dreaming of beautiful family memories...

we had a

whirlwind

of a weekend...

.

 

i was wondering just

what to write about

how to approach the subject

then today i was cutting

 these labels

from a fabric collection

 by cosmo cricket

and they just spoke to me

a few years ago

i was dreaming large

i had a fantasy

only that vision

 crashed and burned

working through pain and reflecting

i became accutely aware

it was just that

 a fantasy

and what i needed to do

was get to a place of forgiveness

then live my life

 day by day

being ever so thankful

for what i did have

grateful for the simple

things in life

to take in the beauty of it all

and i needed to embrace

my husband

my own sons and daughter

hug and love them

everyday

because we are family

and i needed to create

 new dreams

outloud

and

establish new fantasies

with those who

i love

and who love me

so this weekend

we all arrived

at different times

into the same place

we slept in beds

we inflated air mattresses

we cheered at a football game

we dined as

a family

we invited friends

 to join us

we were making memories

our own beautiful times

as we are family

thanksgiving gratitude...

there are so very many

things to be grateful

for this time of year...

.

 

for one

the friendships

i have developed

with some amazing artists

the newest is

stephanie ryan

please visit her blog

and website

her watercolor talents

are pure joy for the eyes

sign up for her

small sweet steps of

inspiration

they are pure joy for the heart

such a great

way to start your morning

today she shares

this...

 Gratitude is the key to abundance! 

 The more grateful you are 

 and the more you sing it 

   from your heart,

 the more beautiful abundance 

 will float into your life.

Think happy, sweet 

  thoughts of gratitude 

 this Thanksgiving 

 and everyday of the year  

the mason jar...

i had the privilege

of spending

an entire weekend...

.

 

with my youngest son

at a soccer showcase

in xenia, ohio

it's an event designed

for college coaches to

observe potential players

that in itself

seems nearly impossible

how he can be sixteen

already is mind numbing

time is flying by

much. too. fast

in the middle of the

afternoon

i let him have the room

 to himself

wink, wink...

 

...and i took off in pursuit

of nearby quilt shops

 discovered three in a short radius

i just knew as soon as i

pulled in the parking lot

this would be a good one

the mason jar quilt shoppe

located in beavercreek, ohio

a suburb of the dayton area

quite close to wright state university

and the air force base

charming in every way

the owner, michele mason

love her play on words

has created an inspiring

 and relaxing venue

full of antiques

 and reproduction fabric

i've definately decided when

it comes to quilt shops

bigger is not always better

same thing holds true

 for soccer players

i've observed

as we were driving home

late last night

my son said to me

he really enjoyed

 our time together

me too matt

me too

we might just have to plan

another little excursion

especially now that we have

katrina and kelsey

ready and willing to hold down

the shop for the day

so very grateful

for all

 that has come my way

thursday thought...

.

 

thank you houston

fabric + fun + friendship...

that's what quilt market...

.

 

is really all about

and houston

 did not disappoint

on one single thing

for me personally

it is also

 a warm and friendly

environment

where i can take sarah

 i so appreciate that

we had such an

amazing time

we reconnected with

good friends

met new ones too

viewed lots of new fabric

hooked up with

a former neighbor

sarah rode a bull

even learned a few line dances

we ate some great meals...

 

then we spontaneously

extended our stay

a few extra days

because of hurricane sandy

we went to a bar

where sarah got carded

and then proceeded to order

a glass of milk

we smiled and laughed

a lot

we toured the city

with map, feet and transport chair

we ate lunch in a park

fed a few homeless gals

with the extra bags of food

 we purposely bought

we looked at some really

 old houses...

 

 

we met a lovely couple

 from boston

also stranded in texas

they took this picture

right before

 we discovered a tree

planted for jane ellen

we rode a train through

a tunnel full of sharks

we met a mom and her son

in the gift shop

he too had a transport chair

and a trach

and down syndrome

we chatted for a long time

sarah's story

 gave her such hope

then we saw the biggest snake

 ever

which freaked us out

big time

and i mean BIG time

body shaking

hysterical screaming

trembling limb freak out

then magically a hidden door
opened

and a handsome young man

came to our rescue

he spoke little english

but saw the fright

on my girl's face

and quickly took us out an

emergency exit

and that's when i recognized

the rescheduled flight

sarah demanding

to hit the aquarium

very late tuesday night

it was all designed

 to be a chapter

of this journey we are on

we help others

so we in turn can

trust another to help us

i am so very, very

 grateful

i am traveling down

this wonderfully, winding road