sometimes we can get so full of ourselves. quilting for those who are in less fortunate circumstances than myself helps me to stay focused on the right things in life. but having this broken hand . . . . well it is a daily challenge to remind myself that it's not all about me:) here is a video that i hope will inspire you as it has me to keep things in perspective . . . .
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well, in my experience, we are not often recognized or appreciated for our work or effort in this life but i always say, God is keeping track . . . not that we do what we do for that reason or to be recognized. but today my quilters have truely been honored for their selfless and loving gifts that came from their hearts and from their hands. they worked through a season when there are a million excuses they could have ligitimately used to not take the time to quilt. but they chose instead to do something noble for another soul who had less. and someone saw their jesture and so today we have been notified that in april we will receive a cash award for an undisclosed amount of money. and this money will further our efforts to love people, to encourage the woman who has been traffiked and robbed of her freedom and very soul. we will quilt along side of the salvation army and the red cross. we will be able to buy the supplies we need to equip teenage orphans so that they can learn through quilting that there is a world out there outside of their felt identity of victim. they can be part of something bigger than themselves and they can learn how to love themselves as they reach out to someone more needy. someone forgotten in a nursing home who through a young girl's quilt and unselfish visit will warm their heart in a way that just might change the way they look at life. and it will be quilts that will reach out and wrap their edges around our world from hands of love. QUILTERS OF GREECE, WE HAVE UNITED for a cause greater than ourselves (and for our remote teams, that includes you). we thank the women's day of prayer committee for awarding us this gift and thus empowering us to be a part of what it takes to make our world in this corner of greece a better place. congratulations ladies:) let us quilt it forward in 2011!!
so today I just got back from another long day in the greek medical system which started out with a 2 hour wait to see the specialist for a re x-ray of my arm (that is in addition to the hour we were there early to avoid the two hour delay). so . . . . this is how they do it in the world of socialized medicine: first they tell all the patients who are to see the doctor on any given day to come at 10:30 am. when all 50 people show up in the stairwell outside the appointment window they all watch one another and make mental and often verbal note of who is first etc. then when the receptionist arrives typically a half hour late and the doctor a half hour after her (probably to avoid the appointment frienzy that begins once the receptionist window is opened) it is a mad rush of all 50 people to the little window all screaming at one another, shouting out their names to the receptionist hoping she will write theirs down first and for the ones who are aware enough to be prepared, shoving some kind of document in her face so she can actually see the name to write it down -- they of course have the best chance of getting close to the top of the list of who goes first etc. seriously????? what receptionist in her right state of mind would even go back to work the next day or what medical condition would drive someone to put themselves through that more than once??? it would be better to just stay home and take your chances. even if your name is on the list, there is no guarentee that someone won't go up to the window before your turn and yell at the receptionist so loudly that she takes them next just to get them out of her hair -- but you don't want to count on that technique either 'cause i've seen that backfire real bad on several occasions too:) hahahahaha!!!
so you get my drift about the long day. apparently -- and i know you probably know this little well known medical fact better than i know the names of the actual bones in my hand -- but once the initial swelling from the break is down a bit they can see things they couldn't see before. my doctor thinks he sees what he is calling a "ruptured" ligament at the site of the break and if he is right we are talking surgery:( not what i want to hear but a probable reason for the pain. hmmmm . . . . wonder if i should take the rope or the ouzo???? so an MRI this week to be sure – or maybe not depending on how far up the list I am able to get:) hope you're having a better day than me -- and it wouldn't take much!! well, perhaps you are here because you saw my lovely picture with my adorable little 7-year old grandson, michael on the home page. there is nothing more magical than a little boy:) having him and my daughter from the states for christmas will be amongst some of my fondest life memories -- for more than one reason!! and what more fun could we have had then to go ice skating on new year's eve????? it was a great day for skating but i must say that i remember my ice skating skills from a prior life living in new york state a bit differently . . . . how old am i???? it just seemed like michael would have so much more fun if we each took a hand and skated along side:) he's just so cheek-pinching cute!! but the second i put my first foot on the ice i was down!! oh yes, but that wasn't good enough for me. i had to fall two more times before i could be satisfied with a break to the left radius located just behind the wrist THAT I USE TO QUILT WITH!!! i knew i broke it -- that sick feeling you get in your stomach and the strange numbness of a hanging limb that refuses to obey simple commands. still i didn't get off the rink for another two more rounds -- at least until everyone stopped looking at me:) hahahahaha. well, all i can say is the studio is stangely silent and will continue to be so for the next 6-8 weeks:( no humming of well oiled machines or the laughter of women making merry as they design and sew their favorite creations. instead of cutting mats on the table there is a gigsaw puzzle with over 1000 pieces in a pattern of random quilts to work on (forshadowing christmas gift from my son -- who knew???) but wait . . . i don't need MY hands to continue this amazing ministry that is not to be denied:) because i have a team . . . a team of women who have joined in with me for a greater purpose -- to quilt it forward in 2011!! and valerie from the UK, bless her dear, sweet heart has already finished her first throw-sized quilt of 2011 and put it in the mail. (you HAVE to check out her photo blog at http://blog.bellabag.co.uk/). it is her and sunny, from maryland in the US, who sent a precious baby-sized quilt already quilted and bound that will inspire us to make a fresh start in 2011. together we will quilt as sisters for the cause of women in bondage to traffiking, to the orphaned child, to the poor and homeless, and to the widow and the aged. please join us in this amazing journey!! from wherever you are . . . . by hand or machine . . . . in your jammies or your heels . . . . MOVING FORWARD WITH YOUR ONE-ARMED FEARLESS (OR JUST STUPID) LEADER!! HAHAHAHAHA!!! ps . . . i put some new quilt blogs on the right. all of these bloggers have contributed something to our projects. check out their sites and see what else they are up to just for fun:) this is sonny's baby quilt -- sooo adorable and just like some babies . . . . late thanks to the greek mail service:) but a little late was just what the doctor ordered so that our team could be inspired for such a time as this!! NOTICE THE CUTE CAST ON THE LEFT ARM:)
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