One Person At A Time

A friend of mine sent me this bookmark a couple years ago. It’s a constant reminder of how Jesus lived His life ~ reflecting the Father’s character to one person at a time. 

Looking back over my life at all the times God intervened, I am in awe of His love and mercy.  Many times I failed miserably at reflecting His character and He continued to love and bless me. 

I hope you know that He loves you too and that no matter what you’re going through in life, He continues to want to salvage our lives “oner person at a time.”

A Rainbow Quilt

Awhile ago I made a quilt for my sister who requested a “Rainbow Quilt.”

There were many patterns on the internet to choose from but I decided to make her a quilt which was simple. She chose the fabric and the pattern that I had forwarded to her.

For the back I chose a fabric that had different variations of color.

Rainbow Quilt

It didn’t take me too long to cut the strips and sew them together.

Rainbow Quilt
Rainbow Quilt

She was very pleased with the result.

Friendly Neighbors

We woke up to about 5 inches of snow today so mid-morning my husband and I headed outdoors in the 15 degree weather to shovel.

After shoveling our driveway and sidewalks I asked my husband if he was up to shoveling the neighbors driveway and sidewalk also. He agreed.

About 45 minutes after we had come inside, we looked out the window to see the neighbor’s son with his snowblower clearing off one small area that we had decided not to do. Had we waited he would have done all of it, but we have no regrets.

Then I received a text from a neighbor two houses down from us and she wanted to drop something off for us and wanted to make sure we were home.

Within minutes she left a large brown bag on the front bench. We waved at her as her young daughter recently was exposed to someone who had Covid so she didn’t want us to chat this time.

Opening the front door I quickly grabbed the bag and brought it indoors. The bag felt warm as I laid it on the kitchen counter.

I opened it and saw it was a loaf of homemade baked bread. Wow! I felt so blessed by this kind gesture of hers.

Homemade Bread

I had planned to make a curry dish for dinner with rice but decided to have this bread instead of rice.

It was delicious!

Vegetarian Curry

Since we moved to a suburb of Illinois a couple years ago we have been blessed with neighbors who shovel our walkways, bring us food and even desserts!

After dinner my husband heard a knock on the door and when he opened it the neighbor whose driveway we shoveled handed him a box and thanked him for shoveling her driveway. She had woken up with a pain in her arm so wasn’t able to go outside.

We were instructed not to open the box until tomorrow …

Hmmm … I wonder what it could be.

Of Sewing Patterns and Mistakes

So … what a laugh God and I had today.

I decided I was going to teach myself how to make Makena a dress or two. Purchased the pattern and headed to YouTube as its quite complicated for a newbie. (They seem to make lots of assumptions on what one knows …)

Finally got all the pieces cut and headed to the sewing machine. Reading each step several times I started sewing. I was so proud of myself until I made it to step 2 which I’m sure is missing instructions.

After sewing two pieces together I took it off the machine and laughed and laughed as I had sewn the armpit together.

Back to the drawing board …

Grief

Grief is not a lack of faith. When I go for walks and suddenly burst into tears and hyperventilate, it is my flesh and mind reminding me that I have suffered a great loss because I have loved greatly.

I turn my face upwards to lean on my precious Jesus who knows my heart and is the only One who can comfort me.

How To Respond When Someone Dies

My husband’s mother recently died and, although they were not close, it had an impact on him.

Sadness crept in and a sense of wondering what to do. We had gone to visit her in another state a month earlier as she had started hospice and we knew the end was near.

People who know my husband know he is a quiet and reserved person, so most chose to send him a text and he responded to each one.

But what else can people do when they aren’t sure exactly how to respond when someone dies?

I have five very simple suggestions:

  1. Call them. Instead of texting, which seems to be more common these days, people need to hear the voice of others saying “we heard your mother died, how are you doing?” Allow the person to talk if they have something to say. You can also share a memory of the person if you have one ~ but, if you don’t have a memory to share, it’s okay to have the conversation be short. It’s not about length of time on the phone but more about checking in to let them know you care and are aware of the situation.
  2. Send flowers. I would wait a couple days or even a week or two to send flowers. This shows you have not forgotten that they are going through a time of grieving. We received the bouquet below and it lasted almost two weeks and served as a reminder that we were thought of.
Sympathy Flowers

3. Send a card. My husband received many of his cards 1-2 weeks after his mother died and they are still on display. Again, a reminder that someone thought of him and cared to send a message.

Sympathy Cards

4. Deliver food or have it delivered. I know this sounds strange to some, but we had a cousin send us a delivery from a company called Wolferman’s which included breakfast muffins and a frozen quiche. Every time we have breakfast we think of the thoughtfulness of that cousin.

5. A year later ~ do one of the above. Although the person has been dead for a year the anniversary of a person’s death is fresh in a person’s mind. I have a friend who, 10 years after his wife has died, still grieves for her so I call him on that day and we share memories of her.

Some feel awkward to call or send something, but small kindnesses really help a person who is grieving.

Assisted Living Quilts

My husband’s stepmother and her sister live in an assisted living facility in a suburb of Chicago.

Not too long ago she mentioned that they could use new bedspreads for their bed. I stayed silent as I had already started quilts for them and it was supposed to be a surprise.

On our next visit with them, we presented them with the quilts. I had made a quilt with butterfly fabric for his stepmother and a quilt with cat fabric for her sister.

Cat Fabric Quilt

Cat Fabric Quilt

I made the back of the cat fabric quilt all one color with the except of adding strips of fabric from the front. It came out quite nice.

Cat Fabric Quilt

To my surprise, the stepmother claimed the cat quilt. She simply loved the fabric on it and told her sister that “the blue one is a better match for you.”

Butterfly Fabric Quilt

Butterfly Fabric Quilt

I found it comical as they are always debating back and forth on things in a sisterly kind of way.

For the cat fabric quilt, I made up a pattern ~ just measured how much I would need for a twin bed and decided on how to cut the fabric.

The butterfly quilt was a pattern that I had used a long time ago and is really easy to make as you can use fabric scraps. Unfortunately I don’t have the a link to share with you on where I found it.

I have made nursing home quilts and have found that the easier the better. The people in nursing homes aren’t picky with what they get, but they are thankful.

A Prayer at Sunset

Sunset at South Ridge Park, Hoffman Estates

Lord Jesus ~ continue to remind me that You are in control.

I can trust You when things around me fall apart.

Help me to fix my eyes on You the One who has sustained me and given me strength. Help me to love those who are called unloveable and to reach my hand out to them as You have so often reached Your hand out to me.

Of Neighbors and Good Deeds

Have you ever … eaten a crepe cake?

The neighbor across the street from us, who loves to bake, brought two slices over the other day from a cake she had made. It was light and delicious.

The cake is made by making very thin crepes then layering them with “frosting” which was made with very little sugar. Later she brought the recipe over and I must say, it looks like it’s very easy to make. A search on the internet also shows many recipes.

We have very sweet neighbors.

Crepe Cake

Mago Grill Review

We recently were looking for a place to eat in Arlington Heights, Illinois and came across the Mago Grill restaurant.

When we arrived they were still setting tables up outside, but we were seated immediately.

Our waiter came and poured water for us and took our drink and dinner selections.

The outdoor ambience was really nice while we were there but the sky was blue and the imminent rain shower that threatened drifted by.

This is not your “typical” Mexican restaurant as we soon found out. The menu is clear on what you get though.

My friend ordered the Arroz Con Pollo which is baked in a flaky pastry. It is much different than what I grew up with. Different but delicious.

Arroz Con Pollo In Pastry Puff

The dish I ordered, which was also quite delicious, was the Fillete Churrasco. I had asked for it to be cooked well done and most times it comes either burnt or overcooked. This time I was pleasantly surprised as it was well done and juicy.

Fillete Churrasco

Since I didn’t want the mashed potatoes, I asked if I could substitute them for the sweet plantains ~ I was accommodated with no extra charge.

We will definitely return to dine here again. Both service and food were great!