A Gold Medal Day

Underneath the kitchen sink. It is not a very nice place in most homes. Today's project was to clean under the kitchen sink. I don't know about you, but this is where I store my vases. (They are in the back behind the dish soap) Somehow they were pretty dirty, so they all got a good washing down. Some were easier than others. On several I needed to use my scotch pad and a butter knife to get it clean.

I found this vase from my first High School prom. It reads "Camelot" May 1977. The prom theme, I guess. I don't remember. I threw quite a few vases out as I had many the same size. This little "pot" held a plant, which of course I killed, that was a gift when I had my first baby over 25 years ago. I use it to keep my new scotch pads, magic erasers, a glass scrubber, and a toothbrush for cleaning. I keep all of these things, plus my garbage can under my kitchen sink. I wipe it out once a week, but this was a complete cleaning. Happens every 3 months.

I also tackled a HUGE project, which I will share tomorrow for Tackle It Tuesday. Bet you thought I got up at 3 am on Tuesday morning to get that tackle done, right? Wrong!! I do the big things the day before...Tackle It Monday... Anyway, while doing this huge project, I was bombarded by hundreds of photographs. All needing a photo album, but thrown in a drawer to wait for one...Now they are in a different "waiting room". Of course, I needed to look through them. Some were very recent and others were OLD. I found pics of the kids adoption at the courthouse and their party the following Sunday. Bud and Rachel's wedding pics. Pictures of TJ's birth, which I was right there to see. All these things were absolute highlights in my life. In that mix were pictures of another highlight. I would say in my top 5 of all times. My son Kyle was chosen to light the Special Olympic Torch a couple of years ago. He was chosen out of thousands of participants and I have never felt so proud of him as at that moment. Here are the highlights.
He ran that last leg carrying the baton to climb the tall stairway ladder to the huge Olympic Torch with this incredible music playing. The crowd of thousands were roaring. My heart swelled with pride and my eyes filled with tears as he lit the torch. I looked over at Sweet Hubby and saw a tear forming in his eye as well. Everyone cheered and Kyle gave the crowd the peace sign....the place went NUTS!!! I still "feel" it as I relive the memory.

Kyle is an excellent athlete, winning a total of 11 gold medals and 2 silver over the years. He won a 4th place ribbon once and said, "Sometimes you just can't win them all." Kyle wanted you all to see his collection of medals. Kyle graduated this last spring and is waiting, not very patiently, to start work at Center of Hope this fall. My baby, is 6' 3" tall and is about the sweetest young man you will ever want to met, though he can make me crazy on occasion! He overcame more than 100 seizures a day for the first 12 years of his life (a bad lot of pertussis vaccinations) and though he loves us very much, his main goal is to move to a group home. We have informed him that can be considered in another 3-5 years....maybe.Here is Kyle at age 10 with his quilt. That same quilt is in TJ's playpen now. Kyle needs a new quilt, but he really loves his John Cena blanket he got from his Grandma at graduation. He is a huge John Cena fan...a wrestling celebrity for those of you who do not know... He even wore John Cena wrist bands and headbands in the last Special Olympics!! John Cena would have been proud too!

So you see...cleaning is always good, but sometimes it can bring such joy that is beyond measure!! Today was that day for me!

A Commitment To Loveliness

I missed the Commitment To Loveliness last week. I am not sure how, but I was disappointed when I realized it. The last time I participated, I accomplished everything on my list. As mentioned before:

This is a fun way to increase femininity and beauty in our lives each week without even trying! All you have to do is choose five things that you would like to work on or do during the week that will increase the loveliness in your life!

Here is my list for this week.

1. Finish the hand quilting on the 4 seasons swap.

2. Mail 3 packages I have been wanting to get in the post.

3. Find a pattern and attempt to make a jumper for Charlotte.

4. Spend 1 hour a day reading my book.

5. Maintain my Home Management Binder's daily lists.

If you want to participate in A Commitment To Loveliness, just stop by Emma's blog and join in. It is a great way to set weekly goals for yourself, quilt related or other wise.

Flowers & Friends

These are flowers from My Grandma's funeral. It was very nice and just as she planned it to be. There were a couple of tough moments for me, but all in all, I did well. About 12, maybe as long as 15 years ago, I bought my grandmother a sweater for Christmas. She never wore it. I had bought her other sweaters, most of which she wore many times over. This sweater she left wrapped in the tissue paper in the box. I figured she did not like it, even though she went on and on about how beautiful it was and how she would wear it for a special occasion. That special occasion never came and I thought, knowing how sweet she was, she just did not care for it. Well, she told my Aunt a couple of weeks before she died, "I think I deserve to wear the sweater Bren bought me. Please bury me in it." So seeing her in that sweater was a little difficult. I want to thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers during this time. They are all very much appreciated.

I have been e-mailing back and forth with Nadine since I can not comment on her blog, nor she on mine (puter problems) and she sent a huge chunk of wisdom that I asked her permission to share with all of you. You know I have been working on my organizational skills and myself as a homemaker and wife and mother. I think we all need to step back and take a good look at ourselves every once in a while. It is like doing inventory. I do share quite a bit of my journey on my blog. I understand it is on a quilt ring and lots of quilters end up here looking to be inspired by quilt related posts. I do hope I have done some of those, and will continue to strive to do more. I am just unable to share what I do (quilting) without sharing who I am (a wife and mother). I love being a homemaker and it comes through in what I write about in my posts. Anyway, Nadine and I were talking about that and this is what she wrote in relation to quilters who do, or do not, share who they are.

I think our quilts are not only reflecting our color preferences, and abilities, they also "speak" about our evolving --->>> a quick quilt will tell you had not much time at that moment of your life, an applique will tell about your patience and seek of perfection, a machine pieced will tell about your wish to live a modern life, whereas a handpieced will tell you don't care about the time it takes, are you a handquilter ? it shows you love and need to meditate (or pray) while in the process (just like I do)etc...
So, a quilter cannot only tell about her quilts, without including her personal life. Speaking about your shiny sink, or your kitchen, or your wish to get well organized, or your last recipe, will explain why your quilts are neat and lovely, as continuous seek for improvement. Working on a complicated pattern is proving you have faith, not only in your abilities but in the divine part in yourself. The colors choice speaks a lot about you as well...... A true quilt is a prayer, be it a gratitude, or a search for something, or a special gift, ... it is a trace of ourself as a complete human being, it is the result of what you're living.

Is Nadine a wise woman or what??! When she said "Working on a complicated pattern is proving you have faith..." I started thinking about why I keep putting the Masterpiece block aside. It is a very difficult block, but I really do have faith in myself and my abilities. Thank you for reminding me of that Nadine. She's correct too, in the part about hand quilting. I think hand quilters do it not just because of the look or the inability to machine quilt, but for what it does to their soul. So, if you do not share anything about your life except your quilts, we can spend a little time and still get to know you. I tend to share more me than my quilts. I kinda like the path I am on and can see where I want to be now. I think I will go shine my sink!

Life Changes

I want to thank everyone who sent well wishes and prayers my way since the death of my Grandmother. Yvonne said it well...it is bittersweet. I end up with a smile on my face when I think of her and tears run down my cheeks when I think of myself. All the more reason to focus on her memory...lots of smiles! So today marks a special anniversary. One year ago today, I quit smoking. I had smoked for 6 years. Terrible, terrible habit and not very becoming. I enjoyed it very much, as most things that are bad for you are enjoyable. That is an awful irony. I quit cold turkey...no patches or gums or medication. It is behind me now. The problem is there is also more of my behind! I put on 30 pounds in the last year. Now for another life change. Taking off the weight. Actually, there is some much needed self improvement in many areas I am working on

Please do not think I am being critical of myself or too hard on myself. I am happy with the way I am taking my life right now. I have focused so intently on Charlotte and Zach for the last 7 years, that I forget about myself. I am starting to remember and include me in the process. That is a good thing. I am taking time to quilt, which I have set aside for sometimes months at a time in the last 7 years.

I am watching what I eat.

I LOVE red meat..but lean now. And I am adding more exercise.

I have been working on organization, and though I love Flylady and will continue to implement some of her ideas (I could not live without a shiny sink), I have changed my "mind set".

Just a change in wording can make all the difference. The word "Control" in the use of my Control Journal, made me feel almost OCD. I have since come across a system that I found to be so wonderful. In the change, an unexpected thing happened. The phrase Control Journal was replaced by the phrase "Home Management Binder" and somehow it felt more freeing. Now instead of the mindset of controlling my home, I am managing my home. Sounds much nicer and also gives me a lighter feeling. Hmmmm, the Bible says there is life and death in the power of the tongue. Words really do have power to make you feel one way or another. So I have went from this....to this.

Is it just that simple change that made all the difference? No, not quite. The entire layout of the binder is different. I am having a blast putting it together. There is actually an entire quilting section. Also, a section I set up for journaling between me and my Father, God, which I have not done in a while. For the next little while I will work on me. There are somethings I want to bring into my life and somethings I want to get rid of. Some things can stay. Others were there and I lost them or put them on a shelf. Am I being deep and philosophical because my Grandma died. No. I don't think so...I was on this path before she became ill. I am truly excited to take this on and feel a freedom I have not felt in many years. I think my children will appreciate it too!

So I have become a WIP instead of a UFO. It is not selfish to focus on ourselves once in a while. When we better ourselves, we make things better for those around us. Off I go!

Grandma

My Grandma passed away in her home this morning, quietly in her sleep. Her very short battle with cancer is over and mercifully her suffering was short lived. The above picture is of my Grandmother (the little red-head) and her family, circa 1978. My dad is the one in the back giving the wave. He is the oldest of my Grandma's 7 children. My Grandfather, also in the picture, front row, right, passed away in 1980 or 81. They were divorced before I was ever born. My Grandma's only daughter, Annie, died in 1983 at the age of 41 of a brain bleed. My Grandma never fully recovered from that broken heart. She was heard calling Annie's name toward the end. She was 87 and lived a long full life. She will be buried with the love of her life, Andy, who passed away several years ago.
This is one of 2 tablecloths my Grandma made for me when my boys were young. I promised one to each of them. Bud's has embroidered ducks and flowers and this one with tulips is Kyle's. He graciously lets me use it ;) By the way, the table and chairs was given to me by my Grandma too. I showed this before, but I will share it again, as it is a prize to me. The antique cabinet that my Dad hid in when he was 3 years old. Along with these "things" I have many, many wonderful memories of my Grandma. She had such a love of dogs. Her frig was covered in pictures of everyone's pups and even the last time I saw her, bedridden and weak, she asked about Carly, our new puppy.

My Grandmother never had a belief in God. She had "no need of religion" and if there was a God she had no use for Him. After becoming terminal, she begged for chemotherapy and cried out her fear of dying. She was not ready and did not want to die. She would go through any treatment, no matter how sick and unbearable it made her life, as long as she could stay alive. One day, about 2 weeks ago, a Salvation Army Pastor came to visit (we still are unsure of how they knew to come) and ministered to my Grandma. After praying with this Pastor, my Grandma became very relaxed and told my Aunt, "I am ready now." How come I continue to be amazed at God's mercy and grace, when I see it continually in my own life and the lives of those around me? The anguish I would have had at my Grandmother's death is now peace mixed with a personal sorrow because, this day, my Grandmother is walking on streets of Gold and meeting face to face with her Creator, the King of Heaven and Earth, with Annie right there with her!

Tackle It Tuesday

Today's tackle should not have been a tackle if I was following my control journal. More on that in a minute. My laundry room has gotten out of hand. I did complete my Commitment to Loveliness last week and got Mt. Washmore under control. One day a week I am to wipe down and organize my laundry room. It really is not a room, but a nook. It has louver doors that open to a washer/dryer and open shelf. No room for a folding table or rack to hang clothes on. I have to stand in the back entryway to do the laundry. The design actually works well for me as I can clean my laundry "room" in less than 10 minutes if I do it once a week. Here is what it looked like after being neglected for several weeks. The laundry baskets on either side are filled with clean laundry needing to be put away. After doing that, I needed to sort through the middle basket which is there to catch dirty dish towels and cleaning rags, but somehow has managed to catch everything else! The cleaning products were scattered and not in order and the washer and dryer needed some wiping down inside and out. The pictures and walls had gathered dryer lint and dust. The floor around the machines needed a quick 1..2 swipe and voila!!!! A clean laundry room. Tackle It Tuesday is done until next week. Hopefully you will not see my laundry room on the tackle list again. I plan to revamp my Control Journal to include home school and a more detail schedule for my household.

I found a really great blog that has the best control journal, although she calls it a Home Management Binder. I need to spend some time looking at her method. Her name is Candy and this girl is organized! My motto for this year has been "Organized is good!" Speaking of organized..I was struggling with the school books on the classroom table. The ones we use everyday that really do not get put away. We all have our stack, Charlotte, Zach and Mom. I found these cheap ($1) wash basins and got each of us one, marking our names on the side. Now we all have a place to put our books at the end of the day.

Now, if I need to use the table mid week to cut or press a quilting project, It will be a 2 second task to clear it all off. Hope you tackle something today! It feels good to get even the smallest thing done that has been put off!

Sunday

TJ's baptism went nicely. The cake got a little dinged up, but nobody cared. The weather was beautiful and my son, Bud and daughter in law, Rachel gave a beautiful party afterwards. Here are some pictures of our family day. Please squint your eyes if things appear blurry...I am afraid my photography skills are not getting any better. Here is a picture of "everyone"..from left to right..My Godson Steve (the Godfather) Bud, Rachel, TJ, Krista (Rachel's cousin and the Godmother), and Pastor Burg, who is 87 years old. He was a visiting Pastor today. This is not our church, but my Aunt and her family attend. Here is TJ with Steve, who just returned from Iraq. He will be heading to his home base of Hawaii in a couple of weeks. Can't feel too badly for him! Here is Charlotte at the after party. They had everything set up in the garage and yard as it was such a beautiful day. You can see Sweet Hubby's prize Corvette in the background. He stores it in our son's garage.Here is Zach, aggravated at me for something, and even more so when I made him sit still for a picture. Rachel, making sure everyone has everything they need. She was a good hostess!
This is my mom (who can not just pose and smile to save her life!) and my sister Debbie and me. Kyle with his Aunt Debbie. She is a favorite for him! Here is how TJ spent the first half of his party. Then he decided the front deck should be finished. His PawPaw and Daddy will be doing that tomorrow while Grandma has a sewing day.My sister's grandson, Dominic LOVES soda pop and would not let me take his picture unless he was drinking from a can!By the time the day was over and everyone had gone, Bud and TJ decided some down time was in order. I feel the same way.In quilty news, I did get borders on my 4 season swap and it is marked for quilting. You can see I used the 2nd fabric. I will use the floral print for the back. Tomorrow is Labor Day and I will do light school...we will make butter, as the co-op did not happen, and then watch a Little House on the Prairie movie...a great movie for mom to hand quilt through! Hope your weekend was as wonderful as mine!