thankful...

Dear Fabric Friends, It is often during this time of year that we sit down and ponder where our life has taken us and we draw upon that review to determine what we have to be thankful for. The truth is, 2014 has been a chaotic one for us. I would be fibbing if I did not admit there were many times I discouragingly plopped in my chair and mumbled out loud that it is just too much.  Then out of seemingly nowhere, I would receive a card, a phone call, flowers even chocolate from friends. Sometimes it was simply a nudge from a stranger that would give me just enough of a boost to say continue on. Looking back there are many things I could be angry about. A landlord that proved to be deceptively untrustworthy, a mountain of unbudgeted bills related to moving, the loss of income due to needing to be closed for a few weeks, twice, the stress this entire situation has created in my family, even the weight I've gained in the process. Yet none of that really matters when I look at my beautiful Sarah sitting by my side. She is alive! And for that I am most grateful.  I am so thankful for the blogging friendship of a family who's daughter is painfully no longer with us, yet has shared their daughter's memory with us. If it were not for those two pillowcases Sarah elected to make for Kristen Kirton, our shop would never have come to be. So instead of allowing anger to set in my heart, I am consciously choosing to focus on all the positive that is surrounding us. We have a beautiful new store with a four year lease. We have so many friends who have followed us to the new location. Our bills are getting paid. Our pillowcase mission is continuing in even bigger ways. And we are meeting beautiful new friends like Mary Albaugh who started Amazing Grace Pillowcase Ministry in Bloomingdale. She along with the help of a dedicated group of volunteers have stitched close to 3,000 cases to distribute in the Appalachian area of southeastern Ohio. Our hearts are full of gratitude and love this Thanksgiving season. Thank you to each and everyone who has touched our life in some way. May your blessings be abundant.