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.

cozy at night

cheerful and bright

honoring those who've served

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

While listening to Charles Martin's book, Where the River Ends, I noted he made reference to the first part of verse 31, but didn't complete it.  If I wasn't paying close attention, I would have missed it completely. 

When we are in a spiritual desert, we forget verses such as these, verses that indeed are a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.   (Psalm 119:105)  I know I didn't even think about it during my desert experience.  I was too busy arguing with God, telling Him how He failed me, telling Him how hurt, angry and frustrated I was.  

But, in his book, When God Breaks Your Heart, Ed Underwood pointed out something:  many times we tell God about our situation, but we don't ask for a solution.  We tell God all about the problem, but may neglect to ask for a solution.  We may pray, "Why don't You _________?" instead of asking for His will, His solution, His grace.  

Like you, I may have asked for a solution, but I did not see one coming.  I felt forgotten.  Psalm 9:18 seemed a mockery:  

But now, having walked through the desert, I realize God did not forget me, He was working a good work in me. (Philippians 1:6) How could He forget us if He Himself inscribed us on His hands? (Isaiah 49:16) Regardless of my feelings, He continued to work to bring me to the place I am now; a place of deep empathy for those in the desert, for those who are hurt, angry and despairing.  He was doing a good work in me the whole time.

In your own desert experience, may I encourage you to keep walking as you are not walking alone - your path is indeed being lit by God's light.  Be patient.  He is working a good work in you.  Until then, please 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

- the first Atlas Zipper Case - almost finished! I just need to attach the binding. It has two open pockets behind each blue panel, a large zipper pocket, and two smaller ones. Making this one taught me a lot, so I’ll prepare a kit to make another one.  I had to leave the class early, so this is a finish thanks to my daughter and a friend helping me with the zipper and becoming good friends with my seam ripper!  The section near the zipper pull was difficult for me!  I plan to master this pattern and will be making more of these.  They are extremely versatile and travel friendly.  

 - attach a couple of  the quilt labels my daughter made for me  These poor labels are at least prepped.   

 

2.  Focus

- Fields of Fancy (FoF) BOM by Intrepid Thread These cute hexies were stitched up this week as well as all of the finished ones.  They're not stitched together yet.  I decided to wait so that I can balance colors and styles.  

 -  make progress on my got scraps quilt. Here’s my friend’s progress and it looks so beautiful. No progress here.  

These are my friend's blocks

- my granddaughter's ornament - I'll share progress on my Instagram feed (miaismine22) as this is a Christmas gift. This last week, there was no progress.

 - Remember the Book Afghan I started? I'm behind on this one, for sure.  It was inspired by this post which explains the concept.  It's basically crocheting a granny square with colors that coordinate to the covers of the books I've read.  I'm including the granny squares previously shared along with recently crocheted squares.   

My goal:  finishing two squares a week.   Done!

3.   Prepare/make a kit

- Atlas Zipper Case #2 by Center Street Quilts Fabrics are picked and I was able to discuss placement with my daughter.  

 

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

 

This Week's List 

1.  Finish - The quilt labels

2.  Focus -  Fields of Fancy (FoF) BOM by Intrepid Thread I'd like to applique and bind  this one.   

3.   Prepare/make a kit - - Atlas Zipper Case #2 by Center Street Quilts

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

LITERARY LIFE -   

CURRENT READS

As I said earlier we spent a day building and filling our new wall-to-wall bookshelves for the living room which gave us so much more space!  Especially for poor Liliana's Invincible Summer.  I read for a long while, get sleepy, lay it down and forget where I put it!  😅I have an extra cube where I placed a basket with my current hard copy reads and hand sewing  supplies!  Loving that!   

FINISHED

***** The Swiss Nurse: A Gripping Tale of hope and Humanity Amidst the Spanish Civil War and WWII by Mario Escobar was an interesting, informative book highlighting the impact and sacrifices of the many nurses and women, to include Isabel Duenas, during this terrible time. Spain was barely recovering from their Civil War when WWII started. Highly recommend!

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.  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.  

This week there was absolutely no time or inclination for new books, but plenty of time to play with grandkids!

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:  What piece did you pick when you played Monopoly? Who did you play with, how long would the game go on? Were you a buyer of property and put houses on them?  Who kept the bank?

I didn’t play Monopoly as a child, but I enjoyed it very much with my children and now my grandchildren.  When my kids were little the game could go on for days During the school year.We would usually leave it set up on the coffee table.  When I play with my grandchildren, we usually play in one session till the end of the game, enjoying meals or snacks.  Naturally, I pick the symbol as my playing piece :-) We do buy houses to build on our various properties, and I have been known to occasionally pass up a good deal or make loans to my grandchildren. :-)

Last month a friend and I went on a long way trip to El Paso to visit the museums.  We went to the El Paso Museum of Art as well as the El Paso Museum of History. Here are some beautiful pieces  that touched my heart, brings memories of the people I love, and the culture I cherish.  I hope you enjoy them as well.

I forgot to take a picture of this artist's information.
If you know it, please share in the comments, please!

The rest of the art is by local  high school students!

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Oh Scrap!  @ Quilting is More Fun Than Housework

Slow Sunday Stitching @ Kathy's Quilts

Sunday Salon at Readerbuzz

Mailbox Monday  @ I'd Rather Be At the Beach

Sew and Tell at Melva Loves Scraps 

What Are You Reading at The Book Date

To Do Tuesday posts at Quilt Schmilt

I Like on Thursdays at Not Afraid of Color

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Rainbow Scrap Challenge at So Scrappy

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