Why is the Sky Blue?

There wasn't much sewing or quilting happening this week {which I'll be making up for this week}. But the price of some late nights to come is worth how I was able to spend the last half of the week.

Wednesday morning we left for Ft. Benning, Georgia where our oldest son, Andrew spent his entire summer at Army Basic Training and AIT (Advance Individual Training). 

After a little over 12 hours of driving we arrived at our hotel only to discover that they had seriously overbooked and we didn't have a room. Thankfully they were gracious enough to call around and find a room at another hotel in the area and sent us off with a couple of fresh baked cookies. Which I interpreted as, "Sorry we don't have a room for you, but have a cookie."  

The memory making continued from there. The restroom in our room was a pocket door that had partially come off it's track, but the memory and funny part was that my sweet hubby couldn't get out. There he was peeking out of a little crack in the door and starting to sound a bit worried, "I can't get out! Come help me!"  I have to admit I laughed. I couldn't stop laughing. Seeing him trapped like that just hit as funny. I have to add, he didn't find it one bit funny. Still makes me giggle.


Thursday morning was the first day of why we had made the long drive. It was time for the Turning Blue Ceremony. Andrew had been training for the Infantry and each soldier who completes the Infantry training is given the honor of wearing a blue shoulder cord on their uniforms and Andrew gave Darren the honor of attaching this cord to his uniform.

I loved watching my hubby, deeply honored to be the one chosen to attach the cord.

After the ceremony we had the rest of the day to spend with Andrew, going out to eat, having frozen yogurt, running some errands and catching up. 

My dad was so sweet, he decided several weeks ago that he wanted to come to Georgia for his grandson's graduation.  He wanted Andrew to know that he supported him and was proud of his decision to become a infantryman.

Friday morning was graduation day. The ceremony was held on a parade field that was made of soil brought back from many historic battles of which the U.S. Infantry were a part of.  It was a beautiful day for a graduation!!

All the Graduates

And after 14 grueling weeks of training with 14 of those days battling staph infections our boy had become a man, but not just any man he had become an Infantryman.

Delta Company, 2nd  Battalion, 54th Infantry

3rd Platoon

Andrew is in the last row, second from the left.

After 14 weeks together I suspect these will be life long friends.

3 Generations of Military Service & Honor in the U.S. Army

The Family

Andrew & Me

Andrew with Grandma & Grandpa
Some very proud Grandparents!!

Loving Brothers

Proud to be an Infantryman!

The Infantryman says, "Follow Me"

So the question remains.....Why is the Sky Blue?  Because, God loves the Infantry.
(the color of the Infantry is sky-blue....so God made the sky, blue)

{{{HUGS}}}
Marcia aka Little Pink Rose

I'm back....

I know you've all been missing me terribly!  Life kind of went crazy for a couple of months, but it was the good kind of crazy.  So, here's what I've been up to since last I checked in....

At the end of April my baby (19 years old and 6' tall...I know not much of a baby) and I drove from Virginia to Missouri to be with my family for my Aunt Jean's funeral. Aunt Jean had requested that my hubby preach her funeral and he was able to fly out to do just that. He did an amazing job leading the family in celebrating Aunt Jean's faith and her life. She will be greatly missed!

Aunt Lola, My Aunt Jean, my mom and me, on one of our "Girls Trips"

Since I was going to be attending Spring Quilt Market just couple of weeks after the funeral I stayed in Missouri on the farm with my parents.  I can't live without sewing for too long and I had a quilt due for delivery the day Market started. So I spent my days and nights sewing. I completely took over my parents dining room with all my fabric. Mom even got into the activity by pressing seams while I stitched away.

My mom...she's the best!!

I really hate seeing pictures of myself....ugh

And here's the finished quilt ready for delivery.....

The fabric is "Simple Pleasures" by RJR

Queen Size Quilt - the biggest quilt I've completed so far

Personalized Label

The back of the quilt - Love how it shows off the stitch design! 

Once this quilt was finished I had a little time to get a table topper stitched, as a gift to give to our piano teacher at my youngest's Senior Recital.

Just realized that I completely forgot to take a picture of the finished table topper.

While I was in MO I missed the graduation party of a very special young lady whom I had made a graduation quilt for. I was terribly sad that I had to miss her party, but my hubby was home and he was able to represent the family as well as deliver the quilt.

"Black Tie Event" with a bright surprise on the back

"Black Tie Event"

Black Feather Stitching

I'm pretty sure she likes it.

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My mom and I went to Spring Quilt Market in Kansas City and were totally overwhelmed and excited by all there was too see and learn. So much so, that I completely forgot that I had a camera with me and could have been taking pictures of all I was seeing.  Leaving me with no pictures to share with you.

I learned a lot, had  more questions than I knew to ask answered and came away even more excited about getting my online quilt shop set up and running. I also came away inspired, excited and  ready to work even harder to achieve my goal of opening an actual local quilt shop!  Wish so much that I had some pictures to share....it was absolutely amazing!!! 
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Once arriving back home I hit the ground running, preparing a meal to share with friends who had been staying with us (actually with my hubby) while I was gone and were leaving the next morning.

Then it was time to start preparing for my parents arrival in just 2-1/2 days. They were arriving early for Michael's graduation ceremony, giving us all time to play a few days before having to dive into graduation plans.  We spent a day at the American History Museum in DC and then on Memorial Day we visited Ft. McHenry...where our National Anthem, "The Star Spangled Banner" was inspired and written by Francis Scott Key.  We ended up being there just in time for the noon flag ceremony, where they replaced a smaller flag with a replica the same size as the huge flag that was flying the morning Francis Scott Key saw the flag still flying after an all night battle with the British.

Flag Raising

My hubby had the honor of being the one to fold the flag that had been taken down.

My handsome man on the left

On June 2nd we had our baby's High School Graduation and by default my "retirement" from home schooling.  I was extremely proud of him for stepping out of his comfort zone and giving a great graduation speech. Those who know him or have spent much time around him, know that he's a young man of few words, rarely speaking.

Michael giving his speech

Our "Thinker"
A picture that portrays him perfectly. He spends more time thinking than speaking.

The family

Finally we celebrated my Husband's promotion from Major to Lieutenant Colonel (LT. COL). He's been in the military for 28 years and is currently serving as a Chaplain in the Army National Guard. We are so very proud of our soldier!

Michael and I had the honor of "pinning"  Lt. Col. shoulder bars on his uniform jacket

My parents were given the honor of "pinning" his new rank on his uniform shirt.

 "Oath of Office"

The newest Lt. Col. in the Army National Guard Chaplain Corp

Those are all the highlights of what I've been up to for the last two months. It's good to be back home, back in my sewing studio creating and working to bring Little Pink Rose Quilting online soon.


Blessings to you,