Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement Decorations   How enjoyable to see the beautiful ways people adorn their homes for Christmas. Because we traveled long distances to grandchildren graduations for the last three Decembers, we curtailed decorating to almost nothing. This year, I’m enjoying doing some Christmas decorating. Some well used items are on fond

Mary’s Monday Musing to Quilt Encouragement Gift Wrapped   My mother was a gift wrapper par excellence. She gave her creative abilities free reign when she wrapped a present. She matched the tones in the wrapping paper with the several kinds of ribbons she used to make all sorts of lovely looks on the outside

Lights Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement Lights That Dazzle   What fun to see the Christmas lights go up on Neighborhood homes and trees wrapped with lights! It’s even more fun to go to parks or other places which put up special shows with unbelievably large numbers of lights in all kinds of colors,

Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement Bless this Food Many of us take a moment before eating a meal to say a short prayer of thanksgiving over the food we’re about to eat. We often refer to that custom as ‘saying grace.’ When we are in a group, someone will request a person to “bless

Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement Laughter   I find the laughter of babies and toddlers irresistible. I’m sure I’m not alone. Nothing can make a person break into smiles or giggles better than a little one chortling over some simple sight, sound, or action. A good laugh makes us feel lighter and happier, chasing

Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement Losses An astonishingly large number of people in Florida have suffered at least some measure of loss all the way from destroyed tokens of treasured memories to the falling of a beautiful tree to the loss of entire homes and the devastation of death. Something about the suddenness, the

Storms Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement Storms   The pictures were devastating. We saw whole vistas of trees toppled, uprooted or broken in half, roofs ripped off, or homes reduced to splintered wood lying on a foundation. Hurricane Michael left loss and devastation behind as it barreled through Mexico Beach and Panama City, Florida.

Mary’s Monday Musing to Quilt Encouragement Words “Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.” No, it’s not an advertisement for a delicious Frappuccino to convince you that it is full of calcium as well as sweet with honey. It does reflect a deep longing of our souls

Happy Birthdays Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement Happy Birthdays   I remember birthday parties when my guests wore pigtails and the fun involved forming a ring by holding hands with all the children and circling while singing the song, ‘Ring around the Rosie’, or ‘Oats Peas, Beans, and Barley’ grow. Does anyone besides me

Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement His Love   You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Matt 22:37. Sounds simple? Hold it. All my heart means I love my God with every facet of my love. It doesn’t mean I can’t