30 Days of Gratitude - Day 17

Today, I am grateful for old photographs. I spent some time today going through some old pictures that I have scanned from the boxes and boxes of ones at my parents' house. Looking at them made me laugh and remember the simple times of when I was a kid. I had a great life growing up....

Looking at these pictures makes me think of the song "Photograph" by Nickleback:


Oh, and just as a warning, my family may come and pinch my head off my body when I post some of these photographs....

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 16

This is NOT a picture of me and I do NOT have manly feet!!

Today, I am grateful that I have a job that allows me to work from home a couple of days a week. I could probably work from home every day of the week, as long as I actually get my work done, but I know that if I don't go into the office and see other human beings that I will lose all ability to maintain my personal hygiene and will never put on pants that aren't stretchy again.

The benefits of working from home are too numerous to really go into, but the primary ones are that it gives me the chance to do things like laundry and dishes in between meetings and reports, thereby freeing up my weekends to do the stuff that I REALLY love to do like watching marathons of America's Next Top Model (Freudian slip that I first typed "marathongs"?). It also will alleviate some of the stress that my poor puppy has when I leave him (more on that in a separate posting).

Thank you technology gods who have created the ability to get my work done even when I'm not at the office....as long as I do not turn into Homer Simpson when he worked from home....

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 15

Today I want to pronounce my gratitude for my church, Horizon Unitarian Universalist church.

I've only recently started attending, well this past summer, and it has been a great experience. I had looked into the church about 10 years ago, but only in a cursory way. It wasn't until this summer that I decided that I really wanted to find out what the church was all about and I went to investigate. I was happily surprised at how open and welcoming the members were.

The services open with the following Affirmation:
Love is the doctrine of our church;
The quest for truth is its sacrament,
And service is its prayer.
To dwell together in peace,
To seek knowledge in freedom,
To serve humanity in harmony with the earth,
Thus do we covenant together. 

They also pronounce the importance of the "Free Pulpit and Free Pew" which states that we come together with the freedom that the Minister may say what he wants without fear and that we as congregants are free to accept what is being spoken or not accept it. It is a very open church and that is what I really enjoy about it.

I chose today to be grateful for my church because I am part of a small group that meets every other Thursday, this being one such day, where we are exploring Spirituality and what it is and how it impacts us. It is allowing me the opportunity to discuss my ideas in a safe environment and learn from others. In the end, I hope to gain a new perspective on myself and to improve who I am....make me a better me.

If you are unfamiliar with the Unitarian Universalists (UUs), here is a list of what the UU Association promotes:

• The inherent worth and dignity of every person,
• Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations, 
• Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations, 
• A free and responsible search for truth and meaning, 
• The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large, 
• The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all, 
• Respect for the interdependent web of all existence, of which we are a part. 

Okay, to be totally, 100% honest I am not "officially" a member yet, I have only been considered a visitor. However, on Sunday, I will be "signing the book" as they call it and becoming an official member of the church. This is a little exciting for me as I have never been a member of a church as an adult.

I Got Flowers

First the guard at the gate called me and asked which lobby I was closest to so that the delivery person would know where to bring my flowers. When I got this call, I hung up thinking they probably had the wrong person, but whatever. Then, the guard at the front desk called and said that I had flowers, so I was convinced that it was really for me and had to walk down there to get them.

As I'm walking down, I was thinking "what could these be for? who would have sent me flowers? do I FINALLY have a secret admirer or stalker?"

When I get to the front desk and read the card, it says "Thank you for all your wonderful hospitality!! Melissa"....Being the lack of short term memory person that I am, I'm thinking "what?!?" Then it dawns on me....Melissa.... My friend who came down and stayed with me and went to Texas Renaissance Faire with me.....duh!!

Now I have lovely fall flowers in my office with a big reminder: ADD WATER NOW!! I'm lucky to have folks who remember me with such kindnesses. 

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 14

Today, I am grateful for a football game that was played some 20+ years ago that sealed my decision to go to Texas A&M. I admit that I'm not a rabid A&M football fan like some people (Sara), but I do like to see my team win.

This past weekend, we won and we won BIG!! We beat the hell outta the number 1 team, Alabama and it was exciting. I was watching the last couple of minutes of the game with some friends in a bar after Sara's bridal shower, and needless to say we were on pins and needles.

Well done, Aggies. Well done. 

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 13

Today I want to express my gratitude for the written word. I love books. I love physical books that I have stacked on the bedside, coffee table, shelves, etc. and I love my electronic books on my Kindle that I flip through reading off and on. I love going out to Amazon.com and perusing what books they have recommended for me. When I'm in Target, I wander through the book aisle. If I'm at a mall, I will swing through a Barnes and Noble just because. I love books.

Sadly, I do not have a library card because, well, I don't like to read books that have been man-handled by other people. My parents are BIG library book borrowers, which is great for them. I just can't do it. I'm like George Kastanza from Seinfeld who got in trouble for taking a book into the restroom at the book store...I imagine everybody takes their books to the bathroom, especially library books and I just don't want to think about it. 

Veteran's Day Project

As I mentioned earlier, I am grateful to have had today off as my customer observes Veterans Day. I took this time to start a new project and I'm 2/13ths of the way finished....

I've decided to make a calendar for the office. Each month there is a different block and then the 11 numbers (0-8, plus an additional 1 and 2... the 6 will be turned over to be used as the 9). So, here is what I've accomplished thus far:

Nothing too spectacular, but it made me happy while making it. Now I just have 11 more months to make....

New Challenge for ABBA

My Mom (Creative Crone) was recently invited to join an international on line quilting group called Art Quilts Around the World.

Well, when I replied to the group's blog about how excited I was for my mom and that I'd like to join, as well, I just haven't had a lot of experience at art quilts, one of the members reached out to me and invited me to join the group as well....even as a beginning art quilter.

So, my new challenge is that I will be taking on their challenges and stepping into making art quilts. I've very excited.... it will certainly be new for me. The first challenge is to create a self portrait. Hmmm, what to do....

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 12

Today I am grateful that my customer is a department of the U.S. Government, because that means that I have a holiday today. This will give me the change to kick back and relax and have some ABBA time. My plan for the day is to take Leo to daycare and come home and hole myself up in my studio and work on a couple of projects.... I can't wait!!

Wonder Watson Wedding Quilt

Yesterday Sara (Wonder Watson-to-be) had her Bridal Shower. I made her a quilt in the colors of their guest room, as well as in honor of Randall (the guy helping her hold the quilt in the above picture) as a former Marine. I have to say that I am a little proud of this quilt. The pattern is called Lover's Knot, which I thought was also appropriate as it represents the entwining of two lives. There are patterns out on the web that I could have (and probably should have) downloaded and used, however, instead, I drew this one out on graph paper and then figured out how to make it without a bunch of set in seams....that was the challenge.

Congratulations to the happy couple!!

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 11

I am grateful for all the men and women in our Armed Forces...past, present, and future. Thank you for stepping up to care for and defend our nation.

I especially want to recognize those members of the Armed Forces that are a part of my family:

• My dad, Richard
• My grandpa, Edmunds
• My cousin's boys, Christopher, Billy, and Josh
• My brother-in-law's brother-in-law, Brant 
• My sister-friend's fiance, Randall
• My friends, Christine (Chris), Scott, and Phil
• And all the others that are out there that I've either not been aware of or have forgotten.