Love all that you have with a happy thankful heart

I have been watching the news a lot lately, the kaos in Egypt, the disaters of flooding water in Australia, the turmoil around the world makes me feel that I am glad where I live. I have a safe haven in my home with my husband, my family and in my community. I used to think that I needed more that what I had, not any more. I cannot imagine loosing all that I have and be with out my family and my home. I know a few people who have love, shelter, food, clothing, transportation, extras to keep themselves occupied with their time but who are not happy with all that. I have been asking myself how can they be so unhappy. I believe I was caught up in what I wanted instead of what I had a while back, this year I made myself look at what I have and be grateful no matter how much or how little I have. How can I give someone that wake up call?? What does it take? I feel like giving them a shake and screaming at them, would that work, probably not. Maybe they need their world shook a bit just to realize that they shouldn't look at their neighbors and compare. The grass does always look greener on the other side of the fence but is it???

I pray for the people who are suffering with their losses, even for those who have not yet had loss.

Valentines day is coming up, let your loved ones know how much you love and care for them every day.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! All my best to you throughout 2011!!

Christmas was really good to us, with lots of food, family and friends gathered on different days. I like being busy and I also enjoy the quiet times too, well balanced.

Yesterday I popped in to my local quilt shop and lo and behold someone left me a bag of fat quarters for Christmas! Bless her heart, I know who she is and she always leaves me a few here and a few there. I am going surprise her and treat this woman to lunch.

I did not make any New Years' resolutions because they are hard to keep. I just plan on taking one day at a time and be thankful for it, make plans when needed and don't sweat the small stuff. Did I just make resolutions? Laugh Out Loud

My coffee is calling me so I bid you blessings this year.

Seasons Greetings!

It's been a busy busy month so far. Making bandannas, cleaning, baking, card making, watching my grandson play hockey, listening to my granddaughter playing band at school concerts, Christmas shopping, wrapping gifts, getting the flu, etc., etc., etc. and still trying to keeping up with everyday chores. And there is so much to do yet! I'm sending the husband to finish the shopping. I won't worry about what doesn't get done because Christmas is not just about gifts... It's about celebrating with family and friends the birth of Christ, thus CHRISTmas! Who care if I have a dust bunny or two hanging around, they might be my new pets. (good excuse!) I really don't want anything for Christmas....maybe a helping hand or two or three in the kitchen for food preparation and clean up so that I can put up my feet and relax. Ok, maybe one thing.... a new pair of jeans would be nice and a nice top to go with them or a gift certificate to my favorite quilt shop. See, I'm easy to shop for...ha ha ha.

I do hope everyone has a safe and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. And remember drive sober, I fully support SADD & MADD.

It's been awhile!

Excuse me but it has been awhile since my last post, I must apologize. I'm sorry.

There was a big scrapbooking crop over the weekend before this past one. A quilt I donated for a prize brought in $396.00! I also recieved 101 fat quarters to make bandannas! Thank-you ladies!

Since then, I pulled out a quilt top I started about 10 years ago and finally finished it. I'm not sure where that one is going to end up. I'm sure it will end up someplace where it's loved.

I'm just trying to finish all my UFOs (unfinished objects) and then I can start with a fresh slate.

And it's time to start with Christmas preparations with cookie baking, some gifts to be made and some bought, hanging the boughs and lights up outside (perhaps this weekend when it's warmer), card making and just really enjoy this Christmas without my daughter lying on the couch sick like last year. I may even tune into some Christmas music! Which will be a surprise because I can't stand the music on the account I worked retail for 15 years+ because the stores started it right after Halloween and played steady till the end of January. Really folks I didn't need to hear it for 3 months straight.

The snow has blanketed the ground here and some more shovelling is in order. I don't mind winter without the wind. I want to get out there and cross-country ski, I enjoy the peace and it gets me out.

Have a wonderful day and I'll make sure I post sooner. Take care of you since there is only one of you.

Finally it's over!

Today feels like Amanda is over her cancer! She got the all clear from her oncologist! I felt relieved. Her pain from radiation is subsiding and her new skin is starting to show it's new pink color. Thank-you God and the doctors and to Amanda for putting up such a huge long battle for allowing me to walk this path with her. Time to celebrate life, share the knowledge of what we have learned, to share this experience and help others along the way.

Last two days we had a storm blow in with rain, ice, snow and strong winds. Today the winds calmed down, the sun peeked out and melted some of the ice, that is what it feels like for me after this cancer. Almost a year in a storm just to see the sun shine again.

I just got 40 fat quarters of beautiful fabric to make more bandannas! Thank-you! I must post off another card to let them know how much this means to me and to Amanda.

Keep the faith and the hope.

Now what???

Amanda has finished her last radiation treatment this past Monday! Hurray! I imagine a year of your life with medical treatments being a priority, then your done and now where does one start getting back into a routine. I don't think that any one can just pick up from last year. The changes in ones' body, the experience of fighting cancer and the personality change as well. It kind of reminds me of after holidays, the meal is finished, the presents have been opened, the tree taken down, everything packed away. Now what??? Just take time to heal.

I received some Thank-you cards in the mail from receipients from the bandannas I sent off. I want to say Thank-you back for taking the time to send a note.

I am just trying to make this Halloween a bit more fun for my grandchildren this year. I made them cute seasonal joke books (Q: What kind of instrument does a skeleton play? A: tromBONE) with pun on words and a 'broom' bag filled with special goodies. Made my grandaughter a Star Trek shirt yesterday, she thinks it's perfect and that is fine with me.

I am slowly getting back into quilting (winter project) along with making one to auction/sell tickets to fundraise Walk for the Cure next year, binding quilts for Serendipity ( a group of women who make quilts for kids in need) through the local guild here.

I plan to make Christmas a little extra special this year for my family, last year seemed it just came and went with really no special effort on my behalf. I want to bake cookies, play Christmas carols, light touring, attend the tree festival, go and listen to chiors sing with the family.

Blessings to you from me!

Thankful Gifts

Another Thanksgiving has past, we remembered what we are thankful for and blessing those less fortunate than us. With turkey and a few trimmings left over, perhaps making a homemade soup is on the agenda this week. Gifts of fabric came in the mail this past week, I am grateful for them, cards of Thanks will be posted later today along with a couple of requests for bandannas which I am happy to oblidge to send. I woke up to loud meows of my cat (who selfishly thinks I'm the only one that can tend to her needs), the scent of fresh brewed coffee and a cool, crispy, frosty morning. The leaves have changed and fallen and I raked them up in a pile for the grand kids to come along a take a jump, they are just getting too old for that now for they did not take no interest. I will get them bagged and use them for mulching my shrubs. The crop behind our property was combined over the weekend, hope the harvest went well and no injuries. The land and the trees has changed once again, just sitting in a dormant stage waiting for something new , constantly changing and so we must do so too. Gifts are always put in our lives, it's what we do with them that counts. Many blessings!