Well, my mother attempted several times to teach me…even to the point of deciding on a pattern and purchasing fabric…but I never cut the first piece until maybe about twenty months ago.  She created an easy block grid, my sister and I found fabric (after pouring over several bolt/color scheme/pattern possibilities).  The first strips I cut were kinda scary for me, as cutting the fabric seemed so permanent…so final.

Still, I persisted, measured, worked, cut…and then came the sewing.  (I need to mention here that I ABHOR RIPPING SEAMS…I just really can’t stand it….I hate working to sew and then having to take out whatever it is I did–that was wrong–and ripping takes like ten times as long as sewing…or so it seems…but, alas….)  So, the sewing part was another moment where I felt nervous, anxious, scared to move forward…but I did it.

Well–I got the squares for the top pieced together, and sewed one side strip on the blocks, and then had a life-changing experience.  And my quilt sat in a chest for about twelve months.  Well, eventually I found a new friend to help me finish my quilt.  I went over one morning, and by afternoon, I had a quilt.  :)  I felt so excited…such energy…such joy that I was able to complete the sewing on the quilt!

Then, the quilting itself began…and that was another adventure in and of itself.  I have a good half of it quilted now–but, even though it is not yet officially washable & complete, I would like to share with you some life lessons I have learned through quilting.

1.  No matter how well you plan, some things will change.  Like life circumstances.  Or feelings.  Or what you like or don’t like.  Even though I thought I knew how my quilt (life) would turn out when I started, I have been surprised and delighted by the various outcomes (like the back of my quilt, which ended up with some unplanned but cute strip stripes!).

2.  Everyone makes mistakes.  Yes, this was my first quilt, and I was naive to think that if I measured just right, and sewed perfectly straight, that everything would work together and be perfect.  It wasn’t.  I made mistakes.  And I learned from them.  Even seasoned quilters make mistakes.  We all do.  Fabric stretches, shrinks, and pulls.  Needles break.  And it’s all okay.  Enjoy the ride.

3.  Miracles happen when you do the best you can.  I had very little of the green polka dot fabric left and still needed to complete the row at the end of my quilt.  Then, I did a silly thing.  I accidentally snipped the fabric when I was trimming a thread.  Ugh!  But, guess what?!?!?!?!?  Well, I had JUST ENOUGH FABRIC to make one more square.  Yes, I had to seam rip and piece again, but the piece fit perfectly.  And I saved the snipped square in my journal to help me remember my little miracle.

4.  I can be happy even if my quilt is (or I am) not perfect.  Would I have liked to produce a quilt with no mistakes–a perfectly sewn, “I can do this right the first time” quilt?  Sure!  Who wouldn’t?  But I would’ve missed so many experiences, musings, conversations, and miracles.  And, besides, my great aunt used to say that the mistakes in a piece of artwork allow the spirit of the work to come through it.  (And let me just say here that my quilt has plenty of spirit!)  :)

So–would you like to see it?  Here are pics of the front and back that I took before I began quilting it.  I’m really grateful for this experience and for the lessons I have learned.  Hopefully I will continue to learn as I quilt through life!

So, I have often been fascinated with time travelling.  I grew up watching Christopher Reeve fall in love with Jane Seymour in Somewhere in Time, and my curiosity has been continuous since then.  Not that I believe in time travel–because I don’t–but I think the notion of it is quite interesting…lives intersecting in different ways, people being older and returning to a newer time with knowledge or insight which changes the future.  My next time travelling adventure that I remember is the amazing Michael J. Fox trilogy of Back to the Future movies–fun stuff (if your ears don’t mind all the 80′s obligatory swearing–that’s what ClearPlay is for, right?).  Well, as of late, I have been thinking of this topic again.  I saw Star Trek (2009) recently and was enamored of the scene where the old Spock meets the young Kirk (not to mention that the star of The Time Traveler’s Wife film, Eric Bana, plays the villain, Nero).  I tried to find the scene on YouTube, but to no avail.  (I did, however, laugh through the Star Trek Hamster Dance video…pretty funny stuff!)  Anyway, the older Spock imparts his seasoned wisdom to the young Kirk, letting him know that the person he probably hates most right now is going to become an amazing friend, and, that through working together, the two will accomplish much.

Now, I wondered first what would happen if an older friend (or enemy) came to me and shared glimpses into my life and work.  What would happen to my perspective if I found out that all these goals that feel so far away at times were really part of my reality?  How would that change the way I face each day?  I would definitely feel more hope, not allow myself to get so discouraged, and possess a renewed perspective–remembering that I had on good authority that I did something with the time I was given to live.

I wondered, too, what messages I would give myself if a future self could come visit me today.  Would I tell myself to read more, to write more, to play more and worry less, to work hard and enjoy life, to hug and kiss more, to express more love?  Then why am I not doing those things now?  I know they will help me live happily!

So–what would your future self say to you?  I challenge you to find that perspective?  I imagine it will bless your life, no matter what your age or goals left to accomplish!  Act now!  Live happy!  Smile!  You are needed by others…and you are needed by yourself!!!!

Hugs till next time!  :)

“Everything always works out for the best.”

That statement may sound pretty simplistic, but I have come to find that it is really true.

I used to spend minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and even years dwelling on “what if…?” disaster scenarios.  (By the way, that practice is one which I have found terribly exhausting and have subsequently given up since I need all the energy I can get to keep up with my life and goals, just FYI.)  I used to think about what to do if so-and-so died, how to handle a dangerous situation, etc…until I made myself a little bit unnerved.  I would even worry about preparing dinner for friends (concerning details like if enough food was being served or what kind of dishes they would prefer, or if they were running late or forgot…).  OCD?  Maybe.

So, I learned from some one close to me to stop stressing and realize that EVERYTHING ALWAYS WORKS OUT FOR THE BEST.  Sometimes, whatever we are facing may not be our favorite situation or something we even want to be going through–but I promise that if you do your best to keep a good attitude, look for the blessings in your life, and keep moving forward with your goals and dreams, that everything else will work out for the best.

When I planned my wedding several years ago, I began to feel a little stressed.  Why?  I’m not really sure now–because I was marrying a fabulous guy in a place I had dreamed of being married forever and we were going to be experiencing life together.  So, why stress, right?  Well, I did.  Silly, I know.  I began to worry about getting all the details–cake ordering, invitations addressed and mailed, dress fittings, shoes purchase, etc.–and then, something happened.  I realized that no one else (besides maybe my mom and aunt) knew all the things on my to-do list.  No one else would care if I got little satchels of M&M’s or bubbles for wedding favors (or had them at all, for that matter).  What mattered was that he was there and I was there and our family and friends were there to support us in our new life together.  And, let me tell ya, everything has worked out since.  Sure, we’ve had rough times and tough times–everyone does–but we have hung onto each other and the mantra that everything always works out for the best, after all we can do.

And it does!  :)

I have had problems with my eyes for years. I needed cataract surgery and we had to postpone it until the inflammation in my eyes calmed down. When I finally was able to have the surgery on my eye, I had to wear a patch for seven weeks. It was a long time. I worried that my grandchildren would be afraid of me. I didn’t want the patch to scare them. Our favorite activity is for me to read stories to my grandchildren. I love for them to sit on my lap or by my side as we read. I didn’t want to miss that because they were afraid of me with a patch on my eye.

I came to my daughter’s house for dinner one Sunday after my surgery. I was sitting on the couch in her living room and John, then 3, said to me, “Eye hurt?” pointing to the patch. I said it did. None of my great-grandchildren were afraid of me. During the next seven weeks, our relationship was the same.

After the seven weeks were over and my patch was removed, I was again at my daughter’s home for Sunday dinner. I was sitting on the couch and John came up to me and said, “Eye all better now?” None of the other children ever asked about it. None of them were afraid. John was so compassionate and so feeling with his great grandma and her eye surgery.

How can we show compassion today?

 As we were leaving the park, though, our six-year-old discovered a butterfly on a plant. The butterfly’s wings were wet from the recent rains, and our son could hold it as it crawled and creeped from hand to arm to hand. He did not want to leave this beautiful creature that had trusted him enough to hold it.

We talked of what would happen if we took it home. Would it be safe in the car? Probably not. Do we have the right kinds of plants for it to drink? No. He continued to long for the connection he felt, yet he urged the butterfly from his grasp onto a bunch of fuchsia flowers. I felt relieved that he did what was best for the butterfly even though leaving it was difficult for him. I began to walk toward our car with a weight off my shoulders.

Then he called me back. Oh, no. Maybe he had reconsidered. I braced myself for a further plea to take it home, when, as I approached, he said delightfully, “Look, Mom, it’s drinking!” He was an enchanted witness to the beautiful butterfly sipping nectar from the soft deep cove within the flower. His letting go of the butterfly allowed the creature to live and be what it needed to be.

I am grateful for the wisdom of my six-year-old and for the lessons we have learned from a butterfly.

There are many advantages to my second childhood. The most obvious is that I have already lived through my first childhood. So, getting braces yesterday was not new to me. Yes, there have been advances in equipment; I watched a video on home care, I have brackets on most of my teeth, to name a few. Only one tooth will be banded, where all my teeth were banded 37 years ago. Basically, I was calm through the whole process. I remember how to use wax, and I was prepared for eating soft foods for a few days. I knew these things from my experience.

My support system is different. I was the oldest child and was first in my family to have braces. Now, I have children who are supportive and who have lived the experiences of braces. Last night, my daughters and I sang at a church meeting. I commented to my orthodontist that I wasn’t sure I timed it right to get my braces put on the afternoon before singing, but I did fine. When I walked into the room at church where the meeting was being held, my three daughters were sitting at a table and said, “Let me see!” So, the ice was broken. I was free to laugh (which we did a lot), and we sang together which is always fun.

My husband, as always, has been great. I love having a cheerleader in my corner. He made chili for me Wednesday night so that I would have soft food. Today, he made me carrot juice. He went with me to the orthodontist and bought me Tylenol on the way home to ease my headache.

My expectations now are based on knowledge. The reason I have braces again is not the same as before. I also have lived with me for a lot longer and know me better. So, I have very realistic expectations. Last night, one of the brackets came off while I was brushing my teeth. I didn’t panic because my doctor had said that this will be a possible problem. I also have learned to deal with the ups and downs of life.

Would I go back and relive my first childhood? No, I think I will stay with this one. The funniest comment came from my husband as we were talking about me writing this blog. He recalled that he knew me when I had braces before, but this time he gets to pay for them.

We have more things to go through until the process of restoration is complete. My second childhood could last for a long, long time. Who knows? Perhaps I will spontaneously break out into song…oh, I already do that. Well, maybe I never left my first childhood.

Have an empowered day realizing the lessons you have learned from your life. How can you share an experience with your family members or a friend to empower their day?

I have discovered the value of work (yes, I know I learned a little late on this one) since I have been married.  My husband grew up working on a farm.  From dawn till dusk and even after dark, his dad took him out with his brothers to work.  Physical work is just a part of who they are, and valuing work has earned them the respect of many of their coworkers and colleagues through the years.  His example of consistent work has helped me value this attribute.

Actually, the work that I enjoy doing may seem a bit out of the ordinary.  I honestly enjoy hand washing my delicate clothing–feeling the cool water slosh on my hands, letting the soap bubbles pop on my fingers as I shift and turn and move the clothing around to make it clean.  As I wash these few clothes by hand, I am reminded of women, generations before me, who washed all their clothing by hand in cool streams with handmade soap, and I feel gratitude for them and a kinship with them.

I also like the physical working with my hands when I cook.  Though I knead most of my bread in a mixer (I love my Bosch), I do occasionally knead by hand or work the dough for noodles.  I love the feeling of the dough–like earthen clay–squishing through my fingers and pushing the ball of dough with the palm of my hand.

When I am hand washing, cooking, or even when I am vacuuming, I am able to think, ponder, and receive insight through the blessings of work.  So, yes, I do.  I like to work.  Thanks, Mom, for being patient with me.  I am finally beginning to learn all the things you diligently taught me.