It’s the end of the year. Tomorrow we start the year 2024. Here’s a brief recap of my 2023.
I turned 75! That is still hard to believe. Not because I didn’t expect to live this long, it’s more that I never thought about being a senior citizen. When I was a child I dreamed of being a grown-up. I pictured myself as a wife and mother, taking care of kids. Yes, I played with my dolls a lot. So, I guess I imagined myself about as a 35 year old. I never dreamed of being a grandmother, or retired. That was old people stuff. So, here I am at 75. I am probably in the winter of my life—just not sure how long this winter will be and if it will be mild or stormy. Have I thought about death? Absolutely! I need to be prepared for all alternatives. I have a trust and a will. I continually update my lists of any financial information and personal property items. I want to be prepared, and I want my heirs to have a smooth transition.
I did a lot of sewing this year. After making a Christmas tree skirt for my oldest son last Christmas, son #3 requested one for this year. I gave him and his wife the opportunity to help design it. Then I made it and did not let them see it until it was delivered to them from Arizona to Missouri this December. They loved it, and it made me happy to know that.
I made a quilt for my sister’s 80th birthday this year.
A quilt was made for my grandson’s college graduation.
A Christmas quilt was made for another son.
I made 17 embroidered aprons. I have come to love machine embroidery, and to combine embroidery into making a quilt or tree skirt was so much fun. 99.9% of the embroidery patterns are from Designs by JuJu. Such a cute designer of great patterns that stitch out like a dream!
I made a baby quilt and hooded bath towel for a new baby in the family. It was so much fun, I made several more hooded towels for a few kids in the family.
We got a dog this year! What were we thinking? Charlie was a rescue and only 8 months old when we got him. He is a Morkie, which is a combination of a Yorkshire Terrier and a Maltese. He is as cute as can be. He loves to take car rides, and we learned he also loves to ride and vacation in our RV. He loves fetching and going for walks. We are still learning to “baby-proof” our home from this four-legged toddler. He will put anything in his mouth, good, bad, and dangerous. So, we have learned to be vigilant like the having a baby in the house! He is cutest little thing, and he will remain a little dog. He is funny. When he is not being cute and funny, he can also be a real jerk! Haha! He is known to grab something he knows he cannot have and then run full speed to the other end of the house. He has figured out that these two old folks he lives with cannot run as fast as he can. What he hasn’t figured out is we know how to surround him and stop him. He may be sly, but we are smarter!
That’s pretty much my year in a nutshell. I know 2023 has been a tough year for so many people. Our economy stinks, and we see no end. Prices are high and discouragement is up. The thing that has not changed is that God is in control. He loves us unconditionally and wants to be in relationship with each and everyone of us. That’s good news! When I think things are bad, I remember the suffering Jesus did, and he did it for us. He allowed to suffer, to be persecuted and put to death to save us, and bring us into relationship with him. Praise God!
I will try to be for diligent in my writing this year. Be safe this holiday weekend, and I’ll be in touch in 2024.
Andrea Unsinkable 