Thank You!

Thanks one and all for the prayers for Phyllis. Surgery happened on Thursday, the neurosurgeon reported to the family that she was "very pleased" with the results. A follow-up MRI showed no complications following the resection and Phyllis was released back to home yesterday afternoon! 

I know~ amazing, right?!!

So are you, my prayerful friends, so are you!

Life is Good!

*Link here to read original post. 

Fun, Games and a Rolickin' Good Time

I'm still here~ just in case you think we've been on vacation let me share pictures spanning highlights of the last week. Our daughter-in-law is recovering from lumbar fusion and we're helping out where we can. No rest for the weary (or wicked! 😉) as they say. On top of all of this we've played endless games of Uno, the fun never stops! I'll be back soon, I hope you're all staying safe and cool this summer. 

Wash your hands! 🧼

Life is Good!

Random Musings... From My Mind To Yours

Please bear with me, I have a few assorted topics to discuss, question and marvel over. First: these Hydrangeas. Aren't they pretty? We haven't had nary a bloom on these bushes for at least five years. We were beginning to think that they needed to be pulled out and planted somewhere else. We have not done one. thing. extra. to encourage or promote blooming. All of a sudden, last month, I noticed a profusion of buds forming! Hallelujah! Does anyone know why this may be? Knowing that the blossoms come on old wood we haven't cut them back; but then, we hadn't cut them back in at least five years. It's all mysterious and wonderful as far as we are concerned, but if anyone might know the reason, please share!

Our son has been sick: stomach distress, back pain and abdominal discomfort. This past Saturday he surprised everyone (he never gets sick and if he does, he never complains; so, the fact that he went to this extreme, both warned and worried us) and went to the Emergency Department, he feared he had appendicitis. A scan revealed a kidney stone. The stone was small so he was sent home with pain medications and other drugs; the waiting game began. He did not improve. Days dragged, he was miserable and suffering. He went back to the Dr. yesterday and was sent to the hospital for emergency surgery to remove the stone where a blockage had occurred. All went well and he was home last evening again with his family. He is "battle worn" from the ordeal but feeling much, much better and returned to work bright and early this morning. I woke up feeling like a weight had been lifted off of my mind and heart. As mothers they never get too old, do they? We worry the same way that we did when they were three and running a fever through the night or when they broke a bone; the same, exact, way as when they have ever suffered distress! They might be too big to scoop up in our laps and rock them to sleep in our arms anymore, but our hearts and minds revert to that behavior as we rejoice in their recovery; thanks be to God!

How often do you go bra shopping? If you're at all like me it is one of the most agonizing of all shopping excursions (second only to selecting a swimsuit). Whenever I find a style that fits well, and is comfortable, I buy as many as I can find in my size; because, don't you know, the next time you go shopping for one again that style is always discontinued! ALWAYS! Okay, yesterday was the day. I had put it off for as long as I possibly could. Yes, it was agonizingly painful an experience as I thought it would be; but, this time there was a new reality: the image of an old lady's body reflected back at me from the fitting room's mirror. Where did she come from? I found a few styles that met my basic criteria and skee-daddled out of there as fast as I could; far, far away from that old lady's scrutinizing eyes. I should be good for awhile; I bought four, (buy one get a second at 50% off!) maybe that old lady will be gone whenever I return-- a long time from now! Am I alone in this experience? Do any of you encounter "visitors" in those fitting room mirrors? 

These are last year's Easter lilies carried home from Easter Sunday service and plated in the ground. I really forgot about them until they emerged this spring and have, quite simply, burst forth! They have been holding onto these buds for weeks on end. We have had nothing but rain for the longest time but this week the sun has broken through once again and one bud has finally begun to loosen its tight grip. Will these burst forth in bloom today or tomorrow? What a glorious surprise these have been to witness their progress! I planted this year's lilies just behind these plants; next year we should have double the glory! What surprises are you experiencing in your life right now? Who knows, yours might be as close as a glance out the window; whatever it is, I hope that you are wrapped in the wonder of God's gift of glory all around you. Today I give thanks for all that He has so abundantly provided, revealed in blessings of every shape and form. 

Life is Good!

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

Forced Expulsion and Other Happenings

Bear with me through this post, it has lots of photos and a weekend update too. This was my the state of my sewing room on Friday. Being banished from the studio has resulted in a change of pace and tidier, better organized spaces in other parts of the house; not necessarily a bad thing! I have to admit, just looking at the plastic drapes, floor cloths and chaos in my favorite room gives me a case of the jitters. But, the face lift will be worth it. Freshly painted wall surfaces, ceiling and trim will revitalize the appearance of the room and recharge my creative energy when I return.

At least that's what I keep telling myself.

So, late last week I tackled dresser drawers and my closet. The closet was a MAJOR undertaking. It was in dire need of cleaning out and organizing! I did not take a before photo. Trust me, it was bad. I organized from the top down. Shelves first, and then hanging items. At long last all of the wire coat hangers (how do the multiply exponentially?) are gone, replaced by cleaner and quieter plastic hangers.

I used the one year rule for identifying items to be donated. Some items had taken up valuable closet space for ten to fifteen times that! Of course, keepsake items have been retained. But, even with those were carefully scrutinized first. I was ruthless.

This was the final result. I thought I was done. Neat, tidy, organized. I felt like my clothes could breathe again, I know I was breathing easier having this task behind me, it had weighed me down for a very long time. Speaking of weight though, if only those closet rods could talk!

The donation bags ready to go. You can't tell relative scale here, these are 42 gallon bags. I "borrowed" the bags from my husband's workshop. They are "contractor grade" plastic, 3 mil thick, they're very strong and sturdy. It's a good thing because I filled them and they were HEAVY.  I am thankful now that those closet rods never buckled, in all truthfulness they've had the largest load lifted from them. Wow.

About the time I was finishing up the closet I received a desperate phone call from our daughter. She needed some help with Lucy Ann, our son-in-law was traveling and she and Mason were on their way to the hospital, he was in need of an emergency appendectomy! As luck would have it, our son was in the car at the time, near the Capital City. Uncle Kyle to the rescue. He picked her up and brought her to us.

Here's Mason after his successful surgery. It was a textbook procedure and he was on his way home (yes, HOME!) two hours later. His Daddy arrived back in town just before Mason went into surgery. The surgery, performed laparoscopically, plus an otherwise healthy young boy combined to make this procedure, in essence, one of out-patient status. This seems almost unbelievable to me. Twenty six years ago his own mother was in the hospital for three days when she had the same surgery; and she didn't get souvenir photos of her procedure to bring home! Mason not only has photos but stories to share too!

Meanwhile, back at Chez Goodneedle, little Miss Lucy Ann had a fun sleepover with Nana and Paw Paw and staged a perfectly wonderful fashion show on Saturday, modeling her mother's old prom dresses! These sparkly sequined dresses, a pair of rhinestone-studded sandals and her imagination were all she needed for a great morning of dress-up fun. We returned her to her family later in the day, she was eager to get home and check on her big brother. 

Yesterday after church I showed off my now clean closet to my son and daughter-in-law. (Yes, I lead a very exciting life!) My daughter-in-law, after complimenting me on getting rid of  all those horrible wire coat hangers,  graciously informed me that I was using the wrong style hangers for my slacks. She pointed out how this style (above) has the vertical posts to stabilize them for the weight of slacks on the bottom bar. I had no idea! A few substitutions were easily made and I was in complete plastic coat hanger compliance! Am I the only one who didn't know this?

All is well.

And back in the Capital City: Legos and a lap tray. Let the healing begin.

Life is Good!

Two For Two

There's another two-year-old birthday to be celebrated soon; and sew, there's a second Picture Play Quilt underway! This is Gregory's soon-to-be quilt as it appears on the design wall; I will be adding another round of borders, scrappy pieced ones, before loading it onto Sundance for quilting.

Gregory's Daddy (our son, Kyle) is facing surgery today to repair a spiral fracture in his right fibula following an accident that occurred two weeks ago. He will be receiving internal fixation. Some of you, those who have been reading this blog for a long time, may recall (click) that he is no stranger to this procedure, he had a similar (albeit more extensive) surgery almost exactly six years ago after he shattered the tibial plateau in his left leg following a fall. I am requesting prayer; for God's healing touch, and for patience in the process. I posted this scripture passage back then, for Kyle, it's appropriate to post it, to read it, once again today!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not rely on your own insight.

In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make straight your paths.

Be not wise in your own eyes;

fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

It will be healing to your flesh 

and refreshment to your bones.  

                     - Proverbs 3: 5-8                                                    

                                                                                                                                     

     Life is Good!

On My Feet

I spend a LOT of time on my feet... both time standing and time tending to them.  When in the studio I'm either standing at Sundance or at the cutting table or at the ironing board; okay, there is some time sitting and sewing too! As far as tending to my feet there's the daily pumice stone ritual followed by foot cream and slippers while I blow dry my hair and put on my face, by then all the lotion is absorbed. After that I choose comfortable and supportive shoes or sandals; I have to. There have been three incidents involving my foot or toes just in the last  year and a half! There was a sprained foot (in smocking class) injury in May of 2011, a full can of spray-foam bathroom cleaner slipped out of my hand (from waist-height) and landed directly onto my baby toe back in May of this year (it's still tender to the touch), and, as recently as last Friday, I tripped up two steps while running up the stairs and bent three toes backwards on my left foot! Owwww!! I need to slow down, my feet can't take much more reckless abuse.

This picture was taken last February when I took Ami Simms' String Class at Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival, she had this photo on her blog. What I notice most (there I am... second row from front, on the right, blue sweater) in this photo is my necessary choice of shoes: comfortable tennis shoes, no dress shoes, not even cute flats!  I'm okay with that; back in the spring of 2005 emergency surgery  was performed to bypass an aneurysm that clotted off the artery to my right foot. There were no guarantees going into the operating room that I would keep my foot; but, the surgery was successful and timely, and I did.

My toes are feeling better today, nothing was broken; I was lucky... again.

I spend a lot of time on my feet, in one way or another; mine are certainly not taken for granted!

I am grateful, very grateful, that I have two to stand on, I just need to be more careful of them.

Life is Good!

Standing On Both Feet

Tomorrow is the second anniversary of a life changing event for me, to celebrate I'm standing on BOTH feet! Actually, I celebrate that fact every day now. Two years ago I became suddenly sidelined when blood clots blocked the artery to my right foot. Emergency surgery was performed to by-pass an aneurysm behind my knee. My husband and I were traveling home from South Dakota when the clots occurred. I had no idea what had happened, all I knew was that the pain was incredible; much like having a baseball bat strike the front of my shin bone, that pain did not subside. I bounced around for a few days without treatment after a mis-diagnosis before I ended up sitting on the table of a vascular surgeon who looked me in the eye, after arranging for my hospital admittance, and said "we're going to do everything we can to save your foot". If you've never had that happen you cannot imagine the fear those words elicit. The surgery was successful. I have an ugly scar on the inside of my leg from mid-calf to mid-thigh. I won't wear shorts anymore or anything that reveals the scar, but that's perfectly OK. That scar is my 'gratitude souvenir', it reminds me daily to be thankful; thankful to God for all my blessings, thankful to be standing on both feet! Happy anniversary to me!

Life is Good!