The Making of a Family Quilt

Almost 10 years ago I received a very special gift from a very special lady-a handmade quilt made by none other than Mrs. Badley. It is one of my most prized possessions. I use it regularly, but I don't store it with my other household linens. It has it's own secret place so that it is not touched by my dogs, mistaken for a regular blanket, or put on any bodies stinky feet.

My quilt is blue. When you look at it little closer though, it actually has many colors that come together to accent the blue just right. There is quite a bit of yellow, purple, white, grey, and green. It is how the accent colors come together to make it the perfect shade of sky blue. If there was too much yellow and white, then it would be way to bright. If there was too much purple or green, it would look too grey. It is the perfect combo of colors if you ask me!

Tonight I have been reminded of the fact that our lives are very much like the quilt I love so much. Our experiences help determine the color of our "quilt." If our experiences were always happy-we would have one giant sunshine yellow quilt that would be obnoxiously bright. Our experiences make up the color pallet that come together in the end to make just the right shade.

Our quilts are made of a collection of random patterns and colors which takes HOURS of laboring to put together. While making the quilt-it does not always look pretty nor does the pattern always make sense, but the end result makes perfect sense and is a masterpiece.

This is for my friend that is busy making her families "quilt." I know the pattern does not make any sense right now-but one day it will. Keep laboring away, and one day you see that this discouraging time will be apart of the beautiful story your families quilt will tell. Right now you are having to add the "cooler" tones so it is not just obnoxious sunshine yellow. (Blue has always been my favorite color anyway!)

Happy Birthday E!

I know that it is not his birthday anymore, but I seem to be so late on everything else in my life...so...Happy Birthday E! Here are a few of my favorite memories from this past year.

First Picture with Dad

First Pictures with the Girls

First bite of rice cereal. He was not a fan.

Learning to Jump in the Jump-a-roo

Playing with his best buddy-Heidi

Tasting ice cream for the first time

First time in the big pool

Opening presents

Eating cake and loving it!

This year has been full of so many firsts, and my life is so much better because of him!

Le Tour de France

Prior to marrying Rob, I never paid attention to the wonderful world of cycling. Back in 2001 when Rob insisted we watch the tour, I thought I was going to be bored out of my mind! I thought that I was doomed to be a wife of a man that obsessed over sports I would never care for. Never did I think that I would actually like (correction-obsess over) watching a pack of men ride across France for approximately 22 days. I had no idea how much "strategery," team work, and talent was actually involved in this sport! This race is very much raced by extremely talented and intelligent men which I find refreshing when compared to parts of the NFL and the NBA.

Prior to watching this epic race, I thought it was simply a large group of men riding bikes for a REALLY long time. Boy was I wrong! There are different jersey's the men race for: the polka dot for the best climber, the green jersey for the best sprinter, the white jersey for the best rookie, and of course the yellow jersey-the overall winner. They even have a prize for the man that finishes dead last. It is the French word for "caboose." It is an honor just to finish.

The best part of this race is it is something that both Rob & I love watching together. It only lasts 3 weeks and that is it! I am fortunate that Rob does not obsess over an incredibly long season for a different sport. (He does enjoy college football, but our world does not revolve around it.) It is just 3 short weeks of recording and watching. (Phil Ligget and Paul Sherwin are my favorite sports commentators BTW.)

We hope to actually attend a few mountain stages in the future. I want to be one of those crazy fans that runs next to the riders as they ride up the crazy Alp's with a Texas flag hanging on my shoulder waving behind me! That is assuming that I can run up the side of an incredibly steep mountainside.

Rather than go on and on and on...I love the month of July for several reasons. E was born this month, and it is also Le Tour de France! Hooray! I can't wait to see how the rivalry between Lance and Contador plays out...I can't wait!