About Children

Today my baby, Brent, is 30 years old. This photo of Brent and Lyn was taken at a koala park on the north side of Sydney, during their recent visit to Australia. Lyn's petting a koala.Brent's going to be a dad himself on or around May 1. And, he's going to be great at it! Here he's entertaining his nephew, our grandson, Tay.

And Lyn will be a wonderful mom. This is a favorite picture...

Tay "meeting," up close, his male cousin. They'll be seven months apart in age. I can already imagine Christmas 2010. It will be wonderful!

Aren't I just the most fortunate mom and Nana?

Friday Flaunt - Christmas Quilt Display

What a Christmas gift in Australia! St. Mark's Anglican Church in Sydney (Darling Point) is displaying 51 quilts made by quilters involved with Stitchin' Mission #19 that was this past October and November.

Stitchin' Mission coordinators were Di Jobbins and Di Bracey. On Di J's blog you can see all the pictures taken inside this beautiful church. This was a double gift: to St. Mark's worshippers who had the pleasure of seeing these quilts; and children with autism who will receive these quilts. Thank you for these presents!

Merry Christmas!

P.S. If you're in the Des Moines area, you can attend the next Stitchin' Mission that begins January 12. Get information here.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

Christmas means two things to me.

First, children, and the celebration we share with our own. Though my children are grown, a new generation has come along, and I love them as much as my own. They are so precious, and wretchedly missed when they're on the other side of the world.

Eleven year-old Celina reads a Christmas story book to her little brother, Tay, who is nearly three months old.

The birth of our savior, Jesus Christ. My favorite Christmas Bible passage is in Isaiah 9.

"For unto us a child is born...

...And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

I pray that Jesus is the reason you're celebrating Christmas, and that you're blessed to share it with those you love.

Making Sugar Cookies

Last week my daughter-in-law (left) Lyn, and I made Christmas cookies together. I shared with her a favorite recipe that makes soft sugar cookies, if you don't roll the dough too thin. Oops me!Isn't Lyn a cutie? And notice her little baby bump. Yep, I'm going to be a Nana again, and I couldn't be happier about that! The little fella, grandson number two, is due May 1.

By the way, for those of you not familiar with that longhorn logo on her t-shirt, it's from the University of Texas where our son earned his masters degree.

Lyn seemed very pleased with our efforts.

In spite of burning my finger, it was a good time. Well, any time spent with my children is wonderful. Everyone should be as blessed as I am.

Walk with Us

On a clear, sunny, cold morning (8F, -13C), Hogan and I walked at our favorite place, Raccoon River Park. You may remember my May "Walk in the Woods" blog post about this place. From then to now, the area looks a whole lot different!

Hogan's all set to go.

And so am I. (How embarrassing...)

Speculating that the ruts in the trail have been made by a motorized vehicle for the benefit of cross-country skiers, we generally walk in those. Though Hogan loves the cold and snow, he too prefers to run in the compressed snow.

How cold it looks, and feels, with the sun glistening across the icy lake!

Sorta defeating the purpose for being outside, Hogan loves to eat chunks of snow.

An hour spent doing this is okay when going back home means warmth, food, and - for me, sewing time.

Friday Flaunt

Continuing to work on Kellie's Joseph's Coat Quilt Along, and not having much to show for my time, here are a couple little flaunts this week.

Dishcloths. They're not very exciting, but they're a useful necessity I've been making for more than 25 years. I've committed this pattern to memory. It's knitted on the diagonal beginning with 4 cast-on stitches. The yarn is Sugar'n Cream.

Last Saturday Gail Pan blogged about her free Christmas pattern stitched as Redwork. It's small enough to make in a few hours. I pencil-colored the star first, and then used green and gold floss for all the backstitch embroidery. This finished to 8-1/2" X 10-1/2". Thank you Gail, for this sweet design. Click here to download it from Gail's blog. Wishing all my blogospheric friends and family happy, anticipatory days in this blessed season. May the Spirit and joy of Christmas fill your heart.

Each Friday, bloggers who belong to Quilting Down Under chat group post a flaunt of their productivity. Visit Cinzia's blog to find links to all 24 Friday Flaunt-ers.