What does this forum mean to you???

[Leetec]

Send a couple of tissues my way, Caroine!

[towens71]

What a great topic! I've used many tissues in reading what you all have written. I am addicted to this Forum! For a while I was embarrassed about my "passion" thinking that I was a freak of nature or whatnot, but low and behold I'm not alone! It is great to see the love and caring relationships that have formed here. I enjoy the swaps, round robins and the Secret Santa.

I sincerely hope that each and everyone of you have a Very Merry Christmas and wonderful New Year!

Traci in Ok.

[cindyg]

Wwwwaaaahhhh - I need those tissues down here please. I can't put into words what this forum and all of y'all who make up the forum means to me. I was bored one day at lunch and started going to quilt sites on line. I noticed that QIAD had a forum, went in and started reading, posted a bit, and that was it, I was hooked. That was back in February. Since then I have had prayers said for me when I had my heart cath last July and for my DD who is pregnant with twins, I've cried with and prayed for my dear friends here, laughed uncontrolably, given what I could to several people here, received so much input about sewing machines and cabinets, and learned so so so much about quilting. Before the forum I had nobody to talk to about quilting except my BFF who works so much that she rarely has time to quilt or talk about it. Now I HAVE to come here every day to see what's going on - you have all filled my life when I thought it was full already. When I mention my 'forum friend(s)' people look at me like I'm one of those computer kooks - but they just don't understand how I feel about you all. My DH thought I had gone crazy when I started sending fabric to a few people, money for sewing machines for people I didn't even know, etc. to people I had only met on line. He understands it now. I talk about y'all all the time. I've only met 4 of you in person and you have a special place in my heart, girls. I truly wish I could meet every one of you face to face. I also wish I could contribute/donate more but my time is limited because I work full time and am involved at church. This forum, seriously - IT'S A GOD THING!!! HE brought each of us here for a reason. I love you y'all.

cindyg

[Hummingbird]

oops

[Hummingbird]

[Georgiapeach]

Everytime I come here to post I start to cry and decide I'll post at another time when I won't be sniffling. I don't think that's going to happen! I joined the forum last Jan. and as I look back over this past year, I see how very much I've been touched by the precious friendships of every one of you. You can tell this is emotional for me because I just said "every one of you" instead of saying my usual " all ya'll"!! LOL! My DH and I started a business 5-1/2 yrs. ago and it has required all our time and energy to nurture our little dream. Then 1-1/2 yrs. ago we moved my dad here and took on the responsibility of his care. I haven't been able to have friendships in a very long time and I missed having them in my life very much. My mom and sister live a long way from me and since I cannot fly I rarely get to see them. I have struggled so hard to accept my dad's Alzheimers and adjust to the heartache it brings as each stage progresses. This time last year I was in a very different place than I am now....no friends, feeling isolated and overwhelmed and at times felt that I couldn't breathe, and afraid that I wouldn't be able to do the things required of me to do. The most accurate description that comes to mind is, "I was running on empty". Then I stumbled onto the Forum and my life has changed. The way I get thru adversity is by laughing and joking, especially when there's nothing funny to laugh at. This wonderful Forum of friends has laughed with me at myself from day 1, and it has been a blessing. Ya'll have accepted me and laughed with me about all my "Lucy Ricardo" stunts, from getting in a strangers car in a parking lot and making myself quite at home, to eating fried chicken and crying in a parking lot, to buying a truckload of peaches last Aug. when I did NOT have time to can or freeze them...oh, the list goes on and on, there's never a dull moment in my little world! LOL! I have received the most heartfelt gifts and cards from ya'll and I treasure each and every one of them. But, if I had to say what I appreciate the very most, it would be the laughter I find here with ya'll. It has lifted me up to cope with things I must, and has filled my life with joy and fun. I have been able to pursue a goal of wanting to somehow be involved in charitable works thru my association with ya'll, too. Every area of my life has been touched and affected by my friendships with ya'll. I ask you, where else could I be treated so royally and be called Queen????!!!! During a difficult time in my life I have found more laughter than I've ever known. When my heart is aching, I come here and with your friendship I find my heart is filled to the brim with love. I have found everything I need inside to be happy and to rise to whatever is required of me...right here. Whatever I need to fill up on, is only a keystroke away no matter what the time of day or night. I can be my crazy self and feel acceptance, I don't have to pretend or hide behind a fascod of what I think will be approved of, I can just be the little southern fried chicken/peach-eating gal that I am and know that it's ok! I am becoming a better person and contributing more to make my life count...because of the friendships with ya'll. What I truly hope is that ya'll can say that I have given back at least a small part of what I have taken for myself. Your friendships fill me up in so many ways and allow me to give more to my family, to be a better wife, mom, Big Mama,and daughter. Oh, and I think I'm a better Queen now, too! When life hands me rotten peach pitts these days, all I have to do is put on my tiara and boa and wrap up in my special quilt...and all is right in my world. And most of all, because of ya'll....I don't get many rotten peach pitts these days....I just get perfect peaches every single day year round...don't have to wait for them to be in season anymore. Ya'll are my peaches!!!! I treasure and love ya'll dearly, and thank God for the blessing of putting you in my life. I am so lucky!

[CindyB]

OK. I'm at the end of page 2 and can't read any more. I also knew I should have grabbed a tissue - hang on a sec - good thing there's a box right beside the 'puter!

I lurked for quite a while - I remember when Linda went to Nebraska, but wasn't a member. I think I joined in April... I honestly don't remember.

You all know some of DH's health issues, but he also has some that I don't talk freely about... so I need to be with him when I'm not working. This limits my ability to have girlfriends and going out to do things with. Work was about the only social contact I had with people - if you can call work socializing!

My family hasn't always been supportive of DH and me. (Hard to believe - wonderful guy that he is!) They have bought into my DEX's garbage, and have not encouraged or supported my decisions for so long, it's expected.

What I have found here on the forum is a family that I can count on to encourage, support, and love me the way I am.

You all encourage me to do better in my life.

You all support me when I'm down about life and things that are going on.

You all love me - just the way I am, and I can be me here.

Is there any more than that? I can't let a day go by without checking on you - yes, that mother hen has come out in me, too! I can care and show it, and those feelings are RESPECTED!!!

Love you all!

[gooseegg]

I joined this forum last Jan 7th thinking it would be great to have someone to chat with about quilting ideas and get some much needed help along the way. Little did I know just how important you all would be to me. I don't have alot of true friends, you know the kind, the ones you can laugh with, cry with, and really let your true colors show. The friends that I do have don't quilt, except for one, so it's great to be able to ramble on about out addictions to fabric, patterns, designs, 1/2 square triangles or ripping!!!LOL

Most of you know that my mom was my biggest inspiration and the reason I started to quilt. She was always there to help me through the rough spots, didn't laugh when my points were off "a little" and we shopped, oh did we shop! I lost her in August but thanks to all of you, I make it through the rough spots, laugh at myself when my points are off and I shop, boy, do I shop! I miss her daily, but you all have helped to fill the void in my life. I can't even begin to tell you how truly blessed I feel to be part of this wonderful place!!!

I've learned that we are our own's worst critic, none of us are perfect so why should we feel that our work should be?! I'm more happy with my work and as a result, I have way more finished projects now!!! You've all taught me so much, I cannot even think straight...drs have told me that's alzheimers...what do they know! LOL

Thank you all so much, I love you all, a big family is what I always wanted!!

Bess...Have a Blessed holiday season

[QuiltinKay]

I'm not sure that I can find the right words to tell you just what this forum has meant to me. When I joined on January 7 I was at a low place in my life. For the past two years I had been ill, first with a severe bout with bronchitis and almost as soon as I recivered from that I had a bout with Gout which lasted for five and a half months.Itas because of this that my son insisted that I move to Florida. For a year and a half I spent most of my time in the house, either sewing, reading or just sitting and staring at the T.V. I never went out , had made no friends and was not the happiest person in the world. This was totally foreign to my true nature. I have always loved people, been a very enthusiastic. optomistic sort of person. At 83 I had learned to use the computer, well I knew how to turn it on and off. One day I felt a bit daring and began to try to see what I could find about quilting on the net. That was the day that I found the forum and the day that my outlook on life changed.
The forum has given me friends, both on the forum and from that I had the courage to get out and make friends here where I live. I joined the local guild and made even more friends.
The main force now is this forum. These wonderful women have accepted me, the ancient one, as an equal,as a friend, and have treated me with love and respect. When I was ill and at a low because of my son's illness they sent me a beautiful quilt.That quilt is my greatest treasure and a can wrap myself in it and feel the love flow through me. I am a better person because of this forum. Eleanor Burns and Linda Parker are two women that I admire and respect above all others. I wish that more women could say, at age 85 that they have made new friends and found such loving support as I have. I just wish that I could meet eac and every one of the forum member and give them a h big hug and tell them how much they have done for me and how much they mean to me. I thank God ever day for all of you, my friends.

[luv_2quilt60]

You all are like my sisters I never had.I cry, I Laugh and when one of you are sad..It makes me sad.I am always bringing My Quilt sisters up in my conversations with My other family....they look at me kinda weired, but they know I love You all....I am a little shy, I don't go alot...But who needs to get out when i Have You here in My Living room every Day!! Life is good.....Love All of You!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Beverly