2022's Guiding Word

After an immense amount of soul-searching I have settled upon "respect" as my guiding word for this year. I have a litany of reasons why this word rose above the others as the one that inspired me the most. First, the textbook definition, from Webster's: 

1: a feeling of admiring someone or something that is good, valuable, important, etc.

2: a feeling or understanding that someone or something is important, serious, etc., and should be treated in an appropriate way

3: a particular way of thinking about or looking at something

My own initial draw to this word is the second definition and one that I find sorely lacking in almost every aspect of daily life anymore. When I was a little girl the one lesson that I remember my parents teaching, above all else, was that I was to behave in a respectful manner. Anyone in authority was to be respected; this went for almost anyone older than myself but most certainly for teachers and older family members, as well as whoever happened to be in charge: be it a school bus driver, neighbor, store clerk or a baby sitter. "You will show proper respect!"  "Gotcha, Mom, loud and clear!" It's the way it was; no ifs, ands or buts about it. 

Fast forward sixty years- where has respect gone; has it disappeared completely?

No one can question the fact that we live in a very divided world right now. I won't ever use this platform to become political, it's not who I am, but that's not the point here anyway; what is the point is that through my own personal lens I can see clearly that what is desperately needed here is a healthy injection of respect; that one courtesy can go a long way in lowering the boiling point of clashing thoughts and viewpoints. "I don't necessarily agree with your logic on a particular issue, but I respect your right to have an opinion."  To see a change, one must BE the change. Everyone deserves respect; it's the way that I was raised and the way I raised my own children and, hopefully, the behavior that I model now to our grandchildren. This is a big topic today, and this, particular, guiding word won't be easy to observe each and every day moving forward, I know that! Each morning I ask myself "what does God expect from me?"; but, on the very first day of this New Year that same question broadens into "just who is God calling me to be?" A friend shared this excellent article with me a few days ago on the battle between efficiency and fruitfulness, the main points have stayed with me; precisely that "the road to sanctification is marked by a series of little uphill battles." I'm good with that and I respectfully pray that God will help and guide me up and over the rough spots ahead, one little battle at a time.  

In past years I have elaborated on how my selected guiding word will manifest itself in my quilting life. I hope to do that in the weeks to come, in regard to that I'll look more at the first and third definitions of this year's word. But, for today, I'm going to leave it here. Happy New Year, let's make it a great one!

Life is Good!

Respectfully yours,

What's The Word?

I've abandoned "resolutions" and chosen to adopt for myself a guiding word for the year. Here it is... my guiding word for 2021. Mindful won out over a list of others which were, each none, all strong contenders in their own right. But, this is the word that I have chosen to focus on in this New Year. According to the textbook/dictionary definition, mindful means: "attentive, regarding with care; bearing in mind; heedful; observant." Synonyms for mindful are: "careful, thoughtful, watchful, aware of, alive to."

The Biblical definition, from the Calming Grace website, goes a bit further: to be mindful is to pay attention, to be deliberate and on purpose, to be in the present moment nonjudgmentally. It is this focus that teaches us to pay attention to the here and now of our own experiences instead of going through the motions. To relieve our crammed-full minds and over-stressed selves we need to open up a place where God can enter and meet us in that moment, it's an intentional act as opposed to running on auto-pilot.

I believe that being mindful is also a matter of stewardship. For me, there's an understanding that to become truly aware and focused on what I have (time, resources, relationships, health), I need to recognize that they are all gifts from God. Then, and only then, will I be able to better appreciate, treasure and care for those things. Being mindful carries responsibility. Last year's word: "vision", has been a good one and it's not altogether different from this year's; actually, it's a good foundation to build being mindful upon. And what will be my first, mindful, action of 2021? Why none other than cleaning out that scrap basket all over again and trimming those scraps into usable sizes for quilts! That's become a new years' tradition!

I hope I'm up to the challenge.

Happy New Year!

What word or resolution will guide you in 2021?

Life is Good!

2020 Round Up

Here's just a sampling of quilts done this year. My guiding word for the year was "VISION". Vision to see clearly: to look at what I had on hand and how I could utilize my stash to make and finish up more quilts. In addition to these (above) I have a sizable queue of  "to be quilteds" ready to go when the much anticipated roll of batting (finally) arrives. 

Early in January I rolled out the die cutter and made piles of neatly cut usable shapes from the scrap basket. I had plenty to work with and utilized much of what is contained in these stacks as the projects were completed and checked off. I'm pleased with what I accomplished. Actually, when I went back to pull pictures from each month I am even a little surprised at how much I got done. The one thing, naturally, that I never saw coming when I chose the word was a pandemic and a stay at home order. That did up the productivity considerably around here. These quilts (above) were the keepers. 

There were also donation quilts. And there were masks...and masks... and masks. Just a few:

There were many other gifts sewn and from-scratch baking was done, my bread machine saw more service this past year than it has in the last five. I did more quilting for friends this year than I've ever done. Reading became a highlight too: D.EA.R. (Drop Everything And Read) time became a precedent in the late afternoon every day. And SEW it continues... right down to the wire as this year comes to a close. I'm still working out of my stash, I will finish up at least one more scrappy donation quilt before the ball drops on New Year's.  I'm already working on carefully choosing a new guiding word for 2021. I hope to be able to equally diligent going forward with that endeavor, it's an exciting prospect. Wish me luck.

Life is Good!