Sisterhood.

I got a phone call yesterday from one of my girl-friends from our last duty station. She called to let me know that they were surprised with quite a bit of snow. I was quietly jealous that she is walking through powder and wearing her winter coat. I am still wearing open toed sandals here.

She and I caught up with the happenings in our household...and as with all of our conversations (as with all of my conversations with anyone involved with the military), we talked about future duty stations. She and her husband are within that 6 month window before their move. I felt her excitement through the phone. :)

I told her how much I missed being where she was...the weather, the atmosphere. We as a family have made every required destination home, but there was something about upstate New York that is so calming and safe.

But I wonder if it was the location, or the people we were so intricately involved with that made the difference? Despite Greg being deployed, our apartment complex, comprised of 4 families with all of the males out to war, made for an instant family. Complete with laughter and mini-dramas, sit down dinners and loud opinionated discussions.

J (my girl-friend) is ready to leave to reach their new duty station. She was very clear to point out that things are not just the same in the apartment complex, and it hasn't been for greater than a year. She and I were the last of the four original (for lack of a better word) girls and once we both went our separate ways (her to Florida while here husband was redeployed, and we to our new home) there was no longer that closeness with the subsequent neighbors.

It made a little sad.

But it made me so glad.

There were so many things that were out of our hands. When we initially moved to upstate New York, and realized we had to stay in that small, run down, Army apartment complex I literally cried. I fought the idea of taking my children up and down stairs, and whined that 1040 sq. feet is just not enough, nor was it acceptable to me. I rolled my eyes at the cheap pilly carpet and the stained kitchen tiles.

But looking back, I realized that the road ended for us at that apartment because I was meant to have great friends there. That all four of us, so different in every.single.way. were destined to end up in the same run down corner building, with all of our husbands deployed, so that we could not just get to know ourselves, but to make ourselves stronger through each other's help.

I can't imagine that I would have gone through my lonely nights and quiet weekends unscathed without these surrogate sisters, aunts to my children. Now that we are all separated, away from each other, even if we don't keep in touch as often as we'd like, I would do anything for each one of them (are you reading this, A, K and J ?). Because just as our husbands created bonds with their fellow soldiers, we created our own with each other.

I love you girls. :heart:

A litte Zen Garden

...made by Alison, that is.



I cannot describe the excitement I feel when I get "fluff" (soft yummy stuff) in the mail. And I am especially most thrilled when the "fluff" is made by another Mama.

Soon after I found that I had a love for crafting, I realized that there were so many Mothers who are just like me. While they come from all walks of life and from all corners of many countries, I share their love of creating, of challenging ourselves to push our talent, and to value craft as a process.

I have found such a bond with some of these women. Our conversations revolve around the fabrics and fibers we covet, or what patterns and methods to achieve success. While we eventually talk of our families and lives, we are brought together under the premise that we respect each other's want to make something beautiful, useful, and cherished.

I suppose that blog readers are not surprised that we meet through message boards. Mother/Crafters are brought together at all hours of the day with a few clicks of the mouse. I have trusted colleagues I have never met, and I rely on them for friendship as I nurse my babe, or when I am holding her as she naps.

But folks I know IRL (in real life) are a little perplexed that not only do these communities exist, but that true friendships can come from it. How can one possibly create and maintain friendships with those one has never seen?

There are so many stories of friendships gone stalker-ish, or about perverted lurkers and sick individuals on the net. And I do believe that there are these people, but there are those who are sincere, just like I am, and I have found communities are are private, respectful, and resourceful.

We send each other well wishes on our special days, we share our journey in pregnancy, motherhood, and we buy/sell/trade the fruits of our talents.

And these friendships are substantial, and though they do not take away from the friendships we have IRL (though these friendships certainly are real-do not let this acronym fool you), these friendships add depth to the relationships we form in our lifetime.

...and for this I am grateful.

Weddings

They always make me cry somehow.

One of my girlfriends, M, got married this weekend. She has one of those relaxing easy personalities, and we have managed to remain friends despite the distance that 8 years of Army miles has provided us. She and I finally live in the same city :)

Her wedding to J allowed for me to meet up with one of my best friends, K, and she and I promptly began our giggling and joking and commenting. It was as if we were back in college again. Her poor husband, he had to endure her growling stomach during the ceremony and our minutes of our subsequent stiffled giggles.

Her wedding was a good excuse for me to get re-acquainted with quilting. So, I a made a lap blanket for M & J. Hopefully it will cover their laps and legs as they watch TV or read books.



up close:


Doing this size of quilt also gave me quilt-sewing-machine-lust. I had a darn of a time rolling and shoving this baby in the little space my Viking had for me.

Don't tell Greg that though (wink).