Gains and Losses!

The last two days have been wonderful and interesting and exhilerating and sad... Tuesday, in particular was a day of both gains and losses!!

Losses

I had to miss taking a class in Pigeon Forge with the fabulous Bonnie Hunter.  I scheduled the class in Pigeon Forge back near the first of the year.  Jeff's leave from Afghanistan was scheduled for the last two weeks of February, so I was sure I would be able to enjoy Bonnie with no guilt! :-D 

The army is never particularly predictable...and sure enough Jeff's leave fell right before the class....and his LAST day of leave was on the day OF the class.  Sigh.  I sure would have loved to have been there with my friends.  Bonnie was gracious enough to send a hello my way! Isn't that cool!?!?

I lost time with dear friends Lynn, Paula and Debbie in Pigeon Forge and lost getting started on Cathedral Stars, Bonnie's pattern (the quilt in the background!) in my choice of colors. What a great stash buster this quilt will be!  I'll still make it; I just didn't get to start it with my friends. :-(

But I also gained some pretty fabulous stuff....

Gains
I gained time with Jeff who is by now winging his way back toward Afghanistan.  He's only got another six to eight weeks of duty to pull, and he should be home by early May.  Godspeed, my dear!!

(Here's some footage of what he's doing over there :-)

That's my hubby talking about grafting -- the one with the big grin in the beginning of the video. :-)  He's doing something very good over there, but it will be better to have him home!

I gained other things this week, too.
The confirmation that I have great friends.
The generosity of alot of people.  I mean really!! A pic of Bonnie saying hello posted to facebook! I smiled for the whole rest of the day!!!
I won a prize, today, too! My choice of a book from the Fat Quarter Shop from Thelma at Cupcakes and Daisies.
And I met another new-to-me quilter at my church.

A great week! A little bittersweet, but it's these times that make life so good.

Jesus had something to say about gains and losses...
Mark 8:34-36 (New American Standard Bible)

And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?

Sometimes it's difficult to know in your circumstance if you are gaining or losing.  A rare day with a lovely famous quilt instructor who won't be anywhere close for a couple of years or more :-)  or a quiet day at home with the one you love.  Hmmmm....

:-D

But one thing is sure.  We don't want to exchange temporary gains only to lose what is most important!!

Blessings!