Today is a good day to begin again.
Once upon a time reactionary writing was a thing I did, in part because I pick up on other peoples feelings and in part because virtue signaling. I think the best line I ever heard was, “If the world was only as wonderful as I am…” (harry chapin). Oh yeah. I’m spouting kindness! kindness! be kind to one another all the while I’m chiding people and I don’t know the entire back story.
I apologize.
While in some way my intention was good, there is a deeper understanding of feeding into the noise and frustration of the moment. And it doesn’t make it better. A lack of understanding, no matter how well intentioned, often makes things worse. So here I am both apologizing and committing to being careful of how and what I write, making sure, as best I can about reactionary posting. I can do that kind of thing on fb or twitter if needed. And I rarely do it there, it’s much more fun to post fake statuses to friends who know what’s going on.
And now for something completely different.
Later this week, early next I start taking video for a class I’m doing on a friends platform. There will be quilting happening. I’m also working on editing two interviews for my video channel. I mentioned earlier this year that I’d be teaching for Vermont Quilt Fest, part of the trip in June was to be teaching at this show, which is now completely over. In some ways it’s hard to see a show like this come to a complete end, and yet sometimes things like this are simply unavoidable. My Sweetie and I decided that I would still go and see family and friends. In one way I needed to take this trip and I hesitated leaving. While he goes to work everyday and I have the things I do, including plotting the quilting I desire to do, reading, working out, spending time with friends, we’ve been together nearly every day since April of 2020. While I’ve been away for a few days here and there, two weeks was the longest. My Sweetie insisted, I’m glad he did and he was so right, I needed this trip.
I got to sew with one of my besties, Debby Brown. In this moment all was right in my quilting world. We hugged, talked, ate, stitched. I took video of how quickly I stitch, multiply that times nearly three and you get how fast Debby pieces a quilt top. Even when something is a quick quilt I stitch at about 30 miles per hour.
Leaving Debby’s I drove to Maine for the weekend visiting with family, going mini-golfing with my sister and her husband, coffee with a friend and a quick trip to get a sweater. Yes it was cold and by cold I mean in the 60’s. You know, sweater weather. I also visited the projects where I spent most of my childhood. There are, of course, changes. There is no tall metal slide any longer, no merry go round (yes this was the 70’s why do you ask) and there is now a big community garden where we used to run around.
From there I went Upstate NY visiting three quilt shops. One in Pelham NH to have coffee with a friend and chat, gave a copy of Color, Thread & Free-Motion Quilting to the shop owner, and three near where my aunt lives. The first one was so fun as I participated in their fb live. Oh my goodness it was so fun. Watch Instagram for either reels or quick vids of fabric purchases. There was some good stuff. My aunt mentioned a Mennonite store and a quick trip there led to over 15 pounds of popcorn coming home. My Sweetie and I love this one particular popcorn so . . .
Then I headed back downstate visiting one more quilt shop before meeting a friend for dinner. My sister in Maine managed to work it out to come so all three of us could spend time together over the weekend.
One of the lovely parts we dancing around in the ballroom at Westbury Gardens after touring the rest of the house. There are more pictures I’ll share in TerifiCreations in a few days. My sisters are so fun.
On a trip like this you can imagine there was plenty of time for thinking, praying and meditating. I listened to several Catechism in a Year podcasts. I planned to finish the Ignatian Adventure and not realizing I needed the other four journals . So I am days from finishing this book and the journaling that goes with it. While reading before Mass the other day I was reminded what the review part is about, it’s not so much looking for progress or growth, although that is often a benefit, rather it’s a reflection on where you are seeing, hearing, experiencing, acknowledging the presence and work of God, Father Son and Holy Spirit in day to day, moment to moment life. This reminder is in the “week” I’m working through now, and it is good to revisit this. There are times when I can see how I experienced Scripture differently, much more personally that I ever have before. It is part of flipping the Script that started when I moved here to Texas and continues in how I hear and desire to experience this relationship with God.
Through the year one parable and one relationship story stand out as points of continued discovery and meditation: The Prodigal Son and the relationship that Jesus has with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. I often identify deeply with Martha as there is a tendency to worry about many things. The one thing that surprises me deeply in her experience with Jesus, in part because of how this is written in the Gospels, is Martha’s profession of Faith. Oh Wow. This gets lost in some ways, as it is part of her brother’s resurrection and the beginning of the week we call Holy, for Jesus will permit himself to be taken into custody and so, so much more. This profession of Faith though, it is deep and it is real and it is good. Martha, your worry has become Peace.
As I’ve reflected these last two weeks I thought the answer to one of the questions, “have I made a significant decision during the retreat” was no, when in fact it is yes. Please join me in prayer for this. And like so many other decisions this is a process being revealed, a flower bud opening to reveal it’s inner beauty. And part of the clarity in this Ignatian Adventure will be posted another day as it is its own post.
May your quilting be an adventure.
Teri
A Quilter's Heart 