2010 Was a VERY Good Year!

Hello...and let me say thank you to anyone that visits me and who puts up with my long absences. My new mission is to LIVE and not loose time anymore doing things that distract me from soaking up all the goodness that the good Lord has offered me. :)

I am well this 2010 as are all my family and friends. I have been disease free for just over 2 years now and still on the Femara, Zometa, and Zoladex. I am showing uncomfortable signs of joint pain...in my feet, hips, elbows and shoulders which gets me down but I take ibuprofen and it seems to help me manage it better. The mornings are the worst. I was able to get a spinal mri recently due to the back pain as Dr Kaufman wanted to make sure the cancer didn't spread to my bones...all they found was Degenerative Disc Disease...oh is that all? You can see how there is white in all the discs except the bottom ones...they are not filled with as much fluid anymore and that is what is causing the pain and the spasms when i twist or lift wrong or too much. I suppose being on my feet all day doesn't help much either. I love seeing what MRI's show...
This next picture was taken at a rugby game at NEC during homecoming weekend in October. It was a blast! One of the players actually landed at Emily's feet trying to catch the ball! I got to see a bunch of old friends and had the rare feeling of time travel as I felt like it was 25 years earlier.

The girls are getting so big and life is never boring...Ellie took archery this year and got a bow for Christmas (we got her a right handed one and still need to switch it to a lefty though). Em is now a "working girl" as she does "mother's helper" hours with my next door neighbor. It is such a win-win situation...emily loves feeling needed and the 2 little ones love having her attention. The mom loves being able to fix dinner without little one's distracting her and my other 2 like having some quiet time after school. I'm happy that she is developing positive self esteem and gaining confidence as she grows. I also remember that hard age and liking having other women (other than my mom) to talk to. You can never have too many female role models for young girls!
Ellie ran her first 5 k this year and as a matter of fact I participated in a 5k this year too...but walked most of it. We also climbed 2 mountains Kearsarge and Cardigan
(I still can't believe I did it!) and did some hiking near Lake Winnepasaukee too! with great friends :) This pic was taken with my phone using a panoramic setting...so cool!
I have to say that climbing isn't so much fun...but the view is spectacular! And after that spinal exam...the doctor told me I had to KEEP MOVING! So there you go...more mountains to climb!This one is at Attitash where we went on the alpine slides and the kids got to try rock climbing...even sara did a great job! I was so fortunate to meet up with my internet chemo buddy Sara and her family there and we were able to get to the top together...but then again we aready had. It was such a marvelous metaphor though...it made us both cry...who would have thought we could have been together there...at the top 2 years ago?!?!?! Certainly not us! She told me of her friend that led her to me (well my Etsy shop) that had suddenly passed away earlier that spring...it's hard to imagine the plan that God has for us...how we all touch eachother in ways we sometimes don't even know.

Merry Christmas to you all and a Happy New Year! Blessings, Jodi

Hollyhocks in July

I love New Hampshire!

Picture taken while buying corn and berries with the kids.

First Annual Crafty Flotation Device Brook Race

Well the challenge was upon us to make something of recycled materials that would float and race down the brook at the camp ground. The kids had a blast making items and hoarding supplies...I mean sharing supplies!

then we went to the brook with boats in hand...the excitement was thick!

There they go... There they went...but who got past trouble falls???

ahhh one lonely sea worthy vessel!

other boats needed a bit of coaxing but they all got through the falls...

well...most made it out alive...others were not so fortunate.

One day to go then off to camp!

Oh so excited to go camping with the family! This will be the 3rd year in a row for us to go to Jacob's Brook camp ground here in NH! The first year we went with 2 other families and last year we managed with the kids (baby was 8 weeks old) alone. But this year we will be honored to join a few different families...at least 3 that I know of, maybe 4. Oh so excited. Hubby has been working 7 days a week and really needs the 5 days off to rejuvenate his spirit! And we certainly need the family time too!

I'll take some pictures with the digital camera this time as I can't find any on my computer to share...sorry! It's awesome and Daisy the most amazing dog gets to come too! She loves to swim in the brook with us...oh so excited!!!

Rumor has it there is going to be a friendly competition with Deedaloos and HappyHouseQuilts involving handmade (of course!) floatation devices....can't forget to pack the duct tape!!!

Enjoy the weekend...and wish us well...tenting with 3 kids shoud be an adventure!

New magazine...is HHQ on the cutting edge?

I got a new magazine/book this weekend. The Best of Stampington & Company HandCrafted, Vol 3. (Wish I could post a picture but it has a registered trademark. No part of the publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.) I don't always spend this much money but I had a gift certificate and I was going away for the weekend and wanted something to read while lounging around the pool with my friends. It's called Handcrafted...(of course)! I LOVE IT!!! This is a magazine that will be forbidden for the kids to touch...or at least the baby...i will go through it over and over (already have!) as it is so full of inspiration! I got it at my local Michael's Craft Store.

How surprised was I when I turned the page and found an article about clothes pins!!! Could *I* be on the cutting edge with my Quilt Clamps for organization...my cute little magnetized clips, my Fridge Flowers (my girl friends called them that!) that I have embellished and put much thought and care into???? Well there they were, somebody else's creations using the same raw materials, on a 4 page spread starting on page 83 - maybe I'm onto something...I guess nothing is ever truly original...although the idea is the same but the end product is totally different! I love mine...But in another home theirs would look smashing too!

Now imagine the 4 of us...all on lounge chairs with our magazines by the pool...I found it quite interesting that my friends had Fitness, Self, People, InStyle...and I had my wonderful crafty Handcrafted book, chock full of inspiration!!! I had no desire to read theirs and they had no desire to read mine...too funny!

I'm hoping to get some pictures from the weekend...yes...i forgot my camera, darn! We had a blast just reconnecting and bonding with each other...no kids. I love my friends! I always feel so rejuvenated after spending time with them! So much more centered!

They actually did some product development for me too...we are in the process of renaming the Quilt Clamps(TM) to maybe Fridge Flowers(?) or something else...not sure yet...but they don't hold up quilts and the old name is misleading.

The Coffee Quilt(TM) got a new nickname too! Cocktail Quilt! It snugged up so nice on my hostesses glasses as we drank margaritas...and my hand didn't freeze off, nor did anyone think my cup was theirs!!!

Hey do you like the idea of these Quilt Clamps(TM)? A Threadibilities Clamp Kit is in the works!!! Soon you will be able to get them for your child to make and decorate your fridge too! Can't wait? Well then check out the Threadibilities Clip Kit(TM)! Or read more about it here at the blog!