JOY IN THE NORMALCY...HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013

 Joy is in the Normalcy of life.  Today as I listened to the background noise of my day I realized my contentment comes from the mundane, the normal, the routine, the everyday sounds of my everyday life.  I could hear the distinct whirr of my washing machine, the buzzer on the dryer telling me my bathroom rugs were dry, the *beep beep* of the microwave telling me I had left the coffee I had reheated FOR THE 2ND TIME, the yelp of Copper my 4 yr. old beagle wanting inside to get warm, the Sanitation Truck's big THUNK as it returned the garbage can to my driveway, and the one of a kind sound of #1 Husband's Ford 150 pulling in the long driveway and the Whoosh of hundreds of birds flying away from the feeders as the truck approached the house.   Nothing special, nothing earth shattering, nothing out of the ordinary, yet it is the ordinary that gives me comfort.  I feel at home here on this farm with all it's ORDINARY sounds, ORDINARY places, ORDINARY people...but MY PEOPLE...MY FAMILY.  

WARNING:  This Post is Picture Heavy

I've been scrolling through my blog album pictures archived since I began this Blogging Journey.  I'm amazed at how much my family has changed and grown....amazed at the changes in my life in a few short years.  When I began blogging, my thought was to create a time capsule of sorts for my family.  Stories are how we share when we get together as a family.  Someone suggested I create a blog as a place to share the stories with not only family but with friends both near and far.  Never did I dream of the direction I would go (quilting, quilting, quilting), the people I would meet, the growth of my quilting hobby, and even the growth of my Faith.  

So...in 2013 I don't want to lessen my blogging like some are doing.  Oh No, I love blogging and I love the discipline of writing down events and thoughts of my life...New Challenges in Quilting, New Blog Hops, New Friends, New Ideas, New Inspirations....Why on earth would I want to stop???

So...without further ado allow me to share some of the pictures of the people who give me joy and meaning in life.  Some are current, some are only a few years ago, and others are from WAAAAY back.  Truth be told, I'm writing more for myself today.  A New Year makes me ponder and reminisce...come along if you like! 

My Favorite picture of all

Scott, My Little Gunslinger!

Reminds me of my cousin David back in the 1950's!

 My son Matthew and his 4 children...my Grandpeeps!

Fishing

Sliding down a Super Slide at Church

Silly Faces

Matthew chaperoning Summer Kids Camp

My 2 Daughters!  Love them!!

Mary Ellen  Anna Laura

Mary Ellen & James

James Fishing with PaPaw

Such  precious picture to me

Ryan at Summer Camp

Love to watch little boys play!

Nerf Gun War

Quiet Clay on 7th Birthday

Clay is Super Super Smart!!

Camping with My Peeps 

Anna Laura and Her Grandmother

Mama & Anna Laura

Josh, Mary Ellen, James

Matthew & Jenda

Mary Ellen's Wedding...a Hot but Wonderful Day

Father and Son...Friends for Life

Look at ME!!!  1976  Gmama Jane and Matthew 5 months

Grandpeeps at church

An Alabama Tornado Shelter...

and Last but Not Least...

The Two of Us

#1 Husband and Gmama and Hank (who died in 2012 and buried on the farm in his special place)

HAPPY 2013

BLESSINGS

QUILTING SECRETS BLOG HOP

QUILTING SECRETS

OOOH...I'M EXCITED!

I DISCOVERED A NEW BLOG HOPE THAT BEGINS ON MONDAY.

Here's what Christine at Quilt Monster In My Closet

has to tell us ( I copied and pasted Christine's post but you'll want to check her blog out for yourself.  She makes beautiful quilts). I'm definitely going to Hop to these 7 blogs each day.

I happen to know 3 out of the 7 and they are SUPERB Quilters.  I just know their hints will be worth our time.  So grab a cuppa Monday morning and let's learn some Quilting tips.

CHRISTINE SAYS:

Just a Reminder about an upcoming Hop... If you're new to quilting or just want to know how someone gets something done... you might want to hop around this blog hop... Quilting Secrets are being shared...

We Have 7 Stops in 7 Days....  Hope you can make it by and learn a thing or two.... 

She's got lots of fun giveaway's scheduled too!  

Christine @ Quilt Monter in my Closet December 31st ->>Me Me ME :)

Linda @ Buzzing and Bumbling  January 1st

Barbara @ Cat Patches January 2nd
Melissa @ Bitter Sweet Designs   January 3rd

Sharon @ Vrooman's Quilts  January 4th

Sue @ Quilt Times  January 5th

Hayley @ Mrs Pickles Garden January 6th

GO HERE, GRAB THE BLOG HOP BUTTON, COPY/PASTE ON YOUR BLOG, AND VOILA, YOU'RE ELIGIBLE FOR SOME PRIZES FOR PROMOTING THE BLOG HOP ON YOUR BLOG!!   EASY PEASY!!!
BLESSINGS

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM ALABAMA

 MERRY CHRISTMAS 

TO ONE AND ALL

 The world is changing and after this past week with the tragedy in Connecticut where 20 little children were massacred along with 7 adults, we know more than ever, evil is a part of the world we live in.  Let's take a moment to hug one another, be kind, and cherish our families like never before.  

I worship a risen Savior who came to this world as a tiny infant, born of the Virgin Mary in the most lowly of circumstances, lived a perfect sinless life on earth, was crucified, at age 33, died on an Old Rugged Cross, was buried in a borrowed tomb, and arose on the third day as had been foretold.  I believe He did all this to pay the price for my sin because I could never DO ANYTHING to make myself "good enough" to stand before a Holy God.  The shedding of blood had to be part of the plan.

God had to make a plan so that His creation could have eternal life with Him.  The plan was Jesus.  I can't explain why it had to be that way, but I do believe that when I repented of my sins in Nov. 1998, asked God to forgive me and take over my life as ruler and King, I was *SAVED*.  Saved from eternal separation from my Savior, I now KNOW without a shadow of doubt that Upon my death or the Second Coming, I will be in the presence of God.  

Christmas is The Greatest Story Ever Told and to me personally, the Christ Child came because;

God so loved the world that he gave His only son that we should not perish but have everlasting life...John 3:16

 

The Real Reason For The Season

JESUS

 Nothing tells the Christmas story quite like a Children's play complete with little girls and slightly askew angel halos made from wire coat hangers, Shepherds in  men's bathrobes, the Three Kings in Burger King Crowns, a feed trough from a local farmer's barn serving as the manger, the newest baby in the congregation sharing the honor of depicting this year's Christ Child (watching the nervous mother on the front row poised to *catch* her baby just in case  someone should toss the young child in a nervous attempt to break a fall!!),  or the aluminum foil wrapped Star atop the manger scene...the humbleness of it all is what makes Christmas come alive for me.

  I hope you have a child to watch in a Christmas program somewhere and if not, go to one anyway.  You will smile and even laugh but you will leave feeling a little less cynical and a whole lot more hopeful.

THEN...

I found 2 images when looking for manger scenes.

This vintage MANGER SCENE

and THEN...

This CHILDREN'S HOLIDAY BARN

A town in Massachusetts made all manger scenes be renamed, "Holiday Barns"

Dear God, 

Forgive us for they Know Not what they do!

 Christmas Eve at Great Grandmother's Home

 

 Merry Christmas

Blessings

Books For Women

If you like to read, check out the book reviews over at SEW WE QUILT for a new book review each day through-out December.  I don't know about you, but I get stuck reading one genre of books and find it difficult to "read outside MY box"  Do you do that? 

 You'll find some different book suggestions that may peak your interest and broaden your horizons.  PLUS, if you leave a comment, you are entered into the prize pool. ( I want that iron!!!)

I've found 2-3 books to put on my TO READ LIST for 2013.  I like to read before I go to bed, waiting in doctor's offices, babysitting one of the grandpeeps during nap time, Sunday afternoons, on my front porch swing, while camping, or while #1 Husband fishes...I prop myself up in the back of the boat and READ!!!

So go check it out...Oh and become a follower for even more chances to win cool stuff.  This is my FAVORITE quilting site and resource for all things quilting.  Madame Samm, the creator/vision master of SEW WE QUILT has her thumb on the pulse of the quilting world.  If you want to be "in the know" about all things quilting/sewing make this one of the first blogs you read on a regular basis.  It is the first blog I read every day...Honest!!  I participate in the Blog Hops and have met some of the most creative and REALLY NICE people on this blog.  I just know you will find it worthy of your blog reading time.

Now Go...Right Now....Don't Forget...Become a Follower!

Blessings

SANDY HOOK PRAYER CHAIN

I don't know about you, but my heart is hurting and my mind can not fathom the depth of evil that visited Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT on Friday morning.  I couldn't make myself go to my Sunday School Christmas Party Friday night due to a deep sadness and depression that came over me as I listened to the breaking news. Each new revelation made the horror more tragic and all I could envision was the little bodies of those precious 20 children lying on the cold hard schoolroom floor ....can you picture the Horror those first responders must have seen as they came upon the grizzly scene?

Today in church, we observed a moment of silence in honor of the victims as numerous prayers were lifted up  to petition our loving Heavenly Father to wrap his everlasting arms around the families of all the victims, the teachers, the town, the first responders, medical examiner's team, etc... 

 The silence was deafening....

Each of us imagined ourselves in the shoes of those grieving parents, spouses and family members.  Without Faith, how does a person get through something like this.  Many have asked the question, "Where was God?"  "How could He allow such a heinous crime to happen on such innocent victims?"  I am here to tell you.........................................................................................

God is BIG enough for our questions.  GOD was right there in Sandy Hook even as the shooter rampaged through the building.  The Bible tells us that bad things happen to good people.  For ALL have sinned and come short of the Glory of God.

But I have to be honest.... in my sadness and anger I asked the BIG question, 

 Where were you God?  

God know me and He knows I ask the BIG questions but I also KNOW HE is in charge even when I can't understand.  When I can't always understand the WHY?  I can always TRUST God's Heart.  He loves Me, He loves You, and He loves every one of those 20 children and 6/7 adults.  Without a shadow of doubt, Heaven gained 20 precious little Angels on Friday morning   and Hopefully each one of those 6/7 adults had a personal faith in Jesus Christ to where they joined those children as they entered into Eternity.

Thank You my dear quilting/blogging friends for indulging me today.

I simply had to Journal my thoughts on this Tragic event before I could move on to any topic other than Sandy Hook. It has weighed so heavily on my mind and heart.  I know for certain, I hugged my 5 grandchildren extra hard over the week-end...each one so precious to me...more precious than gold! 

(just a random group I found on-line but I loved their quilts)

I have seen several blogs in which collecting quilts was mentioned as a way to show our support to the people of Sandy Hook.  I don't know which group I may join up with but if any of you know of a group that you like who are making quilts/blankets/pillows to send to Sandy Hook, please let me know.  

I read that Project Linus sent over 700 quilts and another group, Project Binky, sent between 200-300.  I don't want to overload the town with quilts they don't need so I suggested to one blogger that pillowcases might be nice to make and send in January.  If you have any thoughts or input, please, let's talk!!

IN MEMORY 

Charlotte Bacon (2/22/06), 6 years old

Daniel Barden (9/25/05), 7 years old

Rachel Davino (7/17/83), Staff member, 29 years old

Olivia Engel (7/18/06), 6 years old

Josephine Gay (12/11/05), 7 years old

Ana M. Marquez-Greene (4/4/06), 6 years old

Dylan Hockley (3/8/06), 6 years old

Dawn Hochsprung (6/28/65), Principal, 47 years old

Madeleine F. Hsu (7/10/06), 6 years old

Catherine V. Hubbard (6/8/06), 6 years old

Chase Kowalski (10/31/05), 7 years old

Nancy Lanza, 52 years old (mother of shooter)

Jesse Lewis (6/30/06), 6 years old

James Mattioli (03/22/06), 6 years old

Grace McDonnell (11/4/05), 7 years old

Anne Marie Murphy (7/25/60), Staff member, 52 years old

Emilie Parker (05/12/06), 6 years old

Jack Pinto (05/05/06), 6 years old

Noah Pozner (11/20/06), 6 years old

Caroline Previdi (9/07/06), 6 years old

Jessica Rekos (5/10/06), 6 years old

Avielle Richman (11/17/06) 6 years old

Lauren Rousseau (June 1982), Staff member, 30 years old

Mary Sherlach (2/11/56), Staff member, 56 years old

Victoria Soto (11/04/85), Staff member, 27 years old

Benjamin Wheeler (09/12/06), 6 years old

Allison N. Wyatt (07/03/06), 6 years old 

BUSY WEEK

BUSY WEEK

SEWING, SICK GRANDPEEPS, DATE NIGHT,

 CHRISTMAS PARTY

I chuckled when I saw this cartoon 

especially after having had the Grandpeeps around the house more than usual this past week and anticipating a BIG Grandpeep Sleep-over this Saturday night.

My Sewing Cave looks like Santa's elves have had a party and forgot to tell me!  Lots of fun gifts being made...fabric tissue covers, pillow cases for the grandpeeps, chair pillows for my daughters, prayer quilt for a niece with cancer, aprons for granddaughter and 1 grandson who loves to bake, mugg ruggs for friends, tablerunner for my kitchen table, coffee mug wraps, etc...

Sewing is definitely my therapy which saves tremendously on therapy bills!

Below are SAMPLES of Fabric Tissue Holders I found on Pinterest.  I have LOST my camera and can't take a picture of the ones I made.  I lost my camera over the Thanksgiving Holidays and can't find it ANYWHERE.  It was a new little OLYMPUS point & shoot that HAS to be in this house SOMEWHERE!!!

My Tissue Holders are very similar to these.

 I copied this take-along sewing kit using lots of Lori Holt's fabric lines...Sew Cherry is my favorite.

Some Christmas Granny Squares

These are addicting to make.

I keep coming up with new color schemes.

Go to BEE IN MY BONNET

and search Lori Holt's blog for tutorial.  She has a great binding tutorial up now.

 Green Granny Blocks (SEW CHERRY)

 Red Granny Blocks (SEW CHERRY)

Remember my Tablerunner from The Think Christmas Blog Hop??

It is now in the binding stage and almost ready for Table.  It may be wrapped up as a gift.

I now have Christmas Tree bound.  I left as is without quilting due to the texture of the background fabric which you can't really see in this picture.  

More to come......

What are YOU sewing for Christmas?

Blessings