Tolentreasures

Giving my obsession with the health care fiasco a break, I needed something else to jam into that space in my mind. It is not really working yet, however, I am really trying to make them all think it is working. So, I am taking up some other obsessions. Crazy quilt blocks for one. Since having to give up all the wool or live with the itching, I needed another stitching project. These fit the bill! Creative and fun. Collecting and planning for the trip to Haiti. I leave for Haiti on the 17th of November. Hopefully and Prayerfully, a promise kept. Six years ago, I promised to return and teach calligraphy to the students at the EBAC orphanage. Why would I do that?   Make that promise? Life has been in the way since and I did not know if I would be able to keep that promise. So, the door is opened and I am sewing dresses and skirts and shorts to take with me, collecting formula to take along, some baby clothing an...

Well, to start it was going to be just a post about knitting,  however, as usual, other things are going on. So, while I am knitting away, scarves for the Open House,   Stop over and like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FallOpenHouse   now on to the rest of the story.   First of all, my paternal grandmother lived next door to my aunt. My aunt started with two boys, Paul and Dan. (later she went on to have 6 more children) but those two boys were just a little older than me. I was next in line in the grandchildren and then my cousin, Patty.   So many times, I have watched Tyler and Logan and drawn similarities to my cousins, Paul and Dan.    Paul was all busy and wild, getting into everything. Dan was a little more quiet and sensitive, following Paul in a lot of antics, but always the one to be concerned if someone got hurt... and usually someone did.... or something broke...

Well, this has been way harder than I thought it would be. I guess I didn't plan on how difficult it would actually be for me to lose so much independence! Another thing that I did not realize is the energy and athleticism and grace that it would take to do simple tasks like....go to the bathroom, put on a pair of pants or get a drink of water! Muscles hurt that I never even knew I had! Mentally, I spent a few days actually feeling sorry for myself and well just generally not being a very nice or fun person. At one point, I actually started contemplating inflicting mortal harm on JWS for several reasons, not the least of which included not flushing the commode or carrying the dirty dish towels to the basement. I think I am coming around. Coming to grips with the fact that I might not be the most pleasant or obedient patient and owning it has helped a lot. All that being said, the I Spy quilt is in the frame, the VBS houses are ready, and I have several scarves, a to...

So, I really try hard to be more tolerant of people and human nature as I get older. Some days just push my resolve a little more. Yesterday was one of them. My Dad was having gall bladder surgery in Ohio. JWS offered to go with me. JWS' morning routine is that I bring him coffee in bed at 6:30. Ninety percent of his mornings start that way. He watches the news and wakes up. I shut the bedroom door and try to be quiet while I have already usually been up for two hours, walked three miles, painted something or cleaned out a cupboard, updated my blog, Well anyway, I am a morning person, he is not. So this is how yesterday went. Up at 3:30, both of us. Out the door at 4:40 AM. Twelve miles away, drop stuff at Shawnee's, pick up stuff at Shawnee's to take to my Mom. (Wedding stuff...believe me, another whole post for another time.) It was all left in her car, so no one was awakened. I notice JWS sh...

Finally finished this. Girls, Girls, Girls Wonderful Band Concert Mail from Sheila. Thanks so much! Shelby loved it. Snow in February. Added more details Painted for boys. Three finished scarves. A finished rug. Pot of chili for the week. Tyler's Basketball Practice. Dinner with Friends. Laundry is done. Church on Sunday. A visit with Kendall and Shelby. A wonderful gift. Three words will not work here. Shelby wrote a book as she calls it. Twenty some pages of our/her life so far. She gave it to my Sunday afternoon and I read it Sunday night. What a gift. So many memories and hearing them from her point of view was amazing. I laughed. I cried, I will treasure it forever! And now, on to another work week! Monday, here I come.

No television, no Internet, not much cell phone service.... and it is amazing the knitting you can get done.  Last Wednesday night a group of us from my church left for West Virginia on a mission trip. This is the second year that we have gone there to work. World Vision has an amazing ministry there helping to meet the physical needs of many people and partnering with the local churches to meet their spiritual needs also. You can read more about it by clicking the link above or here http://worldvisionusprograms.org/appalachia.html Personally, I always thought of World Vision as some big, impersonal organization, until we got involved there. Their work is amazing! We stay at the Barbour County 4-H Camp. Brings back church camp memories! Below are pics of the warehouse. They receive surplus from companies and individuals...  and process it through as needed. This is a pic of the Teacher Resource Center. Everything here has been donated by companies and individua...