My new friend - the mailman :) and a new book to inspire me to think

Well the mailman was kind to me yesterday as I received a package from Amazon.UK. That box was carrying a birthday present for my soon-to-be 11 year old, Matthew. The boys have been reading a series of books written by authors from the UK - it is the Tunnel series by the Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams. Robert (older son) saw that Book 4: Closer was published...in the UK...and the US will not get it for another 3-4 months or so. As I did with the other books of the series, I did order it from Amazon.UK. Now, while it will be for both boys...Matthew, as the birthday boy on Monday, has the right to open up the wrapped book and read it first. :)

Also in the box was a book for me: "The Girl on the Wall" by Jean Baggott.
I spotted this book on someone's blog and started to investigate what it was all about - of course anything with needlework typically peaks my interest. When I saw that this was a book about a woman who recorded her life memories/history with her needlework I knew immediately that this was a read that I had to have. I started the book last night - for my bedtime reading - and we definitely engaged in the book just after reading the preface. The frame for this tapestry is interlinking circles ("the circles of life"); within each circle Jean has stitch memories from that period of her life...each chapter in the book takes ones of these circles and talks about what is going on in her life and the world around her. While I haven't gotten too far into the book, one of her reasons for the tapestry and writing the book, which she stated early in the first chapters, caught my eye. Throughout our lives, we typically live it "doing for others", for that is how we were brought up - so the questions that 'pops' in my mind are: what am I doing for me? what do I want? what am I going to leave behind?
Jean seems to have answered these questions for herself by going to school (something that she as a little girl wasn't able to do), specializing in History, as well as recording her history in needlework...she is doing this for herself and 'the girl on the wall' (a photo of her when she was young - her inspiration). 

Me? Well, I feel very good about my life right now (even though DH will be unemployed after next Friday - a new challenge...the next chapter in my book :)). I love being married and a wife/partner/friend to DH. I couldn't imagine my life without him. I love being a mother to Robert & Matthew. All 3 boys (DH included) definitely bring challenge and adventure, as well as love and joy, to my life. So those are the people who I "do for", which does take a lot of my time; but I do try and sneak in some "me" time...the early morning spins on my stationary bike while I catch up on my emails, facebook and blog writing/reading...there is my stitching which I do, when I allow myself to sit and relax...there is my reading in bed before I go to sleep. Life is an adventure - a journey - and right now I am in a pretty good place.

I am excited that I found this book and look forward to reading more of it tonight...and maybe I will have more inspiring things to write about...

Stitching News
I have put the finishing touches on the ornament I have made for Lori from the Ornament Swap and will be putting that in the mail soon. I have also heard from the Friendship Sampler RR ladies, and the last RR I need to stitch on is on its way to my house. After I stitch on it and send it home, I will be done stitching and just waiting to receive mine. Mine will probably be the last one home due to some issues early on, which I will not bore you with right now. I think that it is in the Netherlands...once it leaves there it should take too long to come home...keep your fingers crossed! I got a few stitches put in on MW yesterday - but not enough to really share with you today (maybe I need to find some "me stitching time" today:) ).

Hope you all have a nice Saturday - clear skies and cold temps here in Northern California.

Take care and remember...Live, Love, Laugh and Stitch often! Lisa