June 29: Psalm 22; Fiber Fun, Literary Living, Finding Joy

Hello There,

This summer is a roller coaster:  fun with grandsons, quick after summer school visits from my teen-age grandkids, ever more frequent trips to San Diego, fiber hobbies, reading - life is full.  My older grandkids are attending summer school to advance their graduation date.  They come in hungry, happy, full of news and hugs.  I love the chaos!  

We are now on our last treatment option for Dad.  But he is responding well and full of life, though much weaker.  A dear friend of mine takes in our fur babies whenever we go to San Diego.  She wrote, "Anything to make sure you see your papa."  I wept with gratitude and joy.

As I re-read Psalm 22, my heart leapt within me.  I hope you are also encouraged as you read it.  I almost finished all of my fiber goals.  Reading has slowed down to be with my "babies", though the oldest is a foot taller than me and my granddaughter is about 8" taller!  I found some great memes on Instagram and my son-in-law sends me some as well - especially when Daddy is struggling.  

Take good care and as Daddy says, "Make memories, it's later than you think."    

HERE'S A WORD - Faith...broken faith...faltering faith.  Here I will share a Scripture about these topics.  No judgement, only love.  

Those of us who are in, are just coming out, or remember their own desert experience can certainly relate to verses one and two.  It may feel like "When I Fall" by Katy Nichole.

I remember feeling this way, and now, with my Daddy's diminishing treatment options, this is my cry.  The big difference is on the other side of my year of a desert experience, I know God is here with me.  I came out of the desert stronger in faith, more patient to wait on the LORD and more trusting.  God wastes nothing, not even our tears, our confusion, our anger, time in the desert.   And you will as well.  

My heart leapt when I read the final verse of Psalm 22. 

Our spiritual ancestors saw how God moved in their lives among extremely difficult circumstances.  And verse 31 states they will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn:  HE HAS DONE IT!  A people yet unborn is us and our descendants!  Their testimony to us states:  HE HAS DONE IT!  

Take heart my dear reader, He has done it.  Until then, He gently saves our every tear in His bottle.  

I pray for you to be restored, healed and know this:  

You are loved.  You are not alone.  You are being lovingly prayed for.

FIBER FUN  -I've decided to break down my "To Dos" into three categories:  Finish, Focus, Prep/make a kit, and Be Kind = Soft Deadlines.  FoF stands for the Fields of Fancy BOM I’m participating in, using Liberty of London Tana Lawn fabrics.    

Last Week's List

1.  Finish 

- I have this plastic box filled with small and not so small prepped items to finish.  Every week I pull one or two out and finish them.  

This week I pulled this fabric with which I intended to make bowl cozies.  I've only made one and would like to make more!  DONE✔️

A friend gifted my daughter and I the Creative Grids Bowl Cozy Template.  Coupled with this tutorial from Shabby Fabrics, the project was a breeze.  Now I understand why so many of you all make these!  

This finished advent embroidery bauble patterns by Liz at Bluebell Love should be a quick finish.  PARTIALLY DONE✔️ 

Ahhh, yes, famous last words - "should  be a quick finish".  To finish off a hoop-framed hand stitched project, I use thread to gather the extra fabric on the back of the hoop and add a felt backing with a hand embroidered label.  The first label looked messy, so I started it over.  Here's my progress.  

2.  Focus -  Fields of Fancy (FoF) BOM by Intrepid Thread - Applique and bind another hexagon.  PARTIALLY DONE✔️ The center piece needs just a few more stitches.  

Prep  Atlas Zipper Case #3 (last week I meant Atlas Zipper Case  #3) - DONE✔️ 

And here she is! I decided to use lighter colors for this one, but I will definitely be spraying it with Scotchgard.  

3.   Prepare/make a kit -  The next month of Fields of Fancy Not even touched!  

4. Be kind = Soft Deadlines - which are good for my mental health!  

This Week's List 

1.  Finish 

- This week I pulled these small orphan blocks from my Garden Snails Quilt by Bayside Quilt Shops.  That's my husband's head sticking out!  😍Quilters have the best husbands!

I plan to embroider a quilt label and attach it - finally!  

2.  Focus 

 - Finish the label for the advent embroidery bauble patterns by Liz at Bluebell Love 

- Kristina at Center Street Quilts has a five day sew along on her blog for the Atlas Zipper Pouch which I am using as my Focus.   My plan is finish Day One for both pouches:  quilting the fabrics.  

3.   Prepare/make a kit 

-  The next month of Fields of Fancy   

4. Be kind = Soft Deadlines - which are good for my mental health!  This summer the deadlines are even "softer"!

LITERARY LIFE -   

CURRENT READS

As with fiber deadlines, reading is on the back burner as I take care of my grandsons!  Oh, they grow so quickly!  Time with them is precious.  

FINISHED

***** If The Forgotten Names by Mario Escobar is on your TBR, read it now. Mr. Escobar writes this true, dual timeline work of art with eloquence, heart and objectivity.  This reader could only react with tears, horror and respect for the parents who gave up their children to spare them from certain death during the Holocaust.  He wrote about one determined lady spent 25 years finding each of the 108 children to inform them of their identity and the great sacrifice their parents made.

For me, the descendant of immigrants, this book was a double-edged sword.  It was reminiscent of not so long ago in the United States when our government was separating immigrant children from their parents.  

I listened to this audiobook as my father, a Korean War veteran, was in the hospital fighting for his life and later as our family cared for him during his recovery at home.  Aware I missed important aspects of this book, I did something I've never done:  After finishing it, I started immediately started listening to it again.  This is the third book by Mr. Escobar that I've read and I will continue to read his works.  Highly recommend. 

I received a free audio version of this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

MAILBOX MONDAY - is a gathering place for readers to share books that they

added to their shelves or E-reader the previous week. These are all books I picked up at the various libraries for which I have cards:  El Paso, TX, Las Cruces, NM and San Diego.  SD kindly issued me a card as we pretty much live there as much as our home base.  📚  

These are books that have come in from NetGalley for an honest review.

FINDING JOY - LeeAnna's I Like on Thursdays at Not Afraid of Color helps me consistently find the joy in every life.  She also provides a prompt for us to use.  

I got ahead on my prompts, so instead I'll share these reading memes I loved as well as a few my son-in-law sent me.  

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Sundays

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June 22: Psalm 22, Fiber Fun, Literary Life, Finding Joy,

Hello There, 

Thank you for visiting! We were in San Diego for Father’s Day. Life changes quickly! Daddy had a setback but is recovering. We’re home, recovering, and rebuilding routines. I hope to return to spend time with my “San Diego” family for a “normal” visit. 

Happy Father’s Day!

 

Hello everybody! 

Thank you so much for stopping in. This would be a very short post to wish all the Dad’s a happy Father’s Day. My eldest grandson is Really into Star Wars, so I absolutely had to add the Yoda Father’s Day wish :-)

My dad ended up in the hospital, and I’m grateful to be able to spend time with him. He was released just in time for Father’s Day, and he’s recovering comfortably at home.take good care and I hope to have a regular post next week.

With hugs and smiles,

Patricia

June 8: Isaiah 40:31, Psalm 9:18, Fiber Fun, Literary Living, Finding Joy

Hello There,

Thank you for stopping in!  This week was wonderfully filled visits from my grandkids, a merging of redo of mine and Daddy's non-fiction libraries with brand new wall-to-wall bookshelves!  And, yes, these book are organized using the Dewey Decimal system.  Last summer my granddaughter labeled all of Daddy's 400+ books and I did my own some time ago.  Both Daddy and I had different books, but now the "holes" of information are mostly filled in.  I'm happy when I see them as it has become a beautiful collaboration between father and daughter.  

My husband and 15-year-old grandson built the shelves together.  By the time they were on the fifth and sixth shelves, my grandson could make them by himself! Later that night, my husband took these pictures.  The baseball caps on top represent a few of the military veterans in our family.

June 1: Psalm 8, Fiber Fun, Literary Life and Finding Joy

Hello There,

I hope you all had a fabulous week and are looking forward to the coming week.  Our Memorial Day was a quiet affair.  Many of the veterans we know, both family and friends, have passed away.  As we remember those who fought and died for our freedom, I can’t help but reflect on what members of my Cancer Support Group said to me after I shared I had survivor's guilt. . 

May 25: Proverbs 3:5-8, Fiber Fun, Literary Living, Finding Joy

  

Hello There,

Thank you for dropping in!  This week was very much a "stay at home" period, thus I was able to get more accomplished.  I enjoyed sewing, reading and resting.  This post is filled with encouraging words (I hope), updates on various projects as well as the many books added to my collection - albeit the library books are visitors.  I hope you enjoy your time spent here!  

HERE'S A WORD - Faith...broken faith...faltering faith.  Here I will share a Scripture about these topics.  No judgement, only love.

May 18: Psalm 17:8-9, Literary Life, Finding Joy

  

Hello There,

This week started off with a road trip:  a one-day round trip to Albuquerque in which I finished an embroidery project.  Then it got even better with a full day with my grandson, a day trip to two El Paso Museums, a sit and sew with friends, and a weekend full of basketball championship games and a sewing class!  It's been fun!  

May 11: A Mother's Day Blessing, Finding Joy in Bikes and Sewing Notions

Hello There,

Thank you for stopping by! Happy Mother’s Day! My husband and I celebrated Mexican Mother’s Day yesterday and had a lazy morning on the patio.  This afternoon my grandbabies and daughter came to visit.  We transplanted Aloe Vera cactus into various pots for friends and family. 

May 6: Psalm 34:18, Fiber Fun, Literary Life, Finding Joy

Hello There,
Thank you so much for stopping in!  As I write this we are in the middle of a thunderstorm!  It's been so long since we've had rain!  I'm loving it!  This week was filled with at least 2 obligations a day - most of them fun!  

I had a fun sit and sew with a friend, a day in El Paso to see the doctor and spend time with my husband, and today was another sit and sew!

I hope you enjoy this weekly post and continue to visit!  

April 27: Psalm 6:2-3, Fiber Fun, Literary Life, Finding Joy

Hello There, 

Thank you for stopping in!  I was able to stay home for much of the week, which I love.  Yesterday was an my youngest grandson played in an exciting basketball game and then, we had an amazing trip to one of "my libraries", about 25 minutes away.  I'm so excited to show you a "squirrel" that has pleasantly invaded my mind.

April 20: 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, Fiber Fun, Literary Life and Finding Joy

Hello There,

Happy Easter to those who celebrate!  The LORD is risen!  

Thank you so much for stopping by for a visit!  Let me tell you, the last two weeks have been so active!  We prepared for and enjoyed a trip to San Diego to see my parents.  Halfway through the trip, our son joined us.  Mama is doing well and enjoyed joking around with him.  Daddy is in a good place right now, thank God.  

The blog has been sorely neglected.  This week I'll be catching up on comments and link ups.  I keep trying to write posts ahead of time like some of you super organized ladies...alas...one day.  

For now, let's enjoy a cuppa and read about this week's happenings!  

April 13: Psalm 23, Fiber Fun, Literary Life, Finding Joy

Hello There,

Thank your for stopping by!  I hope you are all doing well.  

Life has been so active with much accomplished behind the scenes!  We are gardening, deep cleaning, organizing and decluttering.  My method is simple - keep a paper grocery sack in my closet and another one in my sewing room.  The goal is for both of them to be filled ready for donation bi-weekly.  I am also culling my library.  My literary interests have changed over they years, so I am making room, or not, for books that meet my current interests.  I'm also making increasingly more use of my library.  

I hope you enjoy this weekly post!

HERE'S A WORD - Faith...broken faith...faltering faith.  Here I will share a Scripture about these topics.  No judgement, only love.  

Last month we went to the Toby Mac Hits Deep concert and I loved it!   This was my husband's first time and even he enjoyed it!  In the coming posts, I'll be sharing various songs that touched me.  This one is Eye of the Storm by Ryan Stevenson. For the video with lyrics, click here.  

Stevenson describes all kinds of trials and challenges anyone of us can face in life; war, terminal illness, prodigal children - basically the storms in life.  He says, God is with us in the storm.  He prays Psalm 23 at the end.  

He absolutely has known a "season of chaos".  For such a young man, he still called on God.  Wow...I was touched by this song and his story.  

As I am crawling out of my own spiritual desert, this song and TobyMac's concert broke my chains.  

Coincidentally, as I write this, I just finished A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23.  To be honest, as I read this book, there were times when I was angry and frustrated.  My weekly time with my BookBuddy helped me navigate this anger and begin the journey back to God.  

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

Psalm 23

 

My faith was weak, perhaps like yours.

These words mocked me, perhaps you as well.

As I journey back to God, I know one thing:

Every word is true,

whether we believe it or not,

whether we feel it or not.

Feelings are not fact.  

My dear reader, you are being prayed for.

You are not judged or forgotten, only loved.

FIBER FUN  

Crochet:  

Though I wanted my next finish to be the Montage quilt, it will instead be after I use this yarn to make cowls as Christmas gifts for my various doctors' staff.  I purchased it from Apricot Yarn in Liberty Station on our last visit to San Diego.  It's really beautiful yarn and so easy to work with.  

Hand Embroidery/Cross Stitch:  

English Paper Piecing:

I've been stitching up some more yellow hearts.  I had told someone my stitches showed.  My daughter said I was too hard on myself.  Perhaps she’s right. #begentlewithyourself

Here are the last of my yellow hearts, along with some that need to be glue basted and joined into hearts.

I chose jewel shapes and hearts to participate in 

the Maker's Stash Connecting Hearts Sew Along.

She provides a fabulous tutorial!

For now, for Alicia's Rainbow Scrap Challenge, 

I'm moving onto April's color, red. 

These are the ones I've joined thus far.  

Quilting:  

I've decided to break down my "To Dos" into three categories:

1.  Finishes:  I can finally show you my Secret Sewing Project!  It was started in June/July of 2024, was hand pieced by me and quilted by my beloved LAQ, Stephanie from Be Sew Creative for my daughter's birthday!  I used Camille Roskelly's Shoreline fabric line.  It took a total of seven charm square packs and background fabric from the same line.  I was so excited to finish my first large EPP quilt!  

Like I said earlier, my next finish will be the Christmas cowls.  

2.  Focus

- Catching up with the Fields of Fancy which won't be finished for a year, but I'd like to catch up This goal is still in progress.

3.   Prepare/make a kit

- Atlas Zipper Case by Center Street Quilts ✔

4. Be kind = Soft Deadlines which are good for my mental health!  ✔

LITERARY LIFE -   

CURRENT READS

FINISHED

***** The Letter Keeper by Charles Martin is a fabulous continuation of The Water Keeper.  Again, this book is filled with wisdom, insight into the trafficking of children, a bit of romance and a well-developed plot.  I am enjoying the series and am glad I had the next book, The Record Keeper checked out as The Letter Keeper ends with a cliff hanger.

In between reading sessions, I read something lite.

Note:  These books are heavy with triggers such as child abuse, sexual abuse, and violence. Highly recommend. 

***** A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W. Phillip Keller, who used to be a shepherd, was a good read that followed an easily comprehensible pattern; an explanation of the care the shepherd provides for his sheep during the various seasons, how this applies to how God cares for us and then how we can apply this new knowledge to our own lives.  As we are also God's "sheep", Keller's comparison of how a good shepherd cares for his sheep and how God takes care of us is insightful. I gave this book a four vs. a five because there are times when Keller tells us how we "should feel".  No one can tell us how we should feel; our feelings are our feelings.  It's what we do with them that's important.

Other than that, I would recommend this book.  I plan to read it annually.  

FINDING JOY - LeeAnna's I Like on Thursdays at Not Afraid of Color helps me consistently find the joy in every life.  She also provides a prompt for us to use.  

This week's prompt is: Do you remember dying easter eggs? Did you do it with your mom, or the other kids, did you have those crayons to pre mark them?  What did your family do with them?  Did your family hide them for hunts?  Any stories about hunts gone wrong or couldn't find all the eggs, etc. I have vague memories of dying Easter eggs; I do remember a scent of vinegar and a sense of wonder as they changed colors. I'm pretty sure we didn't use crayons to pre mark them.  We must of had hunts, but I don't remember them at all.  

Here's some humorous jokes my son-in-law sent me!  

Lastly, Mia and Chico are showing off

 how well they walk with their dog sitter!

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Never miss out on future posts by following this blog!

Your comments are so appreciated! 

I read each one and will respond by email.

You can also expect a visit from me as well!

I'll be linking up to 

Deb's Sunday Salon at Readerbuzz

Sunday Slow Stitching @ Kathy's Quilts

Melva's Sew and Tell at Melva Loves Scraps 

Kathryn's What Are You Reading at The Book Date

Carol's To Do Tuesday posts at Quilt Schmilt

LeeAnna's I Like on Thursdays at Not Afraid of Color

Alicia's Rainbow Scrap Challenge at So Scrappy

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