Lauragirl's Place

Master's Degree in SIGHT!

2011-07-05T09:42:00.002-05:00

I received word on July 1 my portfolio passed so graduation is in sight for me. Yes, Yes, Yes! I thank God for my editing sister Lenora who makes sure my sentences make sense, my grammar is correct and the papers flow. I spend the holiday weekend with friends and family doing what I love best quilting and resting. On Saturday a good friend had an early December birthday celebration in Tomball, TX at Quilters Cabin retreat center. I was able to talk through a demonstration of Gyleen F. pineapple ruler and demonstrate a postcard technique to a few ladies. On Sunday I worked the Astros vs Boston Red Sox game and then headed to the Ensemble Theater to see the season finale play called Blues In The Night. The four performers were highly talented in vocals and their acting ability. Being a southerner I was a little sleepy on the blues they were singing I wanted the down home blues songs with the blue blues beat like BB King or Bobby Blue Bland. On Monday I went to my storage and got rid of a few more items then headed home to sleep, work on literature review due Tuesday and clear up some emails.

Outstanding Class on Yesterday

2011-06-23T04:15:00.004-05:00

I successfully finished a wonderful quilting workshop with Gyleen Fitzgerald of http://www.colourfulstitches.com/ . Her Trash to Treasure Pineapple blocks are truly a stash buster. I opted to do her bonus block called Pineapple Chunks.

My first class pineapple block using some scraps from an "UNFINISHED Project"!
My featherweight started out with tension problems, my thread kept breaking and I had major bird nest on the bottom.....As Gyleen would say this is truly a label block...Everything got better as time went on...for the best workshop I have had in a long time.

Hello World

2011-06-10T07:54:00.003-05:00

After the arrival of my sweet Londynn I was busy trying to finish the semester with two B's. I evidently was caught up in her arrival that I half-azzed on my school work. I am happy to say I did successfully make those B's and now I am in my last and final semester of graduate work. I am interning at the University of Houston in a digitization project for my practicum. Londynn is almost three months old and is now 13 lbs and smiling a lot. I am working on my daughter to finish her college degree plans since I will soon hold two degrees on her and I thought we would both be finishing our masters together. So much has happened to me since Londynn's arrival. I will list them.

March 11 - Londynn's Arrival In this Great World
May 6 - I had a lump removed from my left breast .
May 12 - completed last class requirement other than practicum for Master of Library Science degree.
May 17 - Followup visit to Surgeon with good and "bad" news. I was told I was cancer free but that I do have the cells that will develop into breast cancer. Option given was double mastectomy. The surgeon thought it was bad news I did not because she could have been telling me I was in a stage of cancer so I am preparing to have my breast removed within the next 6- 12 months. I think my doctor is proposing radiation treatment first I will have that consultation visit in a few days.
May 26- very good quilting friend suddenly was sick and placed on life support. Prognosis is not looking good but I know God is able.
June 7 - began my internship at UH working on a woman suffragist collection named Minnie Fisher Cunningham out of Galveston, TX. I am excited to work on a project that has some interest to me. The interest being that I am a woman who does take my voting seriously and I appreciate those that worked hard for that privilege.

New Status G-Mama

2011-03-15T01:38:00.003-05:00

On Friday, March 11 at 7:26pm I watched my first grandbaby take her first breath. Londynn Stephanie was born and was definitely one of the most beautiful babies born that day. She came in at 6 lbs. 7.9 ounces and 18 inches. Events up to that point were disappointing with the mother acting ugly but having to rely on me for her ride to the hospital. I wonder if it is some truth to pregnant women having some mental problems at that time and afterwards?????? Mother and daughter are home now bonding with each other.

Awaiting G-Baby

2011-03-06T02:11:00.003-06:00

Lordy, I don't think I was so anxious about my own 23 years ago as I am about the arrival of my first grandchild. My daughter Lauren is anxious and getting irritated thinking she would have delivered by now (I wonder why). Her estimated due day is today March 6 and the full moon has come, a cold front is here and we waiting. She has her bag packed and I almost have mine. My e-reader, iPod, and a paperback will be my entertainment just in case the labor is a long one. I am finally going to read Hidden in Plain View the story about the Underground Railroad quilts. So much controversy over the years I have decided to finalize my own opinion about it. I do know that our culture has lots of oral history that has never been written and I also do know that some folks don't want history written as it is. I also have cashews, and my apple/carrot juice I made this past morning. I have taken naps, cleaned up and finally told myself lets work on a project. So at 2:13 am I am preparing to make some templates for a fusible dress patterns quilt. I am anxious awaiting also my lesson on beading from a quilting friend soon because for some reason I want to try and make beaded hair on my girls. Slowly but surely getting into mixed media. I finally started playing with dyeing and painting fabrics with dyes and markers. I haven't had a chance to play with it much but have the stuff for when I do.

Happy New Year

2011-02-27T18:15:00.005-06:00

Well I just can't believe it takes me so long to get here. I think of my blog daily but never post. Here it is the end of February and so much has taken place. I have started my last few hours of graduate school this January. My daughter Lauren has decided to become a mother and in a few short days I will be a G-Mama. I anxiously await with Lauren the arrival of Londynn Stephanie my first granddaughter. My trusty and valuable to me 93 Chevy Astro Van transmission has gone out and I am also anxiously awaiting its return with another transmission this week. On Saturday Feb 26 I was fortunate to see Charles S. Dutton in his one man show raising funds for the U.S. Dream Academy. What an awesome actor he is. My college buddy Melvin was able to attend the performance with me and we were able to catch up on things with each other and our families. I am preparing to start my locks again and I am oh so ready to began the journey. Being natural is my thing and I love it. The pictures in this post are of a quilt top I am putting together to celebrate Lauren's First Born and Londynn's arrival into this world. Plan for completion are by Londynn's one year old celebration.

Birthday Hit

2010-12-14T23:58:00.008-06:00

My 2011 has to be a better year for me and blogging. I have not been here with my thoughts since October. Well December 4 I celebrated another year of lifes blessings. Since I love my quilting I threw myself a Quilting Birthday Party. The event was held at the Quilter's Cabin, a retreat center in Tomball, TX with almost 20 of my best quilting buddies. Two of my favorites had other engagement but they called me and texted me while the party was going on. My sister Diane came to help me host along with my dearest friend Kim. As the phone call came I was talking, running the Imani Bingo came I created and going to the main road to get those that were lost. The retreat center is down a private road with a gate code and you think you are deep in the woods when it is only about 1 mile from the main road. Continental Breakfast was provided and Lunch was served around 1 pm. For lunch my dear friend Nishie Thomas from Beaumont prepared a super sized pan of chicken spaghetti. We lunched on chicken spaghetti, salad, and yeast rolls. For dessert........I provided everyone with a bag of Laura's Favorite Things. Laura's Favorite Things are See's Pecan Bud Candy, large Honeycrisp Apple, Big Tex Cinnamon Roll. I figured since Oprah has her favorite things and share, why can't I. Oh I forgot to mention the snack foods. Several friends brought snacks from broccoli salad, pimento cheese spread, chips, Golden Oreos (another favorite of mine), summer sausage and cheese tray and I can't forget the Moscato D'Asti......a trip to HEB produced more for those of us enjoying the day with good company.

The Princess and The Frog

2010-10-25T01:13:00.003-05:00

Whew, the things we do for the little ones in our lives. My niece Corey's baby girl turned 5 last week and my twin her grandmother decided to give her a out of this world birthday party. She designed the invites, games, made princess and frog mask for the kids, and tried to turn her front yard into an enchanted forest of some sort. We worked hard on making two 10 x 10 tents to be fit for a princess and then the rain came. We didn't even have a chance to take a picture of our work just moved the kids inside and kept the party rolling. The rain continued to pour down for the next 3 hours. The hit of the party was a Kiss the Frog game (Pin the Tail on the Donkey, you remember) and a Princess piñata. The frog had lips plastered all over its lil body as the kids ranged from age 3 to 10. The birthday girl Sidney was able to break the piñata at the end of the party and the kids filled their bags with the candy.

And the winner is ME!

2010-10-07T16:54:00.005-05:00

Well its has been months since I have been able to write on my blog. Since then I have worked hard for the U.S. Census during the summer months in my home town and I was able to attend my sorority convention in New Orleans, LA this summer. Back in grad school this semester and this time going for 9 hours trying to graduate next spring or summer. In September I went to a retreat with my friend Queen and I was the "People's Choice" winner in a quilt contest being held at Rice University. I had know idea how much time I was going to devote to winning but I gave my entire week to it. I sent out over 400 emails, my twin sent out over 500 and I was listed on several Facebook pages with populations nearing over 3000. Now that didn't include the personal phone calls and the text messages sent out. One of my friends voted for someone else quilt but then he made it up to me and voted at school for mine. Much love to all my family and friends I had votes coming in from Spain, England, Kuwait and who knows where else in the world. I watched those polls for hours and on the last day coming to the close of the contest I rarely left my pc not to mention my family (the nation) who was constantly calling and watching also. The quilt will be on exhibit at Rice U and can be seen with the other quilts at http://here.rice.edu I entered just to see how many people I could reach and I don't know what the total votes were but I know I had 35% of them. Then on yesterday I went to the mailbox and my copy of Kyra Hicks books was there and guess who was listed as an African American Quilter in Cyberspace ~~~~you guess its ME! That was enough to say girl you need to go write something on that blog.

My Oh My

2010-05-30T22:34:00.003-05:00

Lawdy you know you just keep putting off saying I will write something today and then today passes and then months pass and you find yourself saying time to stop running. I have just returned from a family reunion in Louisiana where I met many new cousins and look forward to sharing other events with them. As a proud member of the Marks family out of Jeanerette, Louisiana we are finally unraveling our branches and I am predicting the upcoming reunion of the Apollon Marks clan to be over 1000. Many are learning of the gatherings and many of us older ones (50 and Older) are interested in connecting with other cousins that share the same family names. It is such a wonderful feeling when someone approaches you and greets you with a hug....they look like you and you instantly know they are kin.

2010

2010-02-01T11:29:00.002-06:00

Wow, now I said I would post monthly on my blog and I am already a month behind. I can't believe I have not posted since my birthday. Well my holiday was a little stressful with personal problem beyond my control but I am so happy to be hear in 2010...we have already had several love ones to leave us and the earthquake in Haiti has humbled us some more to realize our blessings. I remember as Hurricane Ike took the Gulf Goast and we went for weeks without electricity we thought that was something. Lawdy what if we had been in Haiti's situation. Day by day we are being reminded of our blessings and that everything is not peachy cream for everybody. My daughter returned home in January, 22 years old, no degree, no job and a broke heart from a "boy' she thought loved her. She is pressing forward with her education and trying to regroup her life at this point. School is back in session for me along with entering my first Quilt Show. I will be exhibiting 6 quilts on February 12 and 13 in Beaumont, Texas and I am so excited. For years I have attended quilt shows and wondered how my work would look hanging for many to see. My quilting is so much of me I have millions of thoughts of projects running through my brain.

Happy Birthday To Me

2009-12-04T10:08:00.002-06:00

Lord, I made it. But you knew I was going to make it. Thank you Jesus for allowing me and my twin your children to be blessed to see our 50th Birthday today. I woke up this morning and said

Thank You Lord

You Been So Good to Me

Thank You Lord and then I said

Though the storms keep on raging in my life,
and sometimes it's hard to tell my night from day.
Still that hope that lies within is reassured
as I keep my eyes upon the distant shore;
I know He'll lead me safely to that
blessed place He hs prepared
But if the storms don't cease,
and if the wind keeps on blowing,
my soul has been anchored in the Lord.
I realize that somtimes in this life
you're gonna be tossed by the waves
and the currents that seem so fierce,
but in the word of God I've got an anchor;
and it keeps me steadfast and unmovable
despite the tide. (Douglas Miller)
My soul's been anchored. and then I said

I've had some good days
I've had some hills to climb
I've had some weary days
And some sleepless nights
But when I look around
And I think things over
All of my good days
Outweigh my bad days
I won't complain
Sometimes the clouds are low
I can hardly see the road
I ask a question, Lord
Lord, why so much pain?
But he knows what's best for me
Although my weary eyes
They can't see
So I'll just say thank you Lord
I won't complain
The Lord
Has been so good to me
He's been good to me
More than this old world or you could ever be
He's been so good
To me
He dried all of my tears away
Turned my midnights into day
So I'll just say thank you Lord
I've been lied on
But thank you Lord
I've been talked about
But thank you Lord
I've been misunderstood
But thank you Lord
You might be sick
Body reeking with pain
But thank you Lord
The bills are due
Don't know where the money coming from
But thank you Lord
Thank you Lord
I want to thank God
God
Has been so good to me
He's been good to me
More than this old world or you could ever be
He's been so good
So good
To me
He dried all of my tears away
Turned my midnight into day (Paul Jones)

Lord, I won't complain

Never would have made it, never could have made it, without you
I would have lost it all, but now I see how you were there for me
And I can say
Never would have made it,
Never could have made it,
Without you
I would have lost it all,
But I now how I see how you were there for me and I can say
I'm stronger, I'm wiser, I'm better,
Much better,
When I look back over all you brought me thru.
I can see that you were the one that I held on to
And I never
Never would have made it
Oh I never could have made it
Never could have made it without you
Oh I would have lost it all, oh but now I see how you were there for me
I never
Never would have made it
No, I never
Never could have made it without you
I would have lost my mind a long time ago, if it had not been for you.
I am stronger
I am wiser
Now I am better
I am better
So much better
I am better
I made it thru my storm and my test because you were there to carry me thru my mess
I am stronger
I am wiser
I am better
Anybody better
I am better
I can stand here and tell you, I made it. Anybody out there that you made it
I am stronger
I am wiser
I am better
Much better
I am better
I made it,
And I never would have made it
Never would have made it
Never could have made it
Never could have made it without you
I would have lost my mind, I would have gave up, but you were right there, you were right there
I never
Never would have made it
Oh I never
I never could have made it without you. (Marvin Sapp)

Lord and Mama I never would have made it without you two.

Breast Lump Issue

2009-11-15T23:36:00.003-06:00

Last week I was relieved of some of my stress. I had a mamogram and an ultrasound on my left breast for a lump that I have. Turns out the lump is the same benign one I had years ago except for now the lump has moved to the top and I can feel it. The dr says it has not changed shape or size so there is nothing to worry about. I really was stressing myself out because in all my years of having breast issues I have never been able to feel a lump. My film shows my breast clear as ever but there is the little egg that is hovering around my nipple. I will do a follow up in 6 months and the second best news I received is that I am in this program and my test will be free for 3 years.

Death Part 2

2009-10-19T21:14:00.003-05:00

Last Saturday I was with my best friend saying farewell to her Dad and last night I received a call from a close friend who said her dad had been placed on life support. Tonight he was removed from life support. This totals three of my good friend whose dad has gone home with in a two month time frame. All of them have spent many years without their mother now they have joined that special club of no mother and no father.

Death/Birthday

2009-09-25T11:30:00.004-05:00

Sometime death comes as a surprise and sometime you know it is coming but it still takes you when it comes. Even when you watch a loved one health fail that finality of death can be so hard to accept. A month ago I visited my daughters grandfather and on Saturday, September 19, 2009 we laid him to rest. His heath had been failing for awhile and my visit along with talking to his son Stephen told me his days were numbered in my heart. Two weeks later I heard he was getting 24 hour care and two weeks later I got the call that he had passed. He was not just my ex's dad he was my friend. We began a friendship after Stephen and I separated. He was such a wise man sometimes I think he kept my friendship to insure I stayed close to his family. He would introduce me as his daughter n law although his son and I never married. I was his computer tech whenever something went wrong with his computer he would call me in Houston and ask when can I come see about it. And it would sit until I came to check on it....we would fuss, argue and discuss everything in the world from family, politics, community, love, life you name it. Sometimes my mom would get jealous of my time spent with Mr. Gary. He loved to share and his Louisiana heritage would be offended if you visited him and not accepted something he offered. It took me awhile to get it but soon I would accept his offer of a root beer soda, something he had grown in his garden, a fruit or a glass of Morgan David wine. I was also one of his many chauffeurs to the casino. I had patience with him and I allowed him to stay at the casino as long as he wanted. I always brought a book or an electronic game to occupy my time and he often teased me about it. I have been trying to remember his drink he would order I think it was Bourbon and Coke with a splash of milk. He loved his family and we spent many hours talking about his upbringing, his military life, his marriage, his wish for his grown children and his love to go to LALA's(zydeco). He was a spirtual man and although he didn't live in church he had a prayer life and no one interfered with his prayer time. I could tell him I would be there in 5 minutes and if he was saying his prayers I had to wait and then he would come open the door. His love of his grandkids showed as they all shed tears for his farewell. My daughter Lauren has a special memory because the farewell was on her 22nd birthday. She now has no grandparents living and made the comment that the two persons (my mom and Mr. Gary) who she knew were in her corner are gone ~ it is amazing how we can't get people to see how to cherish their elders and the time they have with them. That holds true for anyone now we much cherish every moment with all of our loved ones for TOMORROW IS TRULY NOT PROMISED.

School/Quilting/Etc

2009-09-16T15:32:00.002-05:00

Well this semester i am taking two library science courses and one of them seems like it will give me a run for my money. I have to do group work and I am truly a person who works in the 15th hour so I am already struggling meeting with the group......is December near? I have finally sent some quilts off to be quilted so looks like more of my family members will get a nice gift before 2010. Two will truly be surprised as they are not expecting one from me. One is expecing one but it won't look like she probably is imagining it. I am also making myself two 50th Birthday quilts. One will be made up of thoughts from family and friends and the other will be my choice.

First Grad LS Class Almost Over

2009-08-06T01:30:00.004-05:00

Lawdy how time has flown by I am a few days away from completing my first Library Science course and yes I am ready for the 2 week break. I think I have a 2 week break, I don't know it might be longer. I have learned alot about researching this semester and am ready for a quilt retreat. I have registered for my next two classes so the next few months will not have much play time for me. When I can I plan to sew a few stitches on some unfinished quilt projects and play my latest addiction of the game Cake Mania.

At Last

2009-06-16T03:13:00.002-05:00

Well I am finally back in college. Last Wednesday I started my first graduate class for my Masters of Library Science. The class Information Storage and Retrieval is starting off pretty interesting. I have lots of readings and will be working a lot onthe internet learning all sorts of goodies. It looks like my pasttime of quilting will be so limited it will take longer for any of those 1000+ projects in my head to come to completion. I have purchased a Handi Quilter frame and soon will be able to quilt my own quilts. Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah It is not that I won't ever send a quilt off to be quilted, it is my desire to complete most of my quilts entirely from piecing to quilting to binding. Today I received some beautiful African inspired Blue panels that I just have to do something with. I will post the pics later.

Its's Like A Jungle Again

2009-04-30T19:48:00.003-05:00

I am truly not holding up to my personal bargain with myself to blog more often. Life for me is still hectic, living between two cities, working several part time jobs, quilting,getting laptop fixed and living my life to its fullest. Yes I would like a moment to stop and breath, but for every free moment I have I fill it up with something I call my relaxation ~ quilting. Last Wednesday I was able to go a quild meeting and it felt so good. I had not been able to visit the first quild I joined due to traveling. Saturday I was able to visit my African American quilting sistahs and spend some time with them. The show and tell was nice and I hope one day soon to be able to show all of the projects I am working on. As a fabric junkie, I also make fabric postcards, mousepads, koozie, and journal quilts . I had began working on some fabric gifts to sell at my church family conference this June but I have been told that there is no room for any new vendors only the previous year vendors will be allowed to vend again???? So I am going to move forward making my gifts and I have Faith that the opportunity to exhibit and sell my work will come soon. I have been so blessed to have embroidery friends that turn me on to free sites and if I keep working on this program I have called EMBIRD I might soon be able to digitize my own designs.

2009

2009-02-16T00:44:00.003-06:00

Well I am finally back. I was going to post on December 4, 2008 my 49th birthday and that didn't happen. Then I was going to post when the new year came in and that didn't happen. I ended the year with cellphone, digital camera and laptop problems. It seemed as if all my favorite electronics were causing me stress at the same time. I have vowed to keep better control of my stress level for 2009 and to keep my faith and know that God is my source of strength and I will be alright. I purchased a new cell phone in December, finally deposited my laptop to Fry's for repair and sent my camera off to Canon for repair. The camera is back and I presume working I have no done anything to it but powered it on. I am being told my laptop is ready by the manufacturer but Fry's claim it will take 8 - 10 weeks for it to be sent back to them fro Fujitsu. I love Motorola phones so I now own the Krave. It is a touch screen phone and I probably should have listened to my daughter and not gotten a fully touch phone. I am enjoying the new toy but there are times the screens blacks on me and my pics disappear. I am participating in numerous swaps and have decided to start my own online swap group (imani swappers). Like most things in my life right now I have built the group but need to go further and send out my invites. I have finally started journal quilting. My first was a collage and my second will be a crazy patch. The creative juices are flowing....all in my head. Now if I can just get them to the sewing machine things will be better.

Thanksgiving Holiday

2008-11-29T18:57:00.002-06:00

I am ever so thankful for family. My family met in Shrveport, LA for Thanksgiving and we had a wonderful time. 8 of my 9 siblings met along with neices, nephews and one friend. Since many of us will not be together for the Christmas and Kwanzaa celebration we discussed Kwanzaa and participated in an litany to encourage us to think of the respect, pride, dignity, truth and love we have as a family. I have been in Shreveport for a week and have done more cooking than ever in my life. I can cook but choose not to being the baby of 11 we never had to do much except assist at holiday celebrations. Lenora and I cooked, decorated , helped coordinate the event and washed a many of dishes. This is the second anniversary of my mom not being present with us and we shared many of laughs about things she would say at this time and also a few tears as one of my neices has a video of mom expressing her views in a comical way of all her kids during her last months. We miss her and we truly wish she was here to witness November 4, 2008 and January 20, 2009.

My Baby is 21 now! September 19, 2008

2008-09-30T00:12:00.005-05:00

Lawdy where did the time go... I started off remembering her birth by her phone call at 12:15am the morning of her birthday telling me she was now legal. I was sitting in my dark(no electricity due to IKE) house and thinking, un un un I can no longer tell her where she can't go. Around 6:30 that morning I send out text messages to my family and friends telling them that "21years ago around this time I was being blessed with a beautiful baby girl". As the replies started coming back to me it was my neice Lynns reply that she was with me throughout the birth that brought the tears down. Lynn, my sister Linda and a friend Chirine had rushed me to the hospital when I called to say my water had broke and they spent the entire time with me (12 hours) until I delivered. Lauren's dad came in from Austin a few hours after I got to the hospital and my good friend Audrey showed up and stayed with me also. The hospital wouldn't give her any information so she came and spent the night with us also. My twin (Lauren's other mom) showed up from Dallas about 3 hours after Lauren was born and the visits and phone calls continued. I can't remember if my mom came the first day or the second but I know I was waiting to tell her I DID IT! I had arrived at Herman Hospital in Houston, TX around 7 pm with just some leakage. Well they decided to break the bag more and then the pains began. I was having the epidural shot so I thought where is the anesthesia dr. My failed epidural will always be in my mind. For some reason I deadened on one side of my body and the other side allowed me to feel those contractions. He kept coming and giving me those shots until I reached the limit trying to get me out of my discomfort. Soon they gave me something to sleep I thought it was morphine I can't remember what it was but I slept and slept. Lynn later told me they had shaved me and other things, I do not remember any of that. What I remember is my nurse waking me at 6:30a.m. and said "come on Laura my shift is almost over let's have this baby" and I did. Nurse Linda had just came on duty when I arrived and she tended to me and some others her entire shift. Steve and Audrey had went downstairs and when they returned Lauren Stephanie Gary was here.

I made Lauren a quilt to commemorate her 21st bd and she celebrated by going to a casino Boomtown in Shreveport LA. Lauren had been asking me to make her a pink quilt for years and this actually was the 3rd one I had started but I was determined to finish it by the birthday weekend. When she arrived in Shreveport my sister Linda and I was still quilting the quilt on the sewing machine. I sewed the label on Saturday the day after the BD and after she spent her first night under it. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMAGIRL

Class Reunion

2008-08-18T06:54:00.000-05:00

Well 30 years have passed since I walked across the stage and received my diploma from high school. My friends and I celebrated with a fun filled weekend reminding us of the good clean fun we used to have. Lawdy if only this young set would be able to understand "good, clean, innocent...fun" this world might just be a little better. I was able to see friends I had not seen in 30 years and we all picked up just like it was yesterday. No one wanted the weekend to end and we have vowed to get together yearly since it has taken us so long to reunite. Thank God for the internet and for those that are just getting it to be connected with us more often.

Mama

2008-07-27T12:08:00.000-05:00

Yesterday marked the 1 year anniversary of the date my loving mother took her last breath out of this world. As I look back on the year I think I have been just exisitng, living in a fog, knowing what I should be doing but also knowing I was not doing it, encouraging others to hold on and accepting encouragment from others to hold on myself. My family promised to get together twice a year as we had been doing the last years of Mom's life ~ for her birthday and for at least one holiday. We got together in March , went to her gravestie had prayer and song and on Sunday just like we had been doing for the last 10 or 15 years per her instructions we all piled into her church and sat on her pew as she would have had it. For Thanksgiving we had dinner at the family home and again went to her gravesite and had family prayer and song. These past 365 days have been dark for Sylvina Marks Casmore's children but as I stood at her gravesite alone yesterday and sang "This Little Light of Mine" I prayed and the sun shined and I can could hear mama saying to all of her children as she did whenever something was not going right for us "Behind every dark cloud there is sunshine". I miss her and from this day forward I look forward to waking up and welcoming the sunshine.

Faith

2008-07-21T23:55:00.000-05:00

It's a few minutes until a new day began and a day that may turn my world on a different course. I am having a not so routine mamogram in a few hours due to a lump found during my well woman checkup two weeks ago. This is not my first lump I have had several in the past which turned out to be fluid filled cyst and one just some fatty tissue. Yes I am hoping this is the same scenario for I am physically and mentally running on fumes right about now. My body is tired from the constant moving trying to survive and my mind is tired from overworking it making things happen. A test of faith I am not ready for but will survive it for I do believe and trust that all things work for the Good of the Lord and that the Lord will not put more on you than you can bear.

A Love Of My Own

2008-07-16T10:41:00.000-05:00

Etta James sings of A Love "Of My Own" isn't that what everybody wishes for. A lot of times we have these loves and don't think they of our own. I found some pictures today of A Love of My Own Ralph Rufus Odwin. Ralph passed away this year in NJ living with his new love.
Looking through this blog that I had forgot I had (360 Yahoo), I found several pictures of my friend Ralph. What fond memories I have of our time together. Ralph Rufus Odwin from New York. We met at a popular reggae club we both use to hang out in the 80's at in Houston, TX called The Carabana. Talk about partying, 3 for 1 drinks, live reggae bands nightly, dj spining dancehall in between and the floor staying packed. Ralph use to like to dance on the Soca songs and man did he dance till sweat was pouring off of him for a big guy. I watched him several times before I approached him to dance with him and a 20 year friendship/love affair was formed. I had the nerve to act like I didnt want to give him my number I was small at the time and wasn't attracted to large guys but I did and he eventually called. Although I was single and living along I didn't want him to come to my place so I agreed to meet him around the corner at a food place. We eventually started meeting at the club when he was off I found out he worked nights for the newspaper so he wasn't able to get off much and when he did he partied like there was no tomorrow. He wore shades all the time and later I found out one of his eyes was lazy so that was his cover. For years we partied together and when I had my daughter he would still encourage me to dance which I think helped me during that time of my life. Years later we decided to take the friendship to a relationship moving in together which didn't work. Ralph had treated me like a queen for so long I couldn't handle seeing the real Ralph which was a person pleaser who neglected taking care of his business as far as bills just to have a good time. He loved me! He told me his mom said I was the horse to win the race whether I won or not. I was slow but asked what she meant and he said mom means you will always be number one for me no matter how we end up. I now know that RALPH RUFUS ODWIN loved me but I just couldn't see it at the time. We split up but remained friends and for his 40th Birthday although he was with someone else we took a cruise to the Bahamas together. Later I went to New York to a convention and he planned his vacation there at the same time so I was able to see his home and places he grew up around while there. We motored back to Texas together that trip which gave us lots of time to talk about things. Ralph eventually moved from Texas, married and we didn't talk much. After his divorce he moved to Fla and then PA where he resided until his death. We had such a strong friendship and love for one another that we would both be glad when we would get a chance to talk and keep up with each other. Ralph's health started failing and he had numerous surgeries on his knees and hips. At one point he told me "girl I take so much medicine I wonder if all this can't keep me filled without food". I called him from an airport in Jackson, MS two weeks before he passed because I had seen someone that reminded me of him when he was smaller back in the 80's. He answered the phone not feeling well but once he realized it was me I can remember it seemed like he perked up but we didn't talk long because I knew he was not feeling well. Little did I know that that would be my last time to hear my friends voice. Ralph I miss our talks about life, living and Lauren.

One Hurdle Down A Friend Came To My Rescue

2008-07-14T21:08:00.000-05:00

Tonight I was able to get my radiator hose replaced on my 93 Astro Van that has been a blessing to me. I would not be able to get around without it. It totes my sewing machines, my clothes, music, everything I need as I go from place to place working my part time jobs, going to quilt meetings, going on job interviews, mailing out swaps, and living life to the best I can at this time. My friend of over 20 years has been a big blessing to me. He has always been able to help me as a single parent with my cars, my home repairs, listening to me complain about my then teenager, and just sharing some good conversation and laughs about life. I called him about 12 and tonight at 7pm he was here to my rescue. What a blessing it is to have a good friend like Tony.

Swapping Like Crazy

2008-07-14T12:50:00.001-05:00

The thing I think has kept me sane during this time in the jungle of life has been my swapping. I love swapping. So far I have only had one bad experience with swapping but all of the others have made up for it. As soon as I am through with one swap I probably have already signed up for another one. My online quilting group has gotten me addicted to fabric postcard swaps which is a darn good thing because it is forcing me to be more creative. Having a lot of time on my hands these last few months has given me the opportunity to make lots of quilt tops for my family and friends who are still waiting for the day they see my work in full completion.

Like A Jungle Sometimes I Wonder.....

2008-07-14T12:24:00.000-05:00

Like a jungle sometimes I wonder How I keep from going under. I can remember us dancing and chanting this line from a popular song year ago not knowing that sometimes in life we were actually going to relate to it. Life has its way of making you question what next? I am unemployed, no medical insurance, heading into the age of 50(2010) and I have been having some freak falls. Lawdy Lawdy anybody in my situation does not need anything to keep them from going to work. No work, No Money, No Pleasures like getting a Lemon Berry Slush from Sonic during Happy Hour or a piece of the most beautiful fabric you have laid your eyes on that day(tomorrow it will be another piece).