It's a Merry Christmas for a Whole New Reason

Hi all it's been a while since my last post and I just wanted to catch you up and share the goodness of what God has done for my family in the last 2 and 1/2 months of this year. For those of you who keep in contact with me on Twitter and Facebook know that on Sunday, October 2,2011 five of my family members including both of my children were involved in a car accident right out of Detroit, MI. Although, they are still alive these last few months have been challenging for them as well as the caregivers. I never knew how hard it is when all you're doing is to therapy, having test, sitting in the ER and going to various doctors and not to mention the paperwork. As I look at my family I thank God that they are all still here alive and healing. This is the Favored Five on Thanksgiving 2011.

L-R Camille(my youngest fully ejected with closed head injury, facial fractures, c2 and c5 fractures of her neck, broken Left arm, broken right femur, Aunt Juanita (mulitple facial fractures and ribs, fractures of the lumbar spine and broken pelvis)Cousin Niecy(broken Left wrist and hand, broken ribs and total body bruised), Carmen(my oldest lacerations and scraps to her scalp, forhead, chest, hand, back and buttock with bruises to her abodomen, hands, left hip and PTSD)and Shay(complete right leg fractured and fractured left femur)


Everyday I thank God that they are still walking, talking and breathing. There are days of tears, pain and distress but mostly Joy. My Babygirl was completely ejected from the vehicle landing over in the small tree adjacent to the car and my oldest was partially ejected as she became stuck in the dashbaord of the car as she attempted to keep her sister in the car.

I put up a Christmas tree just to keep some symbol of normalcy in the home but there are no gifts under the tree this year as we have spent what we would have used on Doctor visits, medication, gas and household expenses. I share this with you not for pity or sadness but to let you know that material things are just that things. But what I'm looking forward to is getting up on Christmas morning and being able as I do every morning and kiss both my girls while thanking God that I can still hold them and we can laugh together. So as you think on what this season means to you I encourage you to look at your family and be happy that you still have each other.

I will return to share what else is going on with me in a week or so. Love you guys and Happy Holidays from my family to yours.

Grateful

Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011 @ 7p I texted my youngest daughter wanting to know why I had not heard from them. Laid my phone down and at 7 15p my phone rung it was the Monroe County Sherriff asking me if I was Phyllis. I said yes, but I wanted to think it was a cruel joke as he began to say these word. "Im sorry to inform you there has been a car accident and Camille(my younest daughter) was thrown from the car and the four others are injured as well. At that moment I am screaming and calling Jesus and telling him to shut up. The other line is beeping in, it the Chaplin from the hospital in Toledo asking me can I get there ASAP I live 2 1/2 hours away really?

Needless to say God has been good and my family is healing well I know that God is truly good and still in the Miracle working business.
Be blessed

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Made the BIG Move

Two weeks ago I gave my job my resignation and decided to follow my dream of being a Motivational speaker. Yes, it was a very big move especially when times are hard but I believe God when He spoke and said its time. Im thankful for the support of Mr. M and my family and friends.

I feel such a release of things that I just want to shout from the rooftop....people follow your dreams even if you stumble you can be proud of your efforts.

I will soon be advertising my first speaking event just waiting on some paperwork from my manager. I will be sharing more as I get it together.

On a different note I am so looking forward to getting back to my crafting especially my sewing efforts for my self because I need a more dressy wardrobe. I have primarily been in scrubs for the past 3 years. If you are reading this I need to find a goid deal on Copic Markers in a set.

Well I will be back later keep me in your prayers and I look forward to having pics of some FO's and of my Event.

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Cute Pic of the Day

Cute Pic of the Day. My little cousin Amyea 4 months old.

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Hello again I am trying to keep my word and post here regularly. Its currently raining and I want to go out for a Penn Station cheesesteak n fries. So in the mean time I am keeping myself busy by writing to you.

I am still working in my new venture of public speaking and have my first event on October 15th. I thank God for this opportunity and look forward to doing great things and impacting lives of my fellow sisters.

Back to fiber related talk I am looking on Ravelry for some new hat patterns for the winter and look forward to making a few cowls for the season.

Well I hope to be able to reveal my business name and logo and the purpose of my new venture. It looks like Penn Station is winning so I will brave the storm to satisfy my craving.

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Away but Thriving

Its been a very long time since my last post and so much is going on in my life. I think I will put this in a list form.
1. Was asked to be the Director of Outreach at my new church
2. Im preparing for my first Motivational Speaker Event in October(praying it becomes a career)
3. There has been some card making
4. But no knitting, crocheting, or sewing going on.

Now with that beubg said, I hope to return to regularly scheduled blogging.

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Away but Thriving

Its been a very long time since my last post and so much is going on in my life. I think I will put this in a list form.
1. Was asked to be the Director of Outreach at my new church
2. Im preparing for my first Motivational Speaker Event in October(praying it becomes a career)
3. There has been some card making
4. But no knitting, crocheting, or sewing going on.

Now with that beubg said, I hope to return to regularly scheduled blogging.

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Things I wish I had done differently here lately

I was just sitting on the side of my bed and the thought just hit me.

Here are some of those thoughts

I wish that when I chopped off my locs that I would've kept the length then I would be able to do the styles I'm dying totry


I wish that when I was going back to school that I had chose a different major.


I wish my house was all on one level but I thank God for my current home.


These are just a few thoughts that I had this morning but I am greatful for all we have. So with that I will say so long for now.

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Cards......Cards and more Cards Plus another Year Older and Wiser

First I want to celebrate a special personal day for me. Yes it's that time of year again I'm blessed to see another Birthday.

So I decided yesterday to make cards for a few people at church to spread a little Easter cheer.I do not have all of the materials used as I have to be honest and say I bought these supplies so long ago(few years)ago that I don't even have most of the names on them as they are all put in containers and cubbies. I will try to do better in the future but hope you will let me know what you think.

All in all I loved the process of making these cards and learned some new techniques thanks to Youtube videos. It's so nice that so many share their creative knowledge so freely. Thank you so much. Now in the morning I have to clean up the whirlwind of mess that is now my craft table.

I hope that you have a wonderful week and also thank you to my growing Followers. I miss the comradory of my fellow bloggers so please if you don't leave a comment at least check the boxes letting me know if you're at least interested in what's going on here. No lurkers we all have something to offer each other. With that be blessed.

Natural Hair and Crochet

OMG!!! Just realized as I was getting ready to post today that it has been almost a month since my last post. I have to say I loved my life more as a student than I do as an employeed person. When I worked at GM 4 days a week I still had more time than I do now for my crafting.

Last month Walgreens Pharmacy was premiering SheaMoisture product line and the special was buy 1 get 1 free so I stocked up on my favs. Curl Enhancing Smoothie, Reconstructive Elixir and new to my favs are African Black Soap Deep Cleansing Shampoo and Purification Masque also pictured is Yucca & Aloe Thickening Growth Milk(which my youngest Camille loves) Since I have dry scalp that has been very flaky with the changing of the weather as it always is the African Black Soap Shampoo and Purification Masque have been a true Godsend. Even Mr. M is liking it which I found to be good as he doesn't like to try new products especially if he thinks they are for girls only.

For those of you that like All Natural Products I have found they are good and live up to their advertisement as such. I recently changed my daily routine sine getting the new products and now I am washing my hair weekly with a Cowash mid week and then applying the Reconstructive Elixir as my oil as it is all I need. I have had much hair growth since my intial BC from my locs.

Here's my hair right after the Cowash tonight using the African Black Soap Purification Masque and the Reconstructive Elixir

I am still searching for hairstyles that fit my hairtype which I also finally took the time out to even diagnose. It is type 4b with some 4a mixed in the crown and very middle back of my hair. I did attempt to braid my hair Saturday and was not happy with how it was looking as it was a big distinction from my hair and the extention hair so I will have to get someone to braid it for me. Oh how I hate to pay for stuff I can do myself but this is a time that I may have to let that concept go. I also discovered a few new sites that are very educational for those considering, transitioning and rocking Natural hair. Rockin'It Napptural
and someone I am really loving is Ms. Nikki These are enough to get you started both provide a wealth of knowledge and give alot of resource information. A informed person is an empowered person.

Before I end this post to finish my laundry I want to share a project that I completed for a church member and spoke about in my previous post is here modeled by my oldest Carmen the pattern is found here

Be Creative and motivated to share your gifts with others to enrich, enlighten and empower someone else to greatness. Have a wonderful week.

A Little bit of Everything

Back to share a little bit of everything that has been going in with me since my last post. Personally I want to share that my oldest daughter Carmen is doing better but still with the stomach pain. The GI doctor thinks that at some point she may still have to her gallbladder removed but they are doing everything they can to hold that at bay. My youngest is fighting off an infection that has her lymph nodes swollen but they added another antibiotic to the mix and in the past 48 hours she is doing better. So I thank God for that.

When I first started blogging I never included a lot of personal information other that what I was making or had just acquired but as you grow and evolve I see that all of what I am I want to share with you. So you will hear me talk about my religious or lets just say I will share my faith with you. No sermons just my thankfulness for all that my Savior is doing in my life.

My pastor and his wife celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary and I made this card for them.

Supplies Used
Card stock cut to 6in x 8 1/2in
Versa Mark Ink Pad
Ribbon approximately 14in long for strip and bow
ATG adhesive
Martha Stewarts Glitter Dust
Vellum for inside of card

I finally completed the tam I was working on for a lady at my church. I do have to say that it is larger than what I normally make but the person is growing locs and wanted it to be big so they definitely have it. Hope they like it.

Lastly today I want to share the basket I put together for our office for our Health Fair next Saturday. It is a Family 4 Movie Pass with goodies hope the family really loves this.

On the hair front I took my Kinky twist out and after browsing Youtube and reading up on protective sytles I decided to put in a weave so this is what I had been rocking for the past 3 weeks.

Well on Thursday night I took the weave out and put in a cherry rinse as my permanent color was looking really bad. Before I posted this entry I did two strand twist and will do a twist out for church tomorrow. I will take pictures and post to my blog later next week.

There are always ideas in the works and I have a few just want to get the sewing part of my craft room together and get my sewing on. I hope that you will have a great weekend and a wonderful week. Just know that no matter what you're going through you have a refuge in prayer and meditation. If you live positive and speak positive it will come back to you.

A Few New Things

Hello all just wanted to stop by and share a few things with you. I just happen to notice Friday that Michaels was having a 40% off sale on all Scrapbooking storage items and some Scrapbooking supplies. I went there searching for the Jetmax storage system table top and stumbled on this instead

This was originally $99.99 I got it for $40 and I also got the rest of these goodies some for 50% I was so giddy I did a little dance at the checkout counter with an audience....you only live once I love to be happy so here it is yall my little bag of goodies.

This is my new ATG Advanced Tape Glider from 3M this is so awesome and ergonomically wonderful to work with.

My cute little find small cards with envelopes for $1 and this pack of cardstock for accents and the like.

Here we have Stamps......

Stamps........and more stamps all for $.49 what a bargain they are all so cute.

Lastly as I am in dire need of more storage space got this 2 drawer cube

Overall I would say that it was a shopping excursion well spent. Next it will be time to actually complete some of the many projects I have going on in my Scrapbooking arena. I do good making the cards like the one I did for my church to say thank you for their prayers and support while my oldest daughter was in the hospital a few weeks ago. What do you think??? Still trying to find my style but it's coming.

Hopefully I will be able to give you an update to the knitting that I'm still working on and also to some sewing projects that have been in the works for over a year; yeah I know that's a long time but life has a way of getting in the way. If only I had the time I did when I was in school and not working what a true joy my life would be.

Before I leave I have to do a brief update on my weight loss journey for the past week I have not been as good as I should but today I managed to stay on track and even got in some exercise for 20 mins. This week I only lost 1.2lbs but that's progress right still not under the 200lbs mark but I'm getting there. I challenged myself to no less than 20 mins for the next 2 weeks adding 5 mins every 2 wks until I am up to an hour and then we will take it from there. Little steps are sometimes sure steps.

With that I want to get in some more knitting and a little cuddle time with my honey so I will share again later. Please leave a comment and let me know what you think and I will do the same. Until then fellow bloggers have a great week and remember the only stumbling block is the one you won't climb over.

I Have been Up to Something........but still have UFO's

I just wanted to share what Ive been up to in the last week. I'm still working on the hat 3 of the 4 that were planned to complete. This is a pattern I adapted from a scarf that I made a few years back that my oldest daughter Carmen really liked. Since she has been wearing her tam I have gotten request for others.

For me I miss the time at the hospital sitting with my daughter with unlimited time to knit. She has been doing okay still not with a great appetite and we thought she may have to go in and see the doctor before her follow up.

I don't really talk about this much but I like cardmaking and scrapbooking and a year or two ago I got the Cricut Expression. Well a month ago Hobby Lobby was having a sell on the Cricut cartridges and I got these from my Wishlist

I spent time with the Paper Lace cartridge and experimented with some of the designs as you see above. I was at church for the majority of this weekend so I really didn't have time to devote to this like I wanted but this weekend will afford me some more time to explore these goodies. I also learned that with each Cricut Cartridge they are giving out Reward Certificates that can be redeemed for products from Provo Craft. So this is a major incentive to increase my stash well that's not what I should call these but hey it's what everything else is in my crafting world is called. In my next post I will share a few of the pages I started from the leftover paper that was left when it was done cutting.

Well I'm going to get off here for now and try to get in at least an hour of knitting in on this hat so I can ge ready for work in the morning. Hope you have a great week know that you are wonderful and beautifully made.

Sitting in the Hospital.....waiting....have Hook n Needles will Create!!

Last week my oldest daughter was admitted to the hospital for what we though was her gall bladder and then to two other diagnoses but she is still with the same pain even with being on antibiotics and having 3 tests performed already and another test just ordered this am. She is so upset about still being in what she says is level 10+ stabbing pain. In addition to this my youngest daughter is trying to get use to all the things that she has to deal with with Lupus which I have to say the biggest one has been suffering with blurred vision and severe headaches. She was told that she won't be able to drive and I can't imagine being 19yrs old and being told you can never drive as your eyes are bad and you can have points of loss of vision due the pressure that builds in her eyes. I will say this I know that the God I serve is able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than I could ever hope for as he has been so good to me already in what he has done for them.

I did however bring yarn, hook and needle with me and created the following caps and cast on a Beanie. These caps are a loosely replicated version of Afaya Iboumo's book



I love this project as it is very quick adn adaptable for adding embellishments and other bling as your spirit feels so inclined.

There is also a green one just like it that I will have to upload once I'm at home.

Here is the Beanie I'm working on for someone. I made up this pattern last year for Carmen and a lady saw it on my FB page and and ordered two so I'm busy getting that done.

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Also being in the hospital has not been conducive to staying on my diet although the upside is all the walking I've done since then has been really great I need to get a pedometer. Well there is much more to share but I will save that for a later post. I have been looking into pulling out the serger and sewing machine and completing some of my sewing UFO's and there will be some Circuit news in there also. So until next time Be Creative!!!!

A Pictureless Post.......Becuase It's Needed

Hello all I just want to take some time to share something with you. I really have not been one to share personal things with you but in an effort to expand my reader base. After 2 years we finally know that my youngest has Lupus and suffers from Migraines really bad. This explains why she lost my grandson and almost lost her life Christmas Eve of 2009. It has been a hard road but the worse part has been watching her with her best girlfriends who are getting married and having babies and now she is talking about her baby like he is still here. This is a hard thing to watch and try to support her in. The biggest issue for me has been trying to keep up with the cost of her medical expenses ie. tests, medications, and Dr. visits. I work in healthcare and can't afford the family plan as it would take mostly half of my income which would leave us in a space of nothing to take care of anything else.

She has tried to work but has lost both jobs due to complications of the illness so we have prayed and now are looking to God making a way to provide for her needs. For some you would say that you need to get the insurance for others you can understand my plight and for others you are indifferent and that is okay. I have dealt with my oldest daughter having JRA Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis since she was 12 yrs old and finding that none of the medications did anything for her but kept her sleepy and unable to function to make it through a school day. I look at her now in college active and still in pain with bad flare ups but God gives her strength to make it through.

As I am writing more I am wondering why am I sharing all of this? But as a Mom who has been a single lady most of there growing up years I have had to be strong and give them courage to make it through even when it was dark and gloomy for me. Life doesn't always give us what we want but it definitely gives us a chance daily to make the best of what we do have and for my family I strive to provide that daily. There may not be money all the time but there is love and encouragement, we may not be able to go on that trip we had talked about last year but we are still here and can enjoy our time in some other way. It's not the big things it's the small things that will make long lasting memories for us. With that being said I have to end this to get us to church. So be blessed and not stressed make it through this day and God will take care of the rest.

Pics of the GWT Languages of Love Banquet.......well just pics of us looking cute

This past weekend my church had a Languages of Love Banquet as a way of celebrating Valentines Day in the Spirit. Who knew?
I was a bit apprehensive about my table favors but they were a big success which made all my efforts worth it.

My baby girl Camille was classic in cream. When I look at her I thank God for her still being here as a year ago she was in recovery from almost loosing her life from complications from what we now know to be Lupus.

My oldest Carmen is in the black and royal blue that her and her date wore which I will have to get those pics up soon.

Then my choice or should I say my daughter's choice of what I should wear was from Torrid a nice black skirt, red top and black shrug with classice black suede pumps.

We enjoyed dinner, live band, poetry, and my oldest daughter was serenaded by her young man, a fashion show and laughter. Overall it was a great night except my honey was on the road working but God is good and my home is happy. I know that we have so much to be thankful for.