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to all of the members who have been here for a while, and welcome to everyone who has joined since I was on here last. Let me take a quick moment to say why I've been missing in stitching action for almost a year.

The last time I was posting here, I was almost done with my master's degree. I did complete my degree in April (6 months ahead of schedule ). April is right at the beginning of our crazy season since DH and I make up half of the team that runs a local kids soccer club. On top of working, we usually spend about 30- 40 hours a week with soccer. Over the summer, I was searching for a teaching position. After numerous discussions with DH, I decided to take a leap of fatih and leave my banking job at the end of July to return to the classroom (I taught high school 13 years ago before staying home with the kids for 10 years). Two weeks before my last day, DH had to have knee surgery, and he couldn't walk on that leg for 6 weeks. Once again, we were starting a soccer season, so there was a lot of work for me to pick up between the house and soccer fields. To complicate that even more, I was hired by a school 5 days before the school year started. I had to set up a classroom (which I've never had my own), work on lessons, and everything else really quick. I literally left my banking job at noon one day and was in my classroom an hour later.

I still feel like I'm barely staying afloat with my lesson plans and everything else at work, but hopefully home life is balancing out (even though DH had another knee surgery 2 weeks ago on the same knee). With all of this going on, I really haven't had time to stitch. Now that I'm back on a school schedule, I have more breaks. I am really trying to stay on top of everything so that when I have 2 weeks off, I have very little if any school work to do. I've had some really productive stitching days this last week, and the bug is definitely back! I haven't wanted to do anything other than stitching.

Sorry for the long note. I am definitely planning on posting much more this year!! Updates may have to wait until days off/breaks, but they will be coming. I've posted an update on my HAED design that I've been working on for about 3 years as a travel project and a model that I am working on. I look forward to see what everyone has been working on while I've been gone.

Oh my,what a time you have had.I think you need to be able to clone yourself.Hope 2015 is much easier for you.Good luck.

I feel tired and stressed just thinking about all the ups and downs you have had in the past months. Hope DH's knee surgery does the trick and he is back on deck ok.

Great to see you back.

Thanks!

Stitchinkitty, I would love to clone myself! Then I might actually feel like I get something done. As my name suggests, I am always busy!

Squirrel, this surgery has done the trick as far as I'm concerned. This time they just cut out the bad tissue so it won't flip again. He was walking the next day instead of 6 weeks later like last time. I figure I just need to survive one more semester in the classroom, and then it should be easier. It takes a lot of time to create everything for two different courses from scratch (we have an online program instead of text books, so I make a TON of copies every week). Surprisingly I haven't been as stressed as I thought I would be. I think I kept the same mindset I had when I decided to leave my banking job without a teaching job lined up--everything is in God's hands and it will work out exactly how it's supposed to. I'll end up exactly where I need to be.

Living up to your handle, I see. Good to have you back, and in such a positive place. Congratulations!

Good to see you back! I like your way of thinking, everything will work out

Welcome back! You have most certainly been busy! I remember your telling us you wouldn't be around much and why. Glad that things have eased up enough that you are able to rejoin us. You have been missed!

Carole