3 years of love

Our church has a small seminary with a three year cohort.  At some point, I decided that I was going to make a quilt and lovie for each seminary baby.  This seemed like a great, easily sustainable idea.  I love the seminary wives and faithfully pray for them.  At first there weren't that many wives...or that many babies.  It didn't occur to me that there would be a baby BOOM near graduation.  Man, have I been busy!  But, really, I'm not complaining...I love sewing and these babies and their families.  I'm so excited for how God is going to use them as they go out into the world...and move away...sniff sniff.

 This owl is made from the pocket of corduroy pants.

 This is a bear.  The quilt had gray bears.  But, my son says this looks like a sloth.

 This is a pug...to go with a doggie quilt.  It's also partially curduroy.

 This was a very special llama for a couple who are both MK's.  I like this llama so much I might make one for myself sometime.

 This owl was scope creep, as my husband calls it when I go off task.  He was for a pastor's fourth child because I wanted sew, the baby was so stinking cute and I figured fourth babies probably don't get many handmade gifts.

 This was for a baby in our Faith Group.  I love this fabric!!

 This is a hedgehog...turned out WAY harder to make than I anticipated.  He's made from the shoulder of a sweater I found.  I made dreads outta snipped up, felted sweater.

 A turtle...neck and body from felted sweater.

 A fox...with a tie for a tail.

And my favorite, a cactus...for a sweet couple who lived in Las Vegas before seminary and used to go cactus hunting.

I'm working on my final quilt and lovie before graduation Saturday.  It's also something unusual I've never tried before...an avocado...pictures to come!

Aging: It is not death to die

It seems lately that I am pondering aging quite a bit.  I am dealing with my own middle age...the unfulfilled desires, the dreams that won't be achievable, the search for contentment in Christ alone.  

I'm also blessed (yes, I said blessed) to get to watch my parents deal with the aging process.  With my Dad's cancer and my Mom's TN (Trigeminal neuralgia) I get to watch them live out their Theology and it is an amazing and humbling thing.  As I helplessly watch their struggle with pain, disease and even their own sin in this broken world, I am repeatedly shown God's faithfulness and that He.is.enough.  

AND...I also am experiencing the awful, awful world of dementia as my grandparents struggle and I prepare to visit them and love them well.  I've been perusing blogs on this subject and thought I'd share them below.

Alzheimer's, the Brain, and the Soul-  "To prepare for memory loss, read the Bible, pray, and sing every day — and tell loved ones about your disciplines."

7 Resolutions for Aging and Dying Well- AND 8 Resolutions on Aging-  These ones probably spoke most to what I've been struggling with...my own sinfulness and the fear that I will dishonor God in my old age...when my mind goes.  I need to resolve some of these things...now.

The Dignity of those with Dementia-  "The real test and the real question for me was, Would I patiently, graciously — as if for the first time on the tenth time — answer him with grace and interest, engaging the person who was there in that moment? Such challenges of love are no accident. They are no accident." 

"God didn’t dream that into my life for nothing. That was a painful gift to me and a test. We all will have them, so let us be full of grace as we give ourselves to care for those who have become too weak physically or mentally to care for themselves. God’s priorities for efficiency in this world are not ours."

Retirement Homes or Caring for Aging Parents-  "The main issue for the Christian child of aging parents is not the precise circumstances. The main issue is, are we servants or are we selfish? Are we ready to sacrifice and trust God with the joy to meet every need?"

Amid all of this I like the words to this song...It is Not Death to Die...