The Official Grow Your Blog Party post

Thanks for visiting! If this is your first visit, I'm Sara and this is my blog. I originally started this blog October 2006 for stitching but it has slowly grown into a mix of stitching and family posts as my family has grown. I live in northern Indiana in the United States with my husband (Erich), 4 year old son (Joshua), and dog (Leland). I do work almost full time hours as a retail pharmacist so blogging time is sometimes scarce but the goal is to get here at least once a week and I almost always bring a picture or two with me. Speaking of pics...







So that's me and Josh on vacation last year, Erich and Josh at Wrigley Field last year, and Leland who spends lots of time napping and looking for snacks or someone to pet him. They're not new pics but at least now you know what we look like:)

Because I often refer to our process and never-ending paperwork, I should probably fill you in on the fact that our family had a bit of a non-traditional start in that Josh was adopted from Russia. He came home 2 1/2 years ago at about 19 months old but it feels like he's always been here. We are actually in the process of adopting again (from Poland this time, long story). We have just had our paperwork sent to Poland and are anxiously awaiting the call that we are to be parents again. I am very much looking forward to the international travel because my mother's family came to the US from Poland a few generations back. We expect to travel to Poland twice for a total of about 7 weeks to finalize things but don't have any idea of time frame until the Polish authorities match us with a child which could be soon or more than a year from now. The hurry-up-and-then-wait roller coaster of international adoption can be frustrating sometimes but we know the result is worth every bit and then some so we will patiently wait until it is our time again.

Counted cross stitch is my main hobby and I tend to pick larger projects over smaller ones. I do like a variety of designers. My favorites include Teresa Wentzler, Chatelaine, Mirabilia, Dragon Dreams, Ink Circles, and Heaven and Earth Designs. My main focus at the moment is a HAED Pirate Dragon for Josh. I'm hoping to have it finished and framed by the time the next adoption is finalized so that it can hang in his bedroom after we do some moving around and redecorating. I do usually have several projects on the go at once and they are listed on my sidebar.

Most of my stitching takes place at night after Josh is in bed though as he gets older he is more willing to work on puzzles, color, or build Lego castles next to me while I stitch particularly if the project is something for him. He loves the current dragon project and the fish in Fish City. I tend to stitch with the tv on in the background. When Josh isn't around it can vary quite a bit- Top Chef, The Amazing Race, Downton Abbey, Dexter, Lost, Revolution, Harry Potter, Doctor Who, Glee, Game of Thrones (yes I did read the books and have pre-ordered Season 2), Desperate Housewives, No Reservations reruns, the list goes on. I'm pretty sure my viewing patterns confuse Netflix when it tries to make suggestions.

To help keep my posting somewhat regular (and because its fun!) I do participate in a few SALs- TUSAL, the WIPocalypse, and IHSW (when I remember and am not working-hey, that SAL is this weekend too, recap post coming on Monday). There are links to these on my sidebar too if they are new to you and you'd like to join in the fun.

As for a giveaway, I'm kind of doing this last minute so I don't want to commit to stitching a gift if I won't be able to finish in a reasonable amount of time. I'm going with a mystery stash and possibly some other small treats thrown in kind of thing instead. I've got an idea but probably won't put it together completely until one of the boys picks a winner out of the hat for me so I can pick things more to the winner's taste. Want to enter? That's easy- comment on this post and you're done. Please leave me a blog link/email address or have something available in your profile so I can get in touch with you if you win. I'll post a winner late on February 1 after I get home from work.

So that's what you can expect around here. Thanks again for visiting, hope you come back, and good luck!