What I learned today....Thoughts of Loaves and Fish

I have always known that the best laid plans of mice and men (and women) don't always go according to plan, but today I learned that this kitting project seems to have expanded beyond reason simply because my strips must multiply overnight.  The HeartStrings quilt project is something I feel is very worthwhile.  Another plus is that this type of sewing is great because everyone seems to be able to sew the strips, but there is that insidious side of strings in that unlike the loaves and fish in the Bible, the strips keep reproducing even after the lights are turned off and all the quilters have gone home.  I now have the red, white and blue strips sorted for Quilts of Valor (15), the category I refer to as other (18) and the kid quilts (12).  If you have been following this train of thought over the past few days, you will recall that I said I was making 33 kits.  Well as a former math teacher I can tell you that 15 + 18 + 12 = 45, and that is a LOT more than I thought we had in the way of strings.  Never mind the number of centers, foundation squares and binding we need ----Think about the number of yards need to make backings.  Fortunately, I have the batting already donated, so now I will have return to my stash and also plead with the guild members for about 160 yards of fabric.  (Actually, I think I have backs for about 10 of the quilts, so...)
I have one copy paper box and one large 50  gallon storage bin filled with yardage and strips cut from other projects and truly untouched at the moment.  (Those misbehaving strips in the charity closet better just stop multiplying for the time being unless they are multiplying in to real yardage!!!!)  Unless someone else comes in and hauls them home to work on in the next couple of months, they will be waiting until 2011 to get any attention from me. 
Like everyone else, I do have a life beyond HeartStrings.  I have Christmas gifts to finish, a couple of customer quilts coming my way and one that is going on the machine this weekend, and more quilts to create using my FIL's embroidery.  Also, I am the one that started the UFO Fun challenge in my guild, so I know I need to keep up the pace and get mine done - 3 down with 8 to go by May.  Each year I set several goals to challenge myself.  This year the goals include reading the full Bible, exercising at least 3x a week, and whittling my UFOs down to less than 10.  I am about 5/8 of the way through the Bible, which means I need to pick up the pace if I am going to meet my goal of reading all of it by December 31.  I also have several pleasure books that are screaming for me to sit down and read them.  Besides my water exercise at the YMCA, working out with the personal trainer has started (should have done this years ago) and I am starting to actually enjoy the exercise just for the sake of it --Not even thinking of being an average size yet, but I know I have muscles that have been way under used for decades.  =0)  (My sisters are wondering why I did not start sooner, as well.)

****Please note that I am blessed or cursed because I moved into an area where I was unable to find a middle school math teaching position.  I subbed one year, worked at a quilt shop for a short time, have done quilting for a number of people, and have been the one to help out when family members have been ill or in need of a grandma type.  I am making the best of it and am thrilled that my husband actually feels just fine with the arrangements.  Once we decide where we will live after the Navy, things will probably change, but I really do feel that this time has been a gift and a blessing.