For these things I am grateful.....

For the blessings of another year to celebrate together....
For the abundance of food and the joy of family to share it with....
For relationships that endure forever.....
For daughters that add such joy to my life....
For the talents and gifts from the heart  that Oma shares with all of us.
For children, who still accept family traditions no matter how old they are.....
and for laughter and knowing that the greatest gift of the holidays is the joy of being together. 

Happy Thanksgiving.....

     We all have so much to be thankful for....family, health and the blessings of freedom.  So on this holiday I would like all of us to remember Jake in prayer as he continues his deployment in Iraq. 

      Jake became a part of our family when Jonathan married his lovely sister Jill.  We will miss his not being here to share with us our Thanksgiving feast, but we look forward to next year when it will be HIS job to carve the bird.  Thank you Jake for your service. Thank you to ALL the men and women who serve our country.  They may be far from home on this holiday, but they are not forgotten.  Happy Thanksgiving one and all.  

Hands to work, Hearts to God.....

     This is an old Shaker saying, and one that I love to think about as I work on my cross stitch designs.  I have always loved the simplicity of the Shakers.  I think about their commitment to excellence in all things and the magnificent handwork that the ladies would produce.

     I am grateful that I too like to create things by hand.  Simple Samplers are my favorite, partly because they are doable, but there is something lovely about the purity of the designs. Working with quilts as I do, and being lucky enough to see many of my students antique quilt collections, my first thoughts always go to "what was the person who made this quilt thinking 

as she creatd her work".  Was she dreaming of the life before her, or thinking of how her life has passed.  Did she shed tears of joy as she stitched, or were there tears of sorrow?  Our lives can be so connected with the things we make with our hands and share with our hearts. 

    So to give you an insight into what was going thru my mind as I created my last piece ( the small alphabet and tree design) I will try to describe my past few weeks of stitching.  Picture my time at Bear's Paw Ranch ( Eleanor Burn's lovely log home) as I would finish my teaching at camp and come back for a night of rest.  I would wash my face, brush my teeth, get into comfy jammies and then happily crawl into bed.  I would pull up the warm wool blanket and the quilt that Eleanor provides.  I would rest my head against the logs, prop my pattern on a pillow and quietly stitch the night away. I listened to the wind in the trees.  I felt such peace, such joy....is this what the Shakers felt after a day of work completed well?

     I finished most of the design in that one week time, but there was finishing work to do.  So picture me now sitting with my Mom.  She has made a delicious cup of coffee and something sweet to enjoy with it.  We talk, we share our thoughts, we laugh and admire each other's handwork.  Mom is making lovely knitted gifts for her holiday list and I marvel at how fast her hands continue to move.

     So when you look at my framed stitchery , picture me with the greatest sense of contentment.  My Mom said I should add the sentiment "Take Joy" at the bottom of the tree.  Sadly I was to close to completion to add what was one of Tasha Tudor's life affirming sayings.  But even though the words may not be there, know that in my heart I "Take Joy".  What happiness there is to know that my hands continue to find joy in my work, and my heart is abundantly  blessed by God.  

A Reason To Celebrate.....

     Those of you who know my Mom, know that she loves to celebrate.  We tease that she is the ultimate party girl.  She has more energy and determination than many people I know.  

    But some occasions are so significant that one party will not do.  So we have twice celebrated a date in my Mom's life that she holds with deep regard.  She came to this country 60 years ago this month, and we gathered to toast her courage and listen to the stories of her passage and arrival to her new country.  Again I am amazed at her courage and we all marvel at the strength that is contained in the small package we all call Oma.

     Because it is often difficult to get all of the family together at one time, Oma decided that two parties would be just fine.  With Jonathan and Jill we enjoyed a wonderful brunch and some special time later in their lovely home.  Jonathan took movies and asked the important questions.....what was she thinking when she left Holland and her family, what was the first impression she had of the USA.  It was interesting to see the voyage thru her eyes, to see her eyes light up when she spoke of seeing the Statue of Liberty for the first time.  I am always amazed to hear the stories of how my parents began their life in America.  It is a timeless story and I am grateful each time that I hear it.

     Our second celebration was last night.  We gathered at the Fish House and ate a meal that was sumptuous and delicious.  Again we heard the story of her travels, what she wore, the funny story of my Opa on the boat.  What a determination this young woman had to have.  I love to know that we gather as family to honor Oma, and I love to know that she still loves this country that gave hope to two young people beginning their life together. Oma commented that when she came to this country she could not afford even one mussel ( a favorite meal) but tonight we all shared a large bucket that signified how far she had come.  

     Oma is the heart of our family.  It is her courage and love that blends all of us together.  I will always be humbled by the sacrifices she has made and the lessons she has taught me. We  all adore her. God bless America for embracing her.  God bless my mother for the example she continues to be. 

I Am thankful.....

     Each Wednesday I am blessed to be able to visit Meghan's classroom full of second graders.  I used to come to help, but now that she has a student teacher, my job is to basically be the "Grandmother" to a delightful group of children. I love my job.

    So today Mrs. Hein had lunch bunch...a reward system that selects children to have lunch with the teacher.  I always bring a special something  for the teacher and I,  and treats for the cutest kids ever.

     Lunch bunch usually begins with shy giggles as children try to find seats near the teacher they adore.  With a few bites of food and lots of smiles we ask each other questions and the funny responses warm my heart.  Isaiah tells us that his Dad lives on an island, and then quickly walks to the globe to point out where. When he points to the Bahamas,  I share with him that I have been been there.  He asks "did you see a black guy...that is my Dad".  I am thankful for his sweet and innocent heart.  One of the little girls is celebrating her birthday.  This is the same child whose family is being investigated by CPS.  Mrs. Hein asks her if she will have a birthday cake and she shyly shakes her head to say no. But with a happier smile she does tell us that she got a game....and we figure out that she likes to play monopoly.  This is the same child who used to look so forlorn and detached.  There is great progress made because now she makes eye contact and even asked me to help her with her math.  There is a look of trust....not seen before.  I am thankful.

     My day ended by reading them a Thanksgiving book,  so it seemed natural to ask "and what are you thankful for"?  The responses were sweet and from the heart.  Most of the children were thankful for their teacher....I feel that way too.  A number were thankful for Coach Hein.  I thought about how he is now gone from their campus, but his impact is still strong. They were thankful for families and friends, for pets and for "pie".  

     On the drive home I was thinking of what I am thankful for.  I am thankful for teachers who go the extra mile to not only touch their minds, but to touch their hearts too.  I am thankful for those who choose difficult paths, because they know that easy isn't always where they are most needed.

     But today I am grateful for children who may live lives of more adversity than joy, but still  maintain an innocence and a sense of hope.  Today they were the teachers, and I felt like I learned a lot.  

Quilt Camp and Lessons learned.....

     I suppose it would be hard to describe to a non quilter what seven days of quilting camp is like.  Who could imagine the joy of being with like minded women in such a lovely and peaceful place.  People would assume that we were there to create quilts and that is part of the why.  For me, bringing home a quilt is only a byproduct of a much larger experience.

     Meeting people, hearing their stories, being touched to the depths of my soul is why I like to go to quilt camp.  Like a good novel, we laugh, we cry and in a short amount of time we become a sister hood.  I can't thank all of my fellow quilters enough for being there to share with me, and leaving an imprint on my heart.

     To dear Helen who bravely fights her cancer and teased me about not needing hairspray when the winds began to whip around us.  To Donna who shared with me that she began to make quilts when her son was dying....to bring him comfort, and as she said "it was a privilege to be there for his first breath and then his last".  To see Dolly quietly hand quilt in her sunny spot on the couch and share with me her relationship to the Amish women in her community. To meet Cheryl and find out we have even a further sisterhood as bloggers.  What joy she brought to my week. I will cherish the memory of sweet and shy Anastasia and her wonderful Russian accent and how I felt like a proud mother when she said to me " I will sit with someone I don't know because I already know you".  Awesome!!!! 

    I don't think I will remember how many quilts I made, but I know I will never forget the women who impacted my week, and now my life. How could I have ever known when I first pieced some fabrics together, that it would touch my life in ways that I could never have imagined. 

     I love that tonight the experience will continue as Meghan and Ali come to work on their quilts.  Newbie quilters,  they too are now a part of that sisterhood.  It is a wonderful journey, and I am humbled and grateful to be a part of it.

Born to shop.....

     Vacations are lovely things....a chance to renew, to see new things, to SHOP!!!!  Jim and I run away as often as we can to a favorite spot on the Central Coast.  The Apple Farm is our home away from home. You know you are part of the family  when the manager greets you with your first name when you walk in the door. We are on their frequent stay program, which is a good thing as my friend Martha would say.

     So we unpack, and generally follow the same agenda each time.  We have a picnic in the vineyards in Edna valley.....great food and lovely wine.  We go to the photo shop to say hi to Peggy, and I visit Beverly's as many times as I have coupons in my pocket to redeem on more fabric. 

      We eat way to much, swear we won't take part in the evening cookies that are offered ( we shouldn't swear because we always eat the cookies), and I love the chance to sit and cross stitch by the lovely fireplace. 

     All of these activities and the chance to come home with lots of goodies.  So what did I buy this time????  Well, Beverly's allowed me to use my 40% off coupon on Mary Englebreit's Recipe for Friendship jelly roll.  Went back again with coupon in hand for a few yards of matching fabric for borders.  Love the quilt shop in Nipomo and found a pattern for charm squares that I HAD to have!!!!  Another cute shop in Pismo Beach added some purple 30's fabrics to my stash and the cutest ( and easy) pattern called Flea Market.  Had to buy that since Meghan is now an avid quilter too!!!!

     One of my favorite shops in SLO is called Old World.  One of those heavenly spots that is full of the most lovely items and they always greet you when you are there like family.  I even got to see new pictures of baby Scarlett who is now 2 years old.  Spied the cutest French Stork with a bowl in its mouth...it will be the center piece for a baby shower that Meghan is hosting for her dear friend Jennifer.  

     Another cute pattern made its way into my bag when we stopped at another quilt shop, and then my final extravagant purchase was a box full of Philosophy LOVE!!!!  Oh it is so much fun to unpack all my goodies!!!

     So tomorrow I will try to catch you up on the scenic part of our journey...and scenic it was!!!  Beautiful Fall color at the vineyards, a hayride to see the pumpkins, and bags and bags of apples to make all sorts of delicious goodies.  Love these mini vacations.  They certainly bring a smile and a sense of rest to Jim's and mine busy lives.  We are going back again soon.....we can't wait!!!!