June 29: Psalm 22; Fiber Fun, Literary Living, Finding Joy

Hello There,

This summer is a roller coaster:  fun with grandsons, quick after summer school visits from my teen-age grandkids, ever more frequent trips to San Diego, fiber hobbies, reading - life is full.  My older grandkids are attending summer school to advance their graduation date.  They come in hungry, happy, full of news and hugs.  I love the chaos!  

We are now on our last treatment option for Dad.  But he is responding well and full of life, though much weaker.  A dear friend of mine takes in our fur babies whenever we go to San Diego.  She wrote, "Anything to make sure you see your papa."  I wept with gratitude and joy.

As I re-read Psalm 22, my heart leapt within me.  I hope you are also encouraged as you read it.  I almost finished all of my fiber goals.  Reading has slowed down to be with my "babies", though the oldest is a foot taller than me and my granddaughter is about 8" taller!  I found some great memes on Instagram and my son-in-law sends me some as well - especially when Daddy is struggling.  

Take good care and as Daddy says, "Make memories, it's later than you think."    

HERE'S A WORD - Faith...broken faith...faltering faith.  Here I will share a Scripture about these topics.  No judgement, only love.  

Those of us who are in, are just coming out, or remember their own desert experience can certainly relate to verses one and two.  It may feel like "When I Fall" by Katy Nichole.

I remember feeling this way, and now, with my Daddy's diminishing treatment options, this is my cry.  The big difference is on the other side of my year of a desert experience, I know God is here with me.  I came out of the desert stronger in faith, more patient to wait on the LORD and more trusting.  God wastes nothing, not even our tears, our confusion, our anger, time in the desert.   And you will as well.  

My heart leapt when I read the final verse of Psalm 22. 

Our spiritual ancestors saw how God moved in their lives among extremely difficult circumstances.  And verse 31 states they will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn:  HE HAS DONE IT!  A people yet unborn is us and our descendants!  Their testimony to us states:  HE HAS DONE IT!  

Take heart my dear reader, He has done it.  Until then, He gently saves our every tear in His bottle.  

I pray for you to be restored, healed and know this:  

You are loved.  You are not alone.  You are being lovingly prayed for.

FIBER FUN  -I've decided to break down my "To Dos" into three categories:  Finish, Focus, Prep/make a kit, and Be Kind = Soft Deadlines.  FoF stands for the Fields of Fancy BOM I’m participating in, using Liberty of London Tana Lawn fabrics.    

Last Week's List

1.  Finish 

- I have this plastic box filled with small and not so small prepped items to finish.  Every week I pull one or two out and finish them.  

This week I pulled this fabric with which I intended to make bowl cozies.  I've only made one and would like to make more!  DONE✔️

A friend gifted my daughter and I the Creative Grids Bowl Cozy Template.  Coupled with this tutorial from Shabby Fabrics, the project was a breeze.  Now I understand why so many of you all make these!  

This finished advent embroidery bauble patterns by Liz at Bluebell Love should be a quick finish.  PARTIALLY DONE✔️ 

Ahhh, yes, famous last words - "should  be a quick finish".  To finish off a hoop-framed hand stitched project, I use thread to gather the extra fabric on the back of the hoop and add a felt backing with a hand embroidered label.  The first label looked messy, so I started it over.  Here's my progress.  

2.  Focus -  Fields of Fancy (FoF) BOM by Intrepid Thread - Applique and bind another hexagon.  PARTIALLY DONE✔️ The center piece needs just a few more stitches.  

Prep  Atlas Zipper Case #3 (last week I meant Atlas Zipper Case  #3) - DONE✔️ 

And here she is! I decided to use lighter colors for this one, but I will definitely be spraying it with Scotchgard.  

3.   Prepare/make a kit -  The next month of Fields of Fancy Not even touched!  

4. Be kind = Soft Deadlines - which are good for my mental health!  

This Week's List 

1.  Finish 

- This week I pulled these small orphan blocks from my Garden Snails Quilt by Bayside Quilt Shops.  That's my husband's head sticking out!  😍Quilters have the best husbands!

I plan to embroider a quilt label and attach it - finally!  

2.  Focus 

 - Finish the label for the advent embroidery bauble patterns by Liz at Bluebell Love 

- Kristina at Center Street Quilts has a five day sew along on her blog for the Atlas Zipper Pouch which I am using as my Focus.   My plan is finish Day One for both pouches:  quilting the fabrics.  

3.   Prepare/make a kit 

-  The next month of Fields of Fancy   

4. Be kind = Soft Deadlines - which are good for my mental health!  This summer the deadlines are even "softer"!

LITERARY LIFE -   

CURRENT READS

As with fiber deadlines, reading is on the back burner as I take care of my grandsons!  Oh, they grow so quickly!  Time with them is precious.  

FINISHED

***** If The Forgotten Names by Mario Escobar is on your TBR, read it now. Mr. Escobar writes this true, dual timeline work of art with eloquence, heart and objectivity.  This reader could only react with tears, horror and respect for the parents who gave up their children to spare them from certain death during the Holocaust.  He wrote about one determined lady spent 25 years finding each of the 108 children to inform them of their identity and the great sacrifice their parents made.

For me, the descendant of immigrants, this book was a double-edged sword.  It was reminiscent of not so long ago in the United States when our government was separating immigrant children from their parents.  

I listened to this audiobook as my father, a Korean War veteran, was in the hospital fighting for his life and later as our family cared for him during his recovery at home.  Aware I missed important aspects of this book, I did something I've never done:  After finishing it, I started immediately started listening to it again.  This is the third book by Mr. Escobar that I've read and I will continue to read his works.  Highly recommend. 

I received a free audio version of this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

MAILBOX MONDAY - is a gathering place for readers to share books that they

added to their shelves or E-reader the previous week. These are all books I picked up at the various libraries for which I have cards:  El Paso, TX, Las Cruces, NM and San Diego.  SD kindly issued me a card as we pretty much live there as much as our home base.  📚  

These are books that have come in from NetGalley for an honest review.

FINDING JOY - LeeAnna's I Like on Thursdays at Not Afraid of Color helps me consistently find the joy in every life.  She also provides a prompt for us to use.  

I got ahead on my prompts, so instead I'll share these reading memes I loved as well as a few my son-in-law sent me.  

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Sundays

Oh Scrap!  @ Quilting is More Fun Than Housework

Slow Sunday Stitching @ Kathy's Quilts

Sunday Salon at Readerbuzz

Mondays

Mailbox Monday  @ I'd Rather Be At the Beach

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Fridays

Off the Wall Fridays at Creations Art...Quilts...Whatever

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June 22: Psalm 22, Fiber Fun, Literary Life, Finding Joy,

Hello There, 

Thank you for visiting! We were in San Diego for Father’s Day. Life changes quickly! Daddy had a setback but is recovering. We’re home, recovering, and rebuilding routines. I hope to return to spend time with my “San Diego” family for a “normal” visit. 

Happy Father’s Day!

 

Hello everybody! 

Thank you so much for stopping in. This would be a very short post to wish all the Dad’s a happy Father’s Day. My eldest grandson is Really into Star Wars, so I absolutely had to add the Yoda Father’s Day wish :-)

My dad ended up in the hospital, and I’m grateful to be able to spend time with him. He was released just in time for Father’s Day, and he’s recovering comfortably at home.take good care and I hope to have a regular post next week.

With hugs and smiles,

Patricia

June 8: Isaiah 40:31, Psalm 9:18, Fiber Fun, Literary Living, Finding Joy

Hello There,

Thank you for stopping in!  This week was wonderfully filled visits from my grandkids, a merging of redo of mine and Daddy's non-fiction libraries with brand new wall-to-wall bookshelves!  And, yes, these book are organized using the Dewey Decimal system.  Last summer my granddaughter labeled all of Daddy's 400+ books and I did my own some time ago.  Both Daddy and I had different books, but now the "holes" of information are mostly filled in.  I'm happy when I see them as it has become a beautiful collaboration between father and daughter.  

My husband and 15-year-old grandson built the shelves together.  By the time they were on the fifth and sixth shelves, my grandson could make them by himself! Later that night, my husband took these pictures.  The baseball caps on top represent a few of the military veterans in our family.

June 1: Psalm 8, Fiber Fun, Literary Life and Finding Joy

Hello There,

I hope you all had a fabulous week and are looking forward to the coming week.  Our Memorial Day was a quiet affair.  Many of the veterans we know, both family and friends, have passed away.  As we remember those who fought and died for our freedom, I can’t help but reflect on what members of my Cancer Support Group said to me after I shared I had survivor's guilt. .