Weekly Word: Stayed On Him Part 4, Reading, Stitching and Gratitude

Hello There, 

This week has flown by with a bit of Christmas shopping, sewing and reading!  I hope you enjoy reading the last of our Stayed On Him series, a new Zoom book discussion I joined, how I'm still a tad bit in the negative with my stash, the cute little softies I'm making for my grandbabies and my digital gratitude journal!  

Time for this week's post.  Here's is an index should you have a special interest you like to read first!  

The Weekly Word - is a short devotional that sometimes becomes a Bible Study series.  

My Reading Life - is filled with current, completed and upcoming reads as well as an occasional short review.      

Stash Report and To Do Tuesday is where I'll share share stats regarding my fiber usage and acquisitions, goals met/lack thereof and photos of my projects. 

Gratitude Journal - Sometimes I get lost in my own stinky thinking.  This digital journal reminds me to count my blessings!    

The Weekly Word

Depressed?  Grieving?  Just Plain Sad? Part 4

As we continue our series of dealing with depression, grief or sadness, let us remember our goals:

1) to take the time we need to process these emotions in a healthy manner, 

2) to keep our minds stayed on Him.  Perhaps Terrian's song, Stayed on Him, will be a source of encouragement to you.

A third person who dealt with grief was our precious LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ.  The following verses offer deep, soul changing lessons and I encourage you to pray as you read them.  Ask God to speak His personal message to your heart.  As for my heart, I see that Jesus' first reaction was to weep, to grieve, for his friend, Lazarus.  

He thanked God for hearing his prayer...but we don't know what he prayed in His heart - it's not said.  One could easily assume that he prayed that the LORD would raise Lazarus from the dead, but I wonder?  The Word also says that our LORD Jesus was troubled.  He could have prayed so many words before He prayed out loud.  

He thanked His Father for hearing His prayer.  Thankfulness, praise, and gratitude immediately followed Jesus' expression of grief. 

Then, after expressing His grief, praising His Father, He took action: He ordered Lazarus out of grave.  Now, indeed this is the real miracle, raising Lazarus out of the grave.  

But, many times, our LORD gives instructions after He performs a miracle.  In this case, here's what He said:

"Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

Let me write that again:

"Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

This really stood out to me.  As we release whatever it is we are grieving, can we remove the "grave clothes" and let that person, feeling, event, heartache go?

Yes.  But it takes time.  Remember Ecclesiastes 3:4:  a time to weep, a time to laugh, a time to mourn, a time to dance.  And as Daddy taught me:  Give time, time.

Let us keep our  minds stayed on Him!

Let us not loose hope in the struggle!

We will not be put to shame 

because we have God's love in our hearts!

Let us go forward, 

giving ourselves time to grieve in a healthy manner, 

keeping our minds stayed on Him,

and placing our hope in Him

who loves us so!

You know, my dear reader, I'm writing to myself as much as to you.  Blessings my dear...

My Reading Life

This month I'm reading mostly Christmas books, starting off with another Buddy Read book chosen by Mary Alice, The Ghost and the Christmas Spirit by Bobbi Holmes.  However, I am also eager to finish the books I started in November.  

I've been exploring Reading Challenges for 2022 as well as totally enjoyed a new to me Zoom Book Club Discussion via our local library.  We simply discuss whichever books we've been reading.  Here's the link if you're interested!

  

Currently Reading

Finished

★★★★★

I absolutely fell in love with The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict!  The story was well developed flowed well.  

Belle da Costa Greene successfully walked a fine line

that, sadly, has yet to be completely erased. 

Stash Report

Yarny Numbers

Here we are in the last month of the year and I seriously doubt my yarn numbers will change much.  

Fabric numbers

My grandbabies' Christmas gifts required more juvenile prints than I had, so my daughter generously gave me some of her fabrics to use.  I'm not sure how much of her's/mine I'm using, so I'll split the difference once the projects are finished.  

Other than that, I forgot that these beauties from the Songbook collection wandered into my sewing studio!  :)

Here are my numbers!  Not bad at all!  :)

To Do Tuesday

Last Week's List

1.  Sunday Slow Stitching:  Keep up with my daily QAYG Hexagons.  Yes!  Here's some photos!

2.  Slow Sunday Stitching:  Work on my mittens. Yes again!  I'm making great progress here as well! 

Here are two finished ones, 

two that are almost finished

and two that need a bit more stitching.

3. Crochet: Progress on both Tranquil afghans and make more dishcloths. Haven't touched a hook in months.
4.  Machine Sewing:  Prep my catch up blocks for Melva's Santa Fe Trail SAL.  Not yet.

5. Gift Sewing:  Secret sewing for Christmas! Not yet.  I'm almost finished prepping these softies! They're called Flatty Dogs by La Todera Sewing and Craft Patterns.  

This Week's List

1.  Sunday Slow Stitching:  Keep up with my daily QAYG Hexagons.  During the week, I usually post a couple of progress photos on my Instagram account.  :)

2.  Slow Sunday Stitching:  Today's goal will be to finish these mittens up.  

3. Crochet: My projects will have to wait a few more weeks.
4.  Machine Sewing:  Prep my catch up blocks for Melva's Santa Fe Trail SAL.  

5. Gift Sewing:  Secret sewing for Christmas! Finish prepping the Flatty Dogs and stitch up a gift I can't show yet!  :) 

   Gratitude Journal

This lovely poem was read at one of the funerals we attended last month.  It's beautiful and brought me so much comfort!  Perhaps it will bless some of you?

When I Must Leave You

by Helen Steiner Rice

When I must leave you

For a little while-

Please do not grieve

And shed wild tears

And hug your sorrow to you

Through the years,

But start out bravely

With a gallant smile;

And for my sake

And for my name

Live on and do

All things the same,

Feed not your loneliness

On empty days,

But fill each waking hour

In useful ways,

Reach out your hand

In comfort and in cheer

And I in turn will comfort you

And hold you near;

And never, never

Be afraid to die

For I am waiting for you in the sky!

I am so enjoying reading this little devotional!
It's great for family, singles, couples, groups - anyone!

Here is the annual handmade gift
I'm making for my grandkids this year!

Kitty gets an almost bird's eye view of the neighborhood
as she perches here!

So true.....

Please meet "The Beast", a quilt my daughter made for me!
It's a queen sized quilt made of tiny triangles and 30's fabrics!  
This one is usually on my bed.

Ok, no photo on this one, but I made the most amazing 
Strawberry Banana Bread!
Here's the recipe!
As always, I added pecans very liberally!

Last, but not least, here is our dear Chico
posing (just barely) in front of the deer.
Daddy had these in front of his home for decades,
then my sister used them last year
for her last year before they moved.
Now I will continue the tradition.

Perhaps you'll visit these link ups!    

A Spirit of Simplicity

Sunday Scripture Blessing @ Peabea's Photos & Scribbles

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 @ Texas Quilt Gal

Midweek Makers @ Quilt Fabrication (Wednesdays)

Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation

I Like @ Not Afraid of Color (Thursday)

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

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