Weekly Word: Jesus is the Light, Reading, Stitching and Gratitude

Hello There, 

Thank you for stopping by - especially during such a busy time of the year!  It's been a super active week that is leading into an even more jam-packed week!  I'm trying hard to find time to reflect on my precious Jesus and the beauty of this wonderful season.  

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

My ladies Bible Study group is sharing our favorite Christmas songs, Scriptures and traditions next week.  I thought I'd share these special thoughts with you as well.  I would love to hear about your own faves in the comments!  

My all-time favorite Christmas song even since childhood is, O Come All Ye Faithful. Attributed to John Francis Wade, the original was written in Latin. I was surprised to note that this hymn usually concludes Christmas programs. In 1841 it was translated to English by the Catholic priest, Frederick Oakely. We’re familiar with the hymn we sing today, but isn’t this translation beautiful? This song captures my heart as it points to Jesus’ birth and exhorts us to worship our LORD and Savior! 

My second favorite song is I’ll Be Home for Christmas…especially this year.  Many years ago, my husband left for Basic Training right before Thanksgiving.  I was sorely missing him that Christmas season!  Once, as I pulled into Daddy’s drive, this song was playing on the radio.  Daddy met me outside and simply held me as we both listened to the song and I wept.  Looking back, I’m sure he was remembering his own wartime experience in Korea many years ago. 

My third favorite Christmas carol is It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Andy Williams – am I dating myself? 😊  How can one not feel lighthearted while listening to this cheerful tune? 

This year I’m trying to read the devotional Unwrapping the Names of Jesus by Asherith Ciuciu.  One of the first Scriptures she presented was Isaiah 9:2.  Our LORD’s birth brought light into an oh so dark land.  His great light offers salvation, joy, strength, peace and so much more! 

And now, we, who are saved by grace, are messengers of that Light.  Let us remember, in spite of the busyness of this season, to also be busy with the LORD’s work – bringing other’s into His wonderful light. 

One of my favorite traditions used to be the gathering of family and friends on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  How I loved those gatherings with all the baking, hugs, laughter and delicious food.  I loved decorating my home with my children and later with my grandchildren.   Now, with the pandemic and family in California, we will have new traditions.  These traditions include some of the previous ones, as well as some new, deeper customs.

Every year I make my grandchildren toys such as a fabric map of our city that they can drive their cars on, a hop-scotch board, Winnie-the-Pooh and other softies.  Even though the oldest is 12, he still enjoys these small gifts of love. 

Naturally, we read about Jesus’ birth before opening gifts.  Who can resist the Snickerdoodles, sugar cookies and other treats? 

I still love to decorate.  This year my husband and I added more lights both outside and inside.  Some of the outside lights are some deer that my father used every year.  My sister used them last year, and now my husband decorates our front yard with them.  I lined my bookshelves with twinkling lights as well.  As I think of Isaiah 9:2, these lights remind me of my LORD and Savior’s constant presence.  He has brought joy to my parents, sister and brother-in-law as they enjoy their new lives in California.  My parents’ health is much improved.  My grandchildren are safe and healthy. I appreciate my husband’s companionship and acts of kindness.  Sometimes, in the hustle and bustle of Christmas, those precious acts would get lost.  But, now, as it’s just us, they shine with a glow of love. 

My new tradition is a deeper sense of gratitude.  Yes, life is good as the basis remain:  Jesus, family, love, faith.  Life is indeed good.  

Please remember to share your favorite songs, Scriptures and traditions in the comments!  

My Reading Life

Christmas reading has been habit I developed many years (decades?) ago and still enjoy the holiday themed books!  I used to read favorites from my bookshelves, but this year I ventured off into choosing many of the books  you're reading.  It's been a fun experience!  

I believe I've finalized the Reading Challenges I'll be participating in for 2022.  If you click on the "Reading Challenges 2022 " tab above or here, you may find a few you'd like to join!  

Should you be interested in joining me in the Life of Reading Challenge, please visit my page and leave a comment!  

Meanwhile, here is the current new on My Reading Life!

Currently Reading

Finished

 

The Santa Suit was a cute, light Christmas read that I enjoyed listening to throughout the day.  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe for Calm Groves #Narniathon21 and enjoyed it so much via audio!  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ellery Adams' Secret, Book and Scone Society series continues with Ink and Shadows which I also liked!  I blame this author for hooking me on cozy mysteries!  😉 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I can understand why romance readers would like RaeAnne Thayne's Snow Angel Cove, but for me, it was meh, even via my favorite format:  audio. I'm going to try one more of her books.   ⭐⭐⭐

Dachshund Through the Snow  by David Rosenfelt was another 

fun, audio book!  Rosenfelt is a new to me author whose sarcastic quips made me laugh.  I can see reading more of his books!  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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

I made some machine embroidered mug rugs for my husband's co-workers.  Here are some of them.  

Consequently, we have more fabric used!  I'm pretty sure I'll end up in the black for 2021!

To Do Tuesday

Last Week's List

1.  Sunday Slow Stitching:  Keep up with my daily QAYG Hexagons.  Well, this goal might be on hold as Christmas sewing continues....we'll see.  Yup, this goal is still on hold.    

2.  Machine Sewing:  Stitch up the catch up blocks for one of my Melva's Santa Fe Trail SAL (I'm making two of them in two different colorways). This goal took a back seat to the aforementioned mug rugs.  

3.  Stitch up one of the the Flatty Dogs and prep the other half the rest.  This goal also took a back seat to the aforementioned mug rugs.  

4. Look online for some free, easy, fun Stitch/Quilt A Longs.  Any suggestions you have would be gladly received!  :)  I looked but didn't find any yet.  I'll keep looking.  

5.  Maybe, just maybe, stitch up  a few gift bags! So far, I don't need any.  Maybe I'll need some this coming week?

This Week's List

1.  Machine Sewing:  Stitch up four Flatty Dogs!  That will be enough for the week!  :)

2.  If I get the doggies stitched up, I'm hoping to make some mug rugs for my own home.  

3.  Sunday Slow Stitching - Today I'm hoping to find a few quiet moments to sit in my early Christmas present with my QAYG hexies kit and slow stitch.  I'm so grateful for my reading/stitching chair!

   Gratitude Journal

I love, absolutely love when my library has their Friends of the Library book sale!  Here's my haul!

I love how my twinkly lights glow on the books!

I'm hoping my granddaughter will want to read 

Becoming Naomi Leon with me!

After seeing this picture again, 

I do believe the lights are here to stay!

I so love making sheet pan dinners and 

how my husband plates them!

Arroz con Pollo is one of my favorite comfort foods.

You make sopita de arroz (here's a good recipe).

Follow this recipe, but bump up the quantity of spices 

to account for the added ingredients.  

I also add Consome de tomate and a bit of crushed red pepper.  

Now, right before  your add your liquid to the rice, 

add cooked chicken, diced onion, celery, cilantro, 

tomatoes and minced garlic.  

I'm sorry, but I don't measure these ingredients.

I simply go by what looks right.  

When the rice is almost done,

add a bag of frozen peas.  

Delicious.

Simply delicious.

Perhaps you'll visit these link ups!    

A Spirit of Simplicity

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

Pictorial Tuesday @ Peabea's Photos & Scribbles

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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Please remember to tell us about your 

favorite Christmas songs, Scripture 

and traditions in the comments!