Some people are blessed to have all their family in one town or state or even region of the country, but I am not that person. Growing up we were in Florida and pretty much everybody else was in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. As an adult I’m still in Florida and my family is still all spread out. My parents are in Florida close to me but my sister is in Missouri, and my brother is in Nevada. We try to all get together at least once a year and it’s a time we all look forward!
This June we met in Utah. It was a spectacular time! We did many fun things but we’ve learned all the kids really want to do is spend time together. They often play games and the favorite this year was “scary basement” it’s where you turn off all the lights in the scary basement and take turns scaring each other, hence the name “scary basement.” There are 8 cousins between 15 and 9, each 9 months apart so there is never a dull moment. Add to that group a super adorable 2-year-old “attention magnet” as her big brother calls her and it really doesn’t get any better than cousin time!
A week or so before we went to Utah a 19-year-old friend of mine (who spent 2 months of her summer break with us) taught me how to crochet. If you’ve been reading my emails or blogs you know I’ve wanted to learn for several years and just haven’t. Well now I have!! And it is the perfect additional hobby for me!!
I’ve realized that I have a seriously hard time not “doing something.” And so now I can sit and talk to people or watch tv with them and crochet at the same time and not feel stressed that I’m not “doing something.” It’s fantastically stress relieving for me! So of course, I had to teach my nieces my new hobby, which is funny since I only know the most basic stitch and have yet to finish a project (I keep running out of yarn). But we had so much fun and the older two went home with giant fluffy blankets and my younger niece took home her oddly shaped purple pillow (pictured above). How she created that I don’t know but that’s the beauty of making something yourself—it’s not like anyone else’s. I loved teaching them the little bit that I know and I love that now when I’m crocheting I think of my nieces. It’s a really beautiful family circle. Maybe someday I’ll teach my little “attention magnet.” I did offer to teach her big brothers but they kindly declined
I pray you all have a wonderful rest of the summer and maybe create something of your own. Remember if you know any authors tell them to enter the writing contest sponsored by my publishing company (aka me)—details below! And my publishing company now has a Facebook page so please follow it or my own page on Facebook or Instagram.
Happy Reading and Crocheting!
