Fun is Busy; Busy is Fun

What a great weekend I had. Saturday I met with six gals that I have known for at least 30 years and we went to lunch at a lovely tea house in San Juan Capistrano. Then, there is a great yarn shop next door, so we went there and I bought some beautiful raspberry-colored yarn for yet another scarf. But, I also bought a book of simple-looking patterns and have hopes of branching out to something new. I have a hankering to learn to make baby booties; we'll see if I can learn that! Then, we caravaned north a bit to a new quilt store where I fell in love with a darling Christmas Quilt wall hanging and bought that, too. So, I have lots to do and am looking forward to it all.

Today Dan and I went up to visit his mom in Cerritos. She wanted to have lunch at the Olive Garden, so we loaded her up in her wheelchair and took her to lunch. She enjoyed it and said it was good to get out a bit.

So it was a fun weekend, but a very busy one as well.

Guess what! The house on the other side of sister Sue is now empty! Hmmm, Mom on one side of Sue and us on the other; wouldn't that be fun? But, our jobs are here even though my heart is there. One day, hopefully, I can live near Sue and be in quilter's heaven. But, I would miss my ocean, the rolling hills, and the quilted landscape that surrounds our tract dotted with farms and horses and trees. I have quilter friends here, too, that keep my heart here as well. I heart quilting friends.

Sisters

I have been thinking a lot about sisters this week since we found our 4th sister, Kathy. I scanned a bunch of pictures and posted them on Facebook so she could see her grandparents, parents, etc. I came across these two pictures of Karen and I rockin' it in the Cheerios dress that my mom must have made for Karen and Karen passed it down to me. We both must have liked it because we both wore it for our school picture day!

Lost and Found

I have a new sister. She is 60 years old and her name is Kathy. We located her last weekend and life has been quite the whirlwind ever since. Emails, calls, entries on Facebook and lots of pictures. I poured over the pictures for similarities and pondered nature vs. nurture We are a fascinating science project. She was "lost" to us via adoption 60 years ago, but through the wonderful world of the Internet, we were able to find her. Finally. Karen located Kathy's birth certificates, Sue's daughters found her wedding license and google gave us the rest. I wonder how cavemen ever found their lost children. Perhaps that is really what the cave paintings were for. "I've lost my child - hazel eyes, curly hair - if found please tell her we are looking for her." It's been an amazing week and my heart is full knowing she is with us and now we are four. I didn't know that I'd feel so good about finding her - perhaps it was that first conversation with her that just felt like I knew her forever. As she said, "it just fits." A reunion is scheduled for November; hope I can wait 'til then!

Doing Better . . .

It has been five days since our nest became empty again. Dan and I have been to the gym three times, which is good. It is becoming normal to have a quiet house and not run the dish washer daily and to find the washer and dryer free to use. Not that Ashley was a problem, believe me; but these are the simple things I have noticed. Tonight Dan said, "are Ashley's blinds closed?" And, then we decided that they could stay open all night since there are no privacy issues. Hmmmm, wish we had privacy issues.

Please pray for Ashley tomorrow as it is her first day of classes at Cal Poly. She is nervous, but trying to play it down. Everything is suddenly new: her room, her home, her school and even working her same job, but from her little room in the new apartment. She'll get the hang of it and be very glad, I'm sure.

PTL . . . Carrie was hired as a full-time employee at Azusa Pacific University with a new title of Admissions Manager. We are so thankful and very proud.

Full Heart, Heavy Heart

We just got home today from helping move Ashley up to Cal Poly Pomona. It was very hot up there and we cheered as we exited the 5 Freeway and noted that the temp was a cool 75. Ash is living in Carrie's apartment with two other sisters, Emily and Sarah. Ashley's room is a tiny, funny little place with a step up and a low window and door. But, inside it looks so cute with her green and white theme. She has set herself up very cozily and that will surely help in this transitional week of starting at a new college. I'm proud of her for taking this new step in her future, but already miss her very much. So, my heart is full of joy for her becoming the woman she is meant to be, but (selfishly) I am sort of wishing she could stay here and be my little Ashley. You know, they talk about pushing the little birds out of the nest, but there isn't much said about the poor mother bird left behind with worms in her beak . . .

Kincaid Paints Cinderella

Just had to show everyone Thomas Kincaid's newest picture - love it!

Holiday Weekend

Is there anything better than a lovely three-day weekend? I think not! It's been hot, but today I woke up early and it was deliciously cool. I have been pattering around quietly so as not to wake up Dan and Ash; Lucy follows me lovingly wherever I go. I love it when Dan is asleep and Lucy likes me BEST. An experience that is so short-lived.

Friday I made a new fall-themed armchair remote control holder for Dan's mom. We took it up to her yesterday plus two fall wreaths. She liked the one with the pumpkins best, so we put it on her front door. The second one was on her bed and we were planning to bring it home when I noticed that the colors matched her comforter really well. We ended up hanging it over her nightstand and it looked very nice.

After our afternoon visit, we went to Don and Tracy's house. Their newly-married son, Mike, and wife, Jade, were there, so we got to meet Jade and hear about their life buying a duplex, finding out the roof leaks, dealing with the insurance company who won't cover it, etc. The exciting news is that Jade is expecting a baby in March. That will be grandchild number three for D & T, and since so far they have two boys, we are thinking pink. Tracy raised two boys, she deserves a little pink in her life. Speaking of pink, Tracy is recovering from breast cancer treatment. Her hair is growing back, her breast reconstruction was done last month and things are looking good for her. Except . . . her upper arm has been hurting and she quizzed me about what my blood clot felt like and we think she may have one. So, we went to dinner and left so they could go to urgent care and have it checked. They have plans to tour the New England area for two weeks starting next weekend, so I hope for their sake that it isn't a blood clot and she will still be able to travel.

Today is grocery shopping and more sewing. I have run into a road block on my embroidery quilt fabric-wise, so am waiting to hear back from sister Sue to see if she has any more fabric that matches what she sent me in 2004 from her stash when I had the blood clot. And, I am beginning the Christmas snowman quilt that Carrie bought the fabric for - it should be very cute.