New Respect for Quilts

I have a new respect for quilts.

Not just the design, the actual effort put in to make it.

They are really works of art!

My new found respect came when a friend of mine suggested I contact Victoria's Quilts Canada.

What is Victoria's Quilts Canada?

It is a wonderful non-profit, volunteer based company that makes quilts (for free) for people who are going through chemotherapy. 

How did this get started? *

It actually started in the US. A woman named Victoria Ann Morrison who was going through chemo told her best friend Deborah Rogers - who was also a  cancer patient - that she felt cold while laying in the facility to get treatment. After Victoria's death, Deborah remembered Victoria’s comment about being cold and wanted to do something. Since Victoria made so many quilts in her life time, Deb thought that this would be a good place to start. And she did :)

In August of 1998, Betty Giffin of Ottawa learned about this wonderful work and brought the idea to Canada. She started slowly, inviting a handful of friends to discuss the possibility of groups getting together to make quilts. In its first year, Victoria’s Quilts Canada distributed 16 quilts to people with cancer.

In 2002 and 2003, they expanded to include eight branches outside the Ottawa area. The non-quilting volunteer base grew to include more administrative help. As in the past, the number of quilts grew along with public awareness.

As with most non-profit organizations, they felt the financial pinch brought on by many world disasters, but the volunteers came to aid by developing innovative fundraising ideas.

Donations started coming in, more branches opened, more volunteers joined. 

From humble beginnings, they continue to flourish: more than 800 volunteers meet in 20 groups in Ottawa and close to 30 branches across Canada. 

Each month, they distribute almost 400 quilts across the country. FOUR HUNDRED QUILTS!

After contacting Victoria's Quilts to see if I could get one for my Dad, I received a wonderful email response. And about 2 weeks later, I received a package in the mail. It was a beautiful quilt.  It really took my breath away. This picture does not do it justice. You could actually feel the love and effort put into this blanket. And it really is warm! They sent a lovely card and prayer along with it. I was very touched by the generosity of this organization. As was my Dad. 

If you know someone who is going through chemotherapy, this would be a wonderful gift to them. All you need to do is send an email :)

Victoria's Quilts Canada

For my friends in the US, you can visit the US web site at www.victoriasquilts.com

*Source: Victoria's Quilts Canada website

Brrrrr!

From what I have heard, if you were to go to travel agency in Europe or Africa, the posters for Canada would be of a beaver standing next to an igloo. I have never been to Europe or Africa so I can't confirm.

But if this is true, I would understand! 

This is the weather as shown on my iphone weather tracker:

And that is without the wind chill.

Yep, it's cold.

Stay warm friends xo

For Today....

Outside my window...it is COLD!!! Minus 27. Winter can kick rocks.
I am thinking...way too much these days. To the point that I let it consume me. Not good for the mind.
I am thankful...for progress and the 4th floor staff of PMH.
In the kitchen...the steaks are marinating. Yum!
I am wearing...my jammies! Too cold to get out of them!
I am creating...a lot more scrapbook pages these days thanks to Jayne's Sketchapalooza class!
I am going...to kick the walking/running into gear. I can't let the weather deter me. Even if its a short walk, I have to get moving.
I am wondering...why people cannot respect others more. Even people who are supposed to be friends. Mind boggling really.
I am reading...The Pact by Jodi Picoult. Just started it. So far so good!
I am hoping...that the chemo continues to do its magic and we can rest easier.
I am looking forward to...more good things for 2013.
I am learning...that sometime what you see really isn't. Fascinating and disappointing all together.
Around the house...things are getting more and more organized and plans being made for changes.
I am pondering...a 7 day cleanse. Just pondering. Pretty sure I'm chicken shit to try it.
A favourite quote for today.. "You don't have to be great to start, you just have to start!" Perfect for me with the plans I have in my head. Time to start!
One of my favourite things...when my two pups snuggle together.
A few plans for the rest of the week...work, scrapbooking, checking out a friends new business venture and the pups are getting neutered. No more humping!
A peek into my day... I love them.

MEME Source: Simple Womans Daybook

Beauty

Everytime I look at this picture, I am filled with emotion.

And not just because it is a stunning picture of a beautiful bride.

It is who the picture is of. 

Could this really be the baby girl my uncle had to sneak me thru the labour and delivery ward at Peterborough Hospital because I was not yet 10 years old (too young to visit back then).

Is this really the little girl making "gully gully" noises with her soosie?

Is this the little girl who would make me arts and crafts?

Could this possibly be the young girl who taught me the marble game?

Or the girl who wanted to hold my boyfriends hand because he was cute?

Or make me dinner?

It is that girl. 

That girl who has grown into an amazing beautiful woman.

My cousin Pamela.

I was so honoured and proud to share her wedding day with her.

I still cannot believe that our little Pam is now a wife. 

A wife!

Isn't she beautiful??

  

Hello Monday - January 14, 2013

Hello Routine.....there were a few bumps, but it is nice to be back in the swing of things.

Hello New Running Shoes......time to strap you on and take the first step to a healthier me.

Hello sickness.......it was bound to happen. Just need to ride it through and drink plenty of fluids. 

Hello Buckleys.......you win. You taste monumentally disgusting and you are even worse in reverse. 

Hello Opinions.......with the recent actions of our school boards it has been interesting, mind boggling, frustrating and enlightening to read, see and hear all the different opinions. And there were many. I just wish during the debates people would have had some respect for the opposite opinion. 

Hello ScrapRoom.......so nice to be able to actually scrapbook as opposed to just "cleaning" it. 

Hello Deception.......a new show on NBC that I am certain will be a big hit. I look forward to tuning in every Monday night. My mondays just got better. 

Hello Monday.....You may not be my favourite day of the week and make me feel panicked but I still salute you as you set the tone for my work week.

Do you participate in Hello Monday? If so, send me your link in my comment section :)

Wordless Wednesday

Hello Monday....

Hello Monday is a Meme that I have seen around on a few blogs, in particular my friend Lee's brilliant blog. If you do not read her blog, do it! Lee found it on another brilliant blog that I am now happy following.
It's a great way to reflect on what your week has just entailed or what is coming up for the new week. I learn a lot about my friends busy lives this way. If you participate, leave me your link in the comments!

Hello 2013 - please be kind.

Hello Routine - now that holidays are over I am looking forward to getting back to our daily routine. I'm sure it will be bumpy the first few days. 

Hello Work - back to the grind I go. I have some pretty fantastic and supportive collegues who had my back the past few weeks. Time for me to get back to it. 

Hello Scrapbook Room - so happy to be getting my room organized so I can spend more creative time in there instead of just moving stuff around.

Hello Jillian Michaels - so happy to have you back on the Biggest Loser. This season I promise to not snack on chips and sweets while watching the show. 

Hello Sid Dickens - I am in love with your art blocks! 3 more to go and my wall block is complete!

Hello Projects - time to get going and get you completed this year!

Hello Move More, Eat Less 2.0 - I joined the amazing Cathy Zielske's class and I intend to learn from it, own it and document it. I can't wait to see the 12 month transition. 

Hello Feeling Scrappy Classes! - Jayne's fun and inspiring sketch class starts today! Good thing I started getting my scrap room in order. Maybe this time I can actually participate! It's not too late to join. Check out  Jayne's Blog here :)

Hello Monday - You may not be my favourite day of the week and you make me feel panicked. I still salute you as you set the tone for my work week. 

Have a great week friends!

One Little Word 2013

I had been thinking of my 2013 word for sometime now. Actually, I had been thinking about it since last year. I think I was looking too hard for the word. I needed the word to find me. So with everything that has gone on in 2012 - the good and the bad - I kept referring to the "journey" that 2013 will be. 

Hello. 

There is my word. 

JOURNEY

I will embrace this word regardless of what comes my way. The good, the bad and the ugly. 

I had registered for Ali Edwards One Little Word back in 2011 but I didn't actually do the prompts or course. I would have to look back to see what word I had chosen. So I will use the 2011 course as  my prompts. First task at hand is to choose the word. Choose it, Define it, Own it. 
Whoohoo! I am not behind in the class!! Yet.... :)

What is your word for 2013??

The Good of 2012

Now that I posted about my 2012 sucking large, like big hairy moose ball suckage, I realized I would be a total jack-ass if I didn't acknowledge that there was some good in 2012. Good that I am very appreciative of.

• The year started with my birthday being acknowledged by some pretty terrific friends. They all wrote sweet messages, tied them to balloons and left them all over the new house. I loved it. 
• Although it had us in a huge financial pickle, we have a wonderful house. We made it our home which is not something we did with the first one in Brooklin.
• We celebrated the lives of those we lost. Beautiful tributes. Seeing and feeling the love. While it was sad to lose them, I have to see the "good" in the lives they led and how much they meant to people. 
• Being a Sunday School teacher for my church to our 3-5 year old members. It is so heartwarming to see and hear faith from their perspective. So innocent and honest. 
• Celebrated Canada Day and being Canadian with our forever friends making it a tradition.
• Discovered Lovesick Lake. A place we will definately be visiting every year with our good friends.
• Celebrated a marriage of my beautiful and amazing cousin Pamela. I was honoured to speak (thru tears) at her wedding and witness so many memorable moments at one of the most important days of her life.
• Scrapbook weekends away with awesome friends.
• Meeting KISS and seeing them play with Motley Crue. Amazing. 
• Reliving the 80's with some more flashback concerts - Pat Benetar, Loverboy, Journey.
• Welcoming two adorable pups into our lives - one planned, one a rescue. Charlie and Dexter!
• I've met some new wonderful friends that I look forward to getting to know better.
• I've discovered new things about myself. And others. 
• We had many gathering with friends, lots of laughs that were needed.
• And the highlight of my year......My family was shown the generosity of my community and friends at a time when it was needed most. I have mentioned on numerous occasions how much I love and adore my friends and the community in Brooklin I live in. I cannot say it enough. I love them with my whole heart. 

And that is how I am going to look back on 2012. 

Goodbye 2012

2012 was a bad year. 

Even worse than my 2009 which I was sure could not be worse. 

Apparently 2012 was up to the challenge of defeating that. 

It's also the reason why I wasn't really blogging. In fact, I have been going back and forth on whether I should just delete this blog. I've decided to keep the blog and maybe use it as some free therapy. 

The reason?

 I am not a 100% sure 2013 will be better. 

But I will put forth my effort to make it count and make some changes. 

My last blog post had me questioning myself and whether I was looking at the destination or the journey. I was not enjoying the journey of my life. I was just waiting for the "destination" part to kick in. 

It didn't. 

I need to go back to being the "Journey" type girl and making the most of it. 

It will be difficult and challenging. 

Just like 2012 was. 

What happened in 2012? 

Selling our home over the new year put us in a financial bind, my Dad had been diagnosed with prostrate cancer and needed surgery, then my uncle Bob died, then Grandma died, friend of my Dad died - all within 10 days, illnesses, broken relationships, spirit crushing changes, you name it, the list just didn't seem to end. And it didn't end well either. 

My Dads cancer is back. 

It is in his lungs, kidneys and abdomen. 

It is so aggressive that they started an aggressive chemotherapy treatment within 4 days of the doctor meeting with my parents to tell them it had spread. 

I hate cancer. 

I hate what it does to people. 

I hate hate hate hate it.  

But we have hope, we have an amazing hospital treating my Dad and we have faith. 

So we are starting 2013 with this journey. 

It will be challenging no doubt, but we are determined to get thru it.

Let the journey begin.......