Psalm 8, Part 2, Fiber Fun: Parade of Behind-the-Scenes- Projects, Literary Living, Finding Joy

Hello There,

   From 2020 to 2025, much of my life was split between New Mexico and San Diego as we visited my parents. My father sadly passed away last fall. Now that the sharp bite of grief is a bit dulled, I'm ready to begin my 'New Mexico' life again.

     As I settle back into my rhythm, I’ve found that one of the most healing things I can do is simply return to my sewing room—and, in the process, face those projects that have been waiting patiently for my attention.

Psalm 8 Part 1, Fiber Fun, Literary Living, Finding Joy

Hello There,

Thank you for stopping in today!  Lately I've noticed a change in my mindset. While I enjoy my current fiber projects, there are so many hidden gems and long-lost UFOs I am also working on and want to share with you!   

Next week, you’re invited to a 'Parade of Behind-the-Scenes Projects' to see my hidden fiber arts collection!   I'll share my progress via an occassional "break from the routine" posts.

    For now, happy reading, sewing, and enjoying whatever else you love to do!

Take good care and, as Daddy used to say, 

"Make memories; it's later than you think."

HERE'S A WORD

As I prepped for this study, I simply highlight all the words that describe what God does for us in my Bible.  Then I make a list of them.  I'll follow the same format here.

Psalm 8 is filled with so many revelations that I'm breaking Psalm 8 into mutiple posts so we can really focus on each act God takes.  

Psalm 8 ^a

For the director of music. According to gittith. ^b A psalm of David.

1Lord, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory

in the heavens.

2Through the praise of children and infants

you have established a stronghold against your enemies,

to silence the foe and the avenger.

3When I consider your heavens,

the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars,

which you have set in place,

4what is mankind that you are mindful of them,

human beings that you care for them? ^c

5You have made them ^d a little lower than the angels ^e

and crowned them ^f with glory and honor.

6You made them rulers over the works of your hands;

you put everything under their ^g feet:

7all flocks and herds,

and the animals of the wild,

8the birds in the sky,

and the fish in the sea,

all that swim the paths of the seas.

9Lord, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Even though I’ve read through Psalm 8 multiple times, I keep discovering more of what God has done for us! Here is the complete list I’ve gathered—if I missed anything, please let me know in the comments.

1Lord, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory in the heavens.

I enjoyed researching verse one immensely! Matthew Henry’s commentary made my heart race. Imagine the most powerful worship experience you’ve ever had. Here on Earth, we see a glimpse of God’s glory, but the angels see it in the heavens where it shines even brighter—and even then, they cannot see His full glory! Can you imagine that?

Despite the many times I’ve read Psalm 8 or sung the worship songs based on it, I never really thought about this in detail. Yes, we’ve gazed at the sky, seen the moon and stars, or perhaps even the clouds, and thanked God for His wonders. But have we ever really considered that we are only seeing a part of His glory? Oh my! When I think of all the beauty I’ve been privileged to enjoy here on Earth, I’m overwhelmed by the thought of seeing even more of my precious God’s glory in heaven!

Life can be hard, but God has overcome the world and is eager for us to see His glory—if only for a moment. Regardless of where we are or the challenges we face, let us take a moment to simply focus on Him. Let’s offer a prayer of praise and gratitude, for God inhabits the praise of His people. Amen?

Here is a wonderful song to get us started.  

Please know this:  

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

FIBER FUN

I broke down my "To Dos" into three categories:  Finish, Focus, Prep/make a kit, and Be Kind = Soft Deadlines.  FoF represents the Fields of Fancy BOM, which I'm doing with Liberty of London Tana Lawn fabrics.  

Last Week's List

1.  Finish - I am once again pulling projects from my little pink plastic case.  

 -  - the third pen holder I highly recommend cutting the fabric 1/4” larger one each side.  Another change I would make is to sew a scant 1/4" seam.  Not Done

2.  Focus - 

- FoF BOM:  finish binding one hexie Done!  I completed two!  

- Maybe complete 10% of the Darth Vader ornament I'm a little under 10%, but am well on my way!  He doesn't look like much - yet.  :)

- QAYG quilt - maybe join the row to the main piece or make a section to add at a later date  Done!  The quilt is all one piece now.

- FBF:   I'll be picking up this BOM at a later date

- Disappearing Nine-Patch:  Finish joining the blocks  together Not Done!  Up until now, I've been a bit gun shy to machine sew.  This weekend I'll be working on this goal.  

3.   Prepare/make a kit

- for Grandson #3's cross stitch ornament 

He requested a T-Rex ornament, so my husband and I finally ended up choosing this pattern by More Little Stitches.  The photo below is her's.  :)

After conversing with several Etsy sellers, I've realized there are many copycat patterns online and I have been fooled into buying them.  I must live in a bubble as this was news to me.  So now, to ensure I am getting an original pattern,I only purchase cross stitch patterns that include the color AND black and white charts.  I don't know if this is a fool-proof method, but, for now, that's what I'm doing.  It's important the original artist gets the proper credit.  I'm interested in your thoughts, please share them in the comments.  

-  my only grandaughter's  hand embroidered ornament

She requested a beautiful floral arrangement by EmbroideryArtbyNatCA.  The photo below is from EmbroideryArtbyNatCA; it is not mine.  :)

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

This Week's goals with a new mindset

Do you ever catch yourself eyeing an old UFO (UnFinished Object) that you’re dying to work on, but you hold back because it’s just not on the list?  I certainly do—and I’ve realized I truly miss those projects. While I’m still setting some goals, I want to make space for these new and neglected pieces. 

Next week, you’re invited to a 'Parade of Behind-the-Scenes Projects!' I’ll be sharing a look at my hidden fiber arts and even changing up my normal blog format to show you the progress.  I do hope you'll join us!  

1.  Finish - My orange pen/sewing supplies holder

2.  Focus 

- FoF BOM:  finish binding at least one hexie

- Complete 10% more of the Darth Vader ornament  

- Disappearing Nine-Patch:  Get the rows sewn together as a flimsy  

- QAYG quilt and the Flower Box Friends will be on hold for now. 

3.   Prepare/make a kit - Prepping kits are finished, now it's onto stitching time!  

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

Please remember to visit next Saturday for my Parade-of-Behind-the-Scenes-Projects!

LITERARY LIFE   

MAILBOX MONDAY - is a gathering place for readers to share books that they added to their shelves or eBook readers the previous week.  Some of these books were recommended by you!  Do you see your reads below?  Thank all of you for sharing!

Here's what I've picked up this week.

ereaderiq.com I'm starting to post these titles on Instagram on the day I acquire them as the deals are short-term.

BOOKS I FINISHED

*****+ Mi Abuela es Una Bruja (My Grandma is a Witch) by Mayra Cuevas is filled with an enchanting illustrations by Lorena Alvarez Gómez depicting the loving relationship between the author and her loving grandma.  As a child, Cuevas was taught many lifelong lessons by her Grandma.  They lived in the enchanted world that is Puerto Rico.  Gómez certainly captivated the deep love this child and grandma enjoyed throughout their time together.  Most highly recommend.  

"An uplifting story, told through the alternating voices of two middle-schoolers, in which a community rallies to reject racism.
Karina Chopra would have never imagined becoming friends with the boy next door–after all, they’ve avoided each other for years and she assumes Chris is just like the boys he hangs out with, who she labels a pack of hyenas. Then Karina’s grandfather starts tutoring Chris, and she discovers he’s actually a nice, funny kid. But one afternoon something unimaginable happens–the three of them are assaulted by a stranger who targets Indian-American Karina and her grandfather because of how they look. Her grandfather is gravely injured and Karina and Chris vow not to let hate win. When Karina posts a few photos related to the attack on social media, they quickly attract attention, and before long her #CountMeIn post–“What does an American look like? #immigrants #WeBelong #IamAmerican #HateHasNoHomeHere”–goes viral and a diverse population begin to add their own photos. Then, when Papa is finally on the road to recovery, Karina uses her newfound social media reach to help celebrate both his homecoming and a community coming together." -Goodreads

*****+Count Me In by Varsha Bajaj is a tenderly told story that addresses a difficult reality: hate crimes. Bajaj beautifully illustrates how Karina’s two worlds—her physical neighborhood and her online community—come together against the ignorance that can lead to violence. It is a story of resilience that feels exceptionally appropriate for our young people today.

This book, and others like it, would be such a relevant addition to any school’s curriculum. I’ve already passed my copy along to my grandchildren to help start those important conversations at home.  Most Highly Recommend. #Countmein 

I’d love to hear from you: Have you come across a children's or young adult book recently that handled a "tough topic" with grace? Please share your recommendations in the comments!

FINDING JOY

LeeAnna's I Like on Thursdays at Not Afraid of Color helps me consistently find the joy in every life.  Here is her prompt for this week:  If you could bring back any fashion trend what would it be?

Well, I'm not much of a "fashionista", but I did enjoy wearing broomstick skirts.  They were comfortable, swirly and could be dressed up or down.  I sure miss them, though I'm not sure if they've really gone out of style?  

Here is a fabulous recipe for Banana-Apple Bread from Jen T at Food.com. It is a fun twist on traditional banana bread. I’ve made it twice now and found that it tastes even better with Pink Lady apples. I also added pecans for a bit of protein. Enjoy!

God Bless All Future, Current and Retired Librarians.

Once a librarian, always a librarian.

You are the first responders

to many social issues.

Thank you.

Are you or someone you know in a valley?  

Perhaps this song will bless you both?

Your comments are so appreciated! 

I read each one and will respond by email.

You can also expect a visit from me as well!

Here are the parties I sometimes link up with:  

Sundays

Slow Sunday Stitching @ Kathy's Quilts

Sunday Salon at Readerbuzz

Mondays

Mailbox Monday @ I'd Rather Be At the Beach

Sew and Tell at Melva Loves Scraps

What Are You Reading at The Book Date

Tuesdays

To Do Tuesday posts at Quilt Schmilt

Thursdays

I Like on Thursdays at Not Afraid of Color

Psalm 7, Fiber Fun, Literary Living, Finding Joy

Hello There,

Thank you all for you sweet comments on my new header.  I was playing with blogger's layout and decided to go for it! 

Psalm 6, Fiber Fun, Literary Living, Finding Joy

Hello There,

Thank you for stopping in! I hope your week was fabulous and that the coming week is even better. I was quite productive this week and even finished two books! It feels like I am finally getting my "land legs" back after my father's passing. Though I’m a bit late, I’m ready to set my goals for the year:

Psalm 5, Fiber Fun, Literary Living, Finding Joy

Hello There,

Thanks for stopping by! I hope your week was fabulous and your weekend is both fun and restful (if that’s not an oxymoron!).

I was invited to join a lovely group of stitchers for a "Sunday Sew Day." It was so fun chatting with friends and making new ones. Our hostess' husband made a cheesecake that was so delicious—no Mediterranean diet today!

This week was also another "organizational event," similar to my sewing room refresh. We tackled the tiny pantry, braved the "dungeon" (aka the laundry room), and scrubbed the fridge. This over-the-door organizer was a total game-changer for our pantry! Fingers crossed it stays tidy for more than a week. One of us is a bit messier than the other... but I’ll never tell who!

Are you doing any spring cleaning or freshening up your space lately?

Take good care and, as Daddy used to say, 

"Make memories; it's later than you think."

HERE'S A WORD

As I prepped for this study, I simply highlight all the words that describe what God does for us in my Bible.  Then I make a list of them.  I'll follow the same format here. As usual, I copied and pasted the Psalm from Bible Hub.

  Psalm 5 ^a

For the director of music. For pipes. A psalm of David.

1Listen to my words, Lord,

consider my lament.

2Hear my cry for help,

my King and my God,

for to you I pray.

3In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;

in the morning I lay my requests before you

and wait expectantly.

4For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness;

with you, evil people are not welcome.

5The arrogant cannot stand

in your presence.

You hate all who do wrong;

6you destroy those who tell lies.

The bloodthirsty and deceitful

you, Lord, detest.

7But I, by your great love,

can come into your house;

in reverence I bow down

toward your holy temple.

8Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness

because of my enemies—

make your way straight before me.

9Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;

their heart is filled with malice.

Their throat is an open grave;

with their tongues they tell lies.

10Declare them guilty, O God!

Let their intrigues be their downfall.

Banish them for their many sins,

for they have rebelled against you.

11But let all who take refuge in you be glad;

let them ever sing for joy.

Spread your protection over them,

that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

12Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous;

you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

Wow, there's so much packed into this Psalm.  This appears to be King David's morning prayer.  What a great way to start off our day:  with praise and prayers!  First, let's praise God for all He does for His children!

• listens to us
• hears our cries for help
• hears our voices
• has a great love for us
• leads us in His rightousness
• makes our path straight before Him
• provides refuge for us
• spreads protection over us
• blesses us

He listens, hears, loves, leads, goes before us, provides refuge, protects and blesses us.  I am in humbled and deeply touched by all my precious LORD and Savior does for me, for all us if only we would maintain an open heart towards Him.  

Additionally, we need not worry about the wicked and liars or our enemy!  Look at this list!  

• not pleased with wickedness
• hates all who do wrong
• declares the liars guilty
• banishes them

Reading through Psalm 5, it’s clear David prioritized a thoughtful morning of worship. It makes me wonder: "Do I do the same?" No, not consistently.  

I'm praying to accopmplish the same routine David appears to have had.  My husband and I talked about having our "office hours" from morning until noonish.  This will certainly allow for a more deliberate time with God.  It doesn't stop there.  I am so grateful we can converse with God all day long. These "micro-prayers" guide my steps and act as a guard against "stinky thinking"  and hasty responses.  Imagine how the tone in our lives would change with deliberate micro-prayers before responding to a situation!  With God's help, hopefully we can be more Christ-like throughout the day.  

Also, Psalm 5 feels like a dance between God's actions toward the wicked and His love and grace to His children. It's interesting to note how David spends so much more time on God’s goodness than on his enemies' malice.  It reminds me to focus on God, not the problem. He is always bigger than the challenges we may face!  As one dear teenager in our Youth Group said, "God is bigger than the boogeyman!"

Please know this:  

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

  

FIBER FUN

I broke down my "To Dos" into three categories:  Finish, Focus, Prep/make a kit, and Be Kind = Soft Deadlines.  FoF represents the Fields of Fancy BOM, which I'm doing with Liberty of London Tana Lawn fabrics.  FBF represents the Flower Box Friends BOM

Last Week's List

1.  Finish

 - Finally complete the ornaments for my grandchildren!  Done!  They were tickled to receive them last night!  

Here is the information to the various designs:

Charizard Dragon:  HoneyKittenShop

Gengar:  ChaosKittensCrafting 

Llamas:  by Stitcher's Revolution pattern #31 "Llama Drama"

Yoda:  GeoCreationsUK

Spiderman:  OutlawStitching

Some cross-stitch patterns appeared to be similar to other sellers' designs, so now I only order from cross-stitch designers that provide BOTH a black and white chart and a color chart. 

2.  Focus - 

- FoF BOM:  finish binding one hexie and start appliquéing the next Partially Done!  They are really coming along!  This one EPP piece is a challenge as there are so many pieces to join.  I'm enjoying the outcome thus far.    

- QAYG quilt - continue to find the loose joining stitches and reinforce them; this will take a bit to finish Done!  I'm now joining another row to the main piece!

- FBF:   I'll be picking up this BOM at a later date

- Disappearing Nine-Patch:  sew the rows into blocks and press them. Done!   The blocks are pressed and completed! Now comes the fun part of a Disappearing Nine Patch quilt. I get to cut the blocks and place them in a new design!  

3.   Prepare/make a kit

- Christmas Ornament for grandchild #1: For now, he likes all things Star Wars, especially Darth Vader, so I picked this cross-stitch design  at RinaStitchesPatterns for his 2026 ornament.  It's easy preparation as there are only three colors in the design.  I'll be stitching on 16 ct. Aida cloth, so it should be slightly smaller than described below.  

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

This Week's goals

1.  Finish - I am once again pulling projects from my little pink plastic case.  These little projects should be fast finishes.  

 - patch up Chloe's toys and Grandson #4's crocheted airplane

2.  Focus - 

- FoF BOM:  finish binding one hexie; finish the EPP sewing and bind the above hexie

- Complete at least 15% of the Darth Vader ornament

- QAYG quilt - continue join the row to the main piece

- FBF:   I'll be picking up this BOM at a later date

- Disappearing Nine-Patch:  cut up the nine patch and begin sewing the new squares together

3.   Prepare/make a kit

- for Grandson #2's cross stitch ornament using this pattern for Blastoise from BixoStitch.  To ensure I am getting an original pattern, I only purchase cross stitch patterns that include the color AND black and white patterns.    

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

LITERARY LIFE   

MAILBOX MONDAY - is a gathering place for readers to share books that they added to their shelves or eBook readers the previous week.  Some of these books were recommended by you!  Do you see your reads below?  Thank all of you for sharing!

Here's what I've picked up this week.

ereaderiq.com I'm starting to post these titles on Instagram on the day I acquire them as the deals are short-term.

Libby:  

I'm surprised to note that I haven't finished any books this week!  I am, however, very much enjoying listening to The Let Them Theory. I'm also learning so much from my weekly Bible study, Tozer on the Holy Spirit. Our discussions take the material to a much deeper level, as everyone brings a different perspective to the readings.  

FINDING JOY

LeeAnna's I Like on Thursdays at Not Afraid of Color helps me consistently find the joy in every life.  Here is this week's prompt:  what was your favorite subject in school... elementary, high school, or college... or did your favorite subject change over time? what was the teacher like? do you still have an interest in that subject? My favorite subject in school was in the filed of Language Arts - reading and writing.  No surprise there. In college I was very interested in my Bilingual Education and Multicultural courses.  One fact surprised me:  The Untited States is the ONLY country in the WORLD that does not reauire their students to become at a minimum bilingual.  My precious professors introduced me to Latinx authors.  This continues to be an area of interest for me.  

Here's some other things that have brought me joy this week.    

Don't you just love finding ideas on blogs?  Joy from Days Filled with Joy shared this tutorial for a thumb/finger pincushion that I thought you all might like.  The photo is from Days Filled with Joy.  I just love Joy's concept.  

During an email conversation, Deb from Readerbuzz mentioned this book to me.  After just a few days of reading, I quickly came to the conclusion that it's a treasure.  Thank you so much, Deb!

My husband snapped a photo of this sticker we saw in our local bookstore.

I love this song by one of my favorite artists, 

Comeback Kid by the late Mandisa.

Perhaps you know a comeback kid?

Your comments are so appreciated! 

I read each one and will respond by email.

You can also expect a visit from me as well!

Here are the parties I sometimes link up with:  

Sundays

Slow Sunday Stitching @ Kathy's Quilts

Sunday Salon at Readerbuzz

Mondays

Mailbox Monday @ I'd Rather Be At the Beach

Sew and Tell at Melva Loves Scraps

What Are You Reading at The Book Date

Tuesdays

To Do Tuesday posts at Quilt Schmilt

Thursdays

I Like on Thursdays at Not Afraid of Color

Last Week's List

1.  Finish

 - no finishes planned

2.  Focus - 

- FoF BOM:  finish binding one hexie and start appliquéing the next 

- Gengar cross stitch - fingers crossed - finish another 15%  

- QAYG quilt - continue to find the loose joining stitches and reinforce them; this will take a bit to finish

- FBF:   I'll be picking up this BOM at a later date

- Disappearing Nine-Patch:  start making the blocks

3.   Prepare/make a kit

- continue re-organzing my sewing room