Forgiveness

NOT about quilts, today I needed to write about friendships.


If you only had one more chance to ask forgiveness or give it would you?  I thought about this question after attending a forever friend's birthday party.  We met in 5th grade and she joined 2 other friends (I met them in 3rd grade) as my VERY best friends.  And in our freshman year we added another friend to our little group.  We all had other friends and activities that did not involve the whole group which made our friendships even better.


Now at age 63, a member of our group has terminal cancer.  She has "put up a good fight," enjoying the last 14 months as best she could while taking chemo and radiation.  She visited places on her bucket list, had long weekends with friends and family.  Most importantly she and her beautiful daughter have had long meaningful talks and adventures. 


A few months before her diagnosis she and a member our "group" had "words." The old playground verse; "Sticks and Stones can break my bones but words will never harm me" is not true.  Once words are said they can't be taken back or easily forgotten. The only thing left to do if you want to retain that relationship is to ask and give forgiveness.  It hurts my heart to know that they can not get past those hurtful words.


As with all relationships a long term friendship ebbs and flows.  There may be months or years when you don't see each other and during that time your friend is changing.  When you meet again you can't expect them to be the same as they were when you last met.  They may have made life choices you are surprised about.  Listening and responding to their life story is quite different than judging the choices they made. 


Life is short, friends are important.  Let them know they are important to you.  Accept them for who THEY are not who YOU want them to be.  If you do or say something that hurts someone, ask for forgiveness and mean it.  If you are offended from someone's words or actions and they ask for your forgiveness please forgive them.  


Jesus forgave all our sins.  You can, too.


Sandy








   

T-shirt quilts!!! Who knew there were so many options.


After much procrastinating and researching I started Jenn's t-shirt quilt from her many runs.   Jenn has really set a pace for completing 5K's, 10K's, 1/2 Marathons and Marathons thus collecting many t-shirts and medals.  Congratulations Jenn, you have inspired many.


She sent the t-shirts with her Mom 18 months ago.  Nancy and I did not connect to do the transfer, but they did end up with my son, Nick.  Finally ending up with me.  Yeah!  Still more thinking and planning.  Finally, I started cutting.   Then I decided to take a Craftsy class "The Ultimate T-shirt Quilt" by Winnie Fleming. Great class gave me lot's of ideas. 


Now, the quilt is almost finished!  5 rows of quilt blocks, 68" by 93."  Not quite large enough for a queen bed.  Last night I started preparing a 17" by 93" column, when added to the original top the size will be 84.5" by 91."  The next step, adding 6 inch borders will give us queen size quilt top, 96 X 103. 


I wanted to take it to Josie, the long arm quilter I am using for the next step.  My goal was to give it to her on April 19th........ I think I am going to have to readjust the time line.  OH WELL!!! 


Pictures to follow.

Christmas 2015.

Tom surprised me with 2 Singer Featherweights and an Americana sewing table.  Still flabbergasted, DMIL Fern kept asking me when I was going to sew on them.  I did and finished a quilt top for the neighborhood quilt group Quilter's form the Heart. 



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Here is Mustang test the quilt top for comfort.

Mother-in-law's Stack N Whack quilt

Several years ago, somewhere between 9 and 11 years, Fern and I took a  quilt class at Luther Park.  The class was to teach us how to make a new block, Stack N Whack.  Basically what you do is take some very pretty fabric, precisely stack layers together, cut them out just so and when you sew them back together the block resembles a kaleidoscope.   Great theory and I am sure  many quilters love this block and have made several Stack and Whack quilts.

Fern and I carefully chose our fabrics.... mine from Mill Ends and her fabric was from a quilt shop, pricey and very pretty.   What neither of us noticed at the time of purchase was the shine on her fabric.  While a nice sheen is pretty, it is also slippery.  Now if you have ever made a Stack n Whack quilt slippery is not what you want!  Needless to say the blocks and the cutting was a disaster.

Both, of our projects were put a way in our UFO stashes.  I dug mine out a year or so later, finished and gave it to my great-niece Sam.  Fern's was left in the stash.

A couple of weeks ago, my quilt guild scheduled a Stack N Whack class.  Thinking DMIL would appreciate my offer to finish her quilt I called her and made the offer.  Yes, she said come and get the beast.  I stopped to pick up the fabric and the 2 finished blocks, again finding the fabric very pretty.  While we were putting the fabric in a carrying bag she made a zinger comment as only MIL's can.  This is what she said: "I hope I get this back before I die."  

Now remember she started this over 9 years ago and being in her early 80's I can understand her concern. But, really why would she say something like that?  Not out of meanness, just out of curiosity,  maybe as a warning she is sick..... who knows!!

But it got me wondering how many comments have I made to my DDIL's that were perfectly innocent  but they thought of as "zingers?"  Would a daughter think the same comment was a zinger or laugh it off as just Mom being Mom? 

Robins

The robins have returned to our yard.  Tonight, as I headed out for a walk there in a tree sat a robin.  I love seeing them every spring.  It means the woodland flowers won't be far behind.  While maybe not this year since we still have 6 to 12 inches on snow still on the ground the violets and trilliums are still hiding. 

As I walked on our country road I could hear the sand hill cranes and saw a flock of robins.  They were so busy looking for food.  I wonder if some were gathering nesting materials.  Snow is in the forecast again so I hope the nest builders have lot's of insulation and a roof!!

Seeing the robins helped me decide it was time to remove my fall/winter quilt from the back of the love seat and put out the Gerber Daisy quilt.  It really adds the look and feel of spring/summer to our home.