Merry Christmas! (2025)

I've spent the last 3 days trying to remember how I felt 3 days post-hysterectomy and 3 days post hip-replacement, and I'm still not sure I can pull up those memories. But I did manage to heal from both, and I'm sure I'm on the right track to recover well again. Hopefully I'll forget this pain, too, and God is still so very good!

Today I am thankful for modern medicine, ice, my TENS unit and my sweet hubby. Couldnt get through this without you! Oh, and Jess. She's also been a peach. 

I hope your Christmas is good, and that you find the light and love of Jesus today. Thanks for stopping by, and Merry Christmas to you while you Knit in Good Health! 

Happy Thanksgiving, 2025 Edition

My wish for you today, as we "officially" welcome the Christmas season (after dinner, of course) is that you would feel loved (because you are,  even if you don't know it)...that you would have much to be thankful for (even if you don't see all of it right now)...and that you would help someone else find those small joys as well (even though you may not have a lot of practice doing that).

You are here for a reason (even if it's only to be my friend), and I am so very thankful for that. 

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health! 

Turkey Day 2024

There have been bumps on our road, things have not always been easy, and illness has been running through our family this Fall. Still, we are thankful here, in the Pretty house, for so much.

We are thankful for God, who always loves and takes care of us, even when things are difficult. 

We are thankful for our family and friends, old and new, for their love is the glue that holds our village together. 

We are thankful for our founding fathers, though we know they were imperfect humans, because they laid the foundations for this country and the freedoms we enjoy here. 

We are thankful for the pioneers of our faith, who taught us about Jesus, about loving God and others, and about living out that love well each day. 

No person or life is perfect, but we all have things to be thankful for. Today is a good day to find those things and share them with those around us. I'm thankful that you stopped by today, and whether you're in the US or someplace else, I hope you'll join me in some intentional thankfulness. 

Thanks for stopping by, Knit in Good Health, and HAPPY THANKSGIVING! 

I'm Late, I'm Late, I'm Late!

It's been a very busy day, our first visit from the girls! There have been games, electronics, cookie and bread baking, and fort building...but not much sitting for Gramma. Lol!

Fun day, and I'll sleep good tonight!

I hope your weekend has been good so far, and Happy Mother's Day to all my Mom-type friends!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

Change of Plans

"Chaaarge it!," said Betty Rubble and Wilma Flintstone with reckless abandon when they were shopping! Despite my own credit card skills, I do very little with reckless abandon, including shopping. Most of what I do is planned out until my stomach hurts from the stress of doing it just right. From my budget (a 12-page excel workbook with all the income allocated to each area by a percentage system and some super-fun formula cells) to the way I wash the laundry (sheets on Tuesday, towels on Wednesday, clothes on Saturday) to putting together a vacation, all tasks are approached with a plan. No matter how hard I try, however, nothing in my life is perfect...or even close. 

Sure, all my planning and doing photos on Instagram and Facebook are the smiley ones (or cats...or yarn...), and I know that many of my friends believe that I lead a charmed life...but really I am just getting by on many days. I plan, and when my plans (frequently) do not work out, I feel my feelings...and I eat my feelings...and they are not good feelings. 

I struggle with planning and making good choices and living with less than good choices, but that's life for all of us, right? Right. So I slap on a smile, even though I occasionally live on the edge of sadness, notsomuch to convince you that I am happy...but to convince ME that I am going to be ok. 

One of the tools that keeps me from jumping off a cliff when I have the sadz, besides not living close to any cliffs, is remembering three truths: 

1. No matter what is going on, God is still good.* 
2. No matter who else has let me down (or who I may be letting down), God keeps his promises.** 
3. No matter how disappointed I may be in any given situation, even when God is not doing what I want Him to do, God is doing what needs to be done. He has a plan.***

So, if God has a plan, plans are good, and I  keep planning. Well, God's plans are good, for sure. My plans may be good, but they are not His plans, so sometimes I have to back the heck up and change my plan. This is really hard for me, and it makes my face look not-smiley...I do not take or post pictures of my "why is this not working?" face. 

When I make that face, I try to stop and breathe and let myself feel it, then remind myself of the three truths that help me to go on. God is good, He keeps his promises and He has a plan. Praise God! Because In the "this is not working" places, I am uber-aware of the fact that I am not good, I break promises and my plans are often foiled. Then what?

My mom used to say, "Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again." Good advice. Keep calm and carry on-ish advice. I am very thankful for good advice, and that God is working good things, even in my failure. So I will keep planning, my plans will keep failing and I will make adjustments. Life goes on, with or without me and my face. 

Thankfulness (1 Thessalonians 5:18) gets me through the rough stuff and helps me to slap on that smile. I am thankful for a place to live and sleep in comfort, for food in my belly (often more than I need) and clothes on my back. I am even thankful for a good parking space, when I happen to find one. Most of all, I am thankful that God provides a way for me, even when my plans fail. I am thankful to have his plans.

What are you thankful for? I know you can find something, if you look long and hard enough. So breathe, feel the feelings, then slap on a smile and come knit with me. You will likely find more things to be thankful for each time you look...keep looking.

In the meantime, thanks for stopping by. I hope that you will Knit in Good Health and Thankfulness, today and always.

*God is still good. (1 John 1:5; Psalm 145:9)

**God keeps his promises. (Joshua 21:45; Hebrews 6:13-18)

***God has a plan. (Romans 8:28 & 12:2)

Giving Thanks

As Thanksgiving approaches, I find myself thankful for lots of things. The thing I am most thankful for this year, though, is that my depression is finally lifting. 2016 has brought the strangest combination of events, many of them tragic, but I am ok. I am finally ok. After roughly 6 months of not being ok, suddenly I am...and I am so thankful for that. 

I am also thankful for a new job, with a new agent, that starts the first of December.

I am thankful that I have finished taking my pre-licensing courses and exams, passing each one and obtaining my licenses to sell insurance.

I am thankful that I have had some time off to heal.

I am thankful to have had a place and a job, provided by a very good friend, and for the opportunity to turn that temporary job into a new career. 

I am thankful for many friends who have hugged me and listened to my stories, reaching out with encouragement and affirmation when I needed it most. 

I am thankful that I have enough...enough to provide for my every need, enough to see me through a difficult time, and enough to know that I am loved beyond measure.

I am thankful for medical professionals and modern medicine that has given me the proverbial "new lease" on life. 

I am thankful for my God, my Savior, and the faith that has seen me through some dark, dark days. All of the good in my life comes directly from His hand, and he has provided for me an abundant life. 

Finally, I am thankful that I have my yarny mojo back. There was a time, it lasted much longer than I expected it would, that I did not feel like knitting. It's ok, you can gasp at that...it is shocking. :) But, I am especially glad that it is back, since there was a baby shower last week. I was able to bring this stash of goodies for the mother- and father-to-be, and they were so appreciative:

The masterpiece was an afghan that was not knitted, but crocheted. It turned out better that I could have hoped, and it was quite well received by the expectant couple!

Both of them love Jesus and they love music, so it was important to me that this song play a part in their nursery preparations. It was a good choice, and now I can rest my fingers for a moment before it's time for the real Christmas knitting rush! 

I hope that you have much to be thankful for this week and always. Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Projects  pictured include the following:

Jesus Loves Me afghan, Snuggle doll, bunting and hat, sweater and hat.

Ask Me Anything!

Back in June, I mentioned that I was thankful, especially to a good friend who had given me a job. I also mentioned there that the job might be temporary, covering for a gal's maternity leave...and it will indeed be temporary. She will return to the office mid-September, and I am glad for her. A young family with a new baby girl and a solid job with a great boss...what a package!

What this means for Pretty is that I am hitting the pavement to find a new job, with my boss's help. Again, so thankful for Chuck...he is a State Farm agent, and since I have become licensed and have really started to understand the company software, he has reached out to a handful of other State Farm agents in the area with whom I have set up some interviews. As a matter of fact, between Tuesday and Thursday, I had 3 interviews...and I have one more scheduled this week! The interviews have gone well, and I have a good feeling about my future. 

Thank you, Chuck! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

In the course of my first three interviews, I answered a lot of questions. A. Lot. of. Questions. But that got me thinking... Here I am, answering lots of questions about who I am to perfect strangers. I wonder if the folks I know have any questions about Pretty? Since I tend toward over-sharing, TMI and "Wow! We really didn't need to know that much about your underwear size, Pretty!" (which is, in essence, why I blog), I don't know if there are any questions left even. 

Have you ever had a question about Pretty? About her knitting? About anything? Leave me a comment, or shoot me an email (prettyknittyjewelry at yahoo dot com) and if I know the answer, I'll blog it! Heck! I'll probably blog it even if I don't have an answer, because 1. I love research, so I am likely to find an answer that I don't have floating in my brain already; and 2. I like to talk - a lot. I like to talk a lot! :)

If there are no questions, I'll just blog about knitting. 

Speaking of knitting, I'll bet the first question that comes to mind for most knitting-blog readers is this: "What are you knitting, Pretty?" So, here you are:

A thank you scarf for a boss/friend who has poured wisdom and knowledge into me, even though I an a "temporary" hire. He saw me floundering about between jobs and, realizing he could help, called me and offered me a place. He also offered encouragement, company training, and much grace as I have started to learn the insurance industry. I don't possess enough words to express my appreciation for all of that, so I simply could not NOT knit for this guy (and there was a second for his son, who also works in his dad's office and was a tremendous encouragement to me)!

There is also some secret knitting...but I can show you this photo:

That doesn't give too much away, right? Oh, you know what it does give away? It's not really knitting...it is crochet! (Good eye, to those of you that caught that!!!) Sometime this fall, there will be more photos, and I'm sure there will be a fairly major reveal. Until then, I'll try to get some progress photos of a certain Hitofude to hold you over. 

So, there you have it. If you have a question, leave it below, or email me. If not, I will blog about knitting...and speaking of knitting (and crochet), I had better get back to it! Christmas is only 4 months away!!!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

Thank You!

To all my friends, both near and far,
Who've extended help and prayer -
Thank you from the depths of my heart
For the time and the love you have shared!

Seriously, so much love and practical help has come my way since my hip replacement surgery, and I simply can't say thank you enough! Now that I am back to work, and I pretty much go to bed as soon as I get home, I wish there were more awake hours to thank each of you in a much more personal way...but I am working on my thank you cards!

Yes, I'm knitting too...simple stuff still...those ambush naps are still a big part of my life!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

Knitting Mittens and Thanking God...

First things first, and according to the title, the first thing is mittens. After that bulky afghan, I have moved onto the smaller projects for summer, and one of those projects is mittens for Peanut! Here they are...

Aren't they CUTE?!? And yes, I have mittens on my desk at work. Doesn't everyone? I won't see Peanut's hands again for a few weeks, so I'm just carrying them around with me everywhere...and that is not weird, get it? Not weird at all. Really.

Now that this pair of mittens is finished, I am already planning another pair in my head. I still have to check the stash to see what yarn I already have...I guess I might have to go shopping...I'll let you know. Now, on to Part 2 of that title...

Remember how I told you that I've started running? Remember how I said that I am uncoordinated, and I was probably the most surprised at my decision to start running? I don't think I ever told you about the falling down though...you see, I fall down. I have fallen down while walking, while going down the stairs, while going up the stairs, even while standing still. I fall down like it's my job some days...and I've been kindof living in fear of my first fall while running since I started this whole adventure, but I'm not waiting for that first fall anymore!

On Friday, I got my Saturday blog post all ready to go (I work ahead sometimes), changed into my running shoes, and out I went for a 25 minute run with Sweetie. Seven minutes into the run...well, I am guessing 7 minutes, I kinda lost track of time...seven minutes in, I kissed the sidewalk. Tripped on who-knows-what, pitched forward and landed on my face... I broke a tooth...

...and my glasses...

...because that's what I landed on.

"So, where's the 'Thanking God' part in that, Pretty???"

I'm really glad that you asked, because I didn't see it at first either. But when I fell, I never even put my arms forward. Sweetie was behind me, and I pitched forward, so he was powerless to do anything to break my fall. I landed on the concrete, on my face, with all I had...like it was my job...and all I got was a broken tooth and broken glasses...no broken face, no black eye (just a tiny cut where my glasses hit my face, and an itty-bitty bruise on my chin that is almost gone now), some little scrapes on my hands and chest where I may have "skidded" into the grass at the edge of the sidewalk...nothing else!

When I got up off that sidewalk, I had to shake off the stunned, and I will not lie to you, I was a little shook for awhile. I cried. Sweetie surveyed the damage, there was a little blood, but all of my limbs worked, and I was fine. We walked home where I cleaned up, calmed down and called the dentist, who made arrangements to fix my tooth Saturday morning.

Aside: I don't know if I've said this before, but I love my dentists! They are the best in normal circumstances, and better than that in special circumstances! Just look at her handiwork:

It was after the dental repair, and after I'd ordered new glasses, that I really started to thank God for taking care of me when life had dealt me such a blow. But it wasn't until Sunday morning, while I was in church singing and praising Him, that I really grasped the whole of it. You see, it must have been the hand of God himself that reached out and caught me before my face hit that sidewalk. I didn't catch me, Sweetie didn't catch me, and I was RUNNING...a middle-aged, uncoordinated, "fluffy" woman, running...yet I am totally ok! No emergency room visits, no visible injuries, nothing! I even went back out on Friday night and ran that 25 minutes after I called the dentist and found some spare specs! I've always heard and read about the mighty right hand of God, and I am pretty sure that I fell on my face, squarely into that hand last Friday. I didn't even know it was there...

Thanks God, for catching me. I don't know why you did it, you've got bigger fish to fry for sure, but I'm grateful to you for keeping me from harm last Friday night. I don't know what's in store for me from here on out, but I'm going to give You the glory in all my victories because I know that I am fearfully and wonderfully made* in Your image.** And even though I sometimes fall down like it's my job, thank you for always picking me up and sending me in the right direction, so that I can be doing the things you have prepared for me to do in this life.*** You are good, all the time. Praise God!

So, there you have it. I am knitting mittens and thanking God this week. I wonder what kind of mitten yarn I have left in the stash...

I hope that you are having a good week, and that you are Knitting in Good Health!

*Psalm 139:14     **Genesis 1:27     ***Ephesians 2:10