Can I be random for a minute?

I thought I'd share a little bit of what's been going on behind the scenes around here.  This will probably be a long post and I apologize.

I feel like I need to start off with explaining that I've been in a pretty big "funk" since Spring Quilt Market.  Now don't get me wrong, Market was a great experience.  I am so happy that I got to see what it was all about, meet some really amazing people and prove to myself that I could do it. I couldn't have done it without my amazing father who constructed my booth, some really supportive friends and a dear Sister-In-Law.  But, it was a super stressful time for me.  It was hard to juggle all of my market responsibilities with my wife and mother responsibilities.  I was stressing BIG TIME about the heavy walls we had to construct for my booth and I worried a lot since I had never been before and didn't quite know what to expect.  I had to rely a lot on the help of others (especially my dad) and that was hard for me.  Basically, I was a big old mess.

Market was good though.  People seemed to enjoy my booth and patterns and that felt good.  But all in all, it was a rather slow event.  I was lucky to come out a head.  So when it was all said and done, I felt a little deflated.  I definitely needed a break.  Over the last few months I've felt really unmotivated, overwhelmed, moody and frankly I think I've just been a little depressed.  Not because of Market but maybe that kind of triggered it.  I was just going through a phase.  Do you know what I mean?

I'm feeling A LOT better now and I think two things helped.  First, after talking to my husband one day, I kind of realized that this new {slower} pace was a normal pace.  I'm one of those people who is a "doer" and I find satisfaction in marking tangible projects off my list.  It's helped me to realize that taking time to smell the roses is necessary and good.  Right after I had that epiphany I was talking to a family member about everything.  We had both been experiencing our own kind of "funks" and we both had been impressed recently to do more personal scripture study.  Earlier this year I made a goal to have more faith, hope and to study the scriptures more.  I had some ups and downs in the first two departments but the personal scripture study was pretty much a big fat zero.  So after talking to my sister in law, I made a vow to make time each day to read the Book of Mormon.  The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ and confirms the truths found in the Bible.

.

I have felt so good connecting with God on a more regular basis.  I feel better.  Things are going more smoothly.  Things are more manageable.  I know that is what was missing from my life.  I am receiving the spiritual, mental and emotional strength I needed by reading the scriptures.  I am happier.

A few more random things...

We've been keeping busy with indoor soccer games.  My son and I are both on teams.  Can I tell you what a big joke that is since I've never played a day in my life {until a few weeks ago}.  It was quite the anxiety-ridden experience at first, but I am beginning to enjoy it :)  Who says you can't learn a new sport at the age of 33?  Remind me to tell you about when they asked me to be goalie at my first game...

I've been sewing up some items for my sister's booth at the world's largest Christmas bazaar {starting next week) in Portland, OR.

I know she's going to do great.  She's got a great support system and I'm so proud of her for doing it!

I'm almost finished with a new Fall table runner.  Nothing like last minute, right?  Well, a few months ago, I won 8 Fall-ish fat quarters at my quilt guild.  I couldn't figure out what to do with them.  I had been itching to make another rendition of my Square Root pattern so I decided to kill two birds with one stone  and use them to make a table runner.  I still have to quilt it.  But I used up every last inch of those fat quarters by using them to make a scrappy back too.

I also attended a funeral this weekend.  It was for a friend named Jacqueline Hill.  A young mother {about my age}.  She had a bad accident about 5 years ago that resulted in her being a quadriplegic.  She is the mother of six.  She was beautiful and wild and she will be greatly missed.  I am thankful I had a few hours with her a couple of weeks ago so we could go to lunch {just the two of us}.  We also had a quick blogging session together about a week before she past away.  She was a great example of someone who loved life, her husband, motherhood and never judged.  During this season of thanksgiving, I hope we can all take the time to be more grateful for the little things. 
And the big things. 

~ Amber