my.sewingroom's blog

Sneak Peek at Remodeled Sewing Room

2013-03-17T18:37:00Z

The moment is almost here when I can finally move back into my sewing room. Right now I can move in the Elna, but I'm trying to figure out a way to bring in the Pfaff too. I have a friend who comes over and sews strips and/or squares for me. I.m trying to figure out if the small table will fit and still give me enough room to move around without being too constricted. . Let me explain some of the changes. I've had new windows put in. They've already been tested thanks to Mother Nature;...(read more)

Identity Theft - Don't be a Victim

2013-02-12T22:59:00Z

I'm not a technical person. To prove it my computer was at the computer hospital for 5 days with the black plague...."oh no, not the black plague." But Dr. Chris, how could this have happened?? Did I download anything recently? Well, yes. Norton did their usual check and said there were 16 drivers that needed repair or replaced. They suggested XYZ Company. So I bought XYZ software for $35 and downloaded it following the wizard instructions. After it was downloaded, it went to work and...(read more)

Indy and I sat on Santa's Lap!

2012-12-28T14:43:00Z

Normally Christmas is a lonely day for me. Having sons they usually go to their spouse's parents for Christmas. They come to see me a week or two later. So Christmas I usually sew and watch Christmas movies all day. Twenty years ago when the boys first went out on their own, I would cry all day and feel left out. But now it's just another normal day only I have Indy. How can I possibly cry when I have Indy? He's funny and makes me laugh. This year I received an invitation from my Cuz...(read more)

My Christmas Tree, Santas & Snowmen

2012-12-18T16:50:00Z

There is a thread going around where everyone is showing off their beautiful Christmas trees. They are really, really beautiful. I haven't had a large tree since 2000 and do I ever miss it! I also miss having a live pine tree, but allergies ruined that one. So now I have my little 4-1/2 foot tree with ornaments that are almost as big as the tree. It is pretty tho. My favorite is the crocheted angel at the top that I found at a craft show. She is so beautiful. The pictures don't show her well...(read more)

Things I'm Thankful For

2012-11-19T23:18:00Z

Here we are almost Thanksgiving again. Another year almost gone. I should be making plans to leave for Arizona; but no plans this year. I'm going to see my first winter in 12 years. The doctor says no traveling alone especially going thru Chicago Union Station. Well, that has been a nightmare every year coming and going. The service gets worse each year and I file a complaint each year and nothing happens. I told the doctor I wouldn't be traveling alone anymore, Indy is now a service dog...(read more)

Elaine's Poem

2012-10-30T16:52:00Z

I've been sorting and sorting. Last evening I found this poem that my dear friend Elaine Waite wrote for me in March 2008. I would like to share with you. She did not title the poem. Mourning tears called on the Lord. Save her! Restore! Let her live, she loves you! She has many quilts to do! Bless her days, comfort the nights Bring her back from death's sight. You, oh Lord, are the One Who gives life and the fun! You gave to her a ready smile, Red hair, and the strengh to walk that extra...(read more)

Happy Memories

2012-10-26T11:47:00Z

The other day I finally got my china cabinet fixed. I've been waiting since May when I got the new piece of glass in. I held my breath and prayed that I had measured properly. What a big sigh of relief as the glass slid right into place!! I quickly called my neighbor Jim and asked if he could go to my basement and bring up the boxes with my teapots and Grandma's dishes.I spent the rest of the day unpacking boxes and unpacking boxes. Gosh I didn't remember having this much, but then it's...(read more)

Life Goes On

2012-10-17T00:52:00Z

I haven't written in such a long time. Words just quit coming. They still aren't really coming. I finally accepted what happened to me 5 years ago and all the pain and misery that has come with it. So now the words aren't coming and I'm just learning to deal with all the health issues the accident has created. The Lord God is here helping so I have nothing to fear. Meanwhile life goes on. As some of you know in August, I hosted an Amish Country Retreat at the Berlin Grande Hotel....(read more)

Changes Old and New

2012-09-05T21:49:00Z

I haven't written a blog in several months. The words quit coming once I realized and accepted that the car accident did happen and I really am living a different life. I have now accepted that my life will never be like it was before. And the biggest thing I've had to accept is that most of my friends and family have not accepted the new me. Yes, the new me. I've had brain trauma and with that comes changes....changes I don't always like either, but I've had to learn to live...(read more)

Happy Mother's Day, Grandma!

2012-05-13T20:07:00Z

Paul wrote, "I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also." (2 Timothy 1:5) NIV The above verse was in one of the 3 devotions I receive in my email each morning. My Grandma Koller definately nurtured the beginnings of my faith journey. She was also my Sunday School teacher. Almost every Sunday after church I went home with Grandma and Grandpa or Uncle Skip would pick me up and take me...(read more)

Welcome to my new look - Changes

2012-04-03T09:45:00Z

As much as I loved the old theme of my blog, it was just too difficult to read. Unfortunately, I was unable to change the font color. And I didn't find it so difficult to change the theme as I thought it would be. Hopefully, you will find this easier on the eyes.

Changes. I'm Lutheran...we don't like changes. Just ask Garrison Keillor! I love that man's humor!! OK I'm getting off the subject here. That's because I don't like change and there certainly has been a lot of change in my life in recent years!! I've uprooted myself and moved across country once again. Only this time I know people...or do I?? They say you never can go back...take my word for it, it's true! It's definately not the same. It has definately changed...maybe it's me. What? I've changed? How can that be? I'm still me, aren't I???

Recently, one of my best friends told me that she doesn't like the new me. Huh? The new me? What is she talking about? My caregiver talks about my "new normal". My new what? Have people lost their minds?? Have I really changed?

OK, I do understand my new normal. It's my physical self...I have no strength, no immune system, my system has a very fine balance. But when talking about my personality, I didn't realize that had changed too. I guess brain trauma and post traumatic stress does affect one's personality. Gosh, if I've offended anyone, I'm truly very sorry.

Blogging is a way of getting my feelings out and also a way of sharing my faith. If it weren't for my faith in God, I would not have survived the past 4 years. It's only been very recent, that I've actually accepted what has happened to me and now I have to figure out how to live with it without being bitter. You see I have no memory of t he accident itself. I have spent the past 4 years just trying to get from 1 day to the next. I don't want pity from anyone...that is the very last thing I'd ever want. I don't want criticizm either...that's negative and I can't deal with negativity. I need positive friends who can encourage me in my faith and activities.

Change...I don't like it, but life happens and with it comes change.

God's blessings to you.

Linda

PS. Indy had a tummy ache yesterday. I thought he was eating grass...turned out he was eating peanuts and peanut shells that the squirrels were leaving in the yard!!!! They left their peanuts in place of taking the bird food. At the moment Indy is sleeping at my feet and must be dreaming...he's growling at something!! Indy has made me laugh so much since he's been with me! Now if we can do something about housebreaking! Talk about change!!!!!!!!

Here's Indy sleeping this morning just before he woke up.

JOY!!

2012-03-31T11:03:00Z

I was talking to Barb, my caregiver, the other evening, and out of the blue she says she hears joy in my voice. Joy? Now that's something I haven't heard in a long time! Do I really have joy in my voice again? Could that little 4 legged ball of fur have anything to do with it? Indy sure has made me laugh these past few weeks. As he is settling in and beginning to explore his new home, he no longer wants me to hold him all the time. He now likes playtime and is hilarious the way he finds his toys and tosses them about. If I get them away from him and throw them, he runs after them, grabs them, and then runs thru the house with them. It is so funny, because he looks to see if I'm chasing him.

He's gotten better when I leave the house too. One day while channel surfing, discovered he liked Mickey Mouse! He stopped in his tracks when he heard Mickey and just sat there and started watching. So now I put Disney channel on when I'm leaving and he doesn't carry on as I'm walking out the door anymore. But he's always at the door when I get home and showering me with kisses and more than ready to go outside. Speaking of going outside...

Indy comes and paws at my arm when he needs to go out. When he is adamant about going out, he can paw quite insistently. I have abrasions on my arm to prove it!! The problem is when he gets outside, Indy looses focus and forgets why he wanted to go outside in the first place!!!! Yes, folks my puppy is a little busy body. Every little noise or movement he must investigate. Next thing I find myself at the back door because he wants to go back in the house. Yet he still hasn't done his business!! Lately when we go back in, he has not gotten his treat and has found himself attached to the doorknob with a couple pee pee pads close at hand. At the moment, this morning he is not a happy camper!!!

We also have playtime first thing in the morning just before getting out of bed. He sleeps on his own pillow...remember the pillowcases in my gallery? The night before he likes to unmake my bed for me. While I'm straightening one side, he will unmake the other side! I just have to laugh at him! Last night he actually crawled under all the blankets and got himself caught. It was so funny watching him try to get out from under!! By this time tears are rolling down my face from laughing so hard! This morning he comes over and jumps on me for his belly rubs. Then he grabs one of his toys and is ready for a game of fetch. Oh, forgot to tell you, he sleeps with his toys. Indy doesn't settle down until he goes thru the house looking for all his toys and has them at the foot of the bed.

He's taking a morning nap and I see he brought in his lamb to nap with. Awwww! Guess I better get my breakfast so I have energy to play fetch when he wakes up!! Yes, that little 4 legged ball of fur had brought joy back into my life. Think I'll keep him around a while.

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Psalm 16:11

A Few Blogs Back...

2012-03-18T19:16:00Z

A few blogs back was one titled "We make plans, God laughs". No truer words when you have an 18 month old rescue puppy who has had no training!! Indy has been with me 2 weeks and he has come a long way in those 2 weeks. However......God is rolling on the floor of heaven laughing out loud!! Any plans I've had to get projects done have totally gone down the tubes with my Indy around!!!

Everytime I think I'm going to sit down and sew the binding to my granddaughter's quilt and watch a movie in the process, a ball of fur lands in my lap! Next my face is showered with a little wet tongue...so are my glasses. Playtime...again! Throw toys and Indy runs and runs and runs. Maybe he will loose a couple pounds since he arrived a little chunky. Next he has found his tail in the past 2 days. It is hilarious watching him chase his tail. I'm laughing so hard that I can't take a photo of the action. It's even funnier when he stands still...or tries to!!

After 1 week, a light bulb went off and Indy figured out that he should do his business outside and not on mom's carpeting. He also realized if he went outside, he got a treat when he came inside. The little stinker also figured out he could go outside and fake it and he could get a treat. Ha! Ha! I caught onto that trick rather quickly. I know some other furry friends who tried that one!!!

Well, the joke is on Indy. Tomorrow he goes to obedience school for 3 days a week...that is 3 days and nights. Then he comes home for a week for me to work with him. The cycle continues until he graduates from obedience school. Indy will continue onto service dog training. Guess when I'm going to get my granddaughter's quilt done and watch a movie or two?? Of course, God may still be laughing at me. He may still have other plans for me. Hanna's birthday is Saturday, God.

This was the year that I was going to get a lot of UFOs done. So much for my plans. I came home from AZ with a bunch of other projects for church and friends. I also promised I would do more charity quilts this year. OK, I get the message. One of those projects (an embellished vest) is done and shipped. I heard she wore it to church last week. Today I finished my first Round Robin and I'm ready to mail to the next person on the list. The lesson here is I get things done for others, but not myself. I think it wise I follow God's plan for me.

Thank you Lord God for Your plan is better than mine. Amen.

Had a revelation the other day...

2012-03-09T01:50:00Z

Had a revelation the other day...

When I was in Arizona, Jim and I were at the shopping center where my accident occurred. I had a post traumatic stress episode and just started sobbing and then got angry. I've been to the area several times since my accident and felt nervousness, but have never reacted like this before. Poor Jim had no clue as to what is going on, why is Linda sobbing like that, and then why is she yelling? Meanwhile, he's trying to get us out of there as quickly as possible. Did I mention that there was a Barrett Jackson event going on? Traffic was far heavier than normal and you didn't get anywhere quickly. By the time we got home, I had managed to calm down a bit, but I became extremely depressed...for 5 weeks...and terribly homesick.

At the same time, the adoption went thru for my rescue puppy, Indy. I emailed my doctor explaining what happened and telling him that I didn't understand my reaction. I also told him about Indy, because he had told me I should get a therapy dog about 2 years previously. His answer....about time, cute dog. What?? What kind of answer was that?

With other health issues cropping up and now a puppy to look forward to, I started talking myself out of the depression. Afterall, I had come this far in 4 years and I'm still on this side of the grass. So why quit now, right? Besides being depressed, was no way to live. I have grandchildren and a puppy to live for and 2 sons to aggrevate if I haven't done so enough already.

The other day I was in with my doctor and he asked me what am I angry at? My answer was the guy who hit me and the resulting injuries that are affecting my entire lifestyle and are creating ongoing problems. Then yesterday Pastor was visiting and he asked the same question...What or who am I angry at? I gave him the same answer. Then he asked but who am I really mad at? I told him I am not mad at God for letting this happen to me. Of course, Pastor said that was a good Christian answer.

Here's the revelation...I'm angry at myself. Before I went into that shopping center, either God or his messenger angel was telling me to go straight home. Do not go into the shopping center. I heard it loud and clear and I ignored it! I ignored a message of God! Because I ignored that message I am now paying the consequences. However, in spite of ignoring His message, He still loved me and had a host of angels around me to protect me from death. I lived because of God's amazing grace and forgiveness. The question now is...Can I forgive myself?

Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions" to the Lord -- and you forgave the guilt of my sin." Psalm 32:5

Indy has been with me for almost a week now. He is such a sweetie, except he is not housebroken. He is a rescue puppy from a puppy mill, so it will take time to train him since he is 18 months old already. He also is not use to being around people and my house has been grand central station. But he is adjusting pretty good as long as every one just leaves him alone and lets him take his time getting acclimated.

I've managed to get Hanna's quilt pressed and sandwiched together. I started quilting late this afternoon. I got about 1/3 done before my eyes started getting tired. Last night I made my 2 March Craftsy BOM and even got them posted today. Tuesday I put together a vest that was already cut out by one of the members of my church back in AZ. It was one of those preprinted panels. It was fun doing all the embellishments. Now in the line up is...finish Hanna's quilt, 2 Round Robin blocks, Jan-Mar Country Junktion Block of the month, 2 quilts for RWYS, 1 valor quilt & 1 comfort quilt for one of the ladies at my church in AZ. Oh, and 2 quilts for myself! And that's not even touching the UFO pile!

It's getting late and Indy is pawing at me which an indication in her dog language to get to bed!! Good night!

Me an Evangelist?

2012-02-27T12:04:00Z

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations... Matthew 28:19

I had the most wonderful and awesome worship experience on Amtrak between San Antonio and Chicago on my way home from Arizona this past weekend. There were a group of Korean missionaries traveling the United States blessing the cities and the Christians of this country. One of the women of the group had been in Israel and felt called to perform this mission. So here they were traveling on the same Amtrak train as I. After performing a blessing at a stop, they were standing outside my door praying. I asked if I might say a prayer of blessing for their mission. Their blessing ceremony had been very moving to me. Afterall, how many missionaries come to the US or see the US as a mission field? They explained that they felt the US christians are being persecuted and needed to be blessed. Again, I requested to pray a blessing for their mission. After praying, one gentleman named Sing took my hand and placed it over his heart and began praying and weeping. He explained that he felt I was a woman truly from God. Wow! But the experience doesn't stop here...oh no!

The next day we stopped in St. Louis where they again performed their blessing ceremony. After leaving, St. Louis they were in their room (which was 2 doors down from my room) singing beautiful songs in Korean. The car attendant stood there with me listening to them. The singing was absolutely beautiful. I couldn't help myself...I just had to knock on their door and ask if I could give them another blessing for their mission. We by this time were not too far out from Chicago. Sing took my hand and invited me to sit with them. He began interpretting everything of their worship for me. How awesome is that? Out of the blue one of the other fellows says he had a vision for me....for me? Oh, oh. His vision was that there would be a christian man will come into my life that will love me and take care of me....hmmmm. Nice thought. Then everyone laid hands on me and began praying. Sing began weeping again. I patted his hand and told him not to cry. He told me that God had let me survive great tragedy so that I might be an evangelist and witness as I was to them. Me an evangelist?????

...endure hardships, do the work of an evangelist,... 2 Timothy 4:5

Now today I have all the cartons to unpack containing my birthday stash, LQS purchases, quilt tops, completed UFO, Indy's placemats and pillowcases, all my online orders from Connecting Threads, Nancy's Notions, equilters, Quilt ina Day, and PetMeds, plus excess clothes I shipped home, I think there might even be some purchases from the Antique Market in Chandler in one of those cartons too. No worries...I'm getting help with all the unpacking today from a new quilty friend from the Ohio Quilters who doesn't live far from me. A huge thank you to Brenda and a big bear hug too.

Another big thank to Mother Nature for the relatively warm and very sunny homecoming and for the bright blue skies too! And two days in a row yet!! Yea!!!

Well, the sooner the unpacking starts, the sooner I can get sewing. It's good to be home again!