OneThing #29 - Send in Passport Renewal

I can't believe how I've dragged my feet on this!

First I had it on my to-do list last year at this time. My first ever passport expired July 17, 2024 . . . and I didn't renew on time. Then I was worried - what would I have to do if I let it expire?!?!

When I went to get my driver's license in April 2025, I asked. The gal gave me the form. I filled it out, went to Walgreen's and got my passport photos, . . . and it sat. What next? It isn't rocket science, but I was concerned about doing something wrong. Louie encouraged me to get my passport and not wait.

So I asked one day at the post office if I needed to make an appointment. I need to learn the lady's name, but she is wonderful! (I love the USPS and especially the Jordan office!) So today I brought my folder with my filled out application, my new passport photos, my expired passport, and my checkbook. 

So easy! A check for $130 to the U.S. Department of State. A check to USPS for $10.10 for the mailing envelope. Bing bang boom! My week's OneThing is done early! 

My secondary thing is to get ready for the quilt show. Next week will be almost all St. Cloud and Minnesota Quilters. Woohoo!

Because I love photos . . . but doesn't mine look like a booking mug? They tell you NOT to smile . . .

OneThing #28 - Donate to Emma Norton

So this was interesting. I am tuned in to "Emma Norton Residence" because my mother-in-law donated to them. But I actually had been hanging on to a newsletter from Sharing and Caring Hands. I had circled the part where they asked for sheets and pots and pans for people who were trying to get established in their own place. I had some bedding set aside . . . 

When I was heading in to St. Paul, I thought I could stop at Emma Norton. I looked at the newsletter I'd been holding on to and saw that it was from Sharing and Caring Hands in Minneapolis. I called to make sure. Yep, I've donated there before. In fact, I've never been to Emma Norton! So I dropped off the items I had set aside. I'm not sure when I got on their mailing list, but I'll probably continue to get their newsletters. 

Ironically, a flyer came the next day for The Dwelling Place (Columbia Heights). I know why I get their newsletters. I went to one of their events when a former co-worker invited me. They do excellent work helping abused women and children find safe housing. All three of these entities do great work! I just can't financially support all of them . . . Prayer is key. God, what do YOU want of me?

I thought about using my spending money to buy a set of brand new pots and pans to donate. But there is so much need and I'm trying to be more prudent with my spending. I'll keep praying and listening for God's leading.

Since I love photos, I'll add one of a blanket I got along with the camo comforter I donated:

OneThing #27 - May Summary

This month was a mixed bag! I started strong and then faltered a bit. Being at our lake place for almost three weeks definitely took me off my stride. 

 

I feel really good about finally making the blog entry about Connie. So far, about forty people have read it.

 

I enjoyed my visit with Lou and recognize that I will probably be spending more time with him in the near future. It's too bad that Joyce is so challenging. She doesn't seem to like logic or problem solving very well.

 

I finally finished my Baby Medora! I need to go over a few directions before I drop it off at MQ on Wednesday, but at least I'm not still stitching on it!

 

I'm *still* not done with the book club book . . . I'm about halfway done reading it.

 

The missions potluck went well today. Praise God!

 

My May 2025 verse was Proverbs 16:3 "Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." 

 

I am feeling blessed and ready to set the board up for June 2025.

OneThing #26 - Prep for Missions Potluck

Full disclosure: my original OneThing was going to be getting my passport application submitted. 

But I just couldn't do a "FAIL" two weeks in a row! And this was actually my highest priority this week (Another reason to not set goals several weeks in advance . . . ).

Today (June 1, 2025) was for the all-church Missions focus potluck. Besides the food (always easy for someone who enjoys food a lot!), I had planned some decor and games. It wasn't super fantastic; in fact, I think very few people looked at the displays I put up. However, it was a good time and my basket of prizes (mostly candy) was a hit.

Here are the "games" I had (along with a few trivia questions specific to the missionaries we currently support):

It was fun and I was pretty chill about giving out prizes. People visited, ate, talked. 

Praise God for Christian fellowship! And I'm so glad He guided me and prevented me from freaking out and / or making a bigger deal of things than was necessary.

2025 OneThing #25 - Read and Blog Book Club Book (FAIL)

This goal seemed like a no-brainer. We'd be up at the lake for two weeks, so I'd have plenty of time to read and blog. I'd be back in town for book club discussion on May 27 (last night). Perfect. (FYI - I still haven't finished the book completely and it's Wednesday of the next week's OneThing already. I *did* finish all the parts of the Medora Baby Quilt, though!)

We spent two weeks up at the lake to build our pole barn. The cement slab was in place last fall. We had ordered materials. We had Louie's brother Mike (a construction worker) and our son Nick (the engineer who made our plans) as well as our son Alex for a weekend.

For over a solid week, we all worked hard. I stayed on the ground and fetched things and handed things up. I cooked and did dishes. I ran errands. I did not have much time to read. Over Memorial Day weekend, Morgan and his boys came up. I switched to playing with my grandsons while still cooking and doing dishes. 

 

Over those two weeks, Louie and the guys did this:

 

2025 OneThing #24 - Put Binding on Medora Quilt

I'm blogging Tuesday, but I had the binding on by Sunday. I had hoped to also have the label and hanging sleeve on it, but that hasn't happened yet. My "true" one thing was helping with building the pole barn. It has been much more time-intensive than I could have imagined!

 

I won this pattern at an MQ meeting and decided to make the crib sized quilt to see if I liked the pattern well enough to make a bigger quilt with different fabrics. I used fabric that I already had in my stash.

 

The top went together pretty quickly at a quilt retreat in March. I went to my friend Rose's house in April to longarm it. That took longer than I expected for such a small quilt!

 

I had made the binding at that retreat, so trimming the quilt and sewing the binding on was done before we came to the lake. I was able to do some stitching each day to sew the binding down on the back side.  I really did think I'd get the label done and sewn on as well as the hanging sleeve for the June show. Oh well.

What I worked on instead was helping with construction of a different kind! I am too chicken to climb up on the scaffolding, but I held things and carried things and fetched things. I shoveled a lot of dirt to fill in some of the ruts left by the telehandler. (That thing is a beast!)

I'm so grateful to my brother-in-law Mike and my sons for helping us get this pole barn built. Today (May 20) is for attaching purlins (the horizontal boards that connect to the uprights and provide a surface for attaching the siding).

2025 OneThing #23 - Spend time with Lou

I set this as my goal because I knew I wouldn't have many opportunities to see him in the weeks ahead. I haven't talked with Joyce much over the last month . . . for a variety of reasons. But I called her and offered to come over to spend time with Lou so she could go and do whatever she wants. I offered to come either Friday or Saturday afternoon and she said Friday (9 May 2025).

When I got there, Lou was eating his lunch and Joyce went on an errand. I read my book for a bit so that Lou could focus on eating. (He's generally too polite to eat when company comes, so I told him to go ahead and finish and I would read my book.)

When he was done, I helped with clearing his dishes and we chatted a bit. I had brought my Cursillo song book, so we sang together. It was clear he didn't remember the words and was having trouble reading them in the book, but he belted out the chorus. (Why can't I remember which song it was right now?)

I don't remember what we were talking about, but he said he's "too busy" to deal with something. I asked him what he's busy with and he gave me his same story about projects he's working on. (For the past decade plus, it has been sleep apnea machine, VA benefits, insurance, rent, etc.) He's always working on a deal!

It was really nice to spend time with him. When Joyce got home, she did a bit of her yelling at him routine. Although it makes me sad / mad, I just bit my tongue. I need to go over more often to listen and talk and give her "away" time. My hair looks weird in the picture because it was hot out and I had it in a ponytail.