Notes from the Patch

What If

April marks my little stores twenty fifth anniversary. How could all this time have past so quickly?

I've always felt so blessed to be in a business surrounded by wonderful women all day every day. Many of my customers have been with me from the very beginning. Twenty five year old friendships that would have never blossomed if it hadn't been for this store.

I've always said I have the most wonderful customers in the world and I really believe that I do.

But it wasn't until I opened up to my blog readers and shared about my cancer and now about our son's ALS that I truly understood how special you all are. Your outpouring of love and support overwhelms me. Such wonderful caring dear women that are so good and loving.

I hardly feel worthy.

Sweet, sweet women who come up to me and put their arms around me and without saying a word, I know.  I know they care and are hurting for me.

When I first shared about my cancer my family said, "I can't believe you did that". You see I'm an extremely private person so telling the world that I was facing surgery was so unlike me. But I just felt compelled to share, to open up to you, my friends. And what I got in return was nothing short of a miracle. I literally felt your love and prayers as they wheeled me into that operating room. Bill too felt a peace and we both knew I would be fine.

Now, looking back on that experience I believe that God was preparing me for this journey with Jeff. He knew it would be tough and he knew I wasn't ready. No one can go through something like this without faith and the love and support of family and friends. He lead me to reach out in a way I never had before. He taught me to draw from the strength of others. He taught me how important it is to connect with one another.

As you know I believe everything that happens to us happens for a reason.

Insecure,  private, "dumb bell" English taking me, writing a blog for the world to read? Really. How bazaar is that? What if I'd never started this blog? I can't even imagine going through this without you all here by my side.

I know I'm rambling here. But today as Barbara came up to me and hugged me while saying that I didn't know her but that she was a blog reader and just needed to come give me a hug in person - at that very moment I got it. After twenty five years I got it. It wasn't about fabric, or sales goals or being on the cover of quilt magazines. It was about the connection we all feel for one another as loving, praying, caring human beings.

So with tears streaming down my face I just want to say thank you. Thank you for caring and praying and being there for me and my family. I love and appreciate you all more than you will ever know.

Encourage one another,

What I believe

    
I can say without reservation that this has been the hardest year of my life.

Have you ever wanted to know what the upcoming year has in store for you? If someone could tell you what 2010 would bring, would you want to know?

If someone had told me a year ago what this year had in store for me and my family I doubt that I would have believed it - I certainly wouldn't have wanted to know ahead of time.

Thankfully there have been many blessings this year along with all the trials. I prefer to dwell on the blessings.

This summer I was diagnosed with bladder cancer. I've never had surgery and never even had a regular doctor so the news that I had cancer came as a total shock. With lots of prayer from friends and family I sailed through the surgery and had a good three month follow up check. Through my illness I came to realize the power of prayer first hand and the importance of love and support from our friends and my blog readers. I see my cancer as a blessing in my life. If I had the choice, I think I would choose to go through it all again. It helped me understand the connection we all have to one another and helped me see what is most important in my life.

Bill and I recently put our Ventura home up for sale. His business is dependent on the economy and the housing market and business has been terrible. Bill was forced to close two stores and lay off many wonderful employees. This has been a very stressful and sad time for us financially. I am so thankful for the two years we've had our weekend home and feel so blessed for every day we've spent there. We trust everything will work out and I believe that God has wonderful things in store for us in the future.

This summer it became evident that our oldest son Jeff was having health issues. In December we received the devastating news that he has ALS and Frontal Lobe Dementia. Bill and I are now faced with the hardest thing any parent can be asked to do; to help our son and our whole family prepare for his journey into eternity. We are heartbroken for our son and his sweet family.

Up until now I've only shared all of this with just a few close friends. To be honest with you I try not to dwell on it all. I prefer to see the good in every situation and to have a positive attitude (thanks to my mom for instilling that into me). We all have a choice on how we react to circumstances; on how we handle adversity and illness. 

I believe everything that happens to me is part of The Plan for my life that was written long before I was born.This is what comforts me and allows me to go forward. I believe that God Blesses us through our own adversities and through the adversities of others. I try to see the world through His eyes and not my desires and He reminds me that all things work for the good who love and trust Him. I know that God loves me and will never forsake me. 

If I had a request it would be that you would pray for our son Jeff, his wife Cherene and their two little boys Jake and Nathan. This is going to be a hard road for them and for all of us. I also ask that you pray that God will lead Bill and me so we will know how best we can help Jeff and his family in this journey.

Attitude is a choice. I know there are many of you experiencing  difficult times right now. My prayer for you all is that you keep your eyes on what is good and that you count your blessings and trust God in your journey. He has a way of bringing joy into a life which is otherwise filled with sorrow.

Encourage one another,

The best gift ever and a few updates

Saturday friend and customer Pam came into Strawberry Patches bearing gifts. It wasn't my birthday or anniversary and I wasn't sick. What could it be?

I opened the card and immediately started tearing up. It read:

I probably missed your birthday but had an idea to surprise you with a gift you partially created.

(At this point I thought of all the fabric we had selected together for the numerous applique projects Pam has done. Pam must have made me a small quilt or wall hanging).

For all your milestones this year and triumphs over challenges, you deserve the best. Thanks for your shop, your creative talents, and your blog! Enjoy every moment!

Your sister in fabric,

Pam G.

When I started to unwrap the box I could tell that my gift wasn't a wall hanging - too hard and bumpy. Hummm what on earth had I help "partially create"?

 

OHMYGOSH! The images on these new beach walking, sea glass hunting, Farmer's Market going tennies were created from my very own photographs! I simply couldn't believe it! I felt so proud and humbled that this dear woman would think enough of me to do this. I love them (and yes Pam they fit)! 

Pam is the most wonderful person and knowing her and getting to know her better through my blog has been such a blessing. Although she is younger than me I look up to her as if she were my mom. She always offers the best advise and her love and faith shines through in everything she does. 

Now every weekend as I take my walks on the beach or my trips to Farmers Market I'll be reminded of my friend Pam and everyone I have gotten to know through my store and blog that means absolutely the world to me.

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I just got an email from Barri Sue from Bareroots and she shared with me that she got lots of "nudges" from you and has agreed to come to Bakersfield next Spring for a class, book signing and trunk show. Thanks to everyone who took the time to visit Barri Sue. Can I get a "WhooHoo"  here people?

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I've been working on my Tutorial Tuesday post all week. I'm having it bound and am taking it on the road. Will be at Barnes and Noble on Wednesday for a book signing. Seriously. It's soooo long. (Just warning you.) When I asked Bill why I do this to myself he wisely stated it's because it's what I love; sharing my passion with like minded women. Such an insightful man I'm married to!

Encourage one another,

Why can't a man be more like a woman?

Bill and I had a bit of a disagreement recently. He thinks all you need to do to get ready for weekend guests is to shuck some corn and throw a couple of steaks on the bar-b-que.

Men!

We entertained some wonderful, close friends over the holiday. My idea of entertaining is to have everything planned, primped and precooked before everyone arrives so when they are actually here all I need to do is pop a few things in the oven and enjoy our guests. This plan does make for some hectic prep work, but for me it works.

All this preparation drives Bill absolutely CRAZY. Why can't he understand how much I love making our home pretty and comfortable for our guests? I totally enjoy the fussing over small details that show friends I'm glad they came.

Is this just a woman vs man thing? Will he ever accept the fact that I enjoy fluffing and puffing our home before company arrives? This has been an "issue" with us for, oh, forty years or so.

Men!

If any of you wise women out there have a solution to our issue I'd love to hear it.

Encourage one another,

Shopping therapy

For me, nothing can get me out of a funk quicker than a good shopping spree.

Sunday I had a mission - to find the perfect trim for a special Minkee throw for a friend. So with swatches in hand I was off to Calico Corners in Studio City.

I entered the front door and did a quick reconnaissance looking for the trim department.

 

Before I had rounded the corner I heard my name.

Suzanne. Suzanne? Oh I thought that was you!

There standing between the rows of decorator fabrics was Sandy LaFair, the first sales rep I had ever worked with over thirty years ago.

 

Although I haven't seen her since her "retirement" seven years ago, she looked exactly the same. Five feet tall, ninety five pounds; a human dynamo full of life and  energy. Now at eighty Sandy works just twenty hours a week helping customers choose the perfect fabrics for sofas, chairs and bedding.

Once a fabric lover always a fabric lover.

So Sunday was a very good day.

I caught up with an old friend,

found the perfect trim for my little project and got to sew.

 

And who knows. Just maybe I found a good part time job for when I retire in fifteen or twenty years!

Encourage one another,

Saying "I love you" without saying a word

This is what Bill left by my purse this morning. (Along with my vitamins and a glass of OJ).

Thanks honey, I love you too!

 

PS Yes, we are badly in need of groceries, but he was creative and didn't want me to go without lunch.

Love that thoughtful man of mine!

I'm a lucky girl

Bill and I celebrated our forty first wedding anniversary on April fifth. Pretty good for today's standards, I'd say.

 

(Who are those kids anyway?)

Several months ago I received a David Yurman catalog in the mail and as I casually thumbed through it I commented on how much I liked one of the necklaces.

I never mentioned it again even though I seriously had considered buying it for myself. I liked it that much.

Sunday we exchanged gifts and guess what I got?

Me (squealing with utter delight): How did you know that this is exactly what I wanted?

Bill: I remembered that you said how much you liked it.

I didn't even think he was paying attention when I pointed it out all those months ago.

I guess he really does listen...sometimes. 

Oh, and here's my card

 

  

Oh, how I love that man!

You can bet I'll keep him...till I croak!

 

 

Counting my blessings...one by one

There is so much sadness in the world today.

Lost lives, lost jobs, lost homes, lost hope.

Listening to the news, it's just so easy to get depressed.

Although times are tough, we all can find SOMETHING to be thankful for. I was raised to have a positive attitude and I do prefer to see the glass half full.

Today, more than ever I need to look for the positive and thought I'd list some of my many blessings here, then I hope you'll share yours with me.

So here's mine, in no particular order: 

1. I'm thankful for this "job" I've done for the last 24 years. A job that I love and actually miss when I'm away for too long. A job where I get to work with women I truly love and admire. A job where I get to hang out with really wonderful people who share my love of beautiful fabric. I'm thankful for our sweet customers who I count as friends.

2. I'm thankful for this blog where I can share what's on my mind, what's new and what makes me, me. I love that it's brought me closer to my friends and customers and I love it when you share your thoughts with me. I have laughed, cried and prayed for many bloggy friends I have never even met.

3. I'm thankful for my husband that I knew just six months before I married him. I love that he still loves me even though I am nothing like that girl he married 41 years ago next week. I love that he is proud of me and that he thinks I'm doing a good job.

4. I'm thankful for our children and grandchildren. Proud of our sons that provide for their families so their wives can be home with their children.

5. I'm thankful for Nathan's brilliant doctors at Stanford Children's Hospital. I am thankful for the other families with children with DBA that support, comfort and encourage one another. I'm thankful that Nathan is doing as well as he is and for all of the wonderful people who unselfishly donate blood regularly. 

6. I'm thankful for Starbucks, date night, reality TV, Tahoe Joe's mashed potatoes, Fresca, my camera, Trader Joe's, new shoes and handbags, "my" radio station, my sewing machine and time to use it, a clean office and sewing room, walks on the beach and finding sea glass. Thankful that I've been able to resist sugar for the last three months. = )

So, there's my list. What's yours?

Have a blessed day everyone.

TJ can fix it

A customer brought her serger in last week for our machine tech to give her an estimate on a general service and, uh, a reassemble. 

It arrived in a crate and a plastic box.

In pieces.

Lots and lots of pieces. 

Apparently her husband was going to save her some money by taking it apart and giving it a good cleaning...after all how hard could it be?

Oh, taking it apart wasn't the problem. It was the putting it back together that had him totally stumped.

     

Poor guy. I'm sure he was in such big trouble! 

TJ will be here on Wednesday. He can repair almost anything...

even strained relationships.