life | JJCrochet

Does that title work? Is it cute? Do you get it? Ha!

Maybe it’s because I’ve rarely left my condo (three times since March 15) or because the world’s standing still and we’re all going a little crazy over Tiger Kings and herd immunity. What is time! Nothing matters!

And yet, somehow, everything matters?

My days might look a lot like your days. I wake up, thankful I can work from home. Make a french press, make breakfast, do dishes from the night before.

Plop down on my pink velvet couch, fully knowing my back will hurt by lunch, and open my Mac for a day of digital marketing. I love my job and am grateful to work with an amazing team of humans who are creative, resilient and supportive.

Most days, I put on a shirt and curl the front half of my hair. Yes, just the front. I even put on makeup (though don’t use the good stuff, just that weird makeup that’s been in my bathroom for months and I’ve deemed ‘good enough for video calls’).

The morning sun breaks into my living room for a blinding half hour at 9:30. Some mornings, I scooch my plant over so it can enjoy the sun a little longer.

I haven’t been crocheting much and only knit once. Look – I made a hat!

Whatever your situation and your state – mental, physical, emotional or spiritual – I hope you’re finding peace and hope in these days.

Maybe you’ve decided to make knitting or crocheting your quarantine hobby. Welcome! You’re in good company. Here are some crochet and knitting blogs to browse:

I moved to Toronto 10 months ago and it’s been interesting watching events unfold from North of the border. The differences between Canada and the US have never been so stark and contrasting. First celcius, now this!

Cheers, friends, to another few weeks… another few months… or however long we’re here together. I’m grateful for your comments, your emails and your thoughts. <3

There are things in life more wonderful than crochet. I know – blasphemy, right?

In the past two weeks, I have been a bridesmaid twice – once for my older brother’s wedding (Brother Bill) and the second for my good friends, Rachael and Andrew. It is weekends like these that make me high on the beauty of life.

Brother Bill got married in Pittsburgh; Rachael in Buffalo. The great thing about being in back-to-back weddings, though, is most of the prep work is only done once. I’m already tan and my nails are done. I would jokingly tell people, “This is as good as I can possibly get right now!” I believe the bobby-pin count after wedding #1 was 75. (A hairstyle that takes 75 bobby pins is out of control, if you ask me.)

The two weddings were different – one a family one, the other for two good friends. The weeks leading up to the weddings required different amounts and different types of work, yet both were equally special. I am so thankful to have been a part of Brother Bill & Ahsley’s lives for 23 years and to have spent 4 years in college with Andrew and Rachael.

Weddings are an especially sweet time of seeing old friends. I got to see people I haven’t seen in over a year since we graduated college and it was great to catch up. The funny thing is, with good friends, you can be 600 miles apart, but when you get together, it’s like no time has passed. Those are friendships worth maintaining.

I’m sorry for the nostalgia and emotions I’m sharing (this is a big step for me), but I wanted to share my thoughts with you, blog reader. Coming off these wedding weekends, it helped me put things in perspective, and I’d encourage you to do the same.

Life is about “weddings”, in the larger sense of the word. It’s not about the bridesmaids dresses or the center pieces. It’s not about all you can achieve at work, or how clean (or not clean) your room might be. It’s about inviting others to speak into your life and investing time to be a part of theirs. It consists of those moments standing proudly with your friends as they make a commitment before God to grow together. It means creating memories and enjoying the different personalities and quirks and ideas of others.

It means creating community.

I am so blessed to have been a part of not one, but TWO beautiful weekends this month. How could life get any better? I pray God’s love and continued blessings over the new marriages (and for my brother to hurry up and start having kids – Aunt Jayna needs some kiddos)!

And now, since there is nothing more enjoyable than looking at other people’s wedding pictures (yeah right), here are some glimpses into my life: