I beleive this statement to be true!

 For some reason I couldn't get the post I was trying to do to settle in and let me post it!!

My last week has been involved with Terry.  He's doing okay and will have an ultra sound Tuesday and see what is going on with his gall bladder.

I'm still in de-junk mode and will share my progress.  Things did slow down with Terry's challenges but I still plowed ahead.  I did have a friend over and realized that I've got some stuff scattered in my little office and wish I'd been a bit tidier.

So much on my mind but I'm heading to bed!!  Will get up to speed this week!

Happy Valentines Day!!!

My Material Possesions!!

So my seemingly endless de-junk/downsize rampage is still my focus.  Life, regular daily life, with it's interruptions and routine continues but I just keep on keeping on with my 1st phase goal.

Life- took Terry to Dr.  He most likely is having gall bladder attacks.  They will do an ultra sound next week to see what is going on in there.  Feeling he will be just fine.

Life- Olympic Figure Skating- Love it!!

Life- My de-junk 1st phase goal.  Moving ahead.

Do you enjoy material?  Beautiful fabric.  I use to buy fabric like all factories were closing down and I better stock up before it was all gone.  I'd buy 4 yards of whatever I thought the loveliest.  I knew that fabric was an art form, and except for the very oldest patterns that had become traditional, that they would be a fleeting seasonal thing.  Patterns also.  So my co-dependent self must have been ready to make quilts for the Ward?  the town?  Matching dresses for each Ward family?  with neckties for the men?  who knows?

At some point I realized the madness has to stop.  I'd fallen out of love was lots of my earlier loves so I gave trash bags filled with past treasures to the Humanitarian Leader, she who actually uses the fabric for those in need.  I really whittled it down.  Promised myself (not sure if that can actually be banked on) to not purchase 4 yard lots.  and dropped it to 1/2 yard.  considered 1/4 yard.  then Fat squares came into vogue and those were tempting.  Terry built me a closet and I decided whatever I could place (translated cram) on said shelves would be within my storage laws.

On this project the only thing I removed were the two dust-ruffles that I'd found when I cleaned under the bed (1) and behind the chair (1).   I figured they were a great chunk of fabric and would make great costumes (for Broadway??) out of the damask one or a Victorian dress, for a little girl, out of the battenburg lace.  All that center fabric, that the mattress rests on, would be lots of yardage.  Did I mention our bed is not equipped for a damask dust ruffle or any dust-ruffle?  and the back bedroom is the same.  Queen-size dust ruffle on bunks or even a queen size Murphy bed just doesn't work.

Here is how it looked when I started....

-

The start

the 2 dust ruffles that I'm trying to convince myself I'll use...for something....someday.

I did it!  sad to say they are gone.  Such a waste but I had to do it!!!

always lurking--- ribbon for Women's Conference in November!!!

Ribbon has a new home!!  see fat quarters next to pin cushion?  beauties for sure.

Food storage?  no.  they are containers for Notions.  that is what my Mother would say.  Notions.

 Most adorable dress pattern ever!!

Skirt has no gathers at empire waist and yet 4 gores allow it to hang smooth and it is actually a full circle skirt!!  Girls adore the swing of it.  I was so captivated by it that I bought all sizes right up to a size 14.  Of course my over the top plans, of every sister in the Ward that had a baby girl would receive one, were only accomplished in my dreams!!  It's for a trim little girl and not for all body types.  I did sew 4 of them plus 4 matching doll dresses and they were, totally bragging, designer worthy in fabric and sewing.  The patterns are no longer available (did company close also?) and the year I decided that I had to have them all, they were out of stock so I hunted one down in Oregon.  Maybe I was thinking I'd start a trend in high school or something with those large sizes?  This yellow fabric is old Daisy Kingdom (which I was mad for) and it's actually a dress that is half cut out but of course...not completed.  I keep thinking that someday I'll do it.  This will stay and someone can toss it when I'm long gone but not me!!  Did I mention that I love cabbage roses.  love this print!!!!

Years ago when times were rough and tough and I'd wonder if I would survive...I decided that about the best thing a person can do when darkness prevails is to create a spot of beauty and create a little light.  I took a quilting class and fell in love with making quilts (tops.  of course.  did you really think I'd finish all of them????)  There was something so peaceful, so creative, so exact, so lovely and pulled all of my focus to that project and away from the burdens of my mind/life/soul.  I loved the entire journey of the choice and planning and doing.  I should have taken a picture of one of my quilt tops!  who am I kidding?  I still have some!!!

Time went on and I continued to have that feeling of creating a spot of beauty.  a bit of brightness and hope in prevailing darkness.  Appropriately enough I decided to make a Crazy Quilt!!  I decided to make fancy squares with beads and lace and blanket stitch embroidery.  It was a marvelous adventure and gave me such hope in knowing that nothing tough lasts forever, as this is mortality, and forever is for eternity.  Sometimes someone would see a square that I was working on.  I'd tell them about it.  Then I'd end up giving them one.  I'd let them choose.  I'd tell them when time gets rough just think of the beauty of the Gospel.  Look at this and realize things will get better.  sometimes I'd just take one to someone that I thought needed it.

I had no intention of making a quilt but the last square I gave away the woman said I should have made a wall hanging or a quilt.  she actually framed her block.

I stopped giving them because I stopped making them because my eyes weren't as sharp.  I have a few left and someday (I know.  I know.) I hope to finish them.  I need to keep one because occasionally I take a peek at it when I need to pull myself together.

small beautiful beads that I used on the squares.

4 left. silky and lovely.  a bit of my heart in those squares.

The only finished one.  I left the edges raw because life is sometimes that way!!

finished!  too dark and I cut off top shelf.  I'll take another tomorrow.

My Mother and I made and finished lots of quilts for her Grandchildren and then she made a couple for me to have to give.  I'll take a picture tomorrow.  Correct.  I still have them.  They are not finished.  I spared you the ordeal of showing you all the stacks of fabric.  Aren't you thankful?

Snow Angels

Saturday morning I heard some noise and looked out and found a young couple shoveling out our driveway and car!! 

Saturday night? it snowed again!

Sunday.  A Church Snow Day.  The Stake President cancelled all meetings throughout the Stake.

I've enjoyed sweet blessings, this weekend, that have warmed my heart against any cold weather and snow flurries or whatever.   Late Saturday night, 2 wonderful men...father and son duo... honorable Priesthood holders, came over and administered a blessing to Terry.  He was so sick. (taking him to Dr. tomorrow.  ulcer?)  I love and appreciate men that understand, appreciate and use that portion of Godly power bestowed upon them.  I have confidence and faith in blessings. I also was comforted by a blessing for myself.

As they were leaving they reassured me that I could call them, no matter the time of night, if I needed more help.  Cautioned me to not drive.  Reassured me they had 4-wheel drive vehicles.  Then called when they got home and told me again...if Terry worsens to call, no matter the time of night. 

Then the same two men showed up this morning to shovel our driveway!  But that was already done!

Earlier today I again heard some noise and a wonderful man was out there just shoveling away.  He did the entire driveway, truck, car and the porch!

 I have no idea how we made the snow angel list but it truly could not have come at a better time on all counts!!  Blessings abound.

These doers of good deeds made me think of people being the Lord's hands...Also the importance of practicality in service...Also taking the initiative and not waiting around to be told to do good... Also if you've done it unto the least of any of us, you've done it unto the Lord...Also these are the sorts of people mentioned in Mattew 25.   and on and on the list could go!!

Feeling the visible love!!!  So thankful for friends with charitable hearts!  

Privacy Protocol...

Tests in mortality are so varied and the ones that are struck by disease just have my heart.  Injuries are also so impairing.  There is also collateral damage that happens to families when one family member suffers. In our home, with just the two of us, we have challenges that are small compared to what our friends are battling.  Some are suffering from emotional/mental heartache.  My heart and love and prayers go out to them.

In a Ward family it's natural, after being together week after week, to want to know what is going on.  We love and care for each other and want to help.  We have a natural curiosity of wondering.  Sometimes it is just exhausting to rehash the happenings, when a person is busy in treatment or recovery.

I like to know the basics, of even those I only know because I see them every week.  I love and care for them.  All of us have Ward friends that we share our personal lives with but there is also another side to health dilemmas. 

I have friends dealing with various things right now...heartache, injury, cancer.

My friends are in 3 camps, as far as choice of medical care, when they or a family member have been invaded with a disease.  Some go strictly  1) allopathic medicine (conventional treatments) or 2) alternative treatments or 3) combination of the two.  Usually each person feels very strongly that their way is the right way.  Some feel it is the right treatment for them. Others feel it is the right treatment for everyone.  

When a person is battling a possible life-threatening situation, making life-altering decisions as the best move for them, the one thing I see in common is found in these two words. 

Private-adj.  not to made known publicly, confidential

Privacy-n. being private, seclusion

It's a big decision as what to share, how to share, who to share it with etc. etc.

As I said, I like to know the basics as I want to pray.  Pray for someone I know and care about.  Yes, I pray at the Temple but this goes beyond that on a heart level.  I have a vested interest in them.  

Today MF started her radiation treatments.

My friend, Wendy, is recovering from a snowboarding accident and a part of her injuries is a concussion (scary to me!!).

Another friend got devastating news about a child.

My Ward friend, MaryLynne, is in Utah- battling what the Susan G. Komen runs are all about.  Prayers are needed and appreciated for all concerned. ML sent our RSP a note so that will go out to our Ward.  She told me I could blog basics for you readers.

My friends all chose different ways to handle what is going on.  They don't need my input.  Just my love and support.

Going to go pray a gratitude prayer for my life with no huge problems and also my friends that are dealing with the biggest problems-- for them to be blessed and strengthened.

It's life. well, at least our life!

Sort of ended up bogged down a bit with life happenings that are just a part of mortality.  Today Terry got sick.  Same sort of stuff as last time and we self-diagnosed as flu.  Not sure what it is.  This time of life is so different.  I was sitting in chair and he is stretched out on couch.  Feeling miserable, achy, chilled to the bone and sort of moaning/chattering.  I'd done all I knew how.  Oh, did I mention he was also up-chucking.  Well, he was.  Anyhow I sat there while he dealt with what only he could and my hands were tied.  I felt so bad that in spite of my best efforts, I could not assist him.  I could not ease his pain.

Things like that always make me think of two things...the Savior and what he went through for us & the Father's role.  I have an entire dialogue that runs through my mind about the Atonement.  But tonight I thought of something else.

When I was a young mother, with little ones, I could scoop them up and offer aid and actually kiss pain/hurt away.  I learned, as I had more children, what to do.  What worked.  What didn't.  At first it was all so new and so foreign and so unfamiliar, even though instinctively I wanted to help.

That is the same sort of thing that happens with aging and challenges with health.  It's all so new.  It's all so foreign.  It's all so unfamiliar.  We've only had these big changes for one year.  We are not use to having this sort of thing in our life....The aftermath of his stroke and other ailments.

Life up to a year ago was very comfortable, familiar, and we knew how to deal with anything that came into our life because life had an evenness about it. If something needed to be addressed, it was not health issues beyond the norm.  Life had a security zone.  You pretty much knew what would happen next on a daily basis.  A predictability of sorts.

I think that is why older people talk so much about their ailments is because it is so new to them. Just like a new baby.  or toddler or child.  They've not walked this path.  They've not read about how to care for what the problem is.  It's a startling thing to have something enter your life that you have never experienced before.  Even more alarming- Not only does it enter but it stays or leaves a residue. 

This is entry level experience for us.  Our challenges health wise are only 12 months old.  and just as with new parents, nearby are all of the experienced parents and each have their own guidelines for handling their health challenges and they share.  Specialists are needed and just like looking for a pediatrician for the newborn, you find yourself collecting names, from those further down the road than you, of all sorts of medical folks and also even exchanging Rx preference. 

Advice pours in, both asked and unasked, all with sincere desire to help.  And just like the folks that divide into two camps- on letting children cry themselves to sleep or not always picking them up when they cry, you find your decisions sometimes being questioned or out and out told, you are wrong.

There are those so adamant in what they believe/feel/practice that it almost feels like political foes in action.

So I'm just saying.  this brand new health stuff is enough to almost make me think a sleepless night with a newborn is a piece of cake, compared to me asking my sweet man...tell me where you hurt?  you feel hot? are you feverish?  you need something in your stomach?  broth?  warm milk?  why won't you let me call someone and get a blessing?  you are really sick. I so wish I knew what to do.  how to help you.

He has felt utterly miserable for hours.  We have prayed and he feels that will work.

I hold his face in my hands and look at the wrinkles that somehow seem deepened by his pain, his mussed up silver hair, his beautiful eyes, express my love, and give him a hug and kiss on his forehead.  That's about all I can do.

He and I know, we are more fortunate than so many of our friends, that we love.  We count ourselves so blessed.  What we deal with is nothing compared to what we see others have on their plates.

I tell you what though, I'm thinking all those endure to the end scripture quotes are mostly for those over 75 or thereabouts.

Here is my darling man on Sunday...

Blankets and clutter and junk...oh, my!

If you feel sort of sing-song like, then think Wizard of Oz and sing blog title to tune of Lions and tigers and bears..oh, my!

and instead of seeing me skipping along, just realize I'm still plugging along and moving ahead.

Tackled armoire.  quilts stored in here.  well, there are some in back bedroom also but for now this is what I saw...

All nice and tidy....

Yeh, right!!!

Quilts my Grandmother Clark made.  Machine quilted which I do not like at all.  My Mother had it done.

More quilts Grandmother Clark made and hand quilted!  Yes!!

She made this Double Wedding ring and quilted it!  by hand!  My favorite!

My Mother crocheted the fringy one. For now this is it on quilt/blankets until I hit the back room!

I also did the two smallest drawers in the house.  drawers in our nightstands.  I thought it ironic that his has a blue card and mine a pink one right on top.

His.  Hmmmmm.  Just wondering...  aren't you?

His.  I think he and I need to talk!!

Finished.

Laid his Patriarchal Blessing in his drawer.

My stuff.  Stacked up so it looks smaller than what it was.

Finished.

Laid my Patriarchal Blessing on top.

Final touch.  I found one for his side also!

I also did a 3 drawer dresser that is filled with my stuff.  There was so much stuff!!!

drawer 1

drawer 2

drawer 3

The thing is the drawers are only pulled out halfway and if you pull them out all the way then each had gobs of stuff like this....

I sorted/matched, threw away, moved to a different place all of the extra in each drawer.  Now they are all neat and tidy like the one below.

finish. believe me it looks better. jam-packed order?

In my soul baring, weakness exposing, state of mind I found some very interesting things such as...

Handmade gloves.  gorgeous needlework!  so soft and beautiful.

My Mothers beaded evening bag, handmade handkerchiefs, bow that was tied around jar that had chocolate drops.

 

 That jar of yumminess was given to me when Terry was in re-hab, by my favorite enabler aka best friend!!   My stash- The jar of dark chocolate that I kept hid in amongst all the stuff!  She knew I needed it!  I savored the one last chip I found nestled amongst clean soft hankies right after I snapped this picture!

Tucked in drawer!

I'm thinking I need an intervention or go to drug rehab as look what was tucked in the top drawer in the back!  Have no idea how this flask got in there but here is the evidence!...

Who put this in my drawer!!!??

What!?  this also!  How come I'm not asked to be the WW spokesperson????

Oh, one more try at insanity.  I pay them to weigh me & tell me what the scale says! they will say if I gained/lost!

Even family members are not above blackmail/bribery/rewards.--  PLEASE!!  Just lose anything!!!  I will pay you!!!