Saturday, December 30, 2006

step one

Paint is done and the color in this room looks rich! KC and I had a great time working together today. I'm thrilled with the color.

Tomorrow, step two... building furniture and reloading this room.

...may there be mercy as we enjoy our friendship and working together.

Friday, December 29, 2006

empty room

The cluttered sewing room is empty of everything save this computer. Walls have been spackled. Still need to vacuum... in the morning.

Morning will see me up early to see my sweet husband off to work. Then it's a fast shower, several cups of coffee and back to work.

Gotta tape off the whole room, shut down this computer, cover it with a drop cloth and then add enough drop cloths to protect my carpet.

One coat tinted primer, two coats color. KC and I can do that tomorrow easily. Still can't believe she is giving up her birthday weekend to do this room makeover with me.

Yep, tomorrow is KC's birthday. She doesn't know it, but I've made a quilt for her. It's a quilt that is all about friendship. More on that another time and in my quilt blog. Too tired right now!

Sunday will see us back at work putting together furniture and loading everything back into this room.

Monday... I'll start sewing again on a project just for me. After all the stuff I made for others for Christmas and December birthdays, it's my turn!

...may there be mercy and joy in friendship as we paint.

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

makeover magic

Am in the middle of a complete room makeover... turning my cluttered but functional sewing room into a beautiful Quilting Studio.

KC is going to spend this weekend helping me to do this, but I've got a lot of work to do before Saturday morning.

It's gonna be like one of those TV shows, but instead of a surprise to me, it's my Christmas gift from her... a gift of her time and talents. Yay!

...may there be mercy and I get all my pre-work done before Saturday!



Monday, December 25, 2006

Merry Christmas!

I had thoughts of a lengthy blog for today... expounding on what Christmas means to me. But it seems a far better thing to plagiarize straight from scripture.

...for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:11)


... may there be mercy as we celebrate Christmas.



Wednesday, December 20, 2006

sucky days

Have been having a few sucky days. Hoping things will get better soon.

I definitely want my Mommy... and she is 1300 miles away!

...may there be mercy and a better day tomorrow.



Sunday, December 17, 2006

better

My friend and almost-brother stopped by my office on Friday. It's been enough chaos trying to get the last of the Christmas gifts quilted that I'm behind on updating this information for those of you who read this and pray.

He brought me a latte because he knows I love coffee. Just a thoughtful little gesture that says that he is starting to climb out of the pit.

He is doing better. His eyes didn't show the same level of deep pain. There is pain still, yes, but the level is better.

I'm so very relieved to see this!

...may there be mercy and continued healing for my almost-brother.




Saturday, December 16, 2006

safety and healing

My sister moved today... away from her abusive husband.

She is safe.



...may there be mercy and healing for her.



Wednesday, December 13, 2006

great company

Tired. Long day. Overtime.

But...

My company rocks. Totally and completely rocks.

We were told today that each employee will receive a very generous bonus and checks will be handed out on Friday.

Did I mention that my company ROCKS? !!

I'd hoped for a bonus, because they historically have given one as a thank you at the end of the year. I never count on it or spend it until money is in hand.

But I dream of what I might do if a bonus shows up!

This year's dream... make over the sewing room. Change it from a functional, but cluttered and space challenged room to a Quilting Studio that inspires creativity.

The dream included all kinds of budget options. How very cool that I can go with a higher end budget for this dream room!

...may there be mercy and joy as we do this room makeover!


Tuesday, December 12, 2006

disappointment

My sweet husband has been waiting months to hear about a job opportunity. Today we found out that the job has been canceled completely.


...may there be mercy as we manage disappointment tonight.



Sunday, December 10, 2006

mama's hands

Maybe because today is Mama's 74th birthday, I've been thinking a lot about her this week. About how much she did for us as kids. About the things she taught us to do. About the things she taught us to love.

When I was 18 months old, I had corrective surgery for crossed eyes. I actually remember being in the hospital and kicking the doctor in the chest because he wanted to look at my eyes with a light... but my eyes hurt and I didn't want him to look.

But I remember more the fact that Mama stayed with me the entire two days I was there. Waking up every hour in the middle of the night, scared because I was not in my bed and there were bandages over my eyes so I could not see, saying, "Mama?"

And her hand on my forehead, smoothing my hair back, her sweet voice in reply, "yes, baby, I'm still here."

When I went home from the hospital, I had a brand new pair of glasses that Mama let me pick out. Smart woman that. Knowing that if I got to pick my favorite color, I'd wear them. Never caring when I picked pink, red, purple... didn't matter to Mama. She knew I'd wear those darn glasses because I got to pick them. And because Mama made me new dresses to match my glasses!

Yep, I was a clotheshorse that early.

I learned to love sewing by watching Mama make my dresses. When I was really small, I'd stand on a stepstool, elbow on the edge of the machine, chin on my hand, eyes riveted to the movement of the fabric... head bobbing up and down in time with the needle. As I got older, the only change was the stepstool. Didn't need it anymore since I got so tall so early.

And I could hardly wait for Mama to teach me to sew. She made such pretty things with all that sewing. Dresses for my sister and me... and our dolls. Shirts and pants for my brothers. Curtains for our windows. Purses and aprons and pillows. She could sew anything!

And my favorite part of watching Mama sew was to see how her hands held the fabric... and how she used them to pin... and how those beautiful hands would guide the fabric through the machine... fingers jumping out of the way of the needle. Pop, pop, pop... out of the way, one by one, just at the last second.

I saw Mama's hands today as I sewed.

My hands hold the fabric just like she did. My hands pin fabric just like she did. My hands guide the fabric the same way... fingers jumping out of the way of the needle. Pop, pop, pop... out of the way, one by one, just at the last second.

It was very cool to realize and felt like I'd gotten a big hug from Mama today.

Happy birthday Mama... I love you so very much.

...may there be mercy and many more birthdays for Mama.

Saturday, December 09, 2006

peaceful evening

a lovely evening.

a nice glass of wine.

a wonderful meal.

dear, dear friends.

great conversation.

lots of laughter.

my godchildren's smiles.

...may there be mercy and many evenings like this one.





Friday, December 08, 2006

promises

This morning, on the spur of the moment... or maybe at the gentle prodding of my Heavenly Father... I called my friend to ask him if he had plans for lunch.

My almost-brother who introduces me to others as the "sister he never wanted."

My friend for whom I've been praying mercy and peace in his time of distress.

It was an intense conversation. Everything in his life seems to be falling apart. His pain is very real.

He talked about everything with me. His face would turn red from his efforts to hide his tears from me. But he talked.

... and admitted that he had planned for suicide.

... and that he is seeking professional help to get past it.

We had a long talk. Long enough that I was late returning to work. But I didn't care about that. Time can be made up at work. Encouraging this friend was more important.

But most important was the promise he gave me - that he would call me or someone if he got to his breaking point again.

My heart breaks for him...


... may there be mercy, healing and peace for my friend, my almost-brother.



Wednesday, December 06, 2006

mercy

I'm sick...

...may there be mercy and I get well without bronchitis.


My sister is leaving her abusive husband...

...may there be mercy and safety her.


My friend is still in distress...

...may there be mercy and peace for my friend.






Tuesday, December 05, 2006

closest book

These instructions and initial commentary are taken from my friend Paul's blog (Paul's Thinking Place)... and below is my response.

From Paul's Thinking Place: "I have no clue what a "meme" is, but I saw this one on Mark Ostreicher's blog, and thought it was pretty cool. Most of the time, I find reading other people's "memes" somewhat interesting at the best, silly at worst, but this one actually struck my fancy for what it might say about what people are reading... and authors are writing. So here are the rules:

1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next four sentences on your blog, along with these instructions.
5. Don’t you dare dig for that “cool” or “intellectual” book in your closet! I know you were thinking about it! Just pick up whatever is closest!"

Okay, I can follow these rules.

I grab the closest book and since my computer is in my quilting studio, of course the book is a quilting book! The Magic of Quiltmaking, A Beginner's Guide by Margaret Rolfe & Jenny Bowker.


Page 123... hmmm... in the middle of a quilt pattern, okay. Here goes:

Square up one end of each strip. Measure the strips to fit the length of the quilt, referring to "Butted Corners" on page 73. Cut the strips to this length. Pin and sew the border strips to the quilt sides. Press the seam allowances toward the borders.

Now that y'all are bored outta your ever-lovin' minds with my closest book... but it was a good reminder for me on adding butted corner borders... take your turn and do the closest book thing on your blog.


...may there be mercy and enjoyment in our reading.

...and may there be continued mercy and peace for my friend in distress.

Sunday, December 03, 2006

mixed emotions

Today was one of those really lovely days of fun with my best girlfriend. KC and I had planned to have a girl's day out on Thursday, but the weather just did not cooperate and we postponed it until today.

We talked and shopped and found gifts for her kids (my godchildren) for both kids birthdays and Christmas and fun things for ourselves and lunch and... just fun. Nothing huge in the way of a big deal or big event. Just the simple pleasure of girlfriends enjoying time together.

What a great day to end my vacation.

And at the same time... I am still so very concerned about another friend. For those who read this blog and pray, please just pray much for my unnamed friend in distress. It really is a big deal.

...may there be mercy as I return to work.

...may there be mercy and peace for my friend.



Saturday, December 02, 2006

a friend in distress




...may there be mercy and peace for my friend tonight.









~c