The label

The label, a photo by Laurie_Mike on Flickr.

I love these labels!

Sock Monkey

Sock Monkey, a photo by Laurie_Mike on Flickr.

Yes, I'm going to be grandma again in July! We don't know if we are getting a boy or girl, so I chose to make this quilt with something neutral. Who doesn't love sock monkeys?

Baby Quilt top

Baby Quilt top, a photo by Laurie_Mike on Flickr.

My daughter asked me to make a quilt top for her friend's new baby. She is having a girl in May or early June. I loved this pattern, it goes together so fast and is so easy! Great for a beginner, or a quick gift for someone more experienced.

Building Walls

I had someone tell me once that they thought I was building walls around my heart. I didn't know this person, but, could feel that it was said to me with good intentions. It was said out of love and concern. So, why are walls a bad thing? People who have them are only protecting themselves right?

I also heard someone say that being shy is a form of 'selfishness'. Those of us that have struggled with shyness would undoubtedly argue with that notion, if we weren't to shy to do so.. :)

The reasoning was that by not expounding on your thoughts and knowledge the shy person is depriving others of their talents and gifts. So, with that in mind, I'd like to say that perhaps building walls to protect ourselves is also a form of selfishness. We are not allowing others in our lives, thus shutting out someone that may be able to help us grow. Yes, there is always a chance that someone may hurt us. But, with out those experiences, the good and the bad, we can't become the person that God wants us to be.

Remember, He will not let us down, betray us, or hurt us. Oh How He loves us!

What about tearing those walls down and letting others get to know you? What about opening yourself up and allowing your gifts to be heard and used? It's time to allow others in your life, to expand your horizons.

Thoughts for today

As I was thinking about our Ladies Group at church, and the various activities we had planned last year, and what I thought we might do for the next few months, I started thinking about how much fun we had just playing board games. We sat around big round tables, laughing and sharing each others frustrations about the 'game' we were playing. But, then it occurred to me that it is also what we do in the 'game' of life. We attempt to build relationships on how we play our part in the game. We plan out a strategy, arrange our cards, and then go out into our world and expect to find fullfillment by winning the game.

When I consider this, I wonder how we build true relationships. Are we playing all the cards and finishing the game with a winning hand all the time? Or do we hold back a card or two, just in case. I would submit that occasionally we find that we are so busy working our strategy that we forget to immerse ourselves in real relationships. We only share that part of our life that we find lovable. We don't give in to sharing weaknesses or what is hard about our life. Thus, people don't really know us. They only know what we want them to know. We are playing a game. But, we don't set out to win this one. We just want to get by.

But, what does God want for us? I beleive He is asking us to have fullfilling, open relationships so we can build each other up, know when our friends are weak or hurting, thus needing our prayers. We need each other. We need to have people in our lives that know us well enough to tell us when we are headed for trouble.

Let's stop playing games with one another, and submerge ourselves in true relationships.

Catching up

I hadn't realized it had been so long since I had posted on my blog. There aren't many exciting things going on in my world! The last post was in February, so let's just hit the highlights!

I did work on a baby quilt for my nephew and his wife's new baby. Baby Ethan arrived in July, just a cute as can be! The quilt did get finished, but the baby shower isn't until next week, so I won't be posting a photo until after.

In June, Mike and I took a trip to New York City.



We saw all the 'tourist' sites. Times Square, Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Empire State Building, and went to see "The Phantom of the Opera"
We met frieds there, Marion and Otti Nowak from Berlin Germany.

Day #7 - The last day.. Sunday

We packed a lunch then headed to Kona Baptist Church Then for another picnic and more whale waching at the Place of Refuge Park.

It may seem like it would be boring to spend so much time at the beach just sitting and waiting for the whales to show. But the truth is, I found it very relaxing. The air is crisp, yet warm. No humidity and a cool breeze. The palm trees give you shade, but, not too much. Paradise.

After a few hours it was back to the Honokohau Harbor and the
"Bite Me Restaurant" for another round of fish before I leave. The fish of the day was "Monchong". It's a white fish full of flavor, but not a strong "fishy" one. It was perhaps the best fish I had ever eaten.

Then we headed back to the apartment to get my bag packed. It will be a sad goodbye, but a vacation to remember for a life time.