An Expression Of A Deeper Order

Since my last post here, life consisted of, what I thought to be, a long string of events (random or otherwise). I struggled to keep up, it seemed as though I was hopscotching on one foot from one square to the next and barely keeping myself upright as I was doing it. There were momentary respites, here and there, exceedingly brief and all too fleeting. "Breathe", I kept reminding myself, "just breathe". I have been wearing many hats: wife, mother, grandmother, daughter-- all at the same time. In the course of the last four weeks we sold my in-law's home, said good-bye to our son's precious canine companion: Diesel, hosted my parents for a two week visit, kept our two youngest grandchildren during our daughter-in-law's scheduled surgery and recuperation, transported little ones to and from their designated schools and activities, celebrated our next to youngest grandchild's seventh(!) birthday and through it all endeavored to keep up with laundry, get meals on the table, and maintain a house that was, somewhat, clean and tidy. All of a sudden, it seems, life has slowed back down and a quick glance out the window reveals that the seasons have changed during all of the hub-bub of activity. Yes, through it all God has been there; strengthening, supporting and  revealing Himself in the most glorious way. This, from a Bible Study I am preparing for today: "we have talked about marriage and family as a vocation or calling from God. This calling is lived out within the struggles and trials of life in this world as God gives us to others as people to count on and receive help from." Today, my husband is spending his time at home doing all of those long postponed projects now that we have only one house again, our son and his family have begun to heal the hole in their hearts by welcoming a new furry friend into their lives and home, family relationships have been strengthened and fortified while making memories through time spent together and, our daughter-in-law is resuming her normal activities once again and daily life is settling back into a familiar rhythm; all while bathed in the resplendent golden glow of autumn (lest I forget who's been in control all along)! 

Thanks be to God!

Life is Good!

photo credit: Bill Voigt 
quote credit: Mary Alice Monroe, from The Butterfly's Daughter

Pop!

I heard on the radio this morning that today is Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day. Are you celebrating? The simple act of popping bubble wrap is a known stress reliever; with that in mind, click here and get started! (C'mon, you know you want to!) Do it for your health.

Have a peaceful day~

Life is Good!

Step By Step

Ever since we returned from a two week vacation last month it seems as though I've been trying to catch up with tasks, responsibilities, commitments and appointments that had piled up while I was gone. I'm not winning in my attempts to get on top of that mountain, but I have done enough now to step back and find the breathing space I've been searching for. Ahhh, it's a good thing that I rested while I was away! In the meantime, life has been racing along at breakneck speed with little regard for me lagging behind. We're into Autumn temperatures and I have yet to pot up some Mums for the front porch and set out my fall Pansies. (I'm hoping that will occur this week for sure.) The quillow project at church is still looming large but, thankfully, I have carved enough space out around me that I can now gain some much needed forward momentum on that task. I have embroidery orders due and a quilt still patiently waiting on the frame. Mason has begun walking and all reports from the Capital City indicate that he's gaining proficiency very quickly. Today I will borrow a page from my grandson's book and take things one step at a time, that's really all any of us can do anyway, right? Instead of stressing about the never-ending "to-do" list and worrying about what's not done perhaps I should concentrate solely on walking...step by baby-step, one foot in front of the other, moving forward.

Life is Good!
Dear God, take my hand today and steady my steps should I falter or stray. I ask for your help in remaining on the path, staying focused and remembering that all that I encounter along the way is a gift and a blessing from You. ~Amen

Where Does It Go?

Time flies when you're having fun, that is most certainly true. It flies when you're not too. Let's face it, time flies. Where does it go? My "to-do" lists have been filled with appointments and commitments lately, there goes the time, in both the planning and the doing. I could write lists upon lists of all the tasks I want to get back to, I need to get back to, the ones that have been crowded out lately; the ones that have been pushed to the back burner because there's no time left. I have felt pulled in too many directions, way beyond a stretching point that's comfortable. I sat down to prepare a Bible study for presentation this morning. I opened to the book of John and began to read of God's gift of living water, through Jesus, to the woman at the well. God's peace settled around me like a well-worn quilt, I was wrapped and warmed by it. The gift of time opened and I dug deep into the vault, I had all that I needed. I was cheered and reassured, all was well and I could take my time; God would give me all that I needed!

Life is Good!

Siggies! ...And A Drum Roll....

The "siggies" (signature blocks) are all done. They are a guest book alternative, a soon-to-be wedding quilt for our son and his bride. There are thirty of them, each one has four siggie places (hearts). The blocks are stabilized with freezer paper and the edges have been taped out to designate the writing field; keeping folks out of the "off-limits" area; the seam allowance! They now reside in their own box, with four brand-new brown Pigma pens, eagerly awaiting the big day! We're inside the three week countdown now. One more thing to check off the list.

And now, for the drum roll... the last ~and final~ stress reducing tip, something to remember:
(and you thought they'd never end!)

35. "If God is for us, who can be against us?"(Romans 8:31)

Life is Good!

C'mon Along...

She's here! Sundance has arrived!! I could barely sleep last night at the very thought, I felt like one of the children in the Disney World commercial exclaiming: "we're too excited to sleep"! And now, the long awaited day, has finally dawned and this is what she looks like sitting in the studio. It's more than a little overwhelming. I'm inviting you to come along with me as I journey, baby- step by baby-step into this wonderful world of long arm quilting. I have no idea how long the path will be, or the twists and turns that await me along the way. I do know where I hope to end up, I'll just keep looking forward, with my eye on the goal. You may need to remind me, at times, to do just that! OK, ready? Here we go; the time is upon us.For the next month or so I will be signing off with a stress-reducing "tip", or discipline, there are 35. These came to me in the form of a numbered list, in an e-mail, I decided to separate them and include them here; they are each of great value individually.

1. Pray
Life is Good!

Calm Resolve... Yes, That's The Ticket!

It's quiet here. My Mom and Dad have returned to Massachusetts after being here a little over two weeks. The time we spent together was fun, as it always is, but this year with my MIL being ill and ultimately being hospitalized the day to day activities were continually being altered or even postponed. Timing is everything and this just couldn't be helped, but they pitched in and did chores around here for me and filled in as needed while we prepared for Thanksgiving. Looking back now I wish we could have entertained them a bit more than we did. We did make a flying trip (in the car!) to Mary Jo's (fabric paradise) one morning, I picked up some necessary tote bag supplies for a church project in the making and Mom found some pretty fabrics for her current quilt. I think she was inspired to do some string quilts, too, after seeing some of my flimsies. I'm ready now to make my to-do lists, organize my time and open up Santa's workshop for full-time (and maybe even over-time) Christmas gift creating! For some reason I can't get myself motivated to begin on these tasks in June, I certainly admire people who can. I've decided on a new tactic; this year's sewing and embroidering marathon will be approached with calm resolve. I have all the necessary supplies on hand. I still have an adequate number of days, I'll take them one at a time. I refuse to make myself and those around me crazy.My daughter and son in law came and cooked for us this weekend, beer can chickens on the Holland grill. They were delicious! We watched the Auburn-Alabama game (War Eagle!) together with my parents and finished up the rest of the Thanksgiving pies... Apple, Cherry and Pumpkin. I am posting this photo to illustrate the position that I choose NOT to take in preparation for Christmas, the headless chicken approach! I've done that before, it doesn't help one little bit except to raise the stress level. Instead, I am adopting this position, learned from my best little furry buddy:
He has the right idea! (He's going to miss the extra laps to snuggle on now that his grandparents have left.) He searched high and low for them yesterday. Hannes approaches everything in life one day at a time with calm (unless his dinner is late!) resolve and a great big loving spirit.

...I'm going to try and do the same...
Relax, breathe, and know that you are loved!
Life is Good!