Where have I been?

I thought I'd do a brief update.  I've missed my blogging friends.  I haven't been quilting, blogging or reading blogs.  It's been a life changing year for us.

In March my DH was diagnosed with colon cancer.  Following the 10 hour surgery in April, we found out he had Stage 4 colon cancer.  Since then it has been a struggle and a journey with many twists and turns.  He has completed chemo treatment number 4 so far.  Every day is a challenge for him.  The hardest part is going from being a man who did everything to someone who needs help with everything.  We are thankful for family and friends who have helped us through and continue to do so.  The planting got done and the calving.  The haying is in progress and harvesting is ahead.  I won't go into details, but it's been difficult.  Our Lord and Savior are seeing us through.

Our good news is:  We are going to be Grandpa and Grandma in October!!

Daughter #2 and her husband moved to his home in Mississippi last week-end.  She will have a couple months to prepare for the addition of our granddaughter.  We are so pleased for them and it gives DH something to look forward to.

You may notice that I have stayed faithful to one of my resolutions.  I have lost 80 pounds so far this year.  I am using the Ideal Protein program through a local hospital with the help of a registered dietician.  I had planned to have knee surgery this year, but that is on hold.  Losing weight has helped immensely in giving my knees some relief.

I won't be posting often.   I miss you all and hope next year will be a better year for us.

Happy New Year

I resolve to start blogging again in 2014.  Blogging became lost in the shuffle of my life and once you stop it's hard to get started again.  I've missed you and I know many of you have been wondering about me.  We are fine--just cold!  -6 F at 10:00 am this morning.  December was a cold month and January is always a cold month.  I'm hoping the new year will jump start my ambition and creative juices, if only it would renew my joints. 

Last year I resolved to lose weight by eating healthy.  Well, that happened off and on throughout the year and I weigh the same today as I did back then.  At least I didn't gain any.

I was going to sew more.  I think I probably sewed about the same amount.  I bought the long arm and I've used it very little.  Buying a long arm really doesn't give you the time or ambition to use the long arm. 

I resolved to spend less time on the internet.  This is one resolution I think I might have improved on.  I've been on a reading kick.  I quit playing games, except for Words with Friends and that has slowed down as I don't initiate any new players, but I really enjoy keeping in contact this way with a few friends.

This year I'm choosing a word---Productive.  I need to use my free time more productively.  Whether it is to read my bible, pray, cook healthy, sew, read or blog.   Of course, I still believe watching out the window as the snow lightly falls as a productive use of time.  I need that "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10) time most of all in my busy life.

Happy New Year, dear friends.  I'm looking forward to seeing what 2014 brings for all of us and what you and  I will do with 2014.