Well, I have realized it is impossible to find a straight out 6 pointed star crochet pattern. I found a 6 into 24 point pattern and just removed the addition of the other points, since my BFF wants just the 6 pointed Star of David in the colors of the Israeli flag.
I initially wanted to work a Jacob’s Ladder into the points, just to add that little extra religious symbolism, but couldn’t find one that looked good.
I don’t usually make afghans “to order” like this, I will usually choose someone who I think would appreciate a hand made afghan and spend a year creating it, but J is a very special kid.
This is going to be a present for his bar mitzvah. I could not be more proud of this young man and the way he has developed into a sensitive, caring individual.

So, here it is so far. Every so often I will add an update on the progress as it gets bigger. Almost time to add a little blue!

Wow! 2014 has been a year of ups and downs for us. It started out great! Mini was doing well in school and Cowboy was finally past the retaliation for making a safety report.
Over the summer, Mini spent a few months with my side of the family. I hit the road with Cowboy. It was a blast!
When Cowboy and I got home, Mini soon followed. We began some minor advanced training of the family dog. She already knew sit, stay, and lay down. So, a few packs of hot dogs later, she now knows “sit and shake hand” “hide” “Abbie home” and “wake up Mini.”
Then, in September, the year went to hell. The community in the game we play fell apart. It has not been the same since.
Then, Cowboy got hurt. His truck tried to run him over and he broke his leg. He was out on worker’s comp for a few months, working 8 hours a day in the office. It was nice to have him home every day.
When Cowboy went back on the road, his fellow drivers started treating him like a rookie, disrespecting him and his experience. Stuff has happened he is not comfortable with, much of it just on the line of illegal. He was outright told to fudge something. (And people wonder why Tracy Morgan’s accident happened, it’s industry wide). I will cover the industry stuff at another time.
His reputation was threatened by a coworker who told Cowboy to drop an issue before something happens. We lived through the starvation miles and retaliation for 12 weeks last year, we can do it again. He will not risk his life, health, or CDL for you.
Then today the gaming group began to fall apart again.
I just hope 2015 is better.

With little breaks for Basic Training and pregnancy, I have been a smoker since the day after I turned 16. After doing a bit of research, I decided it was time to quit, but I knew I would fail if I quit cold turkey and if I just cut down, I knew I would fail also. I decided the best way for me to quit would be to vape instead.
I decided to get myself the vape set up instead of cigarettes when I ran out one day and have not looked back since!
Right away I noticed a difference in my health and well being! Right away, my clothes and hair stopped smelling like smoke. My cough went away and my blood pressure is no longer in severe stroke range (it’s still high but not as severely high). After two days, I had that throat scabby feeling and taste as my throat healed from the years of abuse from smoking.
After a week, I could breathe better and had more energy. I can walk with my son without getting winded. I was able to take full, deeper breaths.
Three weeks after switching I began tasting things again. My skin looks better, too.
All in all, I am glad I made the decision to quit.