Thursday, March 30, 2017

Philippians 2:27 Part 1. Simply Scrappy Sampler

Hello Everyone!  
Wow!  The response to God is on the Move was fantastic!  I'm so glad you shared your stories!  You've encouraged me so much!  Thank you!  

Onto our Bible Study and Crafty News!

Philippians 2:27
A Quick Review

Just as a reminder, these were the verses leading up to Philippians 2:27.  We taked about how Epaphroditus was immensly valuable to Paul.  Then we talked about Epaphroditus' distress because he heard that the Philippians learned he was ill.  

Let's look at Philippians 2:27!
Scripture
Observation
Paul confirms that indeed Epaphroditus was seriously ill.  Then he uses that word again:  but.
But God had mercy on not only him but also on Paul.  Mercy upon mercy.

Application
This Scripture is so rich with meaning!  I love it!  Paul cofirms the illness Epaphroditus had, but he gives God the glory for working in his body to heal him. That's how I feel about my journey - yes I was sick, but God allowed me to heal.  

Last night at our Cancer Care Group a really new survivor is plagued with fear about it coming back.  This is so normal and common.  I remember being there as well.

I was so happy to share my experience, strength and hope with her!  Though the cancer has not returned in 1 year 4 months (Yea!), I do sometimes struggle with survivor's guilt as I see my friends experience metastasis or re-occurrences. My strength and hope comes from God, my family, loved ones, this blog and you.  



Simply Scrappy Sampler
I'm about halfway finished with the the compensating borders for my squares!  Next, up is cutting the background squars and making the border!  Since I bought my sister's wedding quilt fabric, I need to finish this Sampler up this week!  Hope I can!

Here is the pile of finished blocks!
Only a few more to go! 
Well, maybe more than a few......
I'm gonna be busy!

via GIPHY

Linking up to



and....for the first time to 

I encourage you to visit this site!  

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Did You Accept My Challenge? A FAST Tutorial For A Portable Sewing Kit. Charity Sewing

Did You Accept My Challenge?
I wonder if anyone accepted the challenge I posted here?  I hope so!  If you did, tell me about it in the comments or email me (miaismine22@gmail.com).  I'd love to hear about your experience!

Give it a shot if you haven't already.



These lyrics really encouraged me.  So, I decided to deviate a bit from our study of Philippians to share a bit about them and how they encouraged me!
via GIPHY

God is on the Move Lyric Study

Any time a heart turns from darkness to light







Any time temptation comes and someone stands to fight






Any time somebody lives to serve and not be served
I know, I know, I know, I know





God is on the move, on the move
Hallelujah
God is on the move
In many mighty ways

God is on the move, on the move
Hallelujah
God is on the move
On the move today
I wonder,
has your heart turned from darkness to light?  Have you had the privilege of witnesses someone’s radical change in their lives?

Or perhaps you or someone you know has stood up to fight temptation?  I know someone who stand and fights victoriously EVERYDAY!  He amazes me.  You know who your are….

How many times have you served instead of been served?  That is the majority of the loving quilting community I’ve been privileged to know.  You have hearts of gold.  You are my blessing.




I need only remember the one who stands and fights and you all to know God is on the move!

What about you?  I’d love to hear about your experience! Please let me know in the comments or email at miaismine22@gmail.com!

Publishing: Love Journey Music, Moms Like Us Too, Aevinesaintmusic, Promotion And Relegation Music, Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing, Songs From Exit 71 (SESAC)
Writer(s): Mikey Howard, Cliff Williams, Ian Eskelin, Tony Wood



A Mini Tutorial For 
Portable Sewing Kit
updated:  4/6/17


Thank you, Susan, for mentioning the magnets!  I totally forgot to finish the tutorial!  Sighhhh, I must be getting old!  :) Scroll down to see the "rest of the story"!

I bet most of you enjoy taking 
your hand sewing projects 
with you whenever
you leave your home.

I do.
I always have a selection of projects that 
I can grab and go at a moments notice!

A good friend gave me a tin that has become my "go-to" tool!
It only took about five minutes 
to put together!

Here's how I did it!

Gather your materials:
a metal container, 
extra metal bobbins filled with thread, 
one magnet for each bobbin 
plus 2 additional magnets, 
needles, 
small folding scissors, 
whatever thimbles you use, 
a finger cot, 
a couple of Wonder Clips 
and, of course, 
Thread Heaven!
Thread Heaven makes my 
hand sewing experience "heavenly"!  :)

Is there another tool that you add to 
your portable sewing kit that I missed?  
I'd love to hear about it!
Please let us know in the comments!

Place the thimbles, Finger Cots, 
Wonder Clips and Thread Heaven 
in the base of your tin container.  



Then, add some magnets to your lid.  







I use them to hold my bobbins filled with the colors of thread I need at the time, 











as well as my needles and scissors! 















Perfect for my Fabri-Flair project!


Charity Sewing
Just a reminder about Covered In Love's block drive!  Here is the tutorial for these fun 3D blocks!  Here is where I wrote about them and offered some tips for the "nervous about 3D blocks" group!  
I loved learning how to make them!  Wouldn't they make a fun baby quilt with those 3D blocks?  






Tuesday, March 28, 2017

A Challenge! Current Works. To Do Tuesday

God is on the Move! 
Have you heard this song?


It's called "God is on the Move" by 7eventh Time Down.  Yesterday it was in my head all day.  Later in the afternoon I turned on KLOVE and guess what song was playing?
Yup.
God is on the Move.
Guess what I did?
Yup.

via GIPHY
Sang.
Danced.
Praised God.
My husband and son smiled.
I don't normally do that in front of people, but joy filled my heart and I just had to let it bubble out!


So, this morning God is on the Move was on my heart.  I listened to it several times.
Really loudly.


Guess what happened?
Yup.
Joy.
Singing.
Dancing.

On my way home tonight my radio lost it's signal.  Guess what played when it came back.

Yup.  

Here's my challenge.
Listen to this song several times.
Loudly.
You won't be able to resist
dancing or singing.

If by some weird occurrence you do,

I bet you'll at least be smiling and maybe even tapping your foot!

Go on.

Take a minute.
Give it a shot.

What have you got to lose?

And you might even dance!
Current Works

During car trips, conversations and waiting times, I've been working on my butterfly shawl.  I love the mindless crocheting of a granny square.  I first blogged about it here.  You can find the pattern here.



To Do Tuesday

Here's my list from last week:
1) Covered in Love blocks - at least 3-4
Done! I made a total of six!  You can see them here!
2) Add two hexagons to my Hexagon Afghan Done! I added three hexies plus crocheted some more individual hexies because I'm starting to run low!
3) Turn my Simple Scrappy Sampler into a at least a 50% flimsy.  How to measure this one?  Well, I finished sewing half of the compensating strips on all my blocks and have cut out all of the tops and bottom strips.  I'll be continuing this goal! 

New To Do Tuesday Goals

1) Keep up with my Quilty 365
2) Continue crocheting the rest of the gold hexies.  
3) Continue on my Simple Scrappy Sampler .
        a) attach the rest of the compensating strips
    b) cut out the background squares 
4) Get assistance with my Fabri-Flair project!


Linking up to


And




Monday, March 27, 2017

Philippians 2:26. Slow Stitching

Philippians 2:26
Scripture
Observation
Paul is referring to Epaphroditus in this verse.  In this post, we learned that Epaphroditus was invaluable to Paul.  Here is more proof of Epaphorditus' kind servant's heart:  he was distressed because his people, the Philippians, had heard he was ill.  He obviously did not want to cause worry to anyone.

Application
To be "distressed" because someone hears we are ill seems to be an overstatement. But, I get it now, for two reasons.

1) Epaphroditus had no way to quickly reassure the Philippians, perhaps even his family, that he was now fine.  He probably was anxious to let them know he was healthy again.  

2) I hated - hated - telling my husband I had a tumor in my breast.  I HATED that. And then I had to tell my 83 year-old dad. He looked like I had slapped him, even though I told him as gently as I could. My step-mother (I call her Mama - but I didn't want to cause confusion here!) was so calm and strong for the entire two years of treatment and recovery.  I just found out recently that she had insomnia and cried all the time. Oh goodness! Telling my children was so painful.

BUT (Remember this post on the word "but"?) the distress and undeserving guilt slowly dissipated as I realized 
I did not choose this journey, 
I did not chose to hurt them, 
I did not chose this pain.

I share this because this is a common experience.  And guess what?


Prayer
LORD, again, my heart overflows with humbleness and appreciation for You!  You have led me, healed me in so many areas and given me a journey that has allowed me to grow closer to You!  You have surrounded me with people who love me and whom I love dearly!  Thank You!  I praise You!

Slow Stitching Sunday.
I'm so happy to report that my Quilty 365 is still up to date!  How awesome is that?
Here are all of March's squares!

And here's last week's blocks!


I have a loose system of color selection.  Yellow is for happy days!  There were a lot of happy days last week!  
Did you see the owl fabric?

On that day I had my two oldest grandbabies.  We went to a friend's house.  They played with the chickens, roosters, rabbits, dogs, cats, a pig and goats!  Her roosters and chickens are quite tame.  My "city" grandson overcame his trepidation and carried the roosters - at point he carried one in each arm!  The pig licked my granddaughter - who promptly ran to me so I could clean it off!
It was a wonderful day filled with 
friends, laughter, 
good food and grandbabies!
I don't have chicken/rooster fabric, 
so the owl won for the day!

I'm linking up to











Friday, March 24, 2017

Philippians 2:25. Covered in Love Blocks Finished + A Few Tips

Philippians 2:25.
Scripture

Observation
Paul called Epaphroditus his 
"brother",
"co-worker",
"fellow soldier" and
"messenger".  
Epaphorditus took care of Paul's needs.  Wow.




What a contrast to his pain of verse 21!


Application


What a comfort Epaphoritus must have been to Paul! From this passage I can only conclude that he showed Paul
the love and loyalty of a brother,
the dedication of an excellent co-worker
and 
the courage, faithfulness, fearlessness, wisdom and dedication of a great soldier.

I can only pray that I can remember and develop these characteristics that Jesus may one day call me His "sister", "co-worker" and "fellow soldier".  


Prayer

LORD, thank You for showing me this Scripture in a way I hadn't before!  Help me to remember it - to help me to become the woman of Christ You want me to be that I, too, may be a "sister", "co-worker" and "fellow soldier" for You.
Amen.  


Covered in Love Blocks Finished + 

A Few Tips!


TADA!  Here they are!  I did it!  
I was able to make 6 of them! 
If you decide to make these, perhaps these tips will help you!  

1) I made the hashtags on the inside of the squares because it helped me line them up better. 

2) I marked 1/2" all around the middle square. 

3) My sewing room was quiet so I could concentrate. 

4) I chained pieced each step. 

5) Trust the tutorial. Do it step by step without trying to figure out the "future"!
This block was challenging, 


but it was SO MUCH FUN! 
I'm so glad I made them! 
It feels great to have completed what, 
for me, was a challenge! 



Thank you, Kat, 

for a fun long distance Friday afternoon! 
It felt like you were right in my sewing room cheering me on! 
It feels fantastic 
to have achieved this goal! 
Thank you!


Thank goodness for 



I'm linking up to


Thursday, March 23, 2017

Philippians 2:24. Covered In Love. Things I Like.

This post is a bit longer than usual, but I believe you will enjoy a look into my living room.  LeeAnna from Not Afraid of Color has a "Things I Like" post every Thursday. She encouraged me to write one, so I'll end this post with a pictorial of Things I Like!  UPDATE:  I just realized this is a linky party - silly me!  Here's the link if you want to join in the fun!

Philippians 2:24.
Scripture

Observation
In this post I wrote about Paul is preparing to send Timothy after he himself finds out the outcome of his trial.  In spite of his serious circumstances, Paul is still confident - in the LORD!  Isn't that where our confidence comes from?  

Application
Yes!  It is!
https://onsizzle.com/i/real-queens-
fix-each-others-crowns-remember-that-2747626
Saturday morning was spent ministering to a neighbor, helping a friend diagnosed with cancer and having coffee with another friends living with cancer.  It was a wonderful morning of ministry and being ministered to - all at the same time.  


As I walked joyful and carefree in to Wal
-Mart, I tripped and fell right on my left hip and leg.  Somehow right big toe nail got scrapped up as well!

One would think I would have at least fractured my hip after kissing the cement with it, but not even a bruise!  I'm fluffy - so I guess God's hand helped me to bounce!Only my big toe is complaining and swollen.  My nail has decided to begin the process of jumping ship after it's abuse!  :)

After God's angels helped me up, I purposefully and with pain induced tears, praised Him anyway with confidence. I refuse to let even these little things take my joy.  

Prayer
LORD, You know I am frustrated because I won't be able accomplish all I want to with this big ol' toe of mine, but I still praise You!  You have given me the confidence of knowing my life is in your hands!  Thank you for Paul - for inspiring his words!  
Thank you that we can all have this joy and confidence in You despite our circumstances!
Amen!

Covered In Love.
Admittedly, I'm a bit intimidated by this cycle's Covered in Love block - but it looks like so much fun! Here is Kat's picture!
http://katandcatquilts.blogspot.com/2017/02/grandads-shirts-block-drive.html
 Her tutorials are so well written that I just have to give it it go!  I took the first step - with my husband's help - by pulling the fabric!  
What do you think?
OOPS!  I forgot to post the picture!

I Like #1
My pics are from my living room only because
1) it means minimal walking and
2) the winds are up to 50 miles an hour!  


This is Mia and Sammy.  They never leave my side
especially when I'm under the weather.
Mia is facing the camera - yes, my blog is named after her!
Sammy is camera shy.

A portion of my library.
Books I'm reading/planning to read.



  These little angels are from one of my favorite artists -
Kelly Ray Roberts.


Another Kelly Rae Roberts work of art.
This was given to me when I was undergoing chemo.
The artist is Paula Haynes. 
I love friendly looking owls!
I'm linking up to


                  Let's Bee Social at