Survivors' Guilt Part Four, Reading, Stitching and Gratitude

 

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Hello There!

Welcome!  Thank you for stopping by!  In this week's post I've written the fourth and final part of our our Survivor's Guilt Series which will give us a list of tools to continue living guilt free (or close to it), sharing some books I'm reading (one of which I chose not to finish) as well as those in the wings, my still fluid crafty life, stats on my fiber usage (warning!  picture heavy!) and my weekly gratitude journal.  So let's catch up, shall we?

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

Survivors' Guilt Part 4

Part 1  Part 2  Part 3

This series has been so helpful to me as I've gone through the process of publishing it here.  I'm certain I will be re-reading to battle this thought pattern.  

This series along with the tools recommended by the Parkview Health post will surely help us to move forward with grace, strength and courage.  

I already use a weekly gratitude journal thanks to LeeAnn's I Like link up every Thursday!  This practice indeed helps me to keep my eyes open for the blessings God provides!  There are many methods to create a Gratitude Journal.  They range from writing blessings in notebook, to a daily photo diary, to creating a gratitude bulletin board, to using apps.  I know some people who have accountability partners and they text each other a set number of "gratitude blessings" each day.  Here's a link that may inspire you!   

Prayer is certainly powerful!  As I'm reading The Power of Praying Through Fear by Stormie O'Martian, I'm realizing just how special I am, how strong I am and how moving forward with God as my anchor is vital for myself and even my loved ones!

COVID has certainly limited my chance to talk to other survivors, but I do talk things over with my inner circle and reach out to my cancer support group leader as well.  These gentle and wise people are my angels.  Perhaps you have a trusted person you can call on to simply listen to you without trying to "fix" you?

Oh my goodness!  Creating a space to work through my feelings is more difficult as that can be so ambiguous.  However, this blog, your responses and digging deep have been my space so to speak.  It doesn't have to be a blog though...it can be journal, the outdoors or simply sitting quietly and sifting through, naming and accepting your feelings!  Once you can recognize and accept your feelings, you can decide how you choose to deal with them.  

Long time readers know that I crochet prayer shawls to donate to recently diagnosed cancer patients.  This helps me to honor those who are currently fighting the battle or have died yet touched my life immensely.  When I shared my feelings of survivors' guilt, these wonderful people chorused, "No!  Please don't feel guilty!  Live your life to the fullest!"   That is their plea.  So I do, I try to honor their wishes.  

Even as my daddy battles metastatic, surgery resistant prostate cancer, even as he grows weaker, he still tells me, "Make memories."  So I do, sweet, Daddy, I do.

BOOK DATE

You can click on the books' images to be directed to a review page on  Goodreads.  :)

Currently Reading

Finished

This second installment to The Giver Series is another win from our local library and my bookshelves.  Lowry provides fabulous clues in this YA novel that I could predict what was happening, but the way she presented her work kept me engaged.  I couldn't read the last few chapters fast enough and, yes, I cried afterwards. This is one series that will survive "The Great Purging" of my bookshelves.  

Mary Alice and I were so glad we added this to our Book Club reads this month!  It's the first in Angela Hunt's series, The Silent Years that addresses the years between Malachi and Matthew with a focus on female protaganists.  This is another one that will survive The Great Purging.  

Did Not Finish

For my reading purposes, I just couldn't get through it.

However, Barrio America provides substantial, vital information

for academics 

researching the Latino influence 

on the resurgence on dying cities in the United States.   

Next few books  

STASH REPORT

Yarny numbers

I finished a few more dishcloths.  I give these to my various doctor's and staff.  I used to give them to the members of the various groups I used to attend, but they are pretty much non-existent for now.  

Fabric numbers

No finished projects yet, so no fabric out.  I seem to be on a reading binge, while my machine sewing mojo has gone on vacation.  

However, I did attend Be Sew Creative's Luau yesterday and took advantage of their 40% off "blenders" sale!  I wisely took a pre-shopping photo of my "blenders" shelf to fill in the holes in my color rainbow.  

Fourteen yards  and a cute panel later 

they are filled up at a great savings 

(my dark browns and blacks are on another shelf)

and I'm still a tiny bit in the black.  

Did you notice that huge chunk of brown I bought?

I thought it went perfectly with these fabrics (see below) from my stash!

Productivity Stats

In addition to our Book Club for 2 meeting, my granddaughter and I have added some sewing time as well! Hence, I had more time to get the entire set finished! 

TO DO TUESDAY

Last Week's List

1. Follow the crafty call on my heart be it crochet, Slow Stitching or machine sewing. 😊

As you saw above, I finished my first set of wool mittens!  I also made more progress on my Tranquil quilts and then....I read and read some more.      

This Week's List

  1.  Cut out the pieces for this second mitten set.  

2.  Make progress on the three afghans.  

3.  Try to sew something - anything.  Find my sewing mojo again.  How do you find your lost sewing mojo?  What do you do to lure your sewing mojo back?  Please share in the comments section!  

GRATITUDE JOURNEY

I hope you enjoy this week's Gratitude Journey!

First, the song that blessed me this week!  My son just sent it to me this morning.

Absolutely beautiful!

Lately, as family shares the headlines with me, it's more and more difficult to be positive or grateful  and I'm usually a pretty upbeat person!  

But, this morning, sitting on my porch, listening to the birds sing, I listened to the above song and realized Jesus is all around me.  Look how blessed I am with my beautiful yard!  

Now, after everyone has gone on their way and my surroundings are peaceful, I can hear the rain gently falling as the birds sing as if praising God.  So peaceful and healing.  

Marley on the job,

and Marley resting after a hard day's work.

I pray you all have a blessed week!

Please remember to share your

"catching my sewing mojo" tips 

in the comments below!

I could certainly use them!

Perhaps you'll visit these linky parties I sometimes link up to when I have quilting/crochet/books to share:  

Sunday Salon @ Readerbuzz

Slow Sunday Stitching @ Kathy's Quilts 

Sunday Post at the Caffeinated Reviewer

Sunday Stash @ Quilt, Paint, Create

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? @ Book Date 

To Do Tuesday @ Chris Knits

Midweek Makers @ Quilt Fabrication (Wednesdays)

The Loop Scoop hosted simultaneously by

Petals to Picots and Moogly

Needle and Thread Thurday @ 

I Like @ Not Afraid of Color (Thursday)

Can I Get A Whoop Whoop? @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict (Friday)

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