update on E and her quilt

Little E had her surgery this week - and came through beautifully.  What a wonder-filled thing it is to see how community (family and friends and beyond) have supported her and the rest of her family in prayer.  While the road to recovery will be long, it is my prayer that she is granted perseverance and patience, and a minimum of suffering.

I added a few things (as in buttons) to the border of the quilt.  It is now in the mail - headed to bring brightness and love to the dear brave girl.

Quilt for E

This week my youngest niece is going in for major surgery – with a long recuperation period.  So – I decided to make her a cozy quilt to brighten her long days.  She is a person who personifies the title of my blog – wonderfilled.  She is a delight to spend time with and to surprise with gifts.  Almost without fail, whatever you offer her is what she’s always wanted.  Here are some pictures of the quilt.  Hopefully I can get it to her almost in time for the surgery.  Doesn’t really matter though, because she’ll be absolutely delighted when she gets it – not because of the quilt, but because of who she is!

Quotable quotes

Here are other quotes from the book of Amish Proverbs.

"When you speak, always remember that God is one of your listeners."

"Swallowing words before you say them is so much better than having to eat them afterward."

"A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery of a detour."

"The key to contentment is to realize that life is a gift - not a right."

"If you think you're too small to make a difference, you haven't been in bed with a mosquito."

Words to ponder and bring to mind again and again.  I guess that's what makes them proverbs.

Yes, it's a new year.

Yes, 2011 has begun.  This post has been swimming around in my head in various bits and pieces for the last number of days.  I'm not a fan of New Year's celebrations.  I enjoyed my quiet week and night at home.  Then it was back to work on Monday.  And all things were "normal" again.

Last year, rather than make resolutions, I chose 3 words to be my focus for the year.  That was somewhat successful.  So - I'm going to try it again.  But I'm going to cut it back to two in an attempt to more intentionally focus on the goals.  I know I won't succeed perfectly, but any steps to improvement count.  Even if they're baby steps.

In fact, I think I'm going to keep two of the words from 2010 to use for my focus for 2011.  BALANCE AND GRATITUDE.

I recently read a book of Amish proverbs.  (Thanks for lending it to me, Sharon.)  One that struck me with regard to balance was this one.  "Many times we are climbing mountains when we ought to be quietly resting."  How true.  And then there's the challenge - when I'm quietly resting, should I be reading, should I be quilting, should I be just being?  Today has been a good balance of some reading, some quilting, some talking with family, and now some pondering.  I even shoveled snow - brrrr, it's cold outside today!

My challenge to me is to consciously make decisions about balance and gratitude for the journey I'm on, the pathways God puts me on.

Balance - good balance of activities today
Gratitude - for my mother and my brother who both called today, for hobbies that are fulfilling and creative, for a warm house!, and for music which kept me company today.

rainbow in the storm

Last night I was driving home from an errand - in yet another rainstorm.  I will admit to having done more than my share of complaining about the weather.  For someone whose goal was gratitude that's not such a good thing.  BUT as I headed home, there in the midst of the gray skies and rain was a rainbow.  How any sunlight got to the water to make the rainbow, I don't know.  But there it was, reminding me that within the rain there can be moments of joy and reminders of God.

More on Happiness

A few more random quotations from THE HAPPINESS PROJECT by Gretchen Rubin.

1) To eke out the most happiness from an experience, we must anticipate it, savour it as it unfolds, express happiness, and recall a happy memory.  (page 108)

2) quotation from C.S. Lewis - When I was ten, I read fairy tales in secret and would have been ashamed if I had been found doing so.  Now that I am fifty I read them openly.  When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up."  (page 119)

3) Three different kinds of fun - challenging fun (most demanding, takes time and energy, but also most satisfying), accommodating fun (requires making accommodations, takes effort, organization, and it strengthens relationships), and relaxing fun (doesn't require honing skills or taking action)   (pages 134 and 135)

4) quotation from a reader - I can DO ANYTHING I want, but I can't DO EVERYTHING I want. (page 123)

Lessons - both large and small

I just started reading a book called THE HAPPINESS PROJECT by Gretchen Rubin.  I already like it.  Here's a sample of why I like it.  Her list of secrets of adulthood.

People don't notice your mistakes as much as you think.
It's okay to ask for help.
Most decisions don't require extensive research.
Do good, feel good.
It's important to be nice to everyone.
Bring a sweater.
By doing a little bit each day, you can get a lot accomplished.
Soap and water remove most stains.
Turning the computer on and off a few times often fixes a glitch.
If you can't find something, clean up.
You can choose what you do; you can't choose what you like to do.
Happiness doesn't always make you feel happy.
What you do every day matters more than what you do once in a while.
You don't have to be good at everything.
If you're not failing, you're not trying hard enough.
Over-the-counter medicines are very effective.
Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
What's fun for other people may not be fun for you - and vice versa.
People actually prefer that you buy wedding gifts off their registry.
You can't profoundly change your children's natures by nagging them or signing them up for classes.
No deposit, no return.
Never start a sentence with the words "No offense."