The End of the Journey~!
I've got 10,000 reasons for my soul to sing! Bless the Lord!
Life in Korea through the eyes of an American PW who likes to Crazy Quilt!
Hmmm... I wonder if anyone reads my blog anymore. =)
Does anyone remember the CQ Newsletter? It started out as a magazine and graduated to CD format that was mailed out to subscribers. I have the first 7 issues and 6 CD's (from 2003) with articles, projects and inspiration too~
I have been going through some stuff and have decided to give them away. Instead of doing a random number 'pick' I have decided to do the drawing a bit different. If you would like to recieve them please leave a comment INCLUDING your blog link OR email address telling me why you would like them and I will pick a winner. Please remember to tell me HOW to contact you!
I have been visiting the Love and Hope Orphanage in Daegu. It is an orphanage with either (or both) mentally and physically handicapped children whose parents have given them up. Each and every one of these children are SO precious! Their eyes light up when we walk into the room to visit with them. Their faces are riveted when we read to them. We love to play with them and simply hug and cuddle them. It is such a precious experience. Seriously, these kids are like little sponges absorbing any affection you will give them.
I don't know this little one's name but she is so pretty. On my first visit I caressed her face and told her how beautiful she is. She promptly nodded her head no. I continued to tell her how pretty she was as she emphatically nodded "no" each time I told her. Finally she stopped saying no. I just pray that she can realize that she is beautiful in God's sight and in mine.
This is 11 year old Sang Woo. He is such a cutie with his infectious smile and wonderful personality. Today he sat on my lap and hugged me. As I hugged him he was full of giggles and wiggles! As I patted his back he patted mine too.
Content and Happy. I call him Smiley because that is what he does best. When we arrived at the orphange today I sat down a good distance away from him. He is unable to walk (as most of the kids are in this area of the orphange) so he ROLLS across the floor to come and visit with me. =) What a doll!
More pics to come and video too. It is truly a blessing to be able to visit these little ones. Your prayers are coveted for these dear children.
Our anniversary is the 19th of this month (which falls on a Sunday) so we celebrated today by driving to Taegu to a lovely little French Mediterranean restaurant called Dijon.
Our menu consisted of:
French Bread with a Vinaigrette/Olive Oil dip
Bruschetta
Escargot Cream Soup
Roasted Stuffed Chicken Breast with Mushroom Duxelle and curried rice in Coconut Butter Sauce
We didnt order the soup but it came with the meal so, of course I had to try it. How often do I get the opportunity???? It was good and I can at least say that I have had escargot. It really did taste like chicken- but very very tender.
With French Music playing in the background hubby gave me his best serenade of 'Volare' (ISN'T that ITALIAN???) and he gave his best shot at speaking French that he possibly could muster up including and limited to: "Parles Vous Francais?', "French Fries", "Au Jus", and "Monsier". Oh- and "Pepe Le Pugh" We can't forget THAT, now can we??? =)
We strolled around- it was a beautiful day- and happened upon some lovebirds. (Awwww!)
Last but not least he bought me a hair clip that I had fancied a while back at a small boutique.
Anyhow, it was a lovely day!
If you have read this far I am quite surprised... haha.... I have toyed with the idea of 'putting my blog to bed'. Not sure yet but giving it some thought. If I do decide to start another please leave a comment and subscribe to that comment so I can post the url if that is the way I decide to go.
Thanks for stopping by after my pathetically long absence!!!
Excitement is building as we prepare for our Children's Church doing a Nativity Play.
Here are the pics before all the action takes place... will update soon!
I have to laugh because the provender is not 'straw or hay' but it is (tee hee) leftover stubble from the rice harvest here in Korea.
Merry Christmas to all! Jesus is the reason for the Season!!!
They put service above self to protect our country.
They risk their lives so that we may live free.
This Veteran's Day we remember the fallen and honor those who serve.
To America's Veterans... THANK YOU!
Hope everyone gets out to the polls and votes or has already voted via absentee ballot! I have voted in every election since I turned 18 and count it a privelage and an honor to represent my county! Every vote does count! God Bless America!
I ran across this blog a few moments ago. His moniker is fatcyclist and his wife and he are fighting the last battle against his wifes cancer. I have read the last few posts and it is heart rending. Grab your hanky.
Gil Hye is my new friend and we met at a local quilt shop here in my small town. I showed her some of my tatted lace that I have been working on and she asked me if I could show her how to tat (with my very limited skills~) How can I NOT oblige???
We started on basic rings and now we are working on this simple ring bookmark. (top pink) This is Gil Hye's first join. =)
Gil Hye is very excited. =) It is very difficult to teach with the language barrier but she is a very quick learner and learned how to do a ring and the flip the first day. Way cool, eh?
~
My Dear Mother passed away today and she will be missed greatly. There is a hole in my heart that will never go away and that no one can ever replace.
Living in Germany during World War II brought many hardships to her life. She was a survivor. She lived on the streets scavenging for food to survive. She was put in a camp for children and seperated from her father who was also put in a camp. She yearned for freedom and came to America for a new beginning. She loved her adopted country and welcomed the troops home from the Persian Gulf waving a flag on the side of the road as they came home.
I was her youngest child and remember fondly how she would take my chin in her hand and tell me, "You will always be my baby no matter how old you are." As Alzheimers disease was eating her mind I sat next to her weeping. Her hands waived in frustration and then her hand came up to my chin and she said, "Don't cry." Those were the last words I heard her say. I believe she did that in a moment of clarity.
I will always be your baby Mom! And you will always be mine. I love you with all my heart. 

Last month- hard to believe that it has been THAT long i was able to meet Sherry which was a real treat! I definitely needed a refresher course on split rings since I had forgotten what Melissa had shown me previously. (My memory and noone else!) THANKS SO MUCH SHERRY! I look forward to our next visit!
This is the first round of a bookmark for a gift for a friend. The pattern is here. This is done in size 12 pearl cotton (or was it tatting thread?) About the same size thickness I believe.
I pulled out the BIG threads yesterday and did my first floating rings thanks to Melissa's video on youtube! Not the greatest but definitely a start!
This was some experimenting I did after seeing this split ring medallion over at Lisa Trumble's site here. I was trying to do the split rings with the dead spider method instead of flipping the thread around the left hand so it was all experimental for me!
I did this the day after meeting Sherry and my split rings are looking pretty good if I do say so myself!!!
Last Monday I recieved a phone call out of the blue! It was my dear friend Sun Ae whom we met when we were first in Korea from 1994-1997. Wow! It had been over 11 years! What a wonderful surprise! When we first met she barely spoke English and I barely spoke Korean (still true!) We made arrangements and I traveled to where we could spend the day together. It was great fun! Once upon a time we would gesture and draw and have confounded looks of frustration in trying to communicate. Well, not anymore.... We had an awesome visit and I cherish her friendship!
I have been meaning to post this forever ago. I simply love vintage photos and these are the oldest known photographs of Koreans. There are 6 thumbnails that will take you to 6 pics. Incredible! I love the Korean tiled roofs.
No pictures can be included here of the Holy of Holies. =) It is used for storage and completely in it's original state. You can enter for sacrifice if you tie pomegranites and bells to the bottom of your garment hem and tie a rope around your leg to be dragged out in case of emergency. lol