Thank You Navy Brat-hood!

Growing up with my Dad in the Navy was just one part of child/adolescent-hood.

It meant a few adventures here and there.

It resulted in a whole lot of military history, and visits

to battle sites.

It taught me how to pack a house in under a day.

It allowed me to adapt to most any situation.

and...

It taught me how to survive in natural disasters...

or was was that the result of the family dicussions?

A bit ago, a 5.8 earthquake hit this area- and the epicenter was about 60 miles

from where I'm at now.

No big deal.

My biggest concern was for the dog next door and my neighbors.

As I read the stuff online about what happened and people's reactions,

it makes me incredibly thankful for all of the times we packed up and moved.

For all of the times we adjusted to new friends, a new town, and always...

a new natural disaster.

Growing up, we had dinner discussions about what to do in every

situation, and which were the best/worst. 

We also had dinner discussions about how to solve battles,

how to plot ships, and how to lead.

Yep, it might not have been the "every day" dinner converstaions

of our friends, but I'm glad.

The only thing that happened here was my Dad called and asked,

"Did you feel it too?"  When I responded, "Yes,"

he said, "Okay, I'm going back to work now."

Just another day... just more gratitude for my parents

and all that they taught us as we trekked throughout the country.

Thanks Mom and Dad! :-)

For what are you grateful at this moment?

Share with me, as we celebrate being grateful!

Thank You Ink Circles and Carries Threads

I love colors, patterns, and art. 

I teach a foreign language through colors, patterns, and believe my students are little pieces art that make up a huge mural of learning.

My mum taught me to stitch when I was tiny, as in young.  I've never been tiny, always tall!

It was the most peaceful stitching experience of my life!

Ink Circles provides this pattern FREE!

Carrie's Creation Threads supports it with amazing hand-dyed floss that is quite reasonable in cost, and shipped SUPER fast!

Thank You Mom for inspiring me to create pieces!
Thank you for helping me to find something that works both hemispheres of my brain and calms me down!

Thank You Ink Circles for bringing mandalas to the stitching world!

Thank You Carrie's Threads for a phenomenal product and whose colors keep me smiling!

For what are you grateful at this moment?

Share with me, as we celebrate being grateful!

Thank You Aunt A!

I spent last Thursday with my Aunt A during a Family Meet Up Day on our vacation to western Michigan. It'd been a long, long time since I had seen her, and the visit left me a bit perplexed.

I wasn't sure if it was all of her medical madness, the grouping of relatives, or something else, but something seemed...different.  I let it go and prayed. 

My Dad and his brother (Aunt A's husband) exchanged e-mails CC'd me on them after the trip ended, and suddenly it felt right to respond. 

Little did I know I'd be on the receiving end of an e-mail from my Aunt A and I'd respond in a way that I knew we were back in stride with each other.

To sum up my aunt's impact on my life is no easy feat.  This woman single heartedly guided me through a very rough break up nearly 18 months ago.  She wrote wise words and comforted me.  She listened to me, encouraged me, and somehow knew exactly what I needed. 

Just a few months before that she taught me some of the most profound lessons of my life just by being her.  Her fight with cancer has been a time of observation and reevaluation for me.  Yet she somehow is oblivious to it, and her positive impact on the lives of others.

Thank you, Aunt A, for your strength, your example, your courage, and your compassion.

For what are you grateful at this moment?

Share with me, as we celebrate being grateful!