It is only December 8th and what a start to this month it has been. I got all 8 of the quilts back from the quilter that I am giving as gifts this year. Four flannel lap quilts for the men in my life and one each for my daughters (bed size) and another for my sister-in-law in Florida. I made 18 aprons (some for donation to the church fair) for gifts as well. I am still working on my civil war tribute quilt as well as the Back to Nature quilt that I started last year as a block of the month. I am also still working on the Orca Bay Mystery Quilt with Bonnie Hunter that we started in November. It has certainly been a busy time for sewing in my house.
I had some terrible news as well to start off December. My very dear friend, Father Dan Harris, is gravely ill. Dan was my priest, my boss, my counselor, my mentor and is my very dear friend. I met him in 1980 when my Dad passed away. Dad was an ex-chief in our local fire department and Dan was his chaplain in the department. When my Dad passed my Mom asked Dan to do the funeral services and that is how we met. I was so impressed with his loving support of our family and the wonderful tribute he put together for my Dad that I began going to St. Mary's Church shortly thereafter. I have been there ever since. Dan was our rector for ten years and for 7 of those years I was his secretary. He was a vibrant preacher and an amazing teacher. The kids loved him...little ones and big ones! He got people going to church that had never darkened the door step before. He began a youth ministry locally and throughout our diocese that still continues today. He supported our volunteers at ground zero after 9-11 by leaving his home in Massachusetts and going to the Trinity Church across from the WTC and ministering to the men and women there. He came back to town so many times after he was transferred to MA to do family funerals, baptisms and weddings (including mine). He has been such a loyal friend to our family over the last 30 years. Now he is back here in Hampton Bays for his retirement. He became ill suddenly with complications to his diabetes and I am told it is grave. I am deeply saddened by this news and pray constantly for a miracle to take place and for him to be healed. I did get the news this morning that they removed the ventilator from him and he is breathing on his own and they are weaning him off some meds and so far he is responding very well. God is so good. There are so many people praying for Dan to beat this that God just has to hear us all.
On another note...I am a mother with daughters that are at odds with each other and it is putting a real damper on our holiday celebrations as a family. It is causing us to cancel out our usual Christmas Day gathering and only being together as a whole for about an hour on Christmas eve morning. I want them to sit down like two grown adults and hash out whatever is causing this rift. I am trying very hard not to get involved or in the middle of it. I tell them that I love them both and will not take sides or agree or disagree with either of them. They must work this out themselves, but to do that they have to talk to each other. So far that is not happening and the hurt continues. So I will be spending Christmas Day at home with my husband...no kids...no grandkids. It will be a first for me and I gotta tell you...I am not looking forward to it. I wish that they would get on the bandwagon of peace on earth and good will towards sisters! I pray that it eventually is settled with them because this whole thing is causing me great pain.
This weekend my quilt buddies (thank God for them) are getting together for our Christmas celebration at Sue's house. I am really looking forward to it. Just being with friends who share my love of all things quilting is such a joy! I am amazed at the friends I have made since walking into Pieceful Quilting two years ago. They are all such wonderful caring women...and fun too!
That's all for today folks....be back soon.
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