumbling around alone in the dark. Thank you so much for telling me how you feel and giving advice and being a part of the conversation. Thank you for your silent encouragement. Thank you for being a blessing in my life.

4. My son. Honestly, he has improved my life a million percent. He's challenging and confusing and hilarious and unintentionally brilliant, sometimes all in the same breath. He blows my mind. I miss the baby he was. I love the kiddo he is. I look forward to the guy he will become. Loving him is like loving a million people with the same name, he changes so much and grows all the time. He has depths that even he isn't aware of and it's such a blessing to support him on his life's journey.

5. My husband. Last but certainly not least. If you aren't married to your friend, what are you even doing with your life? He and I have been through rough stuff so our good times seem especially precious. He cares for me when I'm sick, worries about me when he's away, and makes me laugh so hard. We have a million in-jokes. He doesn't always "get" me but he tries to support me even so. He's such a good guy and a tremendous blessing in my life.

By the way, today is our 14th anniversary. We are low-key people and I've been sick this week so we hadn't planned anything but we just couldn't let the day slide by without comment. My friends (blessing) agreed last minute to watch my son (blessing) so my husband (blessing) and I can go out to eat. And I finished this entry with enough time to take a nap before I have to pick up the kiddo. Even an ordinary day can be a blessing jackpot if you let it.