Prayer Shawls

As I've mentioned before, my oldest 2 daughters are both getting married this year. In addition to helping with wedding plans, I'm also knitting each daughter a prayer shawl.

Here are photos of the completed blue prayer shawl for my middle daughter.



I am over halfway finished with the pink one I'm working on for the oldest daugher. I'll post a picture of that one when it is completed.

Manic Monday - Wedding Bells Are Ringing

This weekend it hit me like a ton of bricks - both my older two daughters are getting married next year. Two weddings in one year - oh, be still my heart! If this doesn't count as a Manic Monday, then nothing does.

Amber, the oldest, has been engaged for almost two years and I was beginning to think they might never get married. They have bought a house together and for the past two years have been remodeling and refurnishing in their spare time. They plan to marry in June 2009.

Marie, the younger, just got engaged a few months ago, and although she wanted to get married next spring, they have decided to wait until September 2009. Actually, the older one was going to be upset if the younger one married first - sisters, you've gotta love'em!

This means that instead of the stress and commotion that comes with planning a wedding and reception, I'll have double the stress and commotion. I'm just not sure if I'm up to the challenge, but I'll try to muddle through.

Actually, they have both already picked out their dresses, so that is one thing to mark off the list. Now comes picking the perfect locations for the ceremony and the recption, picking out the cake and accessories, and locating the perfect photographer. So many details, so little time.

My baby girls really are growing up. And my future son-in-laws, well they are both wonderful young men and I couldn't be prouder. Plus, they will be easy to remember - they are both named Jason. Now how's that for coincidence?!


So, in the coming months, if you notice me saying strange things or writing strange posts, just ignore me. I'm sure the stress hormones will take residence in my body and drive me to the brink of insanity. Afterall, weddings are one of those things that a mother looks forward to, but it is also one of the things we dread.

Like Father, Like Daughter

Watching my hubby and my daughter on Father's Day, I realized how much she has grown to be like him. They have the same mannerisms, the same way of speaking before they think, and this need to always have the last word. She is the spitting image of her father and I couldn't be prouder.

But reflecting back on my own father, I always thought we had very little in common. My father is a hard worker; he started out in a factory and worked his way up to owning his own body shop. Cars and trucks were his life and when he wasn't working, he was tinkering with one old car after another.

I, on the other hand, was more interested in school, books and learning. While Dad would have his head under a car hood, my head would be in a book, daydreaming of what was to come. My father was the youngest of 8 children; I was the oldest of 3. My father graduated from high school, but I was the first to graduate from college. With all our differences, I always knew my father (and my mother) was behind me.

This Father's Day weekend, I spent the entire weekend flat on my back, suffering from a kidney stone. I'm 45 years old and have never had a kidney stone, although my father and baby sister had suffered from them for years. So, I called my father up several days in a row to ask for advice in dealing with kidney stones, and he was always quick with a response or suggestion.

And then it happened, during one of the lowest points in my life, I realized I had more in common with my father than I thought. Not just the pain and agony of a physical ailment, but the way we both tackle a problem and try to make things better for our family.

So from now on, whenever I compare my daughter and my hubby, I'll also be looking for other ways my father and I are alike. They have always been there, but I was too busy to notice. No more - because today is a new day. Happy Father's Day, Dad, today and every day.


Also visit my other blog at:

http://bobbisbooknook.blogspot.com