Survival, I Think!

Back in February I was going to write a scenario about the challenges of moving. Perhaps the fact that you have not heard from me since then is its own best description.

Yes, we survived - I think. We are here. Furniture is in place and the pictures are finally up. The clothes are in the closet. The dishes are in the kitchen - most of them anyway. But the garage is still full! Our most popular household phrase is: "What is? It's in the garage."

One important thing I have learned from the move: life is short and some things are more important than instantly having all the boxes open. Things like going on a train ride with my hubby 2 days after the moving van arrived because it was a beautiful day and our anniversary. Or helping our daughter with a quick move she had to make. Or making time to help paint our grandson's apartment. Or going on a drive in the beautiful Ozark mountains just to see the fall leaves.

Everybody has different priorities of course, but right now mine are to make memories. The boxes - they will get unpacked - someday -maybe. But for today, think I will ride the golf cart with my fantastic husband.

How To Move Without Losing Your Mind!

Maybe the title of this should be: "How To Move Without Losing Your Mind - Or Your Husband's!"

Yes, we are moving - or sort of. We have bought a home in Branson, MO and we will be moving up there in the next few months but we will be keeping a condo in OK as well...so during those next few months I am going to be blog about how to do all of this and survive at the same time.

So many of you followed me as I wrote a book last year in 26 days, I thought perhaps you would enjoy this process as well....so here we go!

Robert and I were born in OK and have spent the majority of our lives as Okies. We love this part of the country and never thought we would live anywhere else. Of course, we both spent part of our childhood in Texas (me more than him) but ended up back in OK over 40 years ago. (How could it have been so long?!?!?) Toward the end of their lives, all four of our parents were here once again and so were our children.

Well...that has all changed. Our parents are all gone now and our children are in different states and last year Robert began to talk more consistently about completely retiring and things just began to evolve.

I finished writing How To Get and Keep A Job about the first of March in 2009. About that same time Rita Goad and I reconnected after they moved back to OK and the Lord lead us to this creative and ever expanding project of putting together books of stories and advice for Christian women from Christian women. (Check out teafortheheart.com)

Both projects exploded about the same time and I (we) signed a contract for both books in June of that year. Little did I know what a year it was going to be.

Back to April: Robert and I decided to take a little holiday and went to Branson. On the way up there we began to talk about his retirement once again and that it would be nice for him to be very close to lakes (there are 5 very close to Branson) and lots of good golf courses, lots of good entertainment in a Christian atmosphere and since I can write anywhere I can get to a computer, where I am doesn't matter. (Except I very much prefer 'pretty'.)

Since we had a couple of free days while we were there...some interesting things began to happen....but that is for next time.

Hope you will join me on this journey. I think it will be fun and I "think" we will survive!!

Preemie Quilt Patterns or Baby Luv Program

They love seasonal quilts!




This is a picture or what is called
"cheater" cloth put together with
borders.
This quilt is simple squares sewn together.

If you can sew, you can make preemie quilts. You DO NOT have to be a quilter and certainly not a master quilter. Preemie quilts can be as simple or complicated as you choose to make them. Whatever they are, when they are made with love they are appreciated and give cheerfulness and hope to the families of those most precious, tiny babies.

The quilts are made of three layers of fabric. The top can be as simple as an interesting square of fabric or as complicated as a quilt top square with borders. (Many quilters make preemies out of the ‘extra’ or ‘practice’ squares they have left over from their projects.) I like to use a picture square and simply put borders around it. What the NICU’s are looking for is something that is colorful and cheerful. They are trying to make the sterile environment of these preemie babies look a little more homelike.

The second layer is made of cotton batting. Polyester batting is too fluffy and these quilts are frequently placed under the babies and need to be sturdy and flat.

The third layer is the backing and can be a solid piece of fabric, flannel or even scraps of fabric that have been sewn together to make a larger piece.

The goal is to make a quilt approximately 22’ square. Sometimes they are a little larger and sometimes a little smaller, depending on the design of the fabric but I usually use ½ of the fabric width (44” fabric) for the backing and by the time I take ¼ inch seams, the quilt is finished at 21 ½ inches.

When we first started, my friend Enid and I bound each quilt and finished them by hand. Our need has grown so rapidly that most of the volunteer quilters are now making then in a pillowcase fashion. Simply lay all three layers together – batting first, quilt top facing up and then the back facing down. Stitch around three of the sides and most of the 4^th side and then turn as you would a pillowcase. Easily close the small opening by hand. Then press the fabrics and machine quilt.

It is necessary to have simple quilting done on each of the preemies to keep them together – as they are washed frequently. One simple way to make it look as though it has a binding is to stitch about ½ inch from the edge all the way around the quilt. In the center of the quilt you can stitch in the ditch around your borders and/or designs or you can cross-hatch the entire quilt or stipple it.

The important thing to remember is to check your quilts to be very sure that no pens, loose strings or raw seams are present. We have to be very careful that there is nothing there to harm these tiny little babies.

The quilts need to be delivered to the Edmond Church of Christ office at 9^th and Bryant in Edmond, OK (if you live in that area) or mailed to me at Donna Watson, Box 3452, Edmond, OK, 73083. I need to receive them no later than the 20^th of each month as I have to wash them, package them and deliver to each of the three hospitals by the 1^st.

We are currently taking care of NICU units at OU Children’s Hospital, Baptist Hospital and Mercy Hospital. They have a combination of 168 beds – which means that they may have as many as 225 babies pass through their units each month. Currently we are delivering 110 quilts each month, so you can see how great the need is for this program. There are potentially 115 babies who don’t get a quilt from us each month.

Once the baby receives the quilt, it belongs to him/her and they get to take it home. The nurses love these quilts and – so I have been told – will frequently “fight” over which one “suits” their particular charge. They are also asking if I happen to be a day late in delivering. Yes, these are important.

Not only are they important to the staff but they are very, very important to the families. These babies are in such a sterile environment that sometimes it is hard to remember that these are real little babies who prayfully will soon be going home. The quilts are a reminder of that and also give hope to those who are struggling. They particularly love to have “seasonal” quilts as those truly represent “hope” to many parents. The head of one of the departments told me that more than one parent has commented upon receiving a Christmas quilt on the 1^st of December…”Does that mean that my baby is going to live until Christmas?”

When I hear comments like that…well…I just go back to my sewing room and create some more. I pray you will too.

If you have any questions, please contact me at dswphd8@cox.net.

Thank you very much for your interest in the Baby Luv project and may God continue to bless you.

Lazy Days of Summer...

It is hot!! Have you noticed that? Have you also noticed that when it is hot it makes you want to do nothing but lay around a pool and soak up the sun or curl up in the cool and read a good book? That's me!!

But wait...I have work to do. I still have a 'To Do' list and it doesn't go away just because it is summer. One of the things on my 'To Do' list is to get back into my exercise routine. I have this wonderful, cool, comfortable, cushioned floor, easy access, close to my house, full scheduled gym - that I can't seem to get to. Hummmm. Must be the lazy days of summer. I can't seem to come up with any other excuses.

Sooooo I went today!! I am so proud of me!! I found out very quickly that I am really out of shape and couldn't survive very long even in all of that luxury. Makes me very aware of what I need to do.

Speaking of schedules....we have a pretty short deadline on the stories needed for the next book
of the 'A Cup of Tea for the Heart' series. This one is titled: "Plans Are Made To Be Changed ~ Expect the Unexpected." I haven't written my story. Have you? We don't you to miss being in this book...and maybe...if you get your story in, I will get on the ball and get mine in too! :) How about it????

Life Is Soooooooo Good!!

Wow! I can't believe it has been so long since I blogged! It has been such an exciting month that I just can't keep up.

In the last blog I told you that I was talking with an excellent publisher about my new book, How To Get and Keep A Job. Well...not only did I sign a contract for that book, but Rita and I signed a contract the very same day for the first book of our new A Cup of Tea for the Heart series. This first book is titled: Tough Times Don't Last But Tough Women Do.

My How To Get and Keep A Job book is moving in so many different directions that it is mind boggling! It has as potential for not only being a book for the general public, but for becoming a textbook for high school, colleges, universities and vo-tech schools and a manual for training and retraining employees for new jobs or advancements. There are many plan in the work at this moment...I will try to keep you posted.

The A Cup of Tea for the Heart series is also moving very rapidly. I had the opportunity of attending the International Christian Retail Bookstore convention in St. Louis a week or so ago and meet so many people with whom we are discussing products for you to enjoy with each new book. Stay tuned - it is only going to get more exciting!!

Life is too short to skip the chololate!

On February 1st I made a pledge to write a book in 28 days. Many of you followed me and supported me as I went through that process. In 26 days of work I completed 'How To Get and Keep A Job." It is a book that not only helps you get a job but shows you how to keep it and be on the leading edge in this competitive market. As one publisher said, "If this is not a needed book in the country, I don't know what would be." An HR Training Manager who reviewed it said, "Read it! Do It!"

Well....138 days from inception I was offered a contract from a top ten publisher! Today was certainly a 'chocolate' day for me!! We still have a few questions to discuss, but if all goes well, on Monday we will be on our way. The ideas are flowing....this book needs to be in many places as soon as possible. It needs to be where it can help people with the financial challenges that almost 10% of the nation is dealing with right now. I pray that the Lord will guide us as we make those choices and I cherish your prayers as well.

Thanks for staying with me on this journey. Invite others to enjoy the trip and we will travel together to see where this leads.

A Big Day

Life is movin' on and it is good!! Today I received a contract from a publisher who wants my new book, "How To Get and Keep A Job"! Decisions! Decisions! You better stay tuned as things are popping faster than I can blog about them.

I am going to a big convention and will have an opportunity to do a great deal of networking. I think it will be such fun. I love meeting new people with whom I can share experiences and growth. (Of course, Robert is excited because he will get to see three St. Louis Cardinal games while we are gone. That is the cat's meow for him!)

Rita and I have the first draft of "Tough Times Don't Last But Tough Women Do" ready to submit to a publisher and/or agent. We had set our deadline for June 17th but made it yesterday afternoon. Wahoo!! Please check our new website http://www.teafortheheart.com/ frequently for updates of what is happening. We got the article selection back from our editing committee earlier this week and didn't see any reason to wait. I know that must have been a really "tough" job for them as we have so many, many wonderful and heartwarming stories. Oh well, we have five more books in the cooker and they can look at the ones that were not chosen for this book and find which of the upcoming books they will fit in best.

By the way, we are needing more stories, so please go to the new website http://www.teafortheheart.com/ and check out the guidelines so that you, too, can be a part of this wonderful sharing opportunity. We need stories for many different topics. Look at the book titles and their descriptions and share your challenging experiences along with some wonderful advice as to how you lived through it with God's help. You may never know, your story may be the very one someone needs when they pick up that book. God is so good at putting things in the right places at the right time.

Oh yes, while you are at our website at http://www.teafortheheart.com/, don't forget to sign up for the Joy Thoughts. I love getting that little bit of sunshine in my inbox a couple of times a week and I know you will enjoy them too.

Well...so much for today. How wonderful to have just one exciting day after another. The Lord is Good!!