WELCOME 2013

In 2012 I participated in a year long 12"x12" challenge with my ACEO group, called the Alpha-Dorable 12's.  We made a mini quilt each month using different letters of the alphabet to trigger our inspiration for  each piece.  Not everyone in the group did them monthly, and that was okay. We did what we could.  I challenged myself in two ways for this project.... 1) To do it every month, which turned into a real challenge a few times; 2) In addition to the quilts being inspired by a letter from the alphabet, I had a subtheme for mine: Textures from Nature...with a Twist.  The twist was quite a challenge, a great way for me to stretch myself and try new things.  

2013 --  I have already started on some self given projects for this year.  One is making fabric/thread lighthouse pictures, which I can hopefully sell some of later in the year.  The other is finishing a quilt for my daughter-in-law.  Yesterday I put the last stitch in the embroidered blocks for it. Now to move on to the other blocks and then embroider them and add beads and other embellishments. 

The year is starting with uncertainty for us as we wait for the avoidance of the fiscal cliff to come to a reality as it affects us with DH's unemployment.  We try to patiently wait for a phone call this week that could tell us that DH will no longer be unemployed. We face some uncertain health issues which need to wait until we have health insurance again to check on. All of these things we have placed into God's most capable hands and look forward to how He will be caring for each of them. Meanwhile we can go about our days with peace instead of worry.

We are looking forward to all that God has planned for us and where it is to be. It's time to get more active doing the work He desires of us.

Mom is starting the year off with a cold. We were going to visit her today, but it isn't good to be there when she and others are ill. Today would have been her and Dad's 70th anniversary.  I'm not sure that she will even realize it, which is okay. I have really enjoyed the time I have been able to spend with Mom, not just this year, but since 2008 when I started caring for her and Dad. It's been a wonderful blessing to me to have this time, even on those days that were really hard I did not regret saying yes to doing this.

Yummm..... good smells are coming from the kitchen as DH makes us breakfast!  I think it is time to move that way and enjoy it with him.