A Stitch, or knit, in Time

Well, I think I've done it!
First, I learned how to use a sewing machine (Thank You Shannon!!!!). I will definitely continue to get better with that. I'm working on a couple of projects for Christmas presents right now.
Then, my truly wonderful mother in law, got me started on yet another craft. Most of you know by now that I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. I've had it since I was five. Well, my MIL calls me up. Tells me she just saw an article about how knitting is good therapy for arthritic hands. I, of course, had already heard this well over a hundred times. The more we discuss it, however, the more I start to think I may be able to do it.My Grandma tried to teach me crochet when I was around ten, but between my hands starting to hurt and me not being the most patient girl in the world, I stopped by the time I was 12.
I did a little searching on Craftster.org. If you don't know about this site, and you like to do lots of different crafts, go there, join, make friends. It's wonderful!!!!!I found a couple people who had arthritis who knit and I asked for some advice. Both people e-mailed me with great tips. One of them posted on another board she belongs to and came up with lots of advice from other people:)(THANK YOU!!!!).
Once I got all these positive remarks, I decided I should at least try again. Whats the worst that could happen? I would be out a few bucks for knitting needles. I got a couple books from the library,a couple needles from Wal-Mart and a nice warm cup of Chai and sat down on the couch with a pillow in my lap (that was one of the suggestions, so your arms and hands don't have to hold themselves up). After about and hour, I had my first cast on row done. After two hours I had about 10 knit rows done. Mind you, it's not very pretty, but I did do it. I think I will get better. After two hours, my hands were a little achie, so I decided to call it a night. I woke up this morning feeling great! Thank God for Enbrel and for people to give me tips!!!!!!!!I will post pictures after I have gotten something actually completed. I'm gonna go try the purl stitch next.
The reason I really want to learn to knit and/or crochet it to be able to give back a little. When Mom was in the Hospital last December, one of the nurses came up to me and gave me a Prayer Shawl. She said that she was a member of the Prayer Shawl Ministry at her church and, after seeing me there with my Mother in the ICU for a week, she thought I would benefit from it. It touched me deeper than I ever thought possible. She let me know that the women in the group pray over the yarn, and pray the entire time their making the shawls. They pray that God will bring peace to the person who receives the shawl. I want to do that. I want to help people who are suffering and struggling. So often, while Mom was in the hospital and after she died, I picked up that shawl and remembered that God brought that nurse to me in my time of need to remind me that He was still there. It really is a wonderful feeling:)
The nurse in the hospital is why I started making the no-sew fleece blankets for the kids in the hospital too! She really did a lot for me. I can't believe I can't even remember her name. She wasn't one of Mom's nurses, she was just one of the many nurses in the ICU. I do remember her face and her actions though.
OK. End of my ramble. I must go learn the purl now......