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!  

Thank you for stopping in!  

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

I had always been comforted by a comment I had heard about resting behind the shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16) of our loved ones.  But, then came along this phrase in Psalms 17:8-9: "hide me in the shadow of Your wings" which stopped me in my tracks. The imagery of hiding in the shadow of God's wings was too much for me to understand.  

I  hadn't done this at all.  I had turned from God.  

Regret visited me and laughed at me.

Disappointment called my name.

Bitterness consumed me.  

Anger - "righteous indignation" - rose in my heart.  Looking back, what gall I had!  

Slowly, and oh so gently God began answering the prayers of my spiritual family as well as my own family.  I've come out stronger on the other side - it's almost like finding my first love again.  

I pray you will find your way out of the parched, thorny desert and into His wonderful light.  

If you can't quite believe this, I understand.  

I hope you are encouraged by this song by Lauren Daigle.

I hope the story behind the song encourages you and your loved ones.  Meanwhile, please consider hiding in the shadow of His wings.

I weep as I write 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 and Be Kind = Soft Deadlines.

Last Week's List

1.  Finish - Begin the embroidery piece, then start and finish my granddaughter's ornament; I'll be sharing the pattern I chose on my private Instagram account this week.  If you'd like to see it, just send a follow request on Instagram!  :) Partially finished.  I never touched my granddaughter's embroidery ornament.    

2.  Focus

-  For Month 2 prep for Fields of Fancy (FoF BOM),  I just need to trim the appliqué pieces, cut the backing fabrics, the bamboo batting, the backs of the hexagons and embroidery piece.   Here's my progress from last week. Partially done. 

 

- Make four circles for Got Scraps, the quilt I shared last week.   My friend and I will be getting together this Friday, 🤞This changed.  My friend suggested working in stages, so I turned a bunch of "two patches" into four patches.  I need to finish the ones upfront.

3.   Prepare/make a kit - Green hearts for the Connecting Hearts EPP SAL.  I've chosen and cut the fabrics.  Now to glue baste them and start stitching!  Great road trip project!  Not touched either!  

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

This Week's List 

1.  Finish

 - start and finish my granddaughter's ornament + finish the FoF block

2.  Focus - 

Continue prepping Month 2 prep for Fields of Fancy (FoF BOM):  trim the appliqué pieces, cut the backing fabrics, the bamboo batting, the backs of the hexagons and embroidery piece.  Maybe, if things settle down, I can start the embroidery.  

3.   Prepare/make a kit 

- I almost finished Atlas Zipper Case by Center Street Quilts in the class I mentioned.    I was missing    some specialty feet, so I would like to make another one that perhaps might look better.  I'll be using these fabrics from Cali & Co.  

- I've been turning my sewing room upside down looking for a lost fat quarter bundle!  How one loses a FQB is beyond me!  I found some quick projects I'd like to prep for finishing.  

- attach a couple of  quilt labels my daughter made for me

- frame this cross stitch project I stitched in 1982 for my hubby 

- complete the finishing on this embroidery project 

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

LITERARY LIFE -   

CURRENT READS - The Body Keeps the Score, When God Breaks Your Heart, The Names of God and Liliana's Invincible will be slow reads as some of them are devotionals, are dense reading or are difficult subject matters.  Thus far, I highly recommend these books.  

FINISHED

*****+ The Secret History of the Rape Kit, A True Crime Story by Pagin Kennedy is a well-written narrative of the development of the rape kit by Martha "Marty" Goddard. The Secret History of the Rape Kit, a true crime story by Pagin Kennedy, recounts the development of the rape kit by Martha “Marty” Goddard. Despite negative reviews on Goodreads, I hope readers will be willing to read this book.  Kennedy covers the mistreatment of survivors through the decades up to at least 2022, thus making this an extremely relevant text. This book is essential to understand molestation, sexual assault, and rape. These subjects are difficult, but books like Kennedy’s are educational and promote kindness, not judgment. As a sexual assault survivor, I encourage everyone, from survivors to those who love them, to read this book and seek support from others. You are not alone.  Very Highly Recommend.   

***** When God Breaks Your Heart by Ed Underwood is one I would highly recommend for those of us in or coming out of a spiritual desert as well as for those who love us.  I read it small bites, then when I switched to the audiobook, which was read by the author, I couldn't put it down!  The love, honesty and compassion in his voice came through.  There are insightful questions at the end.  If you are not yet ready to read it, please save it for when  you are.  You won't regret it.  Very Highly Recommend.

***  Get a Hobby:  365 Things to Do for Fun by Jasmine Cho was an introduction to hobbies - even ones I didn't know were hobbies.  I found the information a bit scant, but there was just enough to let me know if I was interested or not.  If you're looking to get a brief, general information about hobbies, this would be the book for you.

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

added to their shelves or E-reader the previous week.  After visiting this post for several weeks, I decided to join in the fun!  These are all books I picked up at the various libraries for which I have cards.  As we are so close to El Paso, TX, I make use of their digital library.  The same holds true for San Diego, where we sometimes live there more than here.  

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:  Speaking of bikes, have you ever ridden a motorcycle? How do you view them, or feel about them? Tell us your story.  In my twenties and thirties, I have ridden on a motorcycle with my husband and a good friend.  I enjoyed myself immensely!  I see motorcycles differently in New Mexico and San Diego.  The riders in my area are, for the most part are safe drivers.  Sometimes, I worry as I'm not sure if other drivers see them.  In San Diego, the motorcyclists seem more daring, but apparently, that is the culture there.  I enjoyed riding motorcycles with someone else at the wheel, but have absolutely no desire to ride them anymore.  

Aren't these clouds beautiful?  I saw them on my way home and decided to share them with you.  

I returned to one of my favorite, homestyle restaurants in El Paso:  Doña Rosas!  The first picture is  her delicious salsa and fresh tostadas, the second picture is my Emolada plate, mole enchiladas and the third one is my friend's plate, the Plato Mexicano with a taco, red chile enchilada, chile relleno, salad, Mexican rice and beans.  It was delicious!  Are you hungry yet?  

  Chico and Chloe are anxiously waiting for their special dinner.  Afterwards, Chloe thanks my husband.  :)

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Oh Scrap!  @ Quilting is More Fun Than Housework

Slow Sunday Stitching @ Kathy's Quilts

Sunday Salon at Readerbuzz

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

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To Do Tuesday posts @ Quilt Schmilt

I Like on Thursdays @ Not Afraid of Color

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Rainbow Scrap Challenge @ So Scrappy

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