November 18, 2008 – Thanksgiving

 

Teacup Quilts  8640 Castle Hill Avenue  Las Vegas, NV 89129  (702)254-8721 or (800) 451-0472

 

In this issue:

            - Giving Thanks

            - Retreat Sep 09

            - Classes at Adult Center

            - Shop Hop

            - Road to California

 

With Thanksgiving just a week away, I’ve been reflecting on reasons to be thankful.  I’m thankful to God for many, many things.  But I keep remembering The Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr.  Most of us know the first part but I think the entire prayer sums up what I’ve come to know in these recent years.  The prayer goes like this:

 

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time;

Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.

 

In just two short weeks, my life has had a little of all these things.  I cannot change what is happening to my sister-in-law.  She is still on the edge.  We don’t know if she will pull through or move on.  It makes it difficult to plan anything because you don’t know if you will get that call and have to drop everything to go.  On a positive note my family’s reaction has been to be thankful for the times we have together and not let the pettiness of life destroy our relationship.  We have all talked about final wishes and where all those important papers are.  So I’m thankful for the wake-up call.

 

I am thankful that I have an opportunity to change some things in my life.  The reason my husband’s surgery is postponed is because the doctor wants him to lose some weight.  The timing couldn’t have been better.  His sister’s condition would have probably happened anyway but in the back of his mind I think he feels if her health had been better maybe it wouldn’t be as bad.  So we have both been walking and exercising daily along with changing our eating habits.  I know most of you feel I don’t have to worry about my weight (and thank God I don’t) but I’ve got to tell you I haven’t felt this energetic and just plain good in years.  So I’m thankful for the prompting to make a healthier lifestyle change.

 

I am thankful I am finally learning that I can’t control anything – people, circumstances, the economy.  It’s bad enough I have to try to control myself!  And while I certainly don’t consider myself to be wise I am learning.  I’m learning that no matter how hard I try to plan my day or week, I have no control over some of the things that happen.  But I try to make the best of whatever life throws at me.  So when I look back I can see how God might have orchestrated the circumstances so I can be blessed.  Like having grandchildren interrupt your schedule but finding it was really a great day and a great opportunity to be a part of their lives.  If He didn’t do things like that I would just lock myself in my house and do all those selfish things and projects I would want to do.  So I’m thankful for learning to enjoy the moment.

 

I am also thankful that hardships don’t make me feel like a failure or devastate me.  Having to close the shop was a difficult decision but I’m so thankful I’m not stressed about keeping the doors open.  I am at peace with my decision especially since it proved to be the right decision.  And even in the face of trying to make it all work, I’m very thankful for the opportunity to have met so many of you.  Thanks for hanging in there with me and my ramblings.  So I’m thankful and trusting that whatever God has planned for my life, I will surrender my expectations and enjoy the ride. 

 

Finally I’m really thankful for the opportunity to have some R & R time.  What better way to rest than a quilting cruise?  If you haven’t gone to the website, be sure to visit so you can check out the information for the Mexican Riviera cruise.   The dates again are September 20- 27, 2009 leaving from Los Angeles, with stops in Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta aboard the Mariner of the Seas by Royal Caribbean.

 

 All the information is available by clicking on the link on our home page.  You can register on the website or there is a number to call.  The travel agency is handling all the details of the trip except the fun things like planning our group party and mystery quilt.  Anyone interested in doing the mystery project will need to contact me for the particulars.  I designed a quilt just for this retreat but before I go “over board” (no pun intended), I’d like to first find out how many people would be interested in participating.  Also to help me in planning on board events, if you are planning to go but just haven’t made your reservation, could you let me know so I have an idea of how many people will be going.

 

Join me every Tuesday morning from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm at the Centennial Hill Active Adult Center.  The class is FREE and is open to any member (membership is just $2 per year and you must be at least 50).  You can come just to work on your own projects, meet some new friends or work on group projects.  If you know someone who wants to learn to quilt and they fit the criteria, they are welcomed to join us.  The center is inside the YMCA at 6601 N. Buffalo.  They are keeping an interest list so we know how many to prepare for.  So if you’re interested, call 229-1702 and tell them you want to be put on the list.  They will also have a list of supplies needed for any group project I’m doing.  There are ladies at every level of experience and they all love to share whatever they can.  There will be no classes in December.

 

It was great to see some of you during the Shop Hop.  I really enjoyed being on the other end of the counter.  I found a few new gadgets I had to have.  Did you see the binding ruler and the prairie point ruler?  I haven’t had a chance to try them out yet but I’m sure they will make cutting bias strips and prairie points easier.

Looking for a ride to Road to California?  Susan Tracy with Quilt Tours of Las Vegas is offering a bus trip to the show.  The tour leaves Friday, Jan 16^th and returns the following day.  The tour includes round trip transportation, hotel, breakfast and passes to the show.  The cost ranges from $191 per person for double occupancy to $160 for quad occupancy.  For complete details and to register, visit her website at www.quilttoursoflasvegas.com or call (702) 647-8458.

 

I will be taking a little trip just after Thanksgiving so I won’t be sending out another newsletter for 4 weeks.  I hope your Thanksgiving holiday will be filled with love and laughter.  And try not to eat too much turkey!