Better Late Than Never

Okay so I've been gone awhile.

Between vacations, retreats and VBS for work, showing the house (still for sale! ahhhh!), and Chris being out of the country for a good chunk of the summer, I've had little time to create much less write about it...

but we're back!

While the house is still on the market, I'm not sure what I'll have time for in the blog scene,

but I'm hoping that at the very least, I can catch you all up on what I have managed to accomplish.

But because it would super awkward if I put this off any longer...

an announcement!

I've gained about 15 pounds all in my abdominal area!

The big bro

Indeed, I am pregnant.

And actually have been for some time.

It goes without saying that I'm not really "into" baby announcements,

and if you want some ideas of really cute pregnancy announcements like balloons coming out of boxes, or videos, or "I'm a big brother" tshirts, or the like... look elsewhere.

While I LOVE to make stuff, I just didn't have the energy.

Ha.

But really...

Here are the highlights:

Due: October 23rd

Feeling: as well as one could expect

Gender: BOY!

Name: unknown

Excited: yes.

Quilting Goal for 2013

Like many of you, I've been setting my goals for 2013 over the past few weeks.

It's only January and already the calendar is starting to fill up

which can be completely overwhelming.

 

So I'm determined to set realistic goals for the year.

One of those goals was to make one quilt.

If I got to more, great, but the goal is just the one.

 

And for that one quilt, I was going to finally get around to making a queen size for our master bed,

a project which I have been intending to do since Chris and I got married (almost 4 years ago).

 

That was my intention.

You see, one of my favorite local ministries expressed a need.

And it was a need I felt like I could should meet,

and one that, frankly, I'm thrilled to meet.

 

After years of borrowing space from local churches,

they are finally in the process of building a brand new facility.

And it's huge and amazing and will allow them to grow and achieve even more than they already do.

 

The East End Cooperative Ministry is one that I've written about before.

Among other things

they feed the hungry,

they clothe the naked,

they mentor children,

and as I sit in my warm house right now, I am especially grateful that they shelter (including serving dinner and breakfast to) the homeless.

Pittsburgh is beautiful in the winter, is it not? :)

 

With this new facility they will be able to expand that shelter to house more men,

more women and children,

and more of the sick and elderly who have been discharged from the hospital and need respite care but cannot receive it in their prior housing.

 

And I really could go on and on... but you can check it for yourself.

 

So here's the fun part:

The shelter's designer had the idea to have a handmade quilt for each of the shelter beds.

 

My first reaction when I heard this was one of shock (that's a lot of beds! they house over 650!!!).

My second reaction (the one that should have been my first reaction) was one of conviction.

For those of you who may not have made a quilt before,

it is a labor of love.

It takes time and patience.

It take vision and skill.
And often it takes some money. Supplies aren't cheap!

 

And who is more deserving of a handmade, loved over, and hopefully prayed over quilt, than those without a home, those with whom most people avoid eye contact, those who all too often are the forgotten ones?

 

So I'm once again putting my master bedroom quilt on hold,

and I'm diving in to cut, piece, stitch, iron, baste, quilt, and bind what will hopefully be a beautiful blanket but more inportantly be a labor of love from me to them, even though they will most likely not even realize it.

 

So why am I telling you this?

It's certainly not to toot my own horn, although I will be sharing pictures of my progress as I go for funsies.

It's to get the word out about this awesome place.

If you feel inclined to donate money, prayer, or even a quilt, I encourage you wholeheartedly.

And if you don't live in the Pittsburgh area, I encourage you to check out shelters in your area and ask what their needs are. There all always needs.

If you are in the area, I'm going to be collecting non perishable food items over the next few weeks to stock their food pantry.
If you would like to donate some food, please let me know!
I'm even willing to pick it up.

As for the quilt, my mom (who is the greatest as I've mentioned before) has gratiously donated the batting and the muslin.
And I'm hoping that this quilt will be a total scrap buster.
If I need more fabric, I'm shopping from my own stock with the hope that I don't have to buy anything new.

 

Do any of you have shelters/ministries in your area that you love?

I would love to hear about it. :)

Storytime

I think maybe it my famous blog friend, Jodi, that described the months before Christmas as

"the time when crafting blogs fall silent"

Amen, sister.

 

Things have been so so so busy here.

I've been creating like crazy!

And I'm psyched to share all of my stuff with you all,

but alas...

They're gifts!

Don't open til Christmas morning!!!

So things will definitely be quiet here on the blog front

as most all of my free time will be spent sewing, gluing, wrapping, and whatnot

(darn).

:)

 

 

So no craft sharing today.

Instead, I wanted to share a couple stories (for whoever will listen)

that truly had me humbled this week and last.

 

Story One:

Before Mass on Sunday, Chris and I were trying to decide if we would take one or two Angel Tree Tags this year. For those of you who may not know, many many churches do an "Angel Tree" this time of year. The tree is filled with ornaments, and each ornament represents a child (or adult) who is in need. You purchase a gift for that person. Simple. Great.

 

Our angel tree benefits a ministry called the East End Cooperative Ministry. I love this ministry. They help kids. They help adults. They give shelter to the homeless. They feed the hungry. They give winter coats to those in need. They share dress clothes, resume writing and interview courses, and rides to men and women who have fallen on hard times and need a job. Awesome. Really awesome.

 

Anywho, Chris and I get an ornament every year, and I was really hoping to purchase for two this year, but with everything else going on it was going to be a stretch. So after Mass we're standing in line to get an ornament and I see one for a 12 year old boy who asked for a winter coat (probably because he doesn't have one). So I pick it up, and just as I'm about to pat myself on the back for being so "selfless" (yeah right), I see another for a 10 year old boy who asked for... wait for it... a book.

They tell these kids that the can ask for WHATEVER THEY WANT!

And he wants a book!

And a couple hours earlier, I was struggling to come up with things to put on my son's Christmas list

because he wants for nothing.

Okay, God... very clear, thank you. We're getting two.

 

Humbled.

 

Story Two:

My junior high youth group is a really great collection of kids.

Don't get me wrong, they're a bunch of prepubescent crazies, but I love them.

We had a particularly great Bible Study last night.

Pat on the back, Meg!

 

but no wait!

(and this is a real conversation I had with one of my volunteers afterward)

 

Volunteer: Meg, there's a chance that I'll be out for a few weeks in December.

Meg: Is everything okay?

Volunteer: Oh yeah, I'm just having some tests done.

Meg: Yikes. Anything I can pray for in particular?

Volunteer: Well I'm just fine, but I'm being tested to give my kidney to someone.

Meg: What? That's nuts. A family member?

Volunteer: No. I actually don't know her, but she's dying of kidney failure, and I have two so...

Meg: How did you even hear about this?

Volunteer: There was a bulletin announcement, and I felt like it was for me, so they tested my blood and I'm a perfect match!

(and the conversation continued)

 

I mean, really, God? A bulletin anouncement.

 I'm the youth minister. I'm over here singing "Call Me Maybe" and I think I'm the one doing ministry??? This guy is donating a major organ to a total stranger!

Via bulletin anouncement!

 

Double humbled.

 

If you made it this far, congratulations.

I don't usually share overly personal blog posts,

but this was a such a kick in the pants kind of week, that I just had to share.

Because lets be honest. I need a lot of work.