I am blessed beyond blessed! I have been happily married for over 20 years to the love of my life, Steve. We have two amazing boys ages 19 and 6 . . . yes, I typed that right, they are 12 years apart! The docs (several fertility docs) said we couldn’t have another child after our oldest, Stevie, was born. Turns out they were wrong! Stevie and Spencer are night and day in character and the greatest kids ever!
I am a “retired” nurse…sounds way better than saying I am “disabled”. I was diagnosed with Pulmonary Hypertension (idiopathic) in 2005 and we have been fighting the PHight since then. PH is a progressive disease with no cure. Please take a moment to educate yourself about PH HERE. Want to hear about our personal journey with PH? Check out this post of mine HERE. It is a longer read but I speak from the heart in that post. Awareness leads to funding which leads to research which may someday lead to a cure. It sucks but it is what it is.
I decided shortly after my death sentence diagnosis that my PH would not define me or control me. I continued to work for over 5 years as an RN in a psychiatric crisis unit, home health, pediatrics & in management. I loved being a nurse! I accomplished as much as I could as a nurse before PH finally slowed me down and it was time to focus on what truly matters in life: family and friends.
I laugh hard, I play hard and I love hard…I refuse to lay down and wait for the inevitable. So I fill my days with crafts and cooking. I spend as much time as possible with my husband and our children. It’s been over 18 years and I still can’t get enough of my husband 🙂 Our children are our lives and I love spending every moment I can with them! When I’m not with them, I am with my best-friends who love me as I am and remind me all the time that my disability is no excuse!
craftycreativekathy 
I ❤ you Kat… and it's nice to hear about you… glad about your blog (nice work) and wish you many inspirating ideas. Let's enjoy our lives and "keep walking"… kisses
Thank you love! Hoping all is well with you! ❤
I found your football granny squares and trying to prucgase tge pettern from you but can’t find the shoppibg cart or any other method of buying this. I need this for my grandson.
Thank you,
Karen Cox
Hello! From the post, https://craftycreativekathy.wordpress.com/2013/09/05/touchdown-football-crochet-throw/, you can go about half way down and see ETSY SHOP and RAVELRY (whichever you choose) in bold print. Click on either and it will take you to Etsy or Ravelry where you can purchase the pattern. Hope this helps! You can find my shop on Etsy. Search for Metal Yarn Yak on Etsy and it should bring you to my shop where I sell a few crochet patterns. Hope this helps. Let me know Karen if you still have issues finding the links. Have a blessed day!
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I have a question to ask that I don’t want to post public? Could you email me?
Mtkrvi06@gmail.com
Its about a crochet project.
Thanks so much!!!
Tess
Hi Tess,
I just emailed you. It says Crafty Creative Kathy in the subject line 🙂
Hi Kathy,
I work for PBS Parents and am so inspired by your blog. I’d love to republish one of your posts (key chains) on our crafting blog for our Father’s Day feature. You can email me for more information if you’re interested. Keep phighting!
Thank you so much! An email is on its way!
Hullo Kathy, thank you for sharing so much on your lovely blog. I was drawn to your blog initially when I was looking for the process of making canned peaches (my comfort food) because I began wondering how the people at Del Monte got rid of the skin off peaches and made them so perfect. Thank you for posting this about me page up – it rather touched me especially since I’m going through unemployment and am trying to remain resilient and optimistic – I shall not adopt the victim mindset! – and your words moved me and inspired me. Thank you again, and bless you and your lovely family. (Spencer’s soooo adorable! You have the most beautiful sons with the best features from both sides of their parents) PHight on, and stay wonderful! ^0^
Thank you Venus! Life throws us curve balls all the time. Is it fair? Most times not. However, it is up to us whether we will swing or strike out. Swing that bat hard my dear friend!
Thank you for your kind encouragement Kathy. I tend to believe that whilst life doesn’t seem fair at times, I am only given what I am capable of handling, and I remind myself at all times that I am the one who chose all these (I’m a spiritualist), so I try to accept them happily and learn and grow from my experiences. It’s the only way to do it! I do hope you keep well Kathy. Keep those excellent posts coming! 😀
Most definitely! Every experience, good or bad is an opportunity to learn and grow. Sometimes I wish that all experiences were positive but then I have to remind myself that we would never know the value of what is good. To know peace you must know turmoil. To know joy you must know sadness. To know love you must know pain. Yin-yang. I know, trust me I know, how hard it is sometimes to keep your head above water when you are treading in the deep end. I find that if I occupy my time doing for others…whether crocheting blankets for different teams to raffle off, to helping feed the football players on Friday nights, to being active in the community and so on…that I find peace within. It is often when you do for others that you will find yourself. I am feeling great by the way! Mind over matter always 🙂
You’re completely right Kathy! Without the bad we wouldn’t appreciate the good as much. I think it’s amazing that despite your physical pain, you’re still focused on helping others – it’s very inspiring to see a strong, loving, caring and compassionate women like you. And you’re right! Mind over matter always! 🙂 I hope your week’s going great Kathy! 😀 (don’t worry about responding, I know you’re very busy with your work! I’ll know you’re doing wonderfully by following your blog.)
I loved reading about you! I too am PHighting PH! I was diagnosed 15 years ago in November and I refuse to accept it as a death sentence. I live my life to the fullest. I was lucky enough to get on a medical trial for the new Medtronic implanted pump to test a new catheter that attatches to the pump. It is an exciting time and it is working wonderfully! I can’t imagine the FDA not approving it at trial end so it will be available to everyone PHighting this disease! I cannot wait to read all your posts! God Bless!!!
Wow Lori! I am holding out so much hope for the implanted pump! What I wouldn’t do to swim, shower alone or to take a hot bubble bath! It’s those simple things that really haunt me and I literally dream about it. My biggest fear is that my dose is so high that I wouldn’t be a candidate? Please stop by time from time and let me know how it is going with the Medtronic…I really am praying I can be a candidate for it 🙂
Thank you!
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I just stumbled over your blog. Love your football afghan. >> AWESOME !!! 🙂
I too suffer from a disease that has no cure, fibromyalgia.
Lets hope one day there is a cure for both and we won’t have to suffer any longer.
HUGS
Rikki
Sending up prayers for you to continue to have strength. Keep on fighting the fight 🙂
With the baseball afghan pattern, how could we shrink it to the size of a lap blanket? I want to buy the pattern, but don’t know how to adjust the size.
You could omit the outer edge of small baseballs all the way around. Each small baseball block is approximately 6.25″ in size, so double that since there are two small baseballs across. That would decrease the size by around 12.5″. Finished size with all blocks is 53″ x 53″…so without the edge of small baseballs then the finished size would be approximately 40.5″ x 40.5″. Another option that may decrease it by a 2-3 more inches is to use one size smaller hook size. Hope that helps 🙂 Thanks for your interest.
Hello. I came across your site today and just love it, and your precious family. Thank you so much for sharing your life with us.
(BIG HUGS)
(BIG HUGS) back! Thanks for taking the time to read about our story. Have a blessed day! 🙂
Thank you. I really am enjoying your whole site and I love your attitude!
Awwww, thank you! It’s always up to the individual how they will respond to any event…it’s not about the event itself but who you are as a person and finding the strength within. Everyone has it…dig deep and find it! 🙂
You are an inspiration! (((BIG HUGS)))
(((BIG HUGS))) back at you Mary! Have a blessed week! 🙂
Im moved to read about u… huggs
Thanks! Through it all, I know I still have a very blessed life 🙂
Im yet to check out ur blog but id love to try ur recipe especially the meatball casserole wch actually brought me to ur blog… ☺☺
Good luck with the meatball casserole, it’s my most popular post!
Was reading your blog on glass pendant making. Am very inspired by your outlook on life after diagnosed with an incurable disease. I was diagnosed with idiopathic face pain 3 years ago. No cure for mine as well, just a diagnosis that would want a person to crawl into bed and stay there. I have sat and held my head and face with silent tears running down my face, I have yet to crawl into bed and stay for the day! I’m trying new things yo do at home to fill my days. I have a wonderful husband, both children are grown and out on their own:(. Thank you for the uplifting story!
Angela, stay strong…life is what you make of it. I choose to make it great for not only me but for all those that love me. I’m blessed, very blessed 🙂
Thank you:)
I can’t print the “printable” bourbon less chicken recipe. All the pics and stuff download, but I would like to print it out for my recipe box too.. I could even copy and paste but all the pics are in the way! Please help! Thanks… I’d love to try this one!
If you reply with your email, I can send it directly to you 🙂
Hello! Hope all is well :)… I’m a big fan of this blog, and have not seen you post anything recent… I appreciate all the recipes and crafts you post. I even hand written all recipes down in a special book..Hope all is well and I keep you in my prayers.. God bless you and your family.. Love your #1 fan
All is well, very well! Adjusting to our new “normal”now that our oldest is off to college. It was much harder than I could ever imagine to let him go. We are so proud of him. So between his senior year, college visits, getting him college ready and moving him into college…it has consumed all our free time! I’ll be back to blogging soon. Thank you for your kind words and I’m so glad you enjoy my blog! Have a very blessed week!
I just stumbled upon your blog and have enjoyed it very much! (Especially the Easy Peasy puff desert!! ) Keep writing! I’ll be back to see what you have come up with!!! Come visit me at Mamaboe.com sometime. Now I have to go and try that meatball sub casserole you posted. You are Totally speaking my language on that one!!! Nom! Nom! Nom!
We love the Easy Peasy Puff Desert! I’ll be sure to check your blog!
You’ve truly inspired me kathy. I hope your still going strong & i’ll pray for you and your family. Your Amazing! Alii from Palau!
Yes, we continue to PHight the good fight! We welcome prayers always and will include you and yours in ours! Have a blessed day Alii!
I just came across your blog tonight on Pinterest. I don’t always go through recipe blogs but you pulled me in with your sweet personality and I wanted to thank you for your recipes and all the instructions you include. I really enjoyed your blog and I will visit again. Hope you and your family are doing well. I love lumpias and recently made some to stash in the freezer but we ate them within days. I’ll be trying your Bourbon-less Chicken and the Mongolian Chicken as soon as I can.
Take care, Heather
Glad you have enjoyed my blog! Lumpia is a family favorite! Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave kind words! Bless you!
Kathy,
I came across your blog several years ago. I have made many of your recipes and crafts. I recently made the crocheted fireman’s outfit for a great nephew whose father is a fireman. But yesterday I made your Blackberry pie again. I used blackberries we picked this summer. This is the best blackberry pie I’ve ever made. I’ve made it numerous times since finding the recipe on your site and it is always so good. All of the recipes that I’ve tried have been delicious. Some have become family favorites. Thank you for taking the time to post your recipes and crafts. I always look forward to see what you did for Spencer’s birthday. You truly are creative.
Beverly, thank you for the kind words. The reason I started the blog was to be able to store recipes and photos of the recipes. I intend to make photo cook books of our family recipes for both of our boys. I’ll include family pictures as well. Once I’m long gone and lost the fight (or won the fight depending on how you look at it), our boys will still have their mommy’s recipes to share with my grandchildren. That’s the plan. A few more recipes to go and I’ll be ready to put those books together. They will be their wedding gifts that hopefully I’m around to give or my husband has promised me he would give it to the boys if I’m not around. So thank you for your kind words and the blackberry pie is my husband’s absolute favorite! Have a very blessed week!
My mom was diagnosed this week. The Lord brought me to your blog and I thank you for it. You are an inspiration.
Sending you hugs! It is very overwhelming to get the PH diagnosis. Lot’s of tears, fears and worries. I’m 11 years in this PHight and I have a ton more PHighting left to do. Stay educated. Advocate for your mother. My best advice is for your mom to recognize what her body is telling her. If she is tired, take a nap. If you have spring in your step, then take a walk. If you are short of breath, rest. If you need to cry, cry. Know your body, your limitations, when you are physically at your best and when you know something isn’t quite right. PH is different for everyone. Technically I have very bad PH but I’ve never let that be my story. I have PH but it does not have me. When faced with a chronic illness that will continue to progressively get worse…you live life differently. You see things differently. It’s actually a peaceful and beautiful way to live life. I wake up with a smile and go to bed with a smile. From the getgo, make the decision that PH may take away some of your physical abilities but it doesn’t have to take away your heart and soul. There is still so much joy in this world. Live for that. I wake up everyday with the same plan…make memories! I make memories with my husband, my children, my family and my friends. If ever you need a listening ear, please message me or send me an email. I don’t have all the answers but I truly do know what your mother, your family and yourself are experiencing. There’s hope, so hang on tight to it. We do. PHight on my friend! Hugs – Kathy
Your story is so inspiring! I am literally soaked into tears. I dont even know you and yet I feel your an amazing and strong woman.
My husband was diagnosed in June with ph. He has the same spirit as you, I hope he keeps it! This is tough, unfair and challenging.
Thank you for sharing
Stacey
Oh Stacey, thank you for your kind words! I’m so sorry about your husband’s recent diagnosis. PH is so tough. Hard on the person with the disease and equally difficult for those who love the person. 13 years into this PHight…I have good days and bad days but what’s most important is that I am still having days 🙂 Wishing you both peace, happiness and that PH takes it’s sweet ol’ time as it progresses. You look at life much differently when you receive a diagnosis as devastating as this. Hang on to the joy and hope. Live each day with the intent of making it an awesome memory!