Tuesdays

I love Tuesdays!  This is the day I get together with a group of friends at my church and “craft”  We named our group “Creative Circle” several years ago when a few of us wanted a safe, lighted, big space where we could gather and work on individual creative projects.  I was making a tied fleece blanket for my daughter and the church has six and eight foot tables on which I could spread a couple yards or so of fleece and not have to crawl around on my living room floor to cut the strips that are knotted into ties, which hold the two layers together.

The rest is history, as they say.  Since that time I have made a few hundred blankets, some gifted, many donated, and several sold to earn me a little pocket change.  As someone who loves to create a wide variety of sewn items, needle and other crafts, Tuesday morning is the one time I am assured that if I don’t give into the temptation to drink coffee and engage in conversation, I can usually complete a blanket or begin or continue work on other projects.

There are consistently six or seven people who faithfully show up on Tuesday morning, with or without projects in hand.  Among our group are other talented seamstresses, jewelry makers, crocheters, quilters and crafters.  We don’t always craft or create something, but usually at least a couple people will work on a project.  What is wonderful about our group is we share far more than a love of creative endeavors.  We share faith, our lives, our joys and challenges and all the major and minor things that make for true friendships.  We celebrate holidays and each other’s birthdays, pray for one another’s needs and assist in projects and individual endeavors both in and outside our parish.  These are the women I would call upon in both my darkest hour and my brightest triumph.  I love them like sisters, and I sincerely believe they love me in the same way.

I am immensely grateful to have these women in my life, and to have a place to gather where, because of  faithful service, they and I are trusted and given free reign to do pretty much as we please.  Last Tuesday, on New Year’s Eve, we even raided the wine we use for communion (unconsecrated!) to have a little toast to 2014!  St. Anthony parish in Anchorage, Alaska, is a second home to me and has been for many, many years.  I am so blessed to have found both this place and a community of wonderful, diverse people who are generous with their time, their love, and their talents.  They inspire me, give me joy, hope, and often the reason to get up in the morning.  They laugh and cry with me and give me endless reason to thank the Lord who has brought us together in this church, this community of believers and this time.  Create on ladies!