Ties that Bind

Mom with her doll quilt: Court House Steps.  Made in memory of her ancestor Elizabeth Ann Cowley. 

We went with mom last night to the new exhibit at the Church History Museum:  "Pieces of Me: Quilted Expressions of Human Ties." She has a quilt on display. I am very grateful that for the ties mom and I have made as we quilt together.  Quilting has become a very important part of who I am.

Three generations of quilters at the quilt exhibit.

Annie made her first quilt this year.  We have also been working on a quilt together; redwork snowmen blocks with red and white pieced "snowflakes" (really stars) blocks surrounding them.  It has been so nice to work on a project with her. 

Spring Snow

We had the most beautiful snow storm last night.  My spirits were lifted every time I looked out the window at the white, white snow, the blue, blue sky and yellow sunrays streaming down over all.  Jayne and I took Dad to Sam's club and he so enjoyed getting out to see the white and blue world.  At this point all we can ask for is the simple things.

The Benefit of the Doubt

The drama of moving mom and dad to Brett and Kerri's has begun.  The details don't really matter, but I have decided that we (my siblings and I) are all trying as hard as we can to accomplish the move with out offending mom and dad or each other.  And then, not to be offended ourselves by the actions of another.   

I am helped by two things mom tried to teach us. The first is: if you are hurt by the actions of others, realize that it was probably not done maliciously.  The actions could be thoughtless and unknowing, but usually not deliberately hurtful.  The second thing mom always said was that we are all doing the best we can given the circumstances. So give others the benefit of the doubt.

Grandfathers

John and I went to visit Martha today.  We brought her lunch from Cafe Rio.  With 1:00 church it is hard to leave again after we get home, so Saturday afternoon works better to go see her.  Plus it gives John a reason to stop working in the shop.

I was cleaning the computer room the other day and came across a picture of John's grandfather, Ernest Valentine Lingard, in what looked like a World War I uniform.  It's a really cool picture, kind of sepia toned.  When we were at Martha's today she told us that he was in the Candian Calvery.  I assumed it was a United States uniform.  I had forgotten he was from Canada. 

Some people say they can see Chris in this picture, especially the nose and mouth.

John didn't really know his grandfather that well. His Grandmother Rachel died of a heart attack when she was in her late 50s and his grandfather remarried. When John was growing  up his grandfather spent most of his time with his new wife's family.  She died soon after we were married.  At her furneral John was really suprised at all the good things her children and grandchildren  had to say about Grandfather Lingard.  John said it was like they were talking about a completely different person that the grandfather he knew.  I have often thought how sad that was.  Our grandchildren will never have to say that they didn't know their grandfather very well.  John is a fabulous grandfather.

Chris, Meg, Shelley and Presidents Birthday Weekend



Chris, Meg, Ezra, Travis and Maggie were in town  for their annual President's Day ski  weekend. With three kids the weekend has been pared down to one day of skiing (with Thomas and their friends Rachel and Travis) and two days of family. They stayed with her mom, but came to Shelley's birthday party on Saturday (I suggested it was a no-brainer) and then to dinner on Sunday.  I told Chris if they could squeeze in dinner with us I would make him his birthday lasagna. Megan hasn't forgiven me for making Chris lasagna and trifle every year for his birthday. Too many layers. So she made him trifle and I got to make lasagna.   

We had a beautiful snow storm Sunday morning with about six inches of snow. Ezra couldn't wait to go out and play in the snow. 

Ezra, sitting in the swing, thinking about the snowball fight he is going to have with his mom and dad and Joey.

Love Those Babies Quilt

I made this quilt using fabrics leftover from baby quilts, recieving blankets and baby projects. The fabrics are so cute and bring back great memories of each baby I made something for, especially the quilts for Ezra, Ian, Lily, Travis, Maggie and Molly.  

The only fabric I bought was this great minke owl fabric for the back..  It is soft and cuddly and makes me smile.   





My mom bought some "Hello Kitty" fabric for a quilt back for a quilt I made for Erin Caldwell. Jayne and I told her it was too tacky to use and got another back.   

Because I didn't want to buy any fabric for this quilt I decided to use the "Hello Kitty" fabric for the binding. I hope no one can tell. The kitties look like white blobs, right?????

Wait on the Lord

Shelley sent out an email on this scripture: Psalms 27:14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

She commented “I am not very good at waiting on the Lord being the impatient soul that I am. I loved "be of good courage and he shall strengthen thine heart" and found comfort there but I was wondering if any of you have any good suggestions on how to wait on the Lord? David mentions it twice in one short verse so it must be important.”

I found it interesting that the comments were from the nieces and nephews. Waiting on the Lord must be something that we have to learn early and then do often throughout our lives. Erin E, Kaitlyn and Cade all defined the verb ‘to wait’. Erin said: “when I think of wait I think of to be still. To wait for an anwser and to have patience.” She made the analogy that as she serves the Lord she is waiting on Him like a waitress waits, and does everything he asks of her by following the commandments. Kaitlyn looked up the definition and found “to be in readiness for-or-to attend upon, especially as a sign of respect. “ Cade answered from Brazil: “it´s interesting because in Portuguese they use the word -esperar- which means to hope, so I hope in the Lord instead of wait. For Taylor waiting on the Lord is tied with trusting the Lord. What wise words from our next generation.

Courage is the next logical step to waiting on (serving, hoping in, and trusting) the Lord. It takes courage to acknowledge we cannot do everything we need to do to return to our Father in Heaven alone. We have to rely on Him. We need to let go of our pride, ask for help and then wait. When we courageously turn things over to the Lord our problems are not magically solved, we still need the courage to continue, doing all that we can and having faith it will work out. I often have to tell myself “Be still and know that [He] is God.”

The scripture Kaity used sums it all up: But they that await upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31) If we have the courage to wait on the Lord, He will strenghten us and give us heart to carry on.