Tribute To A Dear Friend

Good Evening Everyone!

As you know, we were away for our family vacation

last week and had a wonderful time.

Unfortunately, a few days into our stay, I received

an awful email telling me that my long time friend

and stitcher of hundreds of Homespun Elegance

designs, Sandy Albert, had passed away unexpectedly. 
I'm sure you have seen her name on my publications
for a very long time.
 Granted she had been fighting ovarian cancer for many 

years, but was doing just that, fighting it and living her

life in the most beautiful way.  She never complained, 

just continued with her treatments and seemed to

be doing OK.  She didn't talk

about it very much (unless you brought it up)

 and because I live in Virginia

and she in North Carolina, I wasn't able to see her.

Consequently, I just assumed she was doing OK.

She had retired from her school position and had

said she could now stitch more and spend all

the time she could with her beloved granddaughter.
She had just finished my Annual Ornaments and my

Cinnamon Stick Santa design.  She will be forever

linked to those designs especially because I know

those were probably her last stitches.  Just saying that 

brings tears to my eyes.  She sent me "Waiting and Watching"

as soon as it was finished so I could add the charm

and make it into the ornament.  When I showed

it in this Blog, I got an immediate email saying

how much she liked the "Christmas Star".  Sandy

was a woman of faith and I think that ornament

really meant something to her.

God bless you Sandy. God bless your wonderful family.

I cannot imagine the grief you are feeling. 

Being a grandmother, I know how much she 

wanted to be around for that little girl.  She

said more than once, she had to stay well, to 

see her grow up.

Life is short and I seem to be reminded of that

more and more often of late.

I'll miss you my stitching friend.

Good Night, 

Sandra