Inspiration along the way

Lazy days of summer. Goodness where has the month gone?

I really haven't been lazy, have had lots going on but I've managed to take some time out to enjoy life too.

After all, life is a journey not a destination right? Time to enjoy the simple pleasures and to laugh along the way.

Take this kitty for example. Driving through the neighborhood to go check on the bay and this caught my eye. I just had to share the laugh with you.

That's what I enjoy about this journey, sharing the laughter.

Earlier this month I shared lots of laughter and the joy of quilting with some very special ladies. I held an "A-1 Reunion" where my A1 quilting machine customers were invited to join me on Friday for a piecing class using the Square in a Square technique ... along with piecing we enjoyed lunch outside under the Tiki hut.

On Saturday others joined us as we had a A1 Maintenance Class and some hands on demos on the longarm.

It's always inspiring to be around others that share your same passion. Following the reunion we set up machines for new A1 customers. That's always a joy to share the excitement of a new quilter seeing her dreams come true by owning her own longarm.

Along the way I find that I have to stop and regroup, do a little something for myself to keep my creative juices flowing. This past weekend I did just that, a little home decorating so to speak...added a pillow to better enjoy my hammock...

And covered the lawn chair cushions to add a little color to the deck, and made pillows to help with the comfort of the love seat/bench.

I also managed to FINALLY make the curtains for my bathroom that was repainted almost two years ago. Yep, I'm a procrastinator, but when I get inspired then I really push that peddle on the old sewing machine and crank out the projects!

Earlier in the month I found a really neat pattern in a magazine that I wanted to make. It's called Summer Breeze by Karen DuMont published in Quilt magazine Jun/July 2010 #112 issue. What I liked about it was that it used 32 fat quarters and I'm the queen of fat quarters. I thought it would be fun to do an exchange with two of my friends...the pattern called for 4.5 inch strips and you could get 3 out of the fat quarter, 1 strip equaled one block. So instead of using the same color three times I figured we could each contribute 30+ strips in an exchange...yielding 60 or more colors. The girls readily agreed and we made our exchange.

The original pattern calls for 72 blocks with the remaining 4.5 squares to be used as a border. I got so carried away piecing the four patch that I forgot to save extras for the border. Instead I just enlarged the quilt by about 26 blocks! I'm debating on adding the border, it's already a large queen and with a border would be a king... still thinking on that one. by the way, this is the quilt top folded in half, so you can get a better picture of the size if you understand that.

For the past 5+ years I've tried to make a quilt on or around my birthday. The girls thought this block looked like presents so I've called this my 2010 birthday quilt...and since it's made with fabrics from my friends I think I'm going to rename it from Summer Breeze to Hen Party (grin). The hardest part about this quilt was not using a design wall to lay out the blocks. I just randomly picked them up and pieced row by row. Sometimes colors didn't end up where I would have normally put them, and I'm trying to get over that (grin).

Yes, I'm trying to be more spontaneous with my fabrics. I love color. I love bright fun fabrics. Sometimes they don't seem to go together, at least in the traditional way of lights/darks, you know, all that value stuff that seems to be the 'right way' of doing things. The way I figure it, if I like this fabric and that fabric why can't they play nicely together? So I'm experimenting....

I just purchased the AccuQuilt Go! fabric cutter and have had a wild wonderful weekend working through my stash. I've cut up 2.5 inch strips which I've sewn in sets of 3 with plans on subcutting and making 9 patches. Then I've cut the components for flying geese. My idea is to make a star block with these parts. My goal is for the black and white fabric to be the calming fabric is this pool of fabric splash. We'll see how it works out. May be a while as I've taken my mini vacation and need to get back to work (grin)

Sometimes all we need is a little inspiration, a little detour off the beaten path, to jump start the day/week/month. Just like a little rain brings refreshment so does a little time of reflection bring me back to center. Whether it's taking time to be with friends, time to play in my fabric, or time to just sit by the water and be in awe of God's handiwork...

May your day be joyful and inspiring. Thanks for sharing my journey

My Current World View

I've been hibernating.

Betcha' been wondering since the Quilt Rambler has been silent for awhile (grin). I know that's out of character and I do appreciate those who have inquired. I'm still alive and kicking, kickin' back!

Yep, this is my current world view - enjoying my hammock in the back yard. Wish I could say this has been an every day occurrence since MQS, but of course I did have to get back to work... I have, however, tried to make it my world view and am working hard to make this my state of mind.

Sometimes we just need to pull back and relax (recuperate). We live in a very busy world that is "on" 24/7. Emails, cell phones, text messages, busy schedules - we are constantly in touch with anyone and everyone - and can do it instantly! This can unknowingly lead to stress or burnout and takes a toll on our bodies, mental health and yes, even our spiritual lives get ignored (not to mention family). Sometimes it's time to pull back and take time to regroup.

That's what I did the weekend after returning from MQS - I purchased a hammock and actually utilized it the entire weekend reading a very good book The Schwarzbein Principle II The Transition. This book talks about improving your metabolism and regenerating your hormones through a healthy diet. Over the weekend in my hammock, and some 500 pages of reading, I learned all about adrenaline, insulin, and cortisol and how my lifestyle of always being ON was catching up with me. Time to make some changes!

So a visit to my local farmers market was the first thing on my agenda! I've been working on eating fresh veggies and fruit and limiting processed foods...ah, but that's what summer is all about anyway right?

It really felt good to take a weekend off to reflect, relax, and enjoy my backyard. I had every intention of doing a follow up blog from MQS and sharing photos of all the wonderful people that I put a face to - those I know through blogville or longarm lists, but alas, I just didn't get around to it (my dad once cut out little circular disks and printed round toit on them then gave them to family and friends so we'd all have no more excuses not to get around to it, whatever that it was, we all had a round toit in our pockets!)

I do want to at least share a photo of the A-team These were my partners, my co-workers, my friends in the A-1 booth...and yes, what happens at MQS stays at MQS (grin)! Needless to say, we had fun in our booth!

To the far left is Victor, he's one of the voices you hear when you call the home office. Victor is a jack of all trades, he helps in the office as well as in the back working on machines, getting them shipped, etc. This was his first show and he did great working with the public! Next to him is Kim Stotsenberg, she's the author of "Just Leaf It" a fabulous technique workbook for longarm quilters. She has an A1 and is a national teacher, helping us out in the booth (and she was my roomie for the week, and yes, we stayed up way too late talking! She talks as much as I do, so you can only imagine!). In the middle is me, first timer to MQS (grin). Next to me is Brenda Janovy, our A1 dealer from South Dakota, she's just great. Period. She knows her stuff when it comes to these machines, she's great to work with, and my new best friend (grin) If the three of us had roomed together it would have been a week-long slumber party with no one getting any sleep! I'm looking forward to working more shows with Brenda. Just wish SD wasn't so far from TX! On the far right is another one of our handsome A1 home office fellows - that's Justin, he's the machinist who helps build the A1's one at a time. We are talking quality workmanship here folks. He's also a new fantastic quilter...when he wasn't helping in the classroom or talking to a customer about the A1 he was doodling on the machine. Justin just wowed everyone with his feather puffs, did I mention that he quilts one handed in non stitch regulated mode? oh and he's also the son of our owner Stewart Plank who isn't pictured. ... so that was our gang for the week. It's hard to think that's been several weeks ago, we certainly had a blast together, and I certainly needed my hammock when I got home! It's wonderful to go, but oh so wonderful to come home.

So what's been going on in the meantime? Glad you asked....

Had a little honey-do project this past week...if you've been following my blog for any length of time you may remember that we are Ike Survivors - hurricane Ike knocked down my carport support beams in Sept 2008 (among other things), they were replaced sometime the following spring, but didn't get painted until this past week. Sometimes things just take awhile to get done...but they are done now and the front door got repainted to boot! Thanks honey!

My youngest son said something to my mom, who was visiting this past week, concerning how I tend to over commit to too many projects and then seem to always enlist the rest of the family to help me out with completing them...well, it was his turn to help his momma! Yes, somewhere between the hammock and catching up on customer quilts there was a short visit with my mother and I enlisted both her and my son to help me recover a rocking chair...

I inherited two of these masterpieces several years ago when my grandmother moved into assisted living. I grew up being rocked in these chairs (after my mother before me), and later rocked my children when we went to visit...the chairs are circa 1935 - wish they could talk! Oh the stories they'd share! I posted this photo on facebook and my cousin shared her memories with these same chairs. Yep. True heirlooms.

My grandmother had them recovered many years ago and it was time to give them a fresh look again... especially since I found a bolt of fabric that matched the rest of my living room that I'd redone a year or so ago. It was just meant to be (grin). (I'll try to remember to take photos of the curtains, quilt and wall hanging that makes up the rest of this room...)

No, I know nothing about upholstery, but how hard could it be right? Take the old cover off, use it for a pattern and there ya'go.

Never that easy, just ask my son whom I enlisted for this task (grin). Taking off the old fabric wasn't easy. Goodness they must have invested a fortune in upholstery tacks and stables.

It was interesting what we found inside. I'd never thought of what makes a rocker a rocker, have you? (grin). Check out the old springs in the seat - or what about this stuff coming out the back?

My son commented that it looked like pine straw (which is in abundance in East Texas where these chairs originated). My good friend Trish explained to me that it's called horsehair, and was used a lot in furniture prior to foam and modern materials. I've since learned that it's still in
use today but is a very expensive upholstery item. Trish shared that it wasn't really horse hair, but the by product of cleaning/stripping Spanish Moss...hum... All I knew was I didn't know how to replace it, so we left it intact as much as possible.

After pulling off the first layer, which was the newer upholstery job, we decided that the original bottom cushion would best be left intact. At least we think it's the original - we didn't take it down any further to see if there was anything else underneath. So much for trying to get a pattern. I just had to wing it.

But then again, that's typical of how I do stuff. Just jump right in and figure it out as I go.

Got the backing stapled on and decided to add a little modern fluff to the back to make it sturdier. That's what quilters do with left over poofy poly batting (grin).

One down, one to go. Mom was just here for a day (two nights but one day) so this was all we accomplished on the chairs. Not all we accomplished during her stay - we made another visit to the farmer's market, went out to eat at the Kemah Boardwalk (she misses fresh seafood) and did just a little shopping...Yep, we cram a lot in a short visit. Never a dull moment around my house!

Did I mention that after she left I made a run to JoAnn's for upholstery tacks to finish off the backing real pretty like? While there I found books on upholstery - imagine that! I bought a couple to read up on before I do the next rocker, who knows, there's probably an easier way - but then again, that would take all the fun out of it wouldn't it??

So know ya'know what the Quilt Rambler has been up to these past few weeks. Resting, reading about health and nutrition (and the need to rest more), watching "honey" do his projects while enlisting the rest of the family to assist with mine, and somewhere in between working on customer quilts and taking time out to sit in my hammock while eaating as many of my healthy meals outside as possible. (Have I mentioned how much I love berries!)

Time to celebrate summer! I hope to keep my current world view status for quite a while. And hope you will join me in taking time to rest, reflect, rejuvenate and enjoy life!

Update from MQS

I'm in Kansas Totto! Kansas City to be exact, at the Machine Quilter's Showcase - an event that I've dreamed of attending for 7 years! You know what they say, good things come to those who wait!

I'm attending as a representative of A1 Quilting Machines, what a joy to be able to work in the classrooms as the "bobbin changing momma" (tech support) for eager students taking hands on classes from national longarm teachers....ah but I'm getting ahead of myself...

This weeks journey began in the wee hours prior to my Saturday morning plane...yep, typical quilter, working wee hours on a "deadline quilt" (grin). This little butterfly quilt will be in the Fil Tec booth this week, Fil Tec is the maker of Glide, my new favorite thread. And yes, I know the booths open today and I still have binding to do....(oh my).

I actually flew in a day early to spend with a longarm friend, Donna from MO, who I've been communicating with the past several years over the internet. Years ago Donna read of my desire to come to MQS and graciously offered her home....so we connected and I took her up on her offer! We spent a wonderful day together along with her friend Nancy playing in her studio and actually working on a quilt together. I have to say Donna's hubby makes the best BBQ ribs! Sunday morning Donna & Larry took me to worship with them at their church - it was mother's day and I was glad to be among family - God's family always have a great reunion when ever they get together (grin). Then it was on to MQS to join my A1 family to prepare for our week.

Classes began on Monday so Sunday afternoon found us preparing the A1 room for those eager students! Stewart and Justin Plank brought in table after table.... and Stewart (company president and engineer of the smoothest machine) put the finishing touches before we left by vacuuming our welcome mat.

Bright and early (and I do mean early) Justin and I made our way to the classroom to prepare the machines for students. We were to be the "in room" techies, the ones who answered to "hey you" when a student would run out of bobbin or have a question about the operation of the machine. Monday had three four hour classes running from 8 am to 10 pm. We were in the room the entire time and really enjoyed helping the students.

Justin has a way of amazing the ladies! And he's a good quilter too (grin) they just love watching him make his feather puffs - oh and did I mention that he quilts one handed in non-regulated mode? Yep, pretty amazing that partner of mine!

Pam Clarke was one of our teachers in the A1 Classroom.

Quilters travel from all over, many with a group of friends, many meeting new friends.

Char is a returning student! She met Justin last year as he was the tech in the A1 classroom. They had a great reunion as she was in several of the A1 hands on classroom this week. We know we'll see her again next year as she's an avid student and knows how to really enjoy class!

Myrna Ficken was also a teacher in the A1 classroom - here's a sampling of what her students went home with after their 4 hour workshop.

Hands on classes were Monday and Tuesday. DeLoa Jones taught two different workshops and amazed her students with her "chicken" - you'll have to google DeLoa and visit her website to see her "chicken" and newest book.

Judy Woodworth was the most delightful teacher. Her students really enjoyed her positive can do attitude. Judy gets my vote for a fabulous teacher!

The beauty of a hands on class is the attention a teacher devotes to the success of her students. Lots of practice time and many many design inspirations come out of MQS!

Hands on classes concluded at 5 on Tuesday, now it was time to move the machines to the showroom in prep for vendor mall which opens Weds at 3 PM. A1 teacher Kim Stotsenberg came to help set up - she's a real champ - even mopped the flooring and has the blisters to prove it. By 8 PM though Justin, Kim, and myself were saying "where's the food?" (grin)

Okay, that's the short version - off to set up the machine for demo classes downstairs and finish setting up the showroom upstairs. So far MQS has been everything I've dreamed of...and there's so much more to come. Stay tuned, the Quilter Rambler will bring more reports!!

Sharing the Journey

This past weekend I attended a Women's Retreat with Calvary Houston. We stayed on Galveston Island. The last morning of the retreat I managed to get up for an early walk on the beach before breakfast...needless to say, it was refreshing!

Not only was the weekend a wonderful time for me to rest, reflect, and grow in my walk with God, but it was a true blessing to be among some wonderful ladies I call friends.

Truth be told, my girlfriends are very gentle, but I couldn't resist bragging on Texas Women - we practice tough love down here!

Here's the gals I hang out with this weekend...

Yes, it was a black and white weekend for me (makes it easier to pack, choosing one color for tops means only one pair of shoes to pack, and of course jeans go with everything!) ...ended up matching several of the ladies in our color choices - little did we know that was the color theme for the weekend too! Sorta the way the teaching went too, very black and white when you study scriptures...

The topic of study was based on Galatians 5:22-23, the Fruit of the Spirit. Our study was titled God's Culinary Delights (you can go to the website and request CD's of the weekend's teaching). Have to admit that a 'cooking theme' scared me since I'm not known for my culinary delights...however, I knew it was going to be a good study and very applicable to me when the introduction included this verse:

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1

Just days before this retreat one of my girlfriends came over to visit while I was working on the pinwheel blocks ...she reminded me that when she first met me as her quilt teacher that I was always saying how our quilting should be freeing and not bondage...how it was my joy...and we commented how my joy seemed to be lacking lately... hum... yep... my first clue that this weekend was going to speak to my heart...I needed to be untangled from the yoke of bondage...

John 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

Abide means to stay in a relationship, to be comfortable in that relationship, and to be a partner in the relationship. We can lose our joy if we aren't connected as we should be to Christ, we can't produce fruit on our own, we must abide. Did you catch that? We don't have anything to do in the production of the fruit, our only job is to abide. Fruit is the natural outcome of this relationship with Christ.

Chuck Smith makes this comment in the note section of The Word for Today Bible: If you have a relationship with Jesus Christ, these are the characteristics that will begin to mark your life. There are not really nine fruits of the Spirit. There is only one fruit of the Spirit, and that is love! But this kind of love is not the Greek "eros", or the Greek "phileo". It is the word "agape" which is used in the New Testament to describe a depth of love beyond man's capacity - a love marked by joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Each of these characteristics of love, what we commonly call the fruits of the Spirit, were topics of teachings at the retreat....I will share a little of my notes...what I refer to as part of my week's journey that truly I want to incorporate in my life's journey...

Love: This is My commandment, that you love one another a I have loved you. John 15:12

Agape love is the only love that thinks of the good of others, there is no "give and take" with this type of love, it only gives. This love is not based on emotion or passion, its a matter of will, a decision - you have to choose to love, it's actions that change feelings. Biblical love knows what is right and wrong, it brings together heart and mind, it's love controlled by the Word of God. The more you love, the more you love to love, you have to exercise love even loving your enemies. This love is loving Him more than loving self, and loving others more than self. Life is measured by what you love the most. This type of love isn't 'on the side' like dressing 'on the side', it's a drenching sort of love (like dressing totally drenching a salad) that permeates your life. If we walk in the Spirit then we won't fulfill the lust of the flesh (Gal 5:16). He who does not love doesn't know God because God is love (1 John 4:7-8)

Joy: These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you and that your joy may be full. John 15:11

Joy is contentment that flows from within due to the presence of God in your life. It's confidence built on that relationship, it's responding to what you know to be right and true, now matter the circumstance. Even in the normal experience of every human emotion, including sorrow, there can be rejoicing. Joy is a supernatural byproduct of a Spirit led life for a believer. However, joy does not come automatically, as the Holy Spirit will not by-pass your will, you must choose joy. You can have joy because of who God is, what He has done for you, and what He will do in your life. Even when it seems needs aren't met there's a purpose (so He can draw you closer to depend upon Him) As a result of choosing joy no matter what is happening in your life you can rejoice in knowing God is working all things out toward your good.

There are several things that cripple joy..disobedience for one. Joy can be restored with simple repentance. Unbelief cripples joy - if you have been taught the scriptures and chose not to believe them or have doubt your joy is robbed. Discontentment will kill joy, you will never have enough. False expectations cripple joy - when YOUR plans don't go right this steals your joy. Selfishness, self-pity, self-annalist, any of the "self" words diminish joy as they are all rooted in pride. Emotions, being victimized by feelings, will steal joy. Feelings can be controlled, they can't be allowed to govern your life. Weak people listen to themselves, strong people talk to themselves - "self, this is stupid" - we are to take our thoughts captive and stand on the truth of the Word.

Joy is the result of knowledge of the truth. When joy is chosen it is visible, desirable and a testimony.

Peace: These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. John 16:33a

Our nation is stressed, depressed, and anxious - why? because we lack peace. Three different types of peace:

(1) peace with God Therefore having been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ Rom 5:1 An unbeliever is at war with God, they are His enemy. God's wrath is satisfied with the sacrifice of Christ, this gives us peace with God. Peace with God means He's on your side.

(2) personal peace And the peace of God which surpasses all understand will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus Philippians 4:7 Our challenge is to trust Him when we face difficulties. We are to give our requests to God and leave the outcome to Him to handle HIS way. The situation may or may not change but His peace will be with you.

(3) peace with others Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. if it is possible, as much depends on you, live peaceably will all men. Romans 12:17-18. Recognize that the cause of conflict lies partly with you. Take the first step to resolve conflict with others. Unresolved conflict is sin. Don't look for justice, repay evil with good, don't choose conflict, let God deal with the sin. Realize that God allows everything that comes into your life as a way of teaching you something.

Warren Wiersbe: A Christian who walks in love is always experiencing some new joy because the "fruit of the Spirit" is love and joy and when we blend "love" and "joy" we have "peace"

There's more I will share another day...I hope these shared thoughts will challenge you to take a fresh look at the fruit of the Spirit...

How sweet are Your words to my taste,

Sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Psalm 119:103

Reading Between the Lines of the To Do List

The "to do list". I don't know about yours but mine seems to be ever growing, endless, equally frustrating as well as equally fulfilling. I carry it around on my phone, on my calendar, in my mind. Always thinking about my to do list.

Somewhere along the line I developed the mindset that every day must be productive or I would be considered lazy. There are so many opportunities that beckon my attention - good things that perhaps benefit others, necessary things to keep life functioning properly (like laundry), activities that perhaps selfishly benefit my business, social or spiritual life. Lots of choices.

Recently on my "to do list" or calendar were two quilting 'social' activities. One being the Island Quilters Guild meeting in Galveston. I enjoy gathering with like minded folks and talking about quilts. I've always said that my favorite part is show and tell. Every now and then I have a quilt to share....

Here I'm pointing out my butterfly logo located on the map where I live, between Houston and Galveston. I was sharing that this quilted map hang in the A-1 booth recently in Dallas and I used it as a cheat sheet to help with my geography when a customer would tell me where they were from - I'd ask them to point it out on the map....

What I really enjoy is looking at other's show and tell...always amazed at the creativity of what others are doing, love to see their color choices, their pattern layout, and how the quilt was quilted. This particular quilt was inspiring. The blocks were a part of a block exchange among several members of the guild (unfortunately I wasn't one of them). I have always loved pinwheels, and seeing this quilt set in a beautiful purple was just over the top wonderful to me!

"attend guild meeting" Check.

Next on the "to do list" was teaching a Square in a Square class at Catcus Quilts in Texas City. This was an advanced technique class and each of the ladies have now been trained in Options 1-17 of the Square in a Square technique (for more info on this check out Square in a Square). We had a fun class, lots of sewing but more important talking and laughing. A great social outing that was also productive.

"teach SnS class" Check.

The to do list was being checked off as new things were being added. Isn't this what we are suppose to do? Be organized, be scheduled, fill our lives with lots and lots of activities, get a lot out of every day? Certainly productive!

Then it dawned on me yesterday coming home from worship. Life isn't a to do list. I'm going through the motions, checking things off, thinking about what's next, reworking that list, always always thinking of what I have to finish so I can get to what I have to do next. Wait a minute. I'm not really living. I'm missing out on the moments. I heard a phrase yesterday on the radio, in fact I think it's the name of someone's new album or something..."life isn't a snapshot" ... now I don't know what meaning that phrase has to them, but gee, I'm always taking photos and trying to "document" my life as if that gives it more meaning, more purpose....hum...as much as I enjoy rambling and sharing, that can't be my purpose. Nor is it to have bigger and brighter piles of quilts -although I really love looking at my top shelf in the studio with all the quilts folded as a testimony to my accomplishments - that's not my purpose in life, it can't be. It's a pleasure for me, but there's more to life than stacking up accomplishments and checked off to do lists.

The other day I was in a gift shop on the Kemah Boardwalk looking for a gift for my mother's birthday. At the checkout counter was a little display full of little metal seashells. I'm naturally drawn to anything beachie so I took a second glance and noticed that on each shell there were words etched such as inspire, believe, etc. Then I found the one that spoke to me. Balance. Wow. I'm missing out on that. For a few extra dollars above my gift purchase that little seashell went home with me. I need to be balanced.

Time to enjoy the moments. Time to take time off from the to do list and do something unplanned, something inspired. What's really neat is when that translates to something creative, and even useful - like a new personal quilt...

Sunday afternoon I did just that. I decided that I really really liked the purple pinwheel quilt that my fellow guild member made and I wanted to make one too. The joy was working through my own scraps and making pinwheels that had meaning and purpose to me. I didn't want to totally copy her quilt, and although I have really loved purple these past 10 years I'm sorta moving into a new color, or adding a new color, hot pink! I was going to call this Playful Pinwheels but decided that it's a new decade and along with HOT pink being added to my life there's a new season of personal summers so I'm going to call this Hot Flash (giggle) as I wish at times I had all the fan movement of these pinwheels!

I made over 50 eight inch blocks yesterday afternoon and was blessed with a friend coming over to visit with me while I sewed. She even pressed a few blocks and helped me put them up on the design wall. The blocks will be tucked away for another day, but the thoughts shared with this friend I hope will stay with me as they were profound and encouraging..

We were talking about this very subject of the to do list, balance, life's ups and downs and she shared with me what she'd learned about worry -- that worrying about something is really a control issue...

For example, she shared that she was waiting on her income tax return because there were some bills that needed to be paid and this check was the source that would relive these burdens of debt. She had been given the estimate that the check should be received on Friday and worried all day waiting on the mail...when it didn't come she worried about the overdue bills. Her husband said "worrying doesn't change anything, it's in God's hands". Simple. True. He then shared that her worrying about it was as if she could control the outcome.

Hum...how many times have I worried and fretted over something I have absolutely no control over, as if my worrying would change the fact that I could have control, and if I had control then I could fix it. I'd never thought of worry as a control issue. No new revelation that I'm a control freak, but didn't realize to what degree. I need to recognize the fact that many many things are out of my control, that I can only do what I can do, and that sometimes the to do list is just that, a list, not a mandate of what I have to do - just things that I'd like to do or need to do. I also have to realize that I can't control other people - how they will react, if they will like me or like my quilting or whatever, that all I can do is all I can do - trying to second guess what others want me to do or trying to do everything to please others is tiring. All I can do is the best that I can do. Worrying about what other's think is something that I now recognize is out of my control....what I can do is recognize that I need to take time to balance and balance means taking a moment to live. Enjoy the moments, not rushing to the next item on the to do list. A time to smell the roses....

For some reason I've been taking a lot of flower photos lately. Perhaps it was because I was rushing by so quickly and wanted to savor the moment later by reviewing the photos... perhaps a little part of me was reaching out for recognition that I must stop and smell the roses, that I need this time to reflect on God's beauty, time to be renewed and refreshed.... Here's a sample of the photos I've been collecting this past week...

Life isn't a to do list. It's not accomplishments that will long fade after I'm gone, it's not even the quilts that will be inherited (grin). It's about taking a deep breath and recognizing that God has blessed me by placing me in the middle of His beautiful creation. That He has a plan and purpose for me, and sometimes that's only revealed one day at a time - verses thinking it has to be a big grand and glorious accomplishment that will be recorded in history (grin). It's more of a "what can I do today that will glorify His name?" It is being faithful in the little things such as fulfilling my obligations on my to do list like keeping my word to show up for an appointment (on time) or it could be more about the people factor of those appointments, sharing an encouraging word to someone I encounter along the way? Both perhaps. Each day brings new opportunities. The key is to not place the focus on the to do list, but instead place the focus on balance and embrace life by reading between the lines of the to do list. And taking time to rest. That part has been missing for a long time. (maybe I should add that to the to do list!)

"Be Still and Know" that He is God!