Gracious, can it really be since November 20th, 2013 since I've posted!?  Well let's see what have I been up to since that last post.   Basketball games for our granddaughter and grandson, celebrating Thanksgiving, celebrating our son's 31st birthday, decorating the house for Christmas, had my colonoscopy, basketball games, preschool and elementary school Christmas programs, basketball games, celebrated our 41st wedding anniversary, celebrating Jesus' birthday, and quilting six days a week.  I think that about covers it.  I must confess it had been so long since I was on my blog that I forgot my password.  I'm not feeling sorry for myself  or making excuses but the day after Christmas I started to come down with a respiratory infection that put me to bed for three days and I finally am feeling like myself again.  So much for getting a flu shot.

We really had a beautiful Christmas with our family.  The grandchildren oohed and aaad as each person opened their presents.  It gave me such a warm feeling that each grandchild was excited to watch their sibling open their present.  For the last four years I made each grandchild a pillowcase and then put their new pajamas inside the pillowcase.  Our youngest grandchild, Eli, no sooner had his pajamas out of the pillowcase that he then changed into his new pajamas.  Each of the grandchildren followed suit.  Besides our old tradition of doing the "fish pond" presents we started a new tradition, we sing happy birthday to Jesus and then blow out the candle on the cupcake.  I am truly thankful for being able to celebrate Christmas with my family.

As I am writing this I am sitting in my sewing room, in the rocking chair I used to rock my children to sleep in when they were babies.  My children are now 33 and 31 and I wonder where did that time go?  How can it be that they are adults now.  My mother always told me to enjoy my children when they were little because before you know it they will be grown.  Thank goodness for grandchildren.  I can spoil them and then send them home.

I have had pure joy today because I was able to spend time in my sewing room applying the binding to a quilt I will be mailing to my cousin and his wife.  You see my cousin's wife lost her two sisters and their husbands in a plane crash last fall.  I can't even begin to understand the depth of sadness

Blessings to all.  No I haven't fallen off the face of the earth.  I have, however, been very busy quilting all of the beautiful quilts I've been entrusted to quilt, attended volleyball and now basketball games, celebrated Gary's 65th birthday, done some Christmas shopping and oh did I mention quilting beautiful quilts.  I've also tried to stay focused and realize the blessings I am empowered with each day by my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  My life has ups and downs, peaks and valleys as we all have, but I am able walk through the downs/valleys with hope knowing knowing Jesus is by my side. The ups/peaks are even sweeter because of the blessings Jesus has presented to me.  As the bible says, "I have learned to be content in whatever state I am."

Here are a few pictures of a sweet quilt I quilted recently.  I used a new pattern and I was thrilled with  the results.  The pattern is by Nancy Haacke digitizedquiltingpatterns.com called Modern E2e.  Isn't the pattern so fresh and modern?

Blessings to all.

Happy Saturday everyone well actually I should say happy Saturday evening.  We've been on the go today watching the volleyball sectional of the North White girls team.  The ladies made it to the final round of the sectional but were defeated by Pioneer.  It has been a pleasure to watch these young ladies this season and that they welcomed two freshmen girls to play on their team - our granddaughter Audrey Kate and Hannah.  When you watch young ladies give their best you feel their is hope for the future.  Our young people are our future and seeing these girls come together as a team, working together, encouraging one another, whether they won or lost a game just makes my heart sing with joy.  Thank you ladies.

Here are a few more pictures of quilts that were made at the Threads of Mine quilt retreat last week in Shipshewana, Indiana.  Enjoy and enjoy the rest of your weekend.  Blessings to all.

Happy, happy Wednesday everyone.  It certainly was a crisp morning here in beautiful Monticello, Indiana.  The sunshine was a welcomed warmth, but then sunshine always makes me feel better.

We have had a fun evening with our granddaughter, Audrey Kate.  She is spending the night and Grandpa Gary is taking here to an 8:00 am orthodontist appointment.   Geez I hope the dentist is wide awake before he starts changing AK's wires.  Audrey got her first report card for her freshmen year in high school.  All A's and one B+.  She is such a joy to be with.

Below are a few more pictures of quilts made at the Shipshewana 2013 retreat.  Enjoy.

Blessings to all.

Happy, happy Tuesday from cloudy, rainy Monticello, Indiana.  Well at least we don't have snow outside today like I hear upper Michigan has been experiencing.  I only enjoy snow the week before and after Christmas then I'm ready for spring.  Oh well at least when the weather does turn cold I can stay inside and quilt.

As promised here are a few more pictures of some of the beautiful quilts that the ladies made at the Shipshewana Threads of Mine quilt retreat last week.  I appreciate the complex piecing some of the ladies accomplished since I prefer the easy piecing.  Our retreat was full of laughter, sharing, laughter, learning, laughter, fellowship and did I mention laughter.  A statement I will always remember made by one of the quilters was, "I laughed so hard tears ran down my legs."  New friendships were made and many of us signed up for next years' retreat.  The Amish town of Shipshewana, Indiana is full of wonderful shops, even if you aren't a quilter, great eateries, bakeries, antiques, shoe stores etc.  Let's just say you would have a great time.  If you visit May-October the flea market is open.

I hope you enjoy the pictures of some more beautiful quilt tops made at the retreat.

Blessings to all.

One more post for today.  Whow two in one day maybe I'm on a roll.  The picture below shows one of my quilts in the background that I put together while in Shipshewana.  I haven't decided if I will add borders to this quilt yet.  I love the colors in this quilt and it was so easy.  The material is a jelly roll using the Honey Honey line by Kate Spain for Moda.  I did purchase some extra fabric for the vertical rows.  Isn't this a happy quilt?

The picture also shows my big toe bandaged.  The trip to the doctor today really put a ringer in my quilting schedule.  Actually, I didn't get to quilt at all, but I did get a nap in.  Oh well tomorrow will be a great quilting day.

Blessings to all.

Happy Monday everyone.  I have to be more diligent in writing on my blog.  But as usual life has been moving along too fast at times as I'm sure all of you can say the same.

I had four beautiful days in Shipshewana, Indiana last week.  What a blessing spending time with 86 quilters.  Our leader Ruth Wasmuth put together this fourth retreat and each sewer/quilter/knitter who was in attendance couldn't thank Ruthie enough for all of her hard work.  We have a very easy schedule while we are at the retreat.  Actually, the only scheduled activity is show and tell on Friday and  Saturday evening.  We do our show and tell by using the great room at the Farmstead Inn where our retreat is located.  The Great Room has chairs, couches and tables around a beautiful two sided fireplace.  We place our quilts all over the room and then everyone walks around looking at the beautiful quilts.  If anyone has a question on a quilt the owner of the quilt answers any questions.  With 86 quilters showing their beautiful quilts it only takes about a half hour or so for everyone to view the beauties leaving us more time to sew.  This retreat is one I've already signed up for next year.  I feel blessed that I am able to attend this retreat.  It is such a special time.

Here are a few pictures of some of the beautiful quilts that were made at the retreat.  I'll try and post a few pictures all week.

Blessings to all.