A Good Week

Our family took a bit of a vacation over the weekend, and the timing couldn't have been better. We were still sick, and while it would have been nice to have not been sick while on vacation, it was also really nice to be on vacation while we were sick. Does that make sense? We spent four days with Andy's parents. They live pretty close, about an hour and half from us, so we see them frequently. It was just really nice to have time to really rest and relax, to share childcare responsibilities, and to not have the option of usual work. We went to a pumpkin patch, took Elise and her cousin bowling (so cute!), and Andy and I had our first real date night in quite a while. Sometimes I don't realize how much I need a break/rest/time alone with my husband until I actually get it. Andy's hometown has a lovely quilt shop (and fabric shop and needlework store - all within a few blocks of each other), and I couldn't spend four days there without visiting it. I brought home these pieces. How would you describe them? If you say turquoise and abstract, I will be very grateful. My sister's birthday is coming up, and she told me that turquoise is her favorite color and that she likes abstract patterns. Fine ideas, but difficult to materialize. Both descriptions - turquoise and abstract - can mean different things to different people. I hope my ideas are at least somewhat similar to hers.

Yesterday I received a package containing 30 of these little hearts. They will be Christmas gifts for a group of volunteers with whom I work. I agonized over what to give them last Christmas (they got gift cards to a local coffee shop), and have pretty much been agonizing all year over what to give them this Christmas. It is quite a relief to have the gifts chosen and in hand. I'm not quite done - I still need to find something for the guys. But there are only four male volunteers, so I'm not all that worried about it.

Andy and I did a little Christmas shopping over the weekend. We picked up these rather gaudy articles (I actually kind of like the blue flowered kerchief) as dress-up items for our niece. I remember when my sister and I got a dress-up box for Christmas when we were little. It was so great! I can't think of a toy that we played with more.

Yesterday was a great mail day. I received a package from my Fall Swap partner. Wow! She really went all out. She included a beautiful handmade scarf - the colors are gorgeous and it is just perfect for our northwest fall weather. Also included were handmade notecards and books (beautifully made!), a beautiful leaf pin, hot cocoa mix, After Eight straws (I have never seen those before - not sure we have them in the US), a fat quarter of autumn-themed fabric, a British quilting magazine (which I've just realized is not in the picture; this is because it is already on my coffee table with a bookmark halfway through it), and the prettiest fall leaves which have been painted and punched. And I'm probably forgetting something, because the box was overflowing with gifts. Thank you, Jackie! You really made my day.

The Fall Swap is the first blogging swap I've done, and it has been a lot of fun. Of course, I'm not done yet. Leave it to me to finish one day before the deadline!

Over the weekend I made it about halfway through a Christmas gift that I'm making, which I cannot post. I'm a little bit stuck on it right now, having a hard time figuring out a particular step. That's all right. It's more satisfying to have a challenge and to figure it out than it is to breeze through a project without any challenges. I also finished a book that I really enjoyed. It is called You Matter More Than You Think by Dr. Leslie Parrott. I know. The title made me hesitate as well. Sounds a little pop-psych, motivational seminar, hug your inner child -ish, right? Well, it's not. It's very good. Dr. Parrott is a professor at SPU, where I attended college, and I have heard her speak on a number of occasions. I first heard of this book from my pastor's wife. She is leading a women's group, using this book as the guide. I went to one of the meetings a few weeks ago, and have not been back due to sickness and vacation, but I will go back. In the meantime, I picked up the book and found that I was not able to stop when I reached the chapter that the group is currently discussing. I had to read the whole thing. It is a refreshing, personal book about the difference that a woman makes with her life. (Yes, it is very much directed to women. Sorry, guys.) Dr. Parrott is very gracious and manages to include all women from all walks of life, without being so general and vague as to have no meaning to any individual woman. I'll be reading this one again.

Ahhh. It has been a great week. Last week, when Andy and I were not feeling well and our daughter was very sick, was a tough week. What a blessing these last several days of rest and fun have been for us! I hope it has been a good week for you as well.