Psalm 23:5b, Literary Life, Fiber Fun, Finding Joy

 

Hello There,

Thank you for stopping in! I hope you’ve had a wonderful week.  This week was the last day of time with my grandkids until their next long break.  I’ve enjoyed having them this summer and am eager for our next “Ama Day”.  They call me “Ama” and the days we spend together are “Ama Days”.  

Daddy is declining quickly.  His body is tired.  God willing, we are planning a trip to San Diego after my husband is feeling better and can safely travel.  Meanwhile, I am working on fiber arts projects behind-the-scenes, diving into God's Word, spending time with my hubby, talking with friends, prepping slow stitching projects, making progress on other fiber arts projects, and reading.  Recently, as I write the devotionals, I am preaching and encouraging myself.  I pray to encourage you as well.

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.  

Last week, Psalm 23:5a was our focus; now let’s look at the second part:  

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Psalm:23:5b

Can you imagine God anointing our heads with oil?  How would He do this: gently or simply pour the oil over us?  Would He talk as He does this?  It must be a substantial amount of oil for my cup to overflow!  Have we realized that, despite our circumstances and challenges, He is still anointing us to where our cup overflows? (Layman’s Bible Commentary)

That question stopped me in my tracks.  

Do I really realize this?  Or do I wallow in self-pity?  In my last desert experience, and perhaps in yours, we chose the latter.  What a difference a desert experience can make!  Instead of becoming bitter, we can choose to become better!  

According to Keller’s book, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, flies can literally drive sheep mad.  Therefore, a shepherd will apply oil to a sheep’s nose to ward off the flies that come in summer.  He compares this ointment to the Holy Spirit and lists multiple positive characteristics (which reminded me of the Fruit of the Spirit) a daily anointing brings into our lives.  

As the Holy Spirit renews our spirit, we can react to trials with the Fruit of the Spirit.  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23) Without this renewal, God’s oil, we are driven into despair.  

Dear One, even in the desert, let us remember to pray and ask God for the anointing of the oil of the Holy Spirit so that we become equipped to become better instead of bitter.  By God’s mercy and anointing, we can come out of the desert better as we are stronger, more mature and equipped to handle future challenges.  

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 broke down my "To Dos" into three categories:  Finish, Focus, Prep/make a kit, and Be Kind = Soft Deadlines.  FoF represents the Fields of Fancy BOM, which I'm doing with Liberty of London Tana Lawn fabrics.  

Last Week's List

1.  Finish  

 Prep “The Flower Pot” by Louise Kraft Done!  It looks so pretty!  I’m eager to stitch it up!

2.  Focus

• FoF BOM -  Applique one prepped hexie and bind another Acufactum hexie Partially Done.  I’m working on month four and am getting excited about the finished project!  
  

• Atlas Zipper Case Day Four:  assemble the Double Pocket Panel, sew both Pocket Panels to our Main Quilted Panel DONE! Next week is the last step, and, for me, the most challenging:  putting on the double zipper.  My zipper foot is my friend, but double zippers are new to me.  

3.   Prepare/make a kit 

• Kit month 5 of FOF Partially done I’ve prepped the fabrics and cut out the cute hand drawn templates.

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

This Week’s List

1.  Finish

• Atlas Zipper Case!  Day Five - installing the zipper, then adding the bias binding and zipper tab.  I made two “prototypes” where I learned so much!  I learned from my mistakes and am excited to finish this project and then share all three with you.  Step Five is, for me, the most challenging step.  

2.  Focus

• FoF BOM Applique one prepped hexie and bind another Acufactum hexie
• Stitch up The Flower Pot by Louise Kraft
• Jet Set Sewing Station step two I forgot I wanted to finish step one last week, so here is my cute vinyl zipper pocket! I love that Jessie has us fold up the zipper casings, which leads to a softer look!
  I also enjoy breaking up more detailed patterns into a step at a time as I did with the Atlas Zipper Cases. It somehow feels easier.
  I’m learning to read each sentence and match up what I’m doing with the illustrations on the pattern. Then, I double and triple check before actually sewing. After I’ve finished that sentence successfully, I highlight it and continue.
• 

3.   Prepare/make a kit

 -   Continue cutting and labeling the pieces for Month 5 of the FoF

LITERARY LIFE   

CURRENT READS

FINISHED

I’ve noticed I’ve rated the books I read with four/five stars.  As I’ve grown older, I’ve am very particular about my reading choices.  Consequently, I find myself enjoying reading even more than I did as a younger adult. I am returning to my childhood habit of “getting lost” in a book more often.  Can you relate to this?  

Reyna Grande’s memoir, The Distance Between Us, rates as a five-star read due to her skilled recounting of the distance created between her siblings and her parents when they left them in Mexico and traveled to the United States to prepare a better life for the family.  Sadly, as Grande notes, this is a common occurrence - children being left behind with relatives. Eventually, after a dangerous journey, the family makes it to the U.S., but the family unit has changed.

Grande writes with brutal honesty, compassion, as well as sharing her emotional journey as she matured.  Her inspirational journey and subsequent successes caused me to feel so proud of her determination and perseverance.  Highly recommend.

The novel, Sisters in the Wind, by Angeline Boulley, rates as a five-star read, as do the other books I’ve read by this sensitive, wise author.  Along with Firekeeper’s Daughter and Warrior Girl Unearthed, in this latest book, Boulley shone a light on the commonly occurring and cruel injustices against Native Americans.  A difference in this novel was that its characters are from various cultures.

Boulley skillfully drops clues about our protagonist, Lucy, a Native American; and the past she is running from.  She also writes about several characters who are loving and supportive of Lucy, as she and her foster siblings forge their path out of a very dangerous situation.  The author found a superb balance in developing the characters, pace and tone.

As many of you know, I usually buy books from our local used bookstore.  As with Boulley’s first two books, I will instead pick it up on its publication date, September 2, 2025. Highly Recommend.

Thank you, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, for providing this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

MAILBOX MONDAY - is a gathering place for readers to share books that they
added to their shelves or eBook readers the previous week.
I haven't picked up any books this week, but I did find some freebies!↓↓

Our aunt taught me about ereaderiq.com which offers free/for purchase eBooks.  I set my filters to free and have picked up several eBooks.  

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:  Could you hula hoop? Did you or a friend have one and learn to use it? What do you remember about them? Yes!  How we loved to hula hoop!  I could keep one up and I remember trying doubles, but don’t remember is I was successful!  Later, in my late 40’s I tried to hula hoop with my grandkids and hurt my back!  😂Mama asked me, “What are you doing trying to hula hoop at your age?”

Here are the chocolate covered cheesecake strawberries 

my granddaughter taught me to make.  

Enjoyed this post?

Here are the parties I sometimes link up with:  

Sundays

Oh Scrap!  @ Quilting is More Fun Than Housework

Slow Sunday Stitching @ Kathy's Quilts

Sunday Salon at Readerbuzz

Mondays

Mailbox Monday  @ I'd Rather Be At the Beach

Sew and Tell at Melva Loves Scraps

What Are You Reading at The Book Date

Tuesdays

To Do Tuesday posts at Quilt Schmilt

Thursdays

I Like on Thursdays at Not Afraid of Color

Fridays

Off the Wall Fridays at Creations Art...Quilts...Whatever