Well hello there, sweet friends!!! My world is absolutely BURSTING right now (like a butterfly from a cocoon…not a bowl of spaghetti sauce in the microwave, thank goodness). Hip hip hooray! It’s like a woke up one day to a completely new reality….wonderful energy, loving food, and just in time for a major life event (you know, because growing a baby isn’t quite enough)– we’re moving from Colorado to Virginia!!!
I can hardly believe it! We got the news about my husband’s new job, prepped, cleaned, and staged the house, and sold it, all within 1 week, and now are on to packing, planning the move, and prepping for my first quilt market booth. Holy hot sauce. Life is seriously crazy, and we’re just letting go of the lap bar, throwing our hands in the air, and screaming with delight as we race down this twisty turvy coaster of a year. No worrying. No anxiety (who are you and what have you done with stress case Amy?!).
I really think the peace is actually the result of being on the other side of some pain and trials…illness, family issues, financial strain, grief…whatever…the crappier, the better, it seems, because once you make it through through them, the sunshine is even sweeter than you could have imagined or remembered it ever being, and what would have felt like something scary and nerve-wracking and impossible before, is now an exciting adventure. How intensely freeing and healing it is to give up control and just go with the flow of life, to pray for guidance and provision, and then to see your needs met and your questions answered, again and again and again.
And I know I shouldn’t even be surprised any more when these miraculous things happen but I still am, you know what I mean? I want to get to a place where I expect them. Where I trust and believe they will come. This has been our April: “Should we move to Virginia, God?!” BOOM, answered. “Will we ever find a job out there?!” BOOM, answered. “But where will we live?!” BOOM, answered. “What if I’m too tired or sick?” BOOM, that’s over. “What if we can’t get the house ready to list fast enough?” BOOM, done. “What if our house takes a long time to sell, God?!” BOOM, sold. “But what if we can’t afford moving expenses??” BOOM, solved. “What if our furniture doesn’t sell?” BOOM, sold. He’s begging us to trust Him and when we do, it’s so, so sweet.
Anyway, that’s a slice of my world this week. Thanks for letting me share my heart and my excitement!
Wherever did the Cookbook Quilt Along go?? It’s still here! Now that things are back to normal, I’m hoping to get my sewing and quilty posting back to normal (AMY! Normal was 4 towns and a boat ride back…). Hey, I’ll get there, ok?
Seriously, where are we now??? Have you been diligently keeping up? If you have, then you win an award. Blue ribbon for following along with the worst quilt along host EVER. BWAHAHAHAHA! I laugh only because I know it’s true.
Seriously, we’re on block 18.
Isn’t that cat the cutest? He’s from one of my favs by Lizzy House. Love this block! I do have a couple of blocks to catch up in my new Meriwether fabrics now that I’ve come out of my season of hibernation, so for now I’ll share the one I made for the book.
Just like most of the blocks we’re doing in this year’s Cookbook Quilt Along, this one is super customizable- simply by switching out units or playing with fabric placement and colors. Here are a couple of other interpretations I came up with in EQ7.
This one has the petals placed symmetrically, instead of all aligned in the same direction, and with the center unit left blank. It reminds me of a video game controller, come to think of it. Maybe it’s the colors? Could look totally different in sweet scrappy prints. When the blocks are the blocks side by side I think the corner petals make a really pretty repeat pattern….like this…
Here’s an option without the petals, using the corner units from the book. Kind of a cool robot-ish shape!
Here’s one where I played with the color placement- subbing half square triangles in the corners and then using a navy for the back ground for part of the block to create an octagon type of shape. Same essential block, just re-imagined.
Here’s one more, also without the petals- with just plain blocks instead. So simple and clean! This might be might favorite of them all. 
So many options with this block! It can look like the one I made in the book, or totally different- it’s up to you!
I hope you’re having a good week, and that your May is off to a happy start. I’m thankful for green grass, melted snow, chewy cookies, and the energy to write this post! Ha! Hope you could identify with some of my personal journey sharing, and that the block play got your creative juices flowing.
Ta ta for now!
XO
Wishing you all a smooth move, a great Virginia welcome , happy family and healthy new babe…….a blog reader and fan from Ontario, Canada 😊
Well! Congratulations, new baby, new house, new job, new life. Be open to your opportunities and life will be fulfilled and surprising. Good luck and be safe!
God is so great! He provides! Your situation sounds a lot like what we experienced moving TO Colorado. We visited in July and were moved in by September – my husband interview with one job and got it! We moved with a 10 month old and I was 34 weeks pregnant. God’s hand was in it the whole time and we have been so blessed the entire time we have been here. I’m excited to continue to hear about your journey, praying blessings for you!!
Congratulations. Welcome to Virginia…you’ll love it here❤️
how exciting, especially all the answered prayers! There is so much peace in feeling God so close!! I am so behind, but I will catch up….life….
Congrats!! on the blessings safe travels, here is to new beginnings.
couldn’t agree more! when we turn things over to God, our life works! thanks for the story. i wish you every great thing.
I had all the same what-ifs when we started planning our move from California to Virginia six years ago. And just like you, God showed up in real and sometimes miraculous ways and all those details became testimonies of His grace, love and provision for us. Welcome to Virginia! You will love it here!
Love seeing how small changes can dramatically change the look of a block/quilt. Glad to hear you are feeling so much better. Lovely to hear your testimony – God is great. Trust in His plan for you and He will get you over the hurdles. Blessings :)
Don’t you love it when a plan comes together? Congratulations! Virginia is a beautiful state!
Hi Amy
Wow, this is such big news, so much going on in your life right now – what does your hubby do as a job? It will be a really exciting adventure, one which you will all embrace with arms flung wide and a huge grin. Good luck with everything, we look forward to sharing in your travels.
xxx
The move sounds so exciting, Amy! How wonderful that God is smoothing the way so obviously that you can’t miss His hand in it. I’m glad to hear you’re feeling better and I hope the move and the rest of the pregnancy go well :)
Hi Amy,
So glad to hear that you and the family have been blessed by our good lord with so many new challenges and journey ahead of you all. Congratulations to you for coming out of the fog, so I wish you and your beautiful family much more happiness and joy on this new road ahead! Best wishes Julie Beard
I think you lived in VA before?
Amy. Your delightful may post was wonderful. I was born and raised in Virginia. After time in Alaska and florida am now resident in north Georgia mountains. You will love the season changes in Virginia. And be welcomed by the friendly historical state. What town are you moving to? Blessings to you and your lovely family. Be happy.
Amy, as always thank you for sharing your faith and how God is working in your life. It is very inspiring! Bless you and your family as you move, your husband with his job, and your new baby.
Welcome to Virginia! What part of Virginia are you moving to? My prayers are with you as you move! I too moved (twice) while pregnant and I feel like God made sure all went well! Safe travels.
He leads us! So glad to read this today as I needed your enthusiasm and witness. Life is good when we trust and know. Enjoy Virginia – my daughter and her family are on their journey from Seattle to Virginia very soon. Thank you for sharing! Blessings!
This will be a great adventure. Virginia is the best state (I live here too)
I wish you all of the very best over the months. Yes I know the sleepiness, and now I am a gramma
with a 2 year old only miles away and another baby on the way from my youngest daughter and hubbs, only 25 miles away in Virginia. Life is good. Best wishes to all of you as you make this move. It will be a good one
Congratulations on the new job, and praise to Him, Who directs your steps and always sees us through all things.
So glad everything is working out well for you. Happy travels!
Amy, I’m so happy for you and your family. Everything happens for a reason, and in my experience, it works out to be even better than life before the ‘upheaval/traumatic event/whatever happened to make me think it was the worst ever’ occurred. Safe travels and best wishes to you and your family on your new life adventure.
Wow! 2017 is going to be a big year for you! Congratulations!
If you are moving to the DC area (Northern VA) and you are looking for great connections in the homeschooling community, please, email me. We lived there 15 years before moving to Charlotte, NC and I’ve got a lot of great friends who would welcome you!
Wherever you move in VA, I hope you love it! It’s where my heart is, just beautiful!
So happy to hear how G-d has been blessing you. Thanks for sharing so that we can rejoice with you. Do you mind sharing where in Virginia? Our daughter lives near Richmond.
Congratulations for you new baby and the new journey, wishing the best !.
wowsa! lots going on over there and how exciting!! your little stitchy map looks like it may pass through KY at some point……. think about stopping here in Paducah to see the National Quilt Museum! :)
HAppy to hear things are looking sunshiney for you and good luck with the move!
I love reading your story. There’s a lot to be said about a positive out look and girl you got it! Have fun.
Cheers form Nova Scotia, Canada
Pam
I do love that you have trusted the Lord to provide all of your needs as you prepare for the move. My husband and I did the same thing as we prepared to retire. Home, furniture, cars all had to be sold, the right timing for all. Things just fell into place as He had orchestrated for them to do so. It gave us peace in knowing that we were in His care at all times. Safe travels for you and your family and may God continue to bless you as you get set up in your new location.
Congratulations on all counts! And welcome back!!
How wonderful! Sounds like Spring and new life has arrived. And Pennsylvania is a beautiful state. I suspect there are TONS of Pennsylvania quilt makers just waiting to welcome you with open arms!
Congratulations on your move! Wishing you all the very best :)
Welcome to Virginia! I live in northern Virginia, outside of Washington DC. We have lived here since 1995. I am heavily involved in the Project Linus Fairfax County chapter. My husband and I actually plan to move to Colorado after he retires and join our daughter in the Denver area (she has been there for two years.) In the meantime, we continue to enjoy having access to excellent museums, parks, restaurants, entertainment, etc. in our area.
Hi Amy, congrats on the move and soon-to-be baby. I live in the Hampton Roads area/Newport News VA. Blessings on your new adventure. When and if you have a workshop it will close enough to me. Gee, golly. Warm thoughts, Judy in VA
Where could I find blocks 13-17?
Virginia is a beautiful place to live. I lived in Centreville near the Manassas National Battlefield Park for 20 years. Loved visiting the Shenandoah Valley.
Just what I needed to hear this morning. He’s begging us to trust Him. And BOOM :). Congratulations on all your new blessings. Praying He keeps them coming for you and we both get to where we just expect it. Instead of letting the worry creep back in! ❤️Virginia, beautiful, beautiful!
So happy to find your blog again. We had our lives turned upside down last March when our granddaughter called us and said her Mom had passed away in her sleep. Wow, it can’t be true, our first beautiful baby girl, gone. Why, it’s not fair and on and on into all those dark days of mourning and grief. I don’t know why I am writing this, other than, I was so touched about your Grandmother. I have not stitched a single stitch since that call. I look forward to the day when I can start to sew again, but not yet.
Exciting news about your new baby and your move, wish you much joy and happiness!🙏🏻
So glad for you, and hoping your move goes smoothly. Sometimes we just need to let go of wanting to control everything in our lives… to be willing to let go and just trust that we will come out the other side.
I’m so very excited for the new chapter in your lives. God is so amazing, we just have to be patient in the waiting and struggles, and be trusting when He reveals His plan.
Congrats and good luck on your move!! I love reading your blog <3 something about your voice that really shines! Also good luck on quilt market booth, i can't wait to see all the awesome photos!!! <3 Sherry
Congrats on all the blessings!! You’ll love Virginia, we’ve called the Virginia Beach area home for 9 years and have really loved it!
Wow! You’ve posted about Virgina before. So excited that it’s been a smooth transition. I am similarly learning to just trust God when everything is so up in the air. That’s super hard for this planner!
Hi Amy,
We moved to Floyd, VA from NC 1.5 years ago and it is great! It was quite a move though. I hope everything is smoothing out for you. Just remember things take time to sort out. Give yourself some grace. It took me a year to finally hang pictures in the house. Thank you for the inspiration! Best wishes for all to come!
Thinking of you and your family in your move. God is watching over you and your family and is guiding you and your family on a wonderful journey.
I had an epiphany a few years back when I was going through a particularly difficult situation and came to the realization that no matter what is going on in my life, I am exactly where I a supposed to be. So happy for you that everything has worked out. Love to see you smiling face.
muito bonito seu site
Congratulations, beautiful work.
adorei o site o conteúdo, muito lindo, perfeito parabéns.
Deus abençoe voce e a sua família
Definitely needed to read this today. Thanks!