leaving on a jet plane...

Finished this Heartbreak pattern by Lisa Mutch just in time to travel to see my Little Men!!  We have a birthday to celebrate this next weekend!!  The Littlest Man will be one!! 

The yarn is Shirakaba by Noro:  a silk, cotton and wool blend.

It has been a super busy past couple of weeks!!  One niece graduated from college, one niece from high school, lots of fun family gatherings, dance recital and rounds of golf.  Life is good.  Will be even better when I am holding my Little Men!!  ;)

Have a wonderful week!  blessings ~ tanna

Heart Songs Part II

First, I'd like to confess that I've learned way more from my children than I ever taught them...

Amanda's Mother's Day gift was a heartwarming walk down memory lane for me...  This photo was taken on a hiking trip with our dear friends, Barbara and Tony.  Tony passed away almost two and a half years ago... he and Barbara have been like family to us. 

Amanda was three in this photo... oh, my how the time does fly...  And, yes, being nice does matter... a lot. 

It might take us a little while to get our feet back under ourselves sometimes... but, we do love to thrive!!  Yes, ma'am, we do. 

Mercy, this was just after the Chicago Marathon, October 19, 1997.  I remember so well because it was the most difficult marathon I ever ran.  Some days are just like that.  At 13.1 miles in, I knew getting to 26.2 was going to take more of a gut check than I wanted... but, my two children and dear friends were there to cheer me on... and I did make it.  I crossed the line with my running buddies.  Still brings a tear to my eye.   Oh, those hard victories are so sweet!

Amen to that...

The dress I smocked for her...

Ahhh... the dance recitals (this photo was taken in the dressing room after her recital).  Big smiles here... the little green and black flapper outfit she wore while dancing her little heart out.  She was always the tiniest one... thin little arms and legs just flying with such intensity!!  Later, she and I would watch that video to cheer ourselves...

This was such a hoot!!  I was in my bathroom cleaning and about to throw out some old make-up when my two little artists arrived on the scene... we had so much fun!  There was lots of laughter!  AND, we figured out how to set the timer on the little camera to get some photos of our wild look!  JOYFUL memory!!

Always....

This was a surprise birthday party for my 50th birthday that Amanda and Evan cooked up!  They really got me!  And, it was such a delightful and sweet surprise (I still tell them I would have dressed better if they had let me know!).  I'm never happier than surrounded by my family and friends.

Then, there's this!  I am so very thankful that Amanda decided not to miss out on being a Mother... because I would have missed out on even more!  To witness your child experience this kind of love... and to experience your own love of a grandchild... doesn't get much better.  The photo was taken by the "clicker nazi" last fall during one of my visits.

Just wait, Amanda... being a Grandmother is, once more, beyond your imaginings.

Thank you... for all the amazing lessons in love that you have taught me... for being such a wonderful Momma to my precious grandsons... and for being the most incredible daughter a mother could ever hope for... I love you bigger than the sky, to the moon and back!    I have been the luckiest Mom in the world to have known the love of my children.  I am even more lucky to, through loving my children and grandchildren, catch a glimmer of understanding God's love for us.  xoxo Mom

Wishing you all a week filled with heart songs of your own... blessings ~ tanna

Christine, Coffee and Color

What does this coffee pot and this colorful present have in common?  Why coffee, of course!  Christine at ~~Vista Woman~~ did a fabulous tour of all the wonderful coffee shops within walking distance of her home... then she had a give-away!!  I am thrilled to have been the lucky winner.

Coffee is not just a treat in our home... it is a necessity!!  Neither Pop Pop nor I are worth a hoot without our morning caffeine.  He has brought me coffee in bed every morning we've been in the same place for eleven years; and, that is still one of my most treasured things about him.

Christine and her husband, Tom, enjoy a good cup of Joe, too; they also take wonderful excursions around their area seizing the best life has to offer.  Christine and I share a love of our Lord, our children and our grandchildren.  She lives in a lovely little cottage and has inspired me with her downsizing and de-baggage-ing.  Daily, she positively impacts the lives of the young people who attend the school where she works.  I've been reading her blog for a few years and look forward to many more.

I'm not sure why I can't write below this last photo... but, this in a sneak peak at my current knitting project.  I am lovin' the colors and design!!  Hope you are all having a wonderful week.

blessings ~ Tanna

Hugs and Heart Songs

Today, I want to share some things that make my heart sing... One would be this photo that came with a with a sweet, sweet text on Mother's Day.  My precious daughter and my precious Little Men, they always make my heart sing with love and joy.

And, I had some wonderful surprises to open... each making my heart sing in its own special way...

Recently, Pop Pop had received *hugs* from the Little Man and Noni had just been green with envy!!  LOL!  Now, I have my very own *hugs*!!   Isn't this a cute idea... a ribbon for their little arms and self and precious little hands!

Oh, so much bigger than the sky... to the moon and back, sweet Alex... your Noni loves you so very much.

And, Little Roo... You light up our lives with your million-watt smiles!!  You are adored beyond measure.

Of course, my daughter knows the things that delight my soul... old silver and words... and a grateful heart...  She has ALWAYS delighted my soul... from the first instant I laid eyes on her... no, actually from the first moment I felt her stir within my body.  How blessed I am.

I'll share more of this treasure in another post... I hope your day brings you something that delights your soul and makes your heart sing.  Mine is hearing a symphony right now... ;)

blessings ~ tanna

Color Affection

This shawl pattern, Color Affection by Veera Valimaki is taking Ravelry (a knitting and crochet online community) by storm.  I tried to resist it...

But as you can clearly see, I utterly failed to resist.  There are so many possible color combinations and it is such an easy knit!  Just couldn't say no.  Caved in... to the thrill of seeing the colors mingle ... and the pattern emerge. 

The yarn is Madelinetosh Tosh Light, which is w.o.n.d.e.r.f.u.l!!  Colors:  celedon, burnished and cedar.  All the Madelinetosh yarns are hand-dyed, so they have a wonderful depth of color that enchants and delights!

Now, I really must get busy on something besides my knitting!!  ;) 

Hope you are all having a wonderful week!  blessings ~ tanna

learning to travel light...

If anything at all, dealing with melanoma has caused me to re-examine my life.  I realize I have held on to sorrows... for relationships that will never be as close as I would like; to hopes and dreams... that will never be realized; to losses... that will not be replaced. 

These things have weighed me down; I need to let go and just move on.  Some of them have been my dearest hopes and dreams... but, they are just not going to happen.  I'm not a good "letter-goer"... tenacious that way... stubborn to a fault.  But, I'm determined (also the thing that gets you in trouble about NOT letting go) and more than that... I have asked God to help me let go.  I have faith that Help is on the way.

Last Saturday, I drove my big old Fatty Patty (name of my SUV) and traded her in for a lighter, more fun way to move about.  I'm leting go... travelling light.  I want to savor the years I have left...

Meet Jubilee, she's the first in many more changes I hope to see in the next year.  And, yes, her name is significant to me. 

One thing that won't change is my enjoyment of the simple pleasures!!  A Coke Zero in a sweet "coozie" prize from The Little Men and Co.!  They really know how to make a Noni feel loved!!  Plus, the Moon Pie place brings a wonderful memory from one of our "Griswold Vacations".  Gotta love that!

SIL, Brian has started his chemo treatments and is tolerating them as well as can be expected.  Please remember him in your prayers.  Thank you so much.

blessings ~ tanna

New Leaves a.k.a. New Lease on Life

I started this vibrant green shawl a couple of days before I saw the dermatologist and life started spinning.  It is such a beautiful shade imbued with a force of life that is hard to deny.

While suffering what I refer to as my melanoma mania, I seriously un-knit as much as I knit on some days.  My knitting friends suggested I try a simple garter stitch pattern... and they were absolutely right that the simpler pattern would have been much more soothing.

This is really NOT a hard knit, but my focus was seriously compromised.  The color and the leaves just kept drawing me back... it was like I needed to be able to finish it to have that life force myself... and I did... and I do.  I am most grateful and I feel like I have a new lease on life...

The pattern is Spring Leaves by Katrin Vorbek all info:  here on my Ravelry page.

We celebrated my Beloved's birthday this week.... and never has it been sweeter to celebrate another year in his life... another year together. 

Thanking you again for all the wonderful prayers, encouragements and concerns. 
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend and Andrea, thank you.  ;)

I will be adding this to Color Your World with some amazing young women.  =)

blessings ~ tanna