This post will be a bit of a ramble as I try to catch up on what has been going on in my life and sharing the progress of one of my project. I intended to share a bit of an end of the year review, but God had other plans...I'll start with the most major life event...
On December 21, my beloved father in law, Wayne, went to be with the Lord Jesus. He was 87 years old and I loved him dearly.
Here he is working on a puzzle with Russ a week after he was moved into memory care last August. His passing wasn't unexpected as he has been getting more frailer these last few months, but it was surprising.
It all began with a fall on December 15 at our family Christmas (5 minutes after we arrived, so he missed the whole thing!) which resulted in several fractures in several of his ribs. The dr at the ER called it a "catastrophic life event" due to age and prior lung damage due to smoking years back. By the end of the day, the news kept getting worse. A neck fracture was found as well as an aneurysm. The decision was made to make him comfortable in hospice, as he did not want any extraordinary means to be taken to keep him alive and that's what would have had to take place. He said, in one of his lucid moments that night (he had mild dementia), "I have lived a good life. I am ready to go." The blessings of that week, though sad and stressful at times, we (all the children, grandchildren, brother, etc) were all able to say what needed to be said and could love up on him until he met the Lord on the other side of the veil. I am thankful I could be there the whole week to sit with him and with my mother in law, Mathena. Wayne's funeral was December 26...
Christmas in my home was simple and low key. No complaints there! Russ got a battery. Exciting, huh?? He is converting his recumbent bike into an electric bike. Why? I don't question is choice of "toys" because I appreciate he doesn't make me justify my sewing toys. =)
My Christmas gifts were all fountain pen related. I fell into the fountain pen hobby last year and haven't stopped loving them! I received a Pilot DecimoVanishing Point pen and lots of ink. You can never have too much ink! Or pens for that matter. ;-)
With the week-long stay at hospice with Wayne, his funeral and Christmas all bunched on top of each other, my sewing time was non-existent until New Year's Day when I finished up my 2018 Temperature quilt.
In the last two rows, I added a temperature key. The actual temperatures are not written on them in any way but they do show what the colors were in order from coldest to hottest temperatures. That way you can look at the quilt and get an idea of what the temperature was.
Here it is all finished!! It measures 72" x 88". I still have the first of the months marked with a piece paper pinned to the quilt. I am not sure if I want to mark those days in some way or not. I am leaning towards not, but I'm not ready to take the papers off until I am sure.
I am organized to start another temperature quilt for 2019 but haven't firmed up my choice on block and layout yet. What I do know is it won't involve applique!! ;-) I am going to use the same colors/fabric and same temperature key. You can read more about my process and find out what colors I chose on this post from April - Temperature Quilt.
My quilting goals for 2019:
1 - Make more donation quilts for Bridgehaven.
2 - Continue to use up my stash.
3 - Continue with being very selective about what I add to my stash.
4 - Learn one new technique out of my comfort zone. Last year I did curves! Not sure what I want this year's challenge to be.
My personal goals for 2019:
1 - Love my husband more.
2 - Memorize at least one new scripture verse a month. I have this months already mostly memorized, so I expect to exceed my goal.
3 - Continue to stay on the Low Carb High-Fat eating plan. I haven't been on it very long, but I feel better already!
4 - Be an encouragement with those I meet. Greg Koukl at Stand To Reason sums it up well in his mentoring letter: Give 'Em Heaven
Whew! If you stuck with me all through this post, thank you!!
I wish you and yours a year of PEACE!
