HODGEPODGE WEDNESDAY, AND A "TA DA" MOMENT...

Well, I may have finally caught up as I am posting this on the right day, lol.  I do love these hodgepodges and hope you do too.  Join in HERE if you would like to play along.

1.  It's been said that one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day.  Do you think that's true?  Do you find that an easy exercise most mornings?  What's something positive you told yourself today?  If you missed that boat, what's something positive you could tell yourself tomorrow?  Oh I whole heartedly believe that!  I believe I am generally just a positive person over all.  There is almost always something to be thankful for, or to be glad about or something.  Not to be a Polly Anna or anything, but it is just true.  I believe it is a biblical principle. You reap what you sow.  If you fill your mind and heart with sad, depressing or angry thoughts, you will be sad, depressed, and annoyed.  But if you look for the good, happy, and blessed things around you, they are always there.  Sometimes they are harder to find than others, but they are there.  Today I thanked God for my many, many blessings, and told myself that I WOULD finish that quilt/blanket.  And I did, lol.

2. There will be a karaoke at the next party you attend...are you in?  Or will you be faking a sore throat?  Well, the next party I am attending is for my grandson Cody's 5th birthday this coming Sat. Considering it is just family, if there were to be karaoke, I'd be totally in.  Depending on the people, I think it is fun.

3.  January 29th is National Puzzle Day...what's something you've found puzzling recently?  Well, again I would have to be going back to the latest blanket/quilt I made.  I had to figure out what size to make my squares, in order to know what size my 9 patches would be, in order to know what size my squares would then be after they were cut, in order to make the piece 30 by 30!  I was VERY overwhelmed with the math/puzzle of it all, lol

4.  Jigsaw, crossword, acrostic, logic, sudoku, word search....what's your favorite kind of puzzle,. and when did you last work one?  I love, love, love word search.  (though I really like all of these puzzles!) I last did one on the way to and back from New Mexico.  I played with my 9 year old grandson who loves them too.  We made a competition out of it complete with a timer etc.  We both loved it, and let me tell you, he was good!  lol

5.  Recently a writer by the name of Amy Glass ruffled feathers with a post she wrote saying she looks down on young women with husbands and kids and she's not sorry.  Among other things, she says women will be equal with men when we stop saying house work and real work are equally important.  You can read the whole piece by clicking HERE.  WOW, I honestly can't believe I just read that.  How could any intelligent person really think such a thing?  Sad, really.  Considering I have spent pretty much my entire adult life as a stay at home mom and wife, I feel I have at least a little bit of credibility as to it's worth.  Yes, dishes, laundry, cooking and the like are not nearly as glamorous as other things I might have done with my time, but it does NOT make them less of a job, or somehow not really work.  And raising kids?  Come on, that had to be said by someone who has not done such a thing.  And if all the women stopped this and went about their lives never having children, how then does the world go on?  Raising intelligent, independent and productive, God loving adults, who then go on to raise others, takes devotion, WORK, prayer, WORK, and way, way more time then she might realize. (and did I mention work?)  And surely the end result is as rewarding as anything else others might accomplish?  I guess I would say that it is probably one of the most important jobs out there, and sadly one of the most neglected at times as well.  And I do feel we will all reap what we have sown here (see number 1) as well.  OK, I will step down from the my soap box.  I am not meaning in any way to put down women with children who MUST work.  In today's world, it has become a necessity sometimes.  But I will defend the role and the need for stay at home moms to the bitter end.

6.  What's a product you've noticed in the grocery store that you'd like to try, but haven't yet?  Well, truthfully a lot of my grocery shopping is done by a list that I make out for my hubby, because with my bad arthretic knees, grocery shopping is difficult.  I miss it more than you can know and this is one of the reasons.  Sometimes I just need to walk the aisles slowly and LOOK at what is there for my inspiration, haha.

7.  The author, Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll) was born this week in 1832 (January 27th).  Which character from his celebrated novel Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, would you most like to meet, and why?  Here's a link to a character list if you need help on this one.  Well, believe it or not I am not at all familiar with this story.  I never could get into the movie either, lol.  And reading over this list of characters, they all sound horrid with the exception of maybe Alice herself or The Gryphon who is a servant to the Queen who befriended Alice.  The Gryphon escorts Alice to see the Mock Turtle.  And I guess because at least this character sounds nice, lol

8.  Insert your random thought here.  Well, I feel like saying a great big TA DA!!  Here is my recently mentioned and finished blanket/quilt.  This was an idea I kind of just threw together so I am calling it a Debbie original.  Honestly, this is the quilt I would have designed had I been able to do just what "I" wanted, lol.  It just seems more like a baby blanket/quilt.  I am hoping she loves it too, but I am happy with the way it turned out.  It is also the first quilt/blanket where I did everything involved. including the quilting stitches.  Sorry if it sounds like I am bragging, lol. I am just pleased it turned out the way I saw it in my head.  Many, many, many, of my projects never make it to completion table let alone get a TA DA moment!

THIS IS NOT TAKEN WITH MY GOOD CAMERA, SORRY.  BUT I REALLY LOVE THE COLORS AND FEEL OF THIS QUILT

CLOSE UP ON THE APPLIQUED MOMMY AND BABY GIRAFFE...I LOVED THE FABRIC I FOUND FOR THEM!

Also am including a cute picture of Luke who was 8 months old yesterday!

AND YES, HE IS JUST THIS HAPPY AND GRINNY 99% OF THE TIME!  SHE FOUND THE DARLING LITTLE HANDKERCHIEF BIB ON ETSY....SOO CUTE, AND ALL THE RAGE I GUESS. 

And finally I JUST had to show you this precious picture of little Sam at the cardiologist's yesterday. He has been seeing one every few months since he was born as he had a small hole in his heart.  Well good news yesterday.  It is completely closed!!  Thank you Jesus.  He still has a small, unremarkable heart murmur, but he is ALL DONE with the cardiologist!

I LOVE THE TRUSTING LOOK ON HIS FACE AS HE LOOKS AT HIS DADDY DURING THIS TEST!  SUCH A DADDY'S BOY.  SUCH A RESPONSIBILITY WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT.  HE WATCHES EVERYTHING THIS MAN DOES AS HE IS CLEARLY HIS HERO.  GLAD MIKE IS UP TO THE JOB!

Hope you all are having a good week.  I have lots of sewing to do, and I am hoping to have a productive day!

Blessings to you all, Debbie