Weekly Word: People Pleasing + Books, 2023 Reading Challenges, Stitches and Gratitude!

 

Hello There, 

I hope you all are doing well!  Life has been slow and with just a bit of the hustle and bustle of the holidays.  It's been a nice balance, thus far!  😉Famous last words!  

Here is a tip I wanted to share about inserting photos into blogger.  It used to be a long process for me, until I learned this process.  Certainly, if you have another way, please share in the comments!

1.  Take the photos with your Iphone and edit them.

2.  Open blogger and select where you want to insert the photo.  

3.  Select the insert photo button.

4.  Select "upload from computer."  

5.  Select "choose files" then "photo library".  

6.  Select your photo/s and click on "add".

7.  Make sure your photo/s are highlighted, then press "select".

Your photos should now be inserted!  

I wonder if any of you have an easier way?  Please feel free to share in the comments!  

Well, I hope you are enjoying your favorite beverage and/or snack as you read this weekly 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, Slow Sunday Stitching projects, 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

This verse struck me like a baseball bat!  In fact, after I read it, I have become more aware of my tendency to please people rather than standing on the Word of God and being true to His calling on my life. 

I understand Paul is clearly arguing the false teaching that we are saved by works or the law instead of faith.  However, when I read the Word, on top of searching for His truth, I also search for God to show me the practical application to my life today.   

That being said, I went online and read this Bible study.  The author suggested that we ask “What would God want from me?” 

As I’ve begun this practice, the results are amazing:  increased thoughtfulness, kindness, courage and a sense of calm.  When listening to someone speak, I am learning to ask God to allow me to see through His eyes.  The results are amazing, and admittedly, scary at times.  However, He is faithful and His peace and guidance fill the atmosphere. 

Going forward, let us pray for awareness of any people pleasing tendencies in our hearts and then ask ourselves, “What would God want from me?”  As the author suggested, let our actions be for God’s glory, not for man’s glory.  

Amen? 

My Reading Life

Currently Reading

Finished - I've been binging on Christmas audiobooks!

*****Both The Christmas Blessing and The Christmas Hope by Donna VanLiere are excellent titles to read during the holiday season!  They are part of her Christmas Hope Series which starts with The Christmas Shoes, which I enjoyed years ago.      

**** The New Year's Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini was a bit of a disappointment for me as much of it was recapping the entire El Creek Quilts series.  However, it was partly because of this very series that I started quilting!  

*****+The Devil's Highway by Luis Alberto Urrea was a difficult read as I learned about this difficult passage that immigrants take.  Though I rarely re-read books, this is one I'll be re-reading.  I highly recommend this book - very highly recommend.  

Reading Challenges

This year was the first year that I participated in reading challenges, other than the Goodreads and a personal library reading goal.  I've met most of my goals except for the Mount TBR (I misunderstood the rules 😏) and the  Alphabet Soup reading challenge.  I mentioned to my daughter that I needed help and she and my grandbabies thoughtfully joined forces and sent me this collection of books to assist me!  

They also sent me these two books!  Do you remember the Serendipity series?  Zippity Zoom is actually one of my daughter's books from childhood!  I used to read The Three Questions to my students.  

This year I learned so much about what I truly enjoy reading and have adjusted my choice of 2023 Reading Challenges accordingly.    

I want to read more of my own books so, I am again joining The Reader's Block Mount TBR 2023 starting at Mount Blanc reading 24 my TBR that I own.

  

This year I was astonished at how much I enjoy reading non-fiction, so I am also repeating the Nonfiction Reading Challenge hosted by ShelleyRae at Book'd Out.  My goal is a "Nonfiction Grazer":  reading any nonfiction book and setting my own goal which will be 7 books.

  

As you can see by how long it's taking me to read Chasing Fireflies, eBooks are certainly a challenge for me to get through.  Michelle and Berls at Because Reading is Better Than Real Life is hosting a COYER (Clean Out Your E-Reader) challenge.  It has three "chapters", so I'll be participating in Chapter One and commit to reading 3 eBooks between January 1 and April 30th.  😊  

Please share the reading challenges you're joining in the comments!  It would be fun to check them out!  

Stash Report

Yarny Numbers

It looks like I'll be ending my yarny year in the negative.  😏

I purchased 10 ounces of this yarn in ivory to make these decorations!  As an experiment, I added a second, extremely thing variegated wool to the second ornament.   You can see what I did with it in the next section, To Do Tuesday!

    

Fabric numbers

No change in fabric numbers.

To Do Tuesday

Last Week's List

1.  Slow Stitching - I fell down the rabbit hole with a Christmas squirrel! 

A friend sent me a picture of these ornaments by @simplymadebyerin on Instagram.  She generously shared her pattern using a thicker yarn and added greenery to the top of the her lovely ornament.  

I kept mine minimalistic and like the results!  Here is how I made my ornaments.  I used Erin's directions with the exceptions of using the I Love This Yarn Metallic in ivory and a G crochet hook.  As my yarn was thinner, I started with 26 chains, single crocheted in row 1, half double crocheted in rows 2-6, and single crocheted in row 7.  

Though the first skein of yarn makes roughly 17 ornaments.

a.   Finish block two of the Bee Humble Sew Along. NOPE!  I was too busy crocheting my ornaments!

b.  Make progress on my Pretty Kitty tea towel. DONE! 

                                         

c.  Crochet - make progress on the Fall Granny Square Afghan NOPE!  

2. Machine Sewing:  

a.  Make progress on the new Patchwork Christmas Quilt. DONE!  It's going to my daughter for serpentine quilting and she even offered to attach the binding for me!  I'll be slow stitching it down when I get it back!

                                                 

b.  Connect rows #1-11 of the Pieces in the Garden QAL.  DONE!  

I even got these two 9.5" blocks finished for  my $15 Sampler from Be Sew Creative!  I have five 6.5" to make before our next class in January!

                           

Next Week's List (Prioritized)

1.  Slow Stitching  

- Finish block two of the Bee Humble Sew Along. 

- Make progress on tea towel #3!  

- continue with the ornaments

2. Machine Sewing:  

- stuff the Christmas puppies for the grandbabies

On the radar

- Make the five 6.5" blocks for the $15 Sampler quilt.

- Prep Row 12 of the Pieces in the Garden QAL.  

 - Stitch up a baby quilt that I've prepped.

- Finish up my daughter's crocheted dishcloths.

- Prep kits for January 2023 

Gratitude Journal

During these sometimes hectic holiday times, let this be our anthem!  Here's the story behind the song.    

                    

Time to share our prompt from LeeAnna's Not Afraid of Color "I Like" Thursdays!  This week we're sharing our favorite holiday cookie!  I used to make dozens of Snickerdoodles using this recipe.  Then my daughter started helping me and now, she's taken over this task completely for us!  We deliver ingredients and get all we can eat!

Then LeeAnna asked us which cookies we reach for first at parties!  Ah ha!  I love the decorated ones, sugar cookies and, though they are not cookies:  brownies!  Which do you like/reach for first?

These posts from Instagram started me thinking.

I saw these titles at Target!  Time to hit my local library or bookstore and find them!

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You can also expect a visit from me as well!

Here are some blogs I sometimes link up to!

Sunday Salon @ Readerbuzz

Slow Sunday Stitching @ Kathy's Quilts

Sunday Stash @ Quilt, Paint, Create

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

Sew and Tell @ Melva Loves Scraps (Mondays)

To Do Tuesday @ Texas Quilt Gal

Midweek Makers @ Quilt Fabrication (Wednesdays)

I Like @ Not Afraid of Color (Thursday)