I started today in tears, feeling frustrated, tired, and lonely. It’s been a roller coaster week for me emotionally–I’ve cried about something every day, and every little thing hurts my feelings these days. (NB: More than 3 hours of uninterrupted sleep would likely help this. In fact, a serious dearth of sleep is the biggest cause of all this.) But God is good! A lunch date with Carrie turned into an all-day visit with she and Eric staying for dinner. Tommy behaved all day long. I got the perfect present in the mail for Lizzie from two of my favorite students. And this afternoon I cried tears of joy with a newly-engaged friend. I started the day asking God to please help me not feel like such a lonely loser. I’m ending the day praising Him for answering my prayers beyond what I could have hoped for. As I think over the day, I can’t stop smiling! My parents are on their way for the weekend, we’re dedicating Lizzie on Sunday, and we have several fun visits and visitors planned over the next couple of weeks. God is good! He gives grace and blessings far beyond what we ask or think…
it’s been a busy quilting spring for me, what with Mariel’s quilt (my main project), 10 friends having babies this summer, and wanting to do a special big boy quilt for Tommy’s new room (which hasn’t happened yet). Two of my Shepherdsfield friends had their babies in the past few weeks, so I used some extra fabric from Mariel’s quilt to make this first one for little Isabel. Then Elizabeth was born and life got crazy for a month there…=) 
a few hours before Derek’s appendix trouble, I had started the second quilt, for baby David. That obviously got put on hold that week, but since I had Isabel’s all ready and they live together, I had to finish David’s pronto! I used several of the Tommy-free hours while he was at my mom’s to throw the ninepatches together, and both quilts are quilted, bound, and sent out to their new little owners!
