A QUILT PROJECT

Apologies to Beverly  and all the pinkies for missing three Pink Saturdays in a row! When I joined the pink crew in 2010 I made a commitment that I would be a faithful follower and always post my pinks! I missed once last year because I was under the weather and the past three weeks I have been sad over the loss of my precious cat Boots. But the Spring air is here (snow predicted here Monday) so I will show you some pinks!

These are my pretty Vintage Garden cream and sugar set from Princess House. I have lots of matching pieces.

See the sweet little cabbage rose on top of the teapot? I love this piece!

The tea for one pot is charming, do you agree? I like the pretty colors in the flowers, lilac, blue, pink and yellow.
I hope you will visit Suzanne because we have received some wonderful news today. If you are not familiar with the Shannon quilt project , we banded together to create a quilt for four year old Shannon. She was suffering from brain cancer. She passed away on March 10th and her family asked that we respect their privacy.  It was a sad day. Many people had already donated fabric and quilt squares to create the quilt that Suzanne generously agreed to put together. We were so sad that the family asked us to allow them to grieve privately.. The stories that came with the quilt squares and fabric touched Suzanne's heart because she was the one sorting them and reading the stories first hand. Not one to be discouraged I kept praying and asking everyone who would listen to continue to pray. Today Suzanne called me at my office and said she was ironing the quilt with a heavy heart, getting ready to send it to Sue to complete and send, we thought, to the hospice where Shannon spent her final days. Suzanne had sent a message via e mail to Shannon's aunt Donna. Today as Suzanne set her iron down she received an e mail from Donna. The family asked that we send them the quilt. We were overwhelmed with joy! The family had not realized there could be such kindness around.
During the course of the past few weeks we found out about Crew. He is a baby boy who was born with with various health problems. Every turn he takes for the worse brings him back stronger again! His family accepted our offer of a quilt as Suzanne had enough supplies to create a second masterpiece. As I write this Crew is struggling with yet another setback and surgery. Please pray.  My heart feels that Crew will be able to regain his health and he can return home with his family taking his new quilt with him.
I hope you will all keep the faith and pray for Shannon's family as they struggle with this tremendous loss. Pray for Crew's family that he will continue to heal and that his health will be restored. This little fellow has suffered so much pain in his short life. Please pray.
I appreciate you letting me tell you the story of the Quilt Project. I appreciate all the pinkies and all the bloggers and friends who stop here with stories of their own.
I love this quote by C.S. Lewis. I hope you will enjoy it too:
"Friendship is unnecessary , like philosophy, like art...It has no survival value, rather it is one of those things that give value to survival. "

"S" is for S I L L Y

I am joining Ms. Jenny for Alphabe Thursday. I know many of you early birds have already posted. I may be late but I am so happy to spend some quality time with all of you! I wanted to write a sad post. But I thought silly sounded like more fun! I have a silly joke for you! Question: What day of the week do chickens hate? Answer: F R Y D A Y ! Ha Ha! That is super silly! So come prepared to laugh a lot! I have more silliness to share!

Do you like silly string?
My kids use to love to spray it everywhere when we celebrated a birthday or a holiday like New Years Eve! It is very silly stuff.

Question: What do you call a pig who does karate? Answer: A pork chop!

I am not sure Miss Piggy would appreciate my humor but it sure is silly! Can you imagine a pig doing karate! LOL!

Ok, ok...I am done with the pig jokes!

  A MOTHER'S DICTIONARY

Bottle feeding: An opportunity for Daddy to get up at 2 am too.

Defense: What you'd better have around de yard if you're going to let the children play outside.

Drooling: How teething babies wash their chins.

Dumbwaiter: One who asks if the kids would care to order dessert.

Family planning: The art of spacing your children the proper distance apart to keep you on the edge of financial disaster

Feedback: The inevitable result when the baby doesn't appreciate the strained carrots.

Full name: What you call your child when you're mad at him.

Grandparents: The people who think your children are wonderful even though they're sure you're not raising them right.

Hearsay: What toddlers do when anyone mutters a dirty word.

Impregnable: A woman whose memory of labor is still vivid.

Independent: How we want our children to be as long as they do everything we say.

Look out: What it's too late for your child to do by the time you scream it.

Prenatal: When your life was still somewhat your own.

Preprared childbirth: A contradiction in terms.

Puddle: A small body of water that draws other small bodies wearing dry shoes into it.

Show off: A child who is more talented than yours.

Sterilize: What you do to your first baby's pacifier by boiling it and to your last baby's pacifier by blowing on it.

Storeroom: The distance required between the supermarket aisles so that children in shopping carts can't quite reach anything.

Temper tantrums: What you should keep to a minimum so as to not upset the children.

Top bunk: Where you should never put a child wearing Superman jammies.

Two-minute warning: When the baby's face turns red and she begins to make those familiar grunting noises.

Verbal: Able to whine in words

Whodunit: None of the kids that live in your house.

Whoops: An exclamation that translates roughly into "get a sponge."

Had enough silliness? I thought so!

I needed a big smile and a good laugh! I wanted to share all these silly  things with you! Now head over to the our Alphabe Thursday gang and join some "S" posts today!

A Pretty Blue Tea Mug

I want to tell you a little story about my pretty blue and white tea mug. My sweet swap buddy  Marilyn who lives right up the road from me gave this to me in the Secret Santa Soiree that  Suzanne hosted this past December 2011. I have been using this tea mug lately and it really gives me comfort. Having lost my sweet boy Boots one week ago this past Thursday I find that a steaming cup of hot tea comforts my soul and calms my spirit. I think about what charming friends I have discovered at this blog and how much each and everyone means to me. I have a little poem to share here today:

Come, my friend,
and join me
for a cup of tea.
Let's just sit a spell:
enjoy each other's company.
If life's great success
has come your way,
we'll share the news
and celebrate the day!
But, if perchance, some grief
 has knocked upon your door,
I'll sit silently and listen,
 nothing more.
Come join Blue Monday and what blue you can share today! 


"Rejoice with them that do rejoice,
and weep with them that weep,
Romans 12:15










 

Love is...

This sweet little Love is...is a favorite of mine. I have begged my hubby for years to take some dancing lessons with me. No such luck! But he will run while I walk with him during the warm months. A compromise is better than no prize at all!
So come visit Marydon and share your Love is..with us.

"R" is for Running

I am running late from posting as usual. I am hopeful soon I will be free of some stress and enjoy all things that make me happy very soon.

Nick did not have a good run yesterday. He ran in the four by eight and Nick is not a sprinter. He is a distance runner. He has already suffered from shin splints and yesterday runners cough that attacked his lungs and airway so severely he vomited! He was unable to run the mile or the two mile. We are hopeful once he is over Spring break he will be able to get back on track. He is still looking at colleges, primarily in Colorado and Kansas. We want him to end his high school years on a high note. We want him to run well and be strong and healthy.

I am having some difficulty loading my newest photos but here are few to share for Ms. Jenny and the Alphabe Thursday participates.

Nick was spiked at the meet on Saturday and he had a badly cut leg and his new running shoes were torn. What a nightmare. But he is doing better this week. If we can get him over this nasty runners cough.

My "R"letter today is for running.

Quilting for Kids

I hope everyone will forgive me. This past week has been a blur to me and I am joining my friend Suzanne to update you on the Shannon story. As we worked together to get a quilt to the family of Shannon, the four year old  little girl with brain cancer passed away. We respect her family as they ask for privacy during this difficult time.
Because of the overwhelming response for the quilt, Suzanne has had quilt squares arriving daily at her home. She is working diligently to put them together so they may go off to the quilter.
We wanted to share with everyone because there will be enough squares to make a second quilt. We hope you will read about Crew here. The hope is to create two quilts to make a small kindness for two hurting families.
Please pray that these families will be comforted in the days to come. Shannon's family over the loss of their beautiful young daughter. Crew's family in rallying because this baby boy is a miracle. He is given a new health challenge each day and he seems to overcome them. Continue to pray, to share your thoughts about the families and let us know if you have questions or comments. Please feel free to leave them here or e mail us..
I think when we are given challenges in this life we have to take what we have and do what needs to be done to encourage and comfort others. All of us have an ability to make a day better for those who need our helping hand.
Thank you each and everyone for helping with this project and sharing your talents with others. Your love and support makes my day happier and I know touching the lives of these families must make you feel appreciated. Thank you for being here and helping us.You are well loved and deeply appreciated.
"Be a rainbow in someone else's cloud." Maya Angelou

I AM BLUE: BUT ALWAYS LOVE YOU!

I know you may tire of my stories of Boots but that kitty was such a dear friend to me. I am going to receive his ashes and bury some in n my yard. We have to work on the yard and what a tribute I can make to him. I am looking for someone to help me design a grave marker. The ones I am finding are absolutely unaffordable!
I will surround this final resting place with lovely flowers. How about these:

Pretty purple and blue columbines. Just a perfect mix for Blue Monday

A pretty blue bouquet for my friend. I know he would have loved to stop and smell these.

 A peace rose for a peaceful resting place.

I hope you will join Marydon and Sally and show off your Love is.. favorites along with your favorite blues.

“The risk of love is loss, and the price of loss is grief. But the pain of grief is only a shadow when compared with the pain of never risking love.”

(Hilary Stanton Zunin)

Thank you for indulging me with my tremendous loss of Boots.

I AM HURTING: THERE ARE NO WORDS FOR ME TO SAY!

This photo was taken last year when my Boots was a happy and healthy kitty. He passed away at 1:18 P.M. MDT Thursday March 16, 2012. He passed on the 7th birthday of his friend and companion Rose. There are no words I can say. I am hurting deeply.  So these are others words perhaps you would like to share here:
You never know when you're making a memory. Anonymous
Sometimes even music cannot substitute for tears. Paul Simon
Life does not have to be perfect to be wonderful. Annette Funicello
All that is worth cherishing in this world begins in the heart not the head. Anonymous
All our souls are written in our eyes. Edmond Rostand
We learn only when it is too late that the marvel is the passing moment. Francois Mitterand
It's the things in common that make relationships enjoyable, but it's the little differences that make them interesting. Anonymous
Love is perhaps the only glimpse we are permitted of eternity. Helen Hayes
Heroes come along when you need them. Ronald Steel
You don't look back along time but down through it, like water. Sometimes this comes to the surface; sometimes that; sometimes nothing. Margaret Atwood
The best proof of love is trust. Anonymous
One joy scatters a hundred griefs. Chinese Proverb
Friendship is a single soul in two bodies. Aristotle
They say when you die and go to heaven, all the dogs and cats you've ever had in your life come running to meet you. Kinky Friedman
Unable are the Loved to die For Love is Immortality. Emily Dickinson
Grief is like the ocean; it comes in waves ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All we can do is learn to swim. Vicki Harrison
The deepest feeling always shows itself in silence. Marianne Moore
...he trots the air; the earth sings when he touches it; the basest horn of his hoof is more musical than the pipe of Hermes. Shakespeare
...he is pure air and fire; and the dull elements of earth and water never appear in him, but only in patient stillness while his rider mounts him: he is indeed a horse... Shakespeare
No words that I can pen will ease the pain and the feeling of hopelessness that is the unavoidable companion to the death of a friend. And yet he hasn't gone away forever, for he will always live in your thoughts and your mind and be one of the best parts of the past. Earnest H. Hart
Even the best of friends must part. Anonymous
Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart. Anonymous
Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same. Anonymous
Death is the passing of life. And life is the stringing together of so many little passing's. Anonymous

R.I.P. my friend 05-03-1998-03-16-2012 

Q is for QUANDARY/QUILTS/QUALITY

I had a list a mile long of "Q" words! "Quackers", which I have felt like lately! Going bonkers, quackers, it is all the same! I like to be treated like a Queen! Quartz, the second most abundant mineral  in the Earth's continental crust. Quarreling something I don't like at all! Quaint, another favorite of mine. I like simple things, old fashioned,  charming.  But I chose "Quandary"/Quilt/Quality.  The meaning  of  quandary is a dilemma,  an  unpleasant or an awkward situation.
I find myself in a quandary a lot of time. At work, in traffic, everywhere. So many rude and unkind people trying to upset my small slice of this big ole world!
But I truly wrote this post to make a bold statement. While I may often deal with unpleasant and rude people I have found that Anne Frank was right when she said "Despite everything I believe that people are really good at heart." I know this is true because yesterday I posted about a little girl dying from brain cancer. I received so much love and care from people I barely know, from those I have known for a long time and all the people in between. Praying. Quilting.Lending a helping hand. Marydon and Suzanne jumped right in to offer help with this quilting project. Sue offered her quilting expertise too. Everyone seemed to join together for this project. The quality of the people I know is overwhelmingly magnificent. I am so touched by the kindnesses of everyone here.  I know so many of you, then there are others I don't know. There are readers of this blog, there are friends and I can not begin to thank you enough for all the help you have given. I truly believe people are good at heart!
It made me realize how many decent, kind and caring people I know. I felt a little tug at my heart. I am sure it was C.C. our dear friend and late bloggy friend. She was a Sunbonnet Sue kinda gal and when we lost her in September 2010 I was devastated. But I felt her near my heart this week planning to help a family who may lose their little girl before we finish our project. But I think we have to complete the quilt. If there is nothing else that comes from this project the family will know a group of strangers took their daughter to heart and created something beautiful, and even if one thread of the quilt gives them one ounce of  peace and calmness in their difficult situation it will make all of us smile that we did a good job.
Now please visit Miss Jenny and join Alphabe Thursday and show us your "Q".

QUILT ALERT

I am starting off this week loopey! I have had a terribly stressful day at work and am working through a terrific migraine with sinus/allergy added to it! I missed linking to Blue Monday with Sally but wanted to share some sad news and a pretty blue quilt square.

I am posting a quick update because I mentioned 4 year old Shannon who is dying from brain cancer. She was at Stanford Medical in California and was recently moved to hospice. I know time is running out very quickly but the family would like a quilt and many expressed an interest in helping out. If anyone wants to contact me via e mail please do so quickly.

I am sorry I have not personally addressed each request but I have been in a state of chaos with an unhealthy work environment and my e mail is not organized. I do not have time to clean it up before it fills up again!

Please let me know how quickly we could get this together and get it to the family.

Thank you each and everyone for your kindnesses.

 ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

 ¹² So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and ^[a]patience; Col 3:12

Thank you to google images for providing this beautiful quilt square to share.

I received a wonderful e mail from another blogger who offered to help with the quilt. If someone can tell me how many squares or fabric or what other supplies we need we can get started on this quickly.
I am afraid Shannon may pass away before we complete the project but the family can have a beautiful memory/rememberance quilt and know how many people were involved in this. Those praying thank you, thank you, thank you so much! The power of prayer is amazing and even giving this family a little peace and calmness would be a blessing!


I appreciate each and everyone and the email from a blogger who wanted to make a quilt square for Shannon was lost! :( If you read this please contact me and please everyone spread the word!

Please visit Suzanne so anyone wishing to donate squares and fabric and such may send them to her. Thanks to everyone. Many blessings to all of you!

SPRING FORWARD: SHARE LOVE IS.....

I am getting ready to Spring forward! I like gaining that hour in the winter but I really dislike giving it back in the Spring! So if you are one of the lucky ones who gets to participate in this crazy time change here is a gentle reminder.


Last week I missed posting my Love is... as well as my Pink Saturday posts. I have missed several Blue Monday ones too. Here is the reason why"

I was actually the one vacuuming. My Sweets is working around the house, repainting and getting ready for the warmer weather. I ran out and bought a new Kenmore 12 gal. wet dry vac. It is wonderful! When they worked on our C trap they knocked a hole in the wall to find the water line. They have these tacky plastic door covers but he had to patch around it and put some new drywall and texture. A day project became a three day project! But the updates are nice.
I missed Love is.. last weekend.  Marydon posted about Angel Dawn and I hope everyone will support this pretty young lady and send some prayer, good wishes and some cheer her way! Her struggles have really made me see how courage  looks. I have prayed for this precious girl since I heard about it and and I won't stop.

 Better get some rest. Tomorrow we will be doing more of this!

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

P is for Pretty Please

I have missed all of you! I want to thank everyone who left such nice comments and gave me some great advice on "organizing" last week with my "O" post! I am a bit sad because my life has been topsy turvy!We really did manage to get some things done around our house last week but I missed out on participating in lots of fun memes!

Tonight I am sharing my "P" post! It is pretty please. Now when I was a kid we said "pretty please with a cherry on top!" when asking for a favor or wanting something special from our folks.

I was going to share a different "P" post! It was prayer! I want to incorporate pretty please and ask you for prayer.

I am not making light of metal illness but I need to laugh! So here is Lucy, the resident doctor from the Charles Schultz "Peanuts" cartoon. I need Lucy! She could talk to me and maybe even make me feel better!

I like this google image! I have had a tough week. Have you ever been around dishonest and disrespectful people? Let me just say that I have to remain calm and stay prayerful. Sometime life is so difficult. So I have to say to you "Pretty please, will you pray for me?"

I want you to visit Ms. Jenny and the Alphabe Thursday gang! I know you can find some laughter, some fun, some creativity and encouragement there!

While working around our house I realized there is nothing in this world like good phamily and terrific friends. I have decided to make some big changes in my life and until I can reveal those changes, I will ask you to pretty please, pray for me.

I am not getting any younger as they say and there are aspects in my life that needs change! Do you know how great you feel when you get a new haircut? Paint your nails? Buy a new outfit? Or new shoes? Ah...shoes. Dorothy was right! It is all about the shoes!

Ms. Jenny has had a spell of, as some would say, bad luck! I just believe life dishes out platefuls of trials and challenges and we always become stronger as a result of it all. She is blessed, although her honey Mr. Jenny has a broken foot, he still cares about her very much and their love is a beautiful foundation of their life together! She has a new job! She is well loved by phamily and friends. She has good health! Let's toast Ms. Jenny on her new beginnings. Scary as they can be,  she will be a stronger person.

She is my role model! We have lost a lot of material things in our marriage but we are stronger, better and more resourceful as a result of it. I am starting to really love change. My house is starting to shape up. My attitude about moving on to other things does not scare me and getting away from the unkindness of  certain people I deal with daily will be refreshing. I have hope and I have phamily, friends and lots of prayerful time. I will, like Ms. Jenny survive this thing we call life!

Now head over to Beverly's and visit some Pinkies today! I know you will because you love to be Pretty in Pink and I know you love the little google image Pretty Please sign in pink too!

"O" Is For ORGANIZED

Please visit Ms. Jenny and share your "O" post with all of us today! I am behind and it is because we are swamped at my office! Oh My Goodness, it never stops. So I am going to share my post with the letter "O". It is organized!

Since we moved into our house in November 2010 I have struggled to get organized. Our garage is overflowing with stuff! Everywhere I look there is clutter. Overstuffed drawers and cupboards.  So I am enlisting your help! Anyone who wants to give me some advice please do!

It is daunting to think of the clutter and all the downsizing we must do! But somehow we will get it all done. In the past three weeks we have replaced the water heater and had the C-trap cleaned!  We have not had time for our regular household chores. These homeowner problems take away from our regular activities.
The warmer weather is around the corner, I can be hopeful and believe it! Our runner is getting ready for his first track meet next weekend. So there goes the weekends!

I suppose we could start in one room and go on the the next! Hmmm....
Wish us well and once we have our new camera we can shoot some photos. I would tell you about that new camera but it is for another Alphabe Thursday
We just have to keep an optimistic outlook on this overbearing mess! Eventually we are hopeful it will be free of clutter and open our lives to some fun in the sun!
Did you know that March 9th is Organizing Your Home Office Day?
"God is not a God of disorder but of peace." 1 Corinthians 14:33
These photos are courtesy of google images.