Friday, July 16

*the list is diminishing..

We have all been working hard tackling the "list".  It is wonderful to look at those pages and see so many tasks marked through.

This week while Eric was out of town, Henry and I were in the kitchen removing grout, prepping for new grout to go down and just working along side each other.  He did most of the removing, while I did help him a bit.  I prepped the tiles and got all my supplies together the new grout to go down.   Henry offered to help me put the new grout down, so I took the time to show him the proper way to put it in.  He caught on right away. Then I saw him applying the grout "Henry style" - on his belly.  So I said to him, "Honey, I don't think that is the proper way to lay the grout in the tiles. That is not how professional tile people do it."  So his response was this: "It is only because they have never thought of it before." I love this kid (young man).  The grout looks great; it gives the kitchen a whole new look.   The house goes on the market in one month; we are almost ready!

Wednesday, July 14

*happy birthday to my baby sister

While today is not actually my sister's birthday, Monday was and I missed getting this post out. Happy Birthday Bridgette!

This is some of the ways I have seen my baby sister over the years:
^baby doll (I was six when she was born and my oldest sister was eight - we used her as our baby doll - we spoiled her)
^brat - not really, she was never bratty to me
^child - for many years Bridgette was like a child to me in some respects
^sister - of course she is my sister
^friend - it is a true blessing when your family members can also be your friends
^sister in Christ - this one I am most thankful for. Bridgette is chasing after the Lord with all of her heart, no she is not perfect, but she has found her peace, her answers to life's mysteries in Him - this brings me joy unspeakable.
 
Bridgette had a somewhat spoiled but at the same time, hard life. This does not keep her down nor should any of us feel badly or sorry for her. Because, really all of us have had hard times in life.  If it were not for the hard times how would we recognize the good times? How is it that we would grow in overcoming? The Lord our God tells us to be grateful for both the good times as well as the hard, trying times. 

My parents were married for twenty years with their own set of problems mounting to a head,  and after not being able to work through them; they separated when my sweet little sister was only twelve or thirteen young years old.  Yes, these were still my parents and my older sisters parents, but we were "grown".  This had a profound effect  on all of us. A deep profound effect. My father was a family man, still is. Outside of my father's alcoholism, we lived a fairly happy, content, family togetherness life. So this decision was, as you can imagine, hard for all involved.  Until just yesterday, I don't think I have stopped to think of how it impacted my little sister who was still living at home and at a time of developing into a young woman at that point in her life. (My older sister and I were married at this point) I know that it was probably harder on her than I will ever understand. At the time I was so wound up in my own grief and immaturity that I honestly never gave thought to my little sister that was still at home, still growing up, trying to find her way in this world. I know that this rocked her world. I can see the after math, now looking back, but I can also see the beauty.





These are some adjectives that I think of when I think of Bridgette:
overcommer
strong
weak 
loving
giving
selfless (THIS IS A HUGE ONE)
tender
precious
beautiful
thoughtful
caring


 Happy Birthday Bridgette! I love you!

Sunday, July 11

*2010 12-N-12 June Beauties!

This month marks the half way point for the quilting challenge, six more months left! I think I am cheating this month with my submission, but you be the judge. Hey ladies, (Robyn, Franziska, Cheryl, Sharon, Nicole, & Jenny) thanks for helping keep me spurred on with your beautiful creations!


This past month Jenny has been working on this...and plans to finish it up and submit a full view for July!

Franziska worked diligently to create this quilt she named "Riviera Breeze" for her friend Dianna.  Dianna is one of the most giving ladies with a heart of gold that Franziska met when she first moved away to the mountains.  When asking Dianna what colors she would use in her home decor she described the blues of the ocean with the orange sun setting, hence the quilt's name.

Franziska used batiks in the Turning Twenty quilt pattern by Tricia Cribbs.

While I "finished up" a quilt this past month.. I do not claim it as one done all by myself.  I posted about this quilt a week or so ago, but here is a picture of what I "finished" this month.








Personally I hope to get several quilts finished this month, even in the midst of packing, painting and preparing for a move.  Unrealistic? Probably so!  I hope you find a few moments to steal away to sit with your machine and sew if that is what your heart desires!  Keep that pedal going! 

Saturday, July 3

*4th of July


O! say can you see by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;
O! say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner, O! long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!


We hope you all have a glorious 4th of July!