Changes Afoot

I haven't sewn a stitch all week, even though technically, I probably could have.  DS the Younger and DDIL left Tuesday morning as planned, so we are actually empty nesters now!

We celebrated Easter a week early, and the grandkids had a blast looking for Easter eggs. Even the one year old found several. I had made a holiday brunch, because that fit with everyone's schedules better than doing a dinner. 

Unbeknownst to DH and me, our kids had been working on a surprise for us since last year. After brunch, the kids (four out of five were here with their families) sat us down, and surprised us with $2,000 they had saved up to help us go on an Alaskan cruise! We were dumbfounded, and honestly, I didn't say much at the time, because I was just so shocked. 

Now that I've had time to process that amazing gift, I've realized what it means to me, and one Bible verse in particular comes to mind.

Proverbs 31:28  (NKJV)

Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:

Why is this the verse that  gets me? Because going to Alaska is on my bucket list, and my kids know that. I've heard Alaska is amazing, but for me, it's more than that. I have been to 49 US States, and Alaska is the one I'm missing. My kids know how much I've wanted to get to all 50 states, and we keep pushing back the trip, so much so they were thinking we'd never get there, so they decided to give us a boost we couldn't ignore. 

Today is our 34th wedding anniversary, and although DH was scheduled to work today, he got off work early, came home with roses, movie tickets, and a plan to take me out to dinner. 

My kids and my husband love me, appreciate me, and respect me. How much more blessed could I be?

DH and I sent off for new passports, since ours expired last year, and we are debating going end of cruise season this year, or next year sometime. A lot of going on right now, so we're playing it by ear, but either way we'll need passports so we got that settled at least. 

DH has been to 44 US states, and we realized if we drive  (the long way) to Seattle, and take a round trip cruise from there, then drive home, we'll have his 50th state on that trip as well. 

So this week has had no sewing, cruise dreaming, and room rearranging and updating.

We had two twin beds in the grandkid room, but I wanted them to have more room to play, plus I was moving a television in there. I opted to get a daybed with trundle instead, and all the grandkids appreciated the extra space. 

Our living room has had vertical blinds in it for years, and I really hate vertical blinds. I saw the other day that I could now buy a 170" curtain rod, so I bought one, and used two patio door panels to cover our wall of glass. I really like the updated look. We've got new furniture ordered too, so when that arrives it will really be a living room update. 

I found some plastic containers that fit on the shelves in my fabric prep room. If the shelves are too messy it makes me a little crazy. 

I'm not finished organizing my rulers, but I've got a start!

I'm moving sewing stuff from all the nooks and crannies where I had it stashed and moving it to the new sewing suite, with the exception of my batting. I'm content to let the batting live in the guest room closet. It looks like a ridiculous amount of batting, I know, but honestly, I'm just thankful to have it. If I just finish my UFO list it will take all of it, and possibly more. 

I'm working on getting the new sewing space set up. My Bernina is ready to use now.

 

Organizing the walk in closet in the sewing room is slow going. I'm sure it will always be changing, as I finish projects and use up some of the things I have now. 

I can't get rid of this full sized bed yet, because we've got so much company coming. Once everyone has come and gone, I can get my longarm set up in it's new spot. I'm hoping I can arrange this room in a way that leaves me space to set up a vintage machine or two as well. I prefer piecing on vintage machines, but with no sewing room the last couple years, having multiple machines out wasn't practical. 

The new sewing space is a work in progress, but I'm feeling good about it. Where I had sewing stuff crammed in all but one closet of the house, I'll only have sewing stuff in three closets when I'm done. I'm keeping handwork in my bedroom closet, but there isn't much of that. Batting in the guest room closet, and everything else in the sewing suite, which includes that one walk-in closet. 

It's a new life stage, it's a good time to make some changes.