Sickness and Sewing

It has been a different couple of days. Mom's can NOT get sick, right?? Well this mom got so sick, I was flat on my back (or hunched over a toilet) for the last 36 hours. Oh, I was sick. That violent type of stomach flu that has you wanting your mother! I will say that my children were SOOOO good during this time. Sweetheart must have talked to them. You hardly knew they were here. They played games quietly, crocheted and played the ever coveted Nintendo DS...that is a rare treat around here. Whatever, it worked and I had lots of quiet while I suffered miserably with stomach sickness. Sweetheart did not even work in the basement as he did not want to make the noise. Charlotte crocheted me a "cloth for my forehead".Today I feel weak and wrung out, but my stomach is much better. I am praying that my family does not catch this. TJ and Rachel had it last week, and it was awful for them too. I had one bright spot in my sick day.....My Aunt Pete sent me a Valentine's package. She made me a wonderful apron. Her embroidery is beautiful! Also, a book and a gorgeous book mark (which I did not see right away and almost threw out with the paper...glad I caught that as it is stunning).The book is filled with inspirational stories and prayers for times when you feel troubled. What a perfect thing...I was wondering, "Why me, God", while my body was trying to reject it's stomach organ! Thank you, Aunt Pete, for the gift from your hands and heart. The kids LOVED the valentine's cards you enclosed too. TJ and Emerson were sent theirs when Rachel brought me some soup last night...that girl is a keeper!

Before I got sick, I spent some time preparing a hand quilting project. I am in the middle of much machine work, but needed a hand quilting project for the evenings. I could have worked on the pink and brown, but it is not calling my name right now. I have had this "center" of a table topper for 12 years....It measures 18x18 and I thought I would add some borders and call it a flimsey. Well after playing around with different borders, I was not happy with any of them. I decided to leave it as is and since I will use it for under the fruit bowl on the counter, the size is plenty big enough. I got it marked and all ready to baste,and it is in the hoop. All easy straight line quilting that will finish up quickly. I am just waiting to get the Star Sampler back and in the hoop. That won't be for a couple of weeks yet.My friend, Coleen stopped by Monday evening just before I left to go to Bible Study. She brought me the packet for the Sampler class I am doing. Along with the paperwork and fat quarter for the first set of blocks, she brought me a beautiful fabric collection. What a sweetheart. The fabrics range from lights to darks and are all wonderful. I will put them in my quilt and think of her every time I see it. What generous, loving people I have in my life.

Now it is time to get back to my daily tasks, such as home school (we had yesterday as a sick day), laundry (LOTS of bedding and germy blankets), a deep clean of the bathrooms and an easy day of hand quilting while I continue to recover. I pray your day is blessed and full!!