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Tuesday, January 13, 2015

When Family Matters Most!

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I love seeing my dad interacting with his grandchildren!

This is my niece Jessica, the daughter of my brother Mark, and my sister in law Sharolyn! I have loved watching her grow up.  She is now a senior in high school, a very talented pianist, and also plays the cello and viola in her high school orchestras.

She is excited about heading off to college and dorm life next fall – ready to stretch her wings and fly.

I know she will go far!

((And have you ever seen a happier grandpa being loved by a granddaughter?))

Last evening’s blog post was non-existent because there just was not time.  I have been surrounded by family, and it is right where I needed to be.

Dad and I caught a “Double Dipper” at the movies yesterday, seeing two movies we wanted to see.  The Imagination Game, about the cracking of the Enigma  Machine ((Fabulous!)) and Selma, about Martin Luther King’s march between Selma, AL and Birmingham, AL.  ((Heart wrenching))

Loved them both.  SO amazed that what was portrayed in Selma happened while I was breathing on this earth as a 2 year old toddler.  It brought out loads of conversation with my dad about where we lived then, what the feeling of the times were from where we lived in Oakland, California – and he said that he wanted more than anything to go join that march, but he had me as a 2 year old toddler at home, and a wife that was pregnant with my brother Mark who would join the family in early 1965.  It was great learning about some stories directly from him of what it was like to be a young adult in his 20s then…supporting a small family, and wanting to join that march.

It also makes it very interesting to me, who has now lived in the South since 1999 and to recognize that even today we have so far to go – so very very far to go yet as a nation.  We have yet to overcome.

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Sibling Love!

My brother Mark turns 50 in March.  Doesn’t he look fabulous?!  I am so grateful to be able to say that yes, his chemo is DONE.  He finished the week of Christmas.  He has to have an MRI every 2 months to monitor things, but as of this moment, he is brain cancer free.  I am so grateful just a year later that we had this outcome.

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Mark and I in August of 1969

I was 7 and he was 4!

I am also happy to say that my brother Mike and his wife Nicole are the proud parents of little Jaxon Sherwood born on Thursday, January 8th.  He is perfect, and I can’t wait to see him!


Hello, Sweetheart!

So now that I have a name, I can finish the label on a Certain Baby Quilt and get it sent off as soon as I arrive home. If you have been waiting for a name for that baby quilt, I think I will be calling it Jaxon’s Nine Patch.  At SOME POINT I’ll be making it an available pattern, but right now there has been no time, so please be patient!  We will get to it!

Today my sister in law and I are headed to go pick citrus!

And then we have a family trip to the Arboretum!

A family dinner tonight with nieces and their hubbies –what a great way to end this trip.  I’m ready to go home!


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32 comments:

  1. So happy for Mark's outcome and will keep him in my prayers to remain that way. I wish you would not apologize for not posting...it's your family time and everyone knew that...just enjoy them!! Safe travels and thinking of you enjoying you little bit of home time.

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  2. So nice to be spending time with your family. Glad to hear your brother is doing well.

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  3. Again how great that you get to spend time with your family especially your brother. He does look well!

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  4. I have a nephew named Jaxon too! So glad you were able to spend some time with your family! Thanks for sharing!

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  5. YEA for your Brother. Prayers and chemo worked for him it appears. So good to see those smiling faces and cute little blessing straight from Heaven. Good thing his quilt is ready to send when you get home. Safe travels. Glad you took some extra'Family time'.

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  6. Family is way more important than blog posts, so I'm glad you are having this family break. What beautiful smiles and memories. Enjoy it to the hilt!

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  7. Blessings to your family, as it continues to grow! Safe travels home.

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  8. Anonymous11:20 AM EST

    I have the same feelings as you about how horrifying it is that those racial boundaries have not been completely broken. When I saw The Help and the Butler I felt so sad! I remember as a child seeing Klu Klux Klan on TV and thought it was terrible.

    Have you been to the olive farm near Sun Lakes? I loved that. Glad you had a little R&R.

    Darleen Stanton

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  9. Anonymous11:20 AM EST

    All of you have the same great smile !!!

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  10. I saw Imitation Game last week - excellent. Also saw Unbroken which was great and intense. So glad you are having family time and relaxing.

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  11. Thank you for your post Bonnie. Family gatherings are the BEST. So glad your brother is doing well. My brother is also going through his own battle with cancer and chemo sure takes its toll. He manages to keep his very special sense of humor through it all. I'm in awe! Have a safe trip home Bonnie. All the best. p.s. I've only just started to sew together the blocks of the MQ! Exciting!

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  12. How lovely that you have managed to have a good get together with your family. Some great photos, everyone looking so happy. Safe journey home. You seem to have been away for a long time to me so it must seem ages to you.

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  13. Sounds like just what you needed! I am thrilled your brother is well! The movies are on my list and love the name of your new quilt pattern!

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  14. Enjoy Bonnie! Moments to cherish. Memories in the making.

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  15. I'm glad your brother is doing so well! I look at the photo of the three of you and I see the same smile on each face. Family time is the best...enjoy!!

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  16. Thankful for answered prayers for your brother. So nice to have quality time with family, as it should, ALWAYS give them priority!

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  17. So glad that your brother is cancer-free and that you have been enjoying some much-needed relaxation and family time.

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  18. So glad you are enjoying your family time. Continued prayers for your brother. I have a grandson named Jaxon. Can't wait for new pattern. Safe travels home.
    Cookie in Mandeville LA
    lbcookie1@gmail.com

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  19. congrats on new baby they are just the best . So glad to hear your brother is doing well

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  20. There is no doubt that Mark is your brother...you look just alike. I am so glad that you are getting to spend time with your family, especially with Mark since he seems to be doing so well.

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  21. Oh Bonnie - these pictures are all wonderful! You all look so happy to be together. I've often wondered how Mark was doing - so thanks for sharing. So glad that is behind him (and all of you). Glad you are having a great time!

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  22. Wow Bonnie you and your brother could be twins. Amazing resemblance.

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  23. Glad Mark is okay, baby is beautiful. Niece is a knockout. I was just a kid when Selma march was happening, saw it on TV. I have a friend who marched many times and was arrested many times. She is my hero. The story of the Gees Bend quilters also shows the hatred that tried to keep these women from voting.

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  24. Did you pick citrus in Agritopia? If so, you could have borrowed my Citrus Picker! :-). So glad you got to spend some great time with your family! Come back to Arizona soon!

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  25. So glad to see your brother looking well and with a good prognosis. Last night I finished a Scrappy Mountain Majesties quilt for my BIL who is in treatment for acute leukemia and will have a bone marrow transplant next month. I'd send you a picture but I'm a technological dinosaur and don't do facebook or instragram or any of that. But I did manage to free-motion quilt it on my domestic machine.
    I thank you for making so many patterns freely available.
    Safe travels home.

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  26. Anonymous11:23 PM EST

    So glad to hear your brother is doing well. Enjoy your family time, we'll be here when you post next time!

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  27. I'm smiling ear to ear. The LOVE shines through in all of your photos. Everyone looks so happy, healthy and relaxed.

    Congratulations on the new addition to the family...hope he has your sweet ways and smile.

    God Bless and keep you all.

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  28. Anonymous1:09 AM EST

    Family does matter most! So glad your brother is doing well.
    BTW,you like vintage sewing machines-have you ever heard of an Eldredge Two Spool? I have just been gifted one-it is a treadle that I am trying to get running..

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  29. pat adney email pat@adneynet.com

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  30. Hi Bonnie...I agree, family is most important. My Father was busy working away from home when I was a child, growing his own business. I missed him. However in later years when I had children it gave me great pleasure to see how he connected with his grandchildren , my nieces and nephews as well. He loved them . He was a great Father. I was blessed...I had wonderful loving parents.
    You all have the same gorgeous big smile. It's easy to smile when there's so much love going on. Your new baby nephew is beautiful. I LoVe his name. A quilt pattern in his name. Yay! So happy things turned out so good for your brother and his family. Such a worry.
    I love readings about your life goings on. Don't be hard on yourself, we have to remember to stop and smell the roses from time to time. Take good care of yourself so you will be there for others.
    Hugs Marg.

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  31. So glad you are able to spend time with family. My husband and I are resident volunteers at Boyce Thompson Arboretum this winter. It's a beautiful place! I hope you enjoy(ed) your visit. If you visit today (Wed.), I'd love to meet you!Cindy Adams

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  32. HI Bonnie
    did not know that the C word was going on in your family. I will put him on my list for prayers. We are going through the same thing in our family. God bless these special people.

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