Monday, October 30, 2017

Philippians 4:9.Prayer Shawl #5. Grand Prize Winner!

Philippians 4:9
Scripture

Observation
Wow.  Whatever you have learned/heard from me/seen in me put into practice.  What a strong statement.  According to Meriam-Webster, "whatever" means "anything or everything that; take whatever you want".  Anything/everything we have learned/heard/or seen in Paul can be applied to our lives.  Then the peace of God will be with us.  

Wow.  I know that I could not make a statement like that to my children about my own life, so Paul's statement, quite honestly leaves me pondering......

Application

However, as I look back on Philippians, I do see how his words indeed lead to the peace of God.  Even his past sins and mis-steps....he repented of them and turned 100% to serving Christ.  

Learn from our mistakes - as Paul did.
Turn it around - as Paul did.
Find God's peace - as Paul did.


Awesome.
Prayer
Dear LORD,
This is definitely one verse that I will be pondering today.  But, I'm grateful for Paul's confidence - and I pray that You will instill it in myself, my loved ones and those reading this.  
Help us, LORD, to live such a life that we can make this same statement to others.  LORD, I pray that You will bring others into our lives that can honestly make this statement about their own lives, that we may learn from them as well!  Amen and Amen.

PRAYER SHAWL #5
You know, every time I hear of someone being diagnosed with cancer, dying from cancer or experiencing a metastasis or reoccurence, I get so angry and sad.  I've decided to deal with it by crocheting Prayer Shawls during my cancer support meetings.  

Here is the beginning of my 5th Prayer Shawl!  
 I carry it in my 
(pattern by Whistle and Ivy)!
I have realized I need to add a liner to this bag...one day!  :)


          I love crocheting with Hobby Lobby's Sugar Wheels!  

Grand Prize Winner!
In my last post, I mentioned that I had won a grand prize from our local quilt shop, Bernina Sewing and Design.  Let me give you more details!

October is their anniversary month.  Every time we made a purchase, we placed in a ticket in the container for the grand prize.  

October 21 is their birthday and is when they had their grand prize drawing and yours truly won!

Here it is!




I won the pattern and enough fabric to make a queen size "White Chocolate" pattern by Stitchin' Heaven!  Like I said before, neutrals I've never made a quilt from low volume fabrics, but I do believe this one will be perfect for my bedroom as the colors are so light and pretty!





Thank you to Marsha Cowan and all the Bernina Babes at Bernina Sewing and Design!

Linking up to:


Sunday, October 29, 2017

Saturday's Song. Slow Stitching Sunday. Stash Report.

Saturday's Song
Sometimes we feel what we have done is 
too bad,
too wrong,
too big
for God to forgive.
Or perhaps you know someone who is trapped by this lie of the enemy.  
I do.
And here's my response.  Jordan Feliz' song, Never Too Far Gone.
 

Here's a basic printable of the lyrics, just in case you would like to send this to someone.

Sometimes, a hard copy is what's needed so that it can be read over and over again.
My Precious One, this Scripture got me through,
gets me through
and
will continue to get me through my past mistakes.  


It can do the same for you.
Believe it, if only with
mustard seed faith, 
believe it.

God will do the rest.  

Slow Stitching Sunday
These ornaments are on my radar as December 1 is quickly approaching!







My Slow Stitching usually always includes crochet as well.  I've been working on these cowls that will be sold at a Silent Auction to raise funds for Patrick.  If you read my posts with the label "Patrick's Strength", you will learn about his journey.  











He and his mom are still in Houston as he undergoes a rigorous treatment for bone cancer.  So much for this 16-year-old to deal with!

Stash Report
Fiber Stash Report:  October 29, 2017
(started 6/11/17)
Fabric used this week
0 yds
Fabric used to date
37 7/8 yds
Fabric Added this week
12.75 yds
Fabric Added this year
33  yds

Net Fabric
4 7/8 yds

Yarn used this week
6 oz  
Yarn used to date
122 oz
Yarn Added this week
 oz
Yarn Added to date
142 oz
Net Yarn
 20 oz

Yes, you read right - I won a grand prize from my local quilt shop - Bernina Sewing and Design!  It was a kit filled with enough fabric to make a queen size quilt top!  It's low volume fabrics - not at all what I normally choose, but it would work in my bedroom....I'll be sharing that soon!  UPDATE:  You can see it here!

Linking up to:





Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Thoughtful Tuesdays. Crocheted Hangers. To Do Tuesday.

Thoughtful Tuesdays
I enjoy joining several faith-based link ups that have amazing posts filled with great wisdom.  If you would like to check them out, there's a list at the end of this post.  ;)
I've decided to dedicate one post a week to highlight an author a week.  It will be called "Thoughtful Tuesdays"!  

This post from Crystal at Encourage Your Heart.  She actually hosts the link up.  

Crystal's last sentence:


"The message of Fiercehearted (by Holly Gerth) is the reminder that we can be both weak and strong, messy and beautiful, afraid and courageous. I don’t about you, sweet friend, but that’s a message I need." From Crystal @ EncourageYour Heart

really spoke to my own heart.  We can indeed be weak and strong, messy and beautiful and afraid and courageous - and that's ok, my dear reader!  

For example, there were times during my cancer journey that I was physically and emotionally weak as a kitten, but I was strong enough to love on my grandbabies.  

The year after chemo, I felt like life was so incredibly messy in that there was so little I could do for myself, much less others.  Also, I looked strange: no hair, no eyelashes, no eyebrows, swollen with steroids.....but all who love me thought I was beautiful!  And I was - because I was alive loving and praising my LORD for helping us thrive during those years of treatment and recovery.  

And talk about being afraid and courageous!  My dear sisters and brothers who've faithfully - and perhaps through tears of confusion - gave and continue to give up their own will and accepted God's will for their lives might be so very afraid and are certainly so very courageous!  We knew our LORD could heal us in an instant, but for whatever reason he had, we accepted that He wanted us to go through chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.  

For me, that's ok.  He sees the big picture and I, like so many of you, trust Him.  

It was messy.
It was complicated.
It was far from perfect.

Perfection is overated, but being a real bunny (vs. a velveteen rabbit) who loves God is indeed strong, beautiful and courageous!  

Heart Encouragement Thursday @ Crystal Storms
Becoming Press



Crocheted Hangers
I had some yarn left over from this scarf + boot cuff set, so I also made some crocheted hanger covers.  I was able to make three of them, but only photographed two....
They were inspired by this pattern by Love Crochet!  
I used a HDC instead of DC and skipped the accent simply because I wanted to make as many hangers as possible. I loved how she crochets a strip first and then attaches it to the hanger!  Much easier to do!  

Usually about two ounces of yarn will more than cover a hanger!  

To Do Tuesday
Wow!  Life has been busy with my husband, family, grandbabies, my daughter's move into a larger house, church, weddings, minor illnesses, student teacher observations, family, blogging, starting a new Bilingual Cancer Care Group, friends, crafting.....such a full life! 
Sometimes, I'm exhausted, but so grateful to have the opprotunity to live a full life.   

I imagine you all are just as active!  Here is what I believe was my last To Do Tuesday list:
Last Time's List
Finish 
CIL Blocks making progress!
Boot Cuffs Done!
Quilty 365 Done!
Make Progress 

Drunkard’s Path
Dish towels
RSC 2017–Low Value
Advent Calendar Done!

This Week's List
Quilting
Finish 3 more Covered In Love blocks.
Crocheting
Make progress on Prayer Shawl #5 as well as the Pink Hanger Covers.
Slow Stitching
Make progress on the Felt Advent Calendar.

I believe in being gentle with others and myself.  So, I've decided to create a more simplified and reasonable list.  My breathing has already slowed down!  :)


Fiber Tuesday at
and




Monday, October 9, 2017

Philippians 4:8 Part 3.. Chili Contest Anyone? Covered in Love Progress. Book Date.

Philippians 4:8 Part 3
Part 1  Part 2
Scripture
Observation
This verse remains in my heart.  Paul is making some serious assumptions about what is true.  After all, we all have different truths, right?  Believing lies about ourselves have become our truth.  Aha!  But, we can find truth in God's Word.  You see, Paul is doing what he always does - pointing us to God.  We should be thinking on God's Word, HIS truth.
Application
So, I've taken some of the verses from Part 2 and went from this:

to this: 

 During a sermon, Pastor said it was easy for him to find time for Scripture memorization.  He decided that every time he looked at his Smart Phone, he would look at his verse.  Then he asked, "Do you realize how often we look at our phones?"

Here's my new lock screen:




Friends, so many times it's easier to believe those negative thoughts that have been pounded into our brains.  Let's reverse this by filling our brains with whatever is 
true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy!
Prayer
LORD, thank You for this post.  I am hoping and praying that not only will my mind be filled with these thoughts, but also healed from the negativity that can rear it's ugly head.  Let us all be filled with whatever is 
true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy!  Amen.

Chili Contest Anyone?
A friend of mine needed some bibs for a chili tasting contest.  She made the pattern, cut out the fabric and I offered to sew a few up.  Here's the first two!

Thankfully, they are pretty basic and easy to sew.  Pretty cute, don't you think?

Covered in Love Progress
Kat @ Kat and Cat Quilts has a wonderful charity sewing opprotunity called Covered in Love.  She provides quilts for people who pass away in the hospital.  They are "transition items" to bring some comfort to the families.  This opportunity immediately grabbed my attention because we have the quilt that covered my mother-in-law during her last days.  Ten years later, it still brings great comfort to my husband.  


Remember this fabric pull for the August/September Covered in Love blocks?  Well, I feel like the LORD wants me to make 20 blocks.  Here's my progress thus far!

Book Date
I'm still reading/studying Own It by Michael & Hayley Di Marco.  It's quite an interesting read.  Usually I read non-fiction books rather slowly so I can really digest them.








I'm also still enjoying The Red Tent by Anita Diamant!  




I'm linking up to


It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading? @ BookDate  (This link up actually has me reading more!)






I love reading and responding 
to your comments!

Sunday, October 8, 2017

Saturday's Song. I Win - PERIOD! Slow Stitching Sunday. Stash Report.

Saturday's Song
I've never done this before, but I am posting a really long song this week.  It begins with Bart Millard's testimony - it's real - no velveteen rabbit stuff here.  I listened.
I cried as I thought of my cancer, my beautiful grandson's lungs (damaged by RSV) and his life threatening, environmental and ingested nut allergy and each of you and your various challenges.
So here it is.

I sent it to my kids and husband.
I sent it to a few friends.
I cried as Jesus touched my heart.  
Tonight, I praise God for MercyMe and will lift them up in prayer.
Please take a few moments out of your life to listen with an open heart.  Your life may just be changed.  

I Win - PERIOD!
Bart (the speaker on the video) mentions an aunt with cancer.  You know, God chose to use doctors, nurses, techs, chemotherapy, radiation, and surgeries to heal me.  And that's ok, because I win.  

I was winning when 
I was on my knees throwing up.
I was winning when 
I was too weak to bathe myself.
I was winning when 
I scared my (third) grandson with my bald head.
I was winning when 
I could't walk 3 feet without assistance.
I was winning when 
the pain reduced me to a bowl of Jello.
I was winning.
I still am.
Period.

Slow Stitching Sunday.
Today has been jam packed with cleaning after babysitting my three grandbabies for two days straight.  It was wild, fun and exhausting!

Tonight, after dinner, I'm looking forward to relaxing with these projects!

My invisible thread tested my patience and ended up in the trash.  Instead I'm using gold metallic embroidery floss to stitch up the Nativity Advent Calendar.

See this ball of yarn?  
It's roughly 2 ounces of yarn.  
But, after tonight it will be a hanger cover,
God willing.
I just love using 
covered hangers 
for my sweaters and nicer tops!

Stash Report
Very little sewing time this week, so numbers are the same.
Fiber Stash Report:  October 8, 2017
(started 6/11/17)
Fabric used this week
11 yds
Fabric used to date
33 1/8 yds
Fabric Added this week
3 3/8  yds
Fabric Added this year
20 ¼  yds
Net Fabric
12 7/8  yds

Yes, I had so much fun petting and bringing home some yarn!  I'll be sharing next week!
Yarn used this week
12 oz  
Yarn used to date
116 oz
Yarn Added this week
48 oz
Yarn Added to date
142 oz
Net Yarn
 26 oz
I'm linking up to