Amish Circle Quilt Project - # 75 - "Diagonal Triangles"

Block # 75 - "Diagonal Triangles"

Started on 9/3/11

Completed on 9/3/11

Technique: Pieced Half Square Triangles

This is a scrappy little block. I like things like this because I have so many scraps. It is really hard to throw scraps of fabric away for some reason.

I love the letter that goes with this block. The author quotes Proverbs 27:1 which reminds us no matter what we plan the Lord is charge of our to-do list each day.

That's been the theme song of my life for the last 5 to 6 months. No matter what I've had on my agenda as far as trips or plans, that has all taken a backseat to the Lord's design on my life. And I will be the first to tell you that I haven't been too thrilled with some of His goings-on.

One of the biggest shockers and sources of great concern for me has been my cousin Courtney's freak reaction to anesthesia during surgery back in August. She came home from the hospital today so it seems only fitting that I dedicate today, a little bit of blog space to her and the journey she has been on to recover.

My family was in northern Montana on our way home from Yellowstone when my mom calls. I had just turned my phone on to see if I had service yet when it rang. My stomach sank when I saw it was Mom calling. (She hates the phone and avoids making calls if she can.) Sure enough, she told me Courtney had suffered a reaction to the anesthesia and they had revived her but she was in a coma. At that point she was in Shreveport, LA, and the doctors there hoped to start waking her up the next day.

She was in a coma for 21 days.

Finally she was moved by ambulance to TIRR Memorial Hermann in Houston. There she began to wake up. She has gone from a coma to walking short distances on her own. To speaking, be it slowly and in a new voice. To communicating rather effectively. To realizing how many people that don't even know her have been praying for her and her husband and children. To appreciating just how many have been cheering her on.

I finally got to go see her the day before Thanksgiving. We had about 2 hours to visit and talk and let me tell you those moments were some of the most precious of my life. I pulled my chair up in front of her and planted myself where I could keep my eyes trained on her easily.

She told me of a recent dream she'd had about me. She said we had gone downstairs to McDonald's. Some guys were bugging us but we ignored them. She said they got mad and I grabbed her hand and we hurried back to her room.

I said, "So I took care of you?"

She smiled and shook her head yes.

I said, "It sounds like you got us into trouble and I got us out?"

She shook her head yes.

I asked, "So some things never change?"

She laughed and shook her head yes with a smile.

When we started relaying the story to my husband Mark a little while later she added that I lived in a mall. I told her that if that was true she would visit me a lot. Again, she agreed.

We'd been in Galveston earlier that day and a seagull had defiled Will's (my son) hair. In an effort to engage him with Courtney I told him he should tell her about it. He refused but she looked back and forth at him then me. She very slowly said, "Will, did a seagull poop on your head?" What a wonderful moment.

She told me that she looked awful. I said, "No honey. You are beautiful. You are beautiful inside and out." She took that opportunity to pick at her husband some and again cracked us up and had us laughing.

I was able to give her the quilt I made for her from one of the t-shirts her friends had made to sell to raise money to help offset the costs of her care and her family's expenses. She loved it. I told her she didn't have to share it with anybody. She said she wished her kids were there. (I'm thinking, oh, I know you miss them.) She said, "I would tell them that's Momma's!" My heart did flip flops.

I had a hard time leaving. I wanted to continue to visit and I wanted to help take care of her. I know she is so well cared for but it was really hard to walk away.

After we left I had a hard time talking for quite awhile. My emotions ran the gamut. I was angry this happened to her. I was thankful she is still with us. I was sad she is having to work so hard to regain a portion of her previous abilities. I was glad to see her walking and talking. I regretted the time she has missed with her kids. I was so proud of her spirit and so proud to be her cousin; this woman that a whole community has rallied behind and prayed for.

I know God works in mysterious ways. I know this experience has made us all way too aware of how fragile life is. I implore you to make sure you say what needs to be said to those you love. Make sure you do what needs to be done for those you love. Don't waste a moment.

Father, thank You for my cousin and for her perseverance. Thank You for her sweet spirit and for the love she showers on others. Thank You for her life and for letting her make our world a better place.

Blessings Y'all!