Grandmama's Stories: 2014

Saturday, December 20, 2014

SLOWING DOWN with Cute Picture Alert

CUTE PICTURE ALERT

BABY RJ

THIS PICTURE HAS NOTHING TO DO (WELL, IN A WAY I GUESS IT DOES) WITH MY BLOG POST TODAY BUT....

Since RJ is just so darn cute and I'm absolutely obsessed with this baby right now I had to share one more cute picture. I will warn you now, expect one of these cute pictures to pop up at anytime.

SLOWING DOWN

I am all about slowing down which for me began 6 yrs. ago when I retired from a 30+ yr. career in education. I was on such a treadmill that I couldn't get off...children, lesson plans, mentoring new teachers, teaching colleagues from one end of the state to the other, teaching Developmentally Delayed children my last year, a grandchild born premature & diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy,travel....ALL this..... on top of caring for a mother with Lewey Body Dementia IN MY HOME...whew...my health, my brain, my soul was fighting for first place. Then one day in October of 2008 at 3:10 p.m. sitting in the floor of my classroom bathroom after a day of being bitten, stomped on (fractured foot BTW) by an out of control 5 yr. old, and an autistic/non potty trained 8 yr. old's pee-pee all over me.......I SNAPPED ! NO, I Mean it!! I SNAPPED!!!

I called my husband and told him that as of Dec. 17th, 2008 I was retiring. Yes Dear, I know I lack 7 months before I can retire....BUT, I'm Retiring....No, I don't know how I will make it happen BUT I"M RETIRING AS OF DEC. 17TH,

2008!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GUESS WHAT ??? I walked out of the school door on Dec. 10th ( 7 days before my deadline) without fanfare, drove home, took a nap, woke up, and got out my sewing machine! I've been slowing down and stitching ever since that day!!! Slowing Down has gained me back my Life!!

My Next Post will explain WHY I am all about Slowing Down even more and returning to an OLD LOVE.....It's going to be FUN, RELAXING, and WITH PURPOSE.... WINK WINK

Dimensions Gold Collection Petite "A Kiss for a Snowman" Counted Cross Stitch Kit, 6" x 6"

STAY TUNED...

Blessings

Gmama Jane

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

MIRACLE ON THE HILLIS FARM

MIRACLE

THE HILLIS FARM

“I didn't give you the gift of life,
But in my heart I know.
The love I feel is deep and real,
As if it had been so.
For us to have each other
Is like a dream come true!
No, I didn’t give you
The gift of life,
Life gave me the gift of you.”
Unknown

My daughter recently (3 months) adopted this precious baby boy, RJ (initials stand for grandfather's names). The story of how RJ came into our family is a story of God's perfect timing.

About 6 months ago, my daughter, casually made a remark that seemed silly at the time but Oh how GOD must have chuckled. She said, "Mama, I just wish some young girl would hand me a baby. James needs a sibling and we've been trying for 7 years."

I laughed and said, "Honey, God is certainly able to perform such a miracle but we know in all likelihood that's just not going to happen." HA!!!

Fast forward to August, 2014 and a simple message sent via Facebook initiated a miracle that had been in the making for many many years prior. A young woman LITERALLY handed my daughter a perfect baby boy. Within approx. 5 weeks from initial Facebook message , RJ became a member of this family. My daughter and SIL even had the awesome privilege of being in the delivery room when RJ was born!

So...without further ado, may I introduce you to RJ, my miracle Grandchild!

Clay and RJ

SCOTT and RJ

My FAVORITE Picture

GOTCHA DAY...FINAL ADOPTION HEARING...RJ gets a new BIRTH CERTIFICATE

Hope you enjoyed a little slice of our Family's Joy!!

Friday, November 21, 2014

TWAS MY DAY ON THE BLOG HOP...COME TAKE A PEEK

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

MY DAY !!

THANK YOU, THEARICA!

Thearica, My Special Santa, sent a box filled with goodies!! Would you believe this sweet friend made the effort to track down my daughter by phone just so she could ask about my likes and dislikes!!? I was so impressed and even more so when my daughter shared with me (AFTER I received my gift) just how kind and sweet Thearica was over the phone!!!

Take a PEEK with me and see my Beautiful Gifts

Let's Take a Closer Look

Snowman Mini-Quilt (hand appliqued)

Hand - embroidered Needle Keep (Beautiful)

White Lace Vintage Linen

Hand -Embroidered Doily (I so love vintage linens w/ embroidery)

Super Big & Sweet Candy Canes & Suckers...1 for each Grandchild !!!)

Isn't this Thoughtful?!

Gorgeous Christmas Cookie Jar (filled with Peppermints)

One more Look at Cookie Jar bottom right.

Rudolph stole the Candy !!!

Beautiful Card with such Kind Thoughts...Thank You Thearica..from the bottom of my heart!

NOW....MY CHRISTMAS GIFTS

Christmas Apron

My Model is my 13 yr. old Grandson who Bravely allowed Grandmama put an apron on him.

He is such a sweetheart...none of this 13 yr. old smart mouth I used to hear when teaching.

He has such a heart for people in Third World Countries without Clean Water!!

PURSES

Truth: I still have to put in the lining. I've never made a bag before so this took me FOREVER!

I would watch a step on You-Tube, Sew, Watch You-Tube, Sew, etc....

Tissue Covers

This is my Go-To Quick Gift to give to my

Sunday School Class, Sewing group, etc...

I try to make most of them in NON-Christmasy

fabric so they can be used all year round.

BAG-ITS

Plastic bag holders

These are made to fit the receiver's "LIKES"

Christmas Card Holder

Disclaimer: My son makes these in his wood working shop.

He made me one out of cedar wood and background is Burlap.

Each one is custom ordered and my picture doesn't show the beauty of the wood.

AND Last But Not Least, My Ongoing Project to Remodel my Sewing Room... a small preview of the LARGE Ruffled Skirt that will go around the bottom of my Sewing Room Cutting

Table! Matches the Curtains only they are Black Gingham with Yellow Gingham Ruffle.

SPECIAL CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS

MADAME SAMM LEAD VISIONAIRE

MARLENE, HEAD CHEERLEADER

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY OF THE HOP

SEW...PLEASE

HOP ON OVER TO EVERYONE'S BLOGS

FOR SOME EXTRA CREATIVE GIFT GIVING IDEAS

Friday, Nov. 21

Living Life At The End Of The Dirt Road

Pig Tales and Quilts

Grandmama’s Stories

Quilting Queen Online

Sew We Quilt

Blessings

Thursday, November 20, 2014

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS BLOG HOP...

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS BLOG HOP...

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

Twas the night....Marlene has the schedule

i AM JUST NOW GETTING MY ACT TOGETHER AND PUTTING UP THE INFO CONCERNING "TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS" BLOG HOP.

TOMORROW IS MY DAY.

I have been without internet service for over a week. Needless to say, media Com and I have had SEVERAL conversations. Yesterday, I FINALLY got hold of a Tech that knew how to

~~jury rig~~ circumvent some issues and allow me to get online until the tech rep. makes a house call Dec. 2nd!! GEEZ..........

Here is the Complete schedule so you can go back and look at all the quick gift giving ideas all these creative ladies made. You WILL want to copy these for your own gift giving!

Monday, Nov. 17

Bea Quilter

Selina Quilts

Lakeshore Stitches

Lixie Makes It

Cucki Stitching Cove (Cucki was in an accident and is in the hospital - say a prayer for her)

Sew. Darn. Quilt.

Tuesday, Nov. 18

Devoted Quilter

I Like To QuiltBlog

Geta’s Quilting Studio

How Art You?