Long Roads, Curves, and Bumps

Well we worked hard....loaded up...and drove all the way to Minneapolis, MN this week!!! International Quilt Market starts on Friday.....set up is tomorrow (Wednesday) and Thursday. The trip was good....we went through Oregon, into Washington up to Spokane, over through Idaho, All the way across Montana, and then All the way across North Dakota and to our destination. The scenery was beautiful no matter what state we went through....although I must say there are no mountains in North Dakota....we did see a couple of buffalo though!!

We stopped in Missoula,Montana and had a meal with some special friends. We met these sisters several years ago at one of the shows and we have kept in contact ever since. It is one of the best things about my business is the friends that I meet!!! Shirley and Donna are sisters and they have a business called Country Lore Designs. They have wonderful patterns and also travel around and do a antique sewing notions seminar. In the past two years they have had to take a break from business to tend to some of life's unforseen curves and bumps.

While on their way to a show two years ago Donna ended up in the hospital far away from home with Guillain-Barra Syndrome. It is pronounced ghee-yan-bah-ray and it is a neurological disorder in which the bodies immune system attacks your nervous system. It is and can be paralizing taking months and years to relearn and gain your strength and endurance back. As if that was not enough Donna then was diagnosed with cancer. She has gone through chemo, radiation, and surgery....all the while while her sister Shirley stayed by her side and loved and encouraged her!! She was Donna's Angel!! I share this story because I am in AWE of the way that the two of them have come through these curves and bumps....and can only hope that I can follow their example of strength and grace in my life's unforseen curvers and bumps!! I truly admire both of them!! We are looking forward to stopping back in Missoula on our way home for another meal with good friends!!

Jeff of course did all the driving while I kept him awake and alert....bagging patterns and preparing things for sample spree!! I finished all I wanted to accomplish about 2 hours before we got here!!!

After checking into our hotel and having some dinner we took a walk around downtown and met up with Jan Hill and her gang from Hollyhill Quilt Shoppe for a fun time at Brit's pub. There was lots of good food and fun!!

Well that's it for our first day here in Minnesota!!!