Scrappy Star Block

This last weekend I got to share with my mom at her house.  She has a "sleepy" weekend where she watches a little tv, putters a bit, eats and then naps.  All day long.  LOL  We drove up to see my dad and I got to spend some time working on a new project which I don't have pictures of yet. 

Madeline asked us for a block called "Dove in the Window".  My month has been so full, today was the first day I could sit down and devote a morning to reading the instructions and piecing a test block.

I rummaged through the scrap bag for beautiful blues.  This is a 9" unfinished block that can be found here.

The little center pieces will make you burn your tiny fingers when pressing with steam!  Yow!

But it's complete and will be going in the mail after the holiday, along with a special package for a special bloggy friend.

Dad remains in the hospital until at least Monday.  We will surely miss him on Thanksgiving day and for dinner Saturday.

On a hugely happier note, my mom's CA125 count is down within normal.  Which means the chemo is working.  She'll have one more course and hopefully be done!

Wishing you all a blessed Thanksgiving and sharing with you three of the things I'm most thankful for:





Catching my breath

and trying to breathe.

Thank you all for lifting us up in your thoughts and prayers.  We're getting through each day and shaking our heads at the thought of where we've come from and trying not to give too much thought to what tomorrow will bring.

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence,with eternal pleasures at your right hand.  Psalm 16:11

Dad remains in the hospital until Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.

He's doing better, but I want my Dad back the way he was.

Dad and Coach Crean's wife at a recent IU game.

Mom has another treatment today.  My sister is by her side for this one.  We're tag-teaming.  LOL  It's an all day treatment for her, and the doctors have given her permission to visit my dad outside of normal visiting hours today so she doesn't have to travel back to town, or stay in town after the chemo.

A friend of my dad's will be visiting him tonight to keep him company.  Mom doesn't do night-driving very well, so we've been taking turns picking her up and chaffeuring her to visit Dad for the two hours a day she can see him.

They will be celebrating 40 years of marriage in December. 

Tomorrow I will be dropping kids off at school, picking them up, dropping Middleman off at co-op and picking Mom up for her post-chemo shot.  We'll pick Bean up then and drop him off at another friend's house til Javi gets home from school and work.  Middleman has a ride back to town from co-op (in another town) sometime tomorrow.  Several of the teens go "airsofting" in a forested aread owned by a church one of our families go to.  Hubby's parents will be helping take care of our niece and nephew through the next couple of days. 

Calling hours tomorrow night for Joyce, and a dinner in the state capitol for hubby whom-I-love-so-much's work.

Trying to make plans for someone to be with Mom the rest of this weekend and next until we're comfortable with her staying alone.

Saturday is the homecoming celebration.  This woman was a pastor's wife, mother, friend, grandmother, daughter, sister, mentor, spiritual mom and so much more.  I had the blessing of being able to tell her goodbye Tuesday.  I had just left my mom after visiting with Dad at the hospital and still had my surgical mask I've been wearing around Mom because I've been sick.

Mask in place I knocked at Joyce's door and my sister in law led me in to talk with her dad, and say, "I'll see you soon." to her mom.

What has gotten me through the last week and a half is the knowing that I have been in tighter, nastier, more painful and agonizing places in my life.  And He has always gotten me through them and on a brighter path with the hands of my friends and family right there holding me for Him.  Being His hands and feet.  His comfort and peace.

And for KT, that means being His chef extra-ordinaire!

She had fed us, made us laugh and challenged two very wonderful boys to step up to the plate and be the men they are destined to be--by thinking more of others than of themselves.

What a friend.  What a sister.

May we all have such blessings in our times of need.

Fly to Jesus!

Home is a much better place.

Celebrating the life, joy, spirit and homecoming of Joyce!

...and live!

I think last post, I mentioned something about our life not being any sadder,

well.....

Tuesday evening we took my dad to the hospital.

He will be there at least until the 16th.

Watching the woman he loves be diagnosed with cancer, all the radiation and chemo and surgery has been extremely difficult on him.  He has been on medication to help him help her and it's needing some modification faster than just being at home can give him.

Mom has another chemo treatment this Thursday and we're taking one day at a time here.  Prayers for her strength and Dad's speedy and complete recovery are coveted!

Thank you so much for your prayers for us, for Joyce and our other friend.  Joyce is not doing well and her family is surrounding her with love and visiting as much as they can.  Our other friend went home from surgery and is doing as well as can be expected.

This is day 3 of the knock-down-drag-out-put you down-just go ahead and shoot me-crap that has settled in my throat, head and chest. 

I need to go pack.

Be back when things are a little drier around here, 'cause you know, when it rains...it pours!

We call it chemo brain!

We like to have fun at our house.

My sense of humor is, in great measure, a gift from my mom.

Things are a little weird around here right now.

Coherent thinking a little lacking.

Motivation almost nonexistent.

We call it chemo brain.

When the brain and rational thinking decide to take a bit of a vacation to warmer climes.

And it's catching.

Not only does the person with cancer have it, but those around them are infected too.

Knowing you need to be somewhere, and miraculously, find yourself there and not remembering driving there.

Staring into space for goodness knows how long at a can of refried beans in the International Foods aisle, only snapping out of it when someone says, "Excuse me."

Telling the boys to wash their teeth and brush their faces.

The list goes on.
And it just gets more embarassing!

LOL

So, it is perfectly understandable that when you are asked to make a block 12.5" x 14.5" (not a square) by your IMQG buddy-and you make a 12.5" x 12.5" square block instead.

What to do?  What to do?  Since she specifically asked us not to use another white fabric, I improvised and added two 1.25" x 12.25" strips to the outside.  I'm hoping she will not be too offended and be merciful on me, a sinner.

LOL

I'm mailing it off with a little note of explanation tomorrow.

A White Christmas.

My sister in law's mother is dying of cancer.  She was sent home with hospice within the last two weeks and wanted to have Christmas with her family before she goes Home.  So, they had their Christmas celebration yesterday.  On Friday, the Lord sent our town a thick, heavy, wet snow.  It coated the streets, yards and rooftops.  Our neighborhood was the only one in town that still had snow yesterday.

Joyce got her White Christmas.

I am always humbled by how much He cares for us.

On a sadder note (as if our lives couldn't stand it right now), a former teacher, co-worker and friend of hubby muffin's and mine was diagnosed with breast cancer that has spread to her lymph nodes.  She has surgery Wednesday.

Please keep these incredible women in your prayers!