Quilting Eases Tears

Oh, dear! It is April and the year is disappearing while my list of "to do" remains just as long! 
Because of the health needs my elderly Dad demands on me, every day vaporizes with wishes of accomplishing more, yet in defeat and fatigue. 
The first week of March, Dad collapsed to what I call a lower leveled step in health. He lost his ability to speak, walk, and hold his walker. I began 24/7 care, dosing in his recliner by the side of his bed. Many hours in the soft darkness I wondered if this was the last hour of his life, but each time he awoke, I coached his motor skills to return step-by-step. 
By the 6th day without much needed sleep, I admitted a desperate need for help via a phone conversation with my eldest sister. Recently retired, enabled both her husband and she to arrive a couple days later, ready to bless both Dad and me. 
A month has passed, and just the laughter and conversations have lifted my spirit and revived my resolve to finish strong in Elder Care. In the meantime, Dad has regained a weakened strength and is able to communicate, walk, and help himself with necessary chores.

Learning precision matters

Loving my Janome's 1/4" foot!

During our quiet hours, I've been able to share with my sister my love for quilting. We began with the 1/2 sq triangle square, showing her the short-cut of drawing a diagonal line in each pair of squares, sewing 1/4" seam on either side of the line, and then, cutting on the line to make her triangle. She fell in love with my tools, learned precision of measuring, cutting, and seams. Pressing toward the darker fabric was also a new concept. Within the last year, she had purchased the same Janome model, but was thrilled to learn that it came with the 1/4" foot attachment which helped her make her seams precise.

Finished 8" blocks

She thought it would take years to make the quilt in her imagination, so, I cannot explain her pleasure as she gazes on her finished quilt front. Within a couple of days, she had quite an assortment of 8" blocks to display on my LR carpet.

So proud with accomplishment

Sitting on the carpet, marveling at how much she had accomplished, she called a quilter girlfriend! "I'm sitting here looking at my first blocks!" she exclaimed so proudly. I beamed in the background because she was such an easy student! 

Warm Chocolate Brown border 4 blocks 

We chose to soften the colors with a warm chocolate brown framing each 16" square. It make quite a difference in the appearance and much more pleasing to their taste of fabric! 

Backing with the same warm brown 

She just finished her first quilt front and is ready to add batting and the warm chocolate brown for a backing and bias. I think in a few weeks, she'll be thrilled to carry home her beautiful dream of a quilt!  
In the meantime, Dad is resting quietly, loving her massaging hands on his pained legs and shoulders. Her companionship has been such a blessing, and oh! I must quickly write another post about all the wonderful little chores her husband accomplished around our house. It surpasses 'Amazing!'!!!
Through it all, we've learned the lightness of spirit that quilting can bring to heavy hearts as we worked together to create beauty. 

Can you blame me?

3 grand daughters/3 aproms

 My sewing machine is humming again and although the projects are organized in large plastic bags, my sewing room is piled high with dreams to be finished.

Fabric with snaps to match

My first tackled project was completed with some pride.

I used my new binding foot for the Janome machine sewing. It took patience to learn the trick, but I gained confidence seeing both sides of the binding folded professionally over the edges of the aprons! I made covering "aprons" for my three grand daughters.

Can you blame my dreams?

You see, this grandmother tried to get stains out of adorable dresses and now hopes for cute cover-ups to encourage less stains!
I am using the new BABY fabric from BABYVILLE. It is soft, but waterproof. I love the adorable choices for designs and colors. They even make little snaps, velcro, and bindings to totally match the fabrics! One kit, containing 3 fabrics, ($14.99 @JoAnn's) makes 6 bibs!
It's so fun!
These little bibs and aprons are turning out so cute!
I love making them! Can you blame me?

Conquering my dreams

As I entered my sewing room for Friday night SEW-IN, and looked around, the time allotted begged for organization!
And because experience told me to begin with a list, I spent the evening, doing just that and then, rolling up my sleeves for what demanded my attention!

You see, for several weeks, especially as I packed away the holidays, I noticed the mountain creeping taller and taller in my sewing room.  Undone dreams, awesome cottons, quilting magazines, threads, and on and on, it climbed. I could hardly see my sweet Janome behind all the clutter.
Tears of frustration spilled from my eyes often as I browsed through the piles taunting my usual neat surroundings. Quilters often talk about building a "stash", but this was a mess! I realized my only success had been forgetting it by just backing out of my dear room and closing the door behind me.
But oh, how I love to sew!
So with determination, I set to work. First thing I decided to create a page for a project list and try to divide this horrible mountain. I needed to conquer one thing at a time. My PROJECT PAGE shows the 3 chosen categories and a list of dreams already mentally formed with the items already purchased. I vowed that these projects must be completed before I was lured away by any more shopping.

One per project

With my 3 categories and list in hand, I ventured toward my sewing table now, Dreaming hopes began to form knowing I would accomplish more than just looking for items the next time I entered my sewing room!

Including all needed items

I placed each project pattern in a giant sized plastic bag, and labeled it. Then, I gathered and included everything needed for each specific project and placed them in the individual bags. Finally, I placed each bag in a clear plastic crate. This crate was dragged to the closet with the goal of pulling one bag out at a time.

Bins to hold projects

With satisfaction, I glanced around my sewing room. I was proud at how neat and organized it finally looked!  My organization has encouraged me to really sew, rather than spend treasured time hunting for things needed. I no longer have to look for the thread, or shift a pile from one corner to another to make space, or even buy more things and find I didn't need it when I returned home. Now, I can accomplish something when I enter the room and sit at the sewing machine.
A Friday night SEW-IN was well spent. Yesterday, I gladly entered my sewing room and within a couple hours, I was able to make a new pile labeled COMPLETED.
Thanks for the encouragement you gave me through the plans of FRIDAY NIGHT SEW-IN! 

An Assignment of Love

Around my house, a "normal" day has trekked down a new path. 

House calls from Doctors, Nurses, Aides, a Chaplain, and couple of Social Workers coming by to visit my Dad and checking on my care, fill my day. Medicine bottles line the top of the file cabinet, an oxygen machine stands ready near a bedside, and bottles of BOOST cool in the tiny fridge.

Those descriptions should drop the hint that Dad has not improved since the last time I wrote! Every drop-in visit reminds me that he doesn't have much time left of this life, and time spent with him is valuable. There are days when lows hit really low, yet there are also days where energy triumphs over the aging bones.  

Thank all of you for your prayers for us.   

New wall decor on stairway just as we enter Dad's room

My sewing room has a bucket of projects waiting for me. I longingly walk by on my way to my Dad's room, but find I don't have enough energy left to sew when I find my quiet moments. 
I usually shrug and mumble, "Maybe tomorrow!"

But wow, I have to show you this Bible verse! It was so awesome to find this much needed perspective! What incredible comfort is found in God's Word, making me realize that every moment I serve Dad is just an assignment from my Heavenly Father's hand! I found Psalm 16:5 during one of my study times and know that the Lord God was sending me comfort for my fatigue. 
I love teacups and my special times with my Lord and His Word over a cup of tea have been some of my favorite moments in this stage of my life. This verse made me picture my life at God's Tea Time, where He gives me the assignment for each day, never more than can be handled through his grace!

"O Lord, you assigned my portion (a piece of toast) and my cup (of unsweetened tea), my lot (comfy chair) is secure ( which is my position in HIM because of Jesus Christ!)." 

Liebster Award

                                              

                                 thank you, Lana... for this blog connect!  

It was an awesome thrill to open my email, click on my friend's name, and find this sweet message from you!  

 As a newbie, I stand in awe of all of the blogs I read, and cannot believe you chose my blog to be recognized for the 

Liebster Award !!!

Thank you Lana for your friendship and encouragement!  

This award is for blogs with less than 200 followers, 

and the recipient should pass the award on to 5 more bloggers.  

Choosing 5 more bloggers was a difficult task for me, because I'm so brand new at all this "blogging stuff"! In my leisure moments, with teacup in hand, I read the adventures in quilting and card makers. I become so inspired by these creative people! 

Most of all, I love receiving the tender notes from new friends and I soak up their encouragement as I plunge into the world of quilting.

Hopefully, through my feeble efforts at blogging, I pass on to others some of the encouragement I've received!

 So now, I pass this award on to those I enjoy following, hoping each of you realize how much I love reading of your adventures and creativity.   

This list is absolutely in no particular order...

Vintageprims

Hillbillyhandiworks

Sewhappy2quilt

Handmadebyheidi

Scrappingpeg

Liebster Conventions:
*Thank your award presenter on your blog 
*Link back to the blogger who presented you with the award
*Copy and paste the award to your blog -
*Present the Liebster Award to 5 blogs that have fewer then 200 followers that you think deserve to be recognized 
*Let them know by leaving a comment on their blog

Merry Christmas!

"Sleigh Bells ring...are you listening?"  plays in the background, causing me to wonder if I am really listening, and if so, what am I hearing? Lately, I find myself running from store to store, shivering in a cold car, grabbing a quick lunch, and re-reading my list of “to do’s”, hoping I can check something off. 

But listening….? I pause to consider what sounds catch my attention during this busy holiday.

We waved goodbye as our daughter, Tina, and her little family boarded the plane in the middle of November to begin a new adventure in South East Asia. We had been together almost a year, and the three little girls had filled many of our hours with laughter and play. Their departure left behind a sad quiet home for Don and me. We no longer hear the giggles of little girls, the call of a mommy for peaceful play, or even the cry of the littlest one trying to be heard in a busy family. I miss those sounds and know hearing one of their little voices would cause me to stop and look around. Wow...right now, I’d love to hear those sounds, but I know God has great things in store for them in their new home.

I’ve noticed my ears are very attuned to little sounds drifting up from my elderly dad’s room.  I hear him moving about, raising or lowering his hospital bed, or rolling over with a few struggling groans. There’s the  hum of his electric recliner being overtaken by sounds of peaceful snoring of contentment.  Sounds of his word processor have silenced now by the overcoming of physical needs. That’s a sound I miss, but it’s been replaced by loud TV voices of news and advertisements to compensate for hearing loss.

There have been some dark nights when Dad sounds an alarm into my deep sleep. That piercing alert awakens my listening, causing me to run through the dimly lit hall and down the stairs as I try to quiet my beating heart, calm my fears, and pray silently for wisdom to face whatever I encounter.

Sounds of morning awaken me as I hear Don beginning his busy days with a few early hours of study. He has a regular routine of consistent noises. There’s the squawk of the microwave door, chime of the timer, then I hear him picking through the ice bucket in hopes for a perfect number in his water glass. These sounds warn of a quickly passing day, and leave a steaming cup of coffee waiting for me.

As Christmas Day approaches, the sounds of baking, cleaning and sewing fill my home as I busily complete the finishing touches. Anticipation has our home waiting for the sounds of a wonderful week with our younger daughter, Caryn, and husband, Mark. They’ll bring a new sound to our home this time when we are introduced to “Rosie” their “Jack-Rustle terrier”.

This past month I heard some new sounds as I filled in for the receptionist on campus. Besides the constant ringing of the phones, I’ve heard cheerful greetings, of in/out schedules, laughter and some good conversations. It’s been so enjoyable to hang out with co-laborers and hear segments for mission outreach.

Through my Bible study, I’m learning that the best sound is whispering “Peace” to a troubled world and giving Hope of the bright future when His children will sing a joyful sound around the throne of God, saying
                                    "Worthy is the LAMB!"

Because of God’s gift of His Son at Christmas, we’re expectantly listening for that wonderful sound of His voice, calling us before His Throne! 

Until then, I enjoy hearing “sleigh bells ringing” celebrating His precious SON and hope all the sounds you hear this season are joyful ones of praise!

Love Because of His Gift,

Don and DebiWeaver

Happy Birthday, Dear Ole Dad!

The photo on the calendar depicted a church lawn decorated with the nativity scene while snowflakes floated through the quiet darkness and fell silently to the ground. This precious scene had caused many to pause and gaze at the sweet baby's face in wonder, and thankfulness for the God who so loved the world that He sent His Son... 

My Dad with his Mother

Yet, 90 years ago, in a humble bedroom, a young mother's eyes were gazing into the precious face of her newborn son and the fulfillment for the desire of her own heart. Little thought was given to the holiday or the other baby, for that Christmas eve found its own celebration of joy in the heart of this young mother and her husband sitting nearby. The longings of their hearts were all wrapped in the blue flannelled bundle cuddled in her arms, and she felt repair in the beginnings of mending the sorrowful wounds of past miscarriages.

The little boy baby had dark blue eyes with one small quarter of his left eye sparkled in brown hues. His chubby cheeks dimpled in contentment, a small sigh escaped the tiny mouth as he snuggled contentedly in those loving arms.

Catie & Meghan visit Gramps

The years have passed quickly and two new generations have begun their stories, yet beside my overstuffed recliner rests that same face, cuddled deeply in a blue flannelled blanket on a Home-Care hospital bed. I hear a contented sigh escape the sleepy opened mouth of my dear elderly dad, and then, a soft groan as his eyes open, look around and focus on me. I lovingly look into the deep blue eyes of his occasional glance upon my face, and I'm reminded of that night long ago when he held his mother’s heart tightly within that gaze. The scene on the calendar is still the same, marking almost a century, yet still celebrating the oncoming birthday holiday. Again, the snowflakes are softly drifting to the whitened ground outside the darkened window, but there are some vivid changes upon his countenance.

Wrinkles have replaced the dimpled chubby cheeks and worry lines outline his strong features. He no longer innocently looks at the world he entered and the sweet ignorance of infant life has been overshadowed by many experiences. 

Through our many long conversations, he has retold stories of good times, the romping through farmlands, attempted studies and successful times of ministry as a pastor, yet he has always stopped short of retelling shuddering moments of fear and war. Each memory lines his life with innumerable blessings from God, an awesomeness of being loved by his Creator, and so protected until that time when he would come to know his God personally through the Savior.

Dad resting

In these lingering winter days, there are many good moments of sunshine and hope, but often, it is his life's memories that are gently carrying his dreams through his labored breathing, the nudges of pain, and the ticking of my mantle clock.  Names of many life-long friends and disciples from his life of godly commitment are welcomed into his mind and soft spoken prayers are still heard as he raises their names to his Lord, praying especially for those still struggling to know the Truth or experience the life of righteousness through Jesus Christ.

More and more hours are spent in a deep sleep with vivid dreams that do not leave him rested. His old bones creak and crack with movement causing groans to escape where the contented sigh once was. Occasionally he mumbles little memories in his wakeful moments, gentle tears water his aged eyes, or praise for His Savior flow from his pale, dry lips.

We both know in the quietness of the moments, without spoken words, that this life is reaching the end.

His departure will soon come and there is no dread. He knows the King, accepted His blood sacrificed for his sins, and claimed the promise of life eternal. Now, with bright hope for this future, he longs to join his mother, father, and beloved wife who are waiting for him close to his precious Savior.

Just now, as I type this letter at my Dad's bedside, he quietly whispers for me to add praise to his awesome God and Savior for such a blessed life, mention his love for friends and family, and mostly, remember to encourage you to stay strong in your faith in Jesus Christ. His unyielding desire is to join you in the clouds of glory!

PS Open House Birthday Celebration saw about 56 people around his bedside during the intervals of the day. A table spread of Snacks and Finger foods with Mocha Punch or Fruit Punch made a pretty scene across the room from his bed. Thank you for all the cards and visits! It made his day with nice memory reminders of many friends!