Hello, is it me you're looking for?

Well, it's been a while since I have posted.
A long while. I'm still here, I'm still alive!
So much has happened in our lives.
We've been busy, and life keeps moving forward, good, along with bad.
We keep our focus on God, and he always pulls us through.
So many updates!
Some I can tell you, some I cannot just yet.

*Last year was very difficult. We had some trying times, but our faith never waivered. My husband became ill. He had to have multiple surgeries. It was a very hard journey. We pray that he will stay healthy for many years to come. This journey has brought us closer, not only to each other, and our children, but closer to God, our Catholic church and church family, and our faith.

*We had started a small hobby family farm (sampler Hill farm on blogger)
Our whole flock of hens and ducks,  minus one duck were wiped out by dogs while we were away one weekend. Very upsetting! We are presently awaiting the arrival of our new baby chicks, due to come in the mail next week from Meyer Hatchery.

*I'm still volunteering for our church quilt and crochet ministry...but there will be news on the horizon for me soon. Something great, and I am very positive about what will be coming this year. A position I know God wants me in! More on that in future posts ;)

*Our Son has completed six full years of service to the United States Navy! He is now a veteran. Where have the years gone? We are so very proud of the man he has become!

*We have become Grandparents! Our Son and his wife have a precious baby boy, whom we have been chosen to be Godparents to. We are so very blessed. He is beautiful!

*I've crocheted a lot for our new Grandson, for church ministry, and I've also made quilts for the same. I've also done some stitching too. A baby sampler for the baby of course, along with a little piece for our 32nd wedding anniversary which we celebrated last month.

Now onto some photos!
The birth sampler I stitched for Paddy, our Grandson: the hungry caterpillar! You can find this chart by the whistling doe online if you do a search. Darling designs!

Some other things I made for our
Grandson:
A hungry caterpillar quilt..there's a theme going on here! 😀

Crocheted big granny square, with Lion brand ice cream big scoop yarn in mint color. Hat to match.

Hungry caterpillar cocoon (I followed along on youtube to make this adorable crocheted piece!)

 Taggie blanket :

 Baby bobble crochet blanket. I found the bright colored yarn at acmoore.

Blanket in blues

Box stitch crochet blanket:

I couldn't resist this soft whale fabric at hobby lobby! I added bumpy minky fabric to the back. Nice and snuggly for our grandson 😊

Our Grandson is so perfect, and such a blessing!

Patrick John! ❤️

The blanket I crocheted for our Son. So thankful and proud of him for his six years of service to our country in the United States Navy! 

Another lapghan I've crocheted:

Lizzie Kate design I stitched for our 32nd wedding anniversary ❤️❤️

Something I've started stitching on:

Heart and Hand by Brenda Gervais

My wonderful stitching tray filled with needful things! ❤️

I thank God for our blessings, to have gotten us through this past year, and for good things to come.
I wish you all a wonderful spring!
XxLouise

Sugar and Spice!

And everything nice, that's what little girls are made of! Every newborn baby girl should have a pretty new baby blanket!

I have just completed crocheting a new blanket for a special little Angel who will be arriving in a few short months. 

Pretty purples, pinks, blues and greens.

Such a soft snuggle blankie! ❤️

Pretty scalloped edging......

I used Hobby Lobby's own brand of yarn. It's one of my favorites! I made one big granny square. It's simple and works up quite quickly.

I am sure the new parents and baby will be happy! :)

My daughter is having her heart checkup this week. Please keep her in your prayers. We never take for granted how well she has been doing all these years since her open heart surgery when she was born. She is a blessing to us, and God has been so very good to us. She has been doing well for almost 19 years and We pray it continues❤️

Louise xx

Friday's Post

Hello all...
Had an unexpected turn of events in the past week. I decided to have a wisdom tooth extracted. It was bothering me so much and thought it be best to have it removed. Now I am thinking twice about my decision as things had gone drastically wrong with the surgery!
All seemed fine when the dentist removed the tooth..but then within a matter of days my face swelled and bruised. The pain was something awful!
I went back to the dentist..he told me I developed a hematoma. Just what I did not want to hear! The needle used in the muscle of my mouth hit a blood vessel and cause a clot to form. I have never felt such pain in my life!
I am using moist warm compresses for over a week now, along with medications..oh, it gets worse....
They had me on antibiotics and then I noticed that I was having trouble swallowing. I developed esophagitis!
This is an inflammation and burning of the throat (damage from the antibiotics). I could barely eat food..I have been living on frozen yogurt, ice pops and soft foods for over a week now.
 I went to an oral surgeon for re-evaluation, and then off to the regular family doctor also.
I am now on more medication for my throat and was told the pain could last for another week more.
Ok, but, I am sorry, I do not want to go another whole week with this mess, I am so done with the pain!
So, I have been feeling pretty rotten.
Amidst all the pain and frustration, there was something positive I could do while healing..someone close to us is having a baby! Well, actually they had the baby today. A precious little girl.
I have decided to make another baby blanket of crochet (granny square style)!
Something to try and keep my mind off of my pain.
Here is the completed blanket in pink and speckled white.

I need to get better quickly, we will be volunteering this weekend at Divine Mercy House. Their big garage sale is tomorrow and we had previously committed ourselves to helping.
At this moment though, I feel like I cannot do it with feeling so miserable. I did commit though, so I plan to keep that commitment for tomorrow.

Have a great weekend!
Louise