Thursday, March 29, 2012

Tyler...

It is with a very heavy heart that I write this post.  Tyler lost his battle with leukemia tonight, but won the race.  He's in heaven rejoicing and singing praises to the Lord.  Here is his mother's post from Caring Bridge.

Thursday, March 29, 2012 7:28 PM, EDT
Our precious, precious son has found his complete healing not on this earth, but in Heaven. He is whole and not suffering; he is singing praises right now to the God he loved!! Tyler's valiant fight for life ended on March 29, 2012, at 5:45 PM, at the age of 15 and 5 months. He died cancer-free, with a brand new immune system, but the chemotherapy he received was simply too harsh for his organs.
We cannot fathom a world without his amazing presence. We cannot fathom a life that doesn’t include being his parents. We cannot fathom that a future wife won’t know him as her husband, and future children won’t have him as their father. That a future world will not be blessed by his smiling, hugging, joking, caring, Jesus-loving presence. We cannot fathom any of this. 
But please know that God hasn’t changed. Yes, He could have fully restored Tyler to health, and He didn’t. He restored Tyler’s lungs, and none of us really understands why He didn’t heal the rest of his body and restore him to life on this earth. It’s OK not to understand. God knows the future, and His plans are always perfect. We all witnessed how powerful our God is two weeks ago! And this same powerful God loves YOU! Now is the time to let God hold us tight in His loving arms as we grieve losing Tyler. This is our prayer for all who love our son and prayed so fervently for him. Tyler’s own prayer was that no one would turn away from Christ and that many would turn to Him due to his illness. Please let Tyler’s prayer be answered with a resounding YES so that his incredibly beautiful impact can continue long after he’s gone, and so his hard-fought battle will not have been wasted!

As always she is a tower of strength, caring for others and encouraging people to stay strong in the Lord.  Now my prayers are for the family and friends that Tyler is leaving behind.  Shortly after Tyler was diagnosed, his mom wrote this post, full of encouraging words for those who knew and loved Tyler.  This is the character of his family...and I admire them so very much.

Friday, February 24, 2012 10:42 PM, EST
Re-Post
I was just scrolling back through this journal, looking for some of the scripture we've posted, because I desperately needed encouragement.  I came across this post from November.  I am reposting it since so many new folks have joined Tyler's site in the past weeks.  As I re-read the post, despite the very changed circumstances, I still believe what I wrote.  I know more of Tyler's friends are now checking CaringBridge, and this is mostly directed to them, but perhaps can speak to others who may be suffering from their own personal "whys" as well.
Monday, November 21, 2011 9:42 PM, EST Warning: Long Entry!
Many folks over the past 2 ½ months have expected me to be angry or questioning over Tyler’s cancer. I’ve decided to journal my thoughts on this and post it for others to read. I’ll probably go on for quite a while, so please bear with me or just skip this entry all together. I don’t claim to have the answers and realize some will disagree with me. I also don’t pretend to speak for either Tyler or Ron. Writing this is therapeutic for me, and who knows – may be therapeutic for someone else.
When my niece was 5, she fell from the top of the monkey bars and broke her arm. Her first reaction was to look accusingly at my father and wail, “Grandpa, why didn’t you catch me?” She looked to the one who was stronger, more powerful, and was supposed to be caring for her, and blamed him for the pain she was in. Doesn’t this knee-jerk reaction describe how we feel about God when something bad happens? God, why didn’t you stop it? God, it’s not fair! God, how can you do this to an innocent child? And so on. I think that’s our natural human response. God, You’re supposed to be good; You claim to love us; why are You allowing bad things?
I think to frame a horrible event in the right context, you have to establish some basic truths in your mind so that your thinking doesn’t go off course in the face of extreme emotions. In other words, what were your beliefs before tragedy hit? Here are some of my unshakable beliefs about God. First of all, God is good. He is perfect. He is holy. There is no evil in Him. He is not aloof. He desires to be in relationship with His creation rather than sitting from afar and ruling the universe. I am not complete unless I am in relationship with Him. He does not choose certain people to suffer more than others, or sit back maniacally laughing to see people in pain. So then this begs the question, where does suffering come from, and why is it running rampant in the world?
As I had the “my-world-just-stopped-on-its-axis” experience of hearing Tyler had leukemia, I felt terror, horror, shock, and devastation, but I didn’t really ask myself why my precious, loving, very special boy had to get diagnosed with cancer. As I absorbed the news a week later that he had one of the most difficult to treat types of AML, I agonized, but didn’t really ask myself why. With this last chemo course, as I stroked his bald head while he violently vomited blood and mucous, my heart broke a little bit more, but I didn’t ask myself why. With his recent stay in the ICU, when he weakly gripped my hand for hours, so horribly ill, I was numb and in pain, but didn’t really ask myself why.
With the “why” game, someone always has it worse and has more of a “right” to ask why. We don’t always comprehend it in our sheltered middle-class American lives, but the world is a place of daily abject suffering. Why does my boy have to suffer from cancer? Well, why does the mother in Honduras hold the lifeless body of her child, her fourth to die of a very preventable illness? Children she loved just as much as I love Tyler? Why does the girl in a tribal village have such empty eyes after watching her family be butchered by an opposing ethnic group? Why does the little boy immersed deep in Appalachian poverty have to experience constant, gnawing hunger? Why does the man who has looked forward to retirement all his adult life drop dead of a heart attack during his retirement party? Why does the teenager have to cry angry, resentful tears when she listens to her parents’ and grandparents’ stories of racism? Why does the Iranian pastor sit in prison waiting for execution because he won’t renounce his illegal faith? Why do entire villages disappear in mudslides, earthquakes, floods? Why do countless parents lose their children – to murder, abduction, accidents, disease, drugs, suicide?
Sure, I can ask why such a delightful boy like Tyler gets struck by a life-threatening disease, which at best, will rob him of his chance to experience a normal adolescence and give him health consequences into adulthood; and at worst, will rob him of life itself. Does this mean God is unfair? If we’re talking fairness, shouldn’t I also be asking why Tyler, of all the kids with cancer out there, gets to receive his treatment from the best hospital in the country, which just happens to be in our backyard? A hospital where some of the pediatric oncologists have made breakthroughs in Tyler’s AML subtype? Shouldn’t I also ask what led us to start attending Crossroads Church back in 1995, before Tyler was born, where he has been embraced and loved his whole life and now is embraced and loved more than ever? Shouldn’t I ask what led us to make financial sacrifices to send Tyler to Chapelgate Christian Academy, where he made wonderful friends and forged relationships with teachers and staff who now, in his time of need, are showering him and our family with love, support and friendship? Should I question why someone we barely know knocked on our door the other day and handed Ron a large amount of cash? Should I ask why perfect strangers all over the globe feel led to pray for Tyler’s healing? Should I question why Ron and I both have great jobs, with co-workers who love us and care deeply about our pain? The countless whys of how we could possibly be the recipients of so much love, sacrifice and support FAR outweigh the single why of our son’s suffering. So shouldn’t we humans be fair when we get angry and question a good and loving God? Instead, we’re like my niece at age 5, angry and affronted when God doesn’t prevent the world from touching us with its pain and suffering.
So, here are my thoughts on why evil and suffering co-exist with a loving God. God created humans with the intention of intimate interaction between God and human, no death, no suffering, no sorrow, etc. Because He desired relationship and not mindless obedience, He gave us free-will to decide if we wanted to work within the parameters or go our own way. It’s no secret we went our own way. Our own sinful actions severed our ties with a holy and perfect God. Choosing what was wrong and ugly generation after generation, brought evil and suffering into our world. As societies grew and became more complex, individual acts of evil became institutionalized evil. Poverty, oppression, war, racism, etc., became part of societies’ make-up. As depraved as humanity became, God always offered His people a way for them to be in relationship with Him – again, it is always our private and personal choice. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” And also, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Can you imagine if each human on earth made it his or her mission to obey God? We would love each other and love God, fight oppression and poverty, take care of widows and orphans and the sick. Institutionalized evil would cease to exist. Those who need care would receive the care they need. I don’t really understand the whys of natural disasters and disease. Some, I’m sure, are brought on by human behavior; others just exist in an imperfect world. I don’t really know, and I don’t really need to know. I Corinthians 13:12 says, “Now we see only a dim likeness of things. It is as if we were seeing them in a mirror. But someday we will see clearly. We will see face to face. What I know now is not complete. But someday I will know completely, just as God knows me completely.”
What I do need to know is that God has made countless promises to those who suffer. First, He acknowledges that suffering exists for everyone, good or bad. “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). “For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike” (Matthew 5:45). Once we get that…that we are not promised sunshine and roses on this earth, we can stop wasting precious energy on anger and blame and our human sense of fairness. Instead, we can turn to a God who is waiting to give us just the comfort we need! He knows each one of us more intimately than any human ever can or will. He feels our pain the same way we are feeling it. No one, not even the one person we’re closest to, can possibly know our pain the way He does. In fact, Romans 8:26 tells us that when we’re too miserable to even pray, the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. He knows what we need when we can’t speak a word! Some tell me I’m being really strong through all this. Please trust me, it’s not my strength – you’re witnessing the Lord’s strength, and a large measure of it! Here are some other scripture verses that demonstrate God’s intimate knowledge of us and care for us.
Jeremiah 1:5 I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart.
Romans 8:38-39 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord!
Psalm 139: 1-16 Lord, you have examined me and you know me. You know everything I do; from far away you understand all my thoughts. You see me, whether I am working or resting; you know all my actions. Even before I speak, you already know what I will say. You are all around me on every side; you protect me with your power. Your knowledge of me is too deep; it is beyond my understanding. Where could I go to escape from you? Where could I get away from your presence? If I went up to heaven, you would be there; if I lay down in the world of the dead, you would be there. If I flew away beyond the east or lived in the farthest place in the west, you would be there to lead me; you would be there to help me. I could ask the darkness to hide me or the light around me to turn into night, but even darkness is not dark for you, and the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are the same to you. You created every part of me; you put me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because you are to be feared; all you do is strange and wonderful. I know it with all my heart. When my bones were being formed, carefully put together in my mother's womb, when I was growing there in secret, you knew that I was there— you saw me before I was born. The days allotted to me had all been recorded in your book, before any of them ever began.
So, my basic beliefs about God: God is good! Because He is all-knowing, He knew before Tyler was born that he would get Leukemia. He also knows how this is all going to end. However, I do not believe in any way, shape or form that God caused Tyler’s cancer or chose him or us for this suffering. Instead, He chooses to care for Tyler and his family and his friends with the care and comfort only He can bring, tailor-made for each of us. Knowing what He knew, did God prepare us specially for this trial? I believe He did. Will He bless us, Tyler, and others throughout this trial? You bet! I also believe that God is all-powerful, and can heal Tyler and restore him to health in an instant. Will He? I don’t know. I have the absolute faith that He can, but I don’t know if He will.
I can't lose focus: this is Tyler's journey.  Because I’m his mom, I’m journeying right along beside him. Those who know me well know that I’m a little crazily over the moon about my son. I can’t even begin to describe my love for Tyler. I swear that when I was pregnant with him, some of his essence passed through the umbilical cord into me, and I carry him in my heart and soul, my very being, each and every day. I love him so profoundly and feel so profoundly connected to him. I simply cannot imagine life without him. His suffering is my suffering. His fear and pain, I feel very deeply. I feel as if I would be lost, without purpose, without function if I ever lose him before I die. But no matter what, I believe God is faithful, He is good, He is loving, He is perfect. No matter my circumstances, that will not change!
A special word to any of Tyler’s friends who are reading this. My heart hurts for you! I know Tyler’s cancer has been shocking to you. Many of you are questioning why. A few of you are cursing a God who would let your friend suffer so much. Listen, don’t be afraid to express your anger to God. He is big enough to take it, and He won’t judge you for it. Just take a look at some of the things Job said to God in his anger and despair! But please, don’t waste too much time being angry and turning away from God, because He wants to wrap His arms around you and comfort you. He can grant peace – He can grant hope – He can grant strength. Tyler would be devastated if any of his friends turned away from God because of his illness. For those of you who aren’t struggling with God over this, I know it’s still so hard. I love you guys and the way you are banding around your friend. Tyler has his own moments of doubt and anger. He needs you, and you are making a difference!

I read this to a friend of mine who visited me today.  I could not read it without breaking into tears many times.  This was before Tyler went home to be with the Lord.  Last night I couldn't sleep and spent a great deal of time in prayer for Tyler and I know tonight I won't be sleeping either, spending time in prayer for Tyler's family.  Be kind to one another, you never know what tomorrow brings.  *Hugs*

Sunday, March 25, 2012

I am so blessed!

Hi Guys and Gals!  

I have been trying to get to this to update for a while now, there is just too much going on!  I hope I don't forget anything.  My brain isn't fully engaged yet after what I've been through lately.

First, let me thank three very lovely ladies who bestowed the Liebster Blog award on me.



Liebster is a German word meaning favorite, dearest or beloved. The Liebster is awarded by bloggers to other new bloggers who have fewer than 200 followers, to help spread the word about their blogs and to help them gain wider recognition.

The Liebster award comes with four conditions that each recipient must satisfy when accepting.


1. Choose 5 up-and-coming blogs with less than 200 followers to award the Liebster to.



2. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.


The three ladies who bestowed the award are:

Full November Moon  Thank you so much!  This lady has some wonderful stitching, she's actually working on the Country Cottages Monthly Cottages same as me!  She's much further along than I am...but how can I complain when she bestowed this lovely award?

A Stitch in Time  Thank you Jilly...I know this kind lady in real life and we've gotten together a few times!  I love her sense of humor and her stitching is amazing too!



Carol's Stitching and Stuff   Thank you Carol, she said some very kind things on her blog and I must tell you that she has some jaw dropping stitching on her blog!





3. Post the award on your blog. List the bloggers you are giving the award to with links to their sites. Leave comments on their blog so they know about the award.



And here is my list...




1.  Ally's Stitching Life  Ally is a co-owner of Friendly Stitchers Yahoo group.  It's a great group of ladies who like to have fun.  She is an amazing stitcher too!  

 

2.  Bab's Stitching & Stuff  Babs and I have been friends for a while now.  Her husband and I were diagnosed with different types of cancer on the same day in 2010.  She has lifted me up in so many ways, I enjoy reading her blog and following along in her family's adventures.  She has sent me something she has stitched so I know she's a awesome stitcher too!  One day I would love to meet this precious lady!


3.  And This Little Pig  I have been following Libbie's blog for a while now.  She cracks me up so many times with her view of life.  Not only is she an amazing stitcher, but she takes this pictures that make my jaw drop.  I've learned how to tea dye linen on her blog and a host of other things.  You especially have to drop by on Wednesday and see the pictures she takes of cows...I was never much of a fan of them before, but her pictures have given me a new appreciation of them!

4. Random Thoughts from Abroad  Gillie and I have been friends for a good long time now.  When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, she was instrumental in getting a host of stitchers to make quilt blocks then Mouse stitched them all together and Gillie flew from Michigan to bring it to me while I was in the hospital.  We tease each other on Friendly Stitchers but we know it's all in fun and we have a good time when we get together.  She takes some pretty awesome pictures too along with her lovely stitching (I even have a few she has stitched for me!)


5.  The Stamper's Stitches  Tricia is also a member of Friendly Stitchers but I "met" her long before she became a member.  This lady has a lot of talent, not only in stitching, but in card making and a host of other things too.  You can learn a lot from her blog!  She's not just a great stitcher, she's a neat person too, and if you've been the recipient of the traveling stash, this is the lady that started the whole thing off!

4. Share 5 random facts about yourself that people don't know about you.


Now comes the hard part...I've been dreading this...LOL  Sorry folks, I'm just not that interesting...so here goes...


1.  I play a few instruments, the guitar, native American flute, and the accordion.  Am I a geek or what?

2.   I have lived in 8 different states and one foreign country.  Some people are jealous of this fact, but don't be, I had to put up with the Army life to experience this so I think they balanced each other out!  


3.  I completed 3 years of nursing school before I switched my major and graduated with a math degree.  I am absolutely NO GOOD in an emergency, and I discovered I faint at the sight of blood, so I'm sure the medical community is thankful I never completed nursing school...LOL


4.  My favorite flower is the violet because my parents almost named me after my Grandmother, whose name was Violet, and I'm told I not only look like her, but I act like her too.  I joined a sorority in college whose flower was the violet and their colors lavender and white....and lavender has always been my favorite color.  Funny how things like that work out in your life...


5.  The greatest joy in my life is my son.  I call him my miracle baby because DH and I were married 11 years before we had him and were certain that we couldn't have children when he surprised us.  I know I brag about him, but others have told me too, how special he is, and I think kids know when they are wanted and loved and that makes them thrive.


Whew, that was harder than I thought it would be!


Now...what's next on the agenda?  Oh yes, Tyler.  There was another prayer vigil for him tonight, but I couldn't attend, so I prayed for him here as I always do.  Tyler has had some ups and downs with internal bleeding which needs to stop!  I won't go into all the details, but keep praying for this amazing kid, I'm hoping to see another miracle soon!  His parents have reached a point where they are incredibly tired and need prayer for strength and encouragement too.  God can work a miracle if it's in His will...I pray that it is.


I have some stitching to report.  I had a pretty productive day today and yesterday.  I can't show you all the stitching I've done, but here's two....the first is Silent Night, an ornament designed by Little House Needleworks that is a finish...woot!!




The second is the second installment of Sweet Flowers from Angie Designer.





I am struggling with my choice of colors for the "lacy" part of this pattern.  It's very subtle, and I'm not sure I like it...what do you all think?  I just hope it shows up well enough.

Last I just wanted to say...thanks for those who have been thinking about me for the past few days.  For some reason this surgery was a little more challenging for me but I'm finally feeling better.  I know I finally FEEL like I look better!  Hopefully this will be the last for a while and I can put the whole thing behind me...so I'm moving on!  See you next time!

Monday, March 19, 2012

Casting Crowns and Miracles

Hi Folks!

I know it's been a while since I posted, and I know I sound like a broken record, but there doesn't seem to be much time to get online and update my blog these days...or stitch for that matter!  So where do I begin to tell you what's been going on?

Let's start with the title of this blog...Casting Crowns.  Oh...what a concert I attended Sunday night!  Astrid, her MIL, DH, DS and I didn't know what was in store for us that night when we decided to attend this concert some time back.  Astrid found out they were going to be in Baltimore and so got the tickets a while back.  There were actually four "groups" performing tonight...

Lindsay McCaul


Royal Tailor


Matthew West


And Casting Crowns.







It was a night of praising the Lord, and after the week I've experienced, it was the perfect culmination of a very special week.  

I know I've been asking for prayers for Tyler, and let me tell you, your prayers have not been in vain.  The Lord is working miracles with that child...honestly!!  A few weeks ago Tyler was not expected to live through the weekend.  People prayed...and not only did he live, he started to improve.  Wednesday many people gathered at the church to hold a prayer vigil for Tyler.  For an hour we fervently prayed for Tyler.  It was tearful and heartfelt and we left feeling hopeful.  Then Thursday, the call went out that Tyler was in crisis, and that he was not expected to live, they were taking him off the ventilator and the medications to allow him to die "naturally".  His organs were failing one by one, his lungs were collapsing and diseased, and he was bleeding internally.  The Doctors told the family there was nothing more they could do to help Tyler, and they were going to "clean him up" and they could spend the remaining time of his life with him, that it may take a while because Tyler's heart was strong.  People gathered, wept and prayed, and his parents went into his room, his mother crawled into bed with him, and began to tell him that heaven was a beautiful place, it was worry free and pain free and how wonderful it would be when he got there.  Little by little, Tyler's vital signs began to improve.  The Doctors told them that it was his body giving one last effort to live but that he WAS dying and there was nothing more that could be done.  But his parents, not without hope, realized something else was going on, and began to ask God to heal him, and began to pray for specific organs, his lungs, his kidneys, his liver and any other organ they could think of...and Tyler's vital signs kept improving.  All the while this was going on, people around the world were praying for Tyler.  They took blood to check for blood gases and realized they were improving and then Tyler began to move.  He had been on paralytic drugs, it was not possible that he was moving his head and squinting his eyes.  His Dad asked him to squint his eyes again and immediately he did!  Tyler could hear and understand...something the Doctors said was impossible.  They began to start treating Tyler again, this time as if he were going to live.  Everyone who was there that night, the family, the Pastor, the Doctors and nurses all agreed that it was a divine intervention and that it truly was a miracle.  Not only did Tyler live through that terrible night, but his vital signs and blood gases and lungs have all shown incredible marked improvement.  When they took xrays of his lungs, they showed that his lungs were better than they had been in weeks and Tyler was put back on a ventilator, but the normal one, with normal settings, not the oscillator that he had been on for weeks.  Other blood work showed that the bone marrow graft has taken and he is in remission.  Tyler is still not out of the woods.  They plan to do a risky procedure for him tomorrow to find out where he is bleeding internally and see if they can stop the bleeding.  Please keep praying for Tyler, but know that God is hearing each and every prayer and is honoring them all.

If you would like to read  Pastor Kevin's account of the miracle you can read about it here..  http://kevinhardy.typepad.com/kevin-hardy/2012/03/a-miracle-a-firsthand-account.html


If you would like to hear Ron, Tyler's Dad give his testimony about the miracle, you can hear it on this podcast, search for the date 3/18/2012
http://crossroadsnaz.org/412973.ihtml

After all that I'm not sure you'll want to hear about my feeble stitching, but if you do, here's a picture of the progress I'm making on Sweet Flowers.  I am hoping, since I don't have anything scheduled for tomorrow, that I can get this finished up so I can move on to something else.  I love these patterns, but it's stressful trying to finish them for a deadline...but I guess that's the price I pay for getting them for free.  


I hope you all are well, and I hope the story of Tyler has given you encouragement and hope.  I know it has for me!  I hope to post one more time before Friday...but if you don't hear from me for a while, don't worry, I'll be back!  Take care...

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Stitching by the lake

Well, the stitching weekend has come to a close.  I think by now everyone is home and recovering from the weekend.  It was what this tired old framer needed right about now, so thank you ladies who participated, I had a blast!!  I sure hope we can do this again soon!  Thank you Astrid, and your MIL for the use of your lake house!!  Here's the view from the house.


The weekend was full of stitching, laughing, eating, shopping, more stitching, more laughing and lots of fun!  Oh...and we had a Twilight movie marathon with lots of oooohing and aaaaahing and drooling over Jacob's abs.  A few times I had to pull out my portable hand fan and cool things off a bit.  I got shushed a few times...I think I need to find a quieter fan...sorry guys!  LOL

Sonya picked up Denise, and drove to my house.  We transferred bags and bodies to my van and we drove to Astrid's.  We transferred bags and bodies to Astrid's SUV  then stuffed Denise in the "jump seat" in the back, plugged in a DVD for Astrid's son, then drove to Hagerstown to meet with JoAnn.  Denise transferred to JoAnn's car.  There was an accident on the main highway and after a few phone calls to Astrid's Dad we made a bypass through the mountains along some scary cliffs but finally made it to Astrid's parent's house to drop off her son, then on to the lake.  We lost Denise and JoAnn a couple of times, thank heavens we had our cell phones!!   It involved more plans than a D-Day invasion, but we finally made it to Deep Creek Lake.  We had cool weather (hoping to be snowed in...but were "sunned in" instead), otherwise we had beautiful weather.  Astrid's friend (sorry I don't know how to spell her name) arrived the next day.  We ate, drank, made merry, stitched and watched movies and laughed til the wee hours.  The only downfall was that we picked the only weekend in the year when you lose an hour...LOL  We need to plan the weekend when we extend it an hour to make up, Astrid!!  LOL  And here we are at Astrid's parent's house.




I was able to get some stitching done, much to my relief.  I caught up on a couple of SAL's.  One is Lavender Blue from Angie Designer.  Now I need to get moving on Sweet Flowers!!




I got some stitching on another SAL that I was three parts behind on...no pictures of that one...sorry.


I also got some stitching done on Winter!  Hopefully I'll get a little more stitching done before I head to bed.




We went shopping while we were there at an antique store...what a fun find I made!  I have seen people find scissor frogs and have admired them...so when I found a flower frog, and a candy dish that it fit perfectly in, I couldn't resist buying it.  Thank you Astrid and Sonya for helping me scour the shop til we found the perfect dish!!  It works perfectly!!


Here we are, stitching away watching the Twilight movies... 




My buddy Sonya on the deck with the lake behind her...what a view eh?  And the lake was pretty too!


Wave to your fans, Astrid! 




On the way home we stuffed Sonya in the "jump seat".  I'm surprised she and Denise had room to breath!  I thought about nicknaming Astrid's SUV "Cram-a-lot Inn".  LOL  On the way to the lake on all the twisty windy roads we thought poor Sonya was going to toss cookies...I was a little worried as I was in the "tossing zone".  Thanks for keeping your cookies, Sonya!  LOL




The picture Astrid's Dad took of us was posted on facebook that day.  One of Denise's friends called us the Stitch Mafia and so we have our new name.  I'm hoping we can get together again very soon!  Thanks again, Ladies, for a great weekend!  I just love spending time with all of you!  *Hugs*

Friday, March 9, 2012

Get away!

Hi Girls and Guys!  

I know it's been ages since I posted, it's been a wild thrill ride lately!  Where to begin?  Hm....

Well on the stitcy front I haven't accomplished much.  I just haven't had time to stitch, but hopefully that will change soon.  Here is what I've been working on.

I've been trying to stitch here and there on my UFO.  Unfortunately I'm getting nowhere fast.  Here's a little update picture though.


I have been working hard on Lavender Blue from Angie Designer.  I have to finish this by a deadline and it seems like it's taking me ages.  I still have Sweet Flowers to do as well, but at least I have this to show on Lavender Blue.


I worked a wee bit on Matter's Choice but there again I didn't get far.  *sigh*


As for Tyler...please keep that precious teen in your prayers.  He has ups and downs, he is still in the pediatric ICU and has had a couple of really scary moments for his parents.  They tried to wean him from the oscillator but that threw him into crisis.  He is finally off dialysis but now he's having issues with his liver.  He is still on a paralytic so heavens knows what he is experiencing...and the whole process has been so difficult for his parents.  They remain upbeat and positive, and I'm sure it's prayers that are carrying them through.  Tyler is still in a precarious position, but the Lord is doing great works through him and his folks.  His Mom is constantly saying, God is Good!

I had a few rough days lately, and the other day I came home to a surprise....just look what DH had ready and waiting for me when I got home!  He knows exactly what I need to lift my spirits...thank you, Honey.  Love you!!


Well my laptop is finally back from the Geek Squad.  It's running better than ever!!  And I was finally able to get my iPad up and running....oh how I LOVE this machine!!  I rarely win anything, so it was such a surprise to win this at my church.  The first thing I downloaded was a Bible app...and it's getting quite a bit of use!



I had the chance to meet up with some stitchers last weekend to see the unveiling of the Nashville Market merchandise.  Oh...my arm was twisted...not by my friends, but by the lovely patterns I saw displayed.  Sheesh...and I thought I was going to be so good.  Here's a picture of most of the stuff... 





I'm heading out for the weekend with some stitching friends.  I'm honored to be invited to Astrid's family's lake house so will be leaving some time today.  Thomas has already protested...(get off my suitcase silly kitty!!)...



But the guys seem ready and raring for me to go, already scouting Stub Hub for tickets for hockey games this weekend.  Yeah, boys, enjoy your game that only lasts a few hours, cause Momma's goin' away for the weekend.  Woooo Hooo!!  Hopefully I'll have pictures of more stitching and the doin's over the weekend when I get back.  I soooooooo need this after the last couple of weeks I've endured at work.  I love it when your work ethic speaks for itself...no matter what others try to pin on you!  Seems like there is a saying out there that goes something like this... When someone says something bad about you, live so that no one believes it.  I've tried to live up to that motto.

OK, time to get off this machine and get ready to go.  Look out Deep Creek Lake, here we come!!