Watching and Waiting

This weekend, there has been no sewing. No running. Just watching and waiting.  Waiting for what, you may ask.  My mom was moved to hospice care two weeks ago with heart failure.  She is going down pretty fast.  We were able to move her back to the assisted living with some helpers to sit with her when we aren't here.  Just myself and my brother are available to be near.

I've stayed with her the last two nights and again tonight.  She seems so close. She is 88 and has lived a good long life. We've been blessed that her mind is still sharp.  Even now, although she is weak she still knows us, extended family members, and things that have happened years ago.  A family member dreamed a dream when my Dad died.  She dreamed he was walking up a beautiful path the night he died.  A few weeks ago she dreamed he was walking back down the path. A week or so later, she dreamed he was at the bottom of the path, shuffling his feet as if he was waiting on something.  Then a couple of nights ago, he was reaching out his arms.....to her.  We feel like the Lord is going to let my Dad escort her to heaven. She is ready and wants to go.  

Death is sacred. A difficult but necessary part of life.  

I hope I have the dying grace she exhibits.  We appreciate your prayers for comfort and peace as she transitions to the hereafter.

Happy Easter!

From my son and his family......

From me and the hubby.....

And from Greybeard, one of our cats.......

I hope that you celebrated the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Blogging

I've not blogged as much in the last year or so as I've done in previous years.  I have a website now for my quilting but I miss the friends I made, who occasionally would comment on my projects.  Last night I pulled out my blog book for 2014-2015 and so enjoyed reading through it.  I'm determined to get back into posting about life - cooking, family, running, quilting, just whatever.  Blogging is a wonderful way to record daily life, and if you print a book from your blog posts every year or so, it will give your children, grand children, or even great grandchildren a look into your life.....

I want to capture some of the wonderful sights my son and his family are enjoying in Scotland.  Here are some pictures they sent recently. I am so thankful they have friends to go on adventures with in their new country.  I believe Katie said this was Sir Walter Scott's home (the "castle house" as Emma and her friend Andrew called it).

Emma and her little adventure buddy.

My beautiful daughter-in-love and sweet baby Haddon, and a family shot.

I worked on a quilt this afternoon.  I'm ready to take the Craftsy class on improving my machine quilting skills.  After doing this for about eight years now, I should be better than I am.  One thing I learned today......don't pick a backing thread without looking through all your thread first.  I picked a grey, thinking I didn't have a navy cone, but I did! The backing was navy and my filler quilting isn't that great.  The bobbin thread showed up a lot more than I would have liked on the backing.

Can't post a full picture yet.  The block is going to be in the next Quiltmaker 100 blocks issue.  I submitted my quilt and they decided to pass on it.  Oh well, win some and lose some.

Race and Vacay

The husband can't really do the beach due to his disability, but he has graciously agreed to go to Siesta Key, Florida for a few days for his wife to enjoy the beach :).  A much needed get away after my half marathon on Sunday.  If you want to read more about my race, head on over to my running blog lateliferunner.blogspot.com.

We did our "once every 15 years beach trip" and we only have four nights and three days here in Siesta Key.  Several of our friends have raved about this beach and it is very nice.

We were surprised and how hot and crowded it is this early in the season.  We are staying at an older complex but we love the screened porch view.

 I was able to get in a couple of miles walking on the beach, which will be all the beach time I allow this skin.  Then we enjoyed sitting out on the porch people watching and enjoying the breeze.

Cleaned up and ready to go shopping, eating out, and maybe to a movie!